Recent reviews by geøstigma

Is this game absolutely and unnecessarily oversexualized? Yeah, yeah it is but is it a bad game? No, hell no it's just as you would expect it to be and probably even better.


When I first saw Bayonetta, I fell in love with the chaotic, over the top action but at the same time, the overall theme and the ridiculous main character immediately put me off. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a guy, and I like girls very much but it's just so ridiculous and makes it hard to take this game seriously when the devs keep reminding you that Bayonetta is a woman by taking every chance they get to zoom in and put an emphasis on her sleek and curvy legs and make her dance like a stripper when performing special moves and at times even getting her completely naked and posing in front of the camera... Not at all offended by this but the game would've been better if they just didn't do that, at least not as much.

However, if you're an open minded adult this should not really pose a problem since this game is absolutely amazing if we take those fan service moments out of the picture.


I'm someone who generally enjoys fast paced action games and have played and liked many titles like DMC as well as other Platinum titles like Metal Gear Rising and after a single playthrough of this game, it became one of my favorite games of this genre.

There are tons of combos and weapon variations. You can make your own layout by combining Bayonettas arsenal the way you want. So for instance you can strap Rocket Launchers to her legs while arming her with a Katana (yeah, I did mention that it is very much over the top action game).
The best thing about it is that when you do this, the existing combos gain different properties and some will even completely change the moves you're pulling off. Things like exchanging speed for more power or making the shot spread and hit more targets instead of concentrating fire on a single enemy. It's all there and it is up to you to pick and define your perfect playstyle.


The gameplay is superb if you're into hack and slash games but when it comes to the story, I found myself skipping most of the collectible texts that I have come across and not caring at all about the characters. However, no one is here for the story and in my honest opinion, if you are playing this for the epic plot and narrative, you're playing it for the wrong reasons.
To those of you who played DMC games (especially DMC3) I would say that this game is very close to that (I would even call it an intentional rip-off at points) with Bayonetta being (pretty much) a female version of Dante.


All in all, as a Hack and Slash fan, I most definitely recommend this one to every likeminded gamer out there that enjoys fast paced and over the top action but at the same time I would not recommend anyone get this for their kids because of the above mentioned reasons as well as some pretty messed up torture moves that even I found to be a bit too much suggestive.

A true, refreshing co-op experience, not just a set of missions that would work in a single player scenario just as well.

I saw this game and thought that the concept was cool but since it's a free to play title I did not expect much out of it to be honest, considering how free to play games are nowadays. However, the game was a blast to play through (even a couple of times for the achievements and secrets) and I highly recommend it to anyone who values a good co-op experience.

The cool things about it are that it's:

• unique and trully cooperative experience.
  
• very small download size and rather lightweight requirements which makes it perfect for laptop "lan parties".
  
• beautifully looking and rather atmospheric.

The only downside is that the game is pretty short and you are almost guaranteed to finish it in one sitting, perhaps even twice. That and the fact that you might encounter a minor glich or two but nothing gamebreaking.

Note that this is probably much more interesting if you have a good friend that you actually know or a partner to play with, rather than playing with someone you just met online although, I could be wrong.

The most hardcore game I've ever played. Ever.

The short version would be:
If you like fair but rather challenging games with meaningful and rather complex plethora of game mechanics and one of the best soundtracks that fits the theme and the mood of the game like a glove, then this hardcore turn/squad-based strategy game is most likely for you.

A little bit longer version would sound somewhat like this:
I'm not someone who plays or even particularly likes strategy or turn-based games but XCOM: Enemy Within as well as few other games have found their way into my library.
My lack of familiarity and experience with the similar titles could be and possibly is partially responsible for the way I feel about this game. In other words, I'm a super- noob when it comes to strategy games and have a really big problem managing more than a single unit during the battles in RTS games however, XCOM being turn based I was able to beat the game... On Normal difficulty :|

I would like to stress out that for the past 15 years or so I've never (or perhaps maybe once or twice but I honestly don't think I have) played a game on a difficulty lower than the highest one unless it's a game that removes certain aspects of the game when you crank the difficulty up (like Hitman: Absolution for instance).
This game made me play it on Normal! I tried Impossible, failed immediately. Switched to Classic and failed times and times again. Even though on my first run I managed to last for an astounding 24 hours of real life time, eventually my mission failed because of the poor base management even though my soldiers kicked a lot of xeno a s s.

Eventually I started another playthrough, admitting that the game is just too much for me and lowered the difficulty to Normal this time. In my defense, I did play and finish with the Ironman mode enabled.

During the playthrough I had an absolute blast! The game kept me on top of my toes making me think twice before every single move which lead to some encounters lasting around an hour or so. I was actually motivated to plan my moves in advance and consider a couple of steps up ahead, not just during the combat encounters but during the base building sequences and when upgrading and researching new technologies as well. XCOM did an excellent job of making you feel the consequences of your decisions simply by removing the option to save and load as you please.

The feeling of victory that I've felt after beating XCOM is something I haven't felt in a very, very long time when it comes to video games and I honestly hope that more games take this approach to saving and loading and build their game around the idea of "Ironman" playthrough.


All in all, the game as an overall experience was absolutelly amazing. Even though the storyline wasn't the best I've ever heard or even close to my personal "top 10", everything else from visuals and audio to overall presentation was absolutely amazing. After all, XCOM is not something you play primarily for the story and you can clearly see that during the first couple of hours in. It has insane repeatability and more than enough gameplay mechanics and playstyles to keep you occupied for a couple of hundred of hours if you really like it, without even touching the multiplayer (or so it seemed to me).

I absolutely recommend this one to strategy, turn-based, squad-based fans and every gamer in general looking for a fresh, well-made, challenging experience!

Hand's down the best Tekken game to this day. I say this confidently now after hundreds of hours spent playing this particular Tekken installment.

The two of the most common complaints I keep hearing are the "rage" system and the exclusion of some of the iconic characters (like Lei) from the roster.

Rage Arts:
Do I like Rage Arts? No I don't, really. I was actually very much against it when I first saw it. I still find it silly, Street Fighter-ish and unnecessary. A friend of mine said that it's "like learning the tools of the trade from your apprentice" and I do agree with that statement.

But, do I mind them that much to miss on the overall amazing game? No, not really paying attention, to be honest...

Sure, they might seem overpowered at first glance but if you allow yourself to be bothered or repeatedly defeated by someone relying on rage arts that you have to complain about them, you should probably spend some more time in the practice mode. Go pick up some new moves, learn the advanced movement and try again. You'll see they're not that big of a deal once you know what you're doing.


As for the missing characters:
There are plenty of new ones for those that have been left out and while I sure would prefer Lei over Katarina (whose 10 hit I pulled out ACCIDENTALLY the first time I tried her out), I don't really know that many people who mained Lei, Anna, or Christie (who seem to be the main reason for discomfort alongside Lei). I could of course be wrong and it could just be the case for me and my friends.

Still, I'm for quality over quantity. Having 30 and some well balanced and thought out characters is better than cramming in as many as you can even tho some might only be half-baked, just to try and appeal to everyone.


As for the good sides, they are many.

• The game is very satisfying. It looks, plays and "feels" great.
  
• The characters that did made it to the release roster are pretty diverse.
  
• There are more moves than ever.
  
• The game didn't change much compared to previous entries if at all, save for the new moves and rage mechanics. It remained what I remember it to be so it's possible for someone like me who last played Tekken 5 (and Dark Resurrection) to jump straight to the action.

Also, there are some meh things that I don't really like but count as neutral and they are:

• The story is as shietty as ever, lol. But hey, it's Tekken, no one's here for the story.
  
• The customization is more ridiculous and goofy that ever but then again, who cares about the customization. I just feel like they could make aditional character during the time they wastet on that useless aspect.
  
• There are no instant replays but we all skipped 99% of them anyway. However that 1% was known to be epic. Nvidia Shadowplay thou...
  
• Akuma
  
• Bowling
  
• Weird display of buttons in move list

And do I recommend this game? Of course I do, grab it now and never look or go back to another fighting game ever!

Video games are art, there's no denying that. Bastion is a wonderful example that easily backs up that claim.

I was aware of this game for quite a while and heard lots of good criticism about it, most aimed towards it's soundtrack. Game does indeed have a great OST but to say it's what sets it apart from other games is a bit unfair because every aspect of this games is done just right.

For example, this game has a great story. Now, it might not be the story itself that's so good but the way it's presented to a player. Every step of your journey through Bastion is wonderfully narrated as you progress. You get a feeling that someone is telling you a story while at the same time you're visualizing what you're being told. Furthermore, the voice actor did an absolutely perfect job reading that script making the journey that much more interesting.

The battle system is just amazing. Simple to learn without unnecessary complications and yet it manages to stay fun after hours of gameplay. The game gives you a variety of weapons to choose from and customize to your liking and it probably won't be long before you feel you're untouchable, but here's the thing; Once you've build the Shrine, you may invoke up to ten gods.

• Each god will provide an addition layer of challenge by giving your enemies an additional ability like faster movement, explosion upon death, attack blocking... The list goes on and on.
  
  
• The gods will also provide you with additional experience and "fragments" (which are the games only currency) bonuses depending on how many you've invoked so you too and your weapons will grow stronger significantly faster!

Artstyle... I was speechless from the beginning to the end. Graphics are simple and gorgeous. "Fog of war" is replaced by plain void with nothing but a background image to it. This void will gradually fill with layers of beautifully drawn blocks of terrain that pops up, filling in the blanks in a fun and beautiful way as you progress. All of this is enriched with the games great OST which fits the atmosphere just right. This game bleeds art from beginning to the very end.

I'd like to add that my expectations for this game were pretty high which ends in a disappointment more often than not but not this time around. Simple as it may be as a video game and no matter that it does not really offer anything unique or groundbreaking to the gaming industry, Bastion delivers familiar feel and gameplay in a unique and most artistic way. A must play for everyone who views games as more than just a mindless passtime!

Even though this was developed by a different team, Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is a remake worthy of the original.

This is a great example of how a proper remake should be handled. The game is barely changed yet it feels new and fresh. To anyone who played the original Oddworld, this game will feel familiar yet, better than they remember it. In my opinion, it's a superior game to Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee as it should be. Now, don't get me wrong, the games are almost identical to each other except for a couple of small things that really make a big difference. For example, the game feels much more responsive than the old one and once you ask a Mudokon to follow you around, instead of acknowledging it fist and then slowly moving towards you just to stop a couple of feet away from you, they will now run to the player location almost immediately making it much easier (in all the good ways) for you to walk them through traps and dangers of Rupture Farms, unlike in the original where you had to issue your commands earlier and take delay into account so the Mudokons would not get killed by one of the many obstacles. Other than that, there are always the improved visuals of the entire game which greatly contribute to the overall enjoyment of the game. All in all, a great puzzle adventure game for old players to relive or for new players to discover.
TL;DR

Pros:
• Great remake of a classic
  
• Better controlls compared to original
  
• Much prettier and improved graphics and 3D models
  
• Refreshed a bit by increasing the number of Mudokons to save from 99 to 299

Cons:
• Some people may find new voices to be a bit off
  
• Quicksave/Quickload

A reimagining of a classic that surpassed every expectation.
I’m not a huge fan of shooter games but it would be a lie to say that I don’t enjoy a good shootout every now and then but what I do most of the times is that I get a game, shoot my way through it while trying to do as much as I can in that one playthrough, and once I beat it I rarely go back to it ever. It was nothing like that with this one.

Shadow Warrior takes a step forward by backtracking quite a lot when it comes to FPS gameplay, making it feel rather retro by arming you with 10 different weapons all equipped with primary and secondary fire (some even have 3 ways to use them), which is not as popular approach to FPS today as it used to be, and I don’t know about you but I personally don’t give a s*it about it not being realistic, it’s a game it is meant to be fun, not real. First they limit your weapon carrying capacity under the excuse of “making it realistic” and before you know it, we have games where you have to pay taxes because that’s also realistic… Oh wait, that’s already happening… Never mind, back to the game review. HP loss being permanent (unless you heal yourself) also contributes to the retro-ish FSP play but it still keeps up with the modern fast paced + tactical feel with it’s moderate tactical approach to battle situations. It’s quite a visionary reimagining of the old title and a true modern day successor in every aspect.

I’ll keep this on short because despite all the minor things that set this one apart from the other titles in the genre, it’s still mainly a FPS with some minor trait based character development, weapon upgrade system and gameplay that really feels like a successor of the old FPS games like Doom, Duke and the original Shadow Warrior. I guess if I had to compare it I would say that this one is kind of like the first BioShock game with a dominant samurai theme and cheesy jokes that, no matter how much you find them not to be funny, after some time, the Wang will get to you and you will have no choice but to chuckle at them. So, do I recommend it? Absolutely. For everyone, this title is so likable and enjoyable that you can play it no matter what kind of gamer you are. Casuals and obsessed hardcore challenge seekers will enjoy it equally. 70 hours of gameplay on a linear single player only FPS is more than enough to describe how much I liked this one. So yeah, it’s a yes, definitely a YES and I can’t wait for the sequel for I absolutely am left wanting more Wang!

I was not disappointed! Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 was an excellent sequel and just as good action adventure game.
So, this game tells what happened to Gabriel Belmont after the events of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Needles to say, there are spoilers ahead and if you haven't played the first one, I have to ask why first and then I have to warn you that you should probably stop reading if you care for the story of the game. If you only care about the gameplay, keep on reading.
Also, what I would like to mention is that I will be comparing this game a lot to the first one since they are very similar and I already wrote a review on the eLords of Shadow, so if you don't like that, you should prolly read another review.

What I like about the sequel is that it keeps to its roots. Lords of Shadow 2 feels and plays very familiar, almost the same as the first game, but its just refreshing and innovative enough not to be a copy-paste of the original while still having that same good feeling of the first one. The main difference this time, story vise is that, instead of a holy warrior from the Brotherhood of Light, you are actually the Prince of Darkness, a powerful immortal vampiric being who, bitter and hateful because of how god "rewarded" him for his services and heroic acts, finds comfort and joy in terrorizing the mankind. Oh, and he goes by the name of Dracula :P

As for the gameplay, it still maintains that fast combat of the previous game, with a bit of tactics and different approaches to different enemy types but its a little bit changed and the fact that I can't really pick a favorite says a lot about them both. What I can say is that, the main difference now is, instead of having one set of moves with the Combat Cross(now called Shadow Whip) and two magic types to infuse it with, you now wield two additional weapons. A Void Sword to replace your Light Magic which heals you when you hit enemies with it, just like the Light Magic infused Combat Cross did, and heavy hitting Chaos Gauntlets that deal massive damage and break enemy armor upon impact, which replaces your Shadow Magic. These two slight changes make the combat a bit different but still try to keep it familiar. Other than that you can expect almost complete lack of stagger when attacking enemies. This can take a bit of getting used to especially if you play the game right after you finish the first one but still, it's not a big deal and after just and hour or so, you should get completely used to it. However, in terms of challenge, I have to admit that, the first game was much better since Lords of Shadow 2 feel very easy even when played for the first time on the highest(highest possible for the first playthrough) difficulty. There are challenges, yes, but they are more of a "figure out how to do it and its easy" rather than "I know how to do it but I simply can't do it due to its difficulty". I guess what I'm trying to say is that the challenges are more of a combat puzzles rather than combat skill mastery tests. Hope that makes sense to whoever is reading.

Another thing worth mentioning is that, instead of a level based progression system, we now have a big, connected map with zoning transitions, (kinda like old DMC games but with much more freedom). Now, I won't say its open world because that term is used way too often nowadays and gamers consider every non linear game with a hub like world design to be an open world game. This is not the case. While you are indeed free to roam the streets of the city/halls of the castle, within playable boarders, as you see fit, and backtrack whenever you feel like it, it is still a very linear game with linear progression system, but in case of this game, it's not a bad thing. Addition of a dynamic camera is also great and lets you take cool screenshots, look around this beautifully crafted world and just appreciate the artful and detailed environment that this game has to offer. As I said in the review of the original Lords of Shadow, playing it simply for its beautiful scenery is worth it!

All in all, this was a great game. I really took my time with it and tried to enjoy it as much as possible and kinda felt sad when I realized that its over. Gameplay time can be extended by doing challenges and trying to collect all the collectible items like upgrade gems, concept art and game lore scrolls and also by playing the Revelations DLC(which is fairly short TBH but a very good and quite different experience). So it should be clear by pretty clear that I will, 100% recommend this game to every action/adventure game lover, everyone who enjoyed the original Lords of Shadow as well as everyone who appreciates stunning visuals, detailed and beautiful game world.

Probably the most boring and repetitive game I have ever played.
Co-Op works wonders thou ;)

Dead Island is one of those games that seem very attractive and make you think that they are big open world games with so much to do in them when in fact they turn out to be, as a friend of mine often says, "an ocean with a depth of a swimming pool". It is very likely that you will love the game world and want to explore it from the first moment you are able to do so, hoping to find adventure and recover epic gear to increase your characters zombie disposing potential and while you will be able to do so, you are most likely to end up disappointed with what you got compared to with what you would expect from such a big game.

Long story short; I have played this game for 30h and in that time I have done the following:
- Killed zombies with knives
- Killed zombies with machetes
- Killed zombies with swords
- Killed zombies with bats
- Killed zombies with poles
- Killed zombies with axes
- Killed zombies with chainsaw
- Killed zombies with sickles
- Killed zombies with bricks
- Killed zombies with guns
- Killed zombies with modified guns
- Killed zombies with makeshift weapons
- Killed zombies with fists
- Killed zombies with brass knuckles
- Killed zombies by explosions
- Killed zombies by running over them with a car
- Killed zombies by drowning them
- Killed zombies by stomping their heads
- Killed zombies by jumping on their heads
- Killed zombies by kicking them(off of a cliff, into the danger or simply persistently kicking them until they die)
- Killed zombies by Chuck Norising them
- Killed zombies by burning them
- Killed zombies by bleeding them dry
- Killed zombies by electrocuting them
- Killed zombies by poisoning them(this is still and enigma to me 'cuz I can't quite figure out how is it that I have poisoned the undead)
- Killed gangsters by shooting them in the head
- Looted every possible container I every ran into every time I revisited the area

So, as much as I would like to write more about the game, I really don't know what to write since what I have written above is actually all there is to this game. But, do I recommend it? Now that's a tough one but I am gonna go with a "Not Recommended" since there are much more downsides to it than the good sides which doesn't mean that I still didn't had fun playing it for the most part but its mostly because I have played it with a friend.

So, unless you have a friend who owns the game or wants to own it, avoid Dead Island like a plague. It's big, it's very beautiful very often, its very detailed and lets you get creative with 101 way to kill the undead, but, more than anything, its repetitive and what you do in the first 10 minutes of the game is what you will be doing till the very end.

P.S. 3/30 hours played were spent on trying to connect to my friends game and constantly being disconnected. The reason for this was wireless connection. If you have wireless internet and want to play Dead Island online in co-op, you better think twice.

Funny thing is that when I first tried this game on its release date is that I liked the gameplay and story setting but was unable to fully enjoy it because the static camera bugged me a lot so I gave up. Later, for reasons unknown, I decided that this game deserves a second chance (mostly because I heard that Hideo Kojima was on the project. Take that Konami!). I'm so glad I did that ^^
Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow is now without a doubt, one of the best action adventure games that I have ever played and definitely in my top 5, maybe even top 3 (haven't really gave it that much thought) of the most beautiful and artistic games I ever saw! Just browse through my screenshots and you will see what I mean. I sometimes finished a session with over 20 screens that I just HAD to take, unable to resist the call of f12 because the game looks so f***in amazing! Every scene in this game is polished to the max with so many beautiful details and every 3rd scene is breathtaking and calls for a screenshot. If you like eyecandy, that's reason enough to play this game but there is so much more to it. The beautiful scenery and fixed camera angle really made me start loving that fixed camera and continue playing with enjoyment.

- As for the gameplay, its simply brilliant. This is one fine example of console games that the PC audience has the privilege to play. Its action packed with varieties of different enemies and by variety I mean around 40 different enemy types if I'm not mistaken that are all quite unique both in appearance(and by that I don't mean just retexture of the same model) and required combat approach but, fear not, they have the numbers but you have the combos. There are so many combos that you can master and use to battle these creatures and the game actually encourages you to learn and master all of these by incorporating a combo gauge system that fills up and rewards you with magical orbs the longer you combo, the more diversity you use in your battles and as long as you do not take any damage. And if that isn't enough for you, you have two unique alternate stances that give unique finishers and damage properties to your existing moves as well as 4 types of gadgets at your disposal. Pretty hardcore, right :)

- Once you take down a pack of werewolves or grind to dust a band of skeletons warriors that just refuse to die and keep respawning, you will frequently find yourself solving all kinds of puzzles. Now, this is a 50-50. Some people will love it, I know I did, but then again, some people will hate it and to those who don't like the puzzle and adventure aspect and prefer to focus mainly on combat, I strongly suggest getting Devil May Cry or Metal Gear Revengence instead. From what I understand, puzzle solving has always been a part of Castlevania games and I am really glad that they decided to keep that gameplay aspect. Puzzles are not really challenging but will sway your thought off of monsters and challenge your mind a bit, rather than reflexes. It feels natural to have this aspect in a game with a theme as this one, but I know that people will be split in two groups when it comes to this so consider yourselves warned puzzle haters.

- Last but not least (somehow I write that in pretty much every review) we have these amazing boss battles. I left them as the last topic since they incorporate all of the above. Bosses are like puzzles that you have to battle. Big, massive, challenging and beautifully thought and designed puzzle/battles(I'm sure older gamers will know what I mean). It is not a simple matter of beating them senseless, you will have to figure out how and when to hurt them. Some stages will require you to do environmental interactions or provoke a boss to strike at a specific spot so you can... well, do stuff to them. I don't wanna go into too many details since its kind of a spoiler but, rest assured that these are super cool and very memorable.
*Anyone familiar with the game Shadow of Colossus will find a coupe of these battles to look very similar to some of the Colossus(If you have no idea what I just said, I am really sorry for you and the best comfort I can offer is the insight that the Shadow of Colossus can in fact be played on PC. Browse the web and you'll find what I'm talking about)*

- There is also one more thing worth mentioning. Its a Complete Edition meaning that it has a DLC and extra stuff added. The DLC is not that great but its not bad, I'm just saying that compared to the main game, it doesn't seem that well thought and balanced and my guess is that they made it hastily just so that they can open the gates for the sequel to follow(which I am playing as I write this and all I can say for now is: Holy sh*it this game is awesome!)

Also, let me just compare it to Darksiders 1 and the original Devil May Cry 1(save for the backtracking, there's none in Castlevania since its a linear, level based progression system), its very similar to those games and chances are, if you liked those, you will most likely like Castlevania: Lords of Shadow too. As for my recommendation, its already pretty clear. Go for it!