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Good evening! Last week, I gave you a list of popular games that seem overrated in my opinion. Today, I’m turning around this post with some of my favorite games on modern consoles. Maybe you’ll agree with some of my picks or disagree entirely. Let’s check it out!
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate -Overall, the Assassin’s Creed series is great with the exception of a few titles. I’m not sure if Syndicate will make hardcore fans happy, but it should definitely appeal to the steampunk crowd. Syndicate is a fun Victorian adventure that cleaned up some of the gameplay issues from earlier installments. It has a cool skill tree and a variety of side missions in a huge open world environment. You can even zip line across the rooftops. Also, this game should appeal to casual players who are less familiar with the Assassin’s Creed franchise. This game is entertaining, accessible, and a little different than other entries in the franchise. Assassin’s Creed: Origins -Ubisoft took the Assassin’s Creed series in an entirely new direction, beginning with Origins. It’s a prequel to the other games that takes place in Ancient Egypt. Origins has really smooth controls, great characters, excellent world building, and really cool weapons. The role-playing elements are great and the gameplay has enough variation to keep players engaged. Even mundane side missions are fun. This game includes naval combat, gladiatorial matches, chariot racing, and other interesting elements from Antiquity. Overall, this game is pleasantly challenging and intriguing without being repetitive or frustrating. BioShock: The Collection -Quite possibly one of the most brilliant game franchises of all time. You can own the complete BioShock trilogy on a single disc. I struggled with the second game, but the collection is still amazing. As a series, BioShock has excellent storytelling, a unique gameplay style, a plethora of enemies, creative sci-fi elements, and a lot of social commentary. This collection might feel a little outdated for modern gamers, but it’s a classic that holds up really well. Also, the dystopian city called Rapture is probably one of the most iconic locations in gaming history. Boderlands: Game of the Year Edition -I haven’t played Borderlands 3 yet. So far, the original Borderlands game is my favorite entry in the series. It’s a wacky adventure that takes place on a post-apocalyptic planet called Pandora. The Game of the Year Edition has every costume, level, weapon, character, and bonus content unlocked right away. Leveling up is less challenging than the other Borderlands games and the world building is really huge. You could easily go on a nutty shooting rampage without running out of ammunition. The tone is lighter and funnier than most dystopian settings and the graphics are a nice throwback to comic book style animation. It’s a fun game that’s accessible to most gamers. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy -I was impressed with the remake of the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy. It’s one of the quintessential collections for platforming fans. The N. Sane Trilogy is entertaining, challenging, and addictive with a lot of variation. This collection has a great combination of fun locations and abilities. Despite being a bit tricky, the N. Sane Trilogy is less frustrating than a number of platformers, such as Cuphead and other crazy titles. The Crash Bandicoot games require strategy, but they’re still playable. You’ll also have the opportunity to use different vehicles, including motorcycles, jet skis, biplanes, scooters, jet packs, submarines, and more. This collection will always keep you alert and it's a good choice for gamers of any age group. Fallout 4 -Definitely my favorite installment in the Fallout series. This game is one of the more impressive and larger post-apocalyptic settings with tons of enemies, locations, weapons, skill sets, etc. Fallout 4 has an interesting campaign, but players also have the option to simply explore the wasteland and see what happens. Along the way, gamers will encounter a variety of characters who can be either friend or foe, depending on their choices. This game has several side quests and multiple endings. Gamers have the option to customize the protagonist in ways that suit their playing style. Fallout 4 has major replay value because it will be different each time. Horizon Zero Dawn -Another strong post-apocalyptic game. Horizon Zero Dawn takes place in a futuristic Stone Age among robotic dinosaurs and mammals. It has a beautiful and expansive open world environment and a well crafted story. The gameplay is easy to learn and the controls work fabulously. Careful strategy will reap great rewards in this game. You’ll have the opportunity to tame certain robots and use them as allies. How often can you fight a robot smilodon in other games? It’s a unique experience that should be memorable for many gamers. Injustice 2: Legendary Edition -Both of the Injustice games are great, but I’ll pick this one at the moment. Injustice 2 is a really strong follow up to its predecessor and the gameplay might be slightly better. The Legendary Edition unlocks every character, level, and alternate costume right at the beginning. This game has a solid variety of characters with different move sets. It’s probably one of the best fighting games on modern systems and the plot is surprisingly good. Usually, fighting games have minimal storytelling, but this one is a rare exception. The gameplay allows a nice variety of combos, power moves, counter attacks, and grapples. Don’t be afraid to use the environment as a weapon. If you feel skeptical about fighting games, try Injustice 2. The Last of Us Remastered -This game is probably the gold standard for zombies and it’s also one of the best post-apocalyptic titles. A fungal outbreak in grains causes a massive zombie apocalypse. The player is a survivor who's been fighting through the pandemic for many years by any means necessary. The Last of Us places a bigger emphasis on storytelling and character development than most games. Plus, the remaster has cleaner graphics. The gameplay is accessible to most players and it feels oddly realistic. It’s challenging enough without being overly frustrating. The Last of Us is very immersive, thought provoking, and just scary enough for horror fans. Honestly, this one is a great choice if you want to experience great storytelling. Pokémon Sword and Shield -I was pleasantly surprised with Pokémon Sword and Shield. These games are a great edition to the main series with a variety of locations, trainers, useful items, and lots of awesome pokémon. The main story is quite lengthy with some mystery elements and a chance to become the ultimate pokémon trainer. Gamers can easily spend hours, weeks, or months exploring different locations, catching a variety of pokémon, and developing an individual gameplay style. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore the wild lands, which brings an open world component to the game. It’s worth your time to play both Sword and Shield because they have several exclusive components. These games are perfectly suited for kids and adults. Red Dead Redemption 2 -Many people consider this game a masterpiece and I’m not sure if that’s completely true, but it’s definitely a well crafted product with great storytelling, a gigantic open world environment, awesome shooting mechanics, and many nuances. Everything is important in this game. Your decisions affect the story and the way other characters behave. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a classic western with huge attention to detail and an overall experience that requires careful strategy. However, this game doesn’t alienate casual gamers. It’s definitely one of the most immersive, beautiful, and replayable games on the market. Resident Evil 6 -I’m probably the only person who had a positive experience with this game. Resident Evil 6 takes the series in a new direction with more action elements. This game has fluid controls, scary monsters, campaign modes with a lot of variety, and plenty of excitement. Apparently, that’s not good enough for Resident Evil fans. This game is challenging enough without making the experience inaccessible to casual players. It has a good combination of standard enemies, boss fights, puzzle solving, and other elements. This game has one of the strangest viruses in the franchise. It actually turns people into human and animal hybrids. If you’re tired of the other Resident Evil games, play this one. Resident Evil 3 -For the record, this game is a remake. It’s a classic survival horror game with a few action influences. Resident Evil 3 is faithful to the series and it reminds players why Jill Valentine is such a memorable character. A zombie outbreak has decimated Raccoon City and now you need to escape. The atmosphere is creepy, the monsters are utterly terrifying, and the gameplay is amazing. It also has more checkpoints, better weapons, a bigger inventory, and some evasion tactics that weren’t available in Resident Evil 2. This game is getting some criticism because it cuts out a few locations from the original title, but I don’t mind. Basically, this game eliminates the annoying parts from the original title. I definitely recommend this game for survival horror fans. Until Dawn -This game is a choose-your-own-adventure in the horror genre. It’s also one of the few games that feature wendigos. If you’re not familiar with wendigo lore, they start out as humans who are isolated and resort to cannibalism, ultimately transforming into terrifying monsters. A group of teenagers are stranded in the mountains and their only chance to survive is waiting until sunrise. Until Dawn is both frightening and really fun at the same time with creepy locations, a decent plot, and the element of surprise. Your decisions change the story, character deaths, and overall direction. It definitely has some horror cliches, but that’s part of the game’s charm. Yoshi’s Crafted World -Sometimes it’s nice to have a more laid back gaming experience. Yoshi’s Crafted World is an adorable platformer with little dinosaurs in a land that’s made out of arts and crafts. It might not be the most challenging game, but this one has plenty of variety, creativity, and opportunities for exploration. A little bit of strategy can be rewarding and the game is surprisingly addictive. Each level is entirely different and it’s a nice experience for gamers of any age. Give it a shot if you want something different than first person shooters and role-playing games. That’s the end of another gaming post. What are your favorite games? Tell me in the comment section. I’ll switch gears to something else next week. Maybe we’ll talk about movies or writing. I know this a difficult time period, but keep your chin up. Our problems will pass and life will eventually return to normal. We just need to be patient. It might take a couple years to see normalcy again, but we’ll get there. Sorry, but the days of instant gratification are done. This a marathon, not a sprint. Here’s another special thanks to everyone working on the front lines. You’re helping us remain safe and keeping our bellies full. Be safe, find creative ways to stay entertained at home, and come back again next week. Bye!
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Greetings! Like most of you, I’m spending a lot of time at home. I've played quite a few games and some of them are amazing while others seem disappointing. Many games have excellent reviews and broad appeal, but that doesn’t mean I connected with them. Here’s a list of games that didn’t work for me, even though they have critical acclaim or vast popularity.
Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection Yup, I have the nerve to diss Ezio, otherwise known as the greatest and most popular assassin in the franchise. Truthfully, I didn’t start playing the Assassin’s Creed games until the Xbox One was released. So, the earlier installments feel really clunky and outdated compared to Black Flag, Syndicate, Origins, and some of my other favorites. I tried all three of the Ezio games and Brotherhood is probably the most compatible release with my playing style. Most likely, I would have enjoyed this collection if I actually played these games when they were originally released. Batman: The Enemy Within This game is the second season of Batman: The Telltale Series. I genuinely hate this game. In my opinion, the story is slow and poorly scripted. The animation isn’t great and the entire game is a subpar representation of the Batman source material. I commend the creator’s efforts to bring a new vision to a familiar IP, but the game is boring and it doesn’t feel respectful to the comics. It’s fine to change many elements, but The Enemy Within goes too far. Call of Cthulhu I believe this game is a mess. Some critics and gamers think Call of Cthulhu is scary and original. But it seems like a poorly made product. The role-playing elements aren’t very effective, the gameplay is unbearably slow, the lighting is really dark, and the plot doesn’t bring out any interesting components from the Cthulhu mythos. Basically, it’s a horror version of the Sherlock Holmes games, even though it’s not very frightening. Dark Souls Remastered This one shocked me. I don’t understand how the original Dark Souls game created a franchise. This game is nearly unplayable for multiple reasons. As expected, it’s incredibly difficult. The Dark Souls franchise is notorious for being harder than most games. Also, everything is complex in the original game. Opening inventory, equipping weapons, and striking enemies is a convoluted task. Seriously, you have to flip through multiple pages to use any item. It took me a long time to find a specific key in my inventory and use it to open a door. Equipping armor, magic items, and other useful items is also a complex task. Good luck hitting enemies. Most of the time, I just swiped at air, even though I had the option to lock on my enemies. I might be spoiled with more current games, but this one was a real head scratcher. Dishonored Definitive Edition Stealth games aren’t my forte. Dishonored has a cool story, interesting world building, and great steampunk elements. However, I can’t figure out how to play this game. I don’t think it’s bad. It’s just inaccessible to someone like me who sucks at stealth gameplay. For example, I tried hiding behind all kinds of objects, but the other characters found me anyway. I had somewhat more success with Dishonored 2, but the the original game wasn’t a good match for me. Doom Eternal Again, this game isn’t bad. In fact, it’s pretty solid. But it seems awfully convoluted for a Doom game. You have to take multiple steps to kill enemies, build health, gain ammunition, and find more chainsaw fuel. It feels like a lot of work. I prefer the old days of shooting enemies, collecting valuable items, and chopping up everything with my trusty chainsaw. Brainless killing just feels more authentic to the Doom series. Even the plot is convoluted and weird. On a positive note, Doom Eternal has great representation of classic enemies and it’s a fun remake of Doom II: Hell on Earth. The Evil Within This game is true survival horror, but it’s also unbelievably frustrating. You can never make a mistake. Any little mishap will lead to an instantaneous death, which will lead to a huge backtrack in the main story. Checkpoints are few and far between. Ammunition is scarce and enemies can take huge amounts of damage. I don’t know how anyone can beat the bosses. They require very specific strategy and most gamers will run out of ammo before defeating them. I still think The Evil Within would be a great film or tv series adaptation, even though the gameplay is problematic. This one is probably a better match for players who are looking for a serious challenge. You need a lot of patience to play this game. L.A. Noire Most reviews for this game are very good, but I think it’s pretty bad. This game is super boring, it doesn’t have a lot of action, the mystery elements are repetitive, and all of the characters are unlikeable. It’s also incredibly long. Most gamers will probably lose interest because it has so many cases. It just drags. The ending doesn’t make the experience more rewarding either. It’s too bad because I’m a huge fan of noire. I don’t understand why people believe this game is so great. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order This game is definitely the worst entry in the series. Marvel Ultimate Alliance is a great superhero franchise, but The Black Order is seriously disappointing. After playing it, I understood why it was exclusive to the Switch. It’s very simple and not expansive enough for the Xbox One or PlayStation 4. The gameplay is repetitive, the role-playing elements are weak, and the overall experience becomes stale after a while. It’s also another variation on the Infinity War story. Let’s face it. The movie is better. Pokken Tournament DX I'm not sure if this concept works. Pokken Tournament DX is a fighting game version of Pokémon. It’s mimicking games like Tekken, Street Fighter, and Dragonball Z. This game is cute and the controls are fine, but it doesn’t have much substance. After an hour of gameplay, you’ve seen everything. It doesn’t have a story mode or anything that makes it feel different than a basic arcade game. Basically, this game would have been good if the creators made the experience more expansive. Prey It’s another survival horror game with minimal scares. I felt disappointed because Prey was supposed to be a spiritual successor to both BioShock and System Shock, but the other franchises are infinitely superior. Prey has a weak story, the enemies are all the same, it’s not terrifying at all, and the camera angles needs to be better. Sometimes enemies were attacking me and I couldn’t see where they were located. It’s not unplayable by any means, but I wish the quality was better. Ironically, most gaming critics think it’s great. Rage 2 This post-apocalyptic game is a mixed bag. The first person shooting elements are remarkable. However, the player must spend large amounts of time racing in various cars. Rage 2 should be a good experience for players who are comfortable with both first person shooters and racing games. Unfortunately, racing games are one of my weaknesses. So, my ability to progress through the main story is very limited. That’s too bad because I’m a huge fan of the post-apocalyptic genre and I had success with similar titles, such as Fallout 4 and Mad Max. Resident Evil 5 One of the most irritating Resident Evil games ever! It’s a pretty cool game in many ways, but you must stand completely stationary while fighting enemies. That means you’ll have to stand in one spot while tons of enemies and monsters attack. I couldn’t even use my knife on the run. Are you kidding me? Luckily, Resident Evil 5 has really interesting enemies and other fun elements. It just feels like a missed opportunity. The Surge 2 The first Surge game was lousy, but I felt more disappointed with this one because it didn’t have any improvements. Everything was the same. The gameplay is still very awkward, the difficulty level is still incredibly high, the enemies are still forgettable, and the story is definitely worse. Usually, sequels make some improvements from their predecessors. That’s why it’s hard to play games in backwards order. I’ll give this game credit for having a more expansive map and that’s all. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Don’t freak out too much because I believe this game is actually quite good. It’s just too hard for me. In general, the Wolfenstein games are probably more compatible with gamers who enjoy Call of Duty, Gears of War, Rainbow Six, and similar titles. I’m just not interested in military shooters. It’s a specific style of gameplay. I enjoy Wolfenstein’s dystopian setting and plot, but the most basic enemies give me a really hard time. Even the easier modes are pretty difficult. However, I’m sure this game would be a blast for people who love military style franchises. Thanks for checking out my latest post. Which games frustrated you the most? Do any franchises seem overrated? Leave a comment and tell me all about it. Watch out for more game reviews. At some point, I’ll give you a list of my favorite games on modern consoles. Keep watching for more content. Be safe, take care of each other, and I’ll see you guys next week. |
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May 2019
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