Doom, L.A. Noire, and Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Hello, my fellow gamers! I spent some time playing a few games on my Xbox One, so this would be a good opportunity to write three short reviews. We're getting action and monster mayhem with Doom. Then we're going to solve several mysteries in L.A. Noire. Finally, we're ending this journey with Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, a huge fantasy epic. Hopefully, this post will give you a solid idea if these games are worth playing. Have fun!

Doom is the first game on this list. The Doom Slayer from earlier games is rescued from Hell to aid the Union Aerospace Corporation on Mars. Earth is running out of resources quickly and the UAC is trying to harness power from Hell in a feeble effort to save mankind. This plan backfires with disastrous results. Luckily, our favorite Doom Guy is ready to destroy Hell's monstrous army. 

This game is a dream come true for Doom fans. It's just like the classic game, except the gameplay features modern graphics. You'll have the chance to run around the facility while using shotguns, grenades, machine guns, chainsaws, and the infamous BFG. It's very nostalgic and tons of fun. 

Doom has a great selection of enemies. The monsters come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Different types of weapons work more effectively on specific creatures. The player will encounter demons in every nook and cranny of the facility, which is a hugely entertaining experience. This game also includes awesome boss fights with super cool monsters. 

The weapons are stunning. You'll find weapons all over the map and ammunition is quite plentiful. Enemies respawn frequently and these weapons help out significantly. Periodically, you can upgrade many of these weapons to make the gameplay more impressive. It makes the experience even better because the weapons pack more power as the story progresses. You'll have the chance to splatter demons all over the walls. It's also a lot of fun to grab a chainsaw and hack away at everything. The gameplay is ridiculously entertaining. 

I find Doom less irritating than many modern games. There's quite a bit of health packs, ammunition, upgrade opportunities, and checkpoints. It's just not a very complex game, which is perfectly fine. Sometimes, it's good to have brainless fun without a slew of complications. 

Even though I enjoy this game, it has some flaws. Don't expect a significant story. The plot is very thin and simple. You'll grab weapons and destroy monsters in a space station. That's basically the entire story. I don't mind, but some players prefer more refined and fleshed out plots. 

Upgrading the suit can be a problem. I didn't have a knack for finding many chances for suit upgrades. Naturally, stronger armor makes the gameplay easier later on. But you have to find secret part and it's kind of difficult. As a result, I died all the time, but there are endless opportunities to respawn at checkpoints. Hopefully, you'll find a way to work around this issue. 

This game doesn't seem to focus on multiplayer systems. It's primarily a single player game. Actually, I don't really know if the multiplayer mode is bad. However, I heard several negative things. There were many complaints about the multiplayer mode being repetitive and not very much fun. Just keep that part in mind if you prefer multiplayer systems. 

Overall, I highly recommend the latest version of Doom. It's a terrific romp with monsters, violence, powerful weapons, and loads of adventure. It's perfect for hardcore Doom fans. I would also recommend it for people who thoroughly enjoy first person shooter games. Most likely, you can find really cheap used copies through Amazon or GameStop. Occasionally, I see new copies at Walmart and Best Buy. You can buy it new on Amazon as well. That's how I purchased my copy. 

L.A. Noire is the next game on this post. The story takes place in 1947 through the eyes of a police detective and war hero named Cole Phelps. He receives promotions to the Homicide and Vice divisions throughout the game. Sadly, everything comes crashing down after he has an illicit affair with a singer named Elsa Lichtmann. His career and marriage winds up in shambles, but that doesn't mean Phelps is going to stop fighting crime. The wayward detective uncovers major corruption in the LAPD and tries to redeem his image. 

This isn't one of my favorite games, but it definitely has some positive elements. L.A. Noire is a nice break from role-playing games and first person shooters. It's a classic noir tale with detective work, interrogations, car chases, and an emphasis on storytelling. This game has a certain amount of novelty. 

I really appreciate the noir elements. It's dark and gritty with a troubled protagonist who's trying to uncover a mystery. This game is interesting, sexy, and full of gray moral areas. It also takes many themes, stock characters, and plot points from the noir genre. 

Despite having unimpressive graphics, L.A. Noire is an accurate representation of post-war Los Angeles. The creators did their homework. The landscape looks pretty accurate in terms of architecture, fashion, social norms, and more. It seems quite accurate for a video game. 

It's almost like watching a movie. L.A. Noire is very cinematic and unique. The voice work is excellent and the characters are quite expressive. There isn't a lot of action, so the mystery and storytelling takes control. I have an appreciation for cinematic games.

Unfortunately, L.A. Noire has a few serious problems. It's dreadfully slow and long. I couldn't believe how many days it took to finish the game. It's highly repetitive and I grew tired with that element. Seriously, you'll spend an unbelievable amount of time driving from one crime scene to the next. The player also spends a lot of time searching for clues and interrogating suspects. It definitely has novelty at first, but that part wears down after a while. You'll need patience to finish this game. 

Hardly any of the characters are likeable. Granted, that's a typical problem in noir. The characters are believable, but it doesn't seem like anyone has a moral compass. For example, Phelps appears to be an outstanding citizen and a hardworking detective in some ways. But in reality, he lies, cheats, and neglects his family. Why is anyone going to root for this guy? Overall, you have to take the lesser of the evils in this game. 

The plot okay, but not exceptional. L.A. Noire simply focuses on a detective who's trying to repair his damaged reputation and that's not a compelling story for a video game. Add quite a bit of repetition and the plot becomes increasingly dull. Many players will get bored after a while. 

Ultimately, I'm only recommending this game for classic noir fans and people who are looking for something different. L.A. Noire has some very good elements, but it won't be exciting for mainstream gamers. I think you can find new copies, but just get a used game instead. You definitely don't need to pay full price for this type of game. 

Let's move on to Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The story takes place in Ancient Greece and the player takes control of either Alexios or Kassandra, who happen to be siblings. Our protagonist is a mercenary who lost his/her family many years ago. Throughout the game, Alexios or Kassandra unravels details about their family while uncovering precursors to the Assassin Order and Knight Templars. This game includes plenty of missions, thievery, assassinations, battles, and other tasks. 

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is very good, but it's a mixed bag for me. It definitely has one of the most impressive open world environments in modern gaming. The environment is beautiful, immersive, well designed, and gives the player endless opportunities for exploration. I absolutely love this part of the game. 

The story is really interesting and pretty well developed. It's a mystery with a subtle connection to the Assassin's Creed franchise. The plot is substantial and it also features plenty of action. Keep an eye on small details. They can become very important later in the game. 

The protagonist picks up many useful items, including armor, weapons, money, and items for trading. Even the most mundane items can have value in the right places. Over time, your inventory will become huge with a lot of variety. It's one of the coolest elements in the game. 

Is the fighting system good? Absolutely! Your character can level up and develop different kinds of skills. The player can also upgrade his or her armor and weapons. Even though the gameplay is very different than the average Assassin's Creed installment, it's still amazing. It reminds me of The 300 with clashing weapons, grand battles, and lots of grit. Alternating weapons can be useful, so keep that part in mind. 

The world building has many cool elements. You'll encounter historical figures, such as Sokrates, Perikles, Hippokrates, Sophocles, Herodotus, etc. The protagonist also travels to both historical and mythical locations. I remember visiting Olympia, Athens, Ithaca, Naxos, Kephallonia, and more. The player even has a chance to fight mythical creatures, such as Medusa, the Minotaur, the Sphinx, and others. These battles are quite challenging, but also a lot of fun. If you love Greek history and mythology, this game would be an excellent choice. 

I have a few complaints. Several parts of the game seem like busy work and chores. I remember completing jobs for other characters that included spying on people, stealing items, and performing other mundane tasks. Sometimes, it's a drag.

Odyssey is also very long. I still haven't finished the main storyline. It would probably take six months for me to complete the game. Overall, this game requires a lot of patience. Don't expect to be in a big hurry.

Upgrading significant items can be an issue. Leveling up skills, costumes, and weapons is a long process that requires special items. It's essential to complete a slew of side missions and that can be fine sometimes, but constant sidetracking becomes frustrating. In fact, I had trouble finding enough side missions to move forward. Obtaining the right items for upgrades can be challenging as well. You almost need a game guide to find everything. 

One more thing. This doesn't seem like a true Assassin's Creed game. Odyssey is a terrific adventure in Ancient Greece, but I don't recognize many elements from the main series. Everything seems different, ranging from the story, gameplay, enemies, locations, etc. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag had a similar problem. Both of these games are fun with great action, but they're slightly out of place in the Assassin's Creed canon. 

Here's my verdict. This is a high quality game with a handful of issues. It's a great option for people who enjoy open world environments, role-playing elements, and brutal fight scenes. I have mixed feelings about Odyssey, but it's quite popular in the gaming community. Luckily, you can still find new copies almost everywhere. Give it a shot if you're curious. 

That's the end of my latest post. Have you played any of these games yet? If so, what did you think? Keep watching for more exciting and interesting topics. The summer is packed with cool movies, sporting events, and new video games. I'm also planning to conduct more steampunk interviews as well. Many of you are probably getting ready for summer break. Party hard, but don't get in too much trouble. Take care!