Recent reviews by Cmdr. Shepard

The most gentrified, the most casual Battlefield game. It is fun at small dosages, but starts to tire or bore the player in long term. It is not as well-made as previous great Battlefield games like BF3 or BF4.

TL;DR: I am absolutely disappointed with my purchase. Because after wasting 42 minutes in-game, some additional hours outside-game troubleshooting; I was unable to even reach the main menu of the game. I contacted Embark's — the publisher— support, they ignore the issue hence nothing is resolved.

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I launch the game and after couple of seconds I see this:
"ONLINE CONNECTION ERROR Online services are currently not available. ARAU0297 - QUIT GAME - RETRY"
It doesn't even reach to main menu. And Online services were available while I was trying. There are several people having this issue on Steam forums and Reddit. Game's publisher and developer Embark have no explanation for this issue on their Help page. They have a page called "System Integrity Violation and Error Codes" for other error codes.

Oh btw, reaching their support has been extremely difficult too. You must have an Embark ID. For to do that, you must not use Mozilla Firefox, otherwise you get "INTERNAL SERVER ERROR". You must use your Steam account to create an "Embark ID". They provide absolutely no email address for their support anywhere on their website.

After several trials, I managed to create an account. I contacted them by the only means possible: a chatbot on their "Help Page". I explained the situation yet got no answer after more than a full day. From what I've seen; Embark doesn't have a proper bug-report system as well.

I had have heard their push for cosmetics, usage of AI for voices instead of hiring voice actor(s) before purchasing; yet I was excited to play the game with my friends. But utter and complete disregard for people have technical issues with their game by Embark made me sure that I will never buy any of their game again. If this issue is not resolved, I'll refund this game. Even if this issue is resolved, I won't change my review or opinion.

Addendum 1: Due to continuing incommunicado on their end, I requested my Embark ID account to be deleted, which is the only way to delete your account. I'm waiting for a response.
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Edit 1: Shortened some sections.
Edit 2: Small additions, addendum #1

Started as an "almost perfect" production, yet its story and game elements started to diminish in quality as the game progressed further. It was "very good" by the end of Act 2, and it was just "good" by the end of the epilogue.

I still recommend it to people who played Part 1; don't buy/play if you haven't played Part 1. Wait for a 40% discount to buy. 7/10

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Followings are my rants in no particular order. Take it as a list of things that make this game less than perfect.


1 - This game gives players the impression that game designers tried to polish the game as much as possible; developers added very small details here and there. This sense got lost on me as inventory management and looting became unrealistic in the game.

2 - In most missions there are invisible walls around, pushing the player to follow a predefined route. Some of those invisible walls are blocked by easily passable objects.

3 - While we are traversing a huge city, we follow a predefined route. But if you think about the route you take, it makes no sense most of the time. Because most of the time those routes seem dangerous, unpredictable and are unrelated to the destination we are trying to get to. It would be great if there were more streets and buildings we could traverse.

4 - Enemies in one area are not aware of the gunshots, explosions, fires in an adjacent area (if those areas are separated by invisible walls, checkpoints, etc.). This is acceptable practice in all games. Yet it but takes away the realism and sense of perfection.

5 - Characters can carry 4 heavy guns and 2 handguns but magically have no place for more than handful amount of ammo.

6 - We get to places where there is an abundance of fresh and clean clothing. Yet we can't use them as linens. We need to gather dirty rags and use them later for first aid.

7 - One of the hardest materials to decompose, which is also the easiest to find in today's world, is single-use plastics. Yet in the game, plastic bottles are the hardest collectible object to find.

8 - No human enemy I encountered seemed to care if my flashlight was on while they were searching for an intruder.

9 - They also don't alarm when they see a companion of the player in the open; wandering clueless around the player character.

10 - How come in this game there can be 2 new variations of infected enemies when the first game decisively established the lore with 4 variations in total? Some variations that were seen rarely in Part 1 (as how it should be) are unrealistically common. Keep in mind that Part 1 takes place 20 years after The Outbreak. Part 2 takes place 24 years after it. A 4-year gap shouldn't make such an effect.

11 - Our characters should be more scared of the infected, especially when their numbers are high. They act like they are playing tag with children.

12 - Our characters should take more care while holding an infected hostage or while executing them due to the risk of getting bitten in the hand. But there is one animation for each playable character, and in those animations, hands are definitely in biting distance from the infected's mouths.

13 - We see some of our characters get hurt, shot, or pierced with an arrow in a cutscene. Later in the same in-game day, our character gets treated for their wounds, but we see no indication of any bullet or arrow. Yet some NPCs carry their battle wounds for years.

14 - We see characters and NPCs swim with their backpacks. Later we see them take a Walkman out of said backpacks and use it. Such electronics would render useless underwater. We don't see them take care of their belongings for situations like water exposure.

15 - In a mission it makes no sense to cross a war zone to get one boat and leave the area with that boat. It is too dangerous; there is no guarantee for a vessel to be there. It is illogical to assume you'd not be shot at while sailing away on that boat during an active shootout near the coast.


16 - We play more than one character in the game. Characters we play sometimes clash in the story. The player should be given the decision to not pursue the fight or yield, even if some of those hypothetical decisions would end the game sooner than planned.

17 - We see some characters fight for a long period after sustaining heavy injuries and blood loss. We see characters come back to life after injuries so severe no one would even check for a pulse.

18 - Subtitle translation is worse in this game than in Part 1. I don't need translation, but when a production has high-quality subtitles, I tend to use them. They enhance entertainment value; you appreciate both the original product and the great literary work of the translator. Translation is worse because (1) there were obvious translation errors unlike the translation in Part 1, (2) idioms, proverbs, and daily phrases used in the translation are not as good as the previous game.

19 - I would appreciate it if this game (and any other game) would pause (or reduce) graphical rendering when the game is paused; or when we are in the main menu.

20 - It is a much easier game than Part 1 when played at the same Moderate difficulty.
Looting animation feels slow and clunky. You sometimes can't get stuff that is in the drawers even if you are ducking, as it is necessary. You find yourself wandering around bits and pieces most of the game.

21 - I loved the characters and the story of the first game because their personalities grew as you played; they found purpose in life; they learned to love new people; and they appreciated even the small things. It was also consistent.

22 - In this game's prologue, some characters go through a traumatic experience and want to act on it. As the player, your senses are also heightened and you go along with it. In the second and third act; I failed the comprehend some of the actions taken by some of the characters. Those were the actions of either an obsessive or an addicted person. It feels like watching a person who lost all their assets and family either by gambling or drug addiction. They've given a second, third chance buy they lost it all over again in their addiction. You as the player don't want your character do the things they do. The game won't provide emotional or logical reasoning for such actions to the player; forcing the player to go along with it.

23 - I wished there were alternate endings, one with via inaction, one with via different conversation option, one with no prologue. Given the fact that we play several characters for prolonged periods, we should not be forced to a single ending.

I occasionally fly in my dreams; I can take off of the ground, travel great distances and people always watch in awe, but it feels quite natural to me (in my dreams).

This game almost gives the same enjoyment. It is uncanny. The sound, gliding, the fake feeling of the drag force... just perfect. It also makes you feel good when you manage to go through a tiny hole you found at a great speed, after failing to do so after too many attempts. (In this game, you fail, you die).

Unfortunately you get bored after playing for 20-30 minutes at one go. But don't fret. Maps are randomly generated. Launch the game whenever you remember that it exists, play 10-15 minutes and relax.

It's a very soothing, and a fun game and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

8/10

A very fun little real time strategy (you will PAUSE a lot though) game. It can get challenging, which increases the enjoyment. After completion, you can go back and replay at harder difficulties. Graphics, animations, sounds, controller support are all perfect.

Map designs are hard coded; so they are always the same. There are 30-50 maps you can go through. It would be good to have randomly produced maps to play beside the campaign.

It would also be good if there were multiplayer or co-op support (with again random and bigger maps).

8/10

Why do all the commanders have d*ck-like noses in their portraits?

This is the first God of War game I have ever played. I was very excited before starting because I read many great reviews about the original trilogy when they came out. I have never played them because I hadn't had Playstation.

Boy oh boy, wasn't this a letdown for me. A huge one!

Gone is the Kratos I grew up reading about, gone is the fluid fighting mechanics I was hearing about. Neither Kratos, nor his son clicked with me.

I didn't like the fighting mechanics in this one. Camera angle makes it harder for the player to have command of the battlefield, so you rely on the little arrows almost all the time you deal with many enemies. And you always deal with multiple enemies. Hitting, killing the enemies are not that rewarding in terms of enjoyment. You always use the same action over and over: throw your axe, recall it, hit with light or heavy attack when they get near. No combo system, no good feedback on controller.

Graphics are also not that impressive but this wasn't a big issue. Menu design is abysmal.

I didn't enjoy the first chapter, but I tried the next one (when map opens up) just to push myself to like the game. It didn't work. I would refund it had I started playing it when I bought, but too late for that.

There are many other action-advanture games worthy of your time and money than this one. Stay away if this will be your entry to God of War series.

4/10

What Remains of Edith Finch is not really a video game, it is more of an interactive story.

We (the player) advance the story of the family of the narrator; who is pregnant. We watch, listen and interact with the story as the narrator (moved by the player) moves through her childhood home. She narrates the story as if she is reading a book about her family to her unborn child.

Expect heart breaking stories, tragedies, supernatural events (or entities).

Highly recommended. Play it at one go.

It's very basic and bland.

Controllers only work while racing.

Menu items are not named, there are only icons.

It's cheap, but still not recommended. Check out Sonic & All Stars Racing for a better Mario Kart type game on PC.

TL;DR: It is a good and fun game yet not outstanding in any aspect. Wait for 50% discount to buy.

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Update: Especially after 1.0.5 update, performances & texture quality issues are mostly fixed. Hence Performance section is updated to reflect current status of the game.

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The Last of Us Part 1 (for PC) is re-release of the same game released for Playstation 5. It is also remake of ‘The Last of Us’, released in 2013 for Playstation 3.

You play as Joel and occasionally as Ellie in a world 20 years after it got devastated with a global and sudden fungal outbreak. Infected persons behave like zombies, and can transmit the disease with biting. Federal government is collapsed, and there are different factions living in separated and isolated settlements, trying to survive.

Joel is given a mission to bring Ellie from point A to point B in the US, and you, the player, follow the duo endure hardships during their travel; see how the world is evolved after most of the population is gone, and cities are bombed.

The Last of Us Part 1 is an action game with a lot of gunplay. There are also stealth elements baked into game design and level designs.

Stealth aspect of this game requires player to have a gamepad.

You can carry a lot of big and small firearms at once. You can also carry some limited-use items including but not limited to medical kits, molotov cocktails, bricks, homemade grenades.

These limited-use items are to be crafted by various types of materials collected around the world, and they can be crafted at anytime.

It is possible to upgrade your weapons; and to boost your skills or health with another type of collectibles.

Gunplay is satisfying. Archery is underwhelming in both sound and gameplay wise.

There are puzzles to reach certain areas and not many of them are there. They are easy to solve.

Levels are linear, yet you are given some freedom to how to approach the situation at hand. Some wider areas contain several paths you can follow, even though these paths converge very quickly.

Sound is very important in this game because enemies are able to hear and pinpoint your location based on sounds you make. Some of the enemies are more sensitive to sound due to prolonged infection. They react to gun fire, colliding objects, walking over broken glass etc, yet our characters speak rather loudly when stealth involved and enemies don’t react to that.

Enemies also often don’t react to some of sound you make while slowly walking (even though there is
substantial level of sound).

Enemies talk to each other when they are searching an area, and you can position yourself to them. It is also possible to see them through walls. Game explains it as it is due to noise they make. It is a nice feature although not realistic at all. When they make very low noise, so low that you actually can’t hear, it is still possible to see them through walls with your given ability.

Let’s assume a situation that you are being hunted by a group of enemy. They loudly communicate with each other. You silently kill all but two. Remaining two still continue to talk. But when you kill another one silently, and once only one is left; he becomes silent, don’t talk, don’t report; even though it is unbeknownst to him whether his brother in arms is dead or alive.

Gunfire sounds bounce back off the nearby buildings when fighting is outside, which is nice, yet not greatly implemented in my opinion. Echoed sounds are much louder than actual source of the sounds. At some encounters, this made me think that there were enemies on my right or left, firing at me, but there were no one.

Echoed sounds also heard almost instantly when a sound is made. In reality echoed sound is heard with a delay due to distance between sound source and surface; then the distance between that surface and the receiver of the sound (the player).

I have very mixed opinions on graphics. This game can provide very good visuals, but often textures are very low quality for what their worth. Hair, fur don’t look very good.

Problem with graphics mostly due to low performance of the game.

Other games both new and old provide much detailed, sharper, overall better graphics with lower requirements on my computer.

Score is good yet limited. I would have liked if there were more variety to music.

To read more about sounds, look under Game Design > Sound Design located above.

When I first play the game in its original state, it had performance issues. Textures at Low and Medium settings were terrible. I played at 1712x960 render resolution, textures set to High with GTX 1660. It was OK, but looked worse than most games. Using an RTX 3070 only helped to increase the render resolution a little bit.

After 1.0.5 patch most issues are fixed as far as I can say. Now there are more options. VRAM usage is decreased. VRAM usage is shown correctly in-game. Game doesn't hit and stay under 10 FPS for no reason anymore.

In winter sequences (these sequences come much later in the story), game becomes extra demanding. I had to lower environmental textures, and couple of effects to get rid of stuttering. Keep that in mind.

Game provides a lot of translation options: full audio for 13 languages, interface and subtitles for 25 languages.

I play games in English audio with or without English subtitles. I give my primary language’s subtitle option a try and quite liked the translation. If all translation and dubbing work is as good as I tried; I can say Sony/Naught Dog did a good job in that regard.

This game provides a whole lot of accessibility settings. I have never seen so many options in a game before. Personally, I don’t need any of those settings but they are essential for some; therefore it is very nice to have some many options.

Titles of accessibility options are as follows:

• Alternate Controls
  
• Magnification and Visual Aids
  
• Motion Sickness
  
• Navigation and Traversal
  
• Screen Reader and Audio Cues
  
• Combat accessibility

The Last of Us Part 1 is in its core, a decade old game. It shows during gameplay. Remastered version supposed to provide great visuals. It provides on Playstation 5; but fails on PC. So what we have is an old game at a new game price.

The world is captivating, but characters and their story are not so much so. Combat is enjoyable but expect nothing new.

If texture quality increases and performance issues are fixed, I would recommend this game to all. But it’s current state it is only playable (by) (or at enjoyable state for) general public. Decide to buy on your own terms. But wait for at least 40% discount.

This is a third person shooter. You play as Alan Wake, an author, having time off in a small town with his wife. Yet unnatural events start to unroll from the very first night.

This game is a very good action thriller with a solid story. Levels, enemies, weapons (+ concept of light as auxiliary weapon), sounds and the music are all well done. Only thing I didn't like about this game is the awful low quality textures which seemed to be improved greatly in the remastered edition (as of now not available on Steam).

This game's story also loosely connects with Remedy's later game Control. There is also a sequel on the way. Play this, Control and have a nice time.