Recent reviews by DuckthatGames

I've been having an absolute blast with the game. I didn't grow up with Harry Potter so I'd like to think I'm not blinded by rose-tinted glasses for the game. I watched all of the Harry Potter movies at one point but they didn't really stick with me the same way I was captivated by other franchises. I'm not playing the game out of some sort of bizarre spite to the online discourse surrounding it.


There's something so satisfying about putting yourself in the shoes of a Hogwarts student attending classes, learning spells, exploring every nook & cranny the castle has to offer as well as the extensive area outside of it. While the main story is your run-of-the-mill 'Chosen One' plot with a lackluster antagonist, its shortcomings are made up for by the exploration, combat and overall atmosphere. While the game doesn't offer a lot of new experiences as the open world genre is so over saturated nowadays, there's plenty to appreciate here. The game borrows from a lot of genres, sprinkling in a fair amount of light-RPG mechanics while still being a fun action/adventure game. Conversing with classmates and learning all kinds of wizardry and spell craft is what you'll be doing a lot of. It's not as extensive as something like the Persona series or even Rockstar game's Bully, but does so to keep the flow of the gaming going. Hogwarts Legacy allows you to fully embody the role of whoever you'd like to be. The game boasts a lofty character customization menu with a plethora of options, allowing you to express yourself in any way you please. While you can't make the absolute abominations we've come to expect from games with in-depth character sliders like Fallout 4 or Elden Ring the presets that are here are solid and go to great lengths to ensure inclusivity. Outside of character creation, there's also a diverse cast of characters from a variety of ethnicity and sexual/gender orientations. Much more than I remember from either the book series or movies.

That being said, it's almost impossible to discuss your opinions on the game online without getting wrapped up in the controversy that's plagued it. I can't speak for everyone else, but personally it hasn't affected my enjoyment of the game so far. As far as I'm concerned, there is no ethical consumption under Capitalism.
I don't support J.K. Rowling's views , and as far as I'm aware, neither does the development team behind Hogwarts Legacy with many of them trying to distance themselves as much as possible. She has no creative involvement on the project. There is no argument to be made about 'separating the art from the artist' because she is not the "artist" behind the game. She is, however the original creator of the I.P. so there's going to be some lasting effects of her work regardless. Luckily, as far I've played in the game these tend to be quite minimal. This games support for J.K. Rowling stops and ends at a financial level. If you support this game, are you inadvertently supporting her? Yes. However, as a consumer I don't think there's really much of a difference between this kind of support and the kind that I give Jeff Bezos whenever I order something off Amazon. While I don't condone Child labor, I still benefit from my Mobile Phone made by it. Am I a hypocrite for financially backing those things?

The backlash for this game has gotten out of hand. People simply enjoying the game and discussing it on the forums are getting bombarded by anonymous strangers spoiling the ending. Streamers have been getting harassed for playing it. One of my favorite creators got so much hate that she had to stop mid-stream because it was too much for her to handle.

At the end of the day, I don't know what to tell you. I'm enjoying my time with Hogwarts Legacy and I'm not going to feel bad about it.

Eliza is a thought-provoking visual novel that ponders many modern questions those of us that are growing up in today's technology-dependent world are asking too.

You play as Evelyn , a 34 year-old woman who works part-time as a human-conduit for an AI counseling program. As the story unfolds, you glean from Evelyn's past that she played a significant role in the development of this AI, otherwise known as Eliza. Figures from her past appear one by one, informing the player of not only who Evelyn is but the part she has left to play in all of this.

Most of this game consists of you acting out Evelyn's job as a 'Proxy' for the Eliza program, which involves you sitting in a room, face-to-face with a client, much like a therapist. The main difference is that you are reading responses from a virtual overlay that the client isn't privy to. Evelyn or the player, is essentially a 'mouthpiece' for the program. While this can seemingly take away agency from the player, providing little to no choice in how to respond, it's a perfect showcase for the flaws in a system like this one. Frustration sets in as Eliza tries to provide a 'one size fits all' solution for everyone, no matter how complex their situation may be. Every scenario ends in suggesting one of the program's virtual guided mediation exercises as well as referring them to a pediatrician. At one point Eliza even recommends an expensive prescription drug to a susceptible elderly patient in financial straits.

Naturally there are skeptics to this program, some of Evelyn's old friends & colleagues included. Right when you're about to write off the program though, you'll meet someone like Evelyn's kindhearted supervisor Rae who recognizes all the same limitations to Eliza but comes to a more positive outlook. Some people see Eliza as a nice substitute for human interaction and companionship because it just listens to them without projecting its own unsolicited advice onto them. What makes these objecting viewpoints so compelling is that they come from characters you've come to care for.

Initially this game doesn't offer the player much interactivity nor dialogue choices to choose from. Instead, the developers have chosen to load most of that into the final act of the game. That being said, Zachtronics has created such a compelling cast of characters that I hardly noticed any perceived shortcomings.

Eliza is a 5-10 hour experience. Despite the runtime Zachtronics has managed to leave an impression on me that many games fail to nowadays. It's a moving game about loneliness and discovering one's purpose in a cold, seemingly indifferent world.

I'm Commander Shepherd and this is my favorite game on the Steam Store!

died of dysentry on day 1 after contracting polio2e, 11/10

Skyrim sets you in a world in peril. You play as the dragonborn, a mighty being with the capability to wield the voice of a dragon. Your adventures through Tamriel will definitely leave an impact on your gaming experience as a whole. Thus, this is a must buy. The combat is rather dull, since most of your combat scenarios only consist of the enemy charging at you with little to no strategy. However, the world and it's possible adventures make up for this fault. For every problem Skyrim has, there is a plethora of carefully forged mods. I highly reccomend this game, especially if you can get it on a sale.

Have you grown tiresome of the Assassin's Creed game's? Suprisingly, Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag bring a revival of the series. You play as a sailor by the name of Edward Kenway, who has taken up arms with anybody with a prize to take. Edward has been banished from the place he once called home. Edward is looking for a way to earn himself a decent life. Story aside, you will be spending the majority of your time with you vessel, otherwise known as the Jackdaw. This element of gameplay alone makes this game worth the purchase, especially if purchased through a sale.

Unlike many other zombie games, The Walking Dead focuses on the characters, and zombies are used to make sure you don't get too comfortable with your surroundings. Each character has a unique personality, and based on your choices, will decide whether they like you or not, affecting the overall toll of the story. You have five long sections of the season to make sure your experience is both long-lived, and making every minute count. I highly recommend this game even if you haven't watched the popular television series, because this game has little to no resemblence. Will you survive the tense story-driven experience that is The Walking Dead?