Recent reviews by Fortify45

So it's that time again, another Steam Award, another review to get a badge which will collect virtual dust as the years go on... but that said here's my review for Plate Up! Short review at the bottom.

This is a game in which you have to set up a restaurant, cook food, clean messes, as well as maybe put out some fires. Now if you think this sounds like Overcooked, you would be right to assume that this game is kinda like that.

However, what this game does is that it adds a roguelite element to the game. When you start, you will be making one or two items, usually something like burgers or salads. But after a few days, you will have to pick a card which will make you have more customers coming at certain times, add new starters, desserts or variations of the food you are cooking. So you have to pick your poison so to speak and choosing the wrong cards can make you lose that restaurant you've been working on.

Because of this, you get a fun but challenging roguelite, something which I always like. And this also means that if you do have friends you want to play with, you will have to work together really well because setting the restaurant up incorrectly or not talking to one another will cost you if you can't resolve matters quickly.

Either way, I would say if you like the sound of this game, go buy it. Even without friends, you can still have some fun, though having friends does add something a bit more to the game.

Short Review: A roguelite Overcooked! If you like the sound of this game, buy it.

To start this review I will say one thing, this is one of those games where if you are playing the game by yourself, you may find it less entertaining than if you were playing with friends, so please keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to buy this game. Also if you want a short review, check the end of this review.

So what is Icarus? In short, it's a survival game where you will have to battle against the environment to get your missions complete. But there is a little more to it than that. You see in this game when you land on the surface, you will have to get the mission you are on done by a set time (normally this will be 7 real-time days, though it can be more or less on other missions). Because you will have to build and maintain a base, as well as make what you need or think you will need for that mission. To me, this is a great mechanic in a survival game because I have played a good number of games where I have left the game and then have wondered what I need to do when I have come back to the game months later. However, this also means that if you start a mission, you have to complete it to be able to come back and gain the rewards for that mission.

However, you may be wondering if you leave a mission do you get to keep the items that you have? The answer, no. In this game for you to progress, you will have to complete missions to gain RenCurrency, which can be used to make armour, items and weapons which can be taken back and forth from missions. You will also level up by chopping trees, mine rocks, crafting items, hunting animals etc. Each new level will give you blueprint and talent points, blueprint affect what you can make, talent points affect what your character is like (ie. can carry more, can use a bow better, make items using fewer materials). So in this game, the main focus is improving your character, so you can make new bases faster rather than building a base and adding to it. This will either be good or bad depending on how you like your games, but remember in this game you are building a temporary base, so don't get to attach to it.

However, at this point, I will mention that even though this game is very different compared to some survival games, this game isn't perfect. For starters, as I mentioned before, if you are playing alone, death is a nightmare as you will have to head back to the spot you were killed to get your items, as well as lose the exp you gained for the level you are at, so if you are playing alone it can be challenging even on some of the easy missions.

Another thing I have noticed is that some of the talents are not working correctly. As an example, I have unlocked: 'Fresh is Best', which means food I grow will not decay. But when I was playing with friends, the food grown started to decay when it finished growing (and yes I could complain about how long it takes to grow food, but I don't wish to rant). UPDATE: They have fixed it now, though the wording could be a bit confusing.

This leads to another problem I wish this game had, the ability to respec a character. If you choose a talent by mistake or find that the talent isn't as useful as you hoped, well that's it you're stuck with it. To me, if there was a system where you could spend mission RenCurrency to redo your talent tree, that would be really helpful, especially if you started the game alone and put talents into solo, but now wish to play with friends, making the solo talents useless.

Overall, I have enjoyed this game. I like what we have now, but it can definitely get better from here. That said, if I was playing this game alone, I think I would find it harder to enjoy playing it. I say this because when you have others around, each player can focus on one job, rather than trying to learn everything, which to me make the experience a lot more enjoyable. Also a side note for the developers, a greenhouse that can grow crops faster would be great, thanks.

Short review: A survival game that focuses on developing character because each base you make for a mission will last a short time only. It has some flaws, which some have felt has ruined their experience, but the developers are working on. I think it's enjoyable because I play with others, but would find it hard to play alone, not impossible though.

You know what I enjoy about this game, is that there is a lot to it than you may think. Sure you can race on a track and try to get to first place, but that's just one element of this game.

The variety of things that can be done will appear to someone. You have a free-roaming world where you can explore the map for its secrets, you can complete challenges by trying out different vehicles (which will help unlock unique rewards), then again maybe you just want to race with other players/AI.

But what if you like a certain car and want to create a new design? You can do that. Want to have a break from racing to play party games against other players? Yep, you can do that. Want to take photos of the vehicles you own? Why yes you can.

In short, if you want a racing game that allows you to do what you want, that is something this game offers.

So have you ever wondered what it would be like to create or repair mechs? Well that's what this game says it will do. But the question is does the title match what the game does? (If you want my short review check the bottom)

Firstly I will point out that this is a simulator which is a bit strange since most simulator games will be based on jobs or professions that exist right now. And while it's true that robotics is something that does exist, it's certainly isn't on the level that this game shows. However that said, rather than basing this game on the present, the focus is on the future. In this future, three major companies have control on making new models of mechs. This mechs are used to for mining, scavenging, as well as for combat. But of course because of the value of these mechs there is a black market where criminals will steal parts, mechs, as well as use those mechs in order to get there criminal work done. To me this scenario makes the game go down a route which opens a lot of options.

You see when you start the game your focus is on repairing mechs for these companies, as well as for the criminals if you wish. When you do a good job you will get a good repetition with the companies or if you are helping the criminals, they will give you access to 'acquired' parts that can be used for repairing mechs. Later on you will have the ability to get your own mechs which can be used on missions, which in turn helps you to get more money, repetition and parts.

But lets talk about the mechanical side of things. If you have played Car Simulator you will have a good idea on how fixing and repair will work in this game. However I will add that there are some differences. Firstly before you can start doing any repairs you will have to clean the mech (if it is needed), as well as scan of the mech. When you do a scan it will tell you which part/s need to be fixed. Now this is where it gets interesting. You know how in Car Simulator you can remove the engine from the car after you remove a few parts attached to the engine? And then move that part away from the car, so you can get full access to every part of the engine? Well that's what you will be doing a lot in this game. For example if there is a problem with the mech's right arm, you will have to remove the right arm to a station. From there you can find the problem in the arm and fix it.

To me this is a great way to get the player to fix the problem without the headache of trying to find what the problem is. However this does make that game a bit easier when compared to Car Simulator, so that could be considered a good or bad feature depending on your preference. That said unlike like Car Simulator where you can try to repair a part by clicking on the repair button, in Mech Mechanic Simulator you are given a mini game to fix the problem. I do feel that this makes the repairing side of things better because it's more based on the player's input rather than relying on a RNG roll. This also means you will be spending time on both repairing parts, as well as removing/replacing them.

The game also gives players the ability to buy their own mechs which can be used in missions. This makes having mechs more useful as a way to make money rather than just buying them, fixing them and selling them off for a slight profit. That said, if you do plan on doing this be prepared to do a lot of repairs because your mechs will be taking a bit of damage each time you send them out. Still it's better than just storing in a garage to gather dust.

Now while I do like this game there are some problems which I do see with the game. Firstly when it comes to painting your mechs, you cannot choose what colours what you want. You have to have to choose a group of colours and from there choose the colours in that group you want to use. While this is meant so it's easier to choose the right colours when a company asks for them to repaint a mech, it does limited how you can design them. Speaking of designing, painting a part is tricky. Sure you can do a full colour on a mech as a whole, but you cannot full paint on a certain part (or group of parts) of the mech. Instead you have to spray what you want to be covered, which makes it very difficult if you have two or three parts right next to each other.

Also trying to do calibration is annoying. The problem I see with this is that it doesn't really explain it well. After a few attempts I figured out what I just did, however I do feel that it could be explained a bit more clearly.

Then there are minor things like repairing mechs can be repetitive, which sure could be said about any game which allows you to repair vehicles or machines, but it's worth noting for those who are not used to playing these types of games. The android that's with you can be kinda annoying after a while. I also found a bug where if you don't have the wiring room and you enter the empty room, you can fall out of your site and fall into the city and beyond, so that needs to be fixed as a heads up.

Overall, I'm enjoying the game. I did manage to get a 30% off which to me was a nice price for me to get this game at. Do I recommand it? Sure it does what says it does. That said it has some flaws here and there, but nothing that has ruined my experience. So I guess I would say that if you have like what you have seen of the game or you want to try a game that like Car Simulator but with mechs, then I think you will enjoy this game.

Short review: Game is like Car Simulator with mechs. I have enjoyed the game, has features which make the game enjoyable. That said this game does have some flaws, but overall a good experience if you like this genre of games.

So you may be asking yourself why should I buy this game when you can play these games online for free? For me there are a two reasons.

Firstly this game has the last chapter of this series which is unique to this game collection. This last chapter also has a really nice touch in which each of the endings you unlock in chapters 3 and 4 will unlock paths you can take in Chapter 5. So because of this the series has 16 different potential endings. Some are good, some are bad (especially that certain one...) and to be honest it's a nice way to wrap up the Henry Stickmin series as a whole. Plus they have added extra features which weren't in the original games.

And secondly, I remember playing these games way back. I really enjoying these games and laughing at the crazy and stupid things that happened in these games. Back then I couldn't always play the games I want to play, so much so that when games like these were made and released, I could play them. Nobody back then asked for money for these games, they just wanted to show the games they create because they made a game they were proud of. Sure these games are extremely stupid, but that's what made them so great to play. So I guess what I'm saying is that I want to buy them back for good times.

So yes, this gets a thumbs up in my opinion.

So why do I recommend this game? For two reasons:

1) It's the steam awards and I have to write a review, so I chose a game I enjoyed playing.

2) The sad fact of life is that things are not always as good as we remember them. I remember playing these games when it first came out and playing them a good number of times. However the problem is that when I see the screenshots of the past... you can tell this game has aged.

So now that I can play these games again, with the perks of modern gaming design, makes it great for older gamers who remember what these games used to be like, but at same time it gives younger gamers the chance to have those similar experiences as well.

The game is only 2 hours long and yet even after 12 years, this game is a reminder that if you have a fun new mechanic, you can create something very special... a tasty cake.

Theme Hospital... it was one of those games I played a lot back in the day. To me it was a classic which no other hospital themed game could match... until now.

See with Two Point Hospital it has that classic feeling, but at the same time it has a modern touch to it. While it's true I miss the big heads as well as the invisible people with the glasses and walking stick, I do like some of the illnesses in this game. Plus the comedy in this game is charming in it's own way.

That said I do feel they done some things in this game which are better than Theme Hospital. For example, dealing with heating issues is a lot simplier. I also like that you can go back to some of your older hospitals too for two reasons.

Firstly if you get a star for your hospital you can choose to stay in the hospital you have or move to the next level. If you stay you can get more stars which unlock more hospitals, though moving to a new hospital can help you unlock new rooms or items you can use in all you hospitals. Because of this the player can do what they feel is the better option, rather than it be a grind to get to the final hospital.

Secondly going back to other hospitals can in a way help you as you progress. For example if you need that certain new treatment, but you cannot afford to spend money in the hospital you are at, you can go back to a hospital which has a good research center and unlock the treatment in that hospital. Because of that it not only helps newer or younger players, but it also means that what you do in the past an be helpful to you in the future too.

I could comment on all the little things I like too, but in short this game has done something which I rarely seen that often. It has improved on a classic without losing that classic feeling.

So I got this game during the sale and to be fair I want to play a newer Sonic game, so Forces it was. And while it is true I'm a bit of a Sonic fan, I also want to be fair to those who enjoy platformers in general. And while I have given a thumbs down, there some good things about this game, but there are a good number of problems as well (If you want a short review, look at the bottom).

So first we see Dr. Eggman finally manage to take over the world. Because of this the Sonic team have to go into hiding and start to fight back in the shadows. Now any Sonic fan will know that this is very similar to the cartoon series Sonic SatAM or the Archie Sonic comics. So when I first heard this game was being made, I honestly thought it was going to have that same feeling of hope and despair.

However while playing through the game, it doesn't feel like it you play against a major threat. Sure you hear about the problems and successes of your team during the levels, but you don't really see anything. It's not like you suddenly have to get to a certain area by a certain time and even with the SOS missions, you don't feel like they're in that much danger. If anything you start to question how good any of the other Sonic characters are without Sonic. That's also why I wonder why they called this game Sonic Forces. As you play the game, you only get to control three of the Sonic characters during the whole game (two of which are Sonic).

That aside, let me talk about the new character creator, as you will be using this as one of the main characters. I must say I kinda enjoyed character creator at first. To me, I thought this would be one way you would play as a random person doing the smaller jobs for the Sonic Force, while the main Sonic Force would focus on the major threats during the game.

And then I find that this character is on the same level as Sonic. You will somehow make Sonic faster at certain points, you will be able to deal with major threats with ease. And even after doing all of that, as well as other life threating problems, the character still gets called 'Rookie', while the rest of the Sonic Force are doing... nothing apparently. To me this is what I really disliked about the game. Sure you can create that fanart character you always wanted, I just can't understand why they thought it was a great idea to make that character better than any of the other Sonic characters.

And while it's true the character creator is new, the levels themselves have changed as well. So for most Sonic fans they will know a few things that will happen in a Sonic game. You start with three lives, you have to collect 100 rings to get an extra life and you will get the chance to collect the seven Chaos Emeralds. With this game, they got rid of all that. You can have as many lives as you want, you will collect more Rings then ever before (we are talking more than 300 rings per level in some cases) and even though Eggman has taken control of the planet, nobody has a single thought about collecting the Chaos Emeralds, which is amazing considering Sonic has done this for nearly all his games.

And to be fair if this was a tactical role-playing game, I honestly think this would have been a better idea, as you would have been able to control the whole Sonic Force in very new way. But this isn't the game I was expecting. While it's true that this game is a lot easier for newer players of the Sonic franchise, as well as maybe younger players who will get to help Sonic in a major way, to me this a huge step back to the main series of Sonic games. So well it's true that this a somewhat OK game (and knowing I got it cheaper during the Steam Sale), this game does stand out as different, but not in a good way.

Short review: I was hoping for a game that was like Sonic SatAM, but it's not like that. Also the game is very different to other Sonic games, but not in the good way. It's no Sonic 06, but it's not that great of a game. If you want to play it, I would say buy it at a sale, but don't set you hopes too high on this one.

What makes this Sonic better than the other Sonic games you ask? In short, the fans.

You see there have been some who have complained that some of the Sonic games were not as good as some the classic games (and I can see what they mean with some of those games). So some people decide to make fan games which players would want to play. Those players played those games and the Sonic Team noticed this. It was then they realised they could get the same people to create a new Sonic game.

This is what the game is, a game made by fans for the fans. Do you miss some the iconic levels in Sonic 1-3? This game has some of the best choices. Does it have new levels which are as fun as the classic levels? Yes. Does it have the 2 player split screen like in Sonic 2? Yes it does.

In short, this game is made for those who loved the classic Sonic games while adding a nice new touch to it.