Recent reviews by NWeskey

Grand Theft Auto 5 is the current latest game from the GTA franchise, after the monumental success of Grand Theft Auto. Rockstar Games decided to make a sequel to the HD universe in sunny Los Santos(inspired by Los Angeles). The game was released on September 17th, 2013 and is to date, the most successful piece of entertainment media. Just to mention in this review I won't mention GTA 5: Online because that it a game on it's own.

The gameplay for GTA 5 is a great example of perfection. Everything is brilliantly paced, nothing feels that it was shallow or rushed. Missions end with you finding new things out about the game and its lore.

Gunplay is very satisfying, aiming to feel so fluid and responsive. The variety of weapons and their addons is massive, there are 30 weapons all with customizability. Shotguns have a loud and powerful punch, pistols having that firm grip and the snipers having that shrouded effect.

The GTA 5 graphics were in 2013 groundbreaking almost 7 years later, that claim still stands. The graphics are absolutely stunning! Rockstar Games really are known for their level of detail. Every piece of shrubbery is unique in its own way. It's amazing how they managed to stuff a world that big in a game.

Before i start SPOILER WARNING AHEAD. In GTA 5, you play as 3 main protagonists;

Franklin Clinton - a 25-year-old guy trying to escape gang life and trying to actually do something influential in his life, a newcomer to the criminal life. He is also a talent for driving.

Michael DeSanta (Townley) - a 48-year-old trying to live a good life after being a full-time criminal in the late 90s and early 2000s. During a heist in Ludendorff, the United States Michael and one of his partners in crime 'Brad Snider' both were shot after fleeing the police, Brad didn't survive the shot but Michael did. Michael made a deal with the FIB to fake his own death. During that time he tried to cut contacts with his other partner in crime 'Trevor Phillips', which is are next character.

Trevor Phillips - a close contact of Michael DeSanta, who in 9 years met new people in the outskirts of San Andreas and founded his own company with Ron Jakowski called Trevor Philips Enterprises. An uprising drug smuggling company trying to get a bigger sponsor to make his company larger. He is also a psychopath and he's talented in aiming and killing.

The story feels very good, it all fits together nicely and in the singleplayer campaign, you meet a lot of unique characteristics, which you would never probably meet in real life. The idea of having 3 protagonists is genius in my opinion, mainly because you are able to see certain aspects in the game from different perspectives.

GTA 5's level design is of most Rockstar's games, linear and innovative. In every mission, you're given tasks which reap the main goal.

The recreation of Los Angeles is spot on. Having been in LA, I knew exactly where I was going most of the time. Some parts are of course fictional and don't exist in real life, but it's executed so well that it might as well be in real life.

Grand Theft Auto 5 is a big game, period. It features over 60 innovative and diverse missions. Besides that, there are a lot of little small quests that don't affect the main story. The game took me over 40 hours to beat the first time, and I enjoyed every single moment of it. I've even become fond of the mission fails.

The controls are fluid, responsive and free. Movement by foot is a bit sluggish, but that's to be expected because you have so many vehicles to chose from and walking is only used when necessary. Fun fact, there are currently 464 vehicles in GTA 5 (including GTA 5: Online).

The difficulty of GTA 5 missions isn't hard. Most missions are easy and are fun. Although saying that, I can say I've failed a mission more than 1000 times.

The music in GTA 5 is amazing, for me it is up there with GTA San Andreas' soundtrack. The diversity of the radio stations is nice and it adds a bit of depth. The main theme song for GTA 5 is iconic, it recreates LA so well I can't describe it in words, it's popularity shows that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzKvPrIPVbE

The trailer for GTA 5 is great, it tells you all you need to know what's going to happen in-game and it showed the graphics 2 years before the official release of the game. You also get introduced with one of the protagonists; Michael DeSanta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjZ5tgjPVfU

In conclusion, Grand Theft Auto 5 is the best games Rockstar Games have ever made and it will always be like that, it has become a phenomenon and it's community comes from all over the world. The game features an insane level of detail and it's the definition of perfect execution. If I had to rate Grand Theft Auto 5 from 0 to 10. I would rate the game an undisputed 10/10, probably goes into the history books as an instance of a perfect game.

To start off, Estranged: Act I is one of the better mods made on the Source Engine. It uses cutting edge special effects that are still up to date. It's set in its own universe with the protagonist (aka you) being a sailor and being lost in the sea. After a thunderstorm, you crash into a dock of an island that's been overrun with zombies.

As I said in the intro of this review, this mod looks absolutely stunning. It uses cutting edge technology like Depth of Field, A better cube map technology and motion blur [That was sarcasm by the way]. The style of this game is very nice and reminds me of Transmissions: Element 120.

The gameplay in Estranged: Act I is interesting. It has enough content for me to say that it's better than a regular mod. It has custom weapons, characters, storylines, and etcetera. Every level is filled with easter eggs, hidden lore and it is packed with cool puzzles and enemies.

The level of design is supreme. The highest of the high when it comes to Half-Life: 2 mods. It's very pretty, diverse and varied.
The mod really feels connected and I actually had a clue what to do. Very well done.

Estranged: Act I is a Half-Life: 2 mod set with the goal to tell a good story and keeping you on your feet. And it really does prevail. If I had to rate Estranged: Act I, I would rate it a 9 out of 10. It really is a unique experience and it's fun.

EDIT : P.S. It's just a shame that Estranged: Act II is mediocre and it switched engine.

P.S.S. Here's the link for the Act II:

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/582890/Estranged_Act_II

Transmissions: Element 120 is a Half-Life 2 mod set in the Half-Life universe, I suppose before the events of Half-Life 2. During the game, you come across a new ''gravity-defying weapon'' which is a reskin of the Gravity gun from Half-Life 2 with the special attack from the Pulse Rifle.

The gameplay of this small Half-Life 2 mod is alright, not the best to be completely honest. It all feels a bit disconnected, you're not given any explanation of where you are, what time is it, so you just run around a wasteland of a city trying to figure out what's going on.

The Level design is good, looks good geometry-wise. Though this mod is way too short. There are 4 chapters but they can be summed up in 1 big chapter, 4 chapters aren't necessary. Every level takes around 7-15 minutes to solve and finish and it doesn't have a lot of puzzles which is good in my book.

The graphics in Transmissions: Element 120 are amazing, probably best mod if you want to see a modern Half-Life game in the old Source Engine. The post-processing effects are fantastic, great use of color-correction and it just looks like eye candy. Saying that this mod isn't optimized that great. On the last chapter, I would get framerates lower than 30 FPS on a GTX 1060 on max graphics and 1080p.

In Conclusion, Transmissions: Element 120 is a short free-to-play mod for Half-Life 2 that tries to tell a unique story but it ultimately falls a bit short, all though saying that I still think it's worth your time. If I had to rate this mod, I would rate it a 6/10. It has un-used potential which could have been filled if it was a bit longer. I have to say, I've been very critical of this mod, it's still very good for a mod. If you want to play a mod which has more content you might want to check out Minerva: Metastasis or Entropy: Zero. Thanks for reading and have a good day.

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/235780
https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/714070

Grand Theft Auto IV is an action-paced open-world game set in the fictional metropolis of Liberty City ( New York City ) in the year 2008. To be frank, this is probably one of the best open-world game I've played so far. Everything is executed amazingly.

The graphics are very gloomy, but that's to be expected, mainly because of the where the place is set and because of the story which is very dark. It looks alright, the graphics still hold up to this day and were ahead of its time. Revisiting the game after a year absence I spotted a few crazy details and a few cool easter eggs.

This game for me is the best game storywise in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, unlike anything before it. Now I'm going to get a bit subjective and I'm going to compare the games' protagonists. For me, I don't like Franklin Clinton from GTA V because he for me is way too similar to Carl Johnson from GTA: San Andreas, kinda feels like the character was an afterthought.

Anyways back to the main point, this game has one of the richest stories in gaming history, even playing the Episodes from Liberty City ( DLC which includes The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony ), it all feels connected and just comes together perfectly. The protagonist Niko Bellić is a former soldier turned human trafficker who is trying to start a new life in Liberty City with the help of his cousin Roman Bellić who came to the United States years before, when Niko comes to LC he does all kinds of tasks for Roman and get's involved with some bad people who could terribly influence his life opportunity. I cannot tell you after that because I do not want to SPOIL THE STORY. Dan Houser and Rupert Humphries really did their homework when it comes to this game.

Movement and controls, the game is alright. Easy to get used to, but a bit meh. The movement's a bit slow on foot but that's why cars, bikes, motorcycles, and trams exist in this fictional world, the parkour mechanic is a good idea which does the job. Personally, I love to drive around the map using motorcycles, it's kind of a habit I have.

The Official SoundTrack is for me the best GTA track. I like the industrial styled instruments with low tones and creepy shivers (down my spine). The mission complete theme is my future donation sound for Twitch.tv. I like the main theme so much that I've tried to learn it on my piano, I mean it's a work in progress, still sounds a bit crap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqE8M2ZnFL8

In conclusion, Grand Theft Auto IV is so far my favorite GTA game I've played and it's up there with the more revolutionary games ever made, the best of it's kind. How much would I rate out of 10? A solid 9.5, not 10 because 10/10 is reserved only for Half-Life 2. Thanks for reading and have a nice day.

Aaah, Day Of Defeat: Source. A name that I just love to hear. Day of Defeat: Source is a great game, it's set in 1944 World War 2, where the Allies have to eliminate the Axis and vise Versa, they have to secure points andthere is a special mode for the Allies to blow up points.

The thing I love about this game is, none of the classes seems useless, it's similar to TF2 in a sense. It's based on what play style you use. For example, if you're good with your aim, you'll be the sniper, if you're the attacker type, you're assault. Every weapon seems unique. Me personally, my two favorite classes are the Rifleman and Sniper (I'm the sniper type. ).

The Two main things I love about Day Of Defeat: Source are the game's engine and the game's level design. First, I'll talk about level design. The level design is great, it makes you feel you're in a real battleground and not in a fictional 1v1 arena. The maps are all special in their own way, and I just loved how it's set in the early 40s.

The game engine is the best part about the game, it's the source engine (My favourite game engine is the Source Engine for you who is wondering.). I love how every Valve-Source-made game is different from the other. In Day Of Defeat: Source you can sprint, in Counter-Strike: Source you can bunny hop and so on. The source engine by today's standards is still outdated but in my eyes, it's still up to date with me. It's like I'm obsessed with the game engine.

Quick little mention, the game's trailer is one of the coolest trailers I've ever seen, besides the CS:GO trailer. It's made in Source Film Maker and it recreates how a regular match would play out. You feel like you've watched a professional movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8jQJ5SFqBU

Anyways, from a scale from 0-10, How much would I recommend this game? I would recommend this game an 8 out of 10. In my opinion, the 4th best WW2 game out in the market. Check this game out! Thanks for reading and have a good day.

EDIT: I have found out and have played a fan-made game inspired by Day of Defeat called Day of Infamy, It's a more complex and realistic version of Day of Defeat.


https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/447820/

This game is one of the best, if not the best game made by Telltale Games. An absolute piece of art, the unique art-style, the dialogues, the way everything fits into the game nicely. Sure, I have played this game on my old PC somewhere last year, but now with my new better, buffer and faster PC, it is going to be a blast replaying the good game.

The gameplay in Tales From The Borderlands is like every other Telltale game, while you're not in a cutscene and picking what to say, the exploring part of the game is you having a stiff camera behind you without a great view in front of you, there isn't that much exploring in the game, to be honest.

The graphics are great because I like The Borderlands comic styled graphics, like in most Telltale games. I like the vibrancy in the environment, including the contrast the world has.

The official soundtrack is one of the best things about the game, it fits right at the right moments, I really want to say a part in the game where it fits very well, but I DO NOT want to spoil it for you who are reading this review.

And the final question is, how much would I recommend this game out 10? I would recommend this game 7 out of 10 times. Solid game and unique experience. Thanks for reading and have a good day.

Half-Life 2: DownFall is a mod for Half-Life 2 set in the Half-Life universe some time and place near the events of Half-Life 2: Episode 2.Spoiler warning ahead.

The gameplay of Half-Life 2: DownFall near recreates the experience you would have had when you played Half-Life 2: Episode 2 for the first time, puzzle heavy I found myself stuck on the first level but that's just because I'm a meathead. Gunplay is of a standard Half-Life title, all the weapons have a certain punch, the shotgun being my favourite.

The Level Design of Half-Life 2: DownFall recreates a new part of the White Forest area, a peninsula next to a valley with a bunch of caves in the area. Every map takes about 10 minutes to finish and is easy to figure out. Saying that the mod is way too short for me. I've played Minerva: Metastasis and Entropy: Zero and I can say that those mods were huge, 5+ hours of game time, this one is a measly 30-45 minute experience.

In Conclusion Half-Life 2: DownFall is a free-to-play small mod which tries to tell a different story instead of Half-Life 2: Episode 2 and in some ways, it prevails. If I had to rate it out of 10, I would rate it a 8 out of 10. A unique experience and a must-play if you're a Half-Life fan. Thanks for reading and have a good day.

Half-Life 2: Episode Two is the second DLC game in the Episodic Half-Life 2 Franchise. It's set in the woodland kilometers away from City 17 and you have to reunite with your old pals that you met in Half-Life 2.

The Gameplay in Half-Life 2: Episode Two is amazing, it's paced remarkably well. The expansion pack includes nimble puzzles which are fun in retrospect. Midway through the game, you get a car and the games turns into a sandbox game with the sore goal to survive.

The level design in the 2nd expansion is incredible. It has everything, from caves, valleys, forests, abandoned towns, and etcetera. The levels are very replayable, fun and very amusing.

The graphics in Episode Two are great, some assets are re-used from older titles but most of them have been updated into a woodland look, which really goes well with the barren wasteland you're thrown in. The caves at the beginning of the game are like some tech demo from 2010 to relay the futuristic reflective tool.

As with all Half-Life titles, this title has an amazing soundtrack, they have this metallic vibe and it fits with the game because most of the time you're battling aliens and The Combine. My favourite track from the OST is Vortal Combat. I like the fast, and action-paced tempo with the electric guitar doing wonders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZRNd6osQrk

As of today, I have completed all achievements from the Half-Life: Episodic franchise. This was one of the reasons why I kept coming back to these older titles. I would like to say that I'm a die-hard Half-Life fan and these achievements are in my way of proving my worth. My favourite achievement being Little Rocket Man, in which you have to carry a gnome through 5/6 of the game.

In Conclusion, I would say that Half-Life 2: Episode Two is one of or not my favourite games I've ever played, it's so unique with its environments. It has enough content to be a stand-alone Half-Life game. If I had to rate this game, I would [without hesitation] rate it a 10 out of 10. One of the all-time greats. Thanks for reading and have a great day.

Half-Life 2 is the 2nd installment of the Half-Life series set approximately 20 years after the events of Half-Life 1. The first Half-Life has been said to be the best game ever so the sequel had gigantic expectations, and it delivered.

The story of Half-Life 2 is very rich. You are Gordon Freeman, a former Black Mesa employee who's been in a coma for 20 years under the control of the Gman, once you've woken up you try to reunite with the scientists who survived the events of Half-Life 1. Every character is unqiue and they have their own personalities. My favourite character being Barney Calhoun. I am also a big fan of Half-Life and Portal being in the same alternative universe.

The graphics in Half-Life 2 are outstanding for it's time, holds up great even for today's standards. Although the texture quality being a bit outdated, everything else is great. Shaders are nice, I'm a big fan of the reflections on floors, windows and on water, that technology is called cubemapping. Post-processing effects are cool, good use of sprites.

The controls in Half-Life 2 have set the standard of good and simple controls. Segwaying in let's talk about the movement, the movement is an art form of it self, it reintroduced bunnyhopping, strafing and many more movement techniques. Bunnyhopping is still a big movement technique in today's games like CS:GO which uses the same game engine as Half-Life 2. I would really recommend you watching a speedrun of Half-Life 2 done by waezone on Games Done Quick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gWd5A_4eYQ

The Official SoundTrack of Half-Life 2 is my favourite music track from any other game ever, i personally love the industrial sounding instruments and sounds that are in this track. I love this soundtrack so much sometimes I listen to it when I'm going to sleep. My favourite song being Triage at Dawn, closely followed by Hazardous Environments.

Half-Life 2 is for me the best game in the Half-Life series and also my favourite game of all time. Played it first 2 years ago as a very early easter gift, I still play this game to this day, but I mostly play Synergy (HL2 multiplayer mod) because it's more fun to play the Half-Life experience with other people and friends than with just yourself. If i had to rate this game out of then. I would rate it a deserving 10/10. Best game ever made. Thanks for reading and have a great day.

Ah, Counter-Strike: Source, Counter-Strike: Source just reminds me of the word nostalgia. In my opinion, one of the best First Person Shooters ever to have been released, it was released back in 2004 as a 3rd installment of the Counter-Strike series, after the flop of Counter-Strike: Condition-Zero also released back in 2004. In 2004 Valve also released Half-Life 2, being doubted as one of the best games to have ever been released.

Being released in 2004, the graphics still amaze me 14 years later, if it was to me I would say the game was made in 2010 with Day Of Defeat: Source. The graphics are still very good even for 2018, not Detroit: Become Human great, but ahead of its time.

One of the main reasons why I love CS:S is because of the gunplay, every weapon has a special pattern and none of the weapons feels like they were a late idea. here's an example, the differences between the TMP and the MP5 are, while the TMP does less damage and has a more difficult spray pattern than the MP5, it has a silencer, and that silencer does wonders. Think of the situations where you're sneaking up behind a clueless enemy and one tapping him with the TMP.

One of the secondary features I love about CS:S is the bot support, you can play against 4 groups of bots: Easy, Medium, Hard and Expert. The bots actually feel like real players instead of AFK players who automatically headshot you when they see you ( that's one of the problems with Day Of Defeat: Source, it's still a really good game though). I love how you can customize the bots. Here's an example, you can edit so the bots only use grenades or knives.

The main reason I love Counter-Strike: Source is because of it's' engine. I love how can play or create very creative game modes like Surf, Gun game, Jail Break and so on. I like the engine so much, it's my favourite game engine.

All thing aside, on a scale from 0-10, How much would I recommend this game? I would rate it a 9 out of 10, best of it's kind but falls short because it's a bit outdated. Thanks for reading and have a good day.