Recent reviews by =CrimsoN=

Gameplay: 9/10
Story: 7/10
Graphics: 8/10
Performance: 6/10

Overall: 7.5/10

Despite the name, Quake 4 is a direct follow-up to the Quake 2 storyline in the Quake franchise. Utilizing the id Tech 4 engine (same as Doom 3 and you’ll find many similarities in the graphics department for the 2 games), the game delivers a fast-paced and intense gameplay experience, staying true to the series' roots. Quake 4 includes both a singleplayer campaign and multiplayer component. Unfortunately, the multiplayer was never very popular even when it was released, but you will get your money’s worth with the reasonably long singleplayer campaign that has you playing as corporal Matthew Kane, a “certified badass”, as he battles against the cybernetic Strogg with his fellow marines. It should be noted that unlike Quake 2, Quake 4 rarely ever has you alone and you will often be accompanied by AI marines who can not only fight with you, but also provide an unlimited amount of health and armor restoration as long as they are able to stay alive! Another major difference with Quake 4 compared to Quake 2 is in regard to tactics. Whereas Quake 2 is a much faster paced game with frantic gunplay and an emphasis on movement. Quake 4 is much slower and tactical in its approach to combat. You are encouraged to take cover and at higher difficulties, you have to play much more carefully as resources are limited and enemies are buffed. At higher difficulties, its not uncommon to run out of ammo if you aren’t being conservative with it. In addition to all of this, Quake 4 also introduces vehicle segments, which are a new addition to the franchise.

While Quake 4 is a fantastic addition to the Quake series. It is not without its negatives. Most namely the performance of the PC port. Quake 4 suffers from some texture issues on modern hardware and without the Quake 4 Tweaker, the game will often default to the lowest graphical settings which introduces issues such as severely blurry textures and other graphical issues. Quake 4 can also experience crashing on some of the vehicle levels. You can find fixes to some of the aforementioned issues here: https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Quake_4

Quake 4 is a worthy addition to the Quake series, offering a thrilling single-player experience with engaging gameplay and impressive graphics. While the multiplayer may not be groundbreaking or popular, the game's solid performance and overall experience make it a recommended play for fans of shooters and the Quake franchise.

Gameplay: 8/10
Story: 6/10
Graphics: 4/10
Performance: 7/10

Overall: 6/10

(Amended Review as I finally got the game working thanks to this fix: https://steamproxy.net/app/764670/discussions/0/1760230682461834165/ )

I am a huge fan of Sea Dogs II (aka the Pirates of the Caribbean 2003 Video Game) and it was one of the first games I ever had on the original Xbox. I still have the CD from all those years ago, although it is severely scratched and doesn't work. I went so far as to buy a copy of the PC version on disc (which sells for upwards to $80 now) and you won't find a better Pirate/Age of Sail video game, especially when coupled with the New Horizons Mod. It completely blows similar titles out of the water!

So, you can imagine how thrilled I was to find out that Sea Dogs was an entire series, and it was available on Steam! At first, I couldn’t get the game running for this review (although I previously was able to on a marginally older PC). Following the suggestion above, I was able to get Sea Dogs working. So how is it now that I’ve gotten it going? “Rough”, is the best way I can describe Sea Dogs. Despite spawning an epic series that has been topped by none and is still the pinnacle pirate/Age of Sail simulator, the first game in the series is definitely a hard sell. Even for when it was released, the graphics are extremely poor with ships barely being recognizable except by size and muddy textures abound. In addition, performance is a bit of a mess with land and sea sections feeling like what could be best described as “bouncing around” on the screen. Bugs are also plentiful. Unlike later Sea Dogs games, the first game doesn’t have much in the way of a main story. You play as the young Englishman, Nicholas Sharp. Who decides to become a captain after following in his father’s footsteps. You are chartered a ship by the English crown and tasked with carrying cargo to another port, but are intercepted by the Spanish who throw you into slavery in the New World. You and a handful of your fellow slaves mount an escape and steal a Spanish ship. From there you make for the English colony of Highrock and this is where the game really begins. Yes, that entire intro is done through a cutscene. Personally, I thought it would have been better to make this intro cutscene a tutorial, because while Sea Dog’s story is non-existent, the gameplay is really where the game shines. In Sea Dogs, you can pretty much do anything you want. Upon reaching High Rock, you can immediately become a privateer for the English. If that is too action-packed for you, then you can take up the safer option of being a trader. If you’re lacking in a moral compass then you can resort to piracy. You can even end up working for your previous captors, the Spanish as a privateer in one of there fleets! For what little plot there is, you can spend the game looking for your father but the main appeal is the freedom presented to the player. As is typical with not just Sea Dogs, but all the other games in the series, you will need to sail from island to island in the Caribbean archipelago. Visit taverns to hire crew, repair your ship or visit the store to buy and sell supplies or pirate booty. Unlike later Sea Dogs games, much of the first Sea Dogs game is centered almost entirely around ship combat. Don’t buy this game if you aren’t a fan of ship combat. Sword fights can be started by boarding an enemy ship, but the fights are extremely janky and rare as you’ll more than often be sinking your foe. Although boarding is an excellent way to get yourself a new ship!

When it comes down to it, Sea Dogs isn’t a bad game, but its sequels have long since improved upon the formula substantially by adding things such as land combat, more quests, more islands, items and ships as well as other features such as fleet management and the ability to attack and plunder towns, all of which are not present in the first Sea Dogs game. If you’re a fan of the series, then it can be interesting to go back to the first game to see where things started. But there is little reason to play the first game outside of nostalgia.

Ideally, you'd be better off finding a copy of Pirates of the Caribbean/Sea Dogs II either a disc copy or as abandonware and starting there before moving to the other games in the series as the latest Sea Dogs games pretty much used Pirates of the Caribbean/Sea Dogs II as a base, while the first Sea Dogs was left marooned! Don't forget to try out the New Horizons mod if you decide to go this route. You won't be disappointed!

Gameplay: 8/10
Story: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
Performance: 10/10

Overall: 8.5/10

For its time, Quake 2 was a visual marvel. Utilizing the id Tech 2 engine, the game introduced players to intricately designed levels filled with industrial landscapes, alien worlds, and eerie bases. While modern standards might find the graphics dated, the art direction and atmosphere remain compelling. The gritty textures and dark ambiance create an immersive experience that keeps players on edge throughout. The 2023 Nightdive Studios Remaster has done absolute wonders to this classic shooter. Introducing new graphical effects including enhanced shadows, lighting, blur and HD textures. You will be playing what is arguably the best version of Quake 2.

At its core, Quake 2 is a classic first-person shooter that emphasizes fast-paced action and precise movement. The game introduces a compelling single-player campaign where players navigate through various levels, battling a relentless army of aliens known as the Strogg. Each level presents unique challenges, requiring players to adapt their strategies and utilize a diverse arsenal of weapons, from the iconic Railgun to the devastating BFG10K. It should be noted that Quake 2 is not a direct sequel to the first Quake and instead lacks much of the H.P. Lovecraftian themes of the first. Instead, the series took a direction towards the more traditional sci-fi space marine setting.

You cannot talk about Quake 2 without mentioning sound design. From the haunting echoes of distant machinery to the explosive roar of weapons, every sound immerses players deeper into the war against the Strogg. The atmospheric sounds are complented by a soundtrack created by Sonic Mayhem, which is a series of industrial metal tracks that sets the tone for each level, enhancing the sense of urgency and tension for players.

Quake 2 stands as a testament to id Software's prowess in crafting immersive and adrenaline-pumping first-person shooter experiences. While its graphics may show their age, the game's compelling gameplay, atmospheric design, and lasting legacy make it a must-play for fans of the genre and a cornerstone in gaming history. A must play for Quake fans.

Gameplay: 8/10
Story: 8/10
Graphics: 7/10
Performance: 9/10

Overall: 8/10

System Shock is a remake (keyword: remake. Not remaster) of the original System Shock from 1994. Being a remake, this means that it is not necessarily a 1:1 representation of the original System Shock with updated graphics. Instead, what you are getting is the core mechanics of the original System Shock with modern controls and a few new features. If you’ve played the original System Shock, then you will likely see a few recognizable locations, but many of the original levels have been changed with new areas added. I just need to get this out of the way, because there seems to be a misunderstanding of the difference between a remaster and a remake.

At its core, System Shock is a cyberpunk dungeon diver. Think futuristic Ultima Underworld. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as the original developers of System Shock also developed the Ultima Underworld series. The game opens with the player getting caught trying to hack the big bad corporation (TriOptimum) to steal a military grade cyber implant. Instead of being thrown into prison, the player is tasked with unshackling an AI’s (Shodan) ethical restraints -because that sounds like a fantastic idea! Right?!- And in exchange TriOptimum will give you the military grade cyber implant and clear you of any wrong doing. One cutscene later and your work is completed. Shodan is unshackled and you’re put into cryo-statis for 6 months to get your implant on a space station called Citadel Station. This is where the actual game begins. You awaken to find that the station has been completely hijacked by Shodan with any survivors being turned into mutants or cyborgs. Shodan is firing up the station’s superlaser to blast Earth into a million chunks and you have to stop her. A simple premise, but getting to Shodan will be a challenge. You will need to engage in first person combat, puzzles, hacking in cyberspace and navigating a labyrinthine maze of Citadel Station’s corridors.

Graphically, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the System Shock remake is leaps and bounds better looking than the original System Shock released in 1994 or System Shock 2 released in 1999. Not only does it look better though, but it also plays decently well without the need for a beefy computer. The developers for the remake have also attempted to blend modern graphics with a retro aesthetic, although this isn’t something you might see if you aren’t paying much attention to appearances. On top of this, sound design is pretty top notch, although unfortunately, the remake does not appear to use the original tracks. Instead, the remake uses a more generic sci-fi/cyberpunk soundtrack as opposed to the originals MIDI tracks.
For example, compare this:
https://youtu.be/P2bYH2kwxIE?si=OjbqT_pBBLimYKW7
To this:
https://youtu.be/jyVrRs-PSAw?si=d4kx3fRlDkSlKAFD
Personally, I think the original tracks would have lended itself better to the aesthetic that System Shock is trying to portray and supports the cyberpunk theme much more.

All in all, System Shock is a solid game. If you’re a fan of the original, or love dungeon divers or even just cyberpunk stuff in general, then you will likely enjoy the System Shock Remake. Personally, I’m not a fan of cyberpunk themes and I didn’t realize how much the remake would be leaning into this, so I can’t see myself going back to this game, but I’m looking forward to stepping into System Shock 2, which apparently has much less cyberpunk themes and is more of a traditional sci-fi/horror experience. Still, just because I wasn’t into the remake, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t recommend it! It’s a solid and immersive experience and a must play for cyberpunk fans.

Gameplay: 9/10
Story: 7/10
Graphics: 8/10
Performance: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

In the simplest of terms, Starfield is a love letter to the space game genre, combining many popular elements of classic space games with the signature Bethesda flavor that provides an immersive and enriching experience. Just be warned, Starfield can easily become a time sink where you won’t realize how much time you’ve been playing. The addictive nature of the game can be compared heavily with previous Bethesda games. I just need to state that you can very easily neglect your life for this game.
Okay, so where to begin. Starfield is a space RPG (yes, space RPG, not space sim) in the typical Bethesda style. In other words, expect a lot of exploration. Bethesda tends to excel at telling story through exploration as you explore abandoned mining facilities, homesteads, research bases and military bases. Even with the nature of procedural generation that Starfield uses, Bethesda is still able to tell a story with these locations. As stated previously, Starfield borrows many elements of what made previous Bethesda games successful all culminating in a neat package set in a future where humanity has colonized the stars. Strangely enough though, I wouldn’t say that Starfield follows completely in the footsteps of Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls or the 3d Fallout series. Instead, Starfield stands on its own. For example, one of the starkest differences between Starfield and Fallout 4 or Skyrim is that while these games relied on exploration through aimless wandering, Starfield encourages you to use technology. You receive a scanner very early on in the game, which is used to survey planets, but also to discover local points of interest (such as caves, supply depots, structures, and natural formations). Once you board your first starship, you will have access to a planetary scan, which can detect larger settlements (such as industrial outposts, research bases, military bases, etc.). This approach is necessary because while Starfield does have 1000 planets, the scale of these planets is huge. It can take you awhile to run from your ship’s landing spot to a new location. Which means the scanner becomes essential to exploration. If you approach Starfield, like you would approach Skyrim or Fallout 4 (i.e., wandering aimlessly until you discover something interesting), then frankly, you’re playing it wrong. Best way to describe Starfield is if Freelancer + Star Wars Galaxies + Outer Worlds + No Mans Sky had a baby. Starfield is the result.

It should also be stated that Starfield is the first game to be released on Bethesda’s Creation Engine II and this updated engine comes with some very nice effects in the graphics department. I think the best way to describe Starfield’s graphics is somewhere on par with Alien Isolation or Star Citizen. Lighting effects are significantly improved and everything from rock textures to computer console textures are delivered in crisp HD. Even at 1080p, the game still looks phenomenal. NPC textures, for notable NPCs, are also greatly improved. NPCs are now able to do things such as raising their eyebrows when talking and displaying more emotion beyond just “content and combat face” that previous Bethesda games are known for. It even appears that the uncanny “staring into your soul” look of NPCs has been alleviated! Starfield isn’t without its criticism though when it comes to graphics and non-important/crowd NPCs generally have very bad looking faces. This is especially evident in Starfield’s largest city of New Atlantis, where many of the NPCs whose sole purpose is to make the city look more lifelike (i.e. crowded) tend to have muddy and pudding-like faces. This is something that I’m hoping Bethesda may address in a future update. Also, while Creation Engine II is a serious improvement over previous versions, performance can be a struggle. While performance has not been an issue for me, others have reported that performance has been less than stellar even with the recommended specs. It can’t be overstated enough that you MUST HAVE AN SSD. It is a hard requirement and you 100% will get stuttering, long load times and distorted audio no matter how good the rest of your computer is.

So, the gameplay and graphics are solid and let’s say that performance is good for you too. So where are the negatives? Personally (and this is purely subjective), the story of Starfield isn’t as good as it could be. Without revealing any spoilers, you will find that you are forced into decisions under the illusion of choice. Personally, I feel that this is a negative for Starfield, but it seems to be the direction that Bethesda has been going for a while. For example, the tutorial is standard for Starfield, but once you’ve seemingly completed the tutorial, you must complete what can be best described as the “tutorial part 2”. You’re given a ship, but you aren’t allowed to ignore the main questline until you get past this tutorial part 2 and even then, certain features and such are locked behind completing certain sections of the main questline. I am also not a fan of all Starfield’s factions having independent questlines as this diminishes the consequences of your actions. For example, if I become a space pirate and join the Crimson Fleet (aka Starfield’s largest space pirate faction), then no way should I be allowed to also join the United Colonies Vanguard (aka stereotypical good guys space federation). In fact, they should be shooting me on sight if I were to become a space pirate, but unfortunately this isn’t really the case. Starfield does away with “points of no return” when it comes to factions and you can complete all the faction questlines in a single playthrough, regardless of if they make sense. As stated previously, I’m not a fan of this as it feels un-immersive.

Overall, though I give Starfield a solid 8/10. If I’m being honest, Starfield is the first game I’ve played in a long while that has made it difficult to put down for a second. Typing this review alone has been a struggle. Everything about it just feels right. As stated previously, Starfield is a love letter to the space game genre. If you love space games as much as I do, then you will be unlikely to be disappointed, but I urge you to give the game time to settle. Expecting Skyrim and Fallout in space will be setting yourself up for disappointment. Starfield stands on its own, but you must let it do so. Also, be prepared to be overwhelmed with features. Starfield stands on its own in more ways than one, but namely in all the new futures that comes with a true Bethesda game in space.

See you in the stars!

Gameplay: 8/10
Story: 7/10
Graphics: 2/10
Performance: 9/10

Overall: 6.5/10

Oh boy...another quirky Russian developed space game! I seem to really have a knack for picking these out! This time it's Space Rangers HD: A War Apart. First, I need to premise by stating that I have never played a Space Rangers game before. From other reviews, apparently there were previous Space Ranger games that were somewhat different in terms of balancing and features. Therefore, this review is definitely more for someone who is going into this series without having played any of the previous games.

Alright, so Space Rangers HD: A War Apart (which I'm just going to shorten to Space Rangers HD), can best be described as several different games rolled into one. So much so that it's honestly better to describe what genre Space Rangers HD doesn’t cover! But, for the sake of simplicity, I'm going to categorize Space Rangers HD as something of a space roleplaying adventure game with 4x elements in a simulated galaxy where events happen regardless of the player. There is a lot of content in such a small sized game. This is also one of those space games where you can basically do anything. Want to be a pirate? Go ahead. Merchant? Yep. Want to stop an alien race of machines from controlling the galaxy aka Commander Shepard style? You can do that. Want to become a governor of your own planet? Yeppers, you can do that too. There is so much you can do in this game that it can become overwhelming at times, which is why I highly suggest playing the tutorial once you are prompted to when starting a new game. The tutorial will explain most of the basics such as trading, getting missions and combat. Most of Space Rangers HD plays out in a turn-based fashion, including space combat, although ground combat turns the game into a real time strategy game. Between this, you’ll have hyperspace minigames where the game turns into a bullet shooter and text-based adventure missions where you need to read and solve puzzles. Also, as stated previously, the game can even turn into something of a 4x in the late game when you start managing your own planets.

Best part about Space Rangers HD is that… it just works. No, but seriously. Everything works relatively well and with few bugs from the brief time that I spent playing the game. This is something of a miracle given the vast amount of gameplay that is made available to the player. The gameplay works, performance is decent, what little sound design exists tends to be okay. So then where are the flaws in this game? Two words, “dated graphics”. Now before you start downvoting this review, keep in mind that I am a huge proponent for gameplay over graphics. Check my other reviews and you’ll see that I’ve played more than a few very old games and rated them positive even with their dated graphics. Games from the 90s and early 2000s are probably my most played genre. So usually, I could care less about a game’s graphics. But that is entirely dependent on when a game is released.

Remember when I stated earlier that I’d never played previous Space Rangers games? Well, Space Rangers HD is apparently meant to be an updated version of Space Rangers 2 from 2004. That’s all well and good, but Space Rangers HD was also released in 2013, and for an HD version, it’s sorely lacking. Until you get to ground battles, most everything in the game takes place on a 2d plane or is just a text box with a static background. It would have been really cool to see what planet surfaces looked like without resorting to randomized ground battles. Or even a little animation of your ship in combat with another ship (i.e. like Galactic Civilizations). But I mean the developers couldn’t even be bothered to have animated backgrounds for the various planets or menus in a 2013 game! At the very least, the aliens you interact with are animated, but that’s about it. It’s really immersion breaking for a game from 2013 that is meant to be an HD version of a 2004 game. Difficult to call it an “HD” edition when it’s essentially the same game but at 1920x1080 resolution and with a few new features. I hate to say it, but for everything that Space Rangers HD does, in reality, most of it is a glorified text adventure game.

Despite the aforementioned flaws, Space Rangers HD is still a solid game. If you can look past the dated graphics, you will find a space adventure experience that is filled with depth and unlike anything else on the market. I only wish that a proper remake could be made. Until then, Space Rangers HD won't be the game for me, but I'd still recommend it towards fans of the genre.

Gameplay: 8/10
Story: 6/10
Graphics: 7/10
Performance: 9/10

Overall: 7/10

3030 Deathwar Redux is a solid little top-down space adventure game with very addicting gameplay. Forewarning though, 3030 Deathwar is very simplistic in both its flight model (being top down and with little control over ship systems) and missions. In further detail, the most you can really do during in-transit flight is refuel your ship if you packed extra fuel. Regarding missions, most missions are just “take this from point A to point B”. Not only that, but most missions don’t tend to pay that much, capping out at around 100,000 and those missions are often very rare. Meanwhile, a decent ship can cost you up to 6 million. Meaning you’ll be doing a lot of grinding for money and if you hate grinding then you’ll absolutely hate this game.

Although I might come off as talking about this game negatively, there is a decent game here. While not as in-depth as other top-down space games, such as FTL or Space Rangers, what little 3030 Deathwar does it does very well. Stations are designed beautifully, each starship is distinct and there are a ton to choose from, trading is intuitive and easy, you can mine, hunt pirates, commit piracy yourself, explore derelict ships, complete transport missions, racing, participate in battles between pirates and the police, survey missions, delivery missions, taxi missions, etc., so while 3030 Deathwar isn’t as thick with content as other top down space games, what is there is still worth pursuing.

Graphically, being a top-down space game, I wouldn’t expect much. The only issue is that many entities and ships do appear copy pasted. For example, only a handful of stations are unique in their interior and exterior appearance. Derelicts all look largely the same and even pirates/police tend to fly the exact same ships every time you encounter them. Even so, these copy-pasted textures and models are substantially detailed. Also don’t let the cartoony graphics fool you, the game can be very dark at times. For example, if you destroy a ship, you can often find bodies floating from the battle afterward, which you can collect and sell for cash. Derelict ships will contain dead bodies and sometimes pornographic magazines. Honestly something I wasn’t expecting to see, but it definitely game reason towards the included “YouTube safe” button!

In addition to everything mentioned previously, sound design is a huge plus. With 3030 Deathwar featuring a multitude of songs most of which are designed with a sort of 80s aesthetic. Performance is also a huge plus as I rarely encountered bugs and the game is very easy to run on even the most barebones systems. Really the weakest area of 3030 Deathwar is its main story which is very confusing to follow and feels somewhat disjointed. Regardless, 3030 Deathwar is a decent little space adventure game that will keep you entertained for hours.

Gameplay: 5/10
Story: 7/10
Graphics: 5/10 (for the time)
Performance: 6/10

Overall: 5/10

Time has not been kind to Anachronox. This is a game I seriously tried to push myself through to the end, but admittedly, after 20 hours in, I just can’t. That’s not for lack of trying though. After making it a little bit over half-way through the game, I’ve concluded that I just don’t see many redeeming factors for Anachronox. Maybe when Anachronox was released, it might have been a decent title to fill the gaps if you’d already played the more mainstream RPGs. But the greatest issue with Anachronox is the fact that other and much better RPGs exist, giving little reason to delve into it unless it’s for the storyline, but even that has its flaws.

I don’t like to start reviews off negatively and therefore, I’ll start with the positives. Anachronox is a semi-linear RPG adventure game set in a somewhat crapsack universe where everything is basically a trope. Your character is Sylvester “Sly” Boots, a down on his luck detective who owes a huge debt to the local alien crimelord. The game opens with your character being thrown out of the window of your character’s office on the urban “space station” of Anachronox by one of the mobsters’ goons. Yes, the space station is sharing the name of the game. From this point on, the story rapidly goes into many different directions involving strange alien artifacts (called Mystech). There are also several side-quests between the main storyline The story is definitely one of the stronger points of the game, and the humor tends to range from crass and in your face to cringe. Extremely reminiscent of late 90s and early 2000s humor. As stated earlier, everything feels like a trope. This includes the setting, NPCs, and other world-building elements, but Anachronox still manages to make things feel unique. Unfortunately, this is about where the positives end.

Anachronox has far too many frustrating mechanics that outright make it a chore to complete. It is not a difficult game per-say, but there are too many poorly explained features that create a repetition of failure until you understand them. Don’t get me confused though. This doesn’t mean that the player needs to have their hand held. As a good example, about 25% of the way through the game, the player is introduced to using the aforementioned Mystech artifacts as abilities in combat. These Mystech abilities cost energy that comes from the shield your character has equipped. This means that it’s a sacrifice between shield strength and Mystech energy (I guess you could compare it to mana from other RPGs). But unlike traditional RPGs where mana is restored with something like a mana potion or whatever, in Anachronox Mystech abilities are restored with radioactive rodents or radioactive bats (called “batts”)… yeah… nowhere is this explained. So, I’m about 40% through the game when I finally figure this out and I’d been using Mystech abilities up to this point thinking they’d recharge like shields or whatever. The radioactive rodents aren’t cheap either and the batts definitely aren’t. Not to mention that sometimes when you use Mystech abilities your character doesn’t use energy?? Or some of it is restored at the end of combat?? Even writing this now, I still don’t understand how it works and I was almost done with the game!! That kind of ambiguity plagues Anachronox. I’m no stranger to old games that won’t hold your hand, and I absolutely adore stuff like the classic Fallout games and still regularly play them. Along with stuff like Morrowind, Baldurs Gate and Knights of the Old Republic, but in ways Anachronox tries to be so different (and there is nothing wrong with that), but fails to explain its mechanics in a meaningful way that seems to leave more frustration than enjoyment.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, while I did mention how Anachronox’s locations feel unique and interesting, the game being semi-linear also suffers from HORRENDOUS amounts of back-tracking. In fact, this is what ultimately killed the game for me more than the horribly explained features. Again, I’ve played stuff like Morrowind where traversing is just as much a part of the game as everything else is… but see, in Morrowind you’ve got plenty of options for travel ranging from walking, using boats/silt striders or casting a spell enabling you to literally fly to your location of choice. Anachronox forces you to run half-way across the map, and even traveling back and forth from planets to meet your objectives. In addition, there is no easily accessible party menu that enables you to trade out party members like in, for example, Knights of the Old Republic. Nope. All your party members are usually “stored” in a single, pain in the ass, tavern/bar on a space station. Even though half-way through the game you get your own private shuttle… why don’t the party members just stay there??? Stuff like that just makes Anachronox a trial of repetition to complete. Don’t even get me started on the incredibly vague conditions for the completion of certain quests. No one should be shamed for having to use a walkthrough in the latter parts of the game. Otherwise, be prepared to backtrack through the same areas OVER AND OVER AGAIN until you find the one NPC who you must use a specific companion’s ability on, and this NPC won’t be recognizable from the tons of other NPCs that look exactly the same, nor will there be any hint that you are meant to do this. Seriously.

Overall, it’s very difficult to recommend Anachronox. The game starts off very well and just lets you down hard, and quickly becomes an absolute chore to slog through. As stated before, I just couldn’t do it. I’ve got a full-time job and adult priorities and honestly just don’t have the time, when so many other classic games can fulfil the need for a quality RPG experience. To that end, if you managed to get through Anachronox then hats off to you. Maybe consider the protagonist’s job as a private investigator yourself, because I feel like by the time, I would have gotten through Anachronox, I would have wanted to retire as one.

Gameplay: 4/10
Story: 6/10
Graphics: 6/10 (for the time)
Performance: 8/10

Overall: 6/10

Aliens versus Predator Classic is not so much a bad game, but more of a game that has not stood the test of time. For when it was released, it was an excellent first-person shooter that introduced a lot of gameplay mechanics in a single convenient package. It was released around the same period as Half-Life and Quake and was able to hold its own as a semi-popular shooter for the time, when so few shooters existed. But unlike those aforementioned titles that are still frequently played today, there is a reason that Aliens Versus Predator Classic isn't played much these days, and most of that is due to how much game design has evolved.

As usual, I'll start with the positives. Atmosphere is pretty phenomenal. It's obvious that the developers borrowed heavily from the source material. Environments are very recognizable from the Aliens series films. Each species also has its own distinct form of atmospheric elements. As the alien you'll find that levels feel somewhat like a stealth game where you must rely quick reflexes and speed to survive. In comparison, as the human marine the game changes towards survival horror as you've got an assortment of weapons but are incredibly weak to the aliens and must manage limited resources. Finally, as the predator the game turns into something of a wave shooter as the predator is the most overpowered. With an assortment of high-tech gear and lots of health to match. Each campaign feels distinctive and exactly what I'd expect from an Aliens Versus Predator game. So why don't I recommend it?

As stated previously, game design has evolved substantially since the year 2000. The greatest issue that I found with Aliens Versus Predator Classic was in its level design. Put simply, it’s the fact that levels are designed like cramp mazes and filled with unlimited spawning enemies. Don’t get me wrong though. I can live with old games where the levels are meant to be confusing and you’re given no direction as to where you’re supposed to go or what you’re supposed to do. I’ve completed games like Star Wars Dark Forces 2 and Half-Life without issue. The difference is that with those aforementioned games, there is always a sense of direction or an obvious location that you’re meant to go towards. But with Aliens Versus Predator Classic, you’re given vague instructions in each level and then left to figure out what you’re supposed to do in a dozen rooms that all look the same. I’d be amazed if anyone completed the game without a walkthrough. Like I stated, I’m not unfamiliar with the types of games like Aliens Versus Predator Classic. They were made during a time when video games weren’t all that common, so you wanted to get the most bang for your buck with each game. As a result, developers would often create intricate levels that a player could explore for hours. The difference is that most games from that era never made the “maze-like” level design a core feature of the game. For example, Star Wars Dark Forces 2 level design would often be intricate and if you wanted, you could search for secret areas, but it was never required towards the completion of a level. With Aliens Versus Predator Classic, you’re forced to navigate many of these seemingly impossible maze-like levels. Coupled with unending spawning enemies and limited resources. It becomes an unpleasant experience very quickly.

Overall, Aliens Versus Predator Classic is tough to recommend. Looking at other reviews you’d see that most are positive, but if you look further, you’ll also notice that most people giving this game positive reviews only have 1-4 hours of gameplay. Which isn’t enough to even get through the marine campaign. Which leads one to ask the question, “How many people are basing this game’s quality off nostalgia for a bygone era of FPS games?”. But that’s not really my place to judge. Although, I will admit that the multiplayer aspect was likely very fun for its time. But that time is past and most people aren’t playing this game anymore, so you’re stuck with the lackluster single player. Save yourself the trouble and see if you can find Aliens Versus Predator 2 or just try the 2010 remake (which actually does hold up well today and actually has players for its multiplayer). New doesn't have to always equal bad.

Gameplay: 8/10
Story: 9/10
Graphics: 8/10 (for the time)
Performance: 9/10 (again, for the time)

Overall: 9/10

Star Wars Tie Fighter deserves to be in the top 10 list of greatest Star Wars video games of all time, and for very good reason. Building off the success of Star Wars X-Wing, with many well received new features (such as a much better-balanced difficulty), Tie Fighter’s greatest strength is easily its campaign. Star Wars Tie Fighter set out to do something that many later Star Wars games still haven’t achieved well. A campaign where you fight for the Galactic Empire in a way that makes you feel more like you’re bringing order to a lawless galaxy than getting engaged with Force related shenanigans. In Tie Fighter, you play as an Imperial Pilot in the Empire’s vast galactic navy. The most interesting part about this, is that the game has a sense of progression where you start off with simple rookie missions such as scanning transports for illegal cargo or rebels and progress to more important assignments as the campaign continues, such as taking down large capital class ships with a bomber squadron or ending a civil war. This is in stark contrast to Star Wars X-Wing where you are treated like an elite pilot right off the bat and given assignments that make you question the mental reliability of Rebel command. Another interesting point in Tie Fighter are the Imperial tactics. Just like in the Star Wars movies, the Galactic Empire typically prefers swarm tactics with dozens of cheap and expendable pilots. This is just as true as in Tie Fighter where the traditional TIE-series craft (Tie Fighter, Bomber and Interceptor) don’t feature any shields and possess a weak hull. But in exchange, most missions featuring these craft will feature many wingmen as you literally swarm your targets. Not to mention additional support craft such as Star Destroyers that are practically flying fortresses in space. It takes some getting used to but ends up surprisingly balanced. Star Wars Tie Fighter is also the first Star Wars game to introduce the notorious Tie Defender. Long before Disney introduced the craft in Star Wars Rebels, and yes, it is just as overpowered in Tie Fighter as it is in the Rebels TV show. In addition to the Tie Defender, Star Wars Tie Fighter also introduces the Tie Avenger (a better version of Darth Vader’s Tie Advanced from A New Hope), the Assault Gunboat and the Missile Boat. All of which include shields. Using these craft also tends to mark a change of direction in the campaign where the player is no longer treated as an expendable pilot, but as an elite ace and thus given more advanced starfighters and more challenging missions.

As for gameplay, Star Wars Tie Fighter doesn’t differ too much from its predecessor. Such as the wonky lack of roll and countermeasures. But instead, Tie Fighter perfects the imperfections of X-Wing. For example, starfighters feel less rigid in their flight even without the ability to roll. Controls are slightly more streamlined by changing the way power is directed between the weapons, shields and engine. In X-wing you’ll find yourself juggling between all three, which makes for a mess in the heat of dogfighting, but in Tie Fighter, you only have to worry about weapons and shields energy. Any leftover energy is automatically diverted to the engines. Also, as mentioned previously, game difficulty has been completed altered as one of the criticisms of Star Wars X-Wing was its nonsensical difficulty of certain missions. Not only are Star Wars Tie Fighter missions much more balanced, but difficulty settings are also included which change the layout of certain missions. Such as featuring less targets on easy difficulty, while harder difficulty adds additional targets and objectives. I played on normal difficulty for most of the campaign, but there were a few tough missions that required me putting the difficulty on easy just to complete them. You aren’t really penalized for playing on an easier difficulty either, which is a plus. Another unique part of the gameplay in Star Wars Tie Fighter is the introduction of bonus objectives to be completed for prestige in the Secret Order of the Emperor. Yes, I know. I said that Tie Fighter doesn’t feature any Force related crap, and that’s still true. These bonus objectives mostly involve personal objectives that are given by the Emperor and completing them award the player with a higher rank in the Secret Order and additional cutscenes. It’s miniscule, but still very interesting. Many of these bonus objectives are often relatively simple as well, such as scanning Rebel shuttles or even scanning Imperial forces. Basically, the Secret Order are like conventional secret police. Definitely not a huge aspect of the game, but it is cool to be able to become an Emperor’s Hand by simply being awesome with a Tie Fighter!

In summary, Star Wars Tie Fighter IS the game that veteran space flight enthusiast are referring towards when they talk up Star Wars space flight games. Featuring many improvements over its predecessor and a significantly better campaign as well. It’s easy to see why Star Wars Tie Fighter belongs in the top 10 greatest Star Wars games of all time. My only recommendation is that while the original Star Wars Tie Fighter is an excellent game and should be tried at least once. I highly recommend trying out the Star Wars X-Wing Alliance mod that ports over the Tie Fighter campaign into the X-Wing Alliance engine. Along with the updated graphics, the additional gameplay enhancements make for a much more enjoyable experience. But Star Wars Tie Fighter still deserves it’s spot as the number one Star Wars space flight sim.