Recent reviews by XSin

A once underrated classic gem of a game, it now stands the test of time as one of the best RPG's around. Definitely worth picking this up on a sale! If not to just undergo, the dreaded but loved Bitterblack Isle.

The combat is thrilling, as you lead your pawns to glory throughout bizarre dungeons, spooky misty mystical forests and even the high rising peaks of the mountains, you will find aught there of that which you seek as you explore the world's secrets and mysteries. The plot is quite simple, straightforward towards the end, but all in all. It plays out as if you're forging your own destiny as the "Arisen", saving your "love" and slaying the enigmatic Dragon.

Dragon's Dogma on Launch was overlooked, I played it before on the 360, seeing it on a shelf and it caught my eye. It has so much goodness in it from the combat, customization and pawn system that you'll be itching to see what may lie next as you grow in strength, tackling fiercer monsters and bosses as the world adapts to your conquest. It plays out as a Immersive Sim as well, training and developing your main pawn's behaviors and discipline alongside your own as you tie your combined strengths into other "players" pawns coming to your aid with their own knowledge and prowess. That aforementioned "goodness" may blind you to some of it's jank and often aim's to punish you at times for lack of preparation or over-boldness in certain situations.

If you're a fan of games akin to the older Dragon Age and other party based RPG's, you'll enjoy this thoroughly as your pawns will not forget to remind you of your progress. Good, Bad and Indifferent.

Farlight 84, a near-refreshing entry into the Battle-Royale scene, as of late. But perhaps it has to go even FARTHER to get where it could be.

Farlight has been through quite a few massive changes. From completely revamping the movement, HUDs, Menu's, some of the graphical elements and continued reworks of all the heroes thus far. It is in quite Early Access but not type of phase as it's progressed since Launch. Which has angered many of the OG playerbase but Albeit, mostly good changes that I believe they're trying to do, to make Farlight stand out perhaps a bit more and be a more solid Shooter title.

The new movement and the latest reworks have made the game feel more tactical and weighty overall. The hero reworks thus far, have made it almost needed to research good team comps, and when and where to use a lot of the new abilities and changes to many of the champions. The maps are quite beautiful, visually pleasing and even if the BR side of Farlight isn't your thing. They come out with new game modes, alongside TDM and FFA.

Pro's :

- Easy To Jump Into and Play
- FREE.
- Fairly easy to rack up the heroes suitable to your play style, to develop a growing roster.
- Combat is smooth, fast-paced and very tactful as of now.
- Different guns feel weighty and impactful, even responsive as you mow down squads in succession.
- New advantages with the current movement, where you're able to setup clever ambushes and traps in matches.
- A wide variety of vehicles, able to dish out insane damage at times and much needed mobility in times of crisis.
- It's free, minus the plethora of micro-transactions and gatekept skins you really desire for your main's.
- Runs great, even with it's vibrant graphical style.
- Great Community, with many clans and active chat rooms to find groups to play with and squad up for tournaments where you can earn cash, prizes and other rewards!
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Con's :

- The massive changes can be jarring, especially to those that have played since Launch and may have not got a feel for what the game is now. Including myself, it was quite wild coming back to this game and seeing it evolve so fast.

- Vehicular combat could use more work, there are some vehicles that just make you a walking target, alarming your every move like a beacon drifting across the map. Some of their damage too is lackluster, provided you're using them effectively per situation.

- Some weapons clearly outclass others, and for the few champions with heightened mobility, movement in general. Knowing how to engage, tactically retreat may discourage gun's blazing type of engagements some may like akin to Apex Legends or PUBG. But to me, it feels like a expanded No Build Fortnite of sorts.

- The rise of cheaters and pesky exploits, cheesy methods to win matches especially in TDM where you can bully the opposing team into their spawn and bring down hellfire upon them as they try to break out.

- Some game-modes such as TDM are quite inactive at times, hosting your own "servers" or "matches" requires you to pay for "Room Cards" for private sessions, 1v1's or tourneys with your friends

- There are some nuances to disabling, or "countering" others abilities, such as. "See that portal she threw?" "Oh you can just shoot that spiraling thingy in the center and her little ult goes away." Small lessons along the way.

- Bots. Bots, BOTS! As you progress in rank however, they dwindle away as you level and you'll notice the real threats to your rise to rank.
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I think the game has still a ways to go, but the developers appear to be spread thin with the myriad of reworks etc. that they're currently doing, to overhaul the Farlight 84 experience and make it stand the tests of time with it's eccentric game-play and designs. It is fun, Definitely give it a try if you're looking for a refreshing Battle-Royale experience to hop into and make some folk's seeth with rage!

Ah, Soulstorm. One of Relic's gems, that unfortunately to some may seem as one of their pitfalls as well towards recent times.

Soulstorm is a gem of a RTS, particularly for 40K in general. The massive battles, clean execution animations and more made this such an experience that even DOW 3 had a hard time to even try to replicate or perhaps expand upon without modder's efforts with little to no tools present for them to use.

Soulstorm is perhaps the best out of the series, alongside Dark Crusade. The modding community is still active and thriving, with many Redux's, Codex Editions and all out conversions among the 40K Universe enhancing this ageing gem. Despite it's age, it holds up and looks great as well. I'd definitely pick it up on a sale, even those new to a RTS can find a good experience here from the base building turtle players, to the all out BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD CHAMPIONS! It will be quite a thrill.

The playerbase is somewhat scattered across various mods, but there are still pockets of players willing to jump in and battle it out until their resources go overdraft or someone blows up the entire map IN THE NAME OF THE EMPEROR!

Such a gem of a game, my steam hours don't do it justice. Countless hours poured into this game from mods alone, even offline.

Even from the first, Mount and Blade. This series was special, from the mods down to it's quirks as you try to gain glory, fame and perhaps a legacy across Calradia. In which you can do so, in many ways. Plan to lead a rebellion, aligning yourself with claimants of thrones scattered across the realm? Or perhaps live your days as a hardened mercenary, fighting in the petty or righteous wars for various factions and kingdoms aiming to cement their place. Maybe even become a Mandalorian and set out to conquer the galaxy? Slay orcs, raze Saxon strongholds over the seas, pillage and conquer Westeros!

Are we talking about the same game here?

I recommend picking it up on a sale however and it's "successor" expansions like Fire and Sword, Napoleonic Wars or Viking Conquest also are quite fun and refreshing as the game evolved. Although Napoleonic Wars and much of the multiplayer elements of the game have been diminished, there are pockets of players that still duel and lay siege. Perhaps even against tides of enemies with mod's such as Full Invasion!



Even with it's age, it's undeniably a solid RPG classic. To this day, mods are still in development albeit slower then before for this game, some mods for Warband are even rivaling those currently in early development for Bannerlord and there years old.

CK3 is a really solid, Grand Strategy Role-playing Simulation I'd say. There is so much to dive into with relative ease, and the amount of content from the modding community and the main DLC's you should get over others, tie it all together into quite an adventure of a game once you're invested into it, for any fan of nearly any universe, timeline like Lord Of The Ring's or Game Of Thrones, even Elder Scrolls this game has something to offer for that itch. The mods refresh and make a lot of features stand out in the game once you've played a good bit of the vanilla experience and got a grasp on being that nearly omniscient ruler of the known world.

Other then Stellaris, I hadn't jumped into much Grand Strategy titles including HOI 4 and other acclaimed games from Paradox. For a Total War fan as well this was another great entry, I'd recommend it on a discount after watching a few videos on it, especially mods if you aren't into much RTS, Strategy type titles such as this. But, if you love plotting or ruling with an iron fist and mind your way to the top, a legend of the realms. Then definitely check this game out. Even with some friends to join and to help you cull those pesky vassals that are still mad you cracked a dirty joke at your first feast.

Truly Divine

So far really fire game, easy to dive into and the rewards are not that hard to get or grind for. Each match can get spiced up and the mecha element seals it together. It does have a few quirks but overall it's an enjoyable game with some promise and flavor to the Battle Royale scene.

{UPDATED EDIT} - Super Mecha Champions was a great game competing amidst rising mecha titles and of course. The Battle Royale scene. It was so much fun, but was plagued with jank here and there. Not unplayable jank mind you, but just enough to notice once you got some time into the game. Also, heavy gacha systems that would leave newcomers behind. Not offering them chances to benefit or recieve special skins from prior events and more. I wish to see Netease potentially come back to SMC, opening it up for new game modes that actually last more then a day or week. All those upcoming pilots we waited for and craved to have, and optimized maps to tear into other mechs with. Such a dope game that gradually divided it's fanbase overtime as they experimented around. SMC was dope. I think they took a step in the right direction to combat the greed of the gacha system they forged up by being able to redeem a hell of a lot of stuff overtime but far too late.

(UPDATED SECTION)
The Ultimate Pro Summary :
- The developers of this fantastic game need to listen to the broad audience that this game has cultivated overtime, for being a battle royale with the mechas giving that sense of gundam flair and fierce combat. It's a gem of a game regardless if you invest into it or not for a few bucks.

Recent Overview :
Pros/Cons and quirks.

- Missing Content in other versions and platforms of the game?
- Graphics could be crispier, I enjoy the design and use the colorful setting in tandem.
- Mechas could use more customization's possibly akin to other mech titles, the stickers and emotes / poses are nice but after gaining the same ones for flash points that are expensive to redeem. It's a grind for those that really wish for those pieces. Some of the past exclusive skins from a variety of seasons are near impossible to get and with those being some of the pilot's and mechas limited options, spend ya gold wisely!
- Better Matchmaking - Leveled Players? Rank and League?
- I'd daresay, the limited game-modes they take in and out should be always available. The player-base early on is sparse as you learn and figure out your playstyle. So there may be bots a plenty until you rank, free kills.This would keep queues flowing and dispersed as they introduced even more, that would be neat with a potential server list if at most?
- The Credit System could be more then what it currently is to discourage player malpractice and cheaters/hackers.
- Squads? 4-5 Player that could go into BR or TDM related modes.
- Origo Island, the newest map does have some frame issues, flickers.


(FORMER REVIEW)
Pros:
- Fire Selection of Mechas you can personalize and outfit with new tech and modules to increase your chances of survival and combat effectiveness overall. Each mecha has different advantages and abilities to serve in any game-mode. Cloaked Sniper Mech? You got it or maybe a mobile artillery platform? Hell yeah.

- The skins are pretty dope for all the mechas and even the pilots that you can outfit with accessories while also bonding with them to unlock and improve their core abilities. They provide a variety of buffs that do clutch a variety of situations for your suitable play-style.

- The maps as of now are spacious, tons of loot to gather early on, systems are in place to make gathering easier and less tedious

- Community is cool but the competitive edge is there, the clan system also offers rewards and is easy to manage and use to boost your time spent in the game and gain extra goodies.

Other then that I’m pretty sold with the game, the battle passes and other elements are easy to throw 25$ at if your sold like I am, I’d give it a try and find some friends to play it with!

Conquering the realm once more, feels good.

This game has made me rage to the full extent of the limit of sanity. The game is hard but it does not look like it from the trailer it seemed simple. When you play the game oh yes the simplicity as i had assumed is here and shall be here as i go forth. But no.....Gods no...All the sudden you get ambushed and ya lose two men because there like "Nope i'm done" pretty much. The feeling of dread with each contract compels you to see what may unfold. This game is a love and hate relationship because you do rely on everything that you earn. There is nobody holding your hand even if you choose the beginner route. Battle Brothers will most certainly cradle you into a maelstrom of emotions.

But it has grown on me over the year. I play this nearly everyday and ponder how I haven't gone insane by the amount of brainpower I put into it with each battle and each gold coin spent and each tool thrown upon my battle brothers torn garments.

(updated since my previous early access review)
Pros:

- Simple and intuitive turn-based combat.
- The connection with your company of mercenaries will most likely have you strangling your keyboard when you see one of them falter.
- A beautiful ever changing world with a variety of things to turn into a hellish landscape. The End crises that may play out which only make your companies life much harder, but the rewards much greater.
- Many builds you could possibly make with your soldiers, Many perks and other talents and niches from their backgrounds.
- The Developers have been very very in tune with the community since early access and the DLC's they put out are outstanding. They really do enrich the world with more weaponry and more foul creatures to defeat and make a profit!
- There is a modding community brewing behind this game, even though the developers couldn't spare their resources to rework a modding capability into the main game. Luckily, passionate fans have been poking at it here and there. I shall specifically mention the "Legends Mod" which certainly expands this game to new heights with it's new heroes and weaponry, Alternate starts and much more in the future.
- Great artwork and simplistic soundtrack with it's moments.


Cons:

- This game may be a little overwhelming for someone not used to the sheer grind of managing a group of regular human beings in a low-fantasy realm where everything is quite terrifying and you could die in a mere flash. Orcs, Goblins, Dire-wolves, Juggernaut-like brigands and their skilled marksmen are merely the least of your worries.

- It can be rather dull at times, Some of your battle brothers will be just cannonfodder. You may rage here and there. But in that regard, that only means that this game has truly pulled you in which will usually make you want to throw yourself onward for the long haul!

- Some of the actions you may experience during battle's in particular will make you questionable. "How did I miss when I had a 80% chance to hit him in the open with no other factors in my way" You'll miss plenty of key shots, plenty of failed swinging of axes and blades but hopefully you're a good teacher and your battle brethren will prevail given enough failure. Patience will be required.

This is a simply outstanding game. It continues to grow into much more with the new DLC's and with the stirring mod community. You must give this a chance if you like party-type management or if you like leading a band of peasants to their deaths, maybe during a sale of course.

If you like star wars and The RTS Genre? This is a perfect combo.