Recent reviews by Snorgel

A Disaster of an Update: Hunt Showdown 1896 Ruined the Game

The new Hunt Showdown 1896 update has turned one of my favorite games into a complete and utter mess. What Crytek seems to have forgotten is that an update should enhance the gaming experience, not destroy it. Instead, they’ve managed to make Hunt Showdown virtually unplayable with a series of baffling decisions and technical failures.

Performance Issues Galore: The game now suffers from severe performance issues. Even with top-tier hardware, like my Nvidia 4090 RTX, AMD 5800X, and 32GB of RAM, I can't maintain stable frame rates. The game frequently stutters and freezes, especially during critical moments like getting shot, shooting at someone else, or using Dark Sight. There are constant FPS drops that make playing feel like a slideshow. I can't believe I’m saying this, but even changing my settings to low didn't help. If a game can't run smoothly on high-end hardware, what hope do players with mid-range setups have?

Awful New Weapon Mechanics: The new bullet drop mechanic is another disaster. In combination with the increased weapon sway and the notoriously hard-to-use iron sights, gunplay has become an exercise in frustration. Whether you’re a veteran or a newcomer, it’s nearly impossible to hit anything reliably. These changes don’t make the game more challenging in a good way; they make it unplayable. I spent hours trying to adjust, only to find myself missing shots I would have easily landed before the update. Instead of feeling like a skilled hunter, I feel like I’m flailing around aimlessly, hoping one of my shots might accidentally hit something.

UI Overhaul: A Complete Failure: The new UI is another colossal misstep. It’s so confusing and unfriendly that I’ve wasted more time clicking through menus than actually playing the game. The horizontal layout feels like a knock-off of CoD and Netflix, and it's not even a good knock-off. Navigating through these menus with a scroll wheel is impossible, and figuring out how to invite friends or customize my hunter has become a chore. The introduction of item rarities, which clash with other UI elements, only adds to the visual chaos. Buttons are smaller and harder to click, and switching between menus requires an inconsistent mix of tapping and holding keys.

Monetization Over Player Experience: The new update seems to prioritize monetization over player enjoyment. The game now opens with a storefront and ads for bundles, making it clear that Crytek is more interested in squeezing money out of players than providing a smooth and enjoyable experience. When I can't even see my MMR or my teammates' loadouts without multiple clicks, it's evident that player experience has taken a back seat. If Crytek had spent half the effort on optimizing performance and gameplay as they did on the new storefront, Hunt Showdown might still be worth playing.

Final Thoughts: Hunt Showdown 1896 feels like an alpha version rather than a finished game. With frequent freezes, crashes, a terrible UI, and unplayable weapon mechanics, Crytek has taken a massive step back. This was their chance to attract new players and retain the loyal community that has supported them over the years, but instead, they’ve alienated both new and old players alike. Until these issues are addressed, I can't recommend this game to anyone. Crytek, if you want your players back, it's time to start listening to their feedback and fixing what you've broken.

he Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a true masterpiece in the roguelike genre, offering a captivating and challenging gaming experience that keeps players coming back for more. Its unique blend of dark, whimsical themes and addictive gameplay make it a standout title that has stood the test of time.

Pros:

Endless Replayability: One of the game's greatest strengths lies in its procedurally generated levels, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same. The variety of items, characters, and enemies keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, encouraging players to experiment with different strategies and playstyles.

Rich Storytelling: The game's narrative, inspired by biblical themes, adds a layer of depth to the overall experience. While the story may be dark and twisted, it is undeniably intriguing and adds a sense of purpose to each playthrough. Unraveling the mysteries of Isaac's world adds an extra dimension to the gameplay.

Strategic Gameplay: The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth requires a perfect balance of skill and strategy. The vast array of items and power-ups allows players to tailor their approach to the challenges they face. The risk-reward mechanics create tense moments, making every decision feel significant.

Stellar Art and Sound Design: The game's unique art style, created by Edmund McMillen, is both disturbing and captivating, perfectly complementing the game's themes. The haunting soundtrack further immerses players into the dark world of Isaac, enhancing the overall atmosphere and adding to the game's emotional impact.

Cons:

Steep Learning Curve: For newcomers to the roguelike genre, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth can be overwhelming at first. The sheer number of items and their interactions may take some time to fully understand, potentially discouraging players who are new to this style of game.

Occasional Difficulty Spikes: Some runs can feel unfairly difficult due to the random nature of item drops and enemy encounters. While this adds to the challenge, it may frustrate players who feel that success is heavily dependent on luck rather than skill.

Limited Online Features: The multiplayer aspect is a welcome addition, but the lack of robust online features may disappoint players looking for a more social experience. Expanded online functionalities, such as leaderboards or cooperative multiplayer, could enhance the game's longevity.

In conclusion, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a must-play for fans of the roguelike genre. Its rich gameplay, dark narrative, and artistic brilliance make it a standout title with enduring appeal. Despite a few learning curve challenges and occasional difficulty spikes, the game's positives far outweigh the negatives, ensuring an engaging and memorable gaming experience.

Definetly a hard downgrade from CS:GO;

The Ranking System is clearly not though through.
The Movement feels so less sharp and clean than CS:GO, and way more clunky and slingy.
The Zero-Tick-System is a grave disappointment and more of a placebo-effect that a real new innovation.
The Loadout-Selection is basically just an restiction of the old choices you had.
They lied about changing any of the weapon stats, they changed spraypatterns, the stabelation times for precise shots and other things.
The performance is not as well balances for older systems as they promised.

Noice and HUGE amount of possibilities! You can play thousands of hours and i bet you havent experience even the half of the game. (Okey that might be cse the community is allways bringing up new mods and stuff... BUT THATS ALSO GREAT!)