Recent reviews by Ocelot

Just posting this to make my findings about this game known.

This game works out of the box on Steam Deck.

This game ( as well as all of the other Legacy of Kain games on Steam) has horrible issues with game pad compatibility.

However, it works flawlessly on Steam Deck as there are community profiles that map the keyboard buttons to the buttons on the deck, allowing for flawless controls. And the game runs and performs flawlessly from my experience.

Just posting this to make my findings about this game known.

This game works out of the box on Steam Deck.

This game ( as well as all of the other Legacy of Kain games on Steam) has horrible issues with game pad compatibility.

However, it works flawlessly on Steam Deck as there are community profiles that map the keyboard buttons to the buttons on the deck, allowing for flawless controls. And the game runs and performs flawlessly from my experience.

Just posting this to make my findings about this game known.

This game works out of the box on Steam Deck. Though, Square Enix has since removed the ability to buy this game from Steam. However, if you have it in your library from previously buying it. You can play it on Steam Deck easily.

This game ( as well as all of the other Legacy of Kain games on Steam) has horrible issues with game pad compatibility.

However, it works flawlessly on Steam Deck as there are community profiles that map the keyboard buttons to the buttons on the deck, allowing for flawless controls. And the game runs and performs flawlessly from my experience.

Just posting this to make my findings about this game known.

This game works out of the box on Steam Deck.

This game ( as well as all of the other Legacy of Kain games on Steam) has horrible issues with game pad compatibility.

However, it works flawlessly on Steam Deck as there are community profiles that map the keyboard buttons to the buttons on the deck, allowing for flawless controls. And the game runs and performs flawlessly from my experience.

At the time of writing this review I have about 6 hours into this game.

I'll preface this by also saying that I've never played any of the "Factory Sim" games such as Factorio or Satisfactory.

This game has QUICKLY become very impressive and a favorite of mine. Hence why I'm bothering to write a review at only 6 hours into my first save.

Its quite simple. You start out with nothing, and you slowly build up more and more as you automate tasks and you snowball into turning entire planets into one big factory which you then use to expand your reach into neighboring planets. Its a very simple concept that is well executed in this game.

The game is very visually pleasing despite the simple art style and graphics and it's sound track is very nicely done and fits very well with the theme and tone of the game.

It takes a bit to get used to the mechanics of how everything works, but as you learn you'll easily develop new ideas or strategies for making your production more efficient and compact.

Overall, this game is impressive for what it is. It's VERY well polished for an early access game and feels like a full game already. I can only hope we see continued features and content added to the game in the future that expand on what is a VERY solid foundation of a game to build upon.

I can easily see myself dumping a TON of hours into this game and I have ALREADY gotten so engrossed into it that time has seemingly flown by without me realizing it, and it takes ALOT for a game to do that to me. This on top of being a nice chill game that has no enemies or hazards to worry about make it a great game to sit down and chill out without worrying about other players ruining your limited free time by griefing you or trolling or anything like that. Its just you, and the game, and your desire to automate everything as efficiently as you possibly can.

WELL worth the $20 entry fee if you like this style/genre of game. And even if you haven't played this style of game before like I didn't, its worth a shot.

At the time of me posting this review I only have about 4 hours into the game. That said, this review should be taken as a "first impressions" sort of review until I have more time into the game and have experienced much more of it.

All that said:
The feel and look of the game is great. It definitely has an Elder Scrolls feel to the game and it mixes elements from a couple of the previous Elder Scrolls games and puts them into an MMO environment.

The combat is pretty good, it doesn't feel really clunky and its not as much of a press a button, let the invisible dice roll, and watch your character beat up an NPC until it dies while you watch the animations. It is a bit more involved and it isn't overly boring.

Graphically, it doesn't hold up to Skyrim graphics, however it is still a visually pleasing game that gives the Elder Scrolls feel. I have noticed that when I run up to NPCs or load into a new area that there is some texture pop in even though I'm running it with every setting maxed out. It's a minor issue but it is pretty distracting when it happens.

The game can be as bit buggy, that said its not been anything game breaking. It was mainly NPCs kind of quickly changing directions and bouncing back and forth in a small area where they were standing/walking before they stopped as I talked to them. Again, nothing game breaking or serious, but it is quite distracting.

The UI is a bit hit and miss. It's kind of clunky at first but once you get aquainted with where everything is and how to work it it quickly. Over all, not a horrible UI just takes some getting used to. That said, you are able to look at your map, inventory, journal/quest log, and pretty much everything else as you are running across the land so you can look through things as you travel to break up the monotony/get more done as you go.

Overall, my impressions of the game are very good. I did not play ESO when it originally released as the idea of a sub fee and the initial reviews turned me away, at least until the game was improved. They've now made the sub an optional feature and from other reviews they have improved a good bit of what people complained about when the game released.

Overall, defintely worth a shot if you like MMOs and the Elder Scrolls world/series. Do not run into this thinking its Skyrim Online, because you will be disappointed. Instead, walk into it with an open mind and realize you're going into an MMO that's based inside the Elder Scrolls world. You won't have any unrealistic expectations that way.

I bought the game for $24 on sale as I was apprenhensive, even after the Tamriel Unlimited relaunch, to pay a full $60. Whether or not you are willing to wait for another sale or pay the full price is up to you. But considering what I've experienced so far, i like it. Depending on how involved I get with the game I will be considering the optional subscription.

TL:DR: Solid MMO (based on first impressions) that is set in the world of Elder Scrolls. Great looking game and it's quite fun. Worth a shot if you can find it on sale.

If there's one thing you should know about SteamWorld Dig is that it stems from a handheld console. The Nintendo DS family of consoles specifically.

While many would be turned off at this fact as it indicates some limitations that wouldn't otherwise exist if it were a console or PC release. However, don't let that discourage you from giving SteamWorld Dig a serious look.

I first picked this game up on my 3DS and put a good amount of time into playing the game, so naturally when I saw SteamWorld Dig on a sale I decided "Why not?".

The game is very visually pleasing for both the 3DS and even more so on the PC release. Everything looks nice and crisp and clean for both versions, but even more so on the PC version since you will be viewing it on a larger screen than you would on the 3DS.

Gameplay wise SteamWorld Dig only falls short in one area. The first hour or so of gameplay can feel really slow and pointless as you will find yourself slowly plinking away with your pick axe trying to gather minerals to return to town. However, you'll find that after getting the first couple of upgrades and abilities that SteamWorld Dig really picks up in its pace as long as you can push through the initial grind.

There are plenty of upgrades to collect and work for. From buying bigger pouches to allow you to stay underground longer and carry more loot, to buying better pick axes, or buying bigger water tanks to power your special abilities. SteamWorld Dig is great for people who have a compulsion to collect everything and upgrade everything.

Ever play a game and you finally get a new ability to feel accomplished and happy only to turn around and learn that the ability has a limited use or is only useful in certain sitations? Forget all that, Steamworld Dig does a good job at making sure that each new ability enhances your ability to explore and is actually useful. From an ability that charges up your boots and releases a burst of steam to allow you to jump higher, to an ability that allows you to cross large gaps that would normally be inaccessable. No ability goes unused.

My only gripe with the game is that the upgrading system could have a little more depth. As it stands all you have to do to upgrade is to gather minerals, take it to town to exchange it for money, then buy the upgrade. A great improvement that could be done for future SteamWorld games would be to make the individual ores a requirement for building the upgrades in the same way that Minecraft or Terraria do.

Despite the shallow upgrade system and initial feeling of "Why am I even doing this?" SteamWorld Dig is a great all around simple and addicting game that would be great for anyone who is a fan of these sorts of games. And for a measly entry price of 10 bucks its a very accessable game that is well worth a shot to anyone whos looking to kill some time or even looking for a great handheld game to download. SteamWorld Dig can also be found on the Nintendo eShop for $5 bucks (the price when I bought it for my own 3DS system).

Regardless of whether you buy it here on Steam or you buy it for your 3DS you'll find a great game in SteamWorld Dig.

Lace up your boots and pull out your explorers hat, It's time to get your Indiana Jones on.

Spelunky is rogelike at its core. Perma death. Randomly generated dungeons. It has it all. You'll adventure into a game that is unforgiving yet fun and addictive.

The controls are simple and are easily picked up by anyone. However, don't let the simplicity of the movement go to your head. The game quickly knocks your ego down a notch or two as you're flung into the dungeons that are randomly generated each and every time you start a new run.

You'll quickly learn that death is around every corner in the dungeons of Spelunky. Be it from the monsters, from falling down too far or from you throwing a rock and it bouncing off of a wall and smacking you right back in that dome of yours. This is one rouge like game where death quickly becomes a norm as you learn all the different and unexpected ways you can die. You will even find yourself laughing at some deaths as you get knocked back by a monster, fall down infront of an arrow trap which then knocks you into a bomb that sends you flying across the map. This is a game where one mistake can cost you your entire run or put you in a very very bad position.

But with each death you learn new things and as you play more you go from being a clumsy novice explorer to an expert adventurer who handles every situation with ease.

The game is very visually pleasing and satisfying in its simplicty. Nice clean graphics with its own animated charm. The music is also very well done and adds to the feel and charm of the game.

Between everything this game has to offer it is a VERY well done indie game and anyone who likes platformers, rouge likes, or games that reward persistence Spelunky will be sure to provide you with hours of entertainment. I recommend it to just about anyone looking for a fun game that you can both jump in and out of, or play for hours on end.