Recent reviews by Artemisia

A veritable cornucopia of talent flows when a Bioshock game is released, and this final Bioshock is no exception. Although some fans may suggest the ending was 'underwhelming', as an initiate into Bioshock, beginning my journey at the end was a smashing success with Bioshock Infinite. A first person shooter game set in an alternative universe filled with alternate universes. This Bioshock promises a JJ Abrams 'Fringe' feeling of causes and consequences. You do not have to be a fan from the Bioshock 1 to love this franchise; in fact, i'm set to purchase the rest of the trilogy and have started on the first one.

This Bioshock links the previous installments and ties it up in a bow. Set in fictional floating city of Columbia, where all our futuristic fantasies of flying zeppelins as modes of transports take an even better turn with a floating building. You follow Booker De Witt, who unlike the previous installments, is independant and makes his own choices. A debt to be repaid and the honour behind it, Booker finds himself entwined in Bioshock's classic motifs of fanatism taken too far. Religious fundamentalism and its consequences surround Booker and Elizabeth, and the pair set out to find their own way and free themselves from tyranny. Along the way, action, sci-fi and emotional air-hook rides toss you into different realities where science is bent in 10 different ways.

The plot thickens like gravy, and just when you think you understand what you must do, the story turns a whole different way. Granted, the ending is a bit hard to comprehend, and there are moments when you think 'hold on, thats impossible', believe it, because you want it to be.

Gameplay is FPS, which means sometimes its hard to defend yourself on the hardest difficulty, and i still cannot get past 1998 mode and constantly having to restart checkpoints. Plasmids are fascinating and as always the classic favourite elements; fire, electricity and water make their repeat appearances in your strange abilities.

Apart from having to amp up your skill in FPS, there hardly feels to be a complaint in gameplay, aside from the impossible feats. The DLCs KILLED IT. Connecting Bioshock 1 to Infinite in a BEAUTIful arc, where you realise things are not as they seem and are exactly what they look. Your return to Rapture is a stunning moment for loyal fans and for newcomers like myself, a masterpiece of a new area underwater.

I would vehemently recommend playing this game through and its DLCs, 3 times till you get all the achievements, because it is an emotional and psychological thrill to ride.

This is just time consuming area to deal with humans, that you probably wanted to escape from in the first place

but you also become seriously good at stretegising on varying heroes and their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the economics of items and their benefits to each hero and opponents

Starting out from the main franchaise and branching into these 'mini' games, Ubi is taking the term 'assassin' to serious lengths. The Chronicles really reward you for stealth and speed as well as patience and is a true mark of the stealth brand.

It took some time to get used to it and it took me months to get back to it because, admittedly it is not for everyone of this generation which is used to the high res games that have the option of murdering your way through levels. But after a while, i got the hang of the 2D dimensions and the controls are now able to be readjusted (thank god). It is extremely satisfying to get Shadow Gold on a checkpoint - which is when you are not seen and don't kill anyone except targets

But wait? Don't kill anyone? Aren't we supposed to slish slash through blood in an AC game? But wait! Aren't we supposed to be Assassins? Working in the dark? It makes logical sense, and yes it adds a layer of difficulty to it, but overall i really enjoyed this game and am playing through it again at the harder difficulties to get teh achievements and collectibles.

The controls are clunky but now that you can adjust it, its actually makes you have really good coordination of control. I liked this game.

As a writer and student of literature and a small unit on archaeology, i can say that plot wise, it was not as entrancing as the previous reboot. The argument made by the game suggesting that Lara's father was forced to commit suicide in front of his daugher is weak and if this is Lara's journey to becoming the great Tomb Raider she is, I don't see how this develops her character at all. Her past is just as important as her gun slinging journeys. Archaeological layers of investigation was more well developed than the first, introducing limitations to which Lara's linguistic abilities are hindered, prompting more investigation and learning to improve herself before she is able to read more complex documents and writing. This in turn, unlocks coin caches or survival caches needed for the player to advance - an interesting and very well thought concept.

Gear and weapons seem more spread out at this point, making you feel like you haven't got the best weapons at your disposal until late game, which is the feeling you get in the previous one, and not as much time spent with it, when it could have been useful earlier in the game. Although, yes the shotgun gets unlocked really late in the game and certain gear Lara needs to traverse the environement does get unlocked quite late. And if you're anything like the completionist i am, and like to 'clear' and area before moving on, this is quite annoying as you spend a copious amount of time exploring with the 'noobie' level things you have and missing gear, only to have to come back just for that one thing that probably wasn't all that great in the first place

On that note, some achievements are still bugged, and its annoying. The difficulty levels are now more realistic, in the sense that, in Endurance mode you get a taste of this, where you have to collect wood before you can make camp, or resources are scarce, as they are in the wild, and not dotted around the map like convenient little survival packs.

The historical element to the game has several layers now, with Byzantine peoples, Soviet era artefacts and yet somehow for Siberians, the Remnants have a strangely comfortable American accent - so immersion is a 50-50 situation. The environment is a lot more diverse, first harsh deserts, then freeing tundras, the next you're in a green valley - and what's best that appeals to my vanity, is the outfits you can don - with various side benefits with each - that suits the environment.

Combat is much better for this one, the bow is amped up now, with certain skills that you can invest, and unlike the previous one, by the end of the game, you may not have all the skills in all the trees. But yes, combat seems tougher on harder difficulties, and more managable. One thing i am THRILLED about is that Lara can now sprint. Not that 'hop skip and jump' jog - she still has that default speed, but if you know where you're going, you can dash all the way there with no stamina to stop you, but obstacles to get in your way when running.

Overall, with graphics, game mechanics (combat or not) and plot, it was not a bad game to own and i'm still playing it the second time (due to some stupid glitched achievements but they may fix that).

A rollercoaster ride of emotions where almost EVERY single decision you make effects the game. Even if you choose not to let your moral compass hinder you, it will defintely come back to bite you later in the game. Like, literally.

Lee Everett began the game as a man convicted of killing his cheating wife's lover. This in itself affects the game and how you want to play it. Truth and honesty is very important to the game, and sometimes doing the right thing really affects your survival

By the end of this you wil feel emotionally spent as you dwindle down to your only true concern - Clementine. Protect her at all costs. But be cool about it. Even if you were never a parent and don't plan to be one, this will be one hella ride

"I make my own luck"

These are the words that define a hero. Shay Cormac was young and idealistic. But throughout his life, he remained loyal and compassionate.

As a hardy AC fan, I was reluctant to get this as this is the story of an Assassin going rogue, turning coats and crossing over to the dark side - especially since I heard great things about Rogue. But I had never been more wrong or more clear in my love for this game and the others

Previous AC games were quite 'traditional' in the sense where the bad guys were bad and were easy to hate. But as said in my review of AC3, it started to blur the lines. This is where the Kenway line comes in. Beginning from Connor and Haytham in AC3, the grey areas of the Assassin-Templar conflict shift and change. It is not just about right and wrong anymore, but the means and intentions of achieving peace and such.

This is the story of a man living in time when the Assassin Brotherhood struggled hard to maintain righteousness. This game truly sets the tone of the question - 'Are all Templars evil? Are all Assassins' good?' From here on out, its a devil's trap, and you cannot help but see the grey and its A LOT harder to pick sides

Gameplay is much the same as the AC3, AC4 world. The naval combat and ground combat is the same as before, but set in a new and crisp environment. The graphics are way more stable than Black Flag, with no point in gameplay where glitch nor bug appeared - for me at least. The famously annoying amount of collectibles has returned, and its up to you if you wish to catch them all.

Plot is the compelling masterpiece. Not only does this tie in AC3 and AC4, but also a branch into the French Revolution in AC Unity. By this point, it would be good to mention - for maximum emotional impact, to play this first prior to ACU. Shay's story is dark and riddled with emotional turmoil. Betraying his former ideals and betrayed by his own brothers - the Creed is suddenly dark and unforgiving, something not seen since the Altair days.

Set in the Seven Years war which was a significant historical event which arguably was the impetus of the fall of the British hold on America - starting the American Revolution, and also the fall of the monarchy - kicking of the French Revolution. During this time, you will understand why Achilles in AC3 was so bitter and sad, how he learned life the hard way, and why he tries so hard to make Connor see it too. In this time, you feel the echoes of Black Flag, with the confrontation of Adewale, and his former captain's son. This game shows you the effects of the novelisation of AC3, Forsaken - Haytham choosing Templars over his conscious self and turning aside emotions.

Shay has to cut and kill his way through friends and family, to protect the world from pride and war. The Assassins are no longer the good guys, and Shay - a new Templar, is seemingly the only one more concerned with the lives of innocents than the conflict itself.

Something most other Assassins cannot say they have done.

By the end of this, though short but bittersweet, the emotional wallop is compelling. Be ready.

The ever emotional yet conflicting end to the Desmond Saga. This is popularly referred to as the 'last good AC'. The argument being that future AC games lack the 'present day' element that linked the player to the experiences of Desmond.

AC3 is a game that stands out. Not only because Connor is so unlike the previous or proceeding protagonists, but also due to his character arc being the first in the series to introduce the grey areas in the Templar-Assassin war. Not only is this the first game to have a first playable Templar - Haytham Kenway is also really hot and classy. (hehe)

The previous Templar villains were classic - hardcore maglomamaniacs - easy to hate and deliciously cruely. But this AC introduces hesitation to dislike. The Templars are truly working for a better cause - following a noble Grandmaster of Haytham - who is compassionate and non-racist in his views. The Templars want what is best - which was not so clearly the case in the previous games.

This raises question of how America could have been in the now - could Native Americans not be second class citizens as they are today? Could the American Revolution been less violent and more diplomatic - resulting in the first era of democratic relationships between enemies? Would George Washington be less of a hero he is idealised and lorded over as he is portrayed to be as he is today?

AC3 truly brings out the questions in life - would things have been better if Templars ruled? Are they truly evil? Do the ends justify the means? Are Templars methods something that could be condoned? We had always and still been playing arcs that saw us vehimently rejecting Templars and everything they do. We understand their methods are harsh and perhaps cruel, but will this be the best and only way?

Do they Assassins really have the right answers to life?

As continued in AC3 novel Forsaken - another masterpiece - AC Rogue, AC Black Flag and perhaps even Unity, Ubisoft has taken the questions even further, expanding and also adding to the richness of the AC world with thoughts on 'Who is truly good or evil?' and also the darkness of the AC franchise. Not only does this make you LURVE the characters even more than you would already do, but also make you immerse yourself in history and art and politics.

Gameplay wise, this game revolutionized (another revolution) the system and made it more flexible and dynamic. Connor is also the first in AC protagonists to be able to climb trees. And don't question why his father can't.... Combat is more fluid and even enjoyable - sometimes you just want to go on a killing spree through town. Despite this - do not fear - you can still die and stealth is still important for an Assassin. Although, the constraints are annoying, it adds to the element of the shadows that the Assassin wars wage in history.

The open world is almost as annoying as it always famously is - loads of collectibles and the Cheevo for collecting and doirng everthing is there - so good luck with that - even i havent got 100% sync on the bloody naval mission.

Naval missions are a new thing (yay) - kicking off a chapter of AC games for naval warfare. This prototype maybe quite the dinosaur, but it is an interesting development from land-based combat.

Annoyingly, the tunnel system can be foregone with horse travel, but then, its entirely up to you if you want to get lost in the dark.

Overall, a blessed improvement for the AC franchise - for the day of course - and a brilliant story arc. Though you might find Connor a tough person to like - come on, if your father is the enemy, mother murdered, people not even considered citizens and you have to continue living with all that on top of the fact that you have to kill your own father....who found out his own father was betrayed and killed too - you wouldn't be a happy-go-lucky person like Ezio was.

Ezio was a nobleman, grew up with his family and had his mom and sister with him, found love eventually and had a family. Connor never had a chance - not to mention that he is a Native at a time when slavery was still around....

All in all, a great game, though annoying for perfectionists, it is splendid in comparison to previous games

A horror/zombie action game with all the wants and needs of a good experience. Characters and story arcs that entice you to love and hate characters. Blooming unlikely love story. Unexpected partnership based on mutual trust. Unresolved and mysterious love interest. PTSD hero, who loses more than he wanted, and gains much more only to lose some. Deceit and disillusionment. And twisted unrequited EVIL love.

It is action, zombies, guns and knives, grenades and gritty puzzles. Not only do you use your skill, but also your brain, something most zombie games don't have. What is truly terrifying is the fact that the 'zombies' are not mindless killing machines (for the most part) but are capable of organisation.

Downside is the ANNOYING camera angles, that though you could get used to after a while, certain campaigns force camera angles that keep changing and warping into almost unworkable conditions that result in your death. QTEs are a pain sometimes but are exciting - thought it depends on you. An overusage of it - in my opinion - but there is an option to turn them off, so that's good. (I'm looking at you Chris/Piers)

Bottom line a product worth its blood and gore. There's a million ways to die and so satisfying when finished - not only cos of the action element, but also the story element. Graphics ain't half bad either, and is plenty reliable as compared to other franchises that are trying to up their game. This Resident Evil has done it in the most balanced way.

As far as inductions into established game series goes; this is a pleasant and perfect play

Technical gizmo wise - this game is excellent: graphics, audio and art and modelling is fantastic. The hyperealistic atmosphere is really immersive. Lara's breathing patterns seem asthmatic, but really adds to the immersive feeling - you feel her fear as she gasps, moans and groans her way to survival and gorey glory.

GORE. If you're looking for blood, there's some really zombie/l4d2 elements to this game, so if you're psychopathic, you can really relate. Or, be revolted and driven to fear and survival. Either way, it is stunning

As a fan of good narratives; this game is not disappointing. You feel just as confused, rack your mind as you unravel the threads with each clue to uncover the mystery of Yamatai. You feel Lara's compassion, her suspicions and rage at betrayal and loss. And don't go judging Father Mathias too harshly - after all, survival is for the fittest

If you're a perfectionist, this game will grate on your nerves slightly, with the multitude of collectible you can easily miss without guides. However, there are multiple opportunites to complete the challenges or collect with backtracking

If you suffer lags, and I mean the fps drops, I found lowering resolution to help, but otherwise, wait it out. The lags, as compared to other games i've played like AC series, to be comparitively and noticibly faster - so that's a plus

Combat is its own dimension; not quite versatile or flexible, but each combat situation you're in increases in difficulty, forcing you to up your game. Stealth and efficiency is rewarded - as it should be if you're fighting to survive as a young green woman who only embarked on this journey just to visit a tomb and not struggle to live. I suppose the combat play immerses you into Lara - being a small, slender and physically weaker female - and you HAVE to approach situations carefully. Unless you want to fight - which ups the ante. (you may not survive and have to restart)

By the end of it - a survivor is born