Recent reviews by Mr. Orange

The tale of Geralt of Rivia.

After 264 hours played on Xbox and a few years behind me, I’m starting my second playthrough of the game on PC. I know I’m a bit late, but this is my take on it.

I would like to start by saying that this game is, in my opinion, THE game of the eighth generation, simply because it changed me forever, as much as a literary masterpiece or a good film can do. I’d also say that this game is a perfect example of how videogames can be the most powerful artistic medium as of today. The heart and soul of The Witcher 3 lie not so much on his gameplay and combat system, which can feel a bit repetitive at times, but in its powerful and deep narrative. It’s a story that is able to enchant you even if you are completely unaware, as I was, of what happened in the previous titles of the saga. The gloomy world in which you are thrown is as much of a threat to you as it is sublime; the depth of the characters, the ambiance and sceneries are all set in motion by a thrilling soundtrack that constitutes the very fabric of the experience on which the story builds its magic. All these elements are orchestrated perfectly in a symphony, or perhaps I should say a ballad ;) that is influenced by the choices you make throughout the game. The tale of the White Wolf is so profound and it ranges so much in themes that it manages to even reach, I’d say, a pedagogical end, as all great stories do.
There are a few minor defects, like the lack of differentiation in the appearance of secondary NPCs you can find in the world, but they are all technical limits resulting from the fact that the game was released in 2015, and so they are all overshadowed by the essence of the game, that renders it a true work of art. This is the reason why this game, like many others before it, will always, in my opinion, retain its value; because, even though, on a technical level, it manages to give birth to a breathtaking environment, its significance rests on a story that enters your heart and redefine the limits of your emotions.

A COLLECTION OF "REMASTERED" GAMES WITH A TROUBLED PAST.🤦‍♂️

Even though in the last year the MCC saw a major improvement due to its release on PC, I can't say I'm really satisfied with the game. The collection is now the best way to experience the halo saga's campaigns, but, on the multiplayer side, it is still so troubled by glitches that I don't feel like recommending it to anyone; the population is very low as a result of this reason and, even tough cross play has just been added, games like halo CE are almost unplayable due to the lack of players.

PRO:
✔️You can have all the Halo saga's campaigns on PC with remastered graphics and/or "improved" with a graphical overhaul.

CONS:
❌The multiplayer is still troubled by a lot of glitches.

❌Oddly enough, the aim-assist on the controller is overpowered if compared with mouse and keyboard because of the way that bullet magnetism works in the game, with the result of having a substantial and frustrating imbalance between input devices. This doesn't seem to be a problem for every other FPS game that I've ever played, so I'd say this is a peculiar issue of the MCC.

❌The population on some games like Halo CE or Halo 2 is very low because of these reasons, rendering, most times, the matchmaking a long and annoying experience.


My verdict? Buy it only if you are interested in experiencing the campaigns with improved graphics, otherwise leave it be.


********** EDIT UPDATE 07/03/2024

After a lot of years most of the glitches have been fixed, even though quite a few are still present in the games. The UI is still glitchy at times and the stability of the game is not great; I have to say, though, that overall - after the introduction of mods and the integration with the workshop - the MCC is currently the best platform available if you want to experience the OG Halo games.

So yes, I'm still not happy with the state of the game, but I can finally recommend it at least.

one of, if not the best online multiplayer game ever created, but my steam review will remain negative until Valve fixes the cheater bot problem.

EDIT: FIXED as of today...