Recent reviews by Gordon

As much as I love Cities Skylines II, this is not worth the buy right now. As you can already tell by other reviews, the game is horribly unoptimized at the moment. And when you manage to configure the settings to get an actual good framerate, you kept poor rendering of slow lod changes where it takes it's time to bring back the high res detail of textures and models and objects disappearing while still close to them (otherwise known as culling).

Until the game is fixed, I just cannot recommend the game right now.

Let me preface that this game is honestly fun. It's honestly not bad and that's why it pains me to say that I just cannot recommend the game in its current state. There are many bugs and missing features that I'm hoping will be fixed and added back at some point. Yes, I get this is in early access, so I can't recommend it currently. My review will likely change when these glaring issues are resolved (at least by the majority).

So what is currently going on with Sons of the Forest? Let's start with glaring bugs

• When entering your backpack, the UI tends to spam between items making it hard to select. I haven't figured out a way around it, as even closing and reopening your bag doesn't always fix this.
  
• Fish don't spawn in walkable water areas. The only way to really get a fix is to ask your new AI companion
  
• Friendly AI cannot walk through your doors while enemy AI can. You're also unable to lock the door for some reason. You pretty much have to use some obstacle to fix this which obviously isn't the intended way.
  
• Large caches of resources respawn seemingly every time you rejoin the game, honestly giving an exploit. I know this occurred with the previous game did to, and it's kind of sad that the same exploit can be performed here.
  
• You will slide sometimes when you have a UI up in some way, whether it be your backpack, pulling up your journal, or anything you pull out, it will slide you if you're moving around before you do.
  
• When you hold a story item such as a note, photograph, printed-out email, etc... that item stays there forever until you pull something else out. This may be some reason intended feature, but seeing how there are no hotkeys, you have to go directly into your backpack to get your weapon, I honestly don't know why this would be a feature. If players want to continue reading it, it should be that the player holds LMB or just pulls it back out from their backpack.
  
• Radios seemingly duplicate when you respawn (if you respawn in that area again multiple times, which honestly happens quite a bit) and while it's nice to hear a radio once or twice, hearing the same ♥♥♥♥ over and over and now overlapping is likely to irritate even the most patient person.
  
• Log duplication is back, and while some like this due to it simply being an exploit, this is obviously a glaring issue considering it happens quite a bit.
  

Next, let's just talk about the poor features this game also has. I'd like to also note that some of these things are also likely bugs, but it doesn't seem like it

• Animals run way too fast and run away way too quickly. Yes there is a stealth intention gameplay feature, but they will still hear you, and if all you have is a spear, that thing is gonna run off with that ♥♥♥♥ before you can think twice.
  
• The interact key is way too confusing UI-wise. At first, I thought holding E meant to pick up the item, but it actually used it which frustrated me due when I tried to find meds, which feels very minimally spawned.
  
• Base building feels useless, and not just because how there's no real incentive to bunker down, which is already enough reason why it's useless. Sometimes the base building is useful for stopping cannibals from constantly ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ you everywhere you go. But they seemingly still manage to get in your base no matter what. Not to mention, the building component can also get repetitive, at least when it comes to walls.
  
• Missing hotkeys. I mentioned this earlier, but it's worth completely noting. I feel like this is especially one of the worst quality-of-life feature removals from The Forest (amongst several others) due to the fact that your inventory is quite literally bigger than the last game.
  
• There's no real loss to dying. Your items are right there ready to be picked up directly after you get yourself loose. And in fact, the only nuisance of dying is the random large amount of cannibal spawn that typically 1-2 shot you with them coming out of nowhere.
  
• No raft for some reason.
  
• The bow feels useless to use. I crafted it once, tried to use it, and if it had at least the trajectory line like it does the spear, it just doesn't feel useful.
  
• The large map design would be nice if it didn't take such a long time to get around.
  
• While I haven't completed the story, I've noticed other reviews talking about the story ending is dumb and doesn't clue in anything. I feel as though this will be a similar occasion for me, and unless I somehow feel different about this and edit this part out, I feel it's worth noting.

Now while I've made a fair bit of criticism, there are some notable positives. Many reviews have already addressed a lot of these positives/strengths, but I'll also just reiterate them.

• Honestly objectively beautiful graphics. Cutting down a tree looks even more dynamic then it did in the forest.
  
• Crafting animations instead of just teleporting. Many survival games just teleport the items, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a game like the forest that attempts some form of realism, it fits much better.
  
• Building being more dynamic is nice. It honestly feels just like legos or that old wood block toy we used to play with (the young ones may not understand that reference).
  
• Cannibal chopping while they're alive. Straight up behead a cannibal while they're alive.
  
• Guns!
  
• Ai companion so you don't feel lonely when you have no one to play with and have to play single-player.

This game has a solid base, and it only needs to continue on from here. But with its current state for its price, I just simply cannot recommend it.

Let's just cut to the chase, this game is worth it. Many hyped games fail on expectations, and while technically a few expectations are squandered for some, it's still a great game overall. You have your dark arts, a unique story separate from the books and movies, and the open-world component allows for an entertaining adventure. And yes, you even have the ability to cast Avada Kedavra (The killing curse). The combat loop is similar to Batman if you've played those games where it's a beat'em up style and with abilities to counter opponents. I don't want to spoil the game, but you also do get a room you can customize add furniture, or whatever you want around.

If you're a fan of Harry Potter, then this game is seriously worth it. And even if you're not, it's still worth considering trying if you're into the fantasy Action RPG genre.

Originally I praised this game for having some pretty decent features that essentially tied to take LSPD:FR from GTAV and make it it's own game with their creative choices. However this game does not deserve any money what so ever when the paid DLC they provide are some features that should already be in the game. In addition the base game is not at a state to be worth buying additional DLC, let alone being created.

Overall, I cannot recommend this game not just because of the obvious cash grab that is the paid DLC but also the lack of commitment to fulfilling a high-quality base game. You will have a much better time getting GTAV, and playing the LSPDFR mod.

Tried this game for around 20 minutes and instantly knew this game was not worth playing. Very little amount of AI, graphics and animations seem like asset flip and or barely any work into it. Found a literal trash bag model that had maybe 20 polys? There's no tutorial, barely any explanation of controls. Got this game to see if it was better to play versus LSPDFR from GTAV, and honestly not impressed.

I will say this is all my personal opinion, so up to you if you really still wanna buy a game that has barely any AI to interact with. I also get this is a "Early Access" game, but take a look at that release date. Yeah this is for sure an early access game, and if it's taking this long after 4 years, then not worth investing time into imo.

There isn't a game here, just some bits of mod tools that relies heavily on Unreal Engine to do work in. The Dev literally admitted to abandoning it and is now expecting people to pay for a "sequel". Just wait for S&Box, the true successor to Garry's Mod. I wouldn't even offer a penny to this scam.

Warframe is a fun, fast, action-packed game that feels great, plays great, and is worth your time. You feel like a badass as you nearly instantly or instantly chop down your enemies. For a F2P (Free 2 Play) game, it has lots of things to do, and almost everything (if not everything) is possible to be retrieved for free. Although this game does have P2W (Pay 2 Win) type aspects, this game heavily focuses more on the PvE. So unless you don't have the time to grind, you don't have to worry about such aspects.

This game is complex, and some of the actions you do from the very beginning of the game (aka choosing your character) can impact your later gameplay, so I recommend checking out videos as well as looking at all 3 starter characters. My recommendation is Excalibur, especially if you aren't planning to do much co-op (if any). I would also recommend having a possible friend to help you in a few areas, as some parts can get confusing and annoying.

Manual Samuel is a mostly a maximum of a 2-hour story driven experience that truly makes you do things manually.

From down to body functions to up to immersive fighting mechanics, this game well give your 2 hours a good experience. However, for a price of $10.00, I can't say it's worth that much, and overall if you have the money, it would then be that I recommend this game. Otherwise, I'd say pick it up if your reading this on 4/18/2020 (or early 4/19/2020) on Humble Bundle while it's still given out for free.

Overall good game, but a little expensive for only a 2-hour game, 5.00$ would seem more fit, but again, if you can afford the price, and you're straight up bored, good game to pick up.

Stardew Valley is a casual game that requires patience, determination, and a sense of enjoyment in thinking/acting on the bigger picture rather than the smaller actions.

What is Stardew Valley?
Stardew Valley is a game where you as a custom made character take on your grandfather's farm. Your tasks are to manage crops, fish, go into the mines to fight off creatures, or meet and get into a relationship with others. During your time, you unravel the story of these people who live in this small town. The game has a tone that fits well enough for all audiences (in age), and including the support of people interested in doing same-sex relationships (I include this because it is likely that some may think that you would be forced to do heterosexual relationships).

The positives/strengths of this game
[-] Relaxing smooth gameplay that may also keep you interested in playing for hours.
[-] Interesting story that gets you invested as time goes on.
[-] A great aesthetic of the game's art combined with the gameplay
[-] Lots of choices for the player to do each day so that the player doesn't just do the same thing everyday.
[-] A good replayability factor as each playthrough of a new farm can almost always be different.
[-] The game is pretty addicting so be careful on your playthrough to keep self-control.

The flaws of the game
In all honesty, there are no real objective flaws that I have found as of yet. So be warned that these are more of my personal opinions on what I think doesn't work well.
[-] The fishing mini-game is a bit frustrating as you don't have complete control of it, but this can be considered part of the challenge, and without the fishing mini-game at all, fishing would get way too boring. But the real frustrating part is when there is a fish that rapidly changes its direction not letting you predict much at all and ultimately making you fail.
[-] The forcing of going to the bed before 2 AM or risk losing items is a little frustrating, especially if your either in the mines or if you're trying to catch fish that are up that late.

Conclusion
Overall this game is something that you don't need to be on every day, but if you're dedicated with enough patience, I strongly believe you'll enjoy this game. I do want to note that this game isn' t for everyone, and if you do not have that willingness to be patient for things, you likely wouldn't enjoy it.

Blackout Club is a currently still in development game that keeps reciving updates. Although being low budget, it's a great game to play by yourself or others. I should note that this isn't a game you'll play everyday most likely unless you're a casual gamer who also likes horror games, but when you get bored or have the chance, it's a great game to play.