Recent reviews by linkmh

Let me preface this review with:
All the rage bait, controversies, hating, etc., on social media, I never really followed. There's certainly some validity there for some things, but for the most it seems very much overblown. Do I think Ubisoft could do better? Yes, absolutely. Do I hate Ubisoft Connect? Yup, but it's not the worst thing in the world and I've been using it for a lot of other older AC games in the past. It's worked and I honestly don't mind it because, well, I'm usually playing this game connected to a desktop PC with an active internet connection.

Now, for the actual game itself, which is what this review is really about.

First off, the English voice acting is...well, it could honestly be A LOT better. Nothing against the voice actors, but in a game set in Japan, it just feels so off. Luckily, you can change the voice acting to Japanese and it is SO much better, and provides a little more realistic immersion into the game.

Second, the story. Well, so far, it's basically kill bill but in Japan. Again, not bad, but it's not as riveting as, say, your first time with Ezio in AC:2. Then again, it's still kind of a revenge story so...take it for what you will. It's serviceable but nothing mind-blowing.

Third, the music. It's fine. Again, serviceable, but certainly the soundtracks seem a little...not appropriate for the time setting I guess? It's not bad. For me, it's not overly distracting.

Now, finally, we get to the big meat-and-potatoes: The Gameplay.
Honestly, I'm having a TON of fun with it. If you've played Odyssey or Origins, chances are, like me, you found that there was almost TOO much to do, and the RPG mechanics were too much in your face and ugh, it just didn't FEEL like AC. Sure, they tried to reinvent it, but maybe they went a bit far with that.
AC: Shadows does kind of a blend between systems you saw in Odyssey and Origins and blends it with, probably I would say Black Flag in a way. Parkour is simpler, RPG mechanics make sense, the combat mechanics are servicable and actually engaging because you can't just spam attacks, though, you could and make an ass-assin (heh) of yourself. For the true purists, you can even turn ON Guaranteed Assassinations which...I feel would make the game too easy. Without it on, heavy enemies with heavy armor and weapons actually can't be assassinated from the get-go because, well, turns out blade can't pierce heavy armor that well. Whoulda thunk? So, the game actually blends that all pretty well in my opinion.
There's plenty of collectables and lore about Japan and the story to be found throughout the game and I'm enjoying actually getting to explore Japan.

There's even tiny little attention to details such as when Naoe steps inside a building, her shoes come off (though there's no animation, but that makes sense for a sense of flow), or not being able to harm animals and not climbing on Torii gates.
All-in-all, they did a really great job with portraying Japan in the 1500s and I'm really pretty ecstatic about the attention to detail they gave the game to give you an authentic feel for how Japan would have been like in those days.
Yasuke not included.

So, in conclusion, if you still have mad hate for Ubisoft, you're not going to like this game or Ubisoft any better because let's face it, you're already on the rage-bait cult that has become the internet as of late, and that's probably not going to change unless you go touch some grass and learn to form an opinion of your own.
If, however, you can appreciate a game made by thousands of dedicated designers, developers, actors, etc., and can appreciate that yes, there are some flaws with this game, and yes Ubisoft could stand to do a hell of a lot better as a company, but you can look at this game independently and understand the hard work and dedication that went into making this game a reality and not a ♥♥♥♥♥-fest like a lot of people expected, you will probably like this game. Fans of older and maybe some newer AC games will find enjoyment here. If you're a diehard fan, maybe look elsewhere.

I give this game, a 4/5. Play it, finish it. If you're not dying to play it, wait for it to go on sale.

I might be addicted to this game.
Oh boy, where to start. So, if you know anything about this game, I'm sure you know of it like Pokemon with guns, but it is so, so, so much more!
First off, realize that this game is still in early access. With that being said, treat this game as more of a survival game, but with monster catching mechanics. There isn't much/any of a story just yet. You're sort of dropped off in a world, with some tutorials on what to do next and then you're free to pretty much explore and create as much chao...pals as possible!
For an early access game, it has pretty much everything for most anyone and it does a lot of this really, really well! Survival, crafting, tower defense, monster catching/breeding, guns, and they all work well together. The game has it's own share of bugs, but nothing outright game breaking or frustrating and the devs appear to be listening to player feedback as well. There's more coming out and I've enjoyed my time playing this game and hoping someday the big N and more specifically GF learns how to make a game that runs so much better and plays better than a certain Pokemon game.
PocketPair, if you're listening, well done!

This game is better than I had originally thought!
If you love MegaMan type gameplay, with the speed of Zero from the MegaMan Zero series and a rockin' soundtrack, pick this game up!
I will warn you, forever, the difficulty, while not super punishing (no punishment for dying than restarting at the last checkpoint which are pretty often), boss battles may be more difficult in the beginning until you power up a bit more.
If that puts you off, pick up the OST.

During the cold winter months when you're stuck inside and need a game to play with your bros online, nothing quite hits the spot like Viking Minecraft.

This is a great game to play with friends! If you enjoy turn-based combat and D&D typew gameplay and mechanics, then this is definitely a game to pick up! There are many different ways to play and ways the story can play out so it definitely has a lot of replay value to it. You won't be disappointed!

A fun, relaxing game in a cyberpunk universe with some excellent music and story. What's not to like?

I can't recommend this game enough.
It is such a simplistic game from the outside, but once you get in, it becomes so complex.
It's story will draw you in, the characters, the music, the gameplay, everything just oozes with love and dedication from the developer.
If the reviews online haven't sold you, I don't know what will. Pick it up, play, and see for yourself what kind of game it is to you.

It's GTA, what more can I say? The story line is top-notch in this game, and the game performs like a charm! Multiplayer is pretty awesome and keeps you coming back for more!