Recent reviews by my dude

Imma be real, didn't really feel this one. The performance was mostly fine for me, my biggest complaints are with the gameplay.

1. I don't like focus mode, it makes positioning matter far less than in previous games and you should be limited in how far you can turn, maybe say a 30-45 degree angle. This way you can still strike the wounds but it would feel more fair. Being able to turn 180 degrees in a Greatsword charge is honestly ridiculous.

2. I don't like how artian weapons are available this early in the game's lifecycle. It disincentives you from actively hunting a variety of monsters and crafting their weapons because the artian weapons are just always better and are easier to make. So instead the game has you grinding the same tempered quest over and over for relics and HR because its optimal. This kills the core gameplay loop of Monhun. This should be added much later on when title updates start slowing down to keep the game fresh.

3. I HATE this new decoration system that only lets you put offensive skills on weapons. It makes relying on gacha for decorations absolutely miserable and it makes the armor you craft matter a lot less, once again giving you less incentive to hunt a variety of monsters for their parts which is like the core gameplay loop of this entire series. It also makes artian weapons way too strong because they get 3 decoration slots.

The game honestly feels like it wasn't ready for release and that investors pressured Capcom to release this game before AMD launched their cards so they can market framegen to boost their Nvidia stocks.

This whole launch just reminds me how far gaming has fallen in recent years, it's depressing. Been playing these games since Tri in 2009 and this is the first time I've felt disappointed with a Monhun title.

Rune Factory meets sandbox/roguelike. Worth a buy if you like fantasy sim rpgs like Rune Factory and sandbox games with a unique setting like Kenshi.

Extremely addictive if it's your kind of thing, overwhelming if it's not. This is one of those games people either have 5 or 500 hours in.

Buy it if you're a big fan of DDLC. Skip otherwise.

It's a decently made game but it costs $15 and it's just long enough so you can't refund it. There isn't enough content to make this game worth it imo especially since Peaceful Mode isn't in the game yet.

Was hoping that this game's story would be like the movie 'Her' with a cute anime girl but its honestly pretty shallow and all its ideas come from DDLC and Bioshock Infinite. The ending is unsatisfying and there's no takeaway from the story.

Cappie is cute tho.

F.u.ck you Sony

This game taught me that finals aren't the only tests that can make you cry...

It's a bit different from the classic Armored Core games because of stagger, less focus on credits and AP management, and more focus on set piece boss battles. Despite this there is still a pretty good amount of mission variety, though maybe not as much as the older titles.

This game is more like a hybrid between the classic Armored Core games and Souls. I enjoyed the game but there is a strategic element lost that the old games used to have that may turn some off.

Movement and combat speed feel a bit like For Answer so if you enjoyed that game you'll probably like this one too. Likewise, if you enjoyed this game and want to check out older titles you may like For Answer.

Honestly my only major complaint is the lack of a mini map. Makes some missions a pain in the ass to navigate and it makes no sense that the PS1 games from 1997 had not only a minimap but even a rendered 3D Wireframe map that you could rotate and zoom into while this game from 2023 doesn't.

Live happily.

A masterpiece and one of my favorite Shmups now. ZeroRanger is a love letter to the genre and its anime influences, it's full of references to some of the most iconic entries.

ZeroRanger is much more than that though, it brings its own ideas to the table and its art style is unique and polished. Everything from the visual and audio design to the themes and symbols present in the story fit together and are cohesive. The music and story are excellent as well. I especially enjoyed the ending sequence, which is one of the most creative I've seen in recent memory. Be careful for spoilers when looking at Steam reviews.

I went into ZeroRanger expecting a decent shmup and was surprised by the quality and originality of this game. It's an absolute gem that is both engaging and challenging with its mechanics while still being accessible to new players. Veterans to the genre and new players alike will find something to like here.

If I had to point out some flaws I would say that the color scheme can sometimes make it hard to tell whats happening on screen and where your character is, and while I enjoyed the ending sequence, reading dialogue in a Shmup is pretty hard for me and I ended up having to rewatch it on YouTube to reread some parts I missed. These are just nitpicks though rather than anything wrong with the core game mechanics.

This is one of the more interesting titles that came out this year. As someone who's grown up with the internet in the 90s and seen how it's changed over time and how it's affected others, I can relate with some of the ideas it presents. Particularly its ideas about how the internet isn't all good, and that it can amplify negative emotions in those who do not use it in moderation leading to unfortunate outcomes like suicide, becoming a conspiracy nut, or becoming desensitized to the feelings of real people.

It's a stylish game with good art design, music, and character design. The game oozes the "Menhera" style that's gotten popular in Japan in the recent years. This is both a strength and a weakness. The game covers mature themes such as mental illness, drug usage, and loneliness, and attempts to criticize the collective internet for fetishizing people afflicted with these conditions. (I mean just look at some of these other reviews if you don't see what I mean...) However the game offers a surface level glance into these themes, while its style is heavily influenced by the very Menhera style it's trying to criticise. This will turn some people off as it feels like the game doesn't practice what it preaches.

Despite this I still enjoyed this game. The style is appealing, and while the writing isn't particularly deep it did a good job with getting me to like Ame. I enjoyed watching all of the various streams and getting to know her as a character. The game's also full of references to internet, game, and anime culture which made the experience enjoyable for me. The management sim gameplay isn't particularly deep or complex, but i enjoyed the process of figuring it out, and how the game makes you treat Ame completely differently to unlock all the endings.

While Needy Streamer Overload isn't a life changing, thought-provoking social commentary, it's art style, writing, and management sim gameplay loop is still charming and entertaining and has plenty of ways to keep you hooked.

Criminally overlooked Action RPG that's sadly dismissed by many as an Undertale/Earthbound clone.

It may not look like much but this game has a lot to offer those willing to give it a chance. It has an engaging battle system, memorable encounters, great music, and thought provoking themes. Honestly one of the most unique indie RPGs I've played in recent memory. It's like being a Buddhist monk high on shrooms.

If you have $10 and 10 hours to spare you can't go wrong with this game.