Recent reviews by Panther_Zach

A phenomenal reimagining of Part/Disc 1 from the original game. I genuinely think I have zero complaints or criticisms. The studio shifted to real-time combat similar to Crisis Core or FF15 and it feels very tight. The weapon systems are different than the original and add a nice level of customization that didn't exist in the original. The story is excellent and really fleshes out all of the characters from Part 1, adding depth that the original couldn't. The soundtrack is amazing and pays homage to much of the original score. The graphics are gorgeous throughout. The team really poured themselves into this and it shows in the quality of the game.

A couple key differences are: the number of independent (less) and support (more) materia; how summon materia function; and the number of limit breaks. I think these are take-or-leave differences that don't impact the quality of the game, but some might disagree. Highly recommend to any fan of FF7 and to anyone looking for a solid JRPG.

It's a retro-style shooter a la Doom and it gets the recipe about perfect. The weight of the weapons feel good and are reasonably varied, the sound design is excellent, movement feels fast (and at times appropriately frantic), and the chainsword is highly satisfying. Visually, the game is beautiful for the style it's done in. Would highly recommend.

I was really surprised by this game. I didn't know much of what to expect going in besides some base management, but I got so much more than that. Chernobylite offers a fascinating story set with well-developed characters who have relatable, human perspectives. Decisions matter in this game, and have a sincere influence on your relationships with characters. The gameplay itself is excellent too. Depending on playstyle, it gradually migrates from more stealth-focused to a more open set of options between stealth and combat. Both stealth and combat are well thought-out without an apparent favoritism for one or the other. Moreover, the base management doesn't feel tedious by end-game. It's a focal element early on (as expected) but becomes increasingly more manageable as you progress. Altogether, the game progresses well, has an excellent story, great mechanics, and a development team who felt like they cared. Would recommend.

This game absolutely falls into my top 10, maybe top 5. The story is fantastic and the combat brings back many of the wonderful aspects of the original trilogy while refining and enhancing it. I could go either way on the item-level system, but the story of this game stole my heart. I think this is a 9.5 or 10 out of 10.

I think this might be one of my favorite survival-craft games I've ever played. The world is beautiful. The story is mysterious and compelling. The grind and crafting are balanced just enough to not detract from your overarching goals. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys story-driven survival-craft games.

I really enjoyed the gameplay and primary story of Shipbreaker. I thought the characters were well-written and I felt connected to them playing a ghost in the shell protagonist. The gameplay loop was relaxing and I found myself regularly itching to get back to shipbreaking. The only downside for me was how irregularly I came by the data drives that offered world story. All in all, would recommend.

Children of Morta is a Diablo-style roguelike game that tells a story about a family coming together to resist an encroaching corruption that threatens the land on which they live. The story is sweet and at points moving as you play through the various family members and grow their skills together. Likewise, the gameplay mechanics (combat, leveling, upgrading) are all very tight and don't lose their playability over time. I think the biggest thing is that the game is not unnecessarily long. It tells its story then it's done. You're welcome to continue playing, but it doesn't extend beyond itself. 8 out of 10.

This was honestly a great experience through a character's journey. It's difficult to talk much about the game without spoiling, but the atmosphere does a great job of setting up the spookyness of the game. The combat sequences are very fluid, and the world itself is beautiful. The number one thing to realize is this is primarily a puzzle game and interactive story (though you can walk around and explore the levels).

$30 is a hefty tag for a game you can 100% in 10 hours, but it's definitely worth a purchase if it goes on sale.

Honestly, a great remake of the original trilogy. Some of the new renders and new voices are jarring in the nostalgic context of the originals, but the devs and designers made a genuine effort and it shows. The game plays great, the areas are beautiful, the characters are lovable, and Spyro has all the sass he had before. Strongly recommend to anyone who was a fan of the originals.

I really enjoyed Death Stranding. I found the story mysterious and wild in typical Kojima fashion but with an amount of closure that surprised me given the MGS series. The gameplay is largely action-free, which is certainly different but not bad. For what the game entails mechanically, everything runs smoothly and I don't think I encountered a single glitch, error, or regular point of frustration during gameplay. For me, the style of the gameplay was largely peaceful. This was my game to tone down the night with. Overall, I think it's a solid game with an interesting story and relaxing play, but if you're looking for action and intensity, I don't think this is the place you'll find it.