Recent reviews by Rhaiah

Nehrim might be the one of the buggiest and most crash-prone games I've ever played.

But, despite that, Nehrim does a lot of things that I genuinely enjoy. The world and level design is constantly outstanding, from the sprawling cities to the diverse landscape. The writing is excellent (the dialogue is spoken entirely in German, but I'm not going to fault the developers for that). The story is engaging. There is a bank that actually lets you store money, earn interest, and receive small percentages of profits from businesses that you assist on your travels. The game contains a lot of fun cameos and easter eggs, like guards in Ostian that dress rather similarly to Altair from Assassin's Creed and a small segment within the main quest that draws a lot of inspiration from the cave troll battle in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. My favorite thing about the game might be the small towns and large cities. The cities are complex and packed with indoor/outdoor shops and NPCs, and the small towns are charming and memorable. Don't forget that Nehrim is technically a standalone mod, so the amount of content and detail packed into these places is mighty impressive. Also, the game is free, so.

The biggest problem with the game is that it somehow manages to have more technical issues than a typical Bethesda game. I rarely made it through a single 1-3 hour play session without multiple crashes or freezes (my record was four crashes over about five minutes). I had to fix a couple main quests using console commands. You have to have Oblivion installed in order to play Nehrim, so Discord thought I was playing Oblivion and Steam thought I was playing Nehrim. And the optimization is bad enough that my GTX 1080 couldn't handle the framerate drops until I lowered the game's graphical settings via the launcher. A lot of this might just be par for the course, but it feels worse than your average buggy Bethesda game.

However, the things that Nehrim gets right outweigh the technical problems for me. I think that it is an engaging experience that has memorable moments and awesome locales. I'd recommend it, just remember to quicksave a lot.

This is a pretty great game that is hidden behind shockingly predatory business practices. I bought this game near launch and really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it enough to buy its first couple DLC packs. But eventually, more and more DLC came out. Today, even during a sale in which most of the DLC is 50% off, the remaining DLC would cost me well over $100, and most of these expensive DLC packs contain content that really should've been in the base game. Additionally, I want to echo many of the other complaints I'm seeing in reviews: 1) the new launcher is pointless and tacky, and 2) the new privacy policy that locks you out of the game if you don't wish to share all of your personal information with Paradox is pretty absurd and not a great way to treat fans.

Astroneer is a deceivingly complex space survival game. Your objective is to build and expand your base, research better equipment, and explore other planets and moons. On the surface, the game is pretty simple. But you'll need to learn how to find, craft, and manage your resources. You'll need to learn how to plan your trips to other planets so that you don't get stranded there. You'll need to learn how to be efficient and methodical with your base structure. All of this knowledge pays off when you build a shuttle and travel across the solar system for the first time.

I've been playing Astroneer since alpha, and it has been really exciting to watch System Era pump life into the game over the months. They have put their heart and soul into perfecting this project by overhauling research systems, refining the multiplayer system, stabilizing the physics engine for vehicles, and filling the environments with density and variety. Those are just a few of the many big updates that System Era has implemented.

Astroneer is one of my favorite games of 2019. I have loved how passionately the developers have supported the game from early access all the way to its final release. Play it with a friend and enjoy!

Wenjia is a very simple platformer, but it makes up for its lack of complexity with great visuals, satisfying level design, and a beautiful soundtrack. The story isn't anything groundbreaking and will only take you one or two hours to complete, but I felt a sense of attachment and accountability as I approached the end. I only have two complaints. First, the English dialogue and subtitles are a bit messy and contain many grammatical errors. Second, there isn't really a definitive "finale" level.

Overall, Wenjia is definitely worth a purchase, but its length may warrant waiting for a sale. If you liked Ori and the Blind Forest, Wenjia is basically its little brother. Wenjia doesn't have the big sprawling map and complex mechanics that Ori and the Blind Forest has, but it's still a fun little indie title that's probably worth your time.

Tales from the Borderlands is easily one of the best creations from Telltale Games. It's an absolutely hilarious adventure filled with edge-of-your-seat twists and turns and some of the most well-written characters and dialogue that I've seen in a long time. This is a mashup between two famously unique developers that never skips a beat, and it's definitely worth your time!

I think Fallout Shelter is a fun time-killer and in most aspects a pretty decent game, save for a few hiccups in the port from mobile to PC. It offers a bit of a challenge to newbies and draws in the player with intriguing unlockables, a log of all of the equipment you've found from quests and in the wasteland, and a pretty nice progression system. For those reasons, I'd say the game is pretty safe to recommend.

For those of you who enjoy achievement-hunting like I do, however, I cannot recommend this game. If you're looking for a free game that seems like an easy 100% to add to your achievement profile, I'd suggest that you spend your time elsewhere. There is one achievement in particular that is locked behind a massive pay wall and will force you to fork over either hundreds of dollars or hundreds of hours to earn. Unfortunately, I figured this out after about 65-70 hours. The pay wall is a microtransaction bundle that costs $20. During in-game sales, which are infrequent, this bundle will usually drop down to $10. But even then, the achievement will still be a matter of luck, and the drop rates for what you're looking for are absurdly low.

There is something extremely special about this game. I had never played a Final Fantasy game prior to this one (aside from being introduced to some of its characters through a passionate love for the Kingdom Hearts series), and I had heard that this was a pretty revolutionary game for its time. Knowing that the stories of the Final Fantasy games are not necessarily related, I decided to give one of them a try. I'm glad I did.

Final Fantasy VII does many things that modern games fail to do. For one, it boasts an incredible amount of personality and character for a game with no voice acting. Characters are lively, vibrant, and extremely unique. The script is well-written, and the story is imaginative and immersive. The game presents itself confidently despite being the first of the series rendered partially in 3D. It has its low points, like that ridiculous marching scene, but I have really enjoyed my time in this game.

Gone Home tells a beautiful and thoughtful story through exploration and discovery. The story will develop as you explore the house and interact with items, and the level of depth and immersion associated with these interactions is genuine and thought-provoking. Also, Gone Home is not a horror game, though it is eerie at times.

$20.00 is a high price to pay for an experience that will last two or three hours depending on your thoroughness. If you are willing to pay $20.00 for an unforgettable experience, please consider adding Gone Home to your collection. Otherwise, I would highly encourage you to wait for a sale.

This game deserves your time, so give it a try!

Disclaimer: At the time of this review, I have not played either of the game's two expansions, "Hearts of Stone" and "Blood and Wine."

Overview
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an open-world experience unlike any other. Prior to its release, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was being referred to as the game that would kill The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This review will not compare/contrast these two games nor declare whether or not this pre-release rumor held its ground; however, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is without a doubt the best open-world RPG since The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

In order to avoid spoilers and keep this review simple, I have provided a pro/con list below. I have also marked items that were particularly impressive with an asterisk (*).

Pros

• Massive open-world with new discoveries around every corner *
  
• Stunning and immersive environments/landscapes *
  
• Graphics that will put any mid- to high-end gaming rig to the test *
  
• Interesting characters and thoughtful character development *
  
• Spectacular collection of side material that is arguably more interesting than the main story *
  
• Hours upon hours of content *
  
• Intuitive controller layout (recommended over keyboard/mouse]
  
• Mostly excellent voice acting
  
• Intricate combat system that utilizes and masters elements from series like Batman and Assassin's Creed *
  
• Attentive developers who are passionate about maintaining the most well-crafted game possible *
  
• Option to import saves (The Witcher 1 --> The Witcher 2 --> The Witcher 3)
  
• Beautiful and unique soundtrack

Cons

• Bugs that are more humorous than game-breaking
  
• Steep gameplay learning curve for players who have not played The Witcher 1 or The Witcher 2
  
• Main story seemed unnecessarily long and became tedious at times

Conclusion (Buy It / Leave It)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt appeared on lists of the most anticipated games of 2015. CD Projekt Red delivered a product worthy of the hype, and it will keep you engaged for hours. My experience took me through 75 hours of main quests and side content, and there is still much more to see. I would recommend playing The Witcher 1 and The Witcher 2 before playing the Witcher 3 for the background and lore, but this is not a requirement. The Witcher 3 can be played as a standalone game. Buy it, play it, and enjoy it. You'll play through the cost of the game in no time, and then you'll still have much more to do!

Actions speak louder than words in the city of Dunwall, a cesspool of crime, corruption, and plague. Corvo Attano, the hired bodyguard for the Empress, must use everything at his disposal to clear his name and rid the city of corruption and deceit.

Dishonored has surprised me in many ways, from its unique watercolor art style to its brilliant combat system. Ultimately, the game is not what I had expected after seeing the first theatrical trailer featuring a man in a jail cell. That being said, I wasn’t a fan after the first twenty minutes of play. Eventually, I put it down and moved on to other things – after a few months, I came back to give it another try. That was when I realized what I had been missing.

I’ll summarize my thoughts about this game in a simple pros/cons list, but I will elaborate on each item.


PROS:

>Unique Art Style<
The brushed watercolor style that decorates a unique city called Dunwall may initially come across as outdated and technologically inferior to other games created during the same time period. Some players may view the style with that pessimistic attitude, and some may view it as a unique work of art. I chose the latter.

>Interesting Story and Deep Lore<
The story is a special experience, and your actions will matter – remember who you are and whom your actions affect. Read the books you find and drop eaves on conversations to discover the surprisingly deep backstory.

>Excellent Voice Acting<
You will certainly recognize whom you're talking to, because the voice acting is consistently stellar throughout the entire game.

>Worthwhile DLC<
Although they rarely see big sales, all three DLC packages are worth your time and money.

>Best Assassin Experience<
There is no better assassin experience in any game. I’ll explain this below in the sections on combat and stealth.

>Brilliant Stealth<
The game can be completed without ever being seen by an enemy – ever. It’s a tricky thing to master, but it is a very fun way to play the game. The player may also rush into battles with guns a’blazing and blades a’sparking.

>Combat Is Incredible<
The combat system is intricate, diversified, and very expertly crafted. There are many ways to go about clearing an area (it rewards those who enter a battle with a plan of action). This game is much, much more fun if you are creative – trust me.


CONS:

>Game Length<
I would have loved to see more, but perhaps that’s why we buy DLC. Also, keep in mind that the length of the game depends on how you play. Fast and furious will make the game shorter, while slow and stealthy will make the game longer. Both are great fun.

>NPC Animations<
Corvo's actions look swift and fluid, but the actions of other NPCs seem a little repetitive, stiff, and awkward during conversations. This may take away from how much you care for characters.

>Story Vagueness<
Some elements of the story are a little vague, but this is minor. Plus, it is usually fixed by digging into the lore provided by books and conversations.


I would place Dishonored somewhere among my top twenty favorite video games. It’s a worthwhile experience that is always fun to revisit. Do the right thing and buy this game, already.