Recent reviews by Speady

Remember that one scene from 1971's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory where Gene Wilder is maniacally singing during the boat ride?

Pretty much what I expected out of a technical demo, and then some. After the brilliance that was Half-Life: Alyx, we have yet another return to Valve form this time on the Portal side of the universe.

The short is designed greatly to teach the workings around the Steam Deck hardware, and it continues the overall weird, witty, and dark humor that Valve has been doing for decades now. It's fantastic, and an absolute must-play for those picking up the new hardware.

I fell in love with the Half-Life series back in 2001, when the first game in the series got ported to PS2. Since that moment, I picked up both The Orange Box and Portal 2 for my PS3, and Valve had continued to blow me away. The Half-Life universe has always been near and dear to my heart since I was a kid, and I've been one of the patient ones waiting for a continuation to this awesome sci-fi tale. Why am I tell you this? Because the announcement of Half-Life: Alyx single-handedly got me to build a powerful PC rig just so I can play it (because Source 2 obviously can't run on consoles yet).
Needless to say, I'm absolutely glad I made this decision.

Virtual reality gaming has always been one of those "gimmicks" that I actually really dug, and Half-Life: Alyx is just as big of a leap for VR as Half-Life 2 was for FPS and narrative. This is, without a doubt, one of the best VR experiences I have played through! It retains the same environmental gameplay as other Half-Life games, while also incorporating well-made puzzles, fluid gunplay, and the Gravity Gloves which make you feel like an absolute god! Hell, this is the first use of locomotion movement that didn't make me feel nauseous.
As for the actual "Half-Life" content, I am absolutely shocked that Valve and the development team managed to pull something off like this! The writing is incredible, the music is as hypnotic as ever, and at no point did any levels feel repetitive, slow, or bare. Every single surprise this game threw at me, I had a smile on my face. (And don't even get me started about the last few chapters, which are real game-changers for the overall story.)

Half-Life: Alyx does indeed live up to the hype, and even excels it! All of the praise you keep hearing about this game is 100% accurate, and it is definitely worth purchasing VR equipment for. (Just make sure you're caught up with the other games beforehand, though.) I am unbelievably happy and excited to see what Valve has in store for us next.

It's fine for a dialogue-filled poker game, don't get me wrong. But it's also right to keep in mind that this is a really early Telltale title, so it's definitely not gonna impress many considering it's basically just a prototype.

Back in 2005, I bet this was totally rad. But after 15 years, I'd prefer pointing you to Telltale's "Poker Night" series, which this game was obviously a basis for.

I'll be completely honest here. This was just one of those games in my library that was just sitting there, so I decided to check it out. After the first few minutes, I was immediately hooked, playing through the entire game in one sitting!

Without going into too many spoilers, The Begnner's Guide tells the story of a game developer attempting to showcase his friend's works, only to discover an emotional secret hidden within them. It is purely a "walking simulator", but allows the player to play through an assortment of this "Coda's" work. Playing with a very strong narration by Davey Wreden, creator of The Stanley Parable (another game which I have yet to play, sadly), this isn't just a game.

The Begnner's Guide is practically a masterpiece in narrative, and I felt as if I was "playing" a documentary on the work of "Coda"! I cannot recommend this game enough, especially if you are personally a developer of video games!

10 out of 10!

When it comes to genres, simulation games are my all-time favorite! I've played them from my childhood to my adulthood, and I love them! When I first heard about this game, I was immediately hooked and decided to support the developers by donating to their development! Bought this game on the release week, and I wasn't disappointed!

You start as a small little indie developer, and you make your way to the top of the gaming industry by evolving your studio. And, don't we all want to make our own games?! The gameplay (although repetitive at times) is smart and fun, making you think of different ways to approach your development and score the high numbers!

So if you're a hardcore simulation gamer (like me), do not hesitate! Buy this game!
If you're not that much into simulation and management, try watching some gameplay to validate your decision. ;)

Don't get me wrong, I hate all these indie "simulator" games, too! However, Tabletop Simulator was a huge surprise to me! It's actually a very innovative gameplay idea!

Play on servers with your friends (or even meet new people) and just play some tabletop games! Cards, board games, and trinkets are only a few things capable of being played in this software. Plus, with integrated Steam Workshop support, you're able to create or download your own mods and games that you can play online!

So, what are you waiting for?! Buy this now, and make some new friends! :D

Haven't pressed a button that much since those damn torture scenes in Metal Gear Solid.

Antichamber is a very strange, but beautiful game! Where Portal is about momentum and gravity, Antichamber is about illusions and light. I highly recommend it if you love strange and beautiful FPS games.

Pretty interesting game. It allows you to play any music that is on your computer. I recommend it.