Recent reviews by Mattador

Having played Quake 2 since it's release in 97, the remaster felt like coming home again.
The updates to enemy behavior really enhance the way you strategize each encounter, and the addition of the new expansion provides a whole new level of challenge for first-time and returning players alike.

This type of game is not my usual cup of tea, however, the demo really won me over.
The art style is fantastic, the sound/music are great, interesting lore and backstory, and the enemy encounter are really fun and enjoyable. Especially the bosses. I REALLY enjoyed the bosses.
If I had to name a criticism it would be with some gameplay choices during the final level, but were completely forgotten once I ran into the next boss shortly after.

Overall, a spectacular game that I wish was longer so I could immerse myself more in. If the developers decide to release a sequel, I'll be waiting with my wallet.

I have seen the Obelisk of Knowledge.

Entropy:Zero 2 as a sequel is equivalent to Portal 2 versus Portal.
It's a massive refinement of an already solid and interesting idea, greatly expanded to take full advantage of everything that worked in the first game and improving on the elements that weren't quite as strong.

The biggest inclusion was fully fleshing out the character of 3650 (Bad Cop). Despite Entropy:Zero's similarities to Opposing Force, 3650 never felt like anything more than a villain. EZ2 expands on his backstory and motivations in a way that doesn't necessarily justify his actions but does provide us with better context for why he does what he does.

The mod does an amazing job of blending the worlds of Half-Life and Portal without either feeling out of place and reminds me of watching The Avengers for the first time, seeing two beloved properties sharing the same screen together.

The level design and gameplay are top-notch, showcasing clear passion and attention to detail. Big standouts for me was being able to trek back through one of the levels from HL2 and seeing what had happened to it since Gordon Freeman had been there, or stealthily moving through the bowels of an Aperture facility while being stalked by a Xen monster.

Possibly my favorite aspect is that the mod has been written in such a way that it not only doesn't contradict anything that came before, but could also easily fit in as a prequel to Episode 3/Half-Life 3 without getting in the way of the Borealis story.

I'd place this mod up there with Minerva, Portal Stories: Mel, even Opposing Force, and for me it's a perfect representation of the Half-Life experience. I will be awaiting the next project from Breadman with great anticipation!

It took me around 7.5 hours to complete on Medium skill, and overall, I had an absolute blast playing this game.

+ The reduced weapon count makes every piece of your arsenal unique, with the loadout hearkening back to both the reboot and original game. And the designs for each pull from the aesthetics used by many weapons in Shadow Warrior 2, mixing form and function to create weapons that are both attractive and distinctive from each other.

+ The Gore kills are, true to their name, very gruesome and a fun way to work the original game's use of monster parts into the Glory kill system we see in Doom.

+ The new traversal system adds an extra layer of movement, and it was really cool being able to use the grappling hook to navigate through some of the set-pieces and environments of the game. In particular, I especially enjoyed the large forest map.

+ Visually it's spectacular, reminding me of the Shadow Warrior (2013) arenas which had really memorable designs to them, really taking advantage of the Unreal engine to showcase the grand, sweeping vistas of the world.

- Weapons lack an alternate firing mode, which isn't the biggest issue, but would have been a nice inclusion.
- The game minimizes the melee and Chi combat options in favor of more focus on gunplay. So, it's more like the 1997 game, but lacks one of the elements that really defined the reboot series.
- During the traversal sections, I occasionally had issues identifying where to go next, which is a problem when you are swinging through the air.
- It's great to have one character back, and the new VAs did a fantastic job portraying Zilla and Lo Wang, but it would have been nice to have the original voices for those characters be present in the game.
- Lengthwise I found it acceptable for the price I paid, though I can certainly understand players who would have preferred a longer experience. Hopefully we will get more episodes released down the line, since I'm desperately curious on where they take the franchise after.
- Mezu is dead, and I didn't get to be the one to bump him off.

Ultimately, I had a lot of fun with this game, and it scratched the Shadow Warrior itch I had from the original and reboot that Shadow Warrior 2 didn't quite hit.
I can see why some players might not recommend this title, but if you enjoyed the classic title or the reboot, and you are looking for another Doom-esque title, this would be a good choice for you.

It's everything I loved about the original, but in a new and breathtaking environment.
The move to include land-based ecosystems really changes the way you plan out an excursion, and being able to properly construct outposts in those areas alleviates some of the stress that building entirely in water creates.

This mod is amazing!
It looks great, it plays great, it fits perfectly in the world and atmosphere of Aperture Science.
The puzzles are fantastic, and perfectly balanced to create a satisfyingly challenging experience to wrack your brain over.
Looking forward to seeing what comes next!

From the moment I got in a TIE fighter, this game blew the minds of both me and my dad, who played the original TIE Fighter back in the 90s.

The game looks graphically amazing, and every detail from the cockpits to the asteroids is a desktop screenshot waiting to happen. The sounds design is also worthy of significant praise, as I cannot begin to express just how satisfying it was to be flying through a mission, and hearing the sounds of a TIE fighter as it flew past me.

The obvious care and attention to detail put in by the developers makes it even better of an experience, as everything in the game feels like it belongs and helps to sell that this is a part of the Star Wars universe.

Despite sucking at this genre of game in-general, I still had an absolute blast playing it!

Because even a grown man needs a good cry every once in a while!

Though it may be short, I found myself really enjoying this game.
The puzzles are interesting, and well put together, and the setting looks cool.
Honestly, though, the best part would be the Curator and SHI. Their back and forth was hilarious, with the Curator's bumbling enthusiasm nicely complimented by SHI's cheerful but deadpan delivery of information that should have had a bit more, *ahem* gravity.

Highly recommended, and I'll definitely be hoping for a sequel!