Recent reviews by Dr. Croctopus

To be honest, I was incredibly hesitant to get this game. When it was first announced, I was so excited to get something like a high-quality EDF, but with modern graphical fidelity. But then it was revealed that it was going to be a PvEvP style of game, and I thought to myself, "Oh boy, this can't be good..." But I kept tabs on the game, saw some actual game play, and while I still had some trepidation, it didn't seem as bad as I thought it was going to be. The PvP side seemed much lighter than I initially thought, so I said screw it; let's try it out and see what it's like for myself.

So, I've played about 15 games at this point, and I have to say I'm very pleased with where they landed for the game. The quickest way I can describe it would be, "It's 90% PvE, 10% PvP." And I'm even queuing into the mixed playlist; if you don't like the idea of PvP at all, you can queue into the pure PvE playlist. Just keep in mind, even on pure PvE, it is still a race against an enemy team to see who can beat the level the fastest. So no matter where you go, the game is going to be competitive.

That being said, the game is still a ton of fun. I have yet to find a class that I don't like. I mostly main support, but when the role is taken, I'll swap over to DPS. I have yet to play Tank, but people in my lobbies seem to really like the classes in the Tank category. From what I have played, the classes do feel really solid and distinct. They all have their own identity and bring a lot of unique flair to the matches.

I do know for a lot of people, they'll see the price tag and say, "Hell no, I'm not paying $60+ for a game that also has microtransactions," and I do think that's fair. The game does have a steep asking price, and does have unique legendary skins and emotes that can only be bought for cash. For me, I'm not as bothered by that kind of stuff, so it never detracted from my experience with the game. And to those unaware, while you can buy premium skins, you can also get tons of cosmetics in the game from just playing the game and spending the in-game currency.

In closing, the game won't be for everyone, and it does have a steep entry cost, but if you can look past it, I think you'll find a surprisingly enjoyable title.

Genuinely one of the best games I have ever played. Fluid, fast-paced combat, absolutely insane levels of customization, a fun and satisfying game play loop, and to top it all off, it manages to be free and respect those who don't wish to spend money, but also give players value when they do chose to spend money. One of the greatest games ever made by one of the greatest game studios of our time. The only issue I have with the game is that the beginning can be pretty obtuse for new players, especially when it comes to systems like weapon and Warframe modding. But, as a counterpoint, there are plenty of guides and wikis out there, and even better than that, most players will help you out if you just ask; the community is genuinely amazing. If you have even the slightest inkling to see what a free to play space ninja game looks like, then please, I am begging you with tears in my eyes, to check this game out. I have spent over 1,500 hours in this game, and I don't regret a single second of it. How many games can you say that about?

To be totally frank, I was expecting to buy this game, have a fun little Terraria-style experience with sci-fi elements, then probably put it down for a while. But damn, man, this game is just actually a masterpiece in the genre. It's a game that I can spend dozens of hours on whatever aspect of it that I want to and not feel pressured into moving forward all the time. Want to progress the main quest and explore the cosmos? Go for it. Want to create an absolutely epic base with everything you could possibly need? Go for it. Want to make a farm capable of feeding a whole planet? Go for it. And the beauty of all of these systems is that you can make them custom tailored to your own needs. You don't need to explore every nook and cranny of every planet in the galaxy to get the best loot. You don't need a mega-base if you don't want it, you can just make a nice log cabin to call home instead. You don't need a mega farm to gain a cornerstone in the cosmic grain market, you could have just a nice small garden to feed yourself. Starbound is about true player freedom. The game is as small or large as you want to make it; it's as simple or as complex as you want to make it. It is the pure definition of "play at your own pace." And to boot, it's really cheap! There are other $60 games out there that are barely worth their price, meanwhile, I have been playing this game for well over 400 hours, and am looking forward to even more time sunk into it in the future, which feels very rare these days in the gaming world. If you are at all interested in this title, I will firmly recommend it to you. Go out and explore the stars, knowing that there is no wrong answers, only YOUR answers.

What the hell is this masterpiece, and why is no one talking about it? Full disclosure, I have yet to beat this game, but I can say with utmost confidence that even before beating it, I have already gotten my money's worth. The game play is nail-biting and fun as hell, the writing is top-tier immaculate, the world is a joy to explore, and the constant choices have you twisting and turning, since there is very rarely clear-cut "right vs. wrong" options in this game; you have to make some difficult decisions, and the game doesn't make it easy for you. AND, this game has fully-functional co-op! If you and your friend are looking for a fun experience in a Hardcore RPG setting, then I cannot recommend this game enough. The memories from even the short time I have played this game will stick with me for many years to come.

I've never played a previous Monster Hunter game, but man, this one absolutely blew me away. It can be difficult to recommend sometimes, since the combat system can be very obtuse in the beginning and difficult to wrap your head around (definitely look up guides if you are struggling), but once you've found a weapon you enjoy and settled into a groove of how missions are structured and making sure you're properly prepared for each hunt, the experience becomes immensely rewarding and gratifying. Not to mention, in the year 2020, this game, even just the base game is a complete and whole experience. Even before the Iceborne expansion, I had sunk 400+ hours into this game. If you're looking for a game that really knows how to push you, but properly rewards you for pushing back, then look no further than Monster Hunter World.

Side note: Do you recommend Iceborne?
Yes, 100%, absolutely. If you bought the game and love it, get the DLC. It looks pricey, but it literally doubles the content of the base game. It is worth it, and then some.

This game has no right to be as good as it is. It's not perfect, for sure, but as I go from mission to mission, I just can't help but smile and be excited for what's around the next corner. Even after the 35 hours I've sunk into it so far, I still get excited loading up the next mission. It's a game that really gives off this vibe of, "The devs made a fun game and had a fun time making it too." The combat is great, the writing is amazing, the characters are hilarious, and the world is just such a blast to explore. If you and your friends are looking for a great time to dig deep into a dangerous planet and loot everything that isn't bolted down, and blow up anything that tries to stop you, then look no further; Deep Rock Galactic will cure all your woes and many more.

ROCK AND STONE, TO THE BONE!

Let's be honest, it's gonna be a while before we get Elden Ring. We may as well fill that void with some Souls-Like content. Even with that statement, I still really do enjoy this game. The writing isn't particularly great, and some level designs can get a little frustrating, but ultimately, this game is still really good. Good combat, amazing character customization, great build diversity, and lots of content for you to sink your teeth into. If you want a fun game with an interesting world to explore and bosses to test your metal, Code Vein will certainly keep you entertained and satisfied for many hours to come. If you're hesitant to buy it at full price, then definitely pick it up if it ever goes on sale.

A very fun, very satisfying, fast-paced game with an incredible sense of style and scale that is hard to come by for modern action-adventure games. While it's not perfect and is fairly short, it was well worth the full price tag for me.

Ruiner was an interesting buy for me. Truth be told, I was fairly nervous about getting this game. People usually point toward games similar to this one, the big ones being Bastion or Transistor. And to Super Giant's credit, those are incredible games, but they just weren't for me. I loved their style; from music, to art, and everything in between, but the big thing was that I generally found them to be very... slow games. Those games generally rely on a very strong narrative to carry the game forward, and keep the player invested. But Ruiner found a way to give me the opposite feelings in a fantastic way.

Let's start by addressing what I actually DON'T like about this game, just to get it out of the way. The big one being that difficulty seems to fluctuate as the game progresses. The game starts off on a very nice learning curve; teaching you the importance of managing health and energy during any fight, as even the most basic of grunts can take a chunk out of your HP if you're not careful. And you start to feel really good, up until about the halfway point. I don't know if I was just missing something obvious, but some of the sub-bosses felt even harder than the main bosses. Most of the bosses have very fun and interesting mechanics, but sadly, two or three of them just become a "how fast can you smash your dash key?" test. These fights, where I had to essentially back-pedal in circles while taking pot shots, really took me out of the game. Luckily, as I said before, it only happens to maybe two or three of the many bosses this game offers.

I'd like to throw these two points into a "mixed" category, as I know some people don't care about them at all, while other people find them very important. So, here are two facts about my experience playing Ruiner:

1. The plot is very basic
   
2. I beat the game on Normal difficulty in ~5 hours.

Keeping it spoiler-free, the plot is just a very straight-forward, "Bad guys stole family, must get family back" sort of narrative. Honestly, I found the story of the world and the futuristic style it possesses to be infinitely more fascinating than the hero’s story. To the game's credit, I did enjoy the twist at the end, where your brother ends up not being the person you thought he was, but it's not very earth-shattering or wholly original, and I kind of saw it coming from a mile away.

As for the length of the game, Even with somewhere between maybe 30 to 40 deaths, I got to the end credits on Normal difficulty in about 5 hours. Luckily, there are more difficulty options, and even a New Game + system, but I have yet to try them myself.

Ooooooh baby, NOW I get to talk about why I’m recommending this game to you. So, the two biggest things for me are the game’s combat and style.

Going back to my original point of mentioning Bastion and Transistor: two great games with fantastic art and storytelling, but ultimately a rather generic approach to action and fighting. Ruiner is a total blast to play. While the story is very basic, what gets you excited for the next level is how you’re gonna unleash some hell. Combat is VERY fast, and VERY responsive. So fast, that I legitimately didn’t even know you could spam your dash key in such rapid succession until I was almost done with the game. There is a sizable variety in guns, melee weapons, and perks, and I’m very appreciative of the fact that there are multiple abilities at your disposal, all with very clearly-defined strength and weaknesses that you can switch between anytime. It helps the player feel like they choose how they wanna kick some ass, and freely go back to the drawing board if what they chose didn’t work or feel right for them. The combat is so fierce and visceral, that I looked forward to every encounter with a grin on my face. Getting that nice dash in to evade a grenade, blasting a dude in the face with a shotgun, then meleeing his friend to finish him off with a brutal execution, all within the span of about three seconds is so satisfying.

Another strong point of the game is its incredible style. I’m a sucker for anything cyberpunk, and Ruiner doesn’t disappoint. From the graphics, to the music, to the menus, Ruiner is a wholly realized game. I probably spent about 30 or so minutes exploring the main town, just being completely captivated by its detail, from the citizens, to the ambient music, to the little touches in the background. And throughout the game, I thought the characters were very well-defined and felt unique from one another. I love the serious, yet sarcastic, slightly sadistic tone of the woman who helps you on your journey. She keeps you informed and pushes you forward as the story progresses, but she also knows when to just kick back and let you do your thing (Go get em, Puppy!). The soundtrack feels very original, and beating goons to a pulp with some awesome synthwave and outrun tracks only feeds into that excitement of getting to the next fight.

I have played a lot of action adventure games in my life; the genre seems to be kind of flooded at the moment, to be honest. But Ruiner found a way to stand out in the crowd, and constantly kept me coming back for more. If you have even the slightest interest in this game, I encourage you to give it a try. For me, it was well worth the $20 price tag, but if you’re still nervous about it, you definitely have to pick it up when it goes on sale.

If you have Rust, don't waste your time or money on this. This game is Rust, but a lot of steps back, in both features and content. Requested a refund for the first time with this game.