Recent reviews by Some Goon

(Hours aren't legit. Spent some time idling. Maybe took 15 hours in total as I like to take in sights and crannies).

Honestly, this game shaped up to be better than I expected. It's longer than I thought it would be going in, and the gameplay is varied depending on the set piece you're exploring. It's surprisingly not entirely a walking simulator, as it has some action thrown in, and it throws puzzles at you reminiscent of Resident Evil of old to keep it interesting. You're initially presented with what appears to be a hub world, but you work through it in a very linear fashion over the game's 13 chapters.

The main draw of this game that keeps it very interesting is its story. On one hand, it borrows a lot of elements from various horror works - both cinema and video games - but it also tells a compelling enough story in its own right. It's not very often that a game is set during the cold war era, nor one that has two timelines to work through. Many of the set pieces themselves draw parallels to other notable horror works, which is entertaining by itself, as you play a game of guess the reference.

The game isn't AAA by any means, as it's a bit on the un-optimized side, which required some tinkering to run decent. However, it does boast pretty and varied enough environments that suggest more care went into the visuals than some games of similar price point. On top of that, the sound track is actually really intense, and fitting for getting the blood pumping during segments that benefit from it - so long as it doesn't suffer from the occasional looping track.

One large negative I have to note is that the game often relies on jump scares. Thematically, it does fit in certain places, yet toward the end of the game they become increasingly cheap and unnecessary. A lot of the settings (particularly those playing as the secondary protagonist, Nicolas), lend themself to so much more of a creeping horror aesthetic. In many instances, the game excels at properly creating that dreadful atmosphere that already keeps you on edge, then an out of place jump scare quickly undermines that feeling. Any time you think to yourself "there's going to be a jump scare here," you will unfortunately likely be correct.

I generally like horror games of all kinds, so I tend to be a bit more lenient on them than some people. Having said that, The Beast Inside certainly offers more of a unique package than you often receive. The story keeps you coming back because you want to know what happens, and the gameplay doesn't often feel stale since it switches it up frequently enough during its runtime. It's not an experience I would say offers replayability, but I suppose it could be intriguing enough to some to do a second run through.

Definitely worth your time and funds if you feel so inclined.

Do you like the A and D keys? What about the Left and Right arrow keys? Maybe you even like the Left and Right mouse buttons. No matter which setup you prefer, I'm sure you'll enjoy the seizures.

Sequel to the first post-nuclear simulator, Fallout 2 retained the same good qualities of the first Fallout with an experience just as good. Fallout 2 doesn't change too much in comparison to its predecessor in terms of the actual gameplay mechanics (in which, that's not a necessity in the first place because why change what isn't broken?), but the the improvements and more content (like improved companions and a larger game world) are a welcome that offers plenty of replay value. The charm of Fallout 2 is the change in the nature from the first. The wasteland has progressed greatly in the last 80 years (from the events of Fallout) and it offers a much different atmosphere. Trees are starting to grow back again, settlements as large as cities rebuild, governments forming, civilization is getting back on its feet. And with that comes a constant struggle for power across the waste among these different factions. And throughout the game the fate of these factions depend on your actions. The world feels more alive and its a welcome change to see how the universe has progressed since the Vault Dweller walked the wasteland.

Along side these changes to the atmosphere comes a much different approach to the game. It's seemingly more satirical with many pop culture references and breaking of the fourth wall. It's different from what you'd expect from Fallout but its can be humorous enough to get a chuckle out of it when you get the references.

However, there is one major flaw with this game and it's the bugs; and there are a lot. What I would say is the biggest issue with the bugs are with the quest. Many of the quest in the game are heavily bugged, even to the point that it can completely block off an entirely different path to completing a quest which is rather disappointing because you'll have to settle for a lesser outcome rather than the one you desired. It's a real shame too because Black Isle Studios did some outstanding work with quest design, but the experience is held back by the nasty bugs. Despite these issues, I am still able to forgive the game for the rest of the great work put into it.

In the end, it's the Fallout you've always loved but with the added joy of getting addicted to Jet, becoming a pornstar, or punching children with a mega powerfist because they thought it was a good idea to steal from the Chosen One. And then later you'll be labeled as 'Child Killer'

If you enjoy this game, there's a good chance that you are a masochist.

Great little platformer game, especially with its awesome artwork. The story starts out pretty good, but seemingly loses its point before the end of the game, which is unfortunate. Thankfully, the controls are smooth and work well with a keyboard. The ability to use all three characters to your advantage is an interesting feature, as they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Although, I would say Zoya (The Thief) is the go-to character as it is much easier to navigate with the use of her grapple hook. Pontius (The Knight) is great for dispatching groups of enemies at a time, especially bats once you gain access to a ground smash later in the game. Amadeus (The Mage) is able to fully skip a majority of the puzzles once fully upgraded and with heavy use of his spawned crates and planks, which is nice if you've been through the game once over. I wouldn't particuarly say the game has much replay value though beyond a second runthrough on Very Hard (If achievements and harder difficulties are your thing) as it does not have anything else to offer except being able to play with all of your previously acquired upgrades. There were also a few times that I encountered my use of attacks not actually working as they should which became a bit of nuisance.

Overall, I would recommend the game to someone if they are looking for a platformer to waste a bit of time on. The game has its own feel to the genre because of the use of three characters, so it's not inherently like any other platformer that comes to mind. It is worth its price point, but is even better if you are able to get it on sale in the package along with its sequel.