Recent reviews by Geralt of Rivia

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

What I Liked:
Bloons TD 6 is an exceptional tower defense game that combines strategic depth with an accessible and colorful design. The wide variety of towers and upgrades, each with unique abilities and synergies, keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging. The game strikes a nice balance between casual fun and challenging strategy, especially in higher difficulty modes.

The visuals are bright and appealing, with a quirky charm that never feels too juvenile. The regular updates, new maps, and additional content like co-op mode show that the developers care about keeping the experience exciting for players.

Customization is another strong point. With skins, heroes, and alternate bloon effects, you can tailor the game to suit your style. The community challenges and events also add a layer of replayability, giving you more reasons to return.

What I Disliked:
One drawback is that the late-game can feel grindy, especially when progressing through harder maps or earning Monkey Knowledge points. Additionally, while the in-app purchases aren't necessary to enjoy the game, some players might find them a bit intrusive or frustrating, as they can create the temptation to skip the grind.

Another issue is the learning curve for newcomers. With so many towers, upgrades, and mechanics, it can be overwhelming at first, and the tutorials don’t always explain advanced strategies effectively.

Recommendation:
Overall, I highly recommend Bloons TD 6, especially if you're a fan of tower defense games or enjoy strategic planning. It's worth the price for the sheer amount of content and replayability, even without engaging in microtransactions. Whether you're looking for casual fun or a deep challenge, Bloons TD 6 has something to offer.

Remnant: From the Ashes combines elements of action RPGs, roguelikes, and shooters with a unique take on post-apocalyptic settings.

Story and Setting
The game is set in a dystopian world overrun by monstrous beings known as the "Root." Humanity is on the brink of extinction, and players take on the role of a "Remnant," fighting to reclaim what’s left of the world. The narrative is somewhat loose, with environmental storytelling and scattered lore revealing more about the game’s world. Though it’s not particularly narrative-driven, the backdrop is interesting, drawing inspiration from dark fantasy and science fiction.

Gameplay
The core gameplay is a mix of third-person shooting and melee combat with procedurally generated levels. Players traverse through dungeons, battle difficult enemies, and face off against massive, multi-phase bosses. Here’s a look at some key gameplay elements:

Combat
One of the highlights of Remnant. It's challenging, tactical, and satisfying. The game’s dodge mechanics, stamina management, and weapon variety give it a Souls-like feel, though the gunplay sets it apart.
Boss Fights: Boss battles are a standout feature, with creative designs, unique mechanics, and often require players to figure out patterns and strategies to win. They can be very challenging, even frustrating at times, but rewarding once overcome.

Randomized Elements:
The game features procedural generation for its worlds and dungeons. This means no two playthroughs are identical, which adds replayability. Some bosses, loot, and areas are unique to certain runs, which encourages replaying the game to see everything.

Co-op Play: Remnant shines in its co-op mode, allowing up to three players to team up. The game's difficulty scales with the number of players, and coordinating with friends to tackle enemies and bosses enhances the experience. Solo play is viable, but the game becomes significantly tougher.

RPG Elements and Customization
Players can choose between different archetypes (classes) and build their characters with a variety of weapons, armor, and mods. RPG elements are present in the form of leveling up, unlocking traits (which provide stat boosts), and customizing gear. The game’s trait system allows for deep customization as players gain experience and earn points to improve specific aspects of their build, like stamina or critical hit chance.

Art and Sound Design
The game features a dark and moody aesthetic, with post-apocalyptic ruins, eerie forests, and otherworldly locations. While the visuals aren’t cutting-edge, they are serviceable, with an art style that fits the game’s tone. The creature designs are particularly well-done, making each encounter feel distinct. The sound design enhances the atmosphere, with tense background music and impactful weapon sounds.

Difficulty
Much like games in the Soulsborne genre, Remnant is known for its difficulty. Enemies hit hard, and deaths come often, especially during boss encounters. However, death in Remnant is part of the learning curve, pushing players to improve their strategies and approach fights more thoughtfully.

Conclusion
Remnant: From the Ashes is a solid choice for fans of difficult, action-packed games, especially those who enjoy co-op multiplayer. It takes familiar mechanics from the Soulsborne genre and blends them with an engaging shooter experience, offering a rewarding challenge to those willing to dive into its procedural world. While the story and presentation aren't the game’s strongest points, the core gameplay loop and tough but fair difficulty make it stand out in the action-RPG genre.

Rating: 4.5/5

Pros:
- Engaging parkour mechanics
- Intense and atmospheric world
- Satisfying combat system
- Day-night cycle that adds depth and tension
- Strong co-op multiplayer mode

Cons:
- Repetitive side quests
- Some technical glitches
- Storyline could be more compelling

Overview:
"Dying Light" is an exhilarating survival horror game developed by Techland, blending parkour mechanics with intense zombie combat.

Gameplay:
The standout feature of "Dying Light" is its parkour system. Moving through the infected city of Harran is a fluid and dynamic experience, allowing players to climb, leap, and vault over obstacles with ease. This mobility is not only fun but also essential for survival, as it helps you evade the hordes of zombies that roam the streets. Combat in "Dying Light" is both satisfying and brutal. Melee weapons, firearms, and traps can be used to take down enemies, but resources are limited, pushing players to think strategically. The game's crafting system adds another layer of depth, letting you create new weapons and gadgets to aid in your fight against the undead.

The day-night cycle is a crucial aspect of the gameplay. During the day, zombies are slower and less aggressive, allowing you to scavenge and complete missions with relative ease. However, when night falls, the game transforms into a nerve-wracking experience. Powerful and agile night zombies emerge, and the game's atmosphere shifts to one of sheer terror. Surviving the night is a thrilling challenge that keeps you on edge.

Story:
The narrative follows Kyle Crane, an undercover agent sent into Harran to retrieve sensitive information. While the story provides a decent framework for the action, it isn't the game's strongest point. The plot and character development are serviceable but lack the depth and emotional engagement found in other titles within the genre.

Graphics and Sound:
Visually, "Dying Light" impresses with its detailed environments and hauntingly beautiful landscapes. The city of Harran feels alive (and undead) with its diverse locations and atmospheric lighting. The sound design further enhances the immersion, with chilling zombie growls and an eerie soundtrack that keeps you on edge.

Multiplayer:
"Dying Light" shines in its cooperative multiplayer mode. Up to four players can join forces to tackle missions and explore the city together. The co-op experience adds a new layer of enjoyment, as coordinating with friends to survive the night or take down powerful enemies creates memorable moments.

Conclusion:
"Dying Light" successfully merges parkour with survival horror, delivering a thrilling and immersive experience. While the storyline and side quests could use improvement, the game's engaging mechanics and atmospheric world make it a standout title. Whether you’re a fan of zombie games or looking for a unique action-adventure, "Dying Light" is a must-play.

Need for Speed: Unbound takes a risk with its visuals, ditching the usual focus on photorealism. Instead, it blends realistic cars with comic book-inspired effects like smoky drifts and popping nitros. This unique style definitely turns heads, though some find it a strange mix.

You'll tear through the streets in exciting races, earning cash to pimp out your ride with tons of customization options. This time around, skilled grip racing returns alongside drifting.

However, Unbound isn't without flaws. If you played Need for Speed: Heat, you might feel a sense of deja vu. The core gameplay loop and even the day/night structure are quite similar. The cops, while thrilling at first, can become overwhelming at higher heat levels. The story itself is pretty forgettable, taking a backseat to the adrenaline-pumping races.

So, is Unbound worth it? If you're looking for a fresh and stylish take on arcade racing with deep customization, then buckle up and hit the gas. But if you crave a groundbreaking story or a major overhaul in gameplay, you might need to look elsewhere.

Entropy: Zero 2 is a free Half-Life 2 mod that continues the story of the original mod. It is a sequel that offers more of the things that made the first game great. The story is more engaging, the gameplay is more challenging, and the environments are more varied. The developers have also added some new features, such as new weapons and enemies. Challenge maps are pain

Entropy: Zero is an impressive mod for Half-Life 2. It offers a compelling story, innovative gameplay. The mod's only flaws are occasional pacing issues, inconsistent difficulty, and some unresolved story elements. However, these small drawbacks do not overshadow the mod's overall quality.

Forza Horizon 5 is a beautiful open-world racing game that takes players to the vibrant and stunning landscape of Mexico. The game features a diverse selection of cars to collect and customize, along with a variety of races and activities to complete.

The game's world is absolutely massive and packed with things to do. Players can explore lush jungles, towering mountains, and bustling cities. The game's graphics are some of the best in the racing genre, and the game's soundtrack is top-notch.

Forza Horizon 5 is a must-play for any fan of racing games. It's a game that will keep you coming back for more, and it's one that you're sure to love.

The game's main story is quite linear, but it doesn't get in the way of the fun. The game's core gameplay is very addictive, and there's always something new to do.
The game's controls are very responsive, and the game's physics are top-notch. The game's AI is also very challenging, and there's always a new challenge to take on.

With the addition of new locations, cars, and activities, the game delivers something new for players to explore and enjoy.
A downside to the game is that it is very demanding on hardware.
This might cause problems for players with lower-end devices.

The game's main strength is its open-world gameplay. The game's world is massive and packed with things to do. Players can explore lush jungles, towering mountains, and bustling cities. The game's graphics are some of the best in the racing genre, and the game's soundtrack is top-notch.

Forza Horizon 5 is a must-play for any fan of racing games. It's a game that will keep you coming back for more, and it's one that you're sure to love.

If you enjoy tower defense games with a fantasy twist, It is a great choice.

Open-world racing game that offers a vast and diverse virtual playground for players to explore. With a wide range of vehicles, including cars, boats, planes, and motorcycles, the game provides an exhilarating and immersive racing experience. The game's stunning graphics and detailed environments make for visually impressive gameplay. However, despite its impressive scale, the game falls short in terms of its story and lacks depth in its gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game offers an enjoyable racing experience with its vast open world and variety of vehicles, but it may not fully satisfy those seeking a deep and engaging gameplay experience.

Action-packed racing game that delivers an adrenaline-fueled experience. With its engaging story, intense car chases, and a wide variety of vehicles, it offers an enjoyable gameplay experience. However, the game does suffer from occasional technical issues and a somewhat repetitive mission structure. Overall, it's a solid choice for racing enthusiasts looking for a thrilling adventure on the roads.