Recent reviews by V

While the software might be of some use to some people, the "DLC" offered is farcical. A $5 dark-mode "DLC"? Really? They're going to charge people $5 for what amounts to pressing Win+F7 or applying a window theme for free? Really? After also offering people the opportunity to tip them an extra $10 as a "Donation #1" (also, apparently, the first of however many donations to come, since it's numbered for some reason)? No thanks. Willfully donating funds is a subjective choice (which belongs on a platform like Patreon, NOT Steam), but locking achievements and basic features like a dark-themed UI behind paid-for "DLC" is a deliberately greedy thing to do and takes advantage of people who don't know any better (I'd be a little more than upset if someone conned my G'ma into buying this, since I do know better). That alone put me off of ever using this or paying 'AndrewMD5' or 'Codeusa' any more mind, and I cannot recommend this to anyone in good conscience. I got this software as part of a Humble Bundle a ways back (I suspect it was to bloat the bundle), otherwise it wouldn't be part of my library. I definitely wouldn't spend $7 on this, let alone upwards of $22, when Flawless Widescreen is free and does the same thing and a lot more. For free. I recommend using that instead, but to each their own.



Edit for the developer: Below are a few responses to your complaints of my review. My stance remains the same, regardless of how it made you feel (though your personality has solidified my distaste for you, personally). These are legitimate consumer complaints, not simply "you're an entitled meanie, waaaa!"

"You people will complain about free software all day long." Looks like it's $7, to me. Also, as stated clearly and legibly before, I PURCHASED this software. You can even see that nifty li'l star all filled in up there to prove it. That it was a tack-on to something else I intentionally purchased is irrelevant.

"Literally read..." As opposed to figuratively read?

"You get quite literally over a dozen features and tens of thousands of supported games..." Figurative features are cool, too, if Early Access is any indication of popularity. Though, as you'll be able to read above, I didn't complain about a lack of features or compatibility. That was never an issue for me. If your program does all that, then that's cool. Still doesn't change anything about what I actually said. In case you missed the first thing I did say, I noted that people might want to use it. Just not my people. You don't have to agree with me not using it or my reasons for it. You simply have to accept it and move on with your life.

"...and will complain because the software offers a completely free version, has two optional donation DLCs since it’s been updated continuously for over a decade, and actually works." I complained about absolutely none of that. It is amazing how inventive your imagination can be when you're mad about what someone says. It's also irrelevant if you offer a free version of anything, when the version in question ISN'T. Again, if you want donations to support your work as a developer, go to Patreon or GoFundMe. This is a space for actual products that do things. I have no problem with you, as a business, seeking funding for your efforts. That isn't the issue.

"You’re not paying for dark mode - you’re paying to support the development of an open source project." You are quITe LitERalLY required to pay for the dark mode "DLC". Notice the price tag next to it and how it doesn't say "FREE"? You can peddle semantics about the 'why you're buying' of buying, but you're still required to buy it.

"You don’t even have to pay to unlock an achievement... stop lying." It's not lying when it's a fact. Again, if my G'ma used it she'd be unable to without paying. I may be able to do a key-stroke (that is NOT obvious or clearly explained on the main product page (as of time of the review)), but she couldn't. I installed Borderless Gaming. I scoured the entire interface AND I even clicked the Help button. Still no Dark Mode. Guess you gotta pay for it. *shrug*

"...it’s literally free by pressing a key combo." Figuratively free must be a new thing. Imaginary sale prices? What'll Capitalism think of next?!

“I recommend using this OTHER software..." Um, yeah. Duh. Just like a typical product review. If your thing says it does this but I like how that thing over there does it better, I'm going to use that one. This is how consumer competition works. I offered an alternative that I use for other games for different purposes that also does the thing your thing does. I'd do the same thing if this was a game and not a tool. That's what "word of mouth" means and is generally agreed to be a good thing for businesses and consumers alike.

"...that does something entirely different..." It does the same thing. It also does more things, but it still does this thing. You used an image of your program working with Dark Souls II to advertise your software. So I tested the other software with Dark Souls II. It does the same exact thing, and also more things than your thing does. Even my G'ma could tell you that by looking at their interfaces and clicking a few buttons.

"...because the developer wants to find ways to fund their free project” I'm not the developer, I don't know who they are, and I don't care if people use that program or your program. Just like I don't care if people buy bowls with handles or not, but if you've got children or elderly, I'll still suggest it.

"get a grip." Projection, much? You don't need to be pedantic and condescending about other people's opinions of your product. Again, these are legitimate consumer complaints. If these complaints make you feel a certain sorta way, instead of berating your PAYING CUSTOMERS and calling them liars and treating them like they stole from you, you might take their ideas into consideration for your future endeavors. Mind you, WITHOUT insulting them first.

"Stop review bombing." This was a genuine review, by a paying customer. 'Review bombing' consists of many people changing their positive vote to a negative one or intentionally negatively reviewing a product as a form of social protest. This is neither of those things.

"The audacity..." Oh, no. Oh, my!. How DArE THeY!

"...to do this when you didn’t even pay for the product on Steam." Regardless what my review said (as memory isn't infallible), Valve seems to think that I did purchase it on Steam, or at least have purchased it somewhere and activated it here, as noted by the aforementioned star proving that I am a paying customer. Whether I bought my television from Costco or Walmart doesn't matter if the television itself is unsatisfactory.

"You got it for FREE." Again, even if I had received access to the software on Humble Bundle, rather than Steam, I still would have paid money for it, even if only a little money. A penny is still a penny, and I am entitled to my review of your software whether you like it or not.

"You should genuinely be embarrassed." Right back atcha, buddy.

(Review text hidden)

Game was fun, with mods. Game worked, with mods. Bethesda pushed an update that no one asked for nor wanted. Now it doesn't work, and therefore isn't fun, with or without mods. Broken. Spending hours, days, possibly weeks total, of my life time trying to get it to work. Won't start, forever loading, crashing. Nothing gained, only life lost. Bethesda ruined it, as always, as only Bethesda can. Just like they ruined Skyrim with an update no one wanted nor asked for. Broken and unable to play. I'd bet my left leg they'd ruin Starfield in similar fashion if it wasn't terrible already.

I used to herald Bethesda as legends, and loved their games. Morrowind for the win. Now they're gutter-trash. I shan't ever waste my time, nor what little wealth I have, on any more Bethesda garbage. I truly loved you. Now I despise and loathe you. So much life lost... for nothing.

Get bent, Todd Howard.

Cons:

- It's EA.

- Requires Origin (now called "EA") launcher to play on Steam. (It also required a key code, which was not provided to me, for activation on Origin before the game would even start. Miraculously, it eventually started working without me needing to provide one, and Origin hasn't harangued me about it since.)

- Denuvo DRM.

- Makes my CPU run at ~80-100% the entire time the game is on. Even while paused. (It's not me, I swear. My rig's boss.)

-Makes my GPU run at ~70-98% the entire time the game is on. Even while paused. (Again, it isn't me.)

- Music is hideodorous. Whoever decided on the soundtrack needs to be put in timeout and given a lifetime supply of Altoids (they're curiously cool), because they have the musical taste of a deaf toad. Driving isn't as fun without music, but I'm forced to mute the radio. I can't listen to that rub-rub-rubbish. (At least let me use a custom playlist or something. Damn...)

- Still no driver-seat view? I wanna immerse myself, dang it. Why's it gotta be so hard to make it immersive? Why's my chin always gotta sit on the top of the hood instead of behind the wheel, huh? Is the inside of a car really that alien to you?

- Cops are dumber'n usual. Get a Heat level of 5 and have 6 little piggies box you in and then you aim for a ramp and hit the nitro. No more little piggies. Or lead them all down the beach and into the ocean while you "reload" and escape. The cops are going щ（ﾟДﾟщ）, dispatch is going ლ(ಠ_ಠლ), and you're going ┌(・。・)┘♪ (Is this really a con...?).

- Be daytime: Me: Drive by police at 192mph. Police: Slowly chews doughnut. Be nighttime. Me: Cruisin' at 40 enjoying the evening breeze after a good rain. Police: I Will ABSoLUTEly MURDER YOu!

- 'Member when games were $30 instead of $70, and they were complete games that weren't cut up into pieces and sold as "extra" "content"? I 'member. Pepperidge Farms probably remembers, too.


Pros:

- It's pretty. (Seriously. Puddles and water splashes after it rains, when the morning sun hits the road just right as you come down the hill with the city peaking through the trees around the bend... *Sucks teeth* It's pretty. (Nighttime driving is pretty dope, too. Except for all the rhinoceroses.)

- Although my processor and graphics card are being pushed around a bit, the game runs smooth as fine silk. No stuttering or fps drops, no graphical glitches (so far), seamless driving for miles 'n' miles. The only "long" loading screen is at game load, and the rest are only a few seconds.

- Remember those stupid little cut-scenes that would play every time you'd hit something (I'm lookin' at you, Most Wanted.)? Yeah, this one doesn't have those (Thank Christ. Literally. That was just sinful. They're why Jesus had a pokey hat.).

- Vehicles handle well, they feel good to drive, and they're simple to control. My kid likes it. I like it. My hands like it.

- There're plenty of customization options for each vehicle, and there are many automobiles to choose from. There's also a rich community of mask makers to whip up your ride, if you're seeking a new look. You can even get yourself some questionable attire and sunglasses.

- Goes good with mozzarella sticks.


If it's on super-sale and you don't love your PC and cherish its existence and you don't hate EA with every fiber of your being, you could buy this. Otherwise, there's always the five-finger discount, arrrgh!

A solid point and click puzzler. Story is interesting and captivating, voice acting is believable, and the puzzles are creative. The music is a bit dull, but given the atmosphere and thrilling overtones of the game I think it fits rather well. I was assuming to see a lot of the typical "surprises" that have become cliche in this kind of story, but encountered absolutely none of them. You are, quite literally, an average Joe. You're also the very last person anyone wants around to help them, and they tell you this several times. It's a nice change from the "Chosen One" scenery the market is saturated with.

There are only a couple downsides to this. It's really short. Actual play time was probably ~2-3 hours, most of that spent getting stuck because I forgot that I could time-travel. The ending was a little lacluster, though not at all disappointing. It just seemed a bit dull compared to the rest of the game, but you are an average Joe, so it makes more sense that way.

Overall, this game was definitely worth it, at least for a once-through. I give it an 8/10. It'd be an easy 9, if not for it being so short.

After owning it on the 360, and now on the PC, I have to say that this is a really good game. It's not only a decent game, but it is a great Deus Ex game. Especially considering the failure that was The Fall, and the controversial Invisible War, DEHR is a fantastic installment to the series.

The graphics, the gameplay mechanics, the inventory, item construction and customization, the character upgrades, all of these are solid. Then we get into the story and dialogue. They are like nothing I have experienced before. Once you get the dialogue Praxis upgrade, it opens up a whole new gameplay feature, one that allows you to not only witness the effects of your choices during the dialogue sequence (not just after), but gives you a whole new way to play the game. It allows you to actually strategize during a conversation based on the individual person you're talking to and their personality, along with their emotional state at any given time, not just click one phrase and hope that the NPC has a favorable response to that particular selection.

I am one of the few who actually like DE: Invisible War, but I have to admit that the inventory and (oh god) the dialogue and voice acting were bland and boring at best. Human Revolution doesn't fall victim to any of the failures of its older brother (and some would say a VERY distant relative). The voice acting is superb, the inventory is akin to The Conspiracy, item upgrades are more like the original, and the story and missions give you that sense of urgency that the original had.

It's not just a good shooter, but it is a fantastic RPG. I've got to say that this is one (pre)sequel that I am proud to own and experience. Definitely recommended. A solid 9/10

Fallout New Vegas, in my opinion, is far superior to Fallout 3 in almost every way. For one it actually works on newer OS without any problems or tinkering. It also adheres more strictly to the original series' guidelines for character builds.

I wasn't much of a fan of Fallout 3 for whatever reason, it just didn't really stick with me. It was a great game, but just never hit the spot. But Fallout New Vegas fills in all the gaps. It might be my love of Mad Max and his desert wasteland, or my love of old western movies, but I enjoy my experience with FONV every time I turn it on. The atmosphere, characters, and devious undertones always bring me back for more.

Besides all that, let's face it. It's still really fun to plug a Supermutant full of holes, and vaporize a traveling caravan for their goods.

Quite possibly one of the best games I have played in the recent months. I got it with a bundle, but NEO Scavenger is honestly worth more than its asking price. It may only be flash, but don't let that deter you. It has one of the most realistic systems I have encountered. The developer is an active member of his own community, and that is very difficult to find these days with titles of this magnitude.

I'm not very picky with what I play, but I am picky with what I play often. Since I got it, I have been playing this game every day, dieing every day, and starting anew every day. You die, a lot. But for some reason I always come back to start again, most times directly after the fact. This isn't like Dark Souls difficult, where if you die, you can just load up a save from right before it. No. When you die, you die. You have to start all over again.

Each time you start, it is somehow an entirely new experience every time. The maps are randomized, NPC loadouts are randomized, loot and scavenging opportunities are randomized. The only things that don't change are the story, fixed encounters, and your inevitable death in these unforgiving wastes. You can spend hours building up the best loot and getting the best weapons and armor, just to get kicked in the head in your sleep, and have to start all over again. For some reason I have come to enjoy this.

The crafting system is remarkable, to say the least. Much more involved than that of Minecraft or Terraria. You are able to use the skills you chose at the start of the game to create new and different items than you could without. Being able to craft items that can possibly save you from a fight with a Dogman or a Blue Frog, keep you fed for a day, or drink clean water, can give you some sense of security. Until you fall asleep and get kicked in the head.

This game is not for those that want an easy game, that they can win every opportunity they get. You can be fully armored and have a shotgun in one hand and a crowbar in the other and pulverize the person you're fighting, just to have them throw a rock at you and die of internal bleeding a couple turns later. This game is unforgiving, and even when you're the biggest badass of the wastes... you can still die by eating some berries.

I love this game. Plain and simple.

Don't let my short play time dissuade you from my review. I've been playing this game for about 2 years on my laptop. I just played a bit to make sure the Steam version works, and it does. Quite flawlessly, really. I've encountered none of the issues anyone else has, so far. I'm on a Win 7 64-bit laptop.

This game has lost none of it's charm, or it's difficulty. It plays simply enough. All you have to do is connect 3-or-more like colored tiles to gain the effect desired. During battle you can only move one tile per turn. The game seamlessly enters weapons and other tools you can use during battle as well. For example, you have a laser. This laser requires 5 red tiles to use. During the battle, you make enough red tile combos to get 5, and then you can use the laser. If you don't want to use it right away, that's fine. Every time you get a combo, these colored tiles are added to the ship's "battle inventory", and are stored for later use. There are tools to alter the gravity of the board, destroy specific tiles to gain their bonuses, affect your (or your enemy's) ship in some way, etc. To damage the enemy ship, you make a combo of the mines that are strewn about the board. Each mine has it's own number blinking on it, which is the amount of damage it causes. A combo of 3 level 5 mines will deal 15 damage, for example. You could get a combo of 7 level 10 mines (very hard to do), and deal massive damage in just one turn. Be aware that your enemy also uses these mines, and has their own weapons and tools. Don't worry though, as battles aren't timed. You will have all the time you need to study the board, and make a decision.

You can mine asteroids to gain materials to sell to any of the star bases, then use the profits to buy new ships, weapons, etc. Each asteroid has different materials on them, and each has an amount listed that you need to reach. If you reach these, you'll get a massive bonus to the resources you gain. Don't worry if you don't meet the requirement, you'll still get all the resources you mined. So it's always useful, and sometimes necessary, to mine during the game. Mining sequences are not timed, but have a limited amount of combos you can make, depending on the amount of tiles present on the board.

The most difficult, and extremely frustrating, point in the game... is the gate hacks. In order to get to different star systems, more asteroids to mine, and missions, you need to hack into an "star gate." This is not optional. In order to progress through the main story, this is required. Even if you don't want to explore. Each gate has a different difficulty. Every gate requires a certain amount of color combos to open it, and you have to do these in the shown sequence... and in the amount of time it gives you. The harder the difficulty of the gate, the more combos you have to make, and in less time available. Since the way the board works (once you get a combo, more tiles enter the board), you could easily get a string of combos and win within a few seconds. Or it'll give you a couple combos, and you can easily get confused as to why you aren't affecting the hack. You may think you need a purple tile, but the auto combos did it for you, but you didn't notice it. So you're entering purple combos to no effect. You can easily waste time this way, and tiles for future use. Unless you're a puzzle master, and love this much of a challenge, you are guaranteed to get frustrated.

This is an amazing game. I have never played a puzzle game quite like it. Everything it does, it does exceptionally well. The dialogue is great, the battles and mining are fun, the quests (though tedious at times) are well written and unique. The galaxy map is quite expansive, with plenty of systems to explore. There are multiple factions, each with their own feelings toward you, and your actions for or against them are reflected during the game. Each star base has different bonuses (positive and negative) for different resources, so if you care about getting the max bonus for each individual resource, you're going to be traveling a lot. I don't really worry about it, though. Most systems have a "shop" where you can buy everything you need. There's also a crafting system. Sometimes when you destroy ships, meet quest requirements, etc., you'll receive "plans." With these you can create new weapons and tools that were previously unavailable to buy, or make expensive items with cheap resources. Later on, you will have access to PSI abilities that allow you to "skip" battles (at the cost of PSI points) with certain ship classes. So if you have a massive battleship, you don't have to fight a lowly raider shuttle, if you don't want to.

As stated earlier, this game may or may not work for you. It has worked just fine for me. But I highly recommend this game to everyone who enjoys a good puzzle board, or space ship battles, or both. This is a great game.

This is an amazing game. It's great for playing with your friends, and for skirmishes with the AI. Unfortunately that's all there is to this game. Multi-Player and Skirmishes. There is no campaign, and that in itself is very disappointing. But don't let that put you off from buying it. It's gorgeous, challenging, entertaining, and loads of fun (albeit a bit difficult at times). Unlike Endless Space and Galactic Civilizations, Sins is real time. So every split second decision counts. The AI is a juggernaut of difficulty no matter what setting you have it on, so every little plan makes the difference of success or failure. Unless you're a master of strategy, this game will frustrate you at times. One moment you're blasting away at the galaxy, the next moment there are Titans coming at you from every angle.

There are lots of different research topics for each and every civ you choose, and each one is vastly different than the others. Ship options are quite large, and every ship has it's own abilities and strategic usefulness. The buildings have a build limit, until you start to expand your empire. Each new planet adds new resource bonuses, building caps, tech options, etc.

Unlike games like Age of Empires, Sins sort of forces you to expand and explore, otherwise you won't get the necessary amount of buildings certain research items require, the resources needed to build massive fleets, and so on. You also can't just sit around and let your stockpiles grow, build a battalion of ships, and expect to win in one attack. You'll soon learn that the enemy has already colonized 4 planets, each with it's own armada, and enough spare ships on it's way to wipe out your home planet.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is an awesome experience, and a very challenging one. If you like that sort of thing, you will absolutely love this game. The only disappointing thing about this game is the lack of a campaign. Everything else is a work of genius, a real masterpiece. I highly recommend any RTS lover to buy this game right away.