Recent reviews by Vinacruce

Love it

Keep in mind, I played this using a Vietnamese language patch so some names can be differed from the English or Chinese version.

Having read Jin Yong's novels and see some adaptations back when I was a wee lad, I can say that this is a love letter to the novels and the wuxia genre as a whole. From the depiction of the martial arts techniques, the characters, the factions, the story tropes and motifs, it's pretty much takes heavy inspiration from mister Jin's works (ie. Yuwen Yi is a composite of Guo Jing (Condor Heroes) and Zhang Wuji (Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber); Yan Weihuan is the alternative Xiao Feng from Gods and Demons; Jiang Yinfeng and Yu Yun ("orthodox" and "evil" couple) are what Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying could be after the events of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer); story sets in essentially the fall of a Sino-centric dynasty (Ning - Southern Song) to nomadic empires (Yuan - Jurchens, Mongols)). (on a sidenote: Both Feng and Yun names also made up the pivotal plot point Wind and Cloud Technique and the game's title in Chinese).

Gameplay is solid, although it still falls into the same pitfall as many classic RPGs do, when you have to grind for exp (or in this case martial points) to further progressing the game in the latter stages. I do enjoy the grid-based combat to many extent, though.

Graphics are just MWAH. For a pixel-based title, everything seems like it's from a painting with each of its zones, cities, valleys, etc. Occasionally, I just go into a zone like Cherry Blossom Forest and standing there, admiring.

So, if you are a fan of the wuxia genre, give this game a try. In the future, I wonder if there's more story dlcs to be added, aside from the current Wudang Sect storyline (a Shaolin or maybe an "evil" or "unorthodox" sects or schools storyline perhaps? Or even a true wandering swordsman story, where you aren't aglined with any factions).

Florida Man: The Experience

It's not the Netflix version,

Best gangsta simulator fo sho, homie.

Steam version sucks major monkey ♥♥♥♥♥ tho, be sure to use the downgrade version to get the full experience.

A remaster done right.

I love the original 1999 game, been playing it since 2009, then went on with the HD edition in 2014. This version intensifies my love for it more. Note that I will be only talking about the game from a single player perspective.

Gameplay is pretty much the same, with few minor features (auto reseeding farms and fish traps; auto scouting ), which is a plus for me, because the gameplay of AOE II has always been the best. If it ain't broken, don't fix it (pathfinding still wonky tho). The new Last Khans civs are pretty solid, although I found the Tatars hard to utilize given their bizarre bonuses.

The graphics are spot on, definitely definited in this definite edition (heh). It's nice to see the units get their smooth 3D models and animations. All the buildings, terrains and doodads get a facelift, which looks astonishing and make some good eye candy.

Sound effects are somewhat watered down from the previous version. Instead of hearing the meaty and satisfying metal clanging sounds when you're in a battle, you get this weaker one that sounds like two spoons banging agaisnt each other. However, the remastered soundtrack (along with some new tracks) is a welcoming addition. And holy ♥♥♥♥, they made extended themes for the civilization jingles too? Awesome.

On to the campaigns, aside from the original Age of Kings and The Conquerors campaigns, this version also introduced new sets of campaigns taken from the HD Edition expansions (The Forgotten; African Kingdoms; Rise of Rajas) and three from The Last Khans. The OG campaigns are the same, with little change to some scenarios, although I miss the memorable ham of the OG voice actors ("BEHO! THE ♥♥♥♥♥ OF GENGHIS CAN AB ROACHES" - Mongol Cavalry Archer 1999). The HD expansions campaigns have been improved, specificly The Forgotten, and thank God for that (El Dorado and Honfoglalas in the HD Edition can go ♥♥♥♥ themselves); campaigns from African Kingdoms and Rise of Rajas received minor changes and improvements, they have always been alright to me, so there's not much to say. The new Last Khans campaigns are pretty damn good too, a bit challenging at times, but not too tedious (my personal favorite is Ivaylo).

One thing I don't like about this game is the menu interface. Not that it's bad but it's bland and boring to look at. In the original game, you have certain icons for specific sections (https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/391047274274198720/63AD61E696636F08DB442117A6DD0A77089994E3/). In this version, it's just these generic red bars with golden letters for most of the sections. Then again, it's just my personal taste.

Overall, do I think this might be the best remaster of the game?
1.

EDIT: Due to Steam flagging my imgur link as malicious, I resort to use another link.

Made anime real.

Guns shoot bad guys.

I don't feel like a hero anymore

Game is actually communist propaganda, because it's players use shared money

Shoutouts to an invader named Jewels who gave me a +10 shield and ♥♥♥♥♥♥ my friend up with his pyromancies in Shrine of Amana.