Recent reviews by DukeDaDuke

Okay you want to know if the game is worth it? Play the Demo first because it will definitely prep you for how to get started.
Once you're in the full game the world really opens up as does some of the more challenging aspects. I am definitely making a new game to play on occasion because this game hits me on The Sims level of immersion. Only thing missing is being able to eat at Taco Ticklers and maybe doing immersive stuff with your "legit" business' to generate moderate clean cash while you launder the dirty.

Will update this review if something changes. Right now, this hits the indie sweet spot. 10/10 would shoot Frank again.
EDIT NOV 2025:
With everything they've added to the game and the continued support going forward I still have to give this a 10/10 and recommend this for good times and good value. This game continues to please.

An overall improvement upon what came before with expanded game modes as well as factions. I have played Total War games a lot over the years and this is one of the few that has called me back to it time and time again more than Shogun 2 ever has. The community support behind the game is also amazing with some Workshop mods bringing a lot to the table (Check out The Simply Fun Overhaul (SFO) for example) and greatly increases the replay value of the game. I recommend it heavily for strategy game fans.

The only negative thing I can think to say about the game is that there is a bit of a learning curve for getting used to how each Faction plays and what their strengths and weaknesses are. The Eye of the Vortex game mode is probably the best experience for new players to get used to the game-flow as Mortal Empires can be intense with all the factions at the start, which means this is also a game that is going to need a good rig to run at optimal settings.

Make sure your RAM can handle it folks!

I am a long time Final Fantasy fan so first off, if you're also a Final Fantasy fan I can't recommend Final Fantasy XIV enough. If you've never played a Final Fantasy game before now but like MMORPGs, I also recommend it.

I've been playing the game for years and the quality just improves with each update, and after over 2000 hours I'm probably going to put another 2000 into it.

PROS:
*The Class variety is pretty good, though you will have to play through the game to unlock access to all of them as well as owning relevant expansions.
*Story: I actually enjoy that playing the main scenario/story quests allows for natural unlocking of features overtime. Most MMO's throw you into the world and you figure it out as you go. Final Fantasy XIV reveals the world and it's dungeons through story driven quests. Every class has a questline, and every job has a quest-line.
*One Character is Enough: You pick your starting class, but as you progress through the game you are able to pick up other Classes/Jobs. The Same is true with crafting and gathering classes. There is no limit or any need to have alts with Final Fantasy XIV. One character can do it all.

CONS:
*Player Housing - This is a constant issue for some and for others they don't care, but player housing is extremely limited. Once you have a house though the customization and perks are pretty dope. Sadly, Square can't seem to add enough housing to meet demand and if you're on a heavily populated server and just starting out you're probably not going to get a house for years. I didn't have mine until last year and have been playing more serious since 2017.
*PVP - While the PVP isn't bad, it's not quite there like it is in other popular MMO's.
*Cost Investment - This isn't a con for me but might be for some people later on. There is a subscription fee (2 to choose from depending on if you want multiple characters on a single server) but the way the Auction House works is you use Retainers. You get 2 to start but if you want more you have to pay real money for it. There's also an online shop full of random things from mounts to emotes and clothes. Standard fare in most MMO's but it does sometimes feel like Square is milking it.

Overall I intend to keep playing this game for years to come. If you loved WoW back in the day, this is WoW on steroids as far as immersion goes and the community is the most wholesome I've encountered. 10/10

Okay let me first praise the idea behind the game and say that when it works properly and gets a little tuning in the .ini files...it's fun.

However, since the game is impossible to play and is nowhere stable enough to be considered a fun experience I cannot recommend this game to anyone.

Game is garbage-ware.

I was given this game as a gift and I gotta say, I'm really digging it. The combat is fast and unforgiving if you're not agile enough to keep up with it. While there aren't a lot of maps, the game keeps the action interesting and even if you think you're on top the showdown can have the final say on who's the badass of the match.

I cannot recommend this game enough and the fun I've had is enough to ensure I'll be playing this game for quite awhile.

8/10

Pretty creepy and challenging gameplay. Not for the faint of heart or non Lovecraft fans.
A solid 7/10

The fact that I feel like making this Recommendation isn't necessesary should tell you that this game will give you an RPG experience like no other. Whether you prefer to be a badass soldier or a dangerous psycho, you play this game the way you want. All of your decisions carry over to the next game until you get to Mass Effect 3.

My friends, you are in for a rare treat if you buy this game!

Honestly, the best of the series guys. I will admit, it gets old fast, but you'll find yourself replaying levels over and over again.

Its that good.