Recent reviews by Joseph

The game is kind of generic, but I'm not holding that against the game as sometimes something small and cheap can still be fun for a moment. There's nothing too special about the levels (and honestly, it would've been an improvement if the parking lot gates had been closed instead of just using an invisible wall to keep players in the field of play).

I can forgive a lot of that, but the clipping through the stairs so I can't get to the second and third levels is the big sin this game commits and till it is fixed, I won't be able to recommend it.

It's an interesting story with many choices that don't really seem to matter. The worst thing for me was hearing that constant phone ringing sound, which I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be there or the result of a glitch. I also felt like it jumped around between times a lot without any clear indicator that it is in fact a time jump.

Now, the experience is a worthwhile one to see one person's experience, but I feel like it is over too soon to get a feel for the authors full story. Still, if you got a few bucks, if not for the story, I'd recommend buying it to support the person behind the game.

Reviewing this game seems pretty simple to me. It is the first three games with a fresh paint of graphics applied to the original control scheme. To this end, if you loved those first three games and don't mind the controls are not very easy to get used to, this is the game for you. Personally, I was really hoping they would update it to the scheme used in the newer games or even the games Underworld or Legacy.

Visually speaking it is a very nice step up and as a showcase of how graphics have evolved, it has a neat option to switch from old-school to modern(ish) visuals. I can't speak on the audio given my hearing impairment.

An amazing game with a brilliant gameplay tool. It is a bit short though and as far as I can tell, there isn't much reason to replay it. Visually, it is very fun and the audio works very well.

This is a great way to show off how RTX can change the course of gaming. By taking a game that came out way back in 1997 and simply applying an RTX layer, it changed the game's visuals dramatically. Sure, you won't confuse it for a modern day title, but it is a great way to just show the effect it can have on a game's visuals.

First off, this is not like the previous versions of Dirt, so don't go in expecting that. As long as you except that, then you're off to a great start.

Second, this is more like Forza Horizon 4 than previous Dirt games. So if you're into Forza Horizon, this game is probably going to be up your ally.

It handles really well and it is a really fullfilling feat to win at the various races. There's only two types of races I didn't care for and you can bypass certain races and still make progress in the career. The final thought is this game is worth a shot. I might suggest if you have Microsoft's Game Pass that you go try it there for free first, then come back to buy it here.

As of writing this, I haven't been able to play much of the game. The format of the game is the same as Diablo, yet the controls don't support playing as thought it were. It is difficult to use keyboard controls and strange controller support where the left acts like you'd expect, but the left acts like a mouse pointer.

I'm hoping the company will continue to refine the controls and as they polish those up, I'll edit my review to reflect how I feel about it.

edit 10/12/2020:
As of replaying the game, the control problem is mostly ironed out. I think I would have prefered they went with a more Diablo like control scheme, however, what they have done is very functional.

What can I say that hasn't already been said? This game is an amazing improvement over the original (in terms of graphics, control, and over all ease to get into). Where you might buy GTAIV and have so much to do that you end up not really doing anything, Mafia 2 will keep you interested from start to finish. You will get your money's worth.

So far the game's visuals remind me a lot of Torchlight and that's not a bad thing. A semi-cartoonish look with a 3d isometric view like Diablo. The only complaint I have is the controls are not very well laid out. It could work very well with a controller however the game does not allow you to map to a controller. Alternatively, I wouldn't mind if they refined the controls so you can have your character move with a mouse click instead of the WASD keys.

This is one of the few games that has come out that I spent the time to beat it twice. The game's mechanics work great and the story really grips you. There are a few times when I felt conflicted when the story tells me Lara can't stand the brutal actions she's doing just before mowing down a few dozen soldiers, but not enough to pull me out of the experience. The game looks great and more importantly, plays great!