Recent reviews by vexnir

my fingers: broken
my heart: filled with joy

Great game - well, obviously, it's Crash.

The original trilogy is one of the best platformers of all time in my opinion, and the remake really brings it back to life, especially improving the first game, which didn't age well due to its outdated save systems and controls. But N. Sane not only fixes it all, it even adds time trials to both the 1st and 2nd game, which were absent in the originals.

The game runs great, it's smooth, and looks gorgeous. You may have to fiddle a bit if you want higher framerates than standard 60, as the game is locked at that and requires some modding to get more than that. Otherwise, I consider the presentation phenomenal. The PC version looks utterly gorgeous compared to its console counterparts (I own the PS4 and Switch versions). It's a very polished game and easily worth it at full price.

The gameplay is fantastic, but let me be clear, this is a challenging platformer. Which, may not be enjoyable for everyone. By no means you will be relaxed playing this one lol. Personally, despite my usual knack for easier games, I find Crash a very satisfying game. It provides challenge based on skill and not luck, which is what I adore. The platforming is very tight, and some levels (especially if you are running time trials) may require nearly frame-perfect jumps. The level and overall game design is excellent though, and makes the challenge fun. I think the difficulty is really well balanced as well: anyone can beat the game to see the credits, but if you want full completion, you're in for a wild ride.

I tortured myself getting a platinum trophy in Crash on PS4 and I'm back here on PC to subject myself to that sweet, sweet pain again. The game is that good.

Wow, I didn't realize I haven't reviewed this game yet.


Here, I dropped it. No joke. While I may have games I like more, Stardew Valley still remains a solid and fun choice for me. And objectively speaking, I really do consider it one of the best games that came to be in the 2010s: quality, engaging, fun, long-lasting, and good for everyone.

Don't be fooled by this being an indie title. Stardew is one of the best quality games I've ever played, easily rivaling AAA titles in my opinion. Despite what it may look like on the surface, it's a complex and very well designed game. Trust me, I don't give that compliment lightly. I used to work in game QA and tend to be very critical when judging a game in its design areas, but Stardew Valley really is a gem.

I have played this game for over 130 hours on different platforms (I only use Steam to play co-op with my friend, the bulk of my playtime has been on Switch) and never once felt like something was off, needed improvement, or was bugged.

This is a very polished game. Everything fits together amazingly well, from the unique art style, through the enjoyable soundtrack, down to great haptic feedback if you play with a controller. The gameplay, surprisingly enough, doesn't fall into the biggest trap farm simulators often do: repetitiveness. There's a lot of content to keep you occupied and daily activities can be switched up. You can tend to your crops and animals, or go fishing, or go exploring the caves and fight monsters while mining, or even go a whole different route and enjoy socializing with the game's amazing characters.

What has surprised me about Stardew Valley was its beautifully executed maturity. The game touches upon serious topics (alcohol addiction and PTSD, for example) while still being appropriate for all ages. The writing is very good, and you often end up getting attached to the characters as you uncover their secrets. I do love how, despite its cute and simple presentation, Stardew is a really ambitious game when you look into it.

And of course, most importantly, it really is hours of wholesome fun. It mixes the gameplay of a farming sim with an RPG and romance elements. In my opinion, this game is a great example of something that outgrew what initially inspired it (Harvest Moon in this case).

I cannot recommend it enough. If only more games were executed so well! I admit, ever since I've played Stardew Valley, I found myself comparing all others of similar genre to it, because it really is an excellent example of how to make a game, and make it dang well.

I would describe this game in one word: B O U N C Y

I love it! Usually, I'm not into online multiplayer games, even more so battle royale kind of games, but this one is so much fun. To me, it's one of those titles where I just can't be mad about losing because the whole experience is just so enjoyable and hilarious I end up laughing instead of being frustrated.

The presentation is phenomenal and was what drew me to try this game: I love the aesthetic, it's colorful, it's cheerful, it's adorable, and it's hella bouncy. From the funny, floppy animations, to the bloop-bloop sounds the bean guys make when they crash against stuff. Oh my god, it's great.

The physics are awesome, you can really feel the weight of what you're controlling and again, it's all so BOUNCY. It's fun and satisfying. If you enjoy 3D platformers, this is a perfect game to try. The title is fitting though. You're gonna fall. A lot.

Get this one, it's laughter therapy. Good vibes all around.

Saints Not, but still fun

I'll begin by saying you will or will not like this game based on what you're looking for. If you are looking for the overall Saints Row vibe, where you get whisked into the world of crime and gang fights, you may not enjoy this. However, if you want to play a fun action game, you'll love it.

See, this game is a mixed bag for me - being a fan of the franchise. I still like it, but barely view it as a Saints Row game. It's sci-fi action with superpowers, aliens and over the top humor. It doesn't have the same feel as the previous installments, and if I were to look at it as a Saints Row game, then yeah, I don't like it. It went too off the rails and in my humble opinion, messes up the lore the creators have built over the years.

However, if this is simply treated as a stand-alone title, and you come with an open mind, it's still a fun and pretty good game.

The story is ridiculous, but that's one of its strengths. It doesn't take itself seriously at all, and at times feels like it's poking fun at popular cliches. It's not a masterpiece, but not bad either, it's decent and the hilarious dialogue makes it enjoyable. I feel like some characterization deserves critique, this game made it rather clear that Kinzie was the writers' favorite, spoiled child, to the point she's just made an annoying Mary Sue in this installment, at the expense of the protagonist who is always portrayed as dumb just so Kinzie can look clever. On the other hand, there's the main villain, who in my opinion is a great and fun character, and even though I'm supposed to hate him for the bad things he's doing, I can't help but feel endeared by some of his quirks - which are made even better with the wonderful voice acting.

The gameplay itself is pretty fun - it runs on the same engine and map as Saints Row The Third, so it's very similar to it in that aspect, except that now you have superpowers, which change the gameplay a lot. With super sprinting for example, vehicles become kind of obsolete, which feels like a bit of a design flaw. Though, apart from this, the map has been made suitable for using your new toys, and in many situations you will be required to use them in order to beat an enemy or reach a collectible, which definitely makes them an important part of the game, and not something to make you overpowered for no reason.

The powers you get highlight the game's, in my opinion, strongest suit: the movement. The movement in this game is joy. There's a lot of verticality involved, you can scale buildings and do some insane parkour. It all feels incredibly fluid and fun. The controls are good, and the controller support is perfect.

As for the presentation, the graphics aren't much different from the previous game, but they look fine. The soundtrack is, in my opinion, another area Saints Row IV shines at, however. Both the choice of licensed songs and the original score are awesome and used in a clever way to highlight the game's mood and moments in the story.

Overall, while I consider this the weakest entry in the Saints Row series, it's still a fun game on its own. I have completed it on console before and currently replaying it on PC, so despite my playtime on this platform, I'm writing this review with the entire game in mind. I would still recommend it, as it's an enjoyable action game, despite some of its flaws.

I would also like to add, contrary to many reviews on here, I have not experienced any crashes so far, and the game runs smoothly on Windows 10.

I give this a rating of wololo out of 10

A masterpiece - the original Spyro trilogy are some of the best 3D platformers of all time. The first time I've played Spyro, I was 5 years old. 20 years later, these are still some of my favorite games of all time.

I love Spyro so much I've played the original PS1 games countless times throughout my life. The remake makes this wonderful trilogy shine even brighter. Don't be mislead by my short playtime - this is the third time I'm playing Reignited, having done so on PS4 and Switch before. Yes, this game is so good I bought it 3 times and I have zero regrets.

And the PC version? PC version is a complete JOY. It looks absolutely stunning and runs smoothly, and in my opinion, is the ultimate way to fully experience this gem (ha, see what I did here). The controls are great on both keyboard and controller - I was especially surprised about the latter, given how PC games often have wonky controller support, but Spyro does it great, down to perfect usage of rumble and haptic feedback. I've tried both control schemes and they both feel awesome and satisfying.

As for the game itself, it's a wonderful remake. The graphics are beautiful and have a quirky art style, perfectly suitable for Spyro's whimsical worlds. Playing will make you feel like you're watching a fairytale. The music is great, and Reignited allows you to pick between the original or remastered soundtrack - both are very good. The game world is lively, colorful and incredibly diverse: the presentation is simply fantastic.

The gameplay is incredibly fun, combining a 3D platformer with a collecthaton - if you enjoy exploring and looking for stuff, you will love this game. The completionist in me finds this one of the most satisfying series to play, as each level has a clear objective in terms of the stuff you need to do and collect in it. The level design is honestly some of the best I've ever seen, often hiding stuff in a clever way.

It really is a polished game, worth every penny. It's rare to see such amazing quality in the modern game industry.

One of the most user-unfriendly titles I have ever played.

I've really wanted to like this game, and leaving a bad review - especially on an indie title - hurts. The idea itself is great, the rhythm gameplay on its own is enjoyable, the graphics and art style rock (outside of cutscenes) and the music is totally bangin'. Like seriously, amazing soundtrack. But the entire experience as a whole? Frustrating.

Before I get to the main part of my review, I would like to first warn controller users - "full controller support" is a lie. The controls are awful when you're not playing on a keyboard, and the game doesn't really let you change much. Crypt of the Necrodancer recognizes both the dpad and the face buttons as directional buttons, so you cannot set them separately. In addition, the game didn't recognize my controller's shoulder buttons at all. I'm using 8bitdo SN30 Pro+ in Pro Controller mode, which Steam treats as a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. Given this game is also on Switch, I expected the controls to work flawlessly, especially considering how the store page advertises the game to support controllers fully.

With this out of the way, let's focus on the game itself. For a reference, I'm no stranger to rhythm games, as I regularly play classic arcade rhythm games on high difficulties (Project Diva, Taiko no Tatsujin, Groove Coaster) and I'm not too unfamiliar with dungeon crawlers. And even with all this considered, I found Crypt of the Necrodancer absolutely frustrating. Not hard where it's fun, but hard where it's simply not enjoyable.

First of, the game is not user-friendly at all. I dislike hand-holding in games, but this is on the extreme opposite of the spectrum: there's nearly no explanation for newbies, the menus are not clear, and navigating the hub was very confusing at first. I had no idea what was going on or where I was supposed to go first, the game just throws you in and expects you to constantly die and memorize everything. Items you find in dungeons are often described in a poor way, not to mention you will probably end up losing your rhythm if you try to stop and read the description. Likewise, if you try to use them, because the controls for doing so are not good.

Now the second biggest problem: the game has inflated difficulty to give a false illusion of a longer playtime and more content. It's just frustratingly hard and punishing. I don't mind games that are hard but feel rewarding and satisfying, but this is not the case here. If you lose, you start the entire zone over and all your items (but the permanent upgrades - which don't apply to every character) are gone. Sometimes, you're having a great run and all it takes is a tiny mistake to mess you up. My problem here is that, usually when games are difficult, practice makes you better and you feel like you're progressing, even if you have lost. Not here. Dungeons are generated randomly each time, so good luck - sure, you are expected to memorize enemy patterns, but things may still surprise you. Not to mention, you're at the mercy of RNG in terms of not only map generation and monster/trap spawning, but also the items you find on a run. Imagine playing a rhythm game and each time you start a song, the chart is randomly generated. Yeah.

Simply put - this kind of difficulty doesn't mesh well with randomly generated levels. It just doesn't give the player a sense of progression nor makes them feel like their efforts are actually worth anything.

It took me over 3 hours of countless deaths to finally finish zone 1, and I feel like that happened only because I got lucky and got the right items and easy bosses during the run. And this was just on the starter character. One of the characters whose path is required to finish the story dies after one hit. Enjoy tearing your hair out. Still, though - according to achievement statistics, less than 50% of players have beaten the FIRST zone! If your game is so punishing and unfriendly to beginners, to the point not even half of people who bought it complete the first level, you're just alienating a lot of people from getting into it and enjoying it. Many folks just aren't willing to invest hours of frustration into getting in the groove.

Lastly, cutscenes. While the entire game is a feast on the eyes with its beautiful pixel art, the cutscenes are blurry and look like Zelda CD-i games... there are no subtitles in them either, and frankly, I had no idea what the characters were saying half the time. I'm astonished that a game made in 2015 has no subtitles available! It's been a standard for years, an accessibility feature both for people who are hard-of-hearing or simply non-native speakers that may struggle with recognizing various accents, or just anyone else that finds the option more comfortable for themselves.

All in all, the concept is great, the art (both audio and visual) is great, but the rest leaves a lot to be desired, especially in the realm of the game communicating with the user properly. If that annoys you, and you're looking for a game that is fun and not frustrating I unfortunately cannot recommend this. It's enjoyable to listen to and watch gameplays of, but not actually play. Sorry.

I hope to give it another try in the future, but I play games to have fun, not to get annoyed...

To be honest, what do I even say except I'm playing this game for the 1000th time on who knows how many platforms lmao

Magnum Opus of the Saints Row franchise.

Seriously - this game is amazing, and my absolute favorite in the series, even though I've played it after the third and fourth installments. The vibe has just the perfect balance of funny and deadly serious, and I'd lie if I said some parts of the story didn't get me emotional, man. The world itself is stuffed with things to do and discover, and I was surprised just how many different activities and diversions Stilwater has to offer, especially considering how old the game is. Completionists will enjoy this one. Also, character creation is almost on The Sims level, and unlike the later games in the series, allows for more diverse (though on the realistic side) characters, especially in terms of body type.

So the game itself? 10/10 best game eva, BUT. The PC port? It runs like ass. No matter how much I love the game, there's no hiding that. Unstable FPS, random crashes (quite often - more so in fullscreen mode) and quite a few bugs. Though, I will say, with Gentlemen of the Row mod (it's essential for stability) I didn't get my enjoyment of the game hindered much, except for the crashing at times, but honestly, it was worth enduring them just to play this masterpiece :)

Pros:
+ Engaging story and characters (I finished the story at about 40h played)
+ Great character and vehicle customization
+ A wide variety of things to do
+ An open world with a lot of personality and areas to explore
+ Just insanely fun gameplay, really
+ Music selection is a total banger
+ Hella good voice acting

Cons:
- Awful, unstable PC port
- Controls are a bit odd, but not terrible (I play with a controller, no idea about keyboard)