Recent reviews by calinwiz

Fun, quick to learn, difficult to master, an easy gameplay loop that still rewards you for proper time and resource management.
Genuinely a good game!

FOR MANAGED DEMOCRACY!

Do you like Diablo 2, but find it a bit outdated? Do you wish the skill system was WAY more convoluted, but at the same time surprisingly easy to grasp once you've used the wiki? But mostly do you wish that you had a hack-n-slash game with great story-writing and excellent quality-of-life improvements on the already cemented style? Well, here you go. I don't know why I'm writing this, everybody knows PoE. Enjoy!

It's Stardew Valley. If you haven't played it, grab a pencil, put it between your middle and your ring finger and squeeze your fingers together with your other hand. Does it hurt? Yeah, that's what you get for not playing Stardew Valley.

If you've ever wanted a combination of Left 4 Dead, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, and a bit of Warhammer, I can safely say you've found the right game for you. Controls are alright, check your weapons after you swap them, Power isn't the only important thing, and otherwise...get ready to kill a lot of rats, demons, satyrs, and otherwise unsavory things. 7.5/10, go for it, I say!
Oh, and the voice actors are amazing!

Let me know when you've got a full game ready. This is barely an idea.
Easy puzzles made frustrating via a lack of well thought-out game mechanics is no basis for a game. I've seen too many good concepts misused that lead to railroaded scenarios.
Hell, at least two of the levels would've been improved (or made redundant) by just adding a crouch function.
The gravity mechanics are cute, but nowhere near enough to sustain a whole game that doesn't even have a consistent gameplay loop I could name. What was the idea behind this: make a physics-based game with subsequently more difficult challenges? Great. You're about a decade and a half behind and lacking the imagination to use it properly.
Again, let me know when it's done, because this is barely worth it, even to desperate twitch streamers.

This ain't gonna be as easy-going as you might think. The challenge is there. But the controls are tight, the attacks well telegraphed, if there's a mistake, it's probably yours. Rarely have I gotten into a cluster♥♥♥♥ big enough to seem unfair.

Need a quick map for your campaign? Easy peasy. Want to be picky and go into great detail? Also capable. You want to be able to print it out? Done. Use it for Roll20? Sure (as long as the map's not bigger than 10 MB). Go for gold, they really pulled this one off!

Despite the fact that I have all souls games (including Bloodborne), I've never managed to get into one. I appreciate the quality and style, but it's just not for me. That's what I've always thought.
And now From Software has the audacity to come out with Elden Ring, a game I've been enjoying so much (even as it's punishing me senseless) that I almost lost my job.
The sheer range of options given to you when growing your character is insane, leading to many varied game styles (though some of you p*ssies insist on only using Rivers of Blood) and many different builds. Honestly, once I'm done playing with my katanas (no, not Rivers), I'll probably start a new game with a magic user. Or a strength build. Or a faith build. Or a quality build. Honestly, so many things to choose from.
Top that with a gorgeous, sprawling world just waiting to be explored (and with countless hidden paths, dungeons, mines, secrets etc.), interesting boss fights, clear mechanics and a good boi for a mount and you've got the makings of the greatest game of its generation (for an RPG, I mean).
No handholding, no pointing you to pretty things, no railroading, no shame (the devs really don't care if you see everything, as long as you enjoy yourself).
Honestly, it's unlike anything I've played before (while sticking to beloved tropes and cliches).
Give it a go. I mean...everybody else is.
(I see you Sanic, you little s*it)

Later Edit: the game's great up to the Fire Giant. That fight's meh and the rest of the game...well, it's not even the same game anymore. I've never seen lazier combat setup, reusing monsters (i.e. former bosses are now just mobs), just "upping the difficulty" by giving the enemy waaay more health and damage but nothing else. The bosses in Farum Azula are utter garbage, clearly thought out for a different kind of encounter. Honestly, it's not even the same game.
If this was a D&D game, this would be the part where the DM has a really bad day and gets angry at the players so anything they do, he punishes. Like playing the game, for example.

It's Skyrim. I don't need to describe why this is recommended.