Recent reviews by zezima

Palworld is a standout in the survival genre, often dubbed "Pokemon with guns." It's a refreshing take on the genre, more relatable and user-friendly than Rust or Ark.

The game boasts impressive pal mechanics, making it a 10/10 experience.
However, performance bugs persist, and the lack of a compelling story or world-building lore is noticeable. Boss fights and NPC interactions are decent, but the real star is the awesome Pal system.

elephants go brrrrrr.

Dave the Diver is an absolute gem! It's the perfect game for unwinding, offering a relaxing experience that's just right. The gameplay is exceptionally smooth on the Steamdeck.

It's the kind of game where you can just say 'Gone fishin' folks' and lose yourself in its charming sea world.
Highly recommend it.

As a dedicated Diablo enthusiast since the early days of Diablo 1, the wait for Diablo 4 on Steam was akin to a pilgrimage for me. Having only dipped my toes into the Blizzard pool with a few hours on Diablo 3, I found myself eagerly anticipating the next instalment. Fast forward, and I've already clocked over 70 hours in Diablo 4, relishing every moment of my journey. Hitting level 50 was a milestone, but it's the exploration of every nook and cranny through small side quests that truly immerses me in the Diablo universe.

Yet, as enchanted as I am by the game, a few shadows loom on this demonic horizon. The cosmetic pricing feels like a subtle tug at my coin purse, and the battle pass, well, it's a steeper climb than I expected. The initial game cost, too, struck me as a bit hefty, and the absence of regional pricing support adds a bitter note to the otherwise sweet symphony of demon-slaying.

Having also dabbled in Diablo Immortal on mobile, I'm pleased to find the essence of the franchise translated seamlessly into the PC realm. Despite these monetary qualms, the core gameplay is undeniably Diablo – a chaotic ballet of spells, clicks, and loot drops that keeps me coming back for more. Diablo 4 is a journey well worth undertaking, and as I look forward to the seasons ahead, the initial investment begins to make sense. Here's to many more hours in the realms of Sanctuary!

P.S 40% Discount by last week of November 2023 and Free Weekend. Ouch!

Need for Speed: Unbound is the latest instalment in the iconic racing game series, but it falls short of its predecessor, Need for Speed: Heat, in several key areas.

Visually, Unbound adopts a unique, cartoony design that embraces the underground racing scene with an emphasis on graffiti. While this uniqueness is commendable, the visuals might not be everyone's preference. However, it adds a refreshing layer to car customisation and racing.

One standout feature in Unbound is the "burst nitrous" mechanic, offering a shorter but more powerful boost, adding a strategic element to the gameplay. It's a feature worth applauding and one that could be considered in future titles.

Nevertheless, Unbound stumbles when it comes to races, which are at the core of any Need for Speed game. The initiation of races through "meetups" is an improvement over Heat, but the races themselves lack variety and feel repetitive. It's a letdown considering the essential role of races in income generation.

The "heat" system, where races contribute to heat levels that carry from day to night, adds challenge but feels more frustrating than rewarding.

The game introduces a restrictive car ranking system, limiting players to specific car ranks, hindering gameplay progression and enjoyment. This decision hampers the early game's pace and reduces the appeal of upgrading cars.

In summary, Need for Speed: Unbound has moments of enjoyment, particularly for those seeking high-speed racing reminiscent of the series' spirit. However, it doesn't measure up to its predecessor, Need for Speed: Heat. While its unique visuals and the "burst nitrous" mechanic provide intrigue, the game's repetitive races, frustrating heat system, restrictive car ranking, and scaling difficulty make it a less satisfying experience. Die-hard Need for Speed fans might find some entertainment, but they should be prepared for disappointment along the way.

While Timberborn's early access journey has seen remarkable progress, it's important to note that performance issues, particularly when managing large populations of beavers, still have room for improvement. I've experienced smoother gameplay with each update, but there's work to be done when it comes to handling vast numbers of beavers, say, 500 to 1000 or more, on the map.

The active interaction of the developers with the community fosters a sense of collaboration. They listen to player suggestions, address issues promptly, and provide regular updates, ensuring that the game continues to evolve in a positive direction.

Timberborn's current early access status is a testament to the potential of indie game development and the power of player feedback. It's a delightful and engaging experience that continues to get better with each update.

As an ardent supporter of the Steam platform, my anticipation for FarCry 6 was tinged with frustration. The initial bypass of Steam in favor of an Epic Games store exclusive release was a controversial move that ruffled more than a few feathers, mine included. Consequently, I chose to wait. To put it bluntly, it felt like waiting for the second act of a play to start, only to realize the first act was performed at a different theater.

Now that it's graced Steam with its belated presence, one can't help but compare the platforms. Steam, a veritable titan of the gaming world, outshines Epic Games in numerous ways. Its community features, such as forums, user reviews, and achievement tracking, foster a sense of camaraderie among gamers. However, FarCry 6's late arrival means it missed out on that communal buzz of a simultaneous global release. It's the gaming equivalent of arriving at a concert just as the encore begins.

As for the game itself, it's a familiar cocktail of rebellion, exploration, and mayhem. The narrative, while interesting, often takes a backseat to the repetitive cycle of liberation missions and stronghold takedowns. The Steam version is sadly a mirror image of the Epic Games release, with no additional features or enhancements to justify the delayed gratification.

In conclusion, FarCry 6's late debut on Steam, without any added value or differentiation, feels like a disservice to Steam's superior platform and its dedicated user base. It's akin to a band playing an excellent venue, but delivering a lackluster performance. Steam may have won the platform war in my book, but FarCry 6, sadly, did not live up to its potential.

Fun mining game. Survival is the annoying part.

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⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿/⣿\⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿/⣿⣿⣿\⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│╱⁻⁻⁻╲│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿││⣿ ⣿││⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿││⣿ ⣿││⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱⣿╲ ╱⣿╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲_______│ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│_______╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱ │___⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿___│╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿wwIww⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ╱⣿⣿I⣿⣿╲ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿│⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲___╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿╲___╱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿

A decent game. Play time is around 10-15 hours by then one can max out with 100% Achievements. Many more game options and challenges are required, the current state of challenges are very linear and gets repetitive very quickly.