Recent reviews by Syiren

Unable to make it past opening cutscene in spite of numerous fixes attempted on both the Steam and EA Launcher platform. 0/10, even nostalgia can't save this steaming pile.

Marvel's XCOM, if that sounds right up your alley, you're gonna love this

Devil May Cry meets a rhythm game is the best way to describe the gameplay. Combos string together very intuitively and defensive mechanics such as dodging and parrying aren't as challenging if you're keeping to the beat.

Visual style may not be for everyone but the cell-shaded graphics are a treat with overwhelming colors. OST is badass and both the licensed and original versions are great.

All-in-all it feels nostalgic to play this game, almost as if the developers were taking us back to a time when games were simpler and all about being a great experience, taking us back to the basics.

10/10 personal GOTY

GOTY 2022 for sure, top notch in all regards: Graphics are incredible, audio design is on point, and the gameplay is everything we have come to expect from FromSoftware.

Complete freedom to build your very own character however you would like to play, there is truly no other game in the market with this level of flexibility in gameplay.

Anime Dark Souls. If those 3 words don't appeal to you: Anime ARPG. These are the most succinct phrases I could use to describe this game.

Graphics are great with very few visual glitches, and the soundtrack is appropriately epic for bosses. Unfortunately there isn't typically any BGM playing while you roam, so the world does feel stale and lifeless, which I imagine is the point.

The worldbuilding in this game is decent and, in true Soulslike fashion, frustratingly vague. Yet you will be able to understand just enough of the story to know which way is forward... Most of the time.

Level design is a nightmare for some stages, and while it is certainly intentional and it can be rewarding to explore, there's no denying that at some point you'll probably have to look up a guide on how to progress. And that's a bummer.

Character creation is fairly detailed and you can certainly customize your avatar to your heart's content. There are characters here with massive boobs, sure, but there are also characters with normal chests, hunky bois, and fem bois too. No need to be turned away by a little boob jiggle physics, there is definitely variety here.

Finally: Combat. This is, of course, the highlight of the game and what we came here for. It is Soulslike with a heavy emphasis on positioning and dodging, while blocking and parrying are also defensive tools at your disposal, though they require a lot more skill to utilize. Unfortunately, unlike Dark Souls you do not have full autonomy over your character's combat style and stats.

Stats are determined by the Blood Code you equip, which then determine the passive and active skills at your disposal. Leveling up only increasing your HP and scales the difficulty of the enemies up. In theory, this would mean a "Level 1 Run" might actually result in the easiest version of the game, but I haven't had the guts to test that theory.

You may carry only up to 2 weapons at any time, and you may not dual wield them. This, coupled with the fact that there are no shields in this game, pigeon hole you into an all-out-offensive playstyle with the only choice being your flavor of carnage.

Overall a great 8/10 experience with notable design choices that keep it distinct from Dark Souls.

Much like many if not all open-world games made, Cyberpunk is a mess of glitches which often leaves you wondering if your failure or success was intended or a happy accident. However, beneath the many bugs is a game that is actually surprisingly enjoyable and a world that feels dynamic.

Graphics are great if you have a powerful enough system, but even on the lowest settings the game is passably pretty.

Audio is kinda clunky where sometimes you'll hear battle music playing when there are no enemies about, and in general the music is purposefully loud and obnoxiously in your face.

The story has a great premise but gives you very little motivation to explore the world, so unfortunately to fully enjoy the game it's kinda like a Skyrim situation: You gotta put off the big, world-changing gigs for the minor gigs if you wanna experience everything the game has to offer.

As for combat, it's basically a Destiny-styled system where you can run about shooting or slashing in first-person, and your damage is dictated by the stats of your weapons and gear, which are constantly being upgraded since loot scales to your level. What this means is that you'll look like a clown with great stats, but fortunately you won't have to see it since 3rd-person isn't a feature here.

All that said, this game has the most fun "magic" system I've encountered in a while. Hacking makes you feel like a mage as you crawl from the lower tiers of the game (sneaking about, casting minor spells/hacks) to becoming a living legend: Setting people on fire with a glance, knocking out a building full of people without entering it, and staring down hordes of enemies futilely grasping for their weapons as they collapse in an electrified heap.

Overall: I'd say get this game on sale, if only to experience the power fantasy of hacking in a Cyberpunk setting. Otherwise, it's a so-so experience overall.

Overall: I do not recommend this game.

Gameplay: Standard Telltale game formula where it's essentially a point-and-click adventure. There are several modes, chief among them are dialogue and combat which are quick-time-based.

Dialogue Gameplay: Remaining silent is a viable option as either Bruce Wayne or Batman, however the charisma of either character do not seem to have an effect on those you interact with. Criminals are not intimidated by the Bat-glare, and mindless corporate drones aren't awed by the suave Bruce Wayne.

Combat Gameplay: You're basically railroaded and have very little flexibility or choice in actual combat. It is clear this is not the focus of the game, yet you will spend more time than necessary in combat. Some fights... Are a bit of a drag.

Graphics: You get what you see on the cover, very comic-book-like and generally well animated.

Sound Design and Soundtrack: Dark tones and excellent sound effects.

Story: As a casual fan of Batman, I was disappointed by the story presented. Bruce Wayne isn't charismatic, confident, or suave in many of the dialogue options available, so you can't live the fantasy of being in his shoes. Yet, because this is a rail-road experience, you don't have the flexibility to mold your own version of Bruce either. Batman is just starting his career, so he hasn't inspired much fear into the criminals of Gotham, but even his most vicious acts seem tame or are dismissed by those who interact with him. There is hardly any stealth, and the combat is on-rails, so you miss out on feeling like Batman's a ninja or a juggernaut.

So you neither feel like a playboy billionaire as Bruce Wayne, nor as a skilled ninja/warrior/detective as Batman. So why am I spending time here again?

An incredible pirate game, a mediocre Assassin game. The mechanics from the previous games are carried over, but now with the amazing ship mechanics from AC3 expanded as well. Combat is fluid, and the protagonist is a one-man hurricane of blades, making open combat far easier than stealth.

The satisfaction of upgrading your ship, your town, and your gear makes for an enjoyable game loop, and the real-world breaks are tolerable as the puzzles there are entertaining and a refreshing break from the main game.

Overall this is among the very best of the Assassin's Creed franchise, and you should definitely get this if you're looking for a great pirate game.

Approximate time to complete: 12 hours
Approximate time to full completion: Don't know (not motivated to find out)

Summary: Fun, but ends too early. Worth buying on sale, else just wait for a sale.

PROS:
> Interesting storyline
> Great combat (similar to Batman: Arkham series)
> Stealth is enjoyable (VERY enjoyable)
> Great graphics (though I don't pay too much attention to that so whatever)
> Great BGM (audio always feels appropriate)
> Interesting mind-control mechanics (fun to get a whole horde of orcs)
> Entertaining challenges

CONS:
> Jarring, clunky beginning and end to story
> Main storyline runs out really quickly
> Too much time being under-powered (early game drags on)
> Not enough time being overpowered (the end appears really quickly and passes before you know it)
> Not enough incentive to chase after upgrades (casually blasting through the game is possible)