Recent reviews by Epic

"The Devil in Me" presents a chilling premise, drawing inspiration from a real-life murder castle and its infamous serial killer hotelier, H.H. Holmes. Unlike its supernatural predecessors in The Dark Pictures Anthology, this final episode of the first season delves into historical horror, which adds a plausible edge to the narrative. However, the excitement generated by the setting is diminished by a bland cast of characters and tension-draining detours. The characters lack depth, and the dialogue fails to engage, resulting in apathy rather than investment in their survival. While the game offers solid scares, particularly through the twisted animatronics and a masked assailant, it struggles with pacing issues and redundant gameplay elements. Despite its potential, "The Devil in Me" ultimately fails to deliver the anticipated thrills, leaving players with a disappointing horror experience.

House of Ashes is a gripping addition to The Dark Pictures Anthology, offering a chilling and immersive experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Set against the backdrop of the Iraq War in 2003, House of Ashes follows a group of soldiers who, after an intense skirmish, find themselves trapped underground in a buried Sumerian temple. As they navigate the claustrophobic depths, they discover they are not alone. Ancient and malevolent creatures lurk in the shadows, and the soldiers must fight not only for their survival but also to uncover the mysteries hidden within the temple.

The game excels in storytelling, with well-developed characters and an engaging plot that keeps you invested throughout. The tension is palpable, and the fear of the unknown is effectively conveyed, making every decision feel weighty and significant.

Overall, House of Ashes is a thrilling and memorable gaming experience. Whether you're a fan of horror games or simply enjoy a well-crafted narrative, this game is a must-play. Supermassive Games has once again delivered an exceptional addition to The Dark Pictures Anthology, leaving players eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Little Hope is a captivating addition to "The Dark Pictures Anthology" by Supermassive Games, delivering a chilling and atmospheric experience that horror fans will appreciate. Set in the eerie, abandoned town of Little Hope, the game offers a compelling narrative filled with suspense, mystery, and plenty of heart-pounding moments. While the story is engaging, offering multiple branching paths, the game suffers from a frustrating flaw that may leave some players disappointed.

The narrative of Little Hope is its strongest aspect, drawing players into a twisted tale that seamlessly weaves together elements of horror, folklore, and psychological drama. As players navigate the abandoned town and its surroundings, they are constantly on edge, unsure of what horrors await them next. The game's characters are well-written and expertly portrayed, adding depth to the overall experience.

However, despite the game's many strengths, it is not without its flaws. The most notable issue is the reliance on quick-time events (QTEs) to progress through certain segments of the game. While QTEs can add tension and excitement, they can also be unforgiving. Failing a single QTE can result in the permanent loss of a character, which can be incredibly frustrating and may lead to a sense of unfairness. I found myself disappointed by this aspect, as it felt like an artificial way to inject difficulty into the game and penalized players for minor mistakes.

Overall, despite this flaw, Little Hope is a decent horror game that offers an engaging story and plenty of thrills. Fans of the genre will find much to enjoy here, from its chilling atmosphere to its well-crafted narrative. Just be prepared for some frustrating moments due to the unforgiving nature of the QTEs. If you can look past this flaw, Little Hope is definitely worth experiencing.

Man of Medan delivers an intense and gripping horror experience that keeps players on the edge of their seats. With its branching narrative and multiple endings, every choice feels consequential, adding immense replay value. The atmosphere aboard the ghost ship is palpable, enhanced by stunning visuals and chilling sound design. The multiplayer modes offer a unique co-op experience, making it even more thrilling to navigate the horrors together. Overall, Man of Medan is a must-play for horror enthusiasts craving a spine-tingling adventure.

The Quarry offers a thrilling journey filled with tension and atmosphere, tailored for horror movie enthusiasts. As you guide a group of camp counselors through a night of terror at Hackett's Quarry in upstate New York, your decisions shape their fates amidst three intertwining horror plots. Despite its engaging narrative and enjoyable first playthrough experience, The Quarry falls short in interactivity, resembling more of a movie than a game for much of its duration. While the Death Rewind feature adds some replay value, the inability to skip cutscenes and lack of quality-of-life features hinder subsequent playthroughs. Nevertheless, with a solid script, a talented cast, and multiple endings to explore, The Quarry remains worth experiencing at least once, albeit with room for improvement in its gameplay mechanics.

"South Park: Snow Day!" is a dull and disappointing departure from the franchise's usual quality. Despite attempts at innovation with cooperative gameplay, the execution falls short, resulting in awkward controls, repetitive combat, and a lack of the biting humor South Park is known for. Even elements like card-based leveling fail to redeem the overall experience. The game misses the mark drastically and I'm against wasting time on it, especially if you're a die-hard South Park fan.

Grand Theft Auto V: Where reckless driving, senseless violence, and petty crime are not just encouraged, they're rewarded with five stars! Want to rob a bank? Sure, why not! Feel like evading the police in a stolen sports car? Go ahead, they won't mind... much.

In this virtual playground of chaos and mayhem, Rockstar Games invites you to explore the sprawling city of Los Santos, where the sun always shines, and the crime rate is sky high. With a cast of characters ranging from lovable to downright despicable, GTA V offers a narrative experience that's as twisted as it is entertaining.

But let's not forget the real stars of the show: the vehicles! From sleek sports cars to clunky trucks, and everything in between, there's a ride for every occasion. Just be prepared for the occasional fender bender or spontaneous explosion – it's all part of the fun!

And did I mention the soundtrack? With radio stations catering to every taste, you can blast your favorite tunes while causing mayhem in the streets. Nothing quite like committing grand theft auto to the sounds of classic rock or hip-hop beats.

So, if you're looking for a game that lets you unleash your inner criminal mastermind while laughing maniacally, Grand Theft Auto V is the game for you. Just remember, it's all fun and games until the cops show up... but even then, it's still pretty darn fun.

Mediocre Survival Adventure

Review:
Having just completed "Days Gone," I find myself torn between moments of enjoyment and frustration. Bend Studio's ambitious take on the post-apocalyptic genre offers glimpses of brilliance amidst a sea of mediocrity.

On the positive side, the world of "Days Gone" is undeniably immersive. Roaming through the lush forests and desolate highways of Oregon on my trusty motorcycle was often a visually stunning experience. The dynamic weather system and day-night cycle added depth to the atmosphere, making each journey feel unpredictable and alive.

However, beneath this captivating exterior lies a myriad of issues that detract from the overall experience. The gameplay mechanics, while serviceable, often feel clunky and repetitive. Combat encounters with both human enemies and the infected "Freakers" quickly devolve into tedious affairs, lacking the strategic depth and intensity found in other titles of the genre.

Furthermore, the narrative fails to fully captivate, with a protagonist whose motivations feel shallow and uninspired. While the story attempts to explore themes of loss, redemption, and survival, it ultimately falls short of leaving a lasting impact.

Perhaps the most egregious flaw of "Days Gone" is its technical performance. Glitches, bugs, and frame rate drops plague the experience, pulling me out of the immersion at crucial moments and testing my patience.

In conclusion, "Days Gone" is a game with potential, but it ultimately fails to live up to its aspirations. Despite its captivating world and occasional moments of excitement, its numerous flaws prevent it from reaching greatness. With so many other exceptional titles in the survival genre, "Days Gone" struggles to stand out, earning it a middling score of 5/10.

The Thaumaturge is a deeply compelling RPG with engaging stories and a haunting setting that expertly intertwine gameplay and narrative. While it may suffer from occasional technical flaws and uninspiring gameplay elements, its thought-provoking storyline and choice-driven gameplay make it a standout experience. With its rich setting and character study of human nature, it's a strong contender for game of the year.

Beyond: Two Souls had all the potential to be an immersive, narrative-driven journey, but unfortunately, it falls short due to its clunky controls and overly demanding Quick Time Events (QTEs).

From the outset, the game presents a captivating premise, promising a deeply emotional and cinematic experience. However, this promise is overshadowed by frustrating gameplay mechanics. The controls feel awkward and unintuitive, often leading to moments of unnecessary frustration as you struggle to execute simple actions.

The biggest offender is undoubtedly the Quick Time Events. While QTEs can be an effective way to add tension and interactivity to cutscenes, in Beyond: Two Souls, they feel more like an exercise in frustration than a meaningful gameplay element. Not only are they abundant, but they also demand lightning-fast reflexes, leaving little room for error or immersion.

Moreover, the pacing of the game feels disjointed at times, with abrupt shifts between intense action sequences and slower, more contemplative moments. This lack of coherence makes it difficult to fully engage with the narrative, as you're constantly being pulled out of the experience by clunky controls and overly fast-paced QTEs.

Despite its flaws, Beyond: Two Souls does have some redeeming qualities. The story, while convoluted at times, is intriguing and kept me invested until the end. The performances of the cast, particularly Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe, are stellar and help to elevate the overall experience.

In conclusion, Beyond: Two Souls ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. While it boasts a compelling narrative and strong performances, its frustrating gameplay mechanics detract significantly from the overall experience. Unless you're willing to overlook its flaws in favor of its story, I'd recommend approaching this game with caution.