Recent reviews by Admiral Thrawn

Ah, victory

I could write an essay on why this game holds a special place in my heart. But I'll just say it's very fun and you should try it

A frustrating experience, yet thoroughly enjoyable

Fun co-op heists, good gunplay & builds, amazing music

Rock and Stone

Greek Mythology + good soundtrack & cool visuals

I've never played Dungeons & Dragons and I wasn't too sure what to expect with Baldur's Gate 3. But this has quickly become one of my favorite games of all time.

It honestly extends to the point of making other RPGs feel lackluster in comparison and will likely have the same effect on you. I have never played an RPG with this much replayability and interesting choices. There is so much content to explore and you can easily find tons of new interactions and outcomes each playthrough. There are so many tiny details that go unnoticed by most and every instance of voice acting is beautifully written and performed.

I cannot wrap my head around the freedom the player has to choose any outcome and deal with the consequences. So many RPGs suffer from the "illusion of choice" which ruins any creativity and replay-value. What is even the point of a Role-playing game if you can't even stick to the decisions your character supposedly makes. In Baldur's Gate, everything matters. I can choose to side with one NPC while secretly plotting against them and possibly convince both parties to fight each other instead. I can spend time building a connection to a companion, leading to amazing side quests. Heck, you can even just let important NPCs die and avoid whole Acts altogether.

Of course, the nature of the game can lead one to resort to "save scumming" but I highly advise against it. Sure, save often and possibly go back if an outcome is unexpectedly violent (which can happen quite a lot). Like I said, certain options and dice rolls can dramatically impact the course of the game. But, many would argue that is the nature of DnD. You could take a long shot and miraculously succeed a nat 20... or you could be amazing at a skill only to sometimes fail. That is part of the fun.

I will point out the combat is turn-based which may dissuade some players, but I love all the unique animations and countless spells at your disposal. Not to mention all the creative "solutions" to some encounters. There are many times when I'd browse the internet after a long battle and discover that you could apparently avoid the confrontation entirely or use a sneaky tactic to your advantage. This is also the appeal of DnD. If you can imagine your character could hypothetically do something, you probably can do it.

A sequel to one of my most favorite games

As much as I love the Harry Potter franchise, I cannot in good conscience recommend this game.

At first glance, Hogwarts Legacy is grand showcase of everything the wizarding world has the offer. But this experience quickly becomes irrelevant and tedious. The Hogwarts castle on its own is breathtaking upon first entering its halls and corridors. But, it doesn't take long to realize that everything else within the "vast" world is empty and meaningless. Most areas of the map are comprised of small villages (called Hamlets) which serve no purpose other than a simple quest or place to loot.

Most of the NPCs are forgetful and rarely add any characterization (with the exception of Sebastian and some spoiler content). The protagonist itself is a blank slate that is becoming all too common in recent games. You, the player, cannot make any meaningful choices without the game forcing you to follow one way or another. The illusion of choice is very frustrating in games like these, where even the Hogwarts house you choose has little impact beyond cosmetics.

The spells were surprisingly fun to use upon first acquiring them. However, like the rest of the game, the combat for me became very dull and repetitive. There are rewards presented for performing successful spell "combos", but this is all superfluous when considering the ability to repeatedly dodge or use powerful spells (i.e. Avada Kedavra). Difficulty is a tricky thing to pull off for such a wide playerbase, but I found myself still being bored even with the difficulty slider on the hardest setting.

On the topic of combat, enemy variety was another disappointment. You essentially have spiders, dark wizards, and goblins. Yes, there are less prevalent types but each group offers no distinction. You can use the same tactic on every single enemy to the same result. Boss fights also follow this trend, simply making a basic enemy type "stronger" and throwing in multiple reinforcements to keep the player on their toes with artificial stakes and "danger". No boss battles feel unique or notable and thus the combat mechanics as a whole become dull and repetitive (albeit cinematic at rare occasions).

Ultimately, my primarily issue with Hogwarts Legacy is the lack of factors that create excitement and long-term enjoyment. While it is indeed incredible to learn your first spell and step foot into Hogwarts, these small thrills become lackluster after a few hours along with the realization that the game has nothing more to offer.

Despite these flaws, there are a few features that I thoroughly enjoyed. The cosmetic system is great for players who prefer style points over defense rating. I also enjoyed using the Room of Requirement as makeshift player housing. And for all its downsides, there were a few quests that caught my attention and enthralled me momentarily. But, I cannot say if purchasing the game is worth capturing these small moments, especially when vast emptiness looms over your head.

Came for the music, stayed for the gameplay and lore