Recent reviews by Macho Fantastico

The Rising Tide is a fun and refreshing expansion featuring a few hours of content that'll provide more challenging combat encounters, memorable boss battles and a rather touching story. That's not to forget the access to versatile new abilities, accessories and a bunch of extra side quests set throughout the new setting. Of the two expansion packs, The Rising Tide is considering better and an easy recommend from me.

Echoes of the Fallen is a short side quest featuring some decent combat encounters, a little extra lore building for the world, some welcomed accessories and that's about it. It's all to short but whilst I can still recommend it to those looking for the full Final Fantasy XVI experience, it's not essential. I'd still recommend The Rising Tide over this expansion.

There's a lot to love about FFXIV, from the stunning cinematic boss battles, the captivating voice performances throughout and the splendid writing, not to forget the outstanding soundtrack. So it's a shame that it's let down by repetitive gameplay, often dull side quests and a lack of any real challenge on the first playthrough. There's a great game here, but one often lacking in some of that Final Fantasy magic.

I still recommend FFXIV, but it feels like a missed opportunity for something truly special.

What can I say, easily the best jigsaw game I've ever come across with a wonderful set of features and tools. It comes with a great selection of images to turn into puzzles that are unique every time you play thanks to a randomised system that cuts the puzzles up differently each time. Select how difficult you want your puzzle with a wide selection of puzzle sizes from 25 to a 1000 pieces, or go crazy with the custom option and take on the ultimate jigsaw challenge. Controls can take a little while to get use to, but eventually it works out well with options to select one jigsaw piece, a few or the entire jigsaw. It just feels comfortable to play. When it comes to puzzles, you can even create a custom puzzles with any image of your choosing too. Customise your puzzle room in a variety of ways from materials, colours and more to give it your own unique touch and place completed puzzles on the wall. There's even a large variety of music to listen to as you play, or you can just turn down the volume and listen to your favourite music, podcast or shows in the background as you solve your jigsaws. It's just as therapeutic has the real thing for me.

The fact that all this comes free is kind of mind-blowing, the developers have done an amazing job of listening to feedback too. For example the latest 1.3 update finally allowed us to remove motion blur, which could hurt the eyes when moving the camera previously (I highly recommend you do the same). I've been such a fan that I've bought the DLC packs which come with more puzzles and goodies to support the developers. Overall Jigsaw Puzzle Dream is a must play for anyone with love for jigsaw puzzles, the fact it's free to play means everyone should give it a try.

While Days Gone suffers with its fair share of repetitive gameplay mechanics and quests, there's still a great deal to enjoy in the PC release of this 2019 PS4 game. Set in a world where a virus has ruined the world, you take the role of Deacon St. John, an outlaw biker desperately trying to find the whereabouts of his wife Sarah in a world run by freaks, bandits, and crazy zealots.

Set in the Pacific Northwest, the world of Days Gone is large and rather beautiful, especially considering this was originally a PS4 game. Obviously, there are some visual upgrades made to the PC release but it still stands up thanks to some wonderful use of lighting and HDR implementation. Mechanically it doesn't do anything new, but traversing the land via a highly customizable motorbike is one of the game's real charms. So much so that I found myself rarely using quick travel until very late into the game. Speaking of travel, you'll run into random events every so often, though these are very repetitive, fauna to collect, animals to hunt, and collectibles to collect.

Freaks (or zombies if you will) aren't particularly challenging on their own, but one of Days Gone's real high points is in dealing with hordes. Some of these require some actual planning and skill, plus shooting blindly into a wall of hundreds of rushing freaks is a joy in itself. The world features numerous other activities to discover, though these too can feel a tad repetitive after just a good 10 to 12 hours. That said, the story of Days Gone keeps you going, with a collection of likable (and some unlikeable) characters and story points that kept me hooked till the very end.

I happily recommend Days Gone for those looking for an enjoyable third-person shooter with solid mechanics, a unique setting, and a story that will likely keep you playing for a good 30-40 hours.

Control is a great example of what developer Remedy Entertainment does best, atmospheric action-orientated third-person shooters, and there's so much to love about Control. Mysterious from the very start, you constantly discover something new and intriguing around every corner. As Jesse Faden, it's your task to discover what's happening at the headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Control as all hell has broken loose. Without going into any deep spoilers, Jesse must face all manner of challenges, with puzzles and combat inspired by the likes of the SCP Foundation, and anyone who gets a kick out of grand conspiracy theories will find something to love in Control. Combat is responsive and never got old thanks to a decent selection of transformative abilities and enemies come in all shapes and forms, keeping you on your feet. The FBC headquarters is a character of its very own and there's a great deal of lore to discover. Control can be a real visual treat too, from its use of ray tracing to the immense physx-driven destruction that leaves rooms destroyed and debris scattered throughout.

Some of the side missions can be repetitive and there are moments that frustrate, but there's much to discover and experience that it's easy to recommend. A deep, story-driven, action-packed adventure, one that continues to help build the fascinating universe that Remedy is creating.

Quick reviews on expansions:
The Foundation:
Played once you've completed the base game, In my opinion, The Foundation should have been part of the base game because it provides a more satisfying ending. Featuring a whole new location and even new abilities, The Foundation is a short but satisfying experience that provides even more lore to those interested. If lore isn't your thing then this expansion probably isn't for you but I can still recommend it and the new abilities are pretty fun.

AWE:
Simply put, if you were a fan of Remedy's 2010 hit Alan Wake then you'll find much to love about this second expansion. Set within another location of the Bureau, AWE is heavily connected to Alan Wake and provides some great lore and insight into the world of that Alan Wake experienced. I won't say more because that'll be spoiling things but as a massive Alan Wake fan, I can happily recommend it. It's just a shame that it's so short.

This Telltale miniseries based around the comics and games of The Walking Dead, puts you in the machete wielding shoes of Michonne. Troubled and disturbed by her past, she must face the demons in both her head and the real world to just simply survive. Whilst only three episodes long, this tale is typically high standard Telltale with a gripping cast of characters which goes a long way to show off the developers writing talents that I felt so invested in the story after just three episodes. With that said, this also means that Telltale's simplified controls are ever present and whilst not to everyones taste, I've always enjoyed the focus more on story and decision making than gameplay. It helps then that despite a slow start, TWD: Michonne ends with two captivating episodes that are a great example of how effective story telling can be in video games. It should be noted however that if you've never found yourself invested in Telltale's previous Walking Dead games or other works, this is one that won't be changing your mind. But if you simply want, no need more top quality Telltale storytelling TWD: Michonne comes highly recommended by me.

Looking for more Borderlands? Then Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel as you covered. Developed by 2K Australia, this latest addtion to the franchise is set before the events of Borderlands 2, telling the tale of Handsome Jack's rise to power and how Pandora came to be the sandswept hell hole we all know and love. Set on Pandora's moon of Elpis, you'll play as one of four brand new vault hunters offering a variety of skills to unlock and use in its tradional loot driven combat. Play as Fragtrap, a gun wielding claptrap specially designed to bring havoc to all Jack's enemies, unleashing his randomly selected special skill be it the Axton inspired mini-turret or Gunzerkers dual wielding ability, to name just two. There's also Athena, the Gladiator with her Captain America inspired shield, which can both protect you and be used as an offensive weapon against your enemies, boucing off helpless bandits to your absolute delight. Or maybe Nisha is more your style, the Lawbringer whose 'showdown' skill increases weapon damage to make her the ultimate vault hunter or maybe it's Wilhelm, the Mercenary Enforcer who uses technology to tackle any combat situation with the help of his trusted drones at his side.

The Pre-Sequel introduces new laser weapons to your arsenal, these powerful and oh so satisfying death machines come in a variety of forms be it the Ghostbusters-like laser beam or the Star Wars inspired laser shot. But arguably the greatest difference comes in Elpis's gravity, allowing players the ability to jump high and glide as they traverse a large variety of lands on their 25+ hour single playthrough. Best of all, butt-slamming! Yes you heard me right butt-slamming, arguably one of the most satisfying new additions to Borderlands as you use the gravity (or lack there of) of Elpis as a weapon in of itself raining down death to your enemies... oh it's so satisfying.

So Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is an easy one to recommend to those who loved Borderlands 2, after all it's almost entirely based off one of the best loot driven shooters in recent years. Learning more about the Universe of Borderlands and the humour many of us have come to love is one of the reasons that The-Pre Sequel works as well as it does, making it feel more worthwhile than you feel it as any right to be. If you're turned off by Borderlands often simple easy humour, than this won't change your mind. But if you're looking for more Borderlands than the Pre-Sequel as you covered. Butt-slamming and all!

The second season of Telltale's much celebrated adventure game The Walking Dead does a great job of developing Clementine's story as she battles to survive in a world torn apart not just by a zombie infestation, but also man's inhumanity to man. Older and more mature, players take control of Clementine and guide her through an overarching story that takes some interesting directions as the season develops. Whilst gameplay is much the same as season one, it's clear Telltale are much more comfortable with the tools at their disposal and the visual art design is only strengthened by the usual top quality voice work we've come to expect. There are a few niggling issues that continue to linger, with scenes not always flowing together as well as they should and some stiff animations but those aside, season 2 of The Walking Dead does a fantastic job of capturing the comic book style better than ever.

Clementine meets a variety of interesting characters on her journey and while few can match the chemistry of the first group of survivors, there's some great character development had throughout. That said, some might find Telltale's handling of a few characters a little on the cheap side, which is a shame because there are some real memorable survivors. One of season twos strongest traits lies in the strength of the season overall, with each episode feeling like it helps develop the story in substantial ways and while it lacks the variety of season one, I apprecited the focus on story rather than setting. As someone who went into this second season with a distinct mindset to how I wanted to play Clementine, I appreciated Telltale's ability to write in such a manner that it allowed me to play out that way and while it does of course follow a linear direction overall storywise, the ability to add my own personal touches to such a likeable and well developed character as Clementine is appreciated.

Overall The Walking Dead: Season Two is an easy one to recommend and one I'm sure (much like it's previous season) will most likely end up on my games of the year list come December. It's not without it's issues both technically and in its storytelling, but it kept me hooked throughout thanks to some great character development and overarching story that left me satisfied and eager for more. While the debate on if Telltale's episode release schedule is a good thing or not (I love it by the way), rest assured knowing that no matter how or when you play season two, you're in for yet another emotional rollercoaster.

Developing video games is tough, even from the outside that seems obvious. It's not impossible, but it's one hell of a challenge, one that takes patience, time and talent to name just a few of the requirements to make it in the industry. So designer Dean Dodrill's accomplishments with Dust: An Elysian Tail is one to be applauded. Having developed the vast majority of this charming action adventure game himself, it's clear throughout that this is Dean's baby, resulting in a game that's beautiful, fun and one of the most captivating 2D side-scrollers I've played in years.

Dust: An Elysian Tail tells the story of Dust, a being with little knowledge of his past or his own identity. He's Awaken from slumber by a talking floating sword called Ahrah and the swords protectorate Fidget, a flying bat slash cat creature thing. This strange partnership must band together to help Dust figure out both his past and future in the lands of Falana, which have been beaten down by the terrors and horrors of war. For a story, it's one that nicely contrasts against much of the games visual design and isn't afraid to touch on some mature story points from the death and killing of innocents to the terrible physical and mental impact of war on those that survive it. I found myself surprised by the direction taken by the story till the very end and it's an area of the game that held strong throughout resulting in a story that benefits in developing the world as much as it keeps the tale chugging along.

Now upon it's release Dust received some criticism for its art style, which to some degree I can understand. It's most certainly not an ugly game by any regard, the wonderful 2D landscapes are gorgeous with an impressive level of attention given to almost every level of the game, but some might find themselves turned off by the furry like characters that popular the lands of Falana. Personally I was charmed with it's interesting cast of characters all voiced to an high degree resulting in a world that's more interesting than you'd think it had any right to be. Dust's small but useful sidekick Fidget in particular is an high point thanks to some great dialogue and cute voice work by Kimlinh Tran. It all results in an high level of polish that you can't help but admire considering the time and effort put in by the mainly one man development team.

An action packed side-scroller, Dust is primarily inspired by the likes of Castlevania and Metroid with it's walled off sections that make traversal and map navigation part of the challenge. Anyone who's spent time with the genre will feel right at home here thanks to the fact that navigation is a breeze and finding all those treasures and secrets as always been part of the real fun with these sorts of games. An Elysian Tail is no different and while you'll be traveling a large variety of regions, you'll find himself traveling back to lands you've already visited in search of treasures that were once inaccessible to you. On his journey Dust will have access to new and varied powers that can be used to discover and access these treasures and even be used in combat. The powers range from the ability to slide under walls to secondary jumps to be able to double jump and reach higher points in the landscape. What's great about all these powers is that there just as effective in combat as they are when platforming.

Falana is a land filled with a nice variety of baddies to swing your magical sword at and thankfully combat remains fun for the most part, even if I did find myself button mashing most of the time. Enemies will reappear if you exit and reenter an area so it's possible to grind your skills and levels if you wish. One note I'd add is that on normal, Dust can be a little to easy and whilst there are a few challenges here and there, it's not exactly a difficult game so you might want to consider playing are a harder difficulty level if that's your thing. Leveling up and enhancing skills is a fun addition, as is the ability to craft and equip new items to wear, although some might find crafting items becomes a nuisance once you near the end. All that said, every gameplay mechanic at work plays well together resulting in an highly polished experience and one I had fun with until the very end.

So Dust: An Elysian Tail is an impressive achievement by Dean Dodrill and his team of various contributors in the two years of development. It's an impressive achievement because you wouldn't guess that the majority of it's development was worked on by only one man. Rich in content, visually beautiful and sounding great, not to mention a story that's more memorable than you've come to expect from the genre, it all results in a game I'd highly recommend you play for yourself, even if you're turned off by the character designs. Dust: An Elysian Tail is one of the most charming games I've played in quite a while.