Recent reviews by The Dragon of Beef

Unironically one of the best games you can get on mobile and steam (I have it on both). The sheer amount of content that the game entails for the price that is listed alone is awesome. It might seem unfair at first, but its a game you have to learn and experiment with. The new updates that involve the ability for user generated content to be more on the front line with the modding community is amazing, and the developer does listen to feedback from the community to improve the bad things.

The game has a simplistic, yet charming 2d pixel artstyle that helps the game in its simple, yet easy to understand gameplay (not including items, those make the game go haywire crazy)

Its not so much a game that you base around win/lose ratio to me, I jump in and see what chaos I can cause, and see if that gets me to the final levels. The demo alone has so much content, give that a whirl if this game piques your interest.

Mostly copied from my Review of the COD launcher (which by the way is really weird to shove it all in one place):

BO6, is pretty fun, campaign so far is solid, enjoying the safehouse style like in Cold War, Zombies is a little lacking so far with the maps, but still fun, and multiplayer is a blast, albeit a little lacking in maps, but the gunplay is awesome, despite personally thinking the time to kill is a little on the fast end, similarly to omni-directional movement, but that is more of a personal taste

HOWEVER, I really hate the monetisation of the micro-transactions through such as the vault and the battlepass, we paid a lot of money for this game, and we are expected to fork over more for stuff that we should have already gotten? Disgusting practice.

Would recommend BO6, just stay away from anything monetised ingame

Settle down, this is going to be a long review. There is a bit of negative confirmation bias here with some of the stuff I went through while playing this game, and everyone experiences the game in their own way, some more positive than others. So please keep that in mind when reading this.

Darkest Dungeon 2 is a game that I REALLY want to enjoy, as we can see by the total hours its a game that I really wanted to try to make work. I have massive gripes about how this game is being handled, and therefore affects how it plays. This game is arguably one of the most frustrating games that I have had the displeasure of experiencing from start to finish

To start with the positives, the art style and the direction around the translation from the comic book - esc 2d style to the third dimension is absolutely flawless. It looks stellar seeing all these beloved characters officially ported into a 3d setting, and is how I'd imagine everything would look. I love how everything looks, and sounds and I can do nothing but give a massive round of applause for how the art style was not only kept true to its form, but also improved upon in ways I never would have thought possible. Legitimately one of my favourite things about this game.

Thats really all for what I loved, now lets get knee deep into the bad and ugly. The token system in concept was an attempt to nullify RNG throughout the game, however to me it always seemed like it added more RNG. Enemies are able to apply all sorts of negative affects onto my party, whilst it felt like I wasn't able to stand up to the same effectiveness of my own buffs / debuffs. This is mainly seen through forcing to go through conditional stuns (Daze to stun, or other ways of building specific tokens to allow that stuff to happen), whilst the enemy is able to do that for the most part without having to go through the same ruleset that the player is having to go through. In general, I don't like the system, and that does affect this review in a more negative light.

Combo tokens gave an excuse to make heroes weaker than the average enemy, to which skills aren't consuming combo tokens are to be much worse than what you would expect. The moves that seem like they don't need combo tokens to properly function always seem to come with a downside to using them. Leper gets blindness, Heal thresholds being a thing (though this is more so a game mechanic I dislike), Hellion getting winded by everything. the list is able to go on. Granted, translating characters that have been played from a different style of system (one based around dodge and accuracy, and more so relying on turn based debuffs) to a game that has conditional moves won't be 100% accurate, but I feel as if some of these penalties are too harsh for players who lack the usage of combo tokens to get through the game.

I feel as if Redhook's balance changes are focused on nerfing the heroes, as seen through the nerfs that highwayman and Man at Arms received a little bit ago, coincidentally for the release of the Crusader, which is a PAID DLC (I'll touch more on that gripe later) Similarly to my combo tokens argument, I feel as if all the heroes are on a weaker playing field compared to the enemies, move skills that don't deal that much damage, smaller buffs that you can give to yourself and debuffs that the enemies seem to be negating for the most part. Granted, this seems to be a big case of negative confirmation bias, but it truly seems to be the case that an enemy is able to hit through a 25% chance way too often, which doesn't feel like the case from the previous game. The game feels unpolished balance wise, and while its great that they are working to rectify that (though how questionable it is at the mentions of releasing more paid content, nerfing base game stuff to make the DLC stuff more appealing to play with), its really something that should have been properly and thoroughly play tested before releasing to the public for purchase.

Downloadable Content, also known as a DLC to me plagues this game, despite seeming small, and therefore is one of my most disliked aspects of a game, and just in the gaming industry as a whole. People might see this and think that I'm a hypocrite because I have partaken in purchasing DLC in the past, to which I do agree. However as I play more modern games, I find that I'm quite harshly changing my opinion on this modem of releasing paid content, people are allowed to change opinions, and so I'm voicing my own. Darkest Dungeon 2 is an almost full AAA priced game, ranging for about $58.50 AUD. This already is a big steep price for a game that has bare bones content. Lacking heroes from the first game, such as Houndmaster, Arbelist, Musketeer (To name a few), to have gall to release a character we already had in the previous game, Crusader (To which apparently wasn't initially going to be developed in the first place), for a price tag of $14.50 AUD. This brings new content to the game that could have been added in the base game at first, without any extra cost, which would flesh out the game greatly, increase its life span, and make more people happy. But no. We get paid DLC which just seems like criminal behaviour to ask people to pay more for a game that they already dropped $60 on, expecting a full and completed game to begin with. Common arguments against this would be people stating that Flag is DLC in the first game (Which with my new mindset of DLCs, I now dislike, but the past is the past), and we got him for free in this game. That doesn't really matter considering the fact that we are lacking many heroes from the first game, and with this new modem of paying for new and returning characters alike, instead of getting it all for paying the base $60 AUD price, its coming in the form of paid content being drip fed to the public. This is already a disgustingly bad look, now imagine my utter shock when I see that they plan to release a SECOND paid DLC, which will most likely feature the abomination, or a character of similar sorts. If I was appalled before, I'm more than disgusted now. Granted, this is an unfortunate aspect of the modern gaming industry standard, and its a bad one at that. I've personally taken a stand to not buy this DLC, hence voting with my wallet. Unfortunately, for every person that doesn't get the DLC, 50 more will, so its more null and void if anything else. To the people that believe I don't want the developers to get money for content they make, maybe they should make better content without relying on extra purchases.

Now yes, we are also getting free content, such as the new gamemode, but I'd rather it all be in for a full release instead of it being released in phases. Delay the game until its completed, instead of releasing fragments of one, DLC or not.

Overall, I do really want to like this game, and I've pulled it apart to hell and back on garbage practices that I dislike, from nerfing heroes to paywalling content on an expensive game. I understand that I might be wrong, or misinformed on some aspects, but my overall thoughts on the game are still negative, and still sound reasonable to me. Yes, I'll still play the game, yes I'll keep up to date on what is, and isn't going on in this game, but until these issues are fixed, its a huge "NO" recommendation for me.

I don't get this game, I really don't understand all the hype behind it. Despite me not wanting to buy it at first, I caved and got Lethal Company (Minecraft Legends was a wash, got that refunded and used that money to get this) just so I was able to TRUELY give it a shot, who knows, it could be a great game right?

- The game play first and foremost seems bland and repetitive, this is a major killer. You run around, collecting scrap (or other items to meet a quota) avoiding hazards that are not explained to the player, this is done through trial and error. I feel as if this is the wrong way to go about playing the game, give the player SOME leniency to fight back (like the bugs that attach to your head, can be killed by a shovel, fair game), or the ability to research the creature BEFORE a confrontation (not scanning it during) instead of resulting in an instant death, which can feel quite unfair if you don't even know what killed you in the first place. One of my experiences was from one of the desert moons (Can't remember the name from the top of my memory), where the eyeless dog was chasing me. In its defence, I DID get cocky and ankle break it, out manoeuvring it. By this time I had a shovel equipped, and I tried to fight it. Its back was turned towards me, still in its cool down and I swung at it, leading to my death somehow, without it attacking me. I feel like the hitboxes here could also be improved, similar to the animations of when an enemy attacks you.

- There are a few moons to explore, with a few different enemies on each, coupled with a weathering/eclipse system. Cool concept on paper, however nothing that much changes except what can kill you. (I haven't done that much research on this part, as I felt nothing much changed)

- I haven't had any experience with multiplayer, due to my bad internet I did not wish to find out whether it was worth playing it or not, HOWEVER I still want to make a comment on that from experience some friends had. Some had compared to phasmophobia (a game I'm not 100% fond of either), one person stays on cameras, other people run around and avoid whatever is trying to kill them. Dying leads the victim to not re spawn until the next day (which can be either super long, or super short), which still doesn't seem appealing to me. Of course games are more fun with friends, which is the point of this game, however for solo play, its extremely punishing. You get no fail safe for dying, despite all the loot that gets stored on the ship. Its very easy to die (as I've mentioned before), and therefore lots of your loot can be lost when playing solo. Would very much enjoy a change there.

- For another aspect of the game... what exactly is the goal here? FoR tHe CoMpAnY!!!!! Yeah alright, meet the quota, advance on... except the quota keeps rising and rising, leading to no end goal for the player. This doesn't quite seem right to me, a game SHOULD have some form of end goal, instead of moving the goal post further and further away. (Its for a similar reason why I'm starting to despise sandbox games now)

- The art style doesn't sit right with me, it doesn't seem to be stylised, it just seems bad in general, quite an eyesore. Can't please everyone with that unfortunately, some like it, some don't

While I'm particularly harsh on this game in general, the reasoning why is due to this game suddenly exploding in popularity, which makes me quite sceptical. Part of the fan-base that hounds on you for not wanting to play the game in the first place (believe me, I've had a few do that) also doesn't help that case, for once I actually wanted to look at a game through a critical eye to see: was it actually a good game? Obviously in my limited time playing the game, I haven't explored EVERYTHING about this game, nor would I say that I correctly reviewed everything about the game. But if I don't enjoy a game within 2-3 hours of getting it, what is the point of me playing it further? I feel as if right now, commenting about the modding community that exists on a game that I would still call fresh gives red flags due to the lack of content that may be in the game as of current, I might or might not be correct about that, but that is more of a gut feeling assumption sorta scenario. Overall, I'll still give this game a try once and a while with some friends, hell even solo if I want to tear my hair out through the punishing death system, or if a MASSIVE content update drops, but in the meantime, a strong NO recommendation from me.

P.S, can we for once get a fully released game that needs no extra content updates? Not even completely going on about this game, but just the standards for the gaming industry are slipping beyond expectation. (I couldn't care if a game was made by a solo developer, or a team of developers, an under baked bad game is still an under baked bad game)

(UPDATE)
After playing multiplayer with some friends, it was slightly more enjoyable, however my opinions remain the same. This ain't it chief

Truly a great flash game that has come back to life, rebuilt from the ground up. I can see the effort that was put into this game, and for the most part appreciate it. I enjoyed some of the callbacks to the OG game, really neat there.
Positives:
Feels like a brand new game mixed in with a sense of familiarity from the good old flash games. I enjoy the character redesigns, and how their voices are more attuned to who they are.
Negatives:
I dislike the padding of content in the middle of the game (where the huntress appears for only one mission, then is never seen again for the rest of the game), the Huntress feels like a mildly re skinned Jenkins, which is sad to see. Max heat's Voice lines could also desperately use another retake. I will say some of the dialogue felt better in the original game, though it still sounds decent here. (i,e the flesh wound line compared to the burger on salad)

Overall, if you enjoyed the original SFH, and wanted to get more of it, this is the game for you. Get a friend to tag along as well (that is what I did lol)

Despite the love for Half Life 2, and its unending community of mods that are ever expanding, I just cannot for the life of me enjoy this game. It feels bland, like its lost its touch compared to the cheesy, sci-fi action packed Half Life 1 . The characters returning, being Eli, Kleiner and Barney... I'm sorry, which one of those made it out of Black Mesa? It seems like I only saw them and their clones, and now they expect me to remember which one specifically? In all seriousness though, it feels more of a glorified tech demo to demonstrate the new and improved source engine. The overall game, while it might hold up for 2004, it feels quite dated by modern day standards (thats because it is, and it might be unfair to compare games from back then to now, but some games like the OG Half Life still hold up to todays standards). You get less weapons, less creative things to fight (metrocop, zombie or combine units for majority of the game, all looking the same)... and for the love of god, the vehicles are just horrible to drive. The only part I really enjoyed was ravenholm, that was actually really fun to go through. Now with the story, usually I ain't that much of a lore guy. If the story is bad, but the gameplay is decent (Look at Elden ring in my example, I don't care for the story, but it feels great to play) then I'll keep playing. But even that isn't good. Mediocre game play and a story I don't like makes for a not enjoyable experience

I'm really going against the grain with me saying that I dislike Half Life 2, similarly to Portal 1 and 2.
In my honest opinion, if you want to play something akin to half life 2 that I enjoy, try the Entropy Zero series. Its made on the Source Engine, it spices up some game play mechanics, and it follows a decent story that I enjoyed throughout both games.

Still better then the second game

Best waey ti platy haslf lief

Not even giving this game a bad review because of MW3 (which I've heard and seen that its ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥)
It may only be me, but man the launcher is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ confusing. already a massive installation for the warzone stuff, fair enough.
To play MW2 and 3, using the same engine and assets? Another 20 gigs for each part.
THEN after that, I have to go through another launcher (and its setup settings) to get to where I want to.
Hell, I didn't even get into a match, the UI confused me that much, instant turn off from the game.

Edited after the 16th of November, 2024:
So they fixed the UI, and I've been playing BO6, its pretty fun, campaign so far is solid, enjoying the safehouse style like in Cold War, Zombies is a little lacking so far with the maps, but still fun, and multiplayer is a blast, albeit a little lacking in maps, but the gunplay is awesome
Would recommend BO6

If Half Life 2 was good