Recent reviews by Za_Uvek

This game is definitely not for me. It starts super slow even for a JRPG. However, in saying that, I can see why it's so popular. Plenty of kooky anime writing which shows some colourful characters and an interesting story. Graphics are fine, some really cool fully animated anime cutscenes thrown in. And a great soundtrack throughout. All of that plus a pretty deep combat system.

Like I said, not for me. But if you are a big JRPG fan, this will tick all the right boxes.

Metroidvanias have fast become a dime a dozen these days. However, this is a game that deserves all its praise in a very oversaturated genre.

I personally wasn't a big fan of the story. Sure, the introduction does a great job of tugging on the heart strings, but everything after I gound to be pretty basic. In saying that, the story did complement the exceptional art design and sound. The environments feel alive to the point you can see creatures moving in the foreground. The cartoony animations have the quality of a feature film. And the music is a joy to listen to, really adding to the atmosphere for each area.

The gameplay is straight Metroidvania 101, but done very well. Great puzzles and platforming with really satisfying power ups along the way. My only criticism is that the combat isn't super satisfying on its own, as you just press a button for a ball of light to zap enemies. However, the combat becomes an afterthought as you level up and tackle the excellent level design.

Any criticism I have is very nit picky as I'm burnt out from the genre. If you are in the mood for this type of game, Ori is one of the best. Just pure quality and at $29.95AUD at the time of writing. It's a steal.

This here has been a master class in story telling on a whole new level. While it may not be for everyone, it's hard to deny the love and care that has been given to this title.

When I first picked up this game, I wasn't sure if the art design was going to gel with me. However, very early on I was impressed at how the whole renaissance imagery tied everythingtogether. The overall art style really fits and oozes charm along with the music.

The main attraction is the story that is driven by a hell of a lot of dialogue choice. Which pretty much encompasses and swallows the gameplay. No real puzzles or traditional gameplay to speak of, just a vast selection of responses throughout conversation (very much in the similar vein as Disco Elysium). But, my gosh, there is some real impact to everything you choose! Some of the smallest comments can circle back to have a big influence on how your character's relationship will be affected. All of which can have a major impact on the story years down the track within the ingame story.

Overall, extremely impressive stuff. The attention to detail on the subject matter is amazing! So much love has been given to this title. As much as I enjoyed the story, I can admit that it is pretty dry, so the subject matter needs to interest you. That being said, if it does interest you, it is well worth the money and deserves all its praise.

Great premise for anyone looking for a trivia game. The overall presentation and narrative gives off Reigns vibes. And the game-play is just simple multiple choice. Add in the consequences to the in game characters depending on your performance, you get a simple, yet addictive game.

If you know your pop trivia from gaming to movies to anime, you're in for a good time. (Seriously, I know my gaming, but there were some left field questions that really threw me). Well worth a buy!

Talk about game of the year material! You want a game that is just pure co-op fun, look no further.

I guess the weakest aspect of this title is the story. It's a fantastic premise, a soon to be estranged couple forced to work together because they were both turned into dolls. The only criticism I have is that some of the writing is a bit silly, along with some corny dialogue. But that's extremely knit picky as for the most part the silly writing fits the silly premise and doesn't feel forced. Especially with the very good voice acting that gels it all together.

The whole world that has been built is amazing! There is a bright, vibrant attention to detail that is atmospheric from level to level. All of which is set apart by the massive variety of different themes that each level takes on.

Speaking of variety, the gameplay is what everyone will be sticking around for. I played this with my partner and we both had a blast from start to finish. The overall story did a good job of drawing us in and was entertaining in its own right. But the gameplay sure kept us hooked! The developers have done an amazing job of sewing in the different gameplay types from level to level without making it feel gimmicky. Just pure fun, which is enhanced by forcing you to play with someone else.

I have played the previous titles from this developer and each title has improved on the co-op concept along the way. It Takes Two is very close to perfection and is a must for anyone looking for a game to play with a mate. Worth every cent, can't wait to see what is in store for their next title!

As a Fallout fan from the very beginning, 4 has been a tough pill to swallow. By no means is this a bad game, but it sure shows that any more Fallout with be more of the same.

Graphics and sound are far from anything special. Sure, there has been a bit of polish added compared to all other games made in the Creation engine. However, even though there are some cool additional animations thrown in, ultimately, we are still presented with the same wooden, 'uncanny valley', doll like characters as ever. In saying that, the environment very much deserves praise. The verticality, density and detail of Boston city sure is impressive, so much more than previous titles.

As for the story, some have said it's one of the better ones, some say not as much. I say that it is pretty standard for a Fallout game and is interesting enough to keep most people engaged. But, not so much when you couple it together with the same tired game-play we have had before. Yes, there is a base building element to this game, but it's more of a gimmick than a game-play mechanic as you can ignore it completely after it's introduced. The sad fact is, that if you have played Fallout 3 or New Vegas, this might feel a little to 'samey' at this point as it really doesn't bring anything new to the table. Again, luckily, the story is some what engaging with plenty of interesting side quests, so that might keep you hooked.

At this stage, I really don't think there is much more to add to the Fallout universe. Fallout 4 has proven to me that after 9 games (including spin offs) I'm beyond satisfied with what this world has offered. But if you are new to the series, this one is a great stepping off point, even if it's not the best.

Full disclosure, I am a massive Quest for Glory fan! So it might be fair to say I am a bit bias when writing a review for the unofficial follow up from the series creators. With that said, I can truthfully say that Hero U stands up on it's own merits for any point and click fan.

The sound in the game isn't anything special. There is some nice music here and there, but nothing that really pops out. And the overall art design is fairly basic. I feel as though the 3D modelling from the unity engine, coupled with the hand drawn character panels feels a little amateurish, even for such a small project. That doesn't mean the art design is bad, it's just nothing super special either.

This is the genre that is all about story telling and I must say that the developers have done a great job! It has a very Harry Potter-esk feel to it, set in a school for hero's. The overall writing is very solid, with some decent dialogue with plenty of references to the QFG series thrown in, so much so, that it feels like an unofficial sequel in some ways. All blended together with some point and click puzzling that makes use of a pretty intuitive RPG system. It might not be the deepest game-play in the world, but it does make you feel like a student trying train up for the rouge class.

The point and click genre might be fading away, but at least games like Hero-U play towards nostalgia while trying a little bit to innovate the game play and story telling. Worth a buy if you are a long time fan of the old Sierra classics. However, if it only sparks your interest, maybe wait till it's on sale as the slow nature of the game-play won't be fore everyone.

Close to 20 years on and this is still one of the best RTS games on the market! Total War has been a series known for it's quality and this is the title where Creative Assembly found their stride. Sure, the graphics are a little dated now and the in-battle animations pale in comparison to the newer titles. But the overall game-play is still deep and accessible in a medieval setting that plays uniquely compared to all it's successors. $39.95AUD might seem a little much for such an old title, but if you take into account the quality of all the content included, I feel it's more than worth the price.

Here's what the gaming industry is meant to be all about, developers trying to be innovative and different! And even though Children of the Sun might not have longevity, it sure has captured my imagination.

If you look closely to the visuals you'll see that the graphics are pretty basic all round, but that is overshadowed by the psychedelic art design. Everything from the colours, lighting, sound and definitely the story projects a surreal atmosphere that, even though might not be for everyone, sure is original. But not as original as the game play. The mechanics of moving around and shooting people with a sniper rifle are simple, but the overall premise plays more like a puzzle game. You have to really think and plan each move before stringing together that one 'magic bullet' shot. I did start to find the process a bit tedious after a few levels, but this will definitely appeal to perfectionists out there, as there plenty of avenues to tackle each level.

Whether you are a fan or not, games like this deserve praise for originality. And since the price is so cheap, especially when its on sale, it is well worth giving it a go.

Very much style over substance. That's if you're into the style. Plays like you're standard run and gun shooter with some good upgrade features and pretty solid controls. Art style is a bit of a mess as it's no doubt meant to be intentionally ugly with the 'hellish' atmosphere. The games strength really lay in leaning towards its music and animations which does make it stand out just a tad.

Overall, it's just a beefy action platformer that delivers the amount of fun you would expect. So if you're looking for a more gothic/metal tone for the genre, it's worth the price, especially while on sale.