Recent reviews by edtchy

the game speaks for itself.

quaint

10/10; would buy again!

Gameplay Experience:
The combat gets the job done, providing a satisfying arcade-like feel when smashing through small groups of zombies. Movement is quite clunky and feels slow, which can be a bit of a hurdle initially but becomes more manageable over time. Interactions within the game are fun, though not particularly noteworthy, and the driving mechanics, while decent, can become monotonous quickly.

Story and Setting:
The narrative is a bit iffy, but it holds up well considering the game's age and genre. The setting of Banoi Island, particularly the party atmosphere at the start, adds a unique and enjoyable backdrop. The opening song is memorable and sets the tone nicely. The story might not be the most compelling, but it serves its purpose and provides enough context to keep players engaged.

Graphics and Sound:
As for the graphics, while I can't compare them to the original 2011 release, the visuals in the Definitive Edition are decent enough. They don't stand out as exceptional, but they are adequate for the immersive experience. The sound design is mostly satisfactory, with effective sound effects and decent voice acting. However, the persistent zombie noises, even when no enemies are around, can be annoying. The characters in the game have some distinguishable looks, though many NPCs share the same body model, which detracts from the overall immersion.

Multiplayer and Replayability:
Given the game's age, I didn't delve into the online aspects or the arena mode. The multiple characters each have unique skills and specialties, which could potentially add to replayability, but I haven't explored this aspect fully. I chose to play as the character featured in the trailer, avoiding classes that require throwing objects. The lock-on mechanic adds to the arcade feel, making combat more fun and accessible.

Technical Performance:
In terms of technical performance, the game runs smoothly enough but starts locked at 30fps with mostly minimal settings, regardless of your rig's capabilities. Loading times are impressively short. I encountered only one significant bug during an escort mission where the AI got stuck on some stairs, but after a few reloads, it resolved itself. The sprint blur, which remains even with motion blur turned off, and occasional blinding sun glare are minor annoyances that slightly detract from the experience.

Comparisons and Final Thoughts:
As someone who didn't play the original release, I can't directly compare the Definitive Edition to its predecessor. However, the updated version seems to offer a polished and smooth~enough experience. If you're looking for a game to zone out and enjoy some satisfying zombie-slaying action, this is a solid choice. It provides a fun, albeit imperfect, arcade-like experience that delivers exactly what you might need from a zombie game.

'we fixed the amount of heavy spawns,' here's 8 bile titans at extract for you to play with.

A short story with a simple combat system; however, the fights can be challenging at times. Play as a party of four heroes destined to fight dark forces. Played this as a child on the original xbox and has to play it again.

For starters, I did not experience a single bug or crash, that I read about in other peoples reviews before writing my own. Neither now or when I originally installed it when it first came out. After forgetting I bought this game, I finally got back to one of my favorite game franchises. Admittedly, I've only played Invisible War and Human Revolution, before this one. However, I loved every minute of this game, well minus the relaxed walking scene in the subway when there is someone life at stake. Otherwise, this was a great return to the story with beautiful landscapes. I do not care for the breach mode, in fact I didn't really care for the NSN part of the game either.

Desktop: 1070gtx
Laptop: 2070rtx

Openworld, Medieval, RPG, Realistic, Compelling Story, Rewarding Progression, & Gritty Combat

The character development in this game is unbelievable. After you began the protagonist's story, you will quickly become immersed. It may not hit you at first, but you feel real accomplishment as you progress through the game. The story is marvelous; I wish there were more. Some of the side quests are sublime, and you can complete almost everyone in a nonlinear fashion. The possibilities are immense, and time crunches matter. The combat is gritty and realistic. Only personal experience will do it justice.

Lockpicking It's tough but possible. After giving up multiple times, I finally gave up on this game. I could not do lockpicking, even with mods, to make it easier. However, that same night I could not sleep, so I started the game, loaded my save, and got it immediately. It just clicked! After unlocking every chest and door in the starter town, I would only fail a handful more times throughout the rest of the game. Eventually, I learned that most of the thieving in this game isn't rewarding. There are ways to make it worthwhile, but like many games, even if you a ghost, your reputation still suffers.

Hardcore Mode: 'Perk' based, self-inflicted torture. Another feature you have to experience to believe it.

So good, I bought it twice! (First on Xbox)

Wow, what can I say? This is truly an improvement on XCOM Enemy Unknown/Within. I enjoyed the first one, but this one blew me away. Talk about more teeth grinding combat than before, but with smoother gameplay and less AI cheating. Still ridiculously difficult, but totally worth it. Other than the a million interruptions on the map; the game has got my heart pumping and ready for round two whenever the DLC is more affordable for me.

This is subjectively a great game. After trying the Bureau forever ago when my computer couldn't even get past the first big fight, I still decided to buy this. In 2012, I'm sure this game was way more stunning; now, not so much. With my first couple of playthroughs I played on impossible and ironman mode, only to quit and restart 5 or 6 times before deciding to put up with the unforgiving consequences. This game was tough without the training wheels, and was still hard in my second playthrough with the dlc on classic mode without ironman mode. Towards the end, with the dlc, it gets a lot easier. (Also, the hint "not one of the most populous countries" is broken; for me it was Russia.) I loved it at first, but really didn't enjoy playing it a second time. Purchase only when it's on sale.