Search
Search results
Daniel Johnson (11 KP) rated Portal in Video Games
Sep 5, 2017
Level design (3 more)
Character Design
Dialogue
Game mechanics
One of the smartest games around
Portal (2007) is one of the best video games around, and led to an even more successful sequel. The games premise is simple- you wake up in a testing room, with only an homicidal A.I to guide you through puzzles as you try and escape the testing facility. The twist comes in the dialogue, and the story that unfolds around you.
Your character doesn't speak, and her past and future are a mystery, which only adds to the intrigue the story incites.
The design is simple, a clean high-tech facility, equal parts simple and beautiful. You navigate through this world with use of a portal gun. Strategically placed, these portals can lead to your victory or your doom, and thus begins the most enjoyable 3D puzzle of the past 20 years.
Dialogue, as said, is a clear highlight, somehow balancing comedy and adventure perfectly, much akin to a Douglas Adams novel. It even manages to make G.L.A.D.O.S, a homicidal A.I, a genuinely endearing character, and one that is welcomed quickly, and missed once the game is complete.
Over all, it is clear why this game has so many devoted fans, and why we were all eager for more. This game, while simple has many levels, that make replaying and exploring a thrilling experience that you can have again and again and never get bored.
Your character doesn't speak, and her past and future are a mystery, which only adds to the intrigue the story incites.
The design is simple, a clean high-tech facility, equal parts simple and beautiful. You navigate through this world with use of a portal gun. Strategically placed, these portals can lead to your victory or your doom, and thus begins the most enjoyable 3D puzzle of the past 20 years.
Dialogue, as said, is a clear highlight, somehow balancing comedy and adventure perfectly, much akin to a Douglas Adams novel. It even manages to make G.L.A.D.O.S, a homicidal A.I, a genuinely endearing character, and one that is welcomed quickly, and missed once the game is complete.
Over all, it is clear why this game has so many devoted fans, and why we were all eager for more. This game, while simple has many levels, that make replaying and exploring a thrilling experience that you can have again and again and never get bored.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Prey in Video Games
Jul 25, 2017
Like if Ken Levine made a Dishonored game
I’m still surprised this game actually made it to release. Developed by Arkane, (the same studio behind the Dishonored games,) and published by Bethesda, this game finally made it onto store shelves after around a decade spent in development hell and while it may not have been worth that 10 year wait, there is a decent game here. The trailers made this out to be a horror game along the lines of Dead Space, but really it’s closer to Bioshock or System Shock 2. If you liked Ken Levine’s games, there is a clear inspiration from them seen here. The game was created using the same engine and art style to Dishonored, so while it’s not the best looking game to come out this year, the art style is still kind of cool. The monster design could have been more varied, but this is still a fun, sci-fi adventure and definitely worth playing through.
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Art of Star Wars Rebels in Books
Jun 21, 2020
By far, Rebels is the best thing to come out of the Disney takeover of Star Wars (sorry, not sorry Mandalorian). Dave Filoni knows what he's doing, since he obviously learned from the Master.
This art book is around 200 pages, and filled with beautiful art. I knew that some of the design choices were taken from Ralph McQuarrie's original artwork, i.e. Zeb being a form of Chewbacca and the thinner lightsaber design, and I was glad a lot of that was incorportated in.
Maybe I was expecting too much? I wanted more commentary and insight. There were some pretty big omissions, and it was a bummer. I really want to know more about Jacen, and there was no mention of him (boo). Hopefully that means he's going to appear in something else?
Overall, I'm glad I purchased it, and now I want all of the art books, including the prequel costuming one that costs almost $1k.
This art book is around 200 pages, and filled with beautiful art. I knew that some of the design choices were taken from Ralph McQuarrie's original artwork, i.e. Zeb being a form of Chewbacca and the thinner lightsaber design, and I was glad a lot of that was incorportated in.
Maybe I was expecting too much? I wanted more commentary and insight. There were some pretty big omissions, and it was a bummer. I really want to know more about Jacen, and there was no mention of him (boo). Hopefully that means he's going to appear in something else?
Overall, I'm glad I purchased it, and now I want all of the art books, including the prequel costuming one that costs almost $1k.
Otway93 (567 KP) rated Godzilla: Tokyo Clash in Tabletop Games
Feb 13, 2021
Gameplay (2 more)
Miniatures
Design
No expansions...yet. (2 more)
Tokens
Rulebook
Superb game, could do with some expansions!
A great game for all Godzilla fans!
What can I say? The gameplay is beautiful, simple, fun and quick (despite the terrible rulebook which is stupidly overcomplicated).
The playing pieces, figures of 4 kaiju, Godzilla, King Ghidorah, Mothra and Megalon are a decent size and of a great quality. The design for the game overall is superb!
Now the main downside, the vehicle and small building tokens. While large buildings have plastic 3D tokens, the vehicles and small buildings are all cardboard, and as it shows them from an aerial view, it's usually pretty unclear as to what they are.
Also, Funko Games, this game desperately needs some expansions featuring other kaiju. The base game is great, but it would be great to play the game with Mechagodzilla, Biollante, King Kong, Rodan, so many great kaiju that could add some great twists to the game!
What can I say? The gameplay is beautiful, simple, fun and quick (despite the terrible rulebook which is stupidly overcomplicated).
The playing pieces, figures of 4 kaiju, Godzilla, King Ghidorah, Mothra and Megalon are a decent size and of a great quality. The design for the game overall is superb!
Now the main downside, the vehicle and small building tokens. While large buildings have plastic 3D tokens, the vehicles and small buildings are all cardboard, and as it shows them from an aerial view, it's usually pretty unclear as to what they are.
Also, Funko Games, this game desperately needs some expansions featuring other kaiju. The base game is great, but it would be great to play the game with Mechagodzilla, Biollante, King Kong, Rodan, so many great kaiju that could add some great twists to the game!
GameCritics (290 KP) rated Sonic Mania Collector's Edition in Video Games
Oct 26, 2017
Sonic Mania is probably one of the best Sonic games ever made and is a very carefully and thoughtfully crafted game. It could have easily ended up a complete mess but the design of the game is such that it uses only what it needs to
Critic- Ollie Barder
Original Score: 9 out of 10
Read Review: https://www.forbes.com/sites/games/2017/08/23/sonic-mania-review-a-brilliant-and-focused-return-to-form/#1c850805505b
Original Score: 9 out of 10
Read Review: https://www.forbes.com/sites/games/2017/08/23/sonic-mania-review-a-brilliant-and-focused-return-to-form/#1c850805505b
Dean (6925 KP) rated Monsters, Inc. (2001) in Movies
Aug 12, 2017
Nice character design (2 more)
Fun story
Plenty of humour for adults as well
Warm & fuzzy animation
A bright, colourful animated film with some funny characters. The story is ok and there is plenty to keep the older generation amused as well. Personally for me it's not as good as @Toy Story (1995) and a few other Pixar films.
GameCritics (290 KP) rated VR Karts in Video Games
Sep 13, 2017
The VR works well (2 more)
Races can be enjoyably tense
Has online play
Steering feels stiff (2 more)
Very bland track design
Extremely overpriced
Like any other kart racer we want interesting levels, tight controls and fun power ups. VR Karts doesn't deliver any of that. The VR is welcome but without it, there would be literally no reason to own this.
Critic- Richie
Original Score: 4 out of 10
Read Review: http://www.playstationcountry.com/vr-karts-psvr/
Original Score: 4 out of 10
Read Review: http://www.playstationcountry.com/vr-karts-psvr/
Dean (6925 KP) rated The Woman in Black (2012) in Movies
Feb 11, 2018
Hmmm a 12 rated "Horror" film?! Yep it doesn't really work, the only scares are predictable jumpy loud noise moments and spooky imagery. It has quite a dark story behind it though, it's just unfortunate that there is a real lack of dialogue with long quiet sections of Daniel Radcliffe walking round a creepy house. The production design is excellent though which adds to the right atmosphere, just not that scary for grown ups.
The Stricken Land (20 KP) rated Murder on the Orient Express (2017) in Movies
Mar 2, 2018
Ponderous retelling of the Christie novel.
This update of Agatha Christie's famous whodunnit certainly looks the part, and the who's who cast certainly give it their all. But for all its visual splendour, the film fails to really engage and is let down by plodding pace and bloated run time. Akin to watching a beautiful piece of antique furniture for two and a half hours.
Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) rated The Princes of Florence in Tabletop Games
Mar 8, 2018
REVIEW OF THE PRINCES OF FLORENCE
If you're a serious strategy player that enjoys a thinking man's games, this is one for you: a solid, interesting European design. If you prefer your games in a slightly lighter vein, read this review carefully first to see if Princes of Florence is actually of interest or not.
Original Review: 4/5
Reviewer: Shannon Appelcline
Read the full review here: https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9343.phtml
Original Review: 4/5
Reviewer: Shannon Appelcline
Read the full review here: https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9343.phtml