Gaming

What are the best plot-driven games told from a female perspective?

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Portal 2 vs Portal vs Horizon Zero Dawn

 vs Mirror's Edge vs Dishonored 2 vs Alien: Isolation vs Tales of Berseria vs Tomb Raider (2013) vs NieR: Automata vs Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings vs Resident Evil HD Remaster vs Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice vs Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) vs Life is Strange: Before the Storm vs Night in the Woods vs Child of Light vs Life Is Strange vs Beyond: Two Souls vs Rise of the Tomb Raider vs The Walking Dead: Season 2 vs Celeste vs Epistory - Typing Chronicles vs Dandara vs Dishonored: Death of the Outsider vs Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster vs Kathy Rain vs The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt vs The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Specs

Steam Rating

Overwhelmingly Positive

Genre

-

Platforms

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Overwhelmingly Positive

Genre

-

Platforms

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

-

Platforms

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Action-Adventure

Platforms

Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Release Date

Nov 10 2008

Multi-Player

No

Single Player

Yes

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

-

Platforms

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

FPS

Platforms

-

Release Date

Oct 06, 2014

Multi-Player

No

Single Player

Yes

Available Platforms

PC / PS3 / PS4 / XBox 360 / XBox One

Pricing

$49.99

Co-Op

None

Controller Support

Full

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

-

Platforms

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Third-Person Shooter, Action-Adventure

Platforms

Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, macOS

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

Yes

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Action Role-Playing

Platforms

Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Role-Playing

Platforms

Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, PlayStation Vita

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Mixed

Genre

-

Platforms

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Action-Adventure, Psychological Horror

Platforms

Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Puzzle/Platformer

Platforms

-

Release Date

Mon Nov 17 2014 21:00:00 GMT-0800 (PST)

Multi-Player

Local Co-Op

Single Player

Yes

Available Platforms

PC / PS4 / XBox One / OSX / Wii U

Pricing

14.99

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Adventure, Narrative

Platforms

Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Overwhelmingly Positive

Genre

Adventure, Narrative

Platforms

PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Xbox One, Linux, macOS

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Platformer/RPG

Platforms

-

Release Date

Mon Apr 28 2014 21:00:00 GMT-0700 (PDT)

Multi-Player

Local Co-Op

Single Player

Yes

Available Platforms

PC / PS3 / PS4 / PS Vita / Wii U / XBox 360 / XBox One

Pricing

14.99

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Adventure, Narrative

Platforms

-

Release Date

Jan 29 2015

Multi-Player

No

Single Player

Yes

Available Platforms

PC / PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / XBox One

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Interactive Narrative, Action-Adventure

Platforms

PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

2 Player Local

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/EP9000-CUSA00511_00-GBEYONDTWO000001

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

-

Platforms

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

99,9

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Adventure, Narrative, Survival Horror

Platforms

Windows, Xbox One, Playstation 4

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Platformer

Platforms

Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, Linux, macOS

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

-

Platforms

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Platformer, Metroidvania

Platforms

Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android, Windows, iOS, Linux, macOS

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Action-Adventure, Stealth

Platforms

Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Role-Playing

Platforms

PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Windows

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Adventure

Platforms

Windows, Mac, Android, iOS

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

Yes

Native resolution

-

Steam Rating

Overwhelmingly Positive

Genre

Action RPG

Platforms

Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

1080p, ~500p on Switch

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

-

Platforms

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Available Platforms

-

Pricing

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Multiplayer

-

psn

-

GPU

-

Available on Steam

-

Native resolution

-

Pros + Cons

Pro
 Witty and funny character driven story

Four major characters drive the single player campaign and they are amazing. Three of which have explosive personalities, bring humor, suspense, sadness, and empathy, the other being Chell who doesn’t speak but her interactions with the rest of the cast make her all the more mysterious and interesting. Most of the time you don’t even see or directly interact with the characters but that just shows how great they are.
Comment

Pro
 Mind bending puzzling

The game challenges your brain to use portals, cubes and other mechanics to solves simple or complex puzzles in interesting ways.
Comment

Pro
 Both online co-op and local co-op

It is possible to play a multiplayer game for free online using the Steam servers, as well as locally on your machine using split-screen (the second player must use a gamepad controller if playing locally).
Comment

Pro
 Hundreds of hours of user-generated content

The game has more than 60,000 co-op puzzles created by users through the Steam Workshop and through mods. Because it is user-generated content, the quality and size of these puzzles vary widely, including everything from simple, one-off chambers to full-fledged expansions with high-quality stories, voice-overs, and new gameplay elements (for example, Mel).
Comment

Pro
 Well implemented tools that improve teamwork

In a game that requires perfect timing and teamwork, Portal 2 features many tools to facilitate teamwork. One of the most helpful is a 3-second countdown timer that can be initiated and shown to both players to ensure you launch that portal or jump at the perfect time. In addition, there is a marker that you can place on certain objects for your teammate to see as well as a setting that shows your partner's view super-imposed on the corner of your screen.
Comment

Pro
 Humorous voice acting by Stephen Merchant

Stephen Merchant (Extras, The Office UK, Life's Too Short) voices the character of Wheatley the robot in humorous fashion.
Comment

Con
 Main co-op campaign is short

The co-op campaign in Portal 2 is about 4 hours long for experienced players, meaning it could be beaten in a weekend. With almost zero replayability, this makes the game feel incredibly short. Luckily, hundreds of hours worth of user-generated content is available.
Comment

Pro
 Larger in scope than the first title

Portal 2 is larger in every way when compared to the first title. From the longer and more detailed story to the larger levels and new game mechanics.
Comment

Pro
 Co-op allows for harmless trolling

While Portal 2 requires focus and logic, it does not punish players for causing a bit of mischief. The instant respawn system means trolling your friend will affect almost nothing in the game. Except maybe your friendship.
Comment

Pro
 Unique co-op levels with co-op specific tools

In Portal 2, co-op is a completely different set of puzzles than the single player campaign. Almost all puzzles require a high level of teamwork that will leave you feeling proud of what you have accomplished. In a game that requires prefect timing and teamwork, Portal 2 features many tools to facilitate teamwork. One of the most helpful is a 3 second countdown timer that can be initiated and shown to both players to insure you launch that portal or jump at the perfect time. In addition, there is a marker that you can place on certain objects for your teammate to see as well as a setting that shows your partners view super-imposed on the corner of your screen.
Comment

Con
 Steep co-op learning curve

Although the single-player campaign features a gradual learning curve, co-op gives no mercy. The puzzles start off hard and only get harder. It is highly recommended that you play through single-player first if you are not familiar with Portal's mechanics.
Comment

Pro
 Humorous telling of a dark story

Portal is known for its humor. Even years after it's been out in the world people are still quoting and referencing it in everyday situations.
Comment

Pro
 The game leaves clues to a deeper story

Throughout both Portal games there are hints left in various forms that fill in more of the story, including information about Chell's personal history.
Comment

Pro
 Requires solving spatial and physics based puzzles using portals

The main mechanic of the game revolves around solving different puzzles using a handheld portal device - a device that can bend space and time to create a wormhole through which you can move.
Comment

Pro
 Made people fall in love with an inanimate, virtual object

The game made people emotionally attach to The Weighted Companion Cube and feel uncomfortable when later forced to incinerate it.
Comment

Pro
 Created one of the most memorable characters in gaming history - GLaDOS

GLaDOS, or Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System, is the main antagonist of Portal games. She is voiced by Ellen McLain with the voice later processed to sound closer to how a text-to-speech program would synthesize a voice. GLaDOS initially functions as a guide to the player and is only later revealed as a manipulative, narcissistic, sinister and passive-aggressive character that wants to kill the protagonist. GLaDOS is the main force that moves the humorous yet dark narrative of Portal series with her remarks being simultaneously hilarious and terrifying.
Comment

Pro
 Making it halfway and completing unlocks new content

Getting to the halfway point in Portal will unlock challenge maps and finishing the main story will unlock advanced chambers.
Comment

Con
 Somewhat short

Portal takes 2-3 hours to complete.
Comment

Pro
 Each upgrade and skill feels meaningful

Most games nowadays are plagued by needlessly high level caps, useless skills and meaningless upgrades. In Horizon Zero Dawn Each upgrade and new skill unlock actually helps you become a more efficient hunter. There's Silent Strike, which lets you perform silent takedowns on enemies, both robotic and human. Enemies that would've taken a lot of effort to beat previously, can now be taken out in one hit. However, on its own it's mediocre at best, so you have to get other abilities to make it more effective. One such ability is Low Profile, which makes you less visible when you're crouching. This lets you to sneak up on enemies much easier, allowing you to use Silent Strike more often. There's also the upgrades, which can be either a boost to your damage, rate of fire, an increase to your carrying capacity or a unique technology such as the cloaking field. The damage and rate of fire upgrades are very straightforward, allowing you to defeat machines in a shorter amount of time. The carrying capacity upgrade helps you go on longer hunts without having to make a return trip. The cloaking field makes it a lot safer to travel and a lot easier to get the jump on enemies.
Comment

Pro
 Intriguing world

At first glance the world seems simple. Tribes-folk living in beautiful landscapes of snow, sand, and lush green, trying to get by through hunting and gathering. Then you get introduced to the other inhabitants – the machines. It suddenly makes you wonder about their origin, their appearance and their purpose. What lead to their creation and why did civilization regress to pockets of tribal settlements. You'll be interested in exploring the world and finding out for yourself.
Comment

Pro
 Great story

Story based around robots and A.I. is something rare in the sea of fantasy open world games.
Comment

Pro
 Exciting hunting gameplay

The main focus of the game is hunting robotic creatures also known as "machines". They are similar to real animals in both appearance and behavior, so a lot of them move in packs. You have to be careful in how you approach them, because provoking one of them will also provoke the others. You can hide in tall grass and attract them one by one with whistling. This way you can take them out silently with your spear, minimizing the danger. Or you can get into a direct confrontation, which is a lot more intense when there are multiple enemies. You'll have to learn their patterns, so you know when to dodge or attack with your weapon (usually a bow or slingshot). When you finally manage to defeat them, it truly feels like an achievement.
Comment

Con
 The game is difficult

Horizon Zero Dawn is incredibly challenging. Even players that are good at the game still have difficulties facing some enemies.
Comment

Pro
 Innovative, parkour-inspired, first-person platforming with excellent sense of motion

The game's core mechanic is about traversing levels using wall-jumps, rolls and slides without losing momentum. It does a great job of creating a fluid sense of motion that you have complete control over.
Comment

Pro
 Unique, minimalistic art-style

Mirror's Edge is set in a world where a totalitarian government runs a city and tries to eliminate anything that stands out, such as the free-running protagonist. The levels are created minimalistic, mostly white with aggressively contrasting primary colors, to represent the oppressive nature and sterility of the world.
Comment

Pro
 Great soundtrack

The soundtrack's spacious ambient texture coupled with electronic beats and synthetic sounds supplement the game's otherworldly, contrasting setting. The complete soundtrack is available with the purchase of the game.
Comment

Pro
 Keyboard controls work quite well

Surprisingly (for an EA game especially) the keyboard controls are actually designed to work quite well.
Comment

Pro
 Time trials

There are time trial bonus levels that are free of platforming sections and combat, just pure timed running missions.
Comment

Con
 Poor combat sytem

The combat system often feels out of place and definitely interferes with the flow of the gameplay.
Comment

Con
 Some people may experience motion sickness

In order to maintain its immersive nature, Mirrors Edge has virtually no UI, other than a small dot at the center of the screen. This should ward off motion sickness for most people, but be aware that if you're queasy, you might not feel too well after playing.
Comment

Pro
 Taking out enemies feels satisfying

Whether you separate an enemy's head from the shoulders with a blade, causing blood to splatter everywhere. Or if you just strangle an enemy with your arms until they pass out. The animations, the sound, and the overall feel of it is really enjoyable.
Comment

Pro
 Supernatural abilities liven up the stealth gameplay

Your character has a set of special abilities that can be used for both getting around unnoticed and silently taking out enemies. For example, one of the abilities lets you teleport a short distance forward, which is very useful for moving between hiding spots or getting over obstacles. Another example is an ability that links enemy souls together. If you kill one of the linked targets all of them will die. This is useful when you can't perform regular stealth kills because multiple enemies are standing close to each other. These abilities make the stealth gameplay feel different from what you usually see in games.
Comment

Pro
 Excellent level design that supports player choice

The levels in Dishonored 2 have many branching paths, so you're never forced to use any specific playstyle to complete a level. You can barge in through the front door, slashing and shooting everyone in the way. Or you can sneak in through the window, navigating the building through vents and hidden passages while remaining unnoticed and only taking out your assassination target. Whichever way you choose, it will feel like you've made the right choice.
Comment

Con
 Input lag can make the gameplay feel awkward

There is a slight delay between button presses and the on-screen actions. It can throw off your timing and/or break your rhythm, especially in high-intensity moments when split-second reactions are important. It seems weird something like this even passed QA since most modern titles have no input lag.
Comment

Pro
 Excellent atmospheric sound

With minimal music, this game generates much of it's atmosphere from the miscellaneous background noises. The audio generally in the forefront is the titular Alien, which loudly thumps along the ground and through vents. This game also uses directional audio as a tool both for and against the player. It uses it to scare the player, but it simultaneously gives the player more information to survive with.
Comment

Pro
 Beautiful graphics

Aesthetically, this game nails the look and feel of the original film. Both well optimized and incredibly beautiful, this game is a graphical marvel.
Comment

Pro
 Useful tools throughout

The game provides you with many tools and weapons to assist you along the way. Some items you may only find a use for once or twice, but you'll be glad to have them.
Comment

Con
 Frustratingly difficult at times

Some segments of the game can be frustratingly difficult or even unfair at higher difficulty settings.
Comment

Con
 Unrealistic teleporting alien

The alien will somehow always be somewhat near you no matter how stealthy you are. This does maintain the game's difficulty, but it can seem unfair putting all this work into not getting heard only to have the alien pop out of the nearest vent.
Comment

Pro
 Creates a lot of tension

Intelligent A.I. is capable of keeping the game unpredictable. As soon as the Alien starts stalking the player, the game can easily become tense with player never knowing what the Alien will do since the majority of interactions with it are completely unscripted. Especially in VR, you get the feeling like you are actually being hunted.
Comment

Pro
 Excellent, nostalgic design

Environmental design very closely resembles Ridley Scott's Alien. It has the same retro design of the computers as well as a chilling soundtrack. It still works well in the modern age too - the 3D is on point, and the designers have gone into detail. If you dare to spend time exploring, it's a very cool experience wandering around a spaceship and looking out into space.
Comment

Con
 The game progresses slowly, and you can lose interest

The game is too long and quickly loses its charm and tense feelings as the game drags. Too many hours of even the best game can become a chore more than an enjoyable experience. Whats worse is that a bunch of the length is incessant back tracking, which frankly is just a lazy way to prolong a game.
Comment

Pro
 A darker, more mature storyline than the rest of the series

The Tales series is generally bright and cheery, but this particular title explores the darkest parts of the human heart. For example: the main character, Velvet Crowe, is hell-bent on brutal, bloody vengeance, and that is the main driving force behind the plot. It explores these themes very well, and overall is a great addition to the series.
Comment

Pro
 Combat choices are completely up to you, thanks to a unique battle system

Tales games have always used what Namco calls the "linear motion battle system," a real-time, 2D battle engine that lets you move around the field and attack foes at will. Tales of Berseria uses an expanded version of this system that's fast, fun, and easy to master.
Comment

Pro
 Huge amount of content and gameplay

The game has a bare minimum of 50 hours of play in it. That doesn't include side quests, delving into character development, etc.
Comment

Con
 Equipment system can feel tedious

In Tales of Berseria weapons and armor give you permanent skills if you master them. This leads to a situation where you're constantly swapping to new equipment to get new skills while cycling the equipment between party members so everyone masters it. There's quite a bit of micromanagement involved, so after doing this for over a dozen of hours, it can feel incredibly repetitive. There's the option of not doing it, but it can make the game more difficult, especially on the highest difficulties.
Comment

Pro
 Lara Croft's origin story feels authentic

This reboot of Tomb Raider tells a thoughtful, personal story of how Lara Croft became a seasoned explorer. She's wide-eyed and curious at the beginning of the game, growing into a more confident character as the plot progresses. Once she is left to fend for herself on the island she's stranded on, you see her fear and vulnerability over the unknown, and in how she struggles to learn how to hunt and survive. Each of her accomplishments are memorable because of how hard she fights to reach her goals. By the end, you have a full story of how and why Lara transforms into the iconic character many know her as from the previous games.
Comment

Pro
 Exciting third-person shooting combat

The combat in Tomb Raider works really well and feels great, challenging you to stay active. You start off with only a bow and arrow, gradually working your way up to guns and bigger weapons like rocket launchers. Shooting with guns or arrows feels satisfying with plenty of feedback, especially the hard kick from the game's many different shotguns. The enemy AI is aggressive without feeling cheap, keeping you moving from place to place as you take down everyone in your path. When an enemy gets too close, you can use whatever Lara's holding in her hand, like her gun or an arrow for a bloody, cinematic finishing move. Combat is fast-paced and fun, constantly keeping you on your toes.
Comment

Pro
 Stealth sections shine

Instead of going in guns blazing during combat, you can take a strategic, stealthy approach. You have plenty of opportunities to quietly take out bad guys if that's what you'd rather do. You can either rack up carefully-aimed headshots with your bow and arrow, or sneak up behind enemies and choke them out one at a time. Silently traversing tight quarters all while taking everyone out unseen is quite enjoyable.
Comment

Pro
 Great cinematic cutscenes

Beyond Lara's personal story, the overall presentation of the plot is gripping in how cinematic it is. Some of the set pieces are wild, like Lara falling from impossible heights into the sea at the start of the game and managing to survive. The way she thinks herself out of tough situations is also impressive, such as with the way the camera follows her with closeups as she wriggles her way out of traps or takes down enemies who seemingly have the upper hand over her. The direction and acting are similar to those in action movies, telling a grand and intense story.
Comment

Con
 Not enough tombs to explore

It's odd that this is a reboot of Tomb Raider without the tombs. There are a handful of tombs here and there, but you won't find the amount that you may expect, especially if you're a fan of the series. The game mostly focuses on the combat and parkour segments without giving you the chance to go raid tombs for unique treasure. More tombs with puzzles to solve would have been nice as a side activity to break up the regular gameplay from story missions.
Comment

Con
 Generic and predictable finale

The way that the story concludes is disappointing because you can see it coming from a mile away. Throughout the game, you learn a lot about the cool history of the island you're stranded on as you fight for a way to escape and get back to civilization. You might think that the ending lives up to all the historical intrigue in a creative way. Sadly, the finale goes about the way you'd expect it without doing anything new. It's boring and cliche, feeling a lot like a lost opportunity to do something different and unique.
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Con
 Excessive violence and gore

There are times when the violence is way too over-the-top. During cutscenes when Lara gets injured such as by falling and getting brutally impaled, the blood and gore can be extremely uncomfortable. To make it all worse, Lara's screams of pain are bloodcurdling and visceral, really making you feel for her. Even if you're used to violence in games, some of the scenes in Tomb Raider might be difficult to watch.
Comment

Con
 No dedicated servers for multiplayer

The multiplayer is peer-to-peer where your connection depends on the quality of one of the people in the lobby, who is the host. This means that you have to deal with lag, rubberbanding, and frequent disconnects when the host's connection is bad. Having dedicated servers could have drastically reduced this problem.
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Pro
 Varied genre spanning gameplay elements

Side scrolling platformer one second, top down bullet hell the next. The gameplay never gets stale.
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Pro
 An incredible amount of gameplay

You can easily spend 60 plus hours exploring the world NieR: Automata, and still have much more to do.
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Pro
 It's got a hauntingly beautiful environment

NieR: Automata is set in an apocalyptic time where Earth has been overrun by robots, and the artists really nailed what that would feel like. Abandoned and overgrown cities litter the landscape along with old refineries, graveyards, and eerie forests. When you add the beautiful soundtrack to the experience, it fills you with a bittersweet mix of loneliness and hope.
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Pro
 A unique take on storytelling leads to a very entertaining experience

NieR: Automata's outlook on storytelling is great: in order to get the full experience, you've got to do multiple playthroughs of the game. You unlock more chapters of the story as you complete the previous chapters more times: completing the first chapter twice will unlock the second chapter, then when you complete that you will unlock the third. When you begin, you play as an android known as YoRHA. However, subsequent playthroughs will allow you to choose different characters. This lets you experience the story from a different perspective. It's really interesting and certainly serves to make the game more fun overall.
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Pro
 Fast-paced and action packed combat

he combat in NieR: Automata is incredible. It has a very hack-and-slash feel to it, with an emphasis on agility and acrobatics. You will have to switch from using small, quick jabs with your weapon, to devastatingly strong attacks. You also have to utilize ranged attacks, as well as the companion that follows you around if you want to have any hope of surviving every encounter. It can be very difficult to win battles sometimes, but it also feels equally rewarding when you finally achieve victory.
Comment

Con
 Random lag spikes

When walking into an abandoned city, or during cutscenes, you'll randomly experience lag from time to time.
Comment

Con
 Buggy

Some players have been complaining about the game crashing, freezing, save files missing, etc.
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Pro
 Creative concept of entering paintings to explore new worlds

The many fantasy-like worlds you explore through the mysterious paintings are very pretty and whimsical. Going into the paintings themselves is fascinating since it's something you don't get to do in real life, and you get to learn more about Lydie and Suelle as you go along. Gathering resources and fighting monsters while surrounded by waterfalls and flowery forests helps keep the gameplay from getting too repetitive or stale. All of this adds a more magical feel to the game's more ordinary slice-of-life sections.
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Pro
 Charming and colorful anime art style

The art style is has many bright colors and well-drawn characters. Everyone has all sorts of colorful hairstyles, eyes, and outfits like pink, blue, and crimson that aren't too over-the-top. Their eyes have cool swirls for pupils, their skin tones are radiant, and every character has a bright and lovely smile. This is a beautiful anime style that looks good in the 3D cel-shaded graphics and the 2D cutscenes with still art that are more like a visual novel.
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Pro
 Slice-of-life story and gameplay that's relaxing and laid-back

There's a sweet simplicity to the story and gameplay that focuses more on everyday life. Playing as the two twins, Lydie and Suelle, you're mainly trying to make ends meet and become the best possible alchemists you can be. You pass the days at your own pace as you take on jobs from the townspeople, leading you to explore the worlds inside of paintings, gather materials, and craft those materials into items through alchemy. It's nice that this game lets you kick back and relax with a more low-stakes story and simplistic gameplay.
Comment

Pro
 Engaging gathering and crafting system with alchemy as the game's main focus

Atelier Lydie & Suelle focuses on gathering materials and synthesizing them into alchemy formulas as the main mechanics. You can lose yourself in the game for hours as you explore the fantasy-like levels, picking up resources from bushes, hacking away at trees, or mining them from rocks. You can take as long you want to gather the stuff you need before going back home to your alchemy lab, or your atelier. The puzzle-like 4x4 crafting grid has a neat strategy in how you can make the most out of your ingredients. If you just put your ingredients wherever on the grid, you'll end up with a bad product. Arranging your ingredients together in certain ways on the grid boosts the end product's effects, like putting them near green squares to improve your product's healing effect, which improves the item's overall quality. Going for quality gives you more experience points to level up and more money from the jobs you take on. Taking your time to gather the materials you need and synthesizing them into the best possible items pays off in the end.
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Pro
 Solid turn-based combat that's welcoming to beginners

Atelier Lydie & Suelle's combat is simple enough for beginners who want to try out a turn-based JRPG. The interface is clean with basic commands for attacking and using skills, magic, and items. It's easy to get the hang of when to go on offense while your health is high, and when to switch to healing when your health starts to get low. The combat doesn't overwhelm you with complicated tutorials or mechanics, staying at a beginner's level with some room to grow down the line. This is a really good choice to start with if you want to get into turn-based combat before moving onto other games.
Comment

Con
 No English voices even though previous Atelier games included them

For some reason, Atelier Lydie & Suelle doesn't have an English dub and just has the original Japanese voices with English subtitles. There's nothing wrong with only having the Japanese option, but it's really weird considering the other Atelier games in the West have English voice acting. New players don't have much to worry about here unless you can't stand having to read subtitles. If you're a fan of the series and you're used to the English dub, you might be thrown off by the change.
Comment

Con
 You won't find a sprawling narrative here like in most RPGs

The stories in the Atelier games are more about everyday life mixed in with whimsical fantasy. This isn't the kind of RPG with the type of layered, rich story with dramatic twists and turns that you'd expect from the genre. If you want a heavier narrative with more to say, you won't get that with this game.
Comment

Con
 Graphics for environments aren't that great

The visuals for the environments don't hold up to how pretty the cel-shaded graphics are. The textures are low-quality with jaggies sticking out. It's not so bad on the PC version and the PlayStation 4; things are much more obvious on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Vita. There are also some invisible walls that cut you off in places like open arches leading to shops, making the maps feel a lot smaller. If you can handle limited maps with so-so graphics, then these problems aren't that big of a deal in the long run.
Comment

Con
 Not for people who hate repetitive busywork

If you can't stand doing the same things over and over again in games, then Atelier Lydie & Suelle probably isn't for you. The whole game is about exploring maps to gather materials and then crafting those materials into something useful through alchemy. There are some turn-based battles thrown in, but these more or less take a backseat to the alchemy mechanics. The heavy focus on gathering and crafting can end up feeling like busywork, turning the game into a drag for players who hate that kind of thing.
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Pro
 Fixed camera angles create a cinematic experience

Resident Evil HD skillfuly balances visibility and tension with fixed camera angles. It can be the view from behind a fence as your character passes it by, giving you a sense of looming danger. It can be an upwards angle on a giant statue, making it seem more imposing. Or it can be the zoomed out view of a great hall to make the scale all the more impressive. Many details like this make Resident Evil HD more visually pleasing and atmospheric than most modern games.
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Pro
 The puzzles feel just right

The developers have done a great job of balancing difficulty of the puzzles. You'll still have to look for clues, reading through documents and examining objects, but it won't ever feel daunting. It won't feel too easy either, giving you a sense of accomplishment when you open that secret passage or locked door.
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Pro
 Immersive exploration

The entire game is set in a massive mansion and its surrounding area. It's very quiet, spacious, and has many locked doors that will pique your interest. You'll gradually unlock more of the mansion, slowly uncovering its mysteries. This includes hidden passages, secret laboratories, and rotting cellars, hiding many dark secrets. You're never quite sure what to expect next, but that's what it keeps it fresh and exciting throughout the entire game.
Comment

Con
 Combat feels awkward at times

In various areas you won't be able to see the enemies on-screen because of the fixed camera angles. This might make combat somewhat unpleasant since you won't be sure if you're hitting the enemy or how far they are. The auto-aim function helps with that by pointing your character towards them, but you won't stay locked on, so you'll have to constantly readjust your aim.
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Pro
 Amazing voice acting

Melina Juergens gives a riveting performance that showcases the full range of Senua's rage, vulnerability and introspection throughout her journey. Each tremble of fear in Senua's voice and her sharp cries of pain in battle further highlight her determination to reach her goal, pressing onward in the face of insurmountable obstacles.
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Pro
 Powerful environments and atmosphere

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice boasts a beautiful, yet haunted atmosphere that evokes powerful feelings of awe, with towering mountains that stretch on for miles, lakes that glitter in the sunset glow and reflect the intimidating architecture of the Norse halls throughout the environment.
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Pro
 Intense boss fights

Though few in number, the boss battles in Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice are a testament to how brutal the game's combat can be, with menacing boss designs and distorted arenas that inspire true fear in their intensity. These fights put Senua's skills as a warrior to the test with telegraphed moves that she must react to swiftly, along with tight windows of opportunity for her to wound the enemy. With no UI elements for health bars, neither for Senua nor the enemies she faces, these boss fights are an exercise of patience and mettle, giving an adrenaline-filled sense of satisfaction after a hard-fought victory.
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Pro
 Compelling main character

Bolstered by an award-winning performance from Melina Juergens, The story constantly pushes Senua to her limits, both through the innumerable enemies who challenge her and the voices in her head that mock her to give up her impossible journey. She is an incredibly vulnerable character who fights on with her many fears and doubts, showing a different type of protagonist in the gaming landscape.
Comment

Pro
 The infighting of voices in Senua's head is unnerving

The many voices in Senua's head, all with their own unique personalities, showcase her struggles with psychosis, with the voices either taunting Senua, picking at her weaknesses, or encouraging her to stand her ground and fight. They can also be useful in battle, with some voices warning Senua to look out behind her as a new enemy spawns and readies to attack her. Constant exposure to these voices is unsettling, because their constant back and forth with praise or insults can take a toll on you after a while. Playing with headphones on is a must in order to feel the full experience of the voices and how well they blend into the gameplay.
Comment

Con
 Too many puzzles

Because those with psychosis are adept at pattern recognition, Senua's strength with patterns translates into puzzles to solve throughout the linear world, but they're far too numerous and overstay their welcome quite early on. They often break the pace of exploration, with too many instances of Senua needing to loop around a small area several times in order to align shadows or illusory portals to open up the path to the next area.
Comment

Con
 Shallow combat

Although the enemy and boss designs are top-notch, the moment-to-moment swordplay with Senua isn't as deep as it could have been. Simple presses of light attacks and heavy attacks mixed in with blocks, strafes and rolls are most of what the combat has to offer. Occasionally an enemy will be blacked out and unable to take damage, and Senua can use her Focus ability to rectify this and continue attacking normally. On one hand, it's realistic that Senua's sword fights are to-the-point, but from a gameplay perspective, things can get dull rather quickly.
Comment

Pro
 Collaboration of veteran gaming devs an educational group and Alaskan natives

Never Alone is an actual collaboration work of top industry devs, an educational group and actual Alaskan natives. Ideally this is supposed to give the game a more genuine story and background while also staying educational and fun.
Comment

Pro
 Videos that tell true stories accompany sections in the game

At many points in the game a player will unlock videos that tell true stories that directly relate to what is happening in the game.
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Pro
 Interactive folklore

Being that the game wes helped developed by actual Alaskan natives, the folklore of the game holds a lot off weight that gets you right in the feels.
Comment

Con
 Difficulty spikes 90 minutes in

The game spikes its difficulty at around the 90 minute mark, whether this is on purpose to stay true to life (in that some points in life are not fun and difficult to get through) or is just bad design is probably up to the player to decide.
Comment

Con
 Transition from game to videos feels disjointed

It almost feels like the player is interupted when a video unlocks and definitely feels disjointed to leave the gameplay to then watch another video.
Comment

Pro
 Chloe is more likable this time

In the first Life is Strange, many players complained that Chloe was insufferable and selfish as Max's best friend, complaining in order to have more of her time when she might not have deserved it. This time around, watching the events of Before the Storm unfold from Chloe's eyes is enjoyable, largely thanks to how easygoing she is with Rachel--for the most part--and how far she's willing to go to sacrifice for her throughout the plot. Chloe makes dorky jokes that don't always land and back-talks school staff at Blackwell Academy with harmless ease, making her a much warmer, sillier character compared to her prickly, temperamental self in Max's adventure.
Comment

Pro
 Improved writing over the first game

The original Life is Strange suffered from some instances of awkward lines that sounded like a middle-aged adult trying to emulate how teenagers speak; thankfully, Before the Storm has a much clearer, down-to-earth script that helps the characters sound more authentic and real. Rachel's use of "hella" is more amusing this time around, as it gives context as to why Chloe picked up on it and used it frequently in the first game. Overall, each of the characters in the game are more well-rounded across the three episodes thanks to the smooth writing.
Comment

Pro
 Choices have consequences

Much like in the first game, Before the Storm features several choices throughout the game that have an impact on future plot points across the three episodes. How these choices end up impacting the ending are debatable, but there are still a myriad of choices that change the outcome of a single playthrough, such as Chloe's decision to handle certain sums of money, or whether or not she's willing to accept her mother's unlikable new boyfriend. Chloe and Rachel's interactions can also be limited to friendship or expanded into a romantic relationship through player choice.
Comment

Con
 Limited exploration

With much of the focus on the storytelling, it's still unfortunate that Chloe can't leave the designated story areas without turning around and repeating the same line about how she's supposed to focus on her objective. The limited areas to walk around in are understandable, yet disappointing, with missed opportunities for Chloe to walk down the street from her home and see what her neighbors are up to, or for her and Rachel to hang out in more places around Arcadia Bay together.
Comment

Con
 Third episode falls flat in some areas

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is an all-around stand-out title, with the first and second episodes building up to an impactful third installment that feels lacking in certain aspects. Without getting into spoilers, there are a few plot holes that aren't wrapped up by the end, and much of the tension in the episode falls flat because of these glaring holes that none of the characters bother to address.
Comment

Pro
 Great soundtrack

Daughter, the indie folk band from England, worked on the tracks for Before the Storm, pulling together many of the game's great moments with thoughtful acoustic tunes and moody piano tracks. The more upbeat, hopeful tracks fit in incredibly well with Chloe's adventurous scenes with Rachel, giving a sense of wonder as the two explore Arcadia Bay together. One song in particular, 'All I Wanted', is a memorable, catchy folk track that captures the feeling of Chloe and Rachel supporting one another through their struggles, which is what Life is Strange: Before the Storm is all about.
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Pro
 The simplistic gameplay is surprisingly fun

Running around the side-scrolling town as Mae day in and day out is more enjoyable than it sounds at first. It's mundane, but there's a lot of meaning to find around the town if you're willing to look for it. You go wherever you want, finding out stories about the townspeople and the town itself, or hanging out with friends for scripted story moments. Poking around all over town to find out the history is pretty cool, like the underground diner that Mae used to steal from back in the day, or the old shopping mall that barely gets any customers anymore. When you're not talking to people or going somewhere, you can play around with the rhythm mini-game as you practice with Mae's bass either in her room or in her old band with her group of friends. You can fall into a nice habit of checking in with the NPCs and locations you care about most, almost like in real life where you prioritize the people and places you spend the most time around.
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Pro
 Great coming-of-age story

The coming-of-age story in Night in the Woods is unconventional for a video game, making it more unique and intriguing. After dropping out of college, the main character, Mae, struggles with her own disillusionment in life and refusal to grow up, all the while her old friends find success and move on without her. You join in on that struggle as you live as Mae: aimlessly going around town talking to everyone and listening to their worries, browsing your laptop when you're supposed to be doing other important things, and even pressing a button to wake up in bed every morning as a reminder of how mundane life can be. You see all the ways she doesn't necessarily want to grow up, wishing she could stay a kid forever, but then she talks to an old acquaintance who thinks she's washed up now, making her feel anxious about her failings as a young adult. This type of story is familiar for anyone who has also had a hard time with similar problems, and eye-opening for anyone who hasn't.
Comment

Pro
 Tragic, realistic setting and NPCs

Night in the Woods is set in Possum Springs, once a booming mine town but now a forgotten speck on the map, rife with poverty and decay. Its history is based on several real Adirondack towns, and its portrayal of rural decline is painfully accurate. The townspeople you talk to lament about having to close down their businesses, or wonder out loud how they'll make ends meet. Everyone's economic hardships feel real and relevant to anyone who's gone through the same thing or knows someone else who has.
Comment

Pro
 Well-written side characters

Every character feels like they have a history and realistic personal motivations, even when they're left unexplained. Mae's friends are all different yet interesting in their own ways, like Gregg who's always happy to see her and helps Mae feel like someone truly cares, and Bea with her biting sarcasm and apathy that seem to cover up her more complex issues. The residents of the town also talk about things in ways that are true-to-life, like how they gossip about their neighbors as you listen in, or just flat-out tell you sometimes to leave them alone. Every character in the game feels like a real person, whether they're central to the story or just one of the NPCs you see sitting on their porch all the time.
Comment

Con
 Some pacing issues with the story

The story slogs through the premise of Mae's anxieties and disillusionment for a long time until it suddenly switches somewhere in the middle. There are a few hints here and there about how and why the plot becomes a murder mystery, but these things seem inconsequential and not as important as Mae's personal issues. It ends up feeling strange to change things up partway through to something unrelated to the original premise. While the murder mystery isn't necessarily bad, it would have been nice to see a more focused insight and resolution to Mae's young adult troubles.
Comment

Con
 The main character is insufferable at first

It's hard to like Mae from the start for a few reasons. She's extremely self-centered, she likes to steal for the thrills, and she has no interest whatsoever in fixing her shortcomings. Her life seems to be one awkward moment after another where you can't help but cringe in embarrassment, like in one early scene where she gets drunk at a party and blabs away about her personal problems after spending hours telling herself she wouldn't. As you get to know her, Mae might grow on you, but if you're the type to lose your patience with people who are immature, then you probably won't like her all that much.
Comment

Pro
 Mix of real time and turn based battles

The combat system is an interesting mix of real time and turn based battles.
Comment

Pro
 Balanced RPG mechanics

Child of Light strikes a good balance of RPG systems and options.
Comment

Pro
 Enjoyable hand painted art style

Child of Light uses an interesting hand drawn art style for its graphics, something that definitely gives it an appeal to the eyes.
Comment

Con
 Story and experience may not stand out

The users experience of the game may not truly stand the test of time as the story feels a bit too familiar, having a feel of been there done that.
Comment

Pro
 Amazing overall atmosphere

Between the good voice acting, lighting and object/level design, extensive number of things and people that can be examined or talked to, and music, it really makes one feel as if they're there experiencing the story.
Comment

Pro
 Attention to detail

Life Is Strange has quite a bit of attention to detail compared to some other games. It has a lot of details that the player can interact with (interact meaning examine or talk to, not anything physics-based whatsoever), things which frequently trigger audible dialogue narrated by the protagonist. It adds to the atmosphere of the game.
Comment

Pro
 Free chapter available

The first 20% (roughly) of the game is free to try to see if you like it or how well it runs on your machine. Steam will give refunds for games that you didn't like it or had trouble with anyway (as long as you played less than 2 hours of it), but this saves the hassle of refunding, as well as the annoying 2 hour mental timer in your head that you'd be weary of.
Comment

Pro
 Great plot and great drama

The story is really engaging, along with the drama which is the most prominent aspect of the game (but don't let that turn you off if you think that drama isn't your thing, because this is so well done).
Comment

Pro
 Time rewind mechanic

Players can choose to undo a choice they made in game after already experiencing the outcome, which gives a great way to experience every choice in the game as well as gives a individualistic feel to the gameplay.
Comment

Pro
 Choice based gameplay

The choices the player makes in game effect the story of the game later on making for consequences one might now be aware of until later. This gives a realistic feel to the game being that choices have outcomes that effect the game world.
Comment

Con
 Some poor writing and unbelievable characters

Many of the characters use dialog and behave unlike how a teenager would making for poor believable characters and story.
Comment

Pro
 Unique two-player couch co-op

The co-op in Beyond: Two Souls is pretty different from the norm. One person plays as Jodie, controlling her for regular story segments, while the second person plays as Aiden for his poltergeist-like powers. You can either work together to get the outcome you both agree on, or the person playing Aiden can cause as much havoc as they want. It can be really funny to have Aiden mess things up by destroying a room or making another character angry by annoying them. Depending on how you and your co-op partner work together -- or don't work together -- you can come up with some interesting scenarios.
Comment

Pro
 Plenty of tense and exciting action moments

Even though the game is like an interactive movie, there are still some action scenes with more involved gameplay. There are moments where Jodie is in danger and you have to navigate Aiden to help her, or Jodie and Aiden are on the run from several enemies and you have to find a way to escape. You then have to press buttons in time or navigate your analog sticks in certain ways to stay in control of the scene. The game does rely a lot on button presses with QTEs to keep you involved in the gameplay, but as long as you feel engrossed in the game and the overall plot, you probably won't mind too much.
Comment

Pro
 Great music that compliments the story well

Beyond: Two Souls' soundtrack fits well with the game's dramatic and emotional plot. The innocent songs with wind instruments and undertones of sorrow reflect the quiet moments you spend as Jodie during her lonely childhood years. Other, more powerful tracks with blaring cellos and ethereal screaming sounds compliment the action-heavy moments. Sometimes even the silent scenes with only a few notes of music convey the seriousness of what's happening on-screen. The composer Lorne Balfe hit the right tone for any given scene, making the story even more memorable.
Comment

Pro
 Your choices have consequences

Each choice you make, no matter how small, affects how the story plays out in some way. There are the bigger decisions, like pressing a QTE in time to keep Jodie from getting hurt, or making the right dialog choices during encounters with the game's antagonists to outsmart them. But there are also smaller decisions, like choosing to give someone a gift or not stealing money when given the opportunity, and the unexpected ways these choices get taken into account down the line. The best part is that everything leads up to multiple endings depending on which path your choices take you.
Comment

Pro
 Excellent performance from actress Ellen Page as the protagonist

The protagonist Jodie Holmes is played incredibly well by actress Ellen Page through motion capture technology and voice acting. Portraying Jodie during her teenage and young adult years, Ellen Page shows a huge range of believable emotions, from Jodie's frustrations of growing up with her supernatural powers and her determination to survive all the problems she faces. You get to see every genuine expression she makes and hear each inflection of her voice when she speaks. Controlling Jodie especially feels like you're controlling a real person, Ellen Page herself, just from how realistic everything looks. The actress does a great job performing such a fully-realized character.
Comment

Pro
 Thoughtful story about morality and the supernatural

Beyond: Two Souls tells a thought-provoking story about how supernatural powers affect a person's morality. You play as Jodie Holmes, a young woman who controls a strange spirit-like entity known as Aiden, giving Jodie certain supernatural powers that only seem to cause her trouble at first. Throughout the story, Jodie tries to find meaning in her powers by deciding whether or not she should use Aiden to help others, even as many in the world persecute her for how dangerous her abilities are. Most of the tension in the plot surrounds whether or not Jodie should get revenge against those who discriminate against her, or if she should choose kindness instead. Whichever path you take is fair game, since the story leaves you to decide what is best.
Comment

Con
 Some parts of the story drag for too long

The pacing in Beyond: Two Souls is off sometimes, with certain sections taking too long to get going. One part in particular is pretty boring, with time passing way too slowly and not a lot going on. Things pick up after a while, but it's easy to put the game down entirely before you get that far. This happens a little too often in a playthrough, bogging the plot down in an otherwise good story.
Comment

Con
 The romance subplots feel tacked-on

The romance options in the game feel like they don't belong. They also don't feel at all natural, mainly because Jodie doesn't have much chemistry with either of the guys. The romances don't contribute much to the plot, either, since the story progresses more or less the same with only minor differences depending on if you romanced someone or not. At the end of the day, the subplots are awkward and unfulfilling, and could have been left out of the game altogether.
Comment

Con
 The story feels on-rails most of the time

Despite how many decisions you make throughout the game, the story still follows a set formula. Your choices don't really affect the bigger picture, just the finer details of how each chapter plays out. The choices you make at the very end of the game do depend on which options you went with across the game, but it's still not enough. It would have been nice if this were a game where your choices drastically affect the outcome of the plot instead.
Comment

Pro
 Jaw dropping graphics

While the first game in the reboot was phenominal in the graphics department, Rise of the Tomb Raider takes a step beyond that with some of the best graphics in a game out there currently. Simple things like the snow moving as you step into it or how Lara's hair moves in the wind add polish that many games do not bother with. The character models and animations are also phenomenal, creating a movie like experience all their own as every move in the game is convincingly real.
Comment

Pro
 Puzzles often use the whole stage

The puzzles in the game (though there are less of them over previous titles) often use the whole stage as one big interactive puzzle. Often Lara will have to traverse high and low in a stage in order to unlock hidden areas or just to advance to the next large set piece. As the game progresses the player can unlock new abilities that will also allow going back to solve yet unsolved puzzles. Things like being able to reach new heights through new climbing abilities will give access to areas that have items that can be interacted with, such as breaking an ice barrier or using some hidden away pulley system, which in turn could reveal a new area or item.
Comment

Pro
 PC is best looking version

Luckily the port has been done well and is not dumbed down for consoles as the graphics (for those that have the proper hardware) look really good and are quite a step up from consoles overall.
Comment

Pro
 Replayability through unlockables

Once a level is competed, the player can go back to then try to complete unfinished or new objectives, many of which will unlock new outfits or other items. This incentivizes the player to play again and again for those that want to find every item that can be found and complete each and every objective, some of which that can be quite tough.
Comment

Pro
 Tons to explore

Each level is large and almost open world like, so there is quite a lot to see and do in each. The player can be rewarded for exploring as there may be hidden items or weapons all around, as well as good views. With so much to see and collect, there is no real reason to not take ones time to explore everything each level has to offer as it will often pay off.
Comment

Pro
 Built weapons add to the complexity of gunplay

The player can now build their own weapons such as nail bombs or special ammo. This greatly expands on the type of weapons that can be used during a gunfight (of which there are many), which allows the user to change up their styles of attack in the game.
Comment

Con
 Very linear

Much of the game pushes the player into only one direction, forward, but often forward has some trap to fall into or a skill that has to be used otherwise you can not progress. It does lend well to the design of being a large scale interactive movie, but for those that like a bit of free roaming and multiple ways to solve a problem will be left really wanting.
Comment

Con
 Uneven difficulty spikes late game

During the later half of the game there will be some firefights that will seem a bit difficult and unbalanced, while not something impossible to beat, they may cause some frustration.
Comment

Con
 Overused and overly familiar plot

The gist of the plot is that Lara is searching for the key to eternal life. This plot has been used in the third Indiana Jones movie as well as Uncharted's third game. Being that this game resembles both of those franchises it does seem a bit lazy to see such a similar plot being used. While the story does contain its own original characters and surrounding plots, the main plot point still seems way too similar for such a high profile franchise.
Comment

Con
 Focuses on action over puzzle solving

The original games in the series ha many puzzle solving elements, sadly they are less of a focus in the reboots as the game now focuses more on action such as constant firefights with enemies. it would have been nice to see more puzzles in the game overall.
Comment

Con
 Stealth seems pointless

While there are stealth takedowns in the game and many areas allow for stealth, there is no real incentive to be stealthy while traversing each level as Lara is a very competent fighter, which is now expanded upon by weapons that can be built. So yes you can accomplish many section with stealth, there is nothing pushing the player in the game to do so as there is never a point where Lara will be out manned or out gunned.
Comment

Con
 Flakey keyboard and mouse controls

It is recommended to play the game with a controller as there are some instances of poor keyboard controls where the character will not go exactly where she is being directed to go. This can cause issue with completing tasks as well as just frustrate overall.
Comment

Pro
 Standlone story makes it accessible for all

Even if you don't read the comic or watch the TV show, you can still play and enjoy this game. It's a completely standalone story. While there are some mild easter eggs for fans of the show/comic, you can still understand the game just fine without any prior knowledge of The Walking Dead.
Comment

Pro
 Stellar voice acting brings the characters to life

Voice actors deliver their lines with a lot of emotion, never feeling forced or fake. This excellent acting really helps draw you into the story and its characters. There's a lot of great chemistry between the various voice actors as well, resulting in conversations that flow well and sound very natural.
Comment

Pro
 A huge amount of replayability

Resembling an interactive novel, TWD: S2 plays out as a series of dialogue choices or decisions that result in specific actions. It's pretty interesting to replay the game many times and choose all the different ways of handling situations just to see how they play out.
Comment

Pro
 Choice of protagonist increases emotional impact

Viewing the story through the eyes of Clementine, a young child from the first season, is an interesting choice and makes some of the decisions you have to make even more heartbreaking. Not only is she growing up, she is growing up in the midst of a brutal zombie apocalypse where survival is rough, and life or death choices have to be made on the fly. Experiencing some of the game's situations from the viewpoint a young girl make them even more disturbing and troubling, increasing their emotional impact.
Comment

Pro
 Dynamic and impactful decisions

Surviving in the midst of a zombie apocalypse is hard, and oftentimes decisions will require you to make heart-wrenching choices to progress the story. In most cases, there are no easy or pleasant solutions to most of the scenarios the story places you in. However every choice you make, be it through dialogue or an action, will influence the story playing out in a new way. Characters will also remember your past interactions with them, which results in the story playing out in dynamic ways. For example, at times you can choose whether or not to help other characters. If you do, they may remember your kindness later in the game. If you don't, they may not trust you in the long run. Characters also remember your dialogue choices, and it will always influence later events.
Comment

Pro
 Gripping and emotional story

TWD: Season 2 continues the story about the struggle to survive during a brutal zombie apocalypse. You play as Clementine, a young girl from the first season, who is growing up in a cruel world. Food and resources are scarce, and people will do whatever they feel they must do to survive. Not only are the hordes of zombies a constant threat, but people are also dangerous with hidden motives. The story does a really good job showcasing the lengths people will go to to survive, and constantly offers up interesting and tough decisions for you to make. It hits on every emotional level. There are moments of horror, sadness, tragedy, and even a little humor thrown in. Through meaningful dialogue and character interactions, the game is able to flawlessly switch gears between them creating a very gripping and emotional story.
Comment

Con
 May distress some people

There is a lot of violence, gore, and very disturbing situations. Some people may not react well to some of the scenes. Despite the fact that the main character in this game is a young girl, this is a game for adults.
Comment

Con
 Some obnoxious quicktime events

While this game is almost fully story based, there are still some fairly long and annoying quicktime events during action sequences. There are a few in particular that feel like they drag on a bit too long, and if you hit the wrong key/button at any point, you'll have to restart the event.
Comment

Pro
 The theme of overcoming anxiety and depression is tied into the gameplay

The game reinforces the attitude of never giving up, even in the face of a seemingly impossible challenge or self-doubt, and does this by tying this heartfelt theme into the gameplay itself. As Madeline sets out to scale to the top of the mountain, she will encounter a lot of depression, anxiety and self-doubt along the way, which literally manifests into an alternative version of herself simply called "Part of Me". A part of ourselves many of us are all too familiar with. During the more challenging parts of the game, this other self will appear to taunt, belittle, and even chase Madeline around telling her she's not good enough, and she'll never reach the top. She'll be a constant source of doubt throughout the duration of the game. But, after every player death, failure, and missed jump, the game will gently remind the player to "Keep going. You've got this!" and "You're learning!" along with other inspiring messages that encourage you to push past the doubt, and keep trying until you beat each challenging level.
Comment

Pro
 "B side" collectibles for those who crave a deeper challenge

In each level, there is a single hidden cassette tape, often in a hard to reach area. The platforms in these areas move to the beat of the level's soundtrack, and have to be correctly navigated to reach the tape. Similar to how old school cassettes tapes had two sides, collecting this tape will unlock the "B side" of each level. This presents the player with a much more challenging version of the level, adding new jumps, traps, and dangers. These remixed levels are extremely difficult and will provide a challenge for even the most seasoned platforming veteran. So if you've beaten the base game, and crave even more of a challenge, you will be pleased with this feature.
Comment

Pro
 Frequent checkpoints keep the game moving along

Checkpoints are encountered quite often, so when you inevitably die, you won't have to replay a huge portion of the level. This helps to keep the frustration to a minimum when tackling a particularly tricky section of a level, and lets you practice the part that's giving you trouble rather than making you replay the entire level.
Comment

Pro
 The platforming consistently adds new movement mechanics

The platforming definitely isn't stale and consistently adds new movement mechanics to keep things feeling fresh throughout your run. Glowing red orbs will send you flying in a certain direction, jump pads will blast you high into the air, and diamonds will give you an extra dash in mid air. Jumping, bouncing, and climbing around the various levels just feels fluid and fun with all these extra goodies that are seemingly endless and continually add flavor into the platforming aspect. There's a lot of "oh, that's cool!" moments when playing and discovering something new for the first time such as using a group of diamonds to chain a jump that's not only fun to watch, but fun to perform.
Comment

Pro
 Optional assist mode for players who aren't good with platforming

For those who may not be so good at the platforming aspect of the game, Celeste offers an assist mode which allows players of all skill levels to experience the game in full. During gameplay, there are a few on-demand options available to do things such as become invincible (avoid spike traps and enemies), extend the air dash (jump further), and even slow the whole game down in 10% intervals. This is a great addition that makes the game accessible for all skill levels, and it's completely optional so that players who want the full challenge don't have to use it.
Comment

Pro
 Great variation in level mechanics to keep players on their toes

Each level features its own environmental hazard, which means players will have to adjust their strategies from time to time. One level is filled with winds that shift, sometimes assisting you across wide gaps and at other times stopping your progression forward or causing you to miss jumps. Another is shrouded in darkness with the area only illuminated when you're in mid-jump. Regardless of the hazard at play, they all add an extra level of challenge to keep players on their toes, even if they're seasoned platforming veterans.
Comment

Con
 You'll die a lot

Although dying in this game helps to reinforce the game's overall theme of never giving up in the face of a challenge, this can be a turn off to some players. Missing the same jumps and landing on the same spike traps constantly can only happen so many times before it becomes frustrating more than fun.
Comment

Con
 Wind mechanic can be unfair

During one level, there is wind that pushes and blows you around, but it doesn't always work in your favor. It may send you hurtling off a steep drop right into a spike trap or ruin your carefully timed midair dash. It's very random which way it'll decide to move you, and can therefore feel unfair at times.
Comment

Pro
 Interesting controls

Instead of the normal movement used in a game on PC (WASD) the player uses the E F J I keys, as the game wants the player to have both hands on the keyboard as they would when typing. This means movement is done through both hands on the keyboard only. This allows the player to quickly type words when in combat with no need to transition to a different control scheme.
Comment

Pro
 Unique graphics

The graphics are styled to look like folded origami pieces. As the player progresses in each stage, the map will fold out on a isometric plane in a way that looks like paper folding out to form objects. This gives an original look to the game that is actually a treat to watch.
Comment

Pro
 Rewarding boss fights

The boss fights are exciting and fast paced battles that will put your mastery of the wall jumping movement system to the test. One particular fight has temporary platforms that spawn out of thin air, so you never know where they're going to appear. This requires some on the fly thinking as you'll not only be paying attention to the platforms, but also dodging the boss' projectiles and his minions. You'll have to be precise in your jumping and shooting. Every boss fight incorporates the fun wall jumping flawlessly and defeating each one feels like a true accomplishment.
Comment

Pro
 Great balance between movement and combat

While you do have a gun, it takes several seconds to stop, charge up, and shoot. This means whenever you want to dispatch an enemy, you'll have to stop moving completely for several seconds. It's not as easy as it sounds, since oftentimes dodging projectiles, working around moving platforms, and finding a safe spot requires some planning ahead. Sometimes, it may be better to just keep moving rather than killing every enemy in sight. As a result, Dandara's combat provides a balance and unique challenge not often seen in "run and gun" style platformers.
Comment

Pro
 Fun gameplay thanks to unique wall jumping mechanic

Rather than running and jumping, all movement in Dandara is done through a unique wall jumping mechanic. This unique jumping is the heart of the game and what sets it apart from other platformers. You can jump to any wall, ceiling, or floor within reach, often bouncing among them in rapid succession like a ninja. The mechanic itself is simple, just aim and jump. However, this movement style makes shooting at enemies, dodging projectiles, or navigating each room a fun, unique challenge that isn't seen in other platformers.
Comment

Con
 Major difficulty spikes

Dandara is a challenging game as it is, but there are some pretty sharp difficultly spikes in some areas that feel a little too punishing. This can be frustrating to some players who felt like they were making progress, only to hit these roadblocks.
Comment

Con
 Save points are scarce

Killing enemies awards salt which can be used to increase your health pool and upgrade your stats. However, you can only use salt at camps (save points) which are few and far between. Additionally, having to replay large sections of content and losing experience every time you die makes the game lose some of it's fun.
Comment

Con
 Map is hard to use

The camera rotates when entering new rooms/areas, however the map doesn't rotate to reflect this. As a result, it's hard to tell which direction you need to go in. The static map feel a bit useless at times.
Comment

Pro
 Freedom to choose between lethal or stealth gameplay

Changing things up from Dishonored 2, in Death of the Outsider, you can tackle levels with any playstyle you choose: stealth, lethal kills, or a mixture of both. There are no story penalties for messing up and getting spotted this time; you can simply pull out your blade for a bloody, visceral attack, making quick work of anyone who gets in your way. Sticking to either playstyle is more for your own personal style and satisfaction.
Comment

Pro
 Fun options for stealth and mobility

Your character, Billie, has many abilities that can be used for stealth and mobility. This includes a teleport ability that warps you to a specified point in your view, an ability that lets you steal peoples' faces as an innovative form of disguise. There's even a foresight ability that stops time, allowing you to individually mark enemies with visible outlines to better keep track of them while sneaking around the map. These supernatural elements are fun and unique, with many ways to use them in various situations, such as using the displace ability to quickly get out of sight right before being targeted.
Comment

Pro
 Many different approaches to clearing objectives

Death of the Outsider's levels are filled plenty of options for exploration and escape routes. As an example, the bank heist level features a number of ways to enter the vault and deal with patrolling enemies along the way, like abusing an air duct to sedate bank personnel inside the building. On another playthrough, you may choose to clear the level by killing each enemy you come across, or by taking a different route altogether. It's the type of intricate level design that gives players a lot of freedom to progress through levels however they want, which can make each playthrough very engaging.
Comment

Con
 The story is passable, but not great

With a revenge story where Billie sets off to kill the Outsider, the plot sets up a number of moral issues about who or what the true cause is behind the chaos, as well as the idea of killing God as the Outsider as a form of social commentary, but it doesn't do enough with this topic of morality. The story is more interesting through gameplay where the player decides how to tackle each level that they traverse through, defining Billie's character as either a pacifist or a cold-blooded killer. Thankfully, the conclusion wraps everything up nicely for those who have been around since the first Dishonored game.
Comment

Con
 Gameplay gets repetitive throughout the short campaign

Originally pitched as DLC for Dishonored 2, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider stands on its own as a solid game overall, but the limited amount abilities and unlocks get old after a while. The story is only about 8 hours long. Things can fall into a routine of tracking enemies, slipping past them or stabbing them, with the only added bonus of figuring out ways of making your way through each level.
Comment

Pro
 Risky but fresh change in tone from Final Fantasy X to X-2

Final Fantasy X-2 does a complete 180 from Final Fantasy X's more grounded themes of life, death, and corruption, showing the world after the darkness passes, and featuring an all-female cast of party members. The themes here are much more fun and upbeat, showing Yuna as more on an overall light-hearted journey with her troupe of treasure hunters, although the story does have its moments of seriousness and melancholy. Even the opening CGI cutscene is of Yuna performing a pop song at a concert. It's a risky, but bold and fresh move that you'll either love or hate depending on your tastes.
Comment

Pro
 Great soundtrack with a nice blend of different genres

Final Fantasy X-2's soundtrack is filled with energetic pop songs, pensive ballads, and an overall jazz and rock-inspired sound that matches the game's fun and adventurous themes. "Real Emotion" is an infectiously catchy pop song that would fit right in with the Top 40s charts in real life. "Yuna's Ballad" is much more thought-provoking and emotional, with pianos that sound a lot like how Yuna's sorrow and conflicting emotions would be in musical form. The normal battle theme has a great rock sound to it, mixing in violins to keep things interesting, and it doesn't get old no matter how many times you hear it during normal encounters. The soundtrack is amazing with the way it experiments with different genres that all manage to blend well together.
Comment

Pro
 Heartfelt and thoughtful story

Set two years after Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2 is much lighter in tone, featuring Yuna as the main character as she searches for treasure across Spira with her friends. Although the story seems overly positive and campy at first, almost like a cheesy movie with silly one-liners and hammed-up humor, there's much more depth to the story that reveals itself as you play through the game. As a world leader, Yuna tries to do what's expected of her by fixing the power struggle between Spira's two ruling factions, but she's also deeply upset by her love interest's absence. She questions if it's possible to find him with so much mystery surrounding his disappearance. It's an emotional experience watching Yuna struggle with her obligations to maintain peace in the world, and going after what she personally wants for her own happiness and fulfillment.
Comment

Pro
 Fun turn-based combat with a cool job system

Final Fantasy X-2 has an exciting turn-based system where you can change jobs on-the-fly. During the fast-paced battles, you can choose to switch jobs to handle different enemy types and situations. When you change your main character Yuna from a gunner to a songstress, she can sing tunes that can debilitate enemies or buff the party for the duration of her song. Character models update to the new job costumes in real-time with special animations, like how Yuna will have a spotlight on her as she poses with a microphone when she changes to her songstress job. It's a fun and unique system that with the way you can swap jobs at any time to handle whatever your enemy throws at you.
Comment

Con
 Airship travel is limited to picking points on the world map

It's really disheartening to have the airship available near the start of the game, only to discover that all you can do is pick a location and go to it automatically. You can't maneuver it through the skies like in older Final Fantasy games. It would have been nice to have the freedom to explore and see the world of Spira from high up.
Comment

Con
 Extremely linear environments

The locations in Final Fantasy X-2 are beautiful and detailed, and yet there are lots of invisible walls blocking you off from exploring those locations. More often than not there's only a single path in any given environment to follow. It's a lot like running down a single corridor from the start of the world to the end. The good part is that you'll rarely get lost, but you won't be able to run around outside of the incredibly limited boundaries in each level.
Comment

Con
 Blitzball is automated with no player control

Blizball in Final Fantasy X is fun and addictive because of how in-depth it is, but all of that depth goes out the window in Final Fantasy X-2's version. The mini-game is like a mix of soccer and rugby played underwater, where the players pass a ball around the sphere-like field, trying to score goals while the opposing team tackles and kicks to try and stop you. In this game, you can't manually control the characters, turning you more into a manager with access to player stats and rosters and little else. It's more like a spectator mode, watered-down from the exciting matches in Final Fantasy X.
Comment

Pro
 Free demo available

You can try a small portion of the game before you buy.
Comment

Pro
 Excellent soundtrack that fits each location

The accompanying background music for each location you visit fits the atmosphere incredibly well. Exploring a dark attic queues an ambient synth track with a creepy vibe. The church features a synth organ slowly playing a haunting tune. While visiting the cemetery, a reflective mellow melody plays out. The biker bar features a wailing guitar and drums in a catchy upbeat rhythm. In total, there are 25 songs, all original and made exclusively for this game.
Comment

Pro
 Retro point-and-click style is handled extremely well

Kathy Rain is a nod to the point-and-click games of the 90s era, so much so that is uses retro pixel graphics and the story itself takes place in the 90s. The interface is the typical click to move and hover over an item to interact. For example, hovering over a book will allow you to look at or pick it up. Everything you pick up is stored in your inventory, where you can then combine inventory items or use them on other objects in the environment to solve puzzles. All in all, it's smooth and easy to use, making it a great throwback game.
Comment

Pro
 Mysterious characters keep the "whodunit" theme strong

Throughout the game, Kathy's search for answers sees her run into about a dozen different characters around the small town. Upon first glance, they all seem to be normal, everyday people. Throughout your investigation, however, their secrets are slowly revealed, and in most cases, people aren't quite who they claim to be. Just enough information is given where you really want to keep digging in and uncover more, helping to keep you guessing what each one's motives and goals truly are.
Comment

Pro
 Strong detective vibe

Much of the game consists of going from location to location questioning people, searching the environment for clues, and chasing leads, while Kathy keeps track of it all in her notebook. When she makes note of something in this notebook - either through a conversation or an environmental clue - it opens that topic up for dialogue with every character you interact with. This means that the bits of information you learn in one conversation or area will have you going back for round 2 or round 3 with a previously interviewed character or going back to an old area to comb for new information. Running around, discovering clues, interviewing the same people multiple times, and putting all the pieces together really drives the detective theme home.
Comment

Pro
 Kathy is a very interesting protagonist

Kathy is tough on the outside - she rides a custom motorcycle, puffs on her favorite brand of cigarettes, and doesn't take lip from anyone. On the inside, however, she is battling her own personal issues such as her strained relationship with her family and coming to terms with the loss of her grandfather. These issues come to surface as the game goes on and help to flesh her out as a very dynamic character. She also has a very curious side. She is a college student majoring in journalism which helps to highlight both this inquisitive nature and refusal to back down from complicated situations. It is these aspects of her personality that send her out on the game's main adventure. When she returns to her hometown from college for her grandfather's funeral, the secrets of his life and the mystery surrounding his death strongly intrigue her and prompt her to take action. Notebook and cigarettes in hand, and cruising around on her motorcycle, she sets out into the town to question the locals, search multiple locations, and get answers by any means necessary. Throughout all her adventures and interactions, her sarcasm and wit shine through - she is both quick with words and very resourceful when it comes to solving her problems. By the game's end, she has proven to be a very capable protagonist whose many sides are revealed.
Comment

Con
 A few puzzles are not integrated well

While a majority of the game consists of average difficulty puzzles, some puzzles are so abstract and obscure, that they become difficult solely due to poor design. There is one particularly frustrating puzzle in the latter portion of the game that uses a very vague poem to provide clues. It is not entirely clear what you're supposed to be doing whatsoever, and results in a lot of trial and error or simply consulting a walkthrough.
Comment

Con
 Voice acting isn't the greatest

Many spoken lines throughout the game are delivered flat and devoid of much emotion. This is especially bad at the very start of the game, but thankfully it improves to passable levels as the game progresses.
Comment
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