Is Doom 2016 any good

Is Doom 2016 any Good?

Exploring Hell

The newest installation into the Doom series can be broken down into three parts, single-player, multiplayer and snap-map. Doom multiplayer is strong at times but can also have times where it is rather weak. In similar fashion to Star Wars Battlefront's hero pickups Doom's demon drops are a licence to free kills. While in demon form you have insane amounts of health and tons of incredibly high power weaponry. This means that until a coordinated group ambushes you everybody who understands the game will simply avoid you, I do not believe the demon rune was a good idea. The load-out system is alright though I would have preferred it not exist so that the game would become more about weapon pickups however it does allow for some good customization, as well as the armour customization being a nice touch. The snap-map is the system that allows player made maps. Snap-map is a node based game and level editor with serious limitations though through it all there is the occasional diamond in the rough. Doom 2016 has the strongest single player campaign that I have ever played. Doom benefits from its fast paced game-play strong level design incredible soundtrack and interesting enemies. The story fits Doom Guy so perfectly and everything about the single-player is fantastic. Usually I don't do scores but I would rate the Doom single-player 10/10 it is amazing in my opinion.

Platform

Doom is a game that knows what it is. It is a game that uses video games as a form of media in a way that only they can. It often goes unsaid but Doom also just feels good to play. Moving around feels "right" so to speak. Everything you do is satisfying.

Snap map

Conclusion

Fighting a boss

Overall Doom is a game that is worth your money for the single-player alone and everything else is extra. So Rip and Tear your way through countless Demons and be the Doom guy.

Is Chivalry Medieval Warfare any good?

Is Chivalry Medieval Warfare Any Good?

Class selection

Chivalry is a Medieval take on FPS. While there is a third person mode the game is primarily first person. Chivalry is a PVP hack and slash more than an FPS. The primarily melee combat works well with three different kinds of swings. The basic swing which is easy to hit and does alright damage, the slower harder to hit overhand swing that devastates opponents, especially with heavier weapons and the thrust which does damage similar to the basic swing however it has more distance and less width. All of these attacks can be blocked by weapons or shields  however the kick cannot be blocked. The kick is a powerful tool especially against those who rely too heavily on their shield. There are several different classes within chivalry all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. My preferred class the knight has the most health and damage output but because of their heavy armour is also the slowest with the least stamina. Then comes the vanguard, while they do not possess the same tank like nature that a knight has they have a charge ability that no other class has and the most range by far. Then comes the Man at arms. While the man at arms has little to no armour whatsoever they may find them self being killed by single overhead swings however this is put off by the sheer speed of the man at arms compared to all other classes they also have a dash ability that all others lack.

Platform

The heat of battle

While the combat can be occasionally infuriating and the hit-boxes can be wonky I still enjoy it a ton. Overall I enjoy chivalry though it has serious problems at the higher levels I have mostly played with friends and had lot's of fun. It only takes one person taking the game too seriously and being a "ballerina" to ruin the fun so public matches can be increadibly frustrating, especially because they are the only way to level up and unlock new weapons.

Killing enemies results in brutal decapitations

Conclusion

Chivalry can be as much unpleasant as it is pleasant. With a good group of friends you would be hard pressed to find a much  better game, however if you are in a lobby with the wrong people you may end up fuming with little to show for being so. Overall I would recommend Chivalry to somebody that is either looking for a more casual experience or has friends that already play.

Is Dishonoured 2 any good

Is Dishonoured 2 any Good?

Corvo and Emily

Dishonoured 2 is the sequel to dishonoured. Dishonoured 1 was a critically acclaimed action/ adventure, stealth game in which you play Corvo Attano, the royal protector. The reason that the general consensus was that Dishonoured was a good game was the amount of choice it gave the player. Odds are that if you have a tough time sneaking through a part of the game there is a better way to do it if you explore the world. Exploring the well fleshed out world that Dishonoured provided was a joy as well as the powers you received for doing so. Dishonoured 2 is not revolutionary in the way that the first one was, in fact it is more of the same. However this might not be all bad considering how good the first game was, if it isn't broken don't fix it. Dishonoured 2's biggest change was in your ability to chose which character you play. This choice is presented to the player incredibly early and is final, however this is a game that warrants more than one play through so pick whatever your gut tells you. If you played the first game you are going to be instantly familiar as not much has changed in the world of Dishonoured. Corvo has the exact same powers as the first game, however with upgrades, all his powers pale in comparison to his blink, blink is his mobility power. Emily is the opposite her far reach mobility power is incredibly weak however her other powers make up for it's lack of power.  Just like the first game there is the lethal and non lethal play style giving you different endings.

Platform

Two Grand guardsmen on patrol

Emily's childhood drawings

Dishonoured 2 has a terrible PC port. This is evident in the low frames the sluggish mouse. The port is so bad in fact that I can't recommend this game as of right now for PC. There are no such issues on console and I wholeheartedly recommend the game for console. There are several patches being rolled out on PC which may fix the issues although it may not considering it is running on the void engine which is a modified id tech 5 engine with several problems. Overall keep your eye on the game if you are interested but only have a PC.

Conclusion

Dishonoured 2 is more of a good thing. It has improved various systems though in small ways. Dishonoured 2 is not innovative at all, however it is at it's core a good video game. It is compelling to play both play styles and has a compelling story with different interesting tidbits depending on which character you play. 

Is Diablo lll ROS any good?

Is Diablo ROS 3 any Good

Choosing a class

Recently I've come back to what was at launch Blizzard entertainment's biggest disappointment in my eyes, however it has changed a lot since it's initial release. Diablo 3 is a dungeon crawler hack and slash. At launch the hacking and slashing wasn't much fun, however since release they have released new more interesting enemies that enhance the experience from what it once was. Not only this but the loot system has been made better with more interesting drops making the game overall more satisfying. The classes are Barbarian, Crusader, Monk, Wizard, Witch Doctor and Demon Hunter. While people will have their opinions as to which is best I believe they are well balance. Lately the content updates have been getting less common however the developers have recently renewed their support for the game and large updates are on their way in the coming months.

Later on the game fight

Platform

Diablo 3 was harshly criticized for being less like the dungeon crawlers of old of which it inspired. It should also be mentioned that the most recent content, the Diablo 1 dungeon is not very good, I don't believe that it is a sign of what is to come but it should be mentioned. While this remains true it is less so and the hack and slash that it has adopted in its most recent iteration has gotten more fun. As a staple series of the dungeon crawler genre it does not have as much innovation as it should although I admit I am holding it to a higher stranded considering the previous games.

Conclusion

Overall Diablo is a much better game than it was on launch is slowly clawing it's way back to life through the determination of Blizzard. It has made vast improvements since its launch and I believe is worth a try if you enjoyed Diablo 2 or other dungeon crawlers but are OK with a somewhat more casual experience.

Maltheal angel of death

 

Is Warhammer: End-times Vermintide any good

Warhammer: End-times Vermintide

The playable characters

Is Warhammer: End-times Vermintide any good? As an overall game yes as of late, no. Vermintide is a game that takes the Left 4 Dead formula and uses a Chivalry style combat system. This means that there are four players mowing down in this case Scaven with special enemies on the prowl. Chivalry style combat gives it the first person melee combat that is how you will be using to mow down the vast majority of the enemy. You can play as one of six characters, The Waywatcher, Dwarf Ranger, Empire soldier, Bright Wizard and Witch Hunter. They all have different skills and abilities. Whether it be the many guns of the Witch Hunter, the flames of the bright wizard or the shield of the Dwarf Ranger they all play relatively balanced and different. The melee combat is meaty in that when you hit a vermin it feels as though you truly crushed them. This all sounds well and good, however the developer ,Fatshark has put little content into the game since launch. 

Some game play

Platform

The loot system is core to the game. Most of the loot is interesting in how it changes the players play style depending on the type, more rare items have more interesting effects. Overall Vermintide is a good game however it does falter in the area of new contents and the loot system.

Conclusion

 Overall Vermintide is a good game however it does falter in the area of new contents and the loot system. If you are the type of person okay with grinding and like the left for dead formula this game is for you.

Is Elite Dangerous any good

Is Elite Dangerous any 

Large battle

Small portion of the map, each dot is a planet

Elite Dangerous is a open world space simulator. Elite Dangerous simply presents you with a universe and says to make your own fun. With a map that to this day is still being explored by many many players Elite Dangerous is a game that goes incredibly in depth in its rich world building. There are political factions with different leaders within that all contend for power in a way that you can effect simply by being part of the universe. Something you must understand about Elite dangerous before you buy it and that is that it is very much like an MMO, in fact it is to a certain extent. No matter what you are all in the same universe and can effect various things ex: Political power in an area, key events, wealth of an area and what is valuable in an area. However should you choose you may play only ever seeing or being seen by AI ships. Elite is a game that provides in depth ship building that must factor various aspects in. When you begin playing you are taught the basics of how to fly and are thrown into a vast universe that is at the beginning near impossible not to get lost in. Elite is a game that you must truly love space and all things surrounding that, you must also be willing to fully dedicate yourself to the game in a way that most games do not let you do.

Platform
Elite dangerous is a game where you start with nothing but a spaceship and a universe to explore. From that point you may do as you please, however there is a high barrier to entry that could easily turn you off. I can't stress enough that you should be willing to be lost and confused when you first get this game.

Conclusion
Overall I would say that Elite Dangerous is a good game if a little confusing at times. Playing with friends is great fun especially if they know what they are doing and can teach you how to play.

Is Battle fleet Gothic: Armada Any Good?

Is Battlefleet Gothic: Armada Any Good?

Upgrading ships between missions

Battlefleet is a sci-fi RTS set in the Warhammer 40k universe. For the purpose of this format I will not be including the DLC. Warhammer. If you have never played an RTS before Battlefleet is a great introduction and it has a masters degree in the rule of cool. This means that destroying a ship feels like you really did something that mattered, taking down a battleship actually feels like you just destroyed a true Goliath and taking down ships that you are bigger than is a serious power trip. However if you are a veteran RTS player and not a fan of the universe there is not much here to offer compared to some other RTS in the early game especially. The campaign takes place on a campaign map where you will respond to various threats. Whether that be the traitorous chaos forces or the Ork pirates you don't want to lose planets. Should you not respond to a threat in the campaign map or lose the battle when you do respond you lose the planet. This will do things from increase the cost of everything by 1% or maybe you will lose access to something entirely. Either way the campaign is a downward spiral. For completing missions to certain factions within the  Empire. This will give you powerful favours. They can easily define a ship whether that be the Adeptes Astartes making boarding actions more powerful or the inquisition being a powerful reconnaissance ship.

Platform

Main antagonist Abaddon the Despoiler

 Battlefleet is effective at showing grand scale and making you feel like a sci-fi admiral. You truly feel as though you are doing something huge commanding capital ships their moves are very deliberate and while you have the ability to go faster it is limited and you can still be made to regret using your boosters, however it can be incredibly valuable as no ships have the ability to shoot backwards making them vulnerable to a flank. There are many strategies that work for the different factions I would recommend a beginner start with the Imperium as they have the most standard fighting style, grinding down the opponent and taking good engagements. I can't stress enough that the art is amazing in this game adding to the overall battles. Ork pirate ships look as though they are about to fall apart, Imperial ships have cathedrals looming overtop and the ever mysterious eldar have sleek magic sailboats.

Conclusion

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is a fantastic game combining both the players ability to manage risks with turn based strategy and real time strategy. All this comes together blending into what is one of if not the best Warhammer 40K game of 2016.

 

Is Sid Meier's Civilization V Any Good

Civilization V

How turn one looks

Civilization is the epitome of a 4X game. Likely if you have know what they are you know what Civilization is. Explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate, that is what 4X games are about. You start the game with a settler and a simple warrior and begin your civilization, but I'm getting ahead of myself let's start with that you load up the game and press play. You will be shown a list of leaders throughout history. Each and every one of them has a unique perk.  This can be overwhelming, as a beginner I would just pick whatever looks cool and as you play you will learn what they mean. The game does a pretty good job of explaining itself, but I would still recommend watching some videos on how at least the beginning of the game. The soundtrack fits the theme of the game very well but it does get annoying after a while. The biggest appeal to this  game in my opinion is not just that it has cool moments like medieval knights bombed by WW2 bombers, but that you get a feeling of either being the underdog or being a vast empire depending on how good you are at the game. However without the Brave new world and gods and kings expansion this game is regressive from the last game.

Platform

Later game

When you play a game of civilization you are in for a wild ride but you must be willing to wait a long time and play a game that will go on for a very long time. To cut down on the wait either play single player or pit boss mode.

Conclusion 

Civilization V is a must have for anybody that is a fan of the 4X genre and is good for anybody wanting to learn how to play 4X games wholeheartedly should you get both DLC's. In conclusion Civilization V is good if you have the DLC

  

Is Undertale any good

Is Undertale any good

Your best friend Flowey

Undertale is the game that I would recommend to anybody whether they play video games or not. Obviously if you play video games you will get more out of Undertale. Undertale is a love letter to old school RPG's, specifically earthbound and the mother series. It also has meaningful choice in the form of the mercy system. Undertale has many unique and innovative systems, including the combat system which is a combination of classic JRPG and modern bullet hell's. Undertale also has; an amazing soundtrack, a touching story, good pacing and a to die for sense of humour. It has a story that makes you think about you as the player and the way that you affect the world around you with your choices in a revolutionary way. Undertale is a game that makes you think about things that might otherwise go unnoticed. It makes you care about the characters and realize that you not your character you looking at your screen are something more sinister than any enemy in the game could ever be.

Platform

The beginning of your journey

Undertale is perfect for the video game format. What is special about Undertale is its use of you as the player that other forms of media could not achieve do to their lack of participation. Yet that's no all. It manipulates you as the player and subverts your expectations whether that be how to defeat enemies or use of the AI  Undertale is perfect for the video game format. How is the pacing? While it doesn't outstay it's welcome and respects the value of your time, which many if not all games in its genre do not do, it does slow down at some points for what feels like a lore dump.



Conclusion

In conclusion I would say yes Undertale is a fantastic game if you have any interests in old school RPG's. Do to it's inspirations being in the Mother franchise it does have a very similar feel and if you don't like games like Earthbound you won't like Undertale. Other than that I wholeheartedly recommend Undertale and to get the most out of it go in blind and be familiar with genre tropes.  

Am I any good?

Is It any good?

Me

An image of Skyrims main character

 My name is Caleb and I love video games. I always have and always will. Even though I play so much of them does not mean I am the best. I would like to believe that this is because I play such a wide range of games but really who knows? Since I love video games so much and have played so many of them I have decided to create a first impressions blog. First impressions is key because I will not be going out of my way to finish a game with every ending. There are some games with no ending that I will be talking about and at what point can you do a review on those? The game I have played most has to be Skyrim completing every quest three times over. 

 Platform

Dark Souls 3 an incredibly difficult and long game

On what platform will the games I talk about be on. A little bit of everything. Most of more recent games I play will be on PC, however many will be done from other systems. I will say which platform on a case by case basis. Will I be doing a scoring points system? No, it wouldn't make sense with my format to give scores as games will not always have the same amount of time put into them depending on, length, difficulty or if there is even an end.

Conclusion. 

Am I any good? Well I'd encourage you to give me a try. It doesn't cost anything and whats the worst that could happen. Check out all of my blogs as I do them and answer the question, just this once.