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It’s Mario Kart. Has it ever been anything but great?
«Can’t stop playing»
Very good.
Final Fantasy XII is arguably the best final fantasy to date. It's the most well rounded and feature complete of all the entries, with stellar presentation to top it off. The Zodiac Age improves upon the original in all aspects.
Compared to other Final Fantasy entries, FFXII's story is significantly more grounded. It follows the political turmoil in Dalmasca, a country caught between two warring nations. Thus, the plot can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but I feel it does a good job introducing new people, cities, nations, and locales throughout the game. The cast is brought together by circumstance, unified by the desire to protect their homeland. I find Vaan and Penelo (the first two characters) annoying at times, but the rest of the cast are stellar, charming, and have great character arcs. One clever advantage to having Vaan, a mostly naive, politically insignificant youth, as a main character is that he serves as the player's window into the world of Ivalice. Without him, contextualizing the world might have been more challenging.
The story is mostly voice-acted, with only a few sequences lacking voices. Animations, with one or two exceptions, look great and natural. I had no issues getting immersed in the world and enjoying the story.
Combat occurs in the overworld, without any random encounters and seperate battle screens like previous FF games. You have three active characters at a time, and control one of them directly. The other two use "gambits" to govern their behavior. Gambits are a fully customizable AI system that lets you tell characters what actions to take ("Use Potion") and when to take them ("Ally<70% HP"). You have to purchase various gambits, restricting your strategies early on when you don't have the funds to do so. They really should have given you all of them at the start. I would have also liked to see more than 3 active characters at once.
Character development uses the new "License" system which you use to unlock the ability to wield better equipment, cast spells, and get stronger. The Zodiac Edition overhauled this system by splitting up the License Board into 12 distinct classes each with their own unique board. This was a welcome change that encourages a more diverse party than in the original. Only your active party gains experience from combat, but everyone gains License Points regardless if they were active or not. This lead to me favoring a few characters who ended up 15+ levels higher than the rest of the party by the end of the game.
Some mechanics can be a bit cryptic. The descriptions of spells, weapons, armour, and weapons are all lacking. The Bazaar system and some hunts are also poorly explained. The Final Fantasy wiki helps with all these things, and I highly recommend searching anything you're unsure on.
The Zodiac Edition brings a lot of visual, audio, and game balance changes. It also brings New Game+, Trial Mode, and New Game-, all of which are unlocked at the start of the game. The voices do still sound a bit tinny, however. The changes that I most enjoyed were:
60+ fps
Speed Mode (I can't imagine playing this again without 2x and 4x speed)
Minimap overlay
License Job System
Max LP/Gil (while I didn't use it in my 30 hour playthrough, you can circumvent any grinding with these options)
Achievements (gives more motivation to do hunts and post-game superbosses)
I recommend FFXII to all fans of JRPG's. Its grounded story and gambit system remain a unique experience to this day.
Compared to other Final Fantasy entries, FFXII's story is significantly more grounded. It follows the political turmoil in Dalmasca, a country caught between two warring nations. Thus, the plot can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but I feel it does a good job introducing new people, cities, nations, and locales throughout the game. The cast is brought together by circumstance, unified by the desire to protect their homeland. I find Vaan and Penelo (the first two characters) annoying at times, but the rest of the cast are stellar, charming, and have great character arcs. One clever advantage to having Vaan, a mostly naive, politically insignificant youth, as a main character is that he serves as the player's window into the world of Ivalice. Without him, contextualizing the world might have been more challenging.
The story is mostly voice-acted, with only a few sequences lacking voices. Animations, with one or two exceptions, look great and natural. I had no issues getting immersed in the world and enjoying the story.
Combat occurs in the overworld, without any random encounters and seperate battle screens like previous FF games. You have three active characters at a time, and control one of them directly. The other two use "gambits" to govern their behavior. Gambits are a fully customizable AI system that lets you tell characters what actions to take ("Use Potion") and when to take them ("Ally<70% HP"). You have to purchase various gambits, restricting your strategies early on when you don't have the funds to do so. They really should have given you all of them at the start. I would have also liked to see more than 3 active characters at once.
Character development uses the new "License" system which you use to unlock the ability to wield better equipment, cast spells, and get stronger. The Zodiac Edition overhauled this system by splitting up the License Board into 12 distinct classes each with their own unique board. This was a welcome change that encourages a more diverse party than in the original. Only your active party gains experience from combat, but everyone gains License Points regardless if they were active or not. This lead to me favoring a few characters who ended up 15+ levels higher than the rest of the party by the end of the game.
Some mechanics can be a bit cryptic. The descriptions of spells, weapons, armour, and weapons are all lacking. The Bazaar system and some hunts are also poorly explained. The Final Fantasy wiki helps with all these things, and I highly recommend searching anything you're unsure on.
The Zodiac Edition brings a lot of visual, audio, and game balance changes. It also brings New Game+, Trial Mode, and New Game-, all of which are unlocked at the start of the game. The voices do still sound a bit tinny, however. The changes that I most enjoyed were:
60+ fps
Speed Mode (I can't imagine playing this again without 2x and 4x speed)
Minimap overlay
License Job System
Max LP/Gil (while I didn't use it in my 30 hour playthrough, you can circumvent any grinding with these options)
Achievements (gives more motivation to do hunts and post-game superbosses)
I recommend FFXII to all fans of JRPG's. Its grounded story and gambit system remain a unique experience to this day.
My Version Oofyoofoof's Basics Better Version (2021)
«GTA IV» presents an impressive rendition of «Liberty City» – a metropolis inspired by «New York City». The city comes to life thanks to incredible detail and an authentic atmosphere. Every district, every alleyway, every building has its own unique shape and design, making the game world remarkably vibrant and diverse.
Engine:
The game utilizes the then-new «RAGE» game engine, which provided stunning graphics, a physics engine, and incredible visual effects. This engine allows for realistic details of the surrounding world and a dynamic environment.
Physics:
The physics and character behavior collision were handled by the procedural animation tool - «Euphoria». It brought an unparalleled level of realism to the game. Characters in the game react to the surrounding environment and situations in real-time, creating unpredictable moments in gameplay.
Atmosphere:
The game is steeped in a dark and moody tone that envelops the player from the first moments. The narrative demands it and meshes perfectly. Even with numerous humorous elements, the game consistently maintains a tense and intense mood.
Realism:
«GTA IV» decided to move away from the arcade-like and comedic elements of the first three games. There's no abundant blood, severed body parts, miniguns, or tanks. Everything is maximally realistic. Even to the extent that when the protagonist runs out of ammo, he drops the weapon on the ground.
Freedom of Choice:
One of the key features of «GTA IV» is the ability to choose your path in the game. Players can decide the fate of characters in several missions. Kill or spare. Kill one character or another. This will inevitably impact the storyline.
The Protagonist Is the City:
The city becomes not just a backdrop for action but an active participant in the story. «Liberty City» lives its own life, influencing the protagonist and shaping his character and destiny.
Multiplayer:
15 game modes. «Races», «Turf War», «Cops 'n' Crooks», or just «Free Mode», where you and other players can do whatever you want. Later, this idea was maximized in «GTA Online». In 2010, my friend and I spent countless hours exploring multiplayer. It was an unforgettable experience.
«Grand Theft Auto IV» - is a game that impresses with its scale, realism, and depth. It offers an unparalleled mature experience and becomes a gold standard in the open-world genre.
You know, for me this game is beautiful like a prototype of «New York City »(Liberty City) and «New Jersey» (Alderney). I, like many who dream of going there, have done it virtually! Bravo, «Rockstar Games», the urbanists and game designers for this visualization! I could walk the streets for hours or drive slowly, exploring every alleyway. Walk into an open location and watching pedestrians. The game looks realistic even now.
Years later, it's not outdated, but infused like grandpa Giovanni's good wine, which he just pulled out of the cellar to treat his guests.
Engine:
The game utilizes the then-new «RAGE» game engine, which provided stunning graphics, a physics engine, and incredible visual effects. This engine allows for realistic details of the surrounding world and a dynamic environment.
Physics:
The physics and character behavior collision were handled by the procedural animation tool - «Euphoria». It brought an unparalleled level of realism to the game. Characters in the game react to the surrounding environment and situations in real-time, creating unpredictable moments in gameplay.
Atmosphere:
The game is steeped in a dark and moody tone that envelops the player from the first moments. The narrative demands it and meshes perfectly. Even with numerous humorous elements, the game consistently maintains a tense and intense mood.
Realism:
«GTA IV» decided to move away from the arcade-like and comedic elements of the first three games. There's no abundant blood, severed body parts, miniguns, or tanks. Everything is maximally realistic. Even to the extent that when the protagonist runs out of ammo, he drops the weapon on the ground.
Freedom of Choice:
One of the key features of «GTA IV» is the ability to choose your path in the game. Players can decide the fate of characters in several missions. Kill or spare. Kill one character or another. This will inevitably impact the storyline.
The Protagonist Is the City:
The city becomes not just a backdrop for action but an active participant in the story. «Liberty City» lives its own life, influencing the protagonist and shaping his character and destiny.
Multiplayer:
15 game modes. «Races», «Turf War», «Cops 'n' Crooks», or just «Free Mode», where you and other players can do whatever you want. Later, this idea was maximized in «GTA Online». In 2010, my friend and I spent countless hours exploring multiplayer. It was an unforgettable experience.
«Grand Theft Auto IV» - is a game that impresses with its scale, realism, and depth. It offers an unparalleled mature experience and becomes a gold standard in the open-world genre.
You know, for me this game is beautiful like a prototype of «New York City »(Liberty City) and «New Jersey» (Alderney). I, like many who dream of going there, have done it virtually! Bravo, «Rockstar Games», the urbanists and game designers for this visualization! I could walk the streets for hours or drive slowly, exploring every alleyway. Walk into an open location and watching pedestrians. The game looks realistic even now.
Years later, it's not outdated, but infused like grandpa Giovanni's good wine, which he just pulled out of the cellar to treat his guests.
«Blew my mind»
«Can’t stop playing»
«Orcades» is a mod offering a new mystery adventure on an island within the «Gothic» universe.Players who love the original game and are looking for new challenges or different changes to the story or world may find it interesting.
The atmosphere we lost...
MINUSES
- Color correction.
Brightness and contrast at maximum. It feels like I'm in the tropics.
- Rhobar II.
King Robar II has gone from a gray-haired old man to a mature man tossing cups.
- Horror.
Swords in the body, guts, blood everywhere. Gothic is not horror. The developers in 2001 were able to convey the atmosphere without all that.
- Character.
The protagonist from the original was all calm and with a sense of humor. The new protagonist is very emotional and insecure.
- Music.
Completely different style, not revealing the atmosphere. More suited to pirates and tropical adventures.
- Gigantism.
Everything is prohibitively huge. Whether it's a swap meet pad or a barbican with a grid.
- The combat from «FOR HONOR».
I really don't like this combat. Just made for consoles.
- Checkpoints.
Saves don't work, still refers to the checkpoint.
- Diego.
Diego is now an imposing and mannered Zorro.
- Bloodwyn.
Bloodwyn is now a man of a different race.
- Freezes.
Freezes on a system with GTX 1660 S, AMD Ryzen 7 2700x and 16 GB RAM. Unbelievable.
- Invisible Walls.
Invisible walls restricting the main thing. Freedom to explore.
- Camera.
Camera when fighting in the woods, rests against a tree and as a result you can't see the enemy.
- Dialog System.
The dialogue system with a choice of answers, I personally do not like. Again, the console version.
- Diego will remember this . Why, Diego?
PLUSES
+ The guardian's armor is recreated well.
+ «Herr Mannelig» on the lute played by the guard at the gate.
+ «A Decent Weapon» and «Orry's Headache» are the only canonical Gothic-style missions
MINUSES
- Color correction.
Brightness and contrast at maximum. It feels like I'm in the tropics.
- Rhobar II.
King Robar II has gone from a gray-haired old man to a mature man tossing cups.
- Horror.
Swords in the body, guts, blood everywhere. Gothic is not horror. The developers in 2001 were able to convey the atmosphere without all that.
- Character.
The protagonist from the original was all calm and with a sense of humor. The new protagonist is very emotional and insecure.
- Music.
Completely different style, not revealing the atmosphere. More suited to pirates and tropical adventures.
- Gigantism.
Everything is prohibitively huge. Whether it's a swap meet pad or a barbican with a grid.
- The combat from «FOR HONOR».
I really don't like this combat. Just made for consoles.
- Checkpoints.
Saves don't work, still refers to the checkpoint.
- Diego.
Diego is now an imposing and mannered Zorro.
- Bloodwyn.
Bloodwyn is now a man of a different race.
- Freezes.
Freezes on a system with GTX 1660 S, AMD Ryzen 7 2700x and 16 GB RAM. Unbelievable.
- Invisible Walls.
Invisible walls restricting the main thing. Freedom to explore.
- Camera.
Camera when fighting in the woods, rests against a tree and as a result you can't see the enemy.
- Dialog System.
The dialogue system with a choice of answers, I personally do not like. Again, the console version.
- Diego will remember this . Why, Diego?
PLUSES
+ The guardian's armor is recreated well.
+ «Herr Mannelig» on the lute played by the guard at the gate.
+ «A Decent Weapon» and «Orry's Headache» are the only canonical Gothic-style missions
«Buggy as hell»
Just amazing. Finally got a Playstation, and after years of being excited about this, I finally got the chance to play it. It completely met my expectations. It's writing is about as good as it gets in games, and while I think it follows a few too many zombie tropes, the characters are good enough to overpower that. The sound design, the lighting, the handheld look of the cutscenes; it all works. Could play this five more times.
«Blew my mind»
The visuals from Superhot + the tactical chess-like gameplay from Into the Breach + the deck buildung and mission design from Slay the Spire. Overall just a super fun game, which hopefully gets more polished and better balancing while in early access. Looking forward to the full release!
This is exactly what we want to see in the remake! Atmosphere, color grading, music. Everything is realized at the height. Thanks!
«Blew my mind»
«Constantly dying and enjoy it»
Best game you can play handheld on switch
I've played the first one last year and I actually prefer it over this sequel. Little Nightmares 2 feels more like some leftover ideas from the first one, which are stitched together in some weird ways. The enemy design and overall graphics are totally lovely and some gameplay mechanics are pretty neat, but I think it would be a much better game if it would be as short and dense as part 1. Especially the "combat" and the last level are just super tedious and it's sometimes a little bit too much trial and error for my taste. Besides some terrible game breaking bugs, there has been a few moments where I just didn't know what to do. This rarely happens to me. Little Nightmares 2 is still a good game, but throwing in some cool new mechanics and that ending doesn't automatically make it better. Imo, the first one has a much better world design, story telling and atmosphere. Nightmares 2 has some really brilliant moments, but fails as an overall idea and concept when compared to it's precursor!
Horrid FPS regardless of settings on a mid-tier PC.
No controller camera invert option.
No remap for controller or PC keybinds.
Unacceptable.
No controller camera invert option.
No remap for controller or PC keybinds.
Unacceptable.
Beaten 2/27/21
My one negative is the lack of a story. They could have turned the whole chaos thing into a grand epic but instead of get a "Baby's First Book". That aside, the gameplay is rather quite enjoyable.
Date Completed: 2021-03-01
Playtime: 77h (Failed around turn 90, 2nd time completed the long campaign)
Enjoyment: 9/10
Recommendation: I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
The menu organization, advertisements, and just overall vibe of this game feel so out of place in modern gaming.
The fighting itself is very good, but I wish they would give this series a better identity to update for a western audience. It feels very of a time and out of place.
The fighting itself is very good, but I wish they would give this series a better identity to update for a western audience. It feels very of a time and out of place.