Video Game Experience : Personal and Unbiased

Completed : ICO ICO had been in my backlog from a long time. Being exhausted by some of the modern cinematic games,felt the perfect time to indulge into this cult classic. Was worried if this seventeen year old game's dated controls,camera and mechanics would hurt my experience. I would be lying if it didn't, but I was willing to get over them to absorb every compelling moment the game had to offer. These moments along with satisfying puzzles,subtle music and a mystical atmosphere combine in great harmony to give out a strong emotional experience. Also, the unusual save system adds a relaxing element to counter the tense environment. The team has a unique approach to Storytelling. Very few video games are able to tell their story through gameplay relying on repeated forced cutscenes and dialogues. And this kind is so much more affecting. Being trapped in an isolated castle with no one but a mysterious girl, with whom you have to not only escape but als...

Wolfenstein : The New Order (Death incarnate)  Inhale. Count to four. Exhale. Count to four.  Yes, you will need this trick from Captain Blazkowicz and not only for the countless hordes of resilient nazis you will have to slaughter on your way to freedom but also inspiring moments which are a result of excellent writing. The New order tries to make great strides by combining classic shooting mechanics with fast paced action in an alternate Nazi acquired world war setting, but it doesn't succeed to make the jump over its age old issues. The perk system is well defined into categories encouraging to try different approaches and rewards you with further chained abilities accordingly. Stealth is surprisingly very effective and somewhat balances the typical over the top action. And above everything else, the alternate-history world war setting where we attempt to suppress nazis rule over the world in the long captivating journey capturing the emotions o...

Completed : God of War - Ascension My Vengeance ends now. All platinums of the original God of War series done with the last and definitely the least favorite Ascension. Ascension shows how even the worst combination of the God of War formula can still net a game which is still worth it : arguably being the most difficult God of War platinum and it doesn't even have the challenge of the gods. I feel lucky to have done lubed up and trail of archimedes in a few tries. On to the game, as I said the worst combination of the God of War formula with : Kratos's back story which isn't bad but is presented unevenly and adds little to the epic tale. And the combat that has been changed just for the sake of doing something different (when its basically the same which is not a bad thing) but none of the changes seem a way forward. Combat doesn't feel as fluid with a slight delay in response time of block. Interrupting enemy attacks also seems less viable, thus ...

Completed : Ghost of Sparta After the latest refreshing take on the series thought wouldn't enjoy this one as much as I used to. But it's fair to say that I didn't miss the newer one. Also having played it multiple times earlier didn't greatly affect its replay value as was going for the platinum and spartan mode is always worth it. Only the last couple of arena encounters with keres wraiths provided a challenge in an otherwise effortless playthrough in comparison. On to the game, Ghost of Sparta turns out to be a well balanced God of War game almost on par with its console counterparts. The game never turns dull continuing its momentum from start to finish with what God of War is known for. Great enemy variety,lively action set pieces and music to fill in on a journey to Kratos's past with decent (only decent to the high God of War standard) progression reproduces a godly feeling with the same smooth brutal combat. Although, the game could have d...

SAMURAI SOULS Having completed Ninja Gaiden sigma and Dark Souls recently,thought this game wouldn't test me as either did but it quite easily surpasses them in the challenge it presents you with. You don't need the amount of patience, perseverance and understanding one needs in souls games.  or the focus, mastery of highly varied enemy patterns/weapons and the ability to quickly chain timed attacks in Ninja Gaiden. Well, You need them both and always in unison. And more so in the first half of the game with a steep inverse difficulty as well as learning curve.The game does get surprisingly so less brutal to the point where you start to feel over powered with more Artillery at your disposal. Hoped Ni-oh to combine the rpg elements and setting of the souls games with the fast fluid and much deeper revolutionary combat of ninja gaiden. And I wasn't disappointed. SHRINE I admit to being guilty of often trying to experiment and implement the ...

COMPLETED : GOD OF WAR Kratos , who still feels like Kratos only wiser and more characterized is back after a long exile to be found in unknown lands: a Norse setting , a world he doesn't understand. The  focused narrative storytelling  has been given up for a  personal cinematic saga  which I am not a big fan of and it did hurt my experience in the first quarter. Nonetheless, the story of a father and son capturing all their emotions and the development their relationship goes through in the 20 hour long journey with the right pacing, past references, the same twists and turns and moments of brilliance is still interesting if not as epic or motivating  and sets up the future games very well. Understandably, A Fresh approach was needed on the combat front. Gameplay video : Valkyrie Queen (good example of the combat and the best fight in the game) The Leviathan Axe does the job to change it for a more slow strategic system along with a...

Completed :  Dark Souls - Prepare To Die Edition  (7th Platinum) My second souls game after the original  Demon's Souls .. The Tagline  Prepare to Die  although very fitting but one can actually never be prepared to  Die  in this game given its harsh consequences thus living in constant fear and anxiety in a bid to  survive   and yet you will Die, Yes,   Again and Again until you lose count often affecting your sanity . (the platinum surely does) A decision to embark on this undead journey with grim and false hopes of finding  Light through the eternal Darkness  is always worth a second thought. The sheer uniqueness, dreadful setting and epic boss fights with equally matching arenas as well as soundtrack  have made the souls games redefine the fantasy role playing genre qualifying as one of a kind. Arguably, the better game with clearer concepts and more variety and depth in most a...