Recent reviews by Hrizalida

Open worlds nowadays are something that actually scares a gamer like me away. You know - all those points of interest, outposts, and often pointless exploration that gives you nothing but the feeling that you just wasted your time. Well... I can say that this world sucked me in for about 90 hours before I realized I no longer wanted to explore it, having completed most of the content and then focusing specifically on the remaining main story.

Compared to the first game, KCD2 is much more player-friendly. Throwing Henry into a village where it is simply easier to start was definitely the right decision. In the first game it took me about 10 hours to settle in and understand how to actually play (after which KCD2 was announced and I dropped the first game), while here it took me only around 5 hours after the prologue. The game's meticulous mechanics initially scared me off - where after a real-life workday you basically do another job inside the game: forging swords, brewing potions, doing routine tasks. But in practice everything turned out to be much more engaging than expected. Some clunkiness and slowness are still there and do stretch the playtime (for example, the lack of auto-brewing), yet at the same time they undeniably enhance immersion. Once you start treating it as part of the gameplay loop, the game fully pulls you in.

It was a rare case where at the beginning, out of pure ignorance, I searched for videos not about quest walkthroughs, but about how to even start playing the game properly. I admit - I have become a bit too casual as a player these days. I spent around 40 hours in the starting area, either enjoying or suffering through the local rules and life simulation. At some point I got used to it and even started enjoying it. Probably because the level of detail and immersion is so high that it simply does not get boring - at least not too quickly. I would say the game strikes a very well-balanced mix of medieval simulation and gameplay, where routine itself becomes a core mechanic.

Around the 40-hour mark the game started to feel slightly repetitive, and the initial excitement slowly began to fade.

After the mid-game, interest in exploration unfortunately starts to decline (especially if you complete all side quests before unlocking a new region), because there is no longer a real need to clear everything, and you become so experienced that the challenge decreases. Those tense moments - like trying to perfectly handle three opponents at once or cracking a valuable lock - become rarer, and those were some of the most memorable parts for me. Eventually you move from petty thievery in villages to infiltrating castles and estates. Still, even with the best equipment you can absolutely get wrecked by bandits, so player skill and experience still matter a lot.

Around the 70-hour mark the game started to feel slightly repetitive, and the initial excitement slowly began to fade.

I was honestly surprised to see that the game still runs on CryEngine, because visually it can easily rival what once was the technological benchmark - Crysis. Lush green forests, excellent sound design (although some tracks do become repetitive if you stay in the world for too long), beautiful lighting - especially in HDR mode. The work of the artists and designers deserves special applause: you can easily get lost just admiring the scenery and architecture. This will be particularly enjoyable for players interested in medieval history. For those who want to dive deeper, there is an in-game codex and even a very entertaining official YouTube channel. The life simulation aspect, which perhaps impressed me more when I was younger, here simply works naturally and convincingly, making the world feel believable. All gameplay systems feel carefully balanced to keep the player engaged.

Around the 100-hour mark the game started to feel slightly repetitive, and the initial excitement slowly began to fade.

Overall, I would say the quests are about 50/50. Half of them are just regular tasks without anything particularly special, while the other half are genuinely memorable and interesting stories. There are many side quests, and some of them are surprisingly intricate in unexpected ways, which is a definite plus. Closer to the end, some narrative patterns start to repeat, but it is hard to complain too much about that. It can be frustrating when a quest has a hidden timer and you miss a trigger that locks certain content. Even after completing quests, some consequences can later be encountered in the world, which is a nice touch. Still, I occasionally had to check guides to avoid wasting too much time searching for solutions. The good thing is that most quests are not just "map markers" - they are actual stories: funny, sad, or dramatic. Some of them genuinely give you goosebumps.

To avoid making the game sound perfect - quest rewards often feel more symbolic than truly useful, although this depends on your playstyle. And when the game makes you travel back and forth across the map multiple times, it stops being amusing quite quickly. The infamous "bag-carrying" quests are funny the first couple of times, but by the eighth time it becomes a bit too much. The city is huge and changes the gameplay significantly, but you will spend a lot of time running through it, and fast travel points are somewhat limited, which can feel exhausting. The game's budget occasionally shows through, mostly in the reuse of character models.

And of course, the ultimate highlight of the game is its story. Everything related to the main quest and cinematic set-pieces (which are generally great even in many side quests) deserves nothing but praise. Acting, camera work, cutscenes - all are top-notch, and it is hard to believe this is all done within an in-game engine. The meticulous attention to detail in many scenes makes them truly memorable. This is exactly the level of immersion you expect from a large-scale RPG so it does not feel like just another disposable blockbuster. The story is both fun and heavy, and brutally medieval at times. The characters are memorable, and it feels genuinely sad when the adventure finally comes to an end - which is a clear sign of a truly great game.

P.S. I would also like to highlight the localization - the richness of the language is conveyed very well, and native speakers will likely be satisfied.

It was genuinely nice to see a sequel to such an engaging space RTS. Back in the day, the first game pulled me in for dozens of hours.

Unfortunately, this one only managed to hold my attention for a bit over ten.

The game can hook you into multi-hour sessions in a single sitting, but after playing it three or four times, it simply becomes boring.

For me, the opening and the first hour are always interesting: you plan your strategy, carefully choose your research, balance resources between infrastructure and fleet, rush to colonize planets… but then, in the late game, everything turns into a do-or-die slog. When both are at the cap of 2000 units, you frantically chase the enemy fleet across the entire map just to finally finish them off and end the game. In one match, after four hours, I finally caught up with the enemy and that part was done… and then I spent another 30 minutes slowly flying to the home planet just to actually end the game. Along the way, pirates kept attacking me, and small remnants of the enemy fleet tried to sabotage my economy. I ended up having two games exactly like this. After that, I completely lost the desire to try again.

The mechanic where planetary orbits change, sometimes opening shortcuts to desired routes, turned out to be very interesting. But once again, in the late game, even this becomes a drag.

The research tree is enormous, and at times it feels like you’re supposed to research every single tiny thing. In reality, after the midgame, there’s little point in doing anything other than increasing military power. By my third run, I was already automatically researching planet colonization and nothing else.

I never really understood the point of developing “culture.” Sometimes it was established, sometimes it was lost—but what difference does it make if, in 10–15 minutes, the planet might be completely "destroyed" and changed factions?

Apart from war and the occasional alliance to “spam out” other players, there aren’t really any alternative tactics here.

The battles are spectacular, and there’s a large number of ship upgrades. You can click around and experiment to your heart’s content. That said, some ship abilities aren’t very clear in what they actually do—but as long as the stats UI shows that something increases, it feels acceptable.

Maybe I should have tried multiplayer, but unfortunately I don’t have the time for it, so these impressions are based purely on the single-player experience.

Thumbs up overall, because there aren’t many space RTS games these days, and I bought it at a discount. I did get my share of enjoyment, and that’s enough for me. I recommend giving it a try—you might like it more than I did. As for me, I’ll just feel a bit sad that nowadays we don’t have many truly engaging space RTS games, and the ones we do have don’t always manage to keep you hooked through gameplay alone.

A great sequel that’s every bit as good as the original. The first game ended for me after 82 attempts, but this time I got to almost twice as many - 170 nights. I think that’s a good result if a game manages to keep you playing even longer - it took me about 75 hours on NS2 - and, most importantly, it still hasn’t become boring.

At first (or maybe it’s just my age showing), the game seemed really hard. It took me about five hours to more or less get warmed up. From that point on, the game works its roguelike magic and pulls you in for countless evenings. I usually launched it just for one or two runs before bed, but sometimes the randomizer offered such crazy combinations that I ended up playing ten attempts in a row.

I like that there are now two separate routes, each with distinct biomes. Even after that many runs, they never felt repetitive. Though I’ll admit, some traps can be frustrating. This time I even tried the difficulty "modifiers" - managed to clear two nights, but the third one still gives me trouble.

The entire arsenal is viable, and each weapon has its own variations. My favorites were the "orbs" and the "skulls". I also did a few runs with the giant axe, but it requires way too much dodging.

I barely remember the story of the first game, and if you haven’t played it, that’s not really a problem. The story mostly passed me by anyway - in this kind of game, it’s rarely the focus. Some dialogues are genuinely funny, others perfectly skippable. I didn’t encounter any repeated lines, which is impressive. The art and overall style are once again beautiful (though I must say, Aphrodite's new design totally steals the show)

So far, I haven’t played another roguelike that kept me hooked for this long. Usually, I beat them once and move on. But this one still pulls me back, and every run remains enticing.

For its price, it’s an excellent deal.

A solid action roguelike that introduces you to the endless runs of Risk of Rain. Both casual players (like myself) and hardcore build enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy here. There’s a large roster of heroes to suit every taste, a rich variety of items, and plenty of secrets (though unlocking some of them without guides feels almost impossible).

The only drawback is that after about 15 hours, the sense of randomness and discovery begins to fade. At that point, it becomes more about grinding out achievements (which try-hard players will definitely appreciate). That’s where I personally decided to stop. Still, for this price, I was more than satisfied.

It’s always a pleasure to see a big-budget, high-quality game set in the Warhammer 40K universe.

This game delivers spectacular battle set-pieces and breathtaking backdrops that, despite the linear level design, add an epic sense of scale that truly captures the Warhammer spirit. Here, muscle-bound Astartes tear through xenos filth and purge heresy with righteous fury. Massive bolters roar as they cover their brothers' advance. Visually and graphically, the game looks solid and impressively immersive—real gritty warriors in a world where there is only war. The atmosphere is spot-on. Cutscenes and in-engine sequences help with immersion as well… and then the next mission begins.

Unfortunately, I just can't bring myself to praise the gameplay. My opinion is based solely on the campaign—I didn’t have the time or desire to try out the rest. In terms of game mechanics, it feels like a basic action game from around 2010. Most of the weapons feel the same, enemy variety is minimal, and the gameplay scenarios are criminally repetitive. Perhaps the campaign is designed as a gateway into the game's live-service elements—missions, customization, and so on (which I briefly tried before realizing I’m an old man now and don’t have the time for this). But honestly, it didn’t hook me at all. That said, the campaign is short and doesn’t overstay its welcome, especially the jetpack segments, which were genuinely fun. Beyond that, though, I doubt this game will leave a lasting impression on me.

It might be a good fit for those with lots of free time, a group of friends, and a desire to grind through repetitive wave-based missions.

For the most part, it gets a thumbs-up just because I bought it at a good discount. It’s not a disappointment, but I definitely expected more.

I’d say this is a ray of light in the pitch-black abyss of “modern” gaming - but to be fair, it’s not without its shadows either. At first, I mistakenly thought this was yet another UE5 game, but the developers have proven what this engine is capable of in the hands of truly talented people - people who genuinely love video games.

Right off the bat, the game grabs you with an incredibly intriguing opening and a breathtaking visual style. The immersive beginning fully pulled me into a gripping story - one that finally sparked my interest, even as a seasoned gamer who has travelled across countless worlds. And here it is: a new, fascinating world that truly stands out.

Who’s still impressed by graphics these days? Well, these developers managed to do it. Nearly every location feels like a ready-made desktop wallpaper. The detail and artistry of the environments are mesmerising, and I found myself constantly admiring the imaginative work that brought them to life. While the level design is fairly linear and corridor-like, the visual richness of each area is something I’ve rarely, if ever, seen.

There’s a jump button! It may sound odd to point out, but so many games of this kind ignore that simple feature, and it often leads to frustrating moments. Here, however, it’s a fully functional mechanic - though the platforming can sometimes be a bit annoying. Thankfully, such moments are few and far between.

I thought the game was overloaded with visual effects, but I quickly got used to it and continued to be amazed by how stunning it looked. The cutscenes, in particular, are phenomenal. Some of the cinematic techniques used here I’ve never seen before—and they blend seamlessly with the story. The voice acting is absolute cinema. The casting is spot-on, and I don’t think anyone will walk away from this game feeling indifferent about the characters. There are no branching dialogue choices or big decisions, yet the emotional connections between characters feel deep and fully realized.

I’ve always been a fan of JRPGs (even if I don’t play them all that often), and the way the game spices up the core gameplay with various mechanics feels fresh and exciting. Early fights are pretty easy, but after the second act, things really start to demand strategy. The difficulty curve is smooth and well thought out. The boss battles, in particular, are consistently epic - especially in their final phases. The real challenge kicks in during the third act, which is likely designed for build-crafting enthusiasts. You'll have to put serious thought into your mind.

The game's intricate system of passive buffs is one of its most fascinating features. You can juggle these to create deadly ability combinations, and often, your success in battle depends more on the synergy of your passives than on your active abilities. Each character isn’t just a set of skills, but a fully fleshed-out gameplay system with unique mechanics. Sure, that’s a staple in games of this genre - but here, I truly felt that every character was their own complete, thoughtfully crafted experience.

As for the music - it’s often melancholic, but it fits the mood of the game perfectly. These tracks will be sitting in my playlists for a long time.

Now, the downside for me was the endgame content (which is mostly optional and aimed at those with plenty of free time). This is where the game's flaws start to show. There's a lot of backtracking, and because "new abilities" open up new paths, it’s not always clear where you should be going - unless the path is explicitly labeled as “Danger.” I spent several hours trying to figure out the right team and skill combination, just to uncover more of the story.

The absence of a map can make exploration quite tedious - you either try to remember where something was (I took notes!), or you end up looking up guides online. There's also no traditional quest log, which is frustrating because the game does include well-thought-out moments and optional narrative depth. You might just miss them or not understand what to do. Near the final stretch (after a painfully drawn-out level), I lost track of the story and ended up finishing the game more out of inertia than engagement. I still have lots of questions and will definitely be waiting for a detailed story analysis video.

Although the game has some moments that "drag" the gameplay, but there is no obvious cancerous tumor, which most of the large video games suffer from, trying to retain the player. A deep bow to the authors who understood how to captivate the gamer.

Although the ending left me puzzled, it was still an incredible and mature adventure. I can confidently say this game ranks among the best ever made.

If my first couple of attempts at the game initially pushed me away, then on the third try, I got completely hooked for three hours straight.

The game probably has two main drawbacks:
-a rather high entry barrier
-very superficial tutorials (welcome to the manual and YouTube)

However, once you start using your brain a bit (thanks to the modern gaming industry for melting our cognitive abilities), the sheer number of possibilities and the brilliant depth of the mechanics become truly exhilarating. Considering the game was essentially developed by just a few people, it deserves a standing ovation.

The battles here are absolutely brutal and spectacular. Although it takes some time to get used to the slightly sluggish, inertia-heavy combat, the feeling of unleashing a precise salvo from heavy-caliber guns, accompanied by a flurry of visual effects, brings genuine joy. Also worthy of praise is the ship design system. As a kid, being creative felt a lot easier, but even now—after swapping one gun for another and adding a few extra modules—I feel proud that my makeshift vessel can fly and destroy other ships. Of course, I’m joking, but the shipbuilding system is incredibly well-thought-out (people on Reddit have been crafting some impressive creations). The tactical combat system, while not very flashy, is just as engaging—you’ll be issuing orders to launch aircraft and missiles. Equally important is the need to decrypt messages and detect enemies using various surveillance systems.

The visual effects, ambient sound, music, and overall sound design create an incredible atmosphere that fully immerses you—at least once you start winning battles.

A definite thumbs up! It's not the easiest game, but once you get the hang of it, it's a joy. At least for those who enjoy thoughtful and measured gameplay.

Although I didn't last long (lack of vocabulary and patience), this is a very original and distinctive game. I think it will be very good for lovers of dictionaries and dungeon crawlers.

I remember Dungeon of the ENDLESS™ mostly for its mechanics and the need to strategically place heroes and towers. Although the game wasn’t the easiest for me, it left a lasting impression, and I spent enough time with it to remember it fondly. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the trailer for its "sequel" and noticed that the gameplay had shifted more toward horde control. The trailer itself looked very appealing and intriguing. Then the game was released... and I saw all the negative reviews — so I decided to postpone buying it until a better time.

Well, thanks to a discount and zero online activity, the game ended up in my library. Probably the only downside is that you really need two more players to fully enjoy the experience. During my short time with the game, I never managed to find a party. Still, even playing solo, the game turned out to be quite fun.

Sometimes the visual effects do overload the screen, but that doesn’t change the fact that, finally, shooting in this series actually feels satisfying. The game looks really good — I’d even say solid. Strategic placement hasn’t gone anywhere either, and by the third run you start to get a sense of how to distribute your resources and defences to avoid losing. There’s also a large variety of weapons, and by the end you begin to appreciate the different damage types each gun provides. The game features plenty of progression and load-out options for each run, so fans of build crafting will likely enjoy it.

Unfortunately, the game is dead. I’m not a fan of endless live-service games that offer the same thing over and over again, but in this case, it feels like the game was bombarded with negative reviews simply because people didn’t really understand what it was going for.

I believe that if the game had any online presence left, you could easily spend another 10–15 hours in it. On sale, and especially with friends, it’s a pretty decent co-op roguelike with some features.

I was initially drawn in by the pleasant visual style and graphics, and of course by the fact that I enjoy train management games. Unfortunately, it turns out that this is actually a fairly simple puzzle game, where the only real train-related mechanics are switching tracks and looking at different train models - and that’s about it. At least after four hours of gameplay, I was mostly left disappointed, as it seems that for the rest of the game I’ll just be building layer upon layer of elevated rails. Sadly, there are no signaling systems in this “brave new future.”

Because of that, the desire to keep manually switching stuck trains faded pretty quickly, especially since you constantly have to build looped tracks to avoid jams. I didn't have enough depth, with each new level I realized that the next levels would just add a new type of resource and that's it.

I can't say that the game is bad. Maybe I would’ve been more satisfied if I had bought the game at a 50% discount, but at full price, it just isn’t worth the money. People expecting something like OpenTTD should definitely skip this one. It’s my own fault for not reading the game description more carefully. A definite thumbs up to the creator of the trailer, as it is more intriguing than the game actually is.

UPD: Okay, I decided to play by the rules of this game and in fact it can attract you, and building another "sick" fantasy of an engineer you can get stuck for a couple of hours. I even had fun trying to pass the levels to rank "S". Although the argument for the cost of the game remains, I think the game is worth a thumbs up.