Recent reviews by Negan

Hard to imagine that the original version came out in 2002, nearly 25 years ago. To this day, I don't just think of Mafia as a project where you get to play as the villain, it's more of a statement. You get to experience the rise and the struggle of Tommy Angelo, a driver-turned-gangster overnight.
I still remember playing the classic Mafia, and I felt the same excitement while playing the Definitive Edition. Though I wish it were longer in terms of storyline, it's still an interesting title and it's worth checking out.

It is a nice puzzle game, though it gets repetitive quickly. It's a good alternative for moments when you need to take a break from other titles and simply wish to chill for a bit. I'll definitely check out other similar games in the future

We're in 2008. I got my hands on GTA 4 back when I had an old beige computer. At first, I couldn't even play it because my graphics card wasn't good enough to load the textures, everything would just turn blue the moment I got into the car with Roman. I ended up buying a new card (a Radeon with just a few MBs back then) and finally managed to play it. Right from the start, the theme song gave me goosebumps, a feeling that has stuck with me to this day. It is and will always be my favorite GTA, carrying so many memories and a dose of nostalgia that I still revisit from time to time. I decided to buy it on Steam as well, just to see it in my library and keep that childhood memory alive.

This one is an underrated gem and I've had this game for some years but played it for the first time only now. I'm a big fan of detective games and Murdered Soul Suspect doesn't disappoint at all when it comes to the gameplay experience. While there are moments that might feel boring, such as listening to side characters' stories, the game still deserves a chance.

A classic title, along with its sequel. Although this one is harder to beat and sometimes requires multiple attempts to finish an objective, it laid the foundation for many games to come, and its impact is undeniable. What Valve achieved deserves to be studied thoroughly, you simply cannot look the other way when Half-Life is the definition of history in the making.

How come I've never given a chance to this series? I'm a little ashamed to say the least when it comes to me admitting that I finally played these two games when I started to get into stuff that I didn't touch from my library.
The influence is simply massive because you feel the footprint of Half Life in many games. I won't spoil why that happens so I'll let you discover it but believe me, playing Half Life is worth it.
One last thing: I finally understand why many people crave for a third title.

While I initially disliked this game a lot, and I mean a lot, since I hated most of its features and missions (they are still too repetitive and sometimes boring, especially the side quests), the storyline is what brought me back to finish it, instead of letting it sit forgotten in my Steam library.

The parkour is probably one of the best things about this game, it is satisfying to jump from one building to another, and everything feels smooth. I still believe Dead Island 2 is a better project overall, though they are different and I assume they cater to different types of players. If you want a fun, sometimes goofy game with many funny moments, go with Dead Island 2. If you're into games that focus on the apocalyptic side of zombie lore and interesting survivor stories, go with Dying Light 2.

Side note: The first Dead Island and the Dying Light series share the same developer, Techland, whereas the second installment in the Dead Island saga was developed by Dambuster.

Back 4 Blood is the spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead 2, and I feel this every time I play it. While the pressure is on its shoulders to deliver a title as memorable as L4D2 (many people still play it 15+ years later) is really high, I feel like B4B pretty much delivers what it's supposed to: an addictive game experience even in single-player mode. Definitely grab the standard version when it goes on sale and when it comes to the DLCs, they are way too expensive in my opinion, so maybe keep an eye out for them when they are discounted.

Taking into consideration that SE4 came out in 2017, if I recall correctly, and this one was released in 2022, there is a five-year gap between these titles. Was this game worth the wait? To give you a short answer: yes.

Things I liked about SE5:
- Two mission approaches: You can either stealth your way through the level or go "all loud", depending on your playstyle. Although it takes quite a long time to complete all objectives (including secondary ones) while playing strictly in stealth, I found a good balance by combining both approaches.
- Visuals: This is pretty obvious, so I won't go into further detail.
- Varied maps and an interesting storyline: I didn't feel like I was playing the same level twice; there was always something new or different compared to the previous mission.

Things I disliked about SE5:
- Excessive DLC: A lot of content should have been included in the Deluxe Edition. The additional DLC feels like a cash grab and highlights the developers' greed.
- Survival Mode: It’s interesting at first but gets boring quickly. This isn't because of the "wave defense" mechanic, but because the maps are unnecessarily long. The fact that enemies are randomly getting close to you (not instantly after a round starts) doesn't help either.

Final thoughts:
I enjoyed SE5 more than I expected and I am hopeful for the next title, I mean SE6, not Resistance, since Karl Fairburne is not the protagonist of that one. You won't regret purchasing this game unless you expect an extensive campaign or captivating alternative game modes.

I mean it's fun and you're the one who gives a purpose to this game. Plenty of funny moments with your friends.