Just a small rant / reviews. I having a big issue atm. All game Im playing doesnt have the hook or joy when playing because there always been small things that triggered me or it just Im not in right mood. As you all know, just like watching anime I always move from one game to completion before moving to another. Thus, here are recent games that I installled, I played and I doesnt feel the urge to continue
1. Doom Eternal
This game gave much bad impression than doom 2016. It emphasized on "online account" remind me of mobile game or live service game where you are kinda forced to play everyday, doing all sort of challenges to unlock more level & skin. Granted all these progression are separated from the single player progression, but it indeed left sour taste in my mouth.
Biggest problem with doom eternal is definitely difficulty spike. At first, I have hard time adjusting myself since they expect you to know all the mechanic in original doom as well adding tons of new mechanic for you to juggle. If doom 2016 was fun boomer shooter, doom eternal is spectacle shooter which expect you know all sort of glitches. When playing on ultra violence difficulty, it feel like im headless chicken where I will be punished if i killed enemy too quickly (as you only regen health, ammo & armor when using specific mechanic) and game is super hard when in close quarter (3rd mission had me dying several times already. I never feel in "the game flow" and platforming section for secrets it made this game even more cartoony.
2. Devil May Cry HD Collection
Playing 1st game seem weird since I already finished most of the other games in the series. So far Im liking the environment / short mission level but somehow I got wrecked by 1st boss in the game. I dont remember game being hard aside from DMC 3 long time ago. Nevertheless, I managed to kill it after watching youtube. I just never in correct mindset to play it atm.
3. Ark Survival Evolved
With upcoming ark game giveaway on epic games store, I thought I want to research a crafting survival games for me & my coop buddy. We already played so many other crafting survival & thought this would be perfect. Except the game is not exactly "smooth" as I wanted. The game emphasized on huge map as well as focusing on playing multiplayer with 50++ players per server. Thus, it will take some effort to do everything on the map.
The game also have weird story progression, where you have some sort of small goal before you reach ascension. This ascension is basically what the end goal of each map, which you will continue in another map. Kinda weird since it is not like mmorpg where you have quest progression with huge sprawling zones. Regardless, the tricky part is that the difficult is not suitable for 1 or 2 person at all. There are tons of sliders where you can modify your gameplay, but alas the single player setting they game made harder to understand everything since it unlocked new techs way too fast.
4. Supraland
Weirdly enough, I enjoy the game so far. It have middle ground between a first person hack & slash as well as a collectathon (where you go all places collecting coins) as some sort of progression. I thought the game is a bit silly & doesnt have good tutorial, but once you get the first ability in first town as well as your double / triple jump, game became much more fun as they throw some puzzles & platforming section. I still early first hours, only stopped because I had to go for lunch.
5. Godfall - Challenger Edition
A weird next gen looter slasher game that seem beautiful on paper, but it didnt left me good impression. I though got the full version on epic game store, but turned out, it was just the "endgame endless looter" mode. At first it allowed you play 1 mission of the story which work as tutorial at same time. The game feel like middle ground between methodical combat (souls series) and spectacle fighter (DMC series). Problem is, with lack of combo / ability in the beginning, it felt shallow even to a point where you unlock your "avatar" which have pro/con in its power.
The game then give you like power boost to max level (since endless looter only started at end of story) thus I was give way too many new mechanic to learn from new ability, passive to unlock, new weapons type and endless more customization. I simply too overwhelmed, so i just jump straight to the mission. Turned the game still feel shallow despite you have more ability to use and at that point, I just straight uninstalled it.
5. The Hunter - Call of the Wild
Another game that I thought I would enjoy it. This game is pretty much a hunting sim where you have given a rifle, some ammos as well as some tools in order to hunt animals in the map. The map is huge with tons of places to go from lakes, dense forest, open field, high mountain as well as several outpost in order for to scout around. The required you to be patient, wait up to several minutes as you learn about your prey. Track their footstep, learn animals feeding, drinking or resting area, and when you finally found them, be ready to take a shot.
The game is chill no doubt. But I bored with it, mostly because I think your movement speed is way too slow as well as animals always run away despite you trying to approach it like stealth game. Only time animal wont move around if you wait at specific spot for very long time. Considered how "realistic" & tedious the game is, I think I just uninstall it despite I did have some fun. Mostly because I rather play a game where it is easier to measure a progress, and this game is way too slow.
Honorable list
I think if I continue doing this kinda of long review, it will take too much spaces / time to write them so here are about 10 or so other game that I have installed that I have issue to continue playing.
Loop Hero - Ugly pixelated graphic, game relied on waiting a loop / thing to happened. Nothing much explaiend
Submerged Hidden Depths - This scream indie, and I can feel the lack of polish. Havent touch since i cleared 1st level.
Outward - Open Sandbox Souls-like. This game feel like I need to read whole dictionary to know what I need to do next.
Maneater - Decent arcade-ish shark simulator. Fun first level, but I dunno Im not in mood. Maybe i should try it again.
Cris Tales - Game that I thought I wanted, but disappointedly with its first impression. Gorgeous graphic, but lacking something
Hue - Another indie 2D platformer. Puzzle too easy and take too much time. Every seconds I play I wonder why it was design to be this sloth
A Plague Tale Innocence - Another good indie title, but feel restrictive in its story. Explore -> stealth -> high rush game cycle pretty much
Baba is You - This game is way too difficulty for my brain, I would enjoy it have better graphic tbh. Havent play for a while
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build - Easy puzzle game, but take too long with its animation. Too basic despite good game
Skatebird - Who the heck think putting skateboard with goat simulator physic is good. I rather play tony hawk 1 & 2 on emulator
CrossCode - Another cool game that I forgot, since it is under itch.io launcher that I rarely open. Decent 1st impession, i still dont like pixel art
Civilization 6 - I feel regret that I bought the new frontier pass, since I have been in right mindset to play it again. I rarely finished 1 game
Final Fantasy 10 - This game have been installed on my pc for more than 1 years and I still havent launch it. Again, not in right mindset
A Hat in Time - Another decent indie collecathon game, my problem is that aside from platforming & collecting, game feel not rewarding.
Insurmountable - Unique climbing planning / resource management game. Kinda have narrative & somehow with roguelike + timeloop??
Solitarica - Fun solitaire game with a twist of rogue-like. Seem the game relied on RNG way too much & super grindy.
Dishonorable list
Have you ever been trying to give a game a chance and give super low expectation and the game still failed to deliver? This is my current issues with Diablo Immortal. I have been playing every for 2 months until I got hooked with Monster Hunter World. I thought I want to give DI a chance because this is exactly what I imagined as evolution of D3.
Despite game is focused on multiplayer, and Im just merely single player person, all those new features they added really bring joy to try especially when you imagine the game is playable on mobile. My biggest problem is the game is dumbed down to a point that I dont feel worth my time. I thought I could at least rush the story mode until the end and make a review, but the game insist putting a level gate where you are forced to do all other activities, most specifically the shadow / immortal stuff to get most exp.
I havent played a while, it doesnt have the hook like genshin which is my staple "casual daily game" that replacing hearthstone (or slay the spire in the past).
I feel like i just need to deep breath and maybe stay away from computer for a while.