Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days – Early Access Impressions

It’s time to survive the zombie apocalypse in Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days—or at least try to before being turned into a human shish kebab. Into the Dead is a 2.5D platformer in the style of This War of Mine where the war has been traded for an extremely hostile undead world—so good luck, meatbag! While I think the mechanics work fine, I unfortunately do think the game becomes a little boring and grindy, just like This War of Mine after a while. Let’s get into it!

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Splinter Cell: Conviction – Sam Going Loco [Review]

The one Splinter Cell game that, in my opinion, got the most flak. Not totally undeserved, but perhaps the critique was a tad harsh back when it was released. People wanted more of the slow, duct-crawling stealth kind. Instead, we got commando Sam Fisher, who has no problem with murdering people to the left and right for the slightest of reasons. This felt off with a lot of people. However, I think Splinter Cell: Conviction fits perfectly in the Splinter Cell lore. Sam is a loose cannon, and without anyone guiding his actions—he is just a brutal killer, especially when fueled by vengeful revenge. Having Sam go crazy with bloodlust, makes narrative sense in the grand story of Splinter Cell.

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007 First Light – An Update of Despair

I’m actually taken aback a little by how I feel about 007 First Light, and usually I’m pretty lenient towards these movie‑type games. Let’s just say if the story and the presentation dazzle me (jingle keys!) with a semi-competent gameplay loop, I’m essentially sold. So, while 007 First Light sure has the presentation down, and most of the moment-to-moment action gameplay—I’m having a serious issue motivating myself to continue Bond’s adventure.

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007 First Light – First Impressions

007 First Light is here and, technically, it’s a marvel of programming engineering and semi-competent gameplay design (at least half the time). It runs like a dream and looks the part too. However, as with all dreams, it’s easy to wake up and be ripped out of the state of bliss—meaning: it’s got problems.

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Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia – Borscht for the Masses

It’s time for the final game in the Assassin’s Creed Chronicles series. We are now in Russia, and we will get to stick our bayonet into both proto-commies and Brotherhood members. A welcome change, indeed. Unfortunately, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia is probably the worst of the lot, despite it having the coolest setting, and probably the best narrative. It starts out relatively well, but then it embraces all the painful mechanics of the other titles in the series, and turns it up to eleven.

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Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream – Demo Impressions

My next title on the Steam NextFest repertoire is Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream. It’s a beautiful stealth game viewed from an isometric viewpoint. The premise and setting reminds me of A Plague Tale: Requiem, but with a brother sidekick that isn’t the bearer of rat demons – yet. The visuals and the story are very charming, and detailed. But what about the gameplay?

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