Every Games Amazing

Month: May 2021

Is Concrete Genie Amazing? (Review)
Concrete Genie allows anyone to be an amazing painter and bring their creations to life with a full suite of painting tools.
Throwing Ash into the world of Denska that could use some color from its sad dark state.
You are on a mission to fill the world with your creations and utilize your imagination to the fullest in order to bring the world to life.
Is Concrete Genie Amazing? (Review)
Watch this video on YouTube.
Video Timestamps
Table of Contents
Grab a paintbrush, get that creativity flowing, and let’s find out if Concrete Genie is a masterpiece.
Painting the World of Denska
The freedom in painting whatever you want is easily the highlight of the game
Denska is a city that is devoid of life, color, and well, anything you can think of that would exist in the sunshine.
The city has fallen on some hard times and after Ash visits a lighthouse he creates Luna.
Luna is Ash’s first creation and the original Genie in the world.
From there it’s up to Ash to restore Denska to its original glory after many years of struggling.
It acts as the main overworld to the game with a hint of open-world but it is mainly linear with giant spaces for you to traverse and paint on everything.
You will go through a variety of locations, like the docks and sewers, solving puzzles and creating a wide variety of Genies.
While not the most exciting it is a fun diversion
There are collectibles to find and billboards to cover in paint, but the main draw is the lights and many pages throughout the world.
When you paint around the world you have specific paint templates you can use. As well as finding more pages that open up more fun things to use.
Just What’s in a Paintbrush?
You can bring life to a variety of Genies to help you throughout your adventure
The main point may be to bring Denska back to life but the fun comes from painting on everything.
Ash has a giant paintbrush to paint on walls to get further into the city.
You create electric and wind-style Genies to solve puzzles and help Ash on his adventure.
It can be a bit weird since you can call them to your location and a trigger causes them to act.
The electric Genie can start power boxes, so you need to get them to a power box and after a few seconds just hit it with a jolt.
A Wind Genie will push objects out of your way, which is helpful to make certain jumps.
The Genies are extremely powerful be sure to watch out!
I wish that there was a dedicated button to call and have the Genie do an action, rather than just counting on the event to trigger.
It slows down the gameplay to sit and wait for the Genie to realize it is in position, rather than just pressing a button.
Although the Genies are stuck to the wall, it adds to the puzzle element if they can’t reach your destination.
In this case, you would need to move something or close a door for them to pass to where they’re needed.
The core to progression is tied into lighting all of the lightbulbs in a single area, then moving forward and doing it again.
It’s cool to always have a blank canvas to paint on in the city, so let’s move on to discussing it!
Super Paint is the Ultimate Paint
Super Paint makes Painting even more fun!
One of the core mechanics of the game is utilizing Super Paint to paint on certain services.
As you explore the world you’ll come across these dark sections of walls that can’t be painted on by just using normal means.
You’ll need a special Super Paint to paint on these particular walls.
All Genies have special tasks, it’s up to you if you want to help them out!
To get Super Paint you need to help Genies with random requests that pop up. As you play a Genie could ask you to paint something specific in a given area.
If a Genie asks for some stars, just paint some near it and you’ll make it happy. Then you’ll be rewarded with Super Paint!
It’s nice because what you need to paint always flashes white on the menu, so you don’t need to worry about trying multiple solutions!
Throw in the fact that you can paint anything you want around the requests and your imagination can go wild!
Once you have Super Paint you can paint on the special walls and get those out-of-reach lights, once all the lights are lit comes the fun part.
Building a Masterpiece and Avoiding the Bullies
The Masterpiece sections are the coolest part of the entire game
At the end of every section comes the coolest part of the entire game where you can take everything you’ve learned and put it into one giant skyscraper-sized painting.
The masterpiece is said giant building with a blank section that you can fill in with anything and everything you want.
There is total freedom and you say when you’re happy with it to move forward.
It’s a great section and a fantastic way to finish off the level.
The bullies get some back story but they don’t feel like they have any weight
The last thing worth a mention is the Bully’s, they act like the villains of the game.
You can’t do much more than run away from them so they feel like a last-minute roadblock to pad out the game.
Avoiding them isn’t too fun and they are pretty mean to Ash for what feels like no reason. Just there to be there.
Worth bringing up but more like a story point and some added stealth mechanics at the end of the day.
Is Concrete Genie Amazing?
Painting is an awesome mechanic
Concrete Genie is amazing no two ways about it!
The gameplay is super fun, the ability to be creative shines in the world you help to create, and Ash is a fantastic character to move everything forward.
The Genies are always interesting and add a nice dynamic to the painting gameplay.
Overall, it all works together to make a unique game that sets its own rules so you can have the freedom to be as creative as you want.
Concrete Genie is Amazing!
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May 25, 2021
Is ClusterTruck Amazing? (Review)
ClusterTruck is a simple premise wrapped in a fun gameplay loop.
Simply jump from one truck to the other until you reach the goal.
Sounds simple until you realize that that there’s a cluster of trucks and a wide variety of obstacles in your path.
Is ClusterTruck Amazing? (Gameplay and Review)
Watch this video on YouTube.
ClusterTruck Video TimeStamps
Table of Contents
Put on some comfortable shoes because we’re about to run across some trucks!
Learning to Ride the Cluster of Trucks
Trust me, this is way more exciting than it looks.
ClusterTruck is all about riding on the top of trucks and making it to the end of the level, over and over.
That’s the core idea and it’s boiled down to a fine gameplay loop that adds on top of the idea without going overboard.
You’d think that simply jumping from truck to truck would easy, but the challenge comes from there being tons of trucks!
Ok, so it’s a cluster of trucks and you need to jump to the goal.
Every level is roughly a few seconds long but the challenge comes from surviving to the goal.
It’s all about managing your momentum and air control.
ClusterTruck is surprisingly forgiving in the fact that you magnetize to the top of the trucks and continue forward with momentum when you jump.
You’re going to see this screen a lot
That doesn’t mean it gives you any leeway however, it has core mechanics but it expects you to learn and adapt on the fly while it changes the game up in clever ways.
Variety is the Spice of Trucks
Just one of the cool mechanics the game throws at you, zero gravity trucks!
The desert or start of the game keeps it pretty basic with the trucks on the ground and a bit of variety here and there.
Once you get to the second world, The Forest is when things get interesting.
From zero gravity to play with how the levels are structured and how the trucks work.
What ClusterTruck does best is keep you guessing every level, whether it’s adding a new obstacle or changing up something you may have been used to.
It’s always fun and exciting to see what’s next and how to tackle it, which is impressive for a game all about riding on top of trucks.
From riding on rocks to avoiding spinning death wheels it never gets dull from beginning to end as there’s always a new obstacle to overcome.
Ahh yes, trucks one weakness
Get even further and you get to some winter gameplay where the trucks hit the ice and it becomes utter mayhem.
The other cool aspect worth pointing out is that the game instantly loads when you lose.
You’re never waiting too long to get back into the action and try again, which is helpful if it’s tough and taking about 50 attempts per level.
Upgrading Your Truck Jumping
Leveling up your jumping is going to cost you
The thing that surprised me about ClusterTruck is how expensive the upgrades are, they feel few and far between.
Every time you complete a level you get points for your style of jumping across the trucks or getting some major air.
The big issue is that you don’t get too many points per level so it can take a while to amass enough points for even one upgrade.
This is especially true when the upgrades cost 15,000 points or more right from the start.
It can feel a tad tedious to have to grind for such a simple upgrade as a double jump, which is honestly a game-changer and makes everything that much easier.
I suppose it’s designed that way but I sort of wish that they came just a bit faster because you can struggle in the early going until you get your first one.
Is ClusterTruck Amazing?
Jumping on trucks is super fun!
ClusterTruck is amazing, I came into this thinking that I didn’t much care for it.
But once I was able to beat the level I was stuck on I was having way more fun playing than when I was struggling to beat a level.
That’s the core of the game though you beat some levels, get stuck and frustrated but when you do finally beat the level the feeling is fantastic.
It’s a great game that does exactly what it sets out to do and does it well, ClusterTruck is a blast and I couldn’t recommend it more!
ClusterTruck is amazing!
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May 18, 2021
Is The Medium Amazing?
The Medium takes a standard approach and does something unique within its gameplay.
Looking at it head-on, your first impression would be that it is Resident Evil without any combat and a dash more puzzle-focused.
The Medium does bring a unique aspect to the table with its otherworld, but is it enough to call it amazing?
Is The Medium Amazing? (Review and Gameplay)
Watch this video on YouTube.
The Medium Video TimeStamps:
Table of Contents
Let’s jump into the otherworld! Make sure you grab a flashlight and as we jump into this deep dive!
Becoming a Medium
The Medium has one hook and it uses it to the fullest!
The basic breakdown is that you are Marianne, a medium who can go between two different worlds.
I like to call it the Otherworld as you spend a fair amount of time between the two: the normal world and the Otherworld.
The aspect that makes this game interesting is that during certain sections of the game you will inhabit both worlds at the same time, or one or the other depending on what the puzzle is asking of you.
This isn’t to say that the puzzles are anything challenging, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
The game takes you to a creepy building called Niwa to investigate the origin of these crazy powers.
I was surprised the game didn’t do the split-screen style during the recording
From here you’ll be solving puzzles, running from monsters, and jumping back and forth to solve everything in your path.
The game is very linear as you do things in a set path, but since you revisit the same area with some small changes it always feels new and consistently gets more terrifying.
There’s a big mystery to unravel and although it can be a bit confusing, you’re almost always pointed in the right direction.
Flickering into the Gameplay
One of the coolest powers is the bubble shield.
Marianne has a lot of powers at her disposal which is incredibly helpful as she needs as much as possible to take on everything trying to brutally murder her.
The name of the game isn’t combat, it’s all about puzzle-solving for survival.
You enter a room, solve the puzzle and move on, not rocket science here. The biggest problem is when you’re asked to do something fast, like run away from a monster.
This is not well done and at 6:05 I tend to die a lot from a running away section that did not feel the least bit polished.
I got stuck in the environment, ran into a door that immediately killed me, the run button didn’t work, yatta, yatta, yatta. The list goes on. Be sure to watch the video to see just how bad it is!
You’re going to be seeing this a lot and it won’t be your fault.
You’re also shown a mechanic to hold your breath to hide from the enemies, but unfortunately, it is not well done.
It feels like an afterthought like it was thrown in towards the end of development to make the game feel longer. There are no stakes here and the way you hide is pretty funny.
Truly Marianne is Master of the Shadows
You spend a lot of time running through a location, picking up everything that has a button prompt, and then mashing it all together to move forward.
Two separate realms make it all seem like one place with one being more or less destroyed.
Some cool moments utilize the mechanics, such as using time manipulation, tuning a radio to hear into the world, and putting masks on dead husks to help them move on.
But it all boils down to the simple actions of moving this thing to the other thing and hoping that A equals B.
Frame Rate Drops and Other Issues
The Frame Rate can never stay consistent in the real or Otherworld
The frame rate dropped a few times throughout the video, and I take a second to point one out at 20:10.
From my perspective, this was supposed to be the crown jewel of the Xbox Series X, a true first-party masterclass. The game was going to showcase its true power by having two different planes of existence be explorable at the same time.
It all feels hollow the more you play and I realize that while it may not be smoke and mirrors, it didn’t get enough time to fully come together.
I know earlier I mentioned that some of the buttons didn’t feel responsive but it snowballs into a big problem in the chase sections. When you add in an action set piece it should complement the gameplay that is already established, not spin it on its head for intense action moments.
The Medium feels as if it doesn’t know what kind of game it wants to be, whether it’s a stealth game, something more action-heavy running, or just puzzle solving.
It juggles all three and doesn’t quite hit any of the marks.
Is The Medium Amazing?
I think this Medium should look for a different profession
The Medium was supposed to be a showcase of the true power of the Xbox Series X and it just fumbles all over itself.
Once you get past the selling point of being in two worlds at once what’s presented to you is fairly hollow.
If I play any more of the game, I just want to see it completed, not because I’m a diehard fan of the gameplay or story.
I just can’t recommend it due to the flaws and the gameplay that is too all over the place. I think it’s time for this medium to retire.
The Medium is not Amazing
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May 11, 2021
Is Dead Space 3 Amazing?
Dead Space 3 is the combination of Dead Space 2 as well as the original Dead Space.
It takes everything that made the two before it great, enhances it, and brings you an unforgettable space-exploring adventure.
Some necromorphs are hiding in the background however that holds this game back but we’ll deal with them in due time.
Is Dead Space 3 Amazing?
Watch this video on YouTube.
Dead Space 3 TimeStamps
Dead Space 3 Article Links
Let’s once again pick up our plasma cutter, dawn some sweet armor, and crash land into Dead Space 3 to find out if it’s amazing.
Dead Space 3 Came Out at the Wrong Time
2013 was a weird year for video games
Back when horse armor was the DLC of the ages, video games went through something of a transition period to figure out how they could make money off of consumers even past the original purchase.
A lot of it didn’t work or was just money-hungry decisions. No point in sugarcoating it.
One thing that I haven’t thought about in years is that games used to come with one-time use codes to access multiplayer. They were called Online Passes and I’m really glad this never became normal.
When I loaded up Dead Space 3 and before even getting to the menu to start the campaign I was asked to input the code that came in the game box.
As this is a digital game from the Game Pass that now includes EA games I don’t have any way of getting this code.
It kind of bothers me that the game wasn’t updated to remove this relic of the past entirely.
I was not connected to EA Servers at the time and didn’t want to connect
I didn’t want to connect to the EA servers, but if I did I would be able to purchase anything and everything.
If you felt the need to purchase all the best gear and weapons within an hour of playtime you totally could.
I know games do this a lot nowadays, but back then this was pretty unique and sort of crazy to think about when compared to loot boxes today.
Dropping money is never the way I want to experience gameplay rather than the initial game buy-in
I’m more on the side of playing the game to unlock everything rather than just buy your way to victory. Doesn’t mean much when you just purchase the cool weapon rather than doing something nearly impossible in the game to earn and show off.
A good example is taking Halo 3, where to get Recon Armor you had to complete all the 7 Vidmaster Challenges. This included Halo 3 and Halo 3 ODST.
If you completed this you got something worthwhile that could only be achieved in a very specific way to show off in online matches. Though, who doesn’t like showing off a trophy?
Now it’s all about getting lucky in a loot crate or succumbing to gacha by dropping so much money that you force the game to provide.
Dead Space 2 was a complete package from start to finish. Everything in-between as well as a new game is a plus.
Dead Space 3 still has that but at every turn, it tries to somehow, someway ask you to spend money for something. Whether that be a new outfit, gun customization piece, or even more health packs.
World-Building and Stellar Gameplay
What a world to build! Wait, is it getting closer?
The gameplay in Dead Space 3 is the same as it’s been in the first two games with some minor adjustments. It all comes down to the difference with the weapons.
The Necromorphs do get some fun changes and the cool thing is that you get to fight with humans throughout the adventure.
With this you get a crouch to hide behind cover and flank enemies, it works well with a dodge roll and flows nicely into the overall tense gameplay.
The entire opening consists of the entire space angle with Zero-G and worrying about your air consumption.
It acts as a tutorial for the real game which mainly takes place on the planet after an awesome ship crash sequence of course.
Entering the atmosphere is one of the coolest set pieces in the entire game
Once you’re on Tau Volantis the game changes directions rather fast, being more about keeping warm and surviving the countless Necromorphs that have been dormant for who knows how long.
You’ll want to stay warm once you’re on the planet!
This is where you get a lot of the new mechanics and the co-op shines, I didn’t have a chance to play the game in co-op.
That’s not to say that it’s not handled well; it was pretty inspirational at the time of release.
If you play solo the game shows the co-op player (John Carver) in cutscenes but if you play co-op Isaac and John have some conversations and add to the overall experience.
However you want to play, you’ll get a fantastic experience from start to finish.
Customizing Your Weapon You’re Way!
Wait a small med-pack cost how much?
I know I harped on the bench and the monetization back at the start but that doesn’t mean it’s worth overlooking.
The bench is a core part of the experience and is your base of operations as you move forward through the world. The bench is used to upgrade all your weapons, purchase med packs and weapon parts.
The interesting thing is the fact that you can fully modify all your weapons to mix and match them to whatever you want.
You want Hydraulic engines? We got them in stock!
You can piece together any weapon you can dream of with the parts you pick up throughout your adventure.
Want to add electricity to a shotgun, flamethrower to the top of a pistol, how about saw blades to a machine gun? You can do all this and more.
As long as you have the part or materials to makeshift it then you can build it.
Brings everything to a close in the best way possible!
You can even take it a step further and upgrade your weapons by adding in circuits.
Circuits will add extra damage, more rounds before reload as well as faster reloads, and much more.
You can truly build your special weapon and while not too good today back in 2013 you could even share your creation with other players; it was pretty unique and fun to see what other people come up with.
Is Dead Space 3 Amazing?
Brings everything to a close in the best way possible!
Dead Space 3 is amazing!
A lot of the problems I bring up at the top of this review and during the video don’t apply to the game now.
These were issues that were in a lot of games in 2013 as developers tried many different ways to get money out of the consumer.
Now the game is a solid play through all these years later, it’s scary, tense, and fun as hell!
You get all the best parts of the original two games wrapped into improved gameplay, interesting locations with a solid story throughout.
Highly recommended to go grab a plasma cutter for one last thrill ride alongside Isaac.
Dead Space 3 is Amazing!
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May 4, 2021