Every Games Amazing

Tag: Xbox Series X

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
Is SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE Amazing?
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE takes the first game and rather than improve on the formula it reinvents itself into a rogue-lite.
Putting the story and mystery more on the back burner it focuses on delivering fun and engaging gameplay with a few random elements thrown in for good measure.
But this begs the question on whether or not SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE is an amazing game especially when up against the wonderful SUPERHOT.
Is SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE Amazing?
Watch this video on YouTube.
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE TimeStamps:
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE Article Links
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE at a Glance

Let’s take out our hacking gear strap, pick a bat and fight through tons of enemies to find out!
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE Gameplay
You’re going to see this screen a lot throughout your playthrough
One of the most unique features of the SUPERHOT franchise is its gameplay, it has a unique look matched with unique gameplay.
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE has the same gameplay as the first game and it doesn’t add more to the existing gameplay.
Mainly because it doesn’t need to add more in the gameplay department, rather it builds on top of the original game.
Using a bunch of pre-designed maps the game randomly generates, spawns, enemies, and the weapons around the map.
You have to fight to survive a wave of enemies and after you’ve taken enough down then you can move onto the next map.
Every time you beat a level you move forward just a little bit
The key difference is that rather than a custom puzzle-like level the game has pre-designed maps and then fills them randomly.
Rather than be different weapons, different enemies, or even different spawn locations there’s always something unique about it.
The biggest issue is that you run into the same maps pretty often and once you know the layout changing the guns or enemies doesn’t make it all that more exciting.
You feel so cool whenever you land a shot
The core of SUPERHOT is that the enemies move when you move, however they still move ever so slowly when you’re standing still.
You’re never truly safe in this regard. You have to know your surrounding as well as who and what is where.
The game does a great job at helping you out though, from having the enemies glow against the white void to the game directly telling you to watch your back.
The game wants you to win, at any cost
The bottom line is that SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE makes you feel unstoppable.
From using assault rifles to bats and even fish you never feel powerless and always have that one step ahead of the enemy, it just depends on how you handle the situation.
The awesome new addition worth looking at is the perk system the game introduces as you play through a set of levels.
When you’re in the moment this is a tough choice
After you win a few levels you can choose a perk which they call Hacks, you only get to choose one or the other.
As you progress through the game you’ll unlock more to choose from but at the outset, you only get a few.
Eventually, you have a large number to pick from and they can get as crazy as one bullet going through two enemies at once.
It’s pretty cool to enter the void and you even get a floppy disk!
You enter avoid and get to grab a floppy disk, then you get to do a short tutorial to help you understand what you just got.
It’s extremely well done and allows upgrades to fit into the world as well as teach the player how to utilize their new hack.
Making the Story a Rogue Lite
The story of SUPERHOT in a nice compact quote
The thing about the original SUPERHOT was that the story was extremely tight and had a lot of mystery around the game as well as how hackers were involved.
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE tries to capture that same spirit but doesn’t tend to hit the mark it’s striving for.
There’s something lost when you have played a level over and over because you die at the finish line.
Rather than one-off puzzle-like levels you’re just going through a gauntlet and taking down enemies to beat a Node and survive to the next one.
It boils down to perseverance rather than skill or learning the best strategy for the situation.
Since if you lose it resets and changes anything it’s all about just getting good at the gameplay and surviving to the end.
The original game was about mastering the level created and taking down everyone.
Here it’s just beat enough people to move forward, this feels slightly different from the first game and there is no doubt some things have been lost in the grand scheme.
The game still tries to tell a tale but when compared to the first one it feels like a tacked-on afterthought.
Wait, weird I’m not supposed to be there!
At 9:00 I enter a story scripted section if you’re curious to check out how the game handles it.
It still has that charm but these moments are so few and far between it’s hard to care about them rather than just be excited to jump into the next gameplay segment and take down more baddies.
Is SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE Amazing?
It’s the ultimate badass simulator and there’s no denying it
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE feels like a 1.5 update rather than a full 2.0.
It’s a half step in an incredible gameplay style and formula that makes you feel like the ultimate badass.
Going from hand-crafted puzzle levels to open-ended rouge lite style is a cool jump and works in the favor of the game.
The combat is still as fun as ever, the weapon variety is as large as it needs to be and the difficulty keeps you coming back for more.
It’s really hard to stop playing and I fully recommend SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE as an amazing game in its own right!
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE is amazing!
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April 20, 2021
Is Cyber Shadow Amazing?
Cyber Shadow is from Yacht Club Games, the creators of Shovel Knight!
Going back in time and fully reminiscent of Mega Man style games but without the classic Mega Buster.
From the graphics to the gameplay, and everything in between, it’s like playing a classic SNES game from top to bottom but showcased on modern hardware.
Is Cyber Shadow Amazing?
Watch this video on YouTube.
Cyber Shadow TimeStamps
Cyber Shadow Article Links
Cyber Shadow at a Glance

Join me as we dawn our Ninja Headbands, sharpen those Shuriken’s and jump into Cyber Shadow to see if it’s amazing!
Cyber Shadow feels like a SNES game lost to time
The first thing you notice is the incredible soundtrack!
The graphics, the music, and everything come together to make a real impression and hit on all the nostalgia fronts.
The music is so good, it sounds like it was ripped right from the SNES and enhanced to be in this era.
Every area has a different tone, every boss has an epic battle song and the sound effects have the perfect amount of compression that just sounds right.
It feels as if this music would have been another game’s soundtrack back in 1990.
Now the thing is I’m not entirely sure if music like this could have been created back then but knowing Yacht Club Games; I guess that it totally could.
When you travel dimensions everything comes with
At 4:20 I meditated for the first time in the game which I didn’t realize would transport me to a completely new area.
But this is a prime location to talk about just how incredible Cyber Shadow looks with its art style and SNES feel.
Looking at the cherry blossoms falling from the sky to the way every character has a specific look and unique dialog the world feels lived in.
When you’re cutscenes remind you of retro Ninja Gaiden you know you’ve got a winner
The cutscenes are nothing to gloss over either as they all come in letterbox style like an old samurai movie.
Think of Ghost of Tsushima style of cutscenes and you’ve got a solid comparison.
When you enter the Cyber Scape is when the game kicks it into high gear!
I was consistently impressed with all the visuals, the enemy designs, and the sheer amount of creativity that is jam-packed in.
Cyber Shadow Wears its Gameplay HeadBand Proudly
When it comes to gameplay it’s time to get serious!
The gameplay in Cyber Shadow is very reminiscent of Mega Man-style side scrollers but instead of a Mega Buster, you have a Katana and some Shurikens.
This means that you need to get up close and personal with all the various enemies throughout the game, while also dealing with the many bosses.
One of the coolest aspects is how the enemies come into play to enhance the overall gameplay.
For example at 29:30 when I’m fighting the MEKAGRAGON you have to break flying enemies so you get a foothold to stand on the water and get some attacks in.
The MEKADRAGON is no joke and will take a lot of concentration
Diving a bit more into the overall experience you attack enemies with the Katana and you gather SP to use special attacks.
Special Attacks consist of Shurikens for further enemies and even a way to blast tons of fireballs above you.
You have a ton of different tools to handle any situation
As you progress through the game you accomplish feats that give you more moves like at 9:00 when I gain the ability to slide on walls.
You are constantly gaining new feats to get stronger and take down enemies easier, it’s got a fantastic flow that keeps you coming back for more.
Throw in the tools like the shield or blaster and you’ve got a full arsenal.
The thing to take note of is that if you take three hits then you lose it and have to die or retreat to a save point to get another.
There’s also a currency you collect as you take down enemies that you need to spend wisely to get access to them, it’s a nice bit of giving and take.
Is Cyber Shadow Amazing?
You feel like the ultimate SNES ninja!
Cyber Shadow is amazing, it harkens back to just good old 2D side scroller SNES and NES goodness.
The platforming is tight and compliments the combat to meld the entire game into one fun time.
The upgrades come fast and frequent enough to keep you moving from one section to the next while always feeling rewarding.
Getting all the feats, fighting a bunch of bosses and stellar graphics makes this not one to be missed and I highly recommend giving it a try.
Cyber Shadow is Amazing
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April 13, 2021
Is Code Vein Amazing?
Code Vein is what happens when you take Dark Souls, Demon Souls, Bloodborne and mix them all with a dash of anime for good measure.
If you take Code Vein as a Dark Souls clone you’re missing out on a ton of interesting stuff that it brings to the table.
When looking at the entire game as a whole you can appreciate all the new rather than shrugging it off as a copycat.
Is Code Vein Amazing?
Watch this video on YouTube.
Code Vein TimeStamps:
Code Vein Article Links
Code Vein at a Glance

Let’s put on our gas masks, take a hit of blood, and see if Code Vein is amazing.
Dawning a Gas Mask for Survival
If you’ve played any of these games you’re going to feel right at home
Code Vein doesn’t reinvent the wheel on the standard Dark Souls formula, but it adds so many new things that allow it to stand strong on its own.
From the amount of customization to all the various abilities you can build the exact character you want to play through the game.
You can also change your character’s appearance as well as weapons, clothing, armor, and everything.
When it comes to options and load-outs Code Vein is hard to beat
It may seem overwhelming but it surprisingly isn’t, it comes down to what kind of playstyle you’re looking for and then changing your loadout to match.
You gather Haze (Blood) which is essentially souls from Dark Souls but the thing I like about Code Vein is that rather than deciding on one thing to level up you just baseline level up.
One of the more unique aspects is that in the world all the characters need to wear gas masks to breathe properly which adds a cool dynamic to the story and helps with world-building.
It’s nice not having to worry about all the numbers and just level up
You have a standard health bar, stamina bar, and even a limited amount of heals at your disposal that refreshes between quote-unquote bonfire visits.
This all plays into the clothing you’re wearing and even the weapons you decide to fight with, each with its unique stats, advantages, and disadvantages.
It’s so awesome to have someone helping you fight through this world
At 2:40 I reference that you have an AI partner that will travel through the world and help you fight the monsters throughout.
You can change between partners at any time but I mainly stuck with Louis because I enjoyed his comments and background into the world.
It’s such a nice part of the game and something I wouldn’t mind seeing in other titles, as it is fun to have a companion helping you to survive.
Surviving the Hills of Deception and the Overall World
Yep, that sure looks inviting!
Moving forward a bit to 5:25 I fast-travel to where I was in the game at the time of recording to show off another area of the map.
The game has a map system that shows you where you’ve been and ultimately where you’re going.
It adds to the overall user-friendly aspect the game strives to accomplish.
You’ll be running through large areas, unlocking doors, and fighting a variety of monsters as you move onward to fight the many bosses of the game.
Code Vein also doesn’t make the story much of a chore at all either. The cutscenes are plenty and are far from cryptic.
You’re told what is going on, to a degree, and the mystery is fun! It doesn’t require you to go research wikis or dig through weapon descriptions at length to get the full picture.
The Grueling Bosses That Dwell Within (Invading Executioner)
This fight goes about as well as I expected it to
Jumping right into the Invading Execut i oner boss fight at 9:00 in the video we can run down the combat of Code Vein.
This was a bad boss to go up against for this video as I got destroyed.
The bosses are fair but incredibly hard to beat. You need to learn their attacks, patterns, and any weaknesses they may have.
This is where the partner in the game shines as they can divert the boss’s attention and you can heal or catch your breath for a moment.
Don’t worry Louis you’re doing great, keep up the good work!
At 10:15 I die against the boss and it bugs me that Code Vein does have some enemies in the game with one-hit-kill attacks.
I’m personally tired of games that do this tactic to make a boss seem more powerful than it is.
If you’re going to make a game hard, make it hard on the merit that I need the skill to beat it. Don’t just have one attack that will wipe you out if you accidentally miss a moment to dodge.
Unless the game telegraphs that this move or moment will instantly kill you, then I can’t agree with that style of encounters.
Stuff like this is why I get mad playing certain video games
Going a bit more in-depth into Code Vein’s combat you have access to a ton of different skills and blood codes that can be switched out at any time.
You are never stuck with one single loadout per game, you can mix and match however you want your playstyle to be.
From swords to guns you have a wide variety to choose from to fit your playstyle.
Throw in the fact that you can piece together your perfect attack loadout like lighting your swords on fire to heal your partner mid-combat and you’ve got a game where you can be whoever you want!
Is Code Vein Amazing?
Code Vein is a way more user-friendly Dark Souls
Code Vein earns a spot next to Demon Souls, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne as a true contender.
It’s refreshing to have a story in this style of the game be easy to grasp and include fun and enjoyable cutscenes.
The combat is fun and inviting while also making customization easy and unique while allowing you to build the exact character you want to experience throughout the journey.
Code Vein doesn’t reinvent the wheel of the Soulsborne but it does tweak the formula to make it easy for anyone to pick up.
I highly recommend Code Vein. It easily encaptures the qualities to make a truly amazing game!
Code Vein is Amazing
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April 6, 2021
Is Nier Automata Amazing?
Nier Automata is a game that has lived in my heart ever since my first playthrough back in 2017.
It is a mesmerizing story that takes standard gameplay and turns everything on its head.
You may have played games like Nier Automata before but at every turn, the game does something just that much different to make it memorable and stand out.
From great combat to a cool dive into bullet hells, Nier Automata has got you covered!
Is Nier Automata Amazing?
Watch this video on YouTube.
Nier Automata TimeStamps
Nier Automata Article Links
Nier Automata at a Glance

Let’s boot up our replicants and join 2B and 9S on a journey through a decimated earth!
What Exactly Makes Nier Automata So Special?
Nier Automata has 26 Endings
The first thing to note right off the bat is that Nier Automata has 26 unique endings to the game.
This is not a random choice and comes into play as you progress through the game.
The awesome thing about the entire experience is that you will replay sections but every time it is from a new perspective.
EMP Generator Boss Fight
So taking the EMP Generator boss fight as an example, you’re going to be fighting this boss several times.
The first time you fight as 2B but next time you’ll be playing as 9S, so you’ll get a completely different look at the fight.
About half-way through, 9S vanishes and later on you figure out just what he was doing while 2B stays behind.
This is just one example of what makes the entire experience so much fun.
The Many Questions of Nier Automata
At 18:24 I ask a lot of different questions that are brought to the table, these are all questions solely from this video.
The game asks a whole lot more throughout an entire playthrough, which is 26 times in total.
The best part is that every single question you could have, in terms of the world or what’s going on, does get an answer.
If you’re paying attention and are willing to play everything the game has to offer, then you are in for a ride of a lifetime.
I fully recommend going in with the mindset to experience everything in Nier Automata. You won’t be disappointed.
Nier Automata’s Gameplay Strikes All the Right Notes
Gradius in Nier Automata
At 14:10 I compare the bullet hell sections of Nier Automata to Gradius.
Which I feel is a fair comparison to match a big chunk of the game’s combat.
You spend a lot more time on the ground using swords and the Pod to shoot enemies, but you also spend a lot of time in the skies avoiding a hell of a ton of bullets.
Bullet Hell Section in Flight Suits
These are easily some of the coolest sections of the game and showcase just how big the world is and how gigantic the machines you’re battling can be.
The next staple of combat is fighting on the ground, where you face off against tons of robots.
Bayonetta Logo in Nier Automata
At 5:05 I compare the on the ground combat to Bayonetta, another game with stellar combat.
Nier Automata and Bayonetta have a lot in common from the Witch Time to the way you can traverse and evade enemies. Throw in the variety of weapons and you’ve got a good thing going!
The biggest difference is that the game will go into a 2D view rather than 3D as we see for the first fight sections of the video.
This is a nice change of pace between the two combat styles and allows the game to breathe a lot more since this is a fairly long game.
You’re going to be fighting a lot of robots throughout the adventure and it always stays interesting as well as engaging.
One of the Coolest Features is That you can Buy Trophies/Achievements
Pro Tip with Hunter Armada
You may remember my original pro-tip from Maneater, well I’ve got another one lined up just for you!
One of the coolest features is that once you beat the game you can use the in-game currency to purchase all your missing Trophies/Achievements!
It’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen a game do. I know games can have trackers or something similar but to be able to outright purchase them is fairly insane!
The way to approach this is to go to the shopkeeper after you make a fresh save since the game doesn’t autosave.
From there, purchase what you can afford. Then when you run out of money just reload your save and buy everything you couldn’t afford, rinse, and repeat until you’ve got them all!
Is Nier Automata Amazing?
Hunter Armada Giving Final Gameplay Thoughts on Nier Automata
Nier Automata is a special game, I’m not sure how many more ways I can say the same thing so I’m just gonna say it over and over.
I’m just as impressed with it today as I was when I originally played it all those years ago.
The story, combat, and bullet-hell all hold up in a way that makes you want to experience it all over again.
If you’re a new player then you have a lot to look forward to by jumping into the 2Bs journey.
Everything has a place, everything gets an answer, and not enough games can say that within the entire package.
Nier Automata is a game worth playing, replying to see all it has to offer and the message it has to convey.
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March 23, 2021
Is Mirror’s Edge Catalyst Amazing?
Is Mirror's Edge Catalyst Amazing?
Watch this video on YouTube.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is something I never thought would exist. I always saw it as EA will get around to it, kinda like Skate 4.
So when Mirror’s Edge Catalyst was announced I was extremely excited to jump back into Faith’s perfect City of Glass and see how the story would progress.
The City of Glass got a major overhaul. Faith is more mobile than ever and everything is within an Open World Framework.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst Video Time Stamps
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst Article Links
Let’s strap on our running shoes, snap on those sweatbands, and see if Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is amazing.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst At a Glance

Mirror’s Edge Catalyst Gameplay
Parkour is just so much fun!
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst takes what made the original Mirror’s Edge stand out and adds a ton of variety to a structured base.
You run, jump, fight and parkour your way through the City of Glass.
Utilizing a level system complimented by a vast array of upgrades, you can make Faith better than she could ever hope to be.
You’re telling me that Faith forgot all this in a few years? Yeah, I don’t buy it.
You can spend skill points to upgrade Faith’s movement, combat, and gear.
Checkout 32:50 of the video for a full breakdown of how the upgrade system works.
Movement is used for traversal upgrades to navigate the city better. This includes double wall-running and even sliding just a bit longer to get through vents.
Combat is used to take down various enemies in a much easier way, from switching places to getting some amazing air kicks in.
Gear is unlocked by progressing through the story. This includes equipment like a grappling hook to propel yourself around the city.
You’re telling me that Faith forgot all this in a few years? Yeah, I don’t buy it.
The main issue I have with this system is that Faith is supposed to be one of the best runners in the business.
However, since she was locked away for a few years the story explains the need for a said upgrade as her being rusty and needing to relearn everything.
Faith, as explained in the first game and explored in the second game, has been a runner nearly her entire life.
Expecting us to believe that just being in jail made her forget a core move like a quick turn?
It bugs me that to get the upgrade menu into the game they needed to take away some of Faith’s core moves. Then lock them behind an upgrade tree when Faith had this skill from the outset originally.
I recently took a look at the original Mirror’s Edge and you can see how the two compare by clicking here!
Anytime to bring up Riddick is a good time!
Taking a look at the combat aspect of Mirror’s Edge Catalyst shows that the game did get an overhaul.
No longer can Faith pick up weapons due to them being bio-locked to a specific officer, which I always appreciate an in-game reason for this kind of thing. Copying Metal Gear Solid 4.
Now it’s all about hand-to-hand combat. Using the buttons and sticks you can juke around enemies with some cool punches.
Utilizing a fighting style that’s reminiscent of Riddick Escape from Butcher Bay–in-your-face fistfights.
The nice thing is that you can add Parkour to the mix and wall-run your way to victory.
If you can jump on it, you can use the momentum to take down your enemies.
The fights are a ton of fun when you get your momentum going!
At 11:40 the fighting starts in a cool arena with a ton of enemies to take down.
Using all the fighting skills we can fist fight our way to safety.
If you take a step back, you’re smashing the attack button until they go down but being able to vary it with Parkour helps it stand out.
Also hitting enemies close to your face is fun and exhilarating when you dodge and get a good counter in to take them down.
The grappling hook is a ton of fun to traverse the City of Glass!
The last, but the most important to mention, is the Parkour of Mirror’s Edge Catalyst. The bread and butter of the game.
Taking everything from the first game, creating an open world to explore, and giving Faith more tools all works in its favor.
The issue comes back to having to unlock a lot of what Faith had in the first game behind a skill tree.
Something you could do in the first game like a quick turn now requires a skill point to unlock.
It doesn’t ruin the game by any means, but it is frustrating to have the skills cut up in this way.
Running across buildings, narrowly not falling from wall runs, and swinging across giant gaps is all part of the world. It is such a big world and is fun to explore.
One would think that having an open world with more traversal would be amazing, but the City of Glass does come with its flaws.
The City of Glass is Pretty Sharp
There’s a lot of collectibles in the City of Glass, too many collectibles
The City of Glass is now an open world, no longer just a linear set of buildings to run through.
This is both a good and bad thing. The good being that an open-world parkour jungle gym is a ton of fun!
The bad being that this open world is flooded with a ton of collectibles that are a real pain to hunt down. The game does not provide much assistance with these collection tasks either.
Would you look at all that stuff!
Looking at the map we can see a variety of collectibles, all of which give you the experience to buy new skills.
The list contains:
- Gridleaks
- Surveillance Recordings
- Documents
- Secret Bags
- Electronic Parts
This is a lot of collectibles to be on the map in one section of the City of Glass.
The original Mirror’s Edge has one collectible, the Secret Bag. For me, that was good enough!
The collectibles are nearly identical besides one being giant shiny balls
At 21:00 I compare the collectibles to the original Crackdown, which I feel is a fair comparison.
I do understand that this open-world needs a bunch of stuff to collect to aid exploration and give you something to do. The problem is that it’s boring and not fun to hunt down the collectibles.
The game hides the collectibles around the world and makes them hard to spot.
Everything besides the Grid Nodes can be found throughout the world while you are being chased by enemies. The issue is that it can destroy the momentum when you need to get a collectible but are getting shot at.
If you stop to collect it then you risk dying, if you ignore it you may forget where it was since the game doesn’t mark it on the map.
Collecting everything should be fun but it turns into a chore when you need it to level up and finding everything is a pain.
The last thing worth bringing up is the side missions. The game has your standard time trials, don’t take damage with packages, and so on.
The Grid node puzzle sections are my favorite part of the entire game
The Grid node puzzle side quests are used to open up fast travel to the many safe houses throughout the city.
They’re levels from the first game revamped into little sections you have to find your way around. They’re a ton of fun.
At 21:40 I attempt a Grid node and although I get confused a bit, I figure it out and then jump right back into the open world.
Is Mirror’s Edge Catalyst Amazing?
Even if the characters aren’t fully realized, the Orb is all we need
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is a great sequel to a great game series.
Although I prefer the first Mirror’s Edge, it is still a super fun game I can fully recommend.
The game’s flaws in no way overshadow the positive aspects of the game, but there are just too many collectibles on your adventure that slow you down.
Coming off fresh from the first game helped to add to the story and brought everything together.
The open-world only adds busy work to the game but the story missions are so much fun you’ll have a blast traversing through the City of Glass!
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March 2, 2021