Recent reviews by Doctor_Ando

I bought this game back in March of 2022 when the game was just turning five years old. I was looking for a fun game Co-op to pay with friends, but Vermintide 2 had more to offer than I realized: A vivid, characterful and mechanically robust game that not only hits that risk/reward fun factor, but surpasses it.
Do you like vibrant, lore-rich worlds? You will like this game.
Do you like bespoke, easy to learn but difficult to master melee combat mechanics? You will like this game.
Do you like conversational characters with depth to their personalities, who find the time to tease, berate, encourage and share stories with one another? (who to this day I am still finding unique dialog interactions between) You will like this game.
Do you like L4D2's PvP mode? You will like this game (mode just finished a beta test as of this review; may have been released by the time you read this)

NOTE!! This game says it is controller compatible, but due to the fast action and reflexes required to play this game, a mouse and keyboard are all but required. A mouse with extra buttons is even better, for tertiary weapon abilities and command callouts.

It has a straightforward 13-level campaign mode; with multiple free DLC levels being added even after all these years at no extra charge. Cosmetics store has a few microtransations present; none of which impair your ability to enjoy the game by not participating in. Each of the five characters have three classes they can play as with the game's base release; the second and third of which unlock at set levels of experience with those characters to ensure new players don't dive into the complex deep end of a more complex class too early before they have time to get used to character's set of weapons and unique features. A series of fourth classes sold as paid DLC have been released years after the completed game's launch with the Necromancer class being the newest as of 2024.

The game is constantly being tweaked and balanced; and as previously mentioned, receiving free updates and seasonal events.

The real meat of this game however is the Chaos Wastes roguelike mode:
While the mode is available from the get-go, you will not be prepared for what awaits you. The worthiest of rewards are given to players who beat the mode on Legend difficulty; and you will need to be at least Level 30 to get the most out of such a pilgrimage. It will take some effort to reach this level of competency in the game; but I assure you the effort is worth it.

Long Live Karl Franz, and Praise Sigmar.

The Walls are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Swear Jar Unlocked

Incredibly fun Co-op experience with randomized elements mixed in to make each level wholly unique each time you embark on a mission. I haven't noticed any elements re-used for levels so far. Best played with other players online. My experience with randos is generally good; but it's definitely most fun with friends. The loadout options are extensive and paired with the perk system creates a very customizable experience. Additionally, the weekly challenges and seasonal event goals provide a powerful incentive to keep returning to the game on a regular basis.

I'm having a lot of fun with this game right now, and I'm still only player level 12.

Good game, rough load times and some bugs to deal with, but nothing that's going to ruin your fun. If you've been holding out on buying this game, I can say with full confidence that I am now satisfied with my purchase of this game.

I had played this during the closed beta as well as the pre-order beta and got to witness the many many rough patches of the game prior to release. While I was not fully satisfied with my purchase the first couple weeks of the the games' release, I have noticed incremental adjustments and tuning to patch these bugs and keep the game's frustrating load times reduced little by little, which leaves me reasonably assured that this game is receiving the attention it needs to make it a complete experience before too long. I still experience occasional bugs, the gameplay is sturdy, I'm having tremendous fun and the game offers plenty of challenges and milestones to keep me engaged.

Amazing rogue-like strategy game. If you like XCOM-style strategy but don't like the BS hit percentage system, this game delivers an amazing compact experience that never gets old. Features fascinating risk/reward gameplay perks in the fashion of Supergiant Games' recent works. In fact, speaking thematically, Resistor and Invisible Inc. might as well take place in branching timelines of the same universe. Difficulties are fair and challenge your understanding of how the game works. Every mistake made feels like your own fault. Soon you'll be planning two, three, and five turns in advance while filling your pockets full of extra goodies before finishing the heist.

Clearly inspired by the Earthbound/Mother series; but offers an in-depth story over RPG mechanics. I could go on for hours about the how Earthbound it is; the forest being a stand-in for Magicant, the importance of the child's mother throughout the story, the use of collecting songs in order to progress the story. The more I think about it, the more this becomes apparent to be not just inspired by, but a successor to the Mother series. It's no longer a game; it's an experience. The underlying themes and plot are there from the start, only until the final act do you realize they were already there; the metaphors, the reasons, and the truth behind everything being the way it is. This goes in my "candidates for Mother 4" list and I highly recommend it.

Just finished this game. I backed the game on kickstarter a couple years ago and was happy to finally get it. This is what stood out to me:

Cons:
-Glitches in early portions of the games that cause you to fall to your death
-a noticeable difficulty spike for the late portion of the game
-controls occasionally feel like they're fighting you instead of helping you during non-platformer segments
-music loops lack cleanliness and fade out before fading in again
-dialogue can easily be skipped by accident
-two of the grenade upgrades effectively limits your ability to 100% any given platformer level by not allowing grenade-jumping.
Pros:
+hitboxes are somewhat generous and levels ease players in for the most part by throwing more advanced and damaging enemies in as you progress
+interesting topics and idea are brought in character dialogue that toy with the idea of what heroes and villains are in context of the game;
+inside jokes/references/shout-outs
+dying doesn't make you want to quit; and punishes only by taking away a fraction of your money (like Shovel Knight)
+You're allowed to win as a villain; and you feel like you've earned it by the end of the game.
+Overall good character design/development for the ones we spend the most time talking to.
+lots of questions raised that the game leaves the players to answer. (I think this is a plus.)

I recommend this game to anyone who's familiar with some of the more classic video game franchises from the past 20 years and anyone who enjoys a good villain story.

The most musical I've seen tadpoles since Super Mario RPG.
It's a fairly short run, but by no means a pushover in terms of difficulty once you get past the first few stages; well worth the price tag. Good replay value, Fun songs, Funny quotes, Gorgeous artwork.
The level creator is sure to please the musically gifted as well; it's like a modern Mario Paint Composer mode that becomes an obstacle course. As I have little to no musical talent; I look forward to the creations of the dedicated fans of this game.

100/100 bubbles and all the feels

So, this is a fun game. I don't like most MOBAs due to how time-consuming & steep the learning curve can be due to the intricacies of the mechanics & the sheer volume of playable characters. Imagine the MOBA experience condensed & framed inside a 2D platformer with a good douse of 80's & 90's Sci-fi Cartoons & Comics as a flavoring. As a bonus, certain internet-famous individuals provide voices for some of the outragous personalities found in the game such as Ashley Burch (Hey Ash Whatcha Playin), Simon Lane (of Yogscast), John Bain (Totalbiscuit), Jessie Cox & Brooke Leigh Lawson (Dodger)

While the game is a lot easier to pick up and play than most MOBAs out there; It retains most of the strategic potential while keeping the time it takes for a single game within the 15-60 minute range. I recommend this game to anyone who likes strategy in short bursts.