Recent reviews by CSharpDude

Why have I not played this series before? I suppose it is in part that I couldn't wrap my head around the marriage of magic, fantasy races and a post-apocalyptic setting. My loss!

I picked up the trilogy on sale and am loving it. I decided to start with Dragonfall, even though it is the second in the series. I read that the system was improved over the first installment and that you can play the first game in Dragonfall as a mod. Good choice I think.

Here's what I really like so far:
1. Good story
2. Fascinating world
3. Interesting characters
4. Fun combat
5. Atmospheric music and sound
6. You don't start out as a prisoner in your underwear with a rusty dagger and have to spend hours killing rats to get enough money to purchase a decent set of gear.
7. Good writing.

An Older Series
Yes , it is an older series but it is really good. It's an interpretation of the tabletop RPG Shadowrun which in turn is based on Das Schwarze Auge RPG. I like the open-ended approach to character creation which allows you to customize your character as you wish. You aren't pigeon-holed into one class. Combat is simple in execution but has good tactical depth. Cover matters and creating the right team for the job is a big help.

Difficulty
So far, normal difficulty is fairly easy once you understand the combat system. The puzzles I've encountered have been logical and simple. There are a lot of options when creating characters and you can't take on all skills so you have to choose. That makes it fun to create a build that suits yourself. When I finish this playthrough, I'll be able to choose more wisely for the next game.

Bottom Line
I like the RPG system, the campaign so far and I'm having fun! Now I'm going to have to look into the tabletop version. If you like RPGs and/or futuristic games, check it out.

i have loved model railroading since I was a kid. I had a small layout until my mid-twenties and RL got in the way. I've played a few PC train sims and got a lot of enjoyment from them. Railroader scratches my itch in a different way from the other PC games I've played. It reminds me of how I set up my model railroad to serve different industries, run passenger trains on a schedule and assemble trains in the yard.

This is just early access but it is very enjoyable now, in its current state. As the team continues to add to the game it should only get better and better. It's the most fun I've had with a train sim in some time.

This is not a train driving simulator though. It is more like running a small railroad, like you would on a model railroad. You are dispatcher and manager, conductor and engineer. AI helps run trains from point to point but you have to do the switching. You can drive from the cab or 3rd person (which I prefer).

Because it is early access, at the time of this review some assets like industry buildings, road traffic, etc. are not yet baked in. But the railroad itself is functional and ready to run.

You can run in company mode which has you managing your railroad, expanding it, building profit so you can buy rolling stock and engines, paying for repairs, hiring staff, etc. You begin with a small portion of the line and acquire the rest through purchases and by performing tasks.

Or you can run in sandbox mode with the entire line opened up and no need to buy stock. Just serve the industries and have fun!

Do I recommend this game? Yes! If you love trains you probably will like it. If running trains is not your thing, then of course you might be better off with something else.

Came back to NMS after being away for a couple of years. There is now so much to do, so many options that it was a little overwhelming (but having options is great!). I like that I can play NMS MY way. I can hunt pirates or Sentinels, farm, mine, build a base, manage of community, trade or explore the vast (very vast) universe. I can play with friends or solo. I can follow one of the main quest lines (or not). Or I can go ship hunting. I can look up things on the NMS Coordinate Exchange and go find them.

In short there is a lot to do and I can play the way I want to play. If you play in normal mode, the beginning of the game can be somewhat grindy but later on that lessens somewhat. If you don't like grinding and just want to build stuff, just changes your options so materials are never a problem. Your choice.

I've played MW2, MW4 and other Mech games. I'm about 32 hours in and really liking MW5. I'm playing the campaign which is OK so far, not great but OK. I have installed some mods such as YAML which do make the game a bit more fun due the variety added. Combat is pretty good and my lancemates seem to actually do alright in battle.

Speaking if lancemates, they are a little "wooden" - they lack interesting personalities. That would have been a nice touch, but oh well,

One tip - I love using VoiceAttack with MW5! It makes giving commands to your lancemates much easier, as well as commands like target lock, night vision or airstrike scope faster to use. There is at least one VA profiel on Nexus and I found others elsewhere.

If you like big robot battles, or Battle tech this might be for you.

Solasta is a great DnD combat-focused RPG. It feels like you are playing the TTRPG with dice rolls shown on the screen. Combat is very tactical and true to DnD rules. The story part of the game is not as strong as other RPGs but if you like dungeon crawls and combat give it a try.

I've been wargaming since the 1980's. My all-time favorite game is Advanced Squad Leader. I spent many enjoyable hours at the dining room table with friends moving cardboard counters and rolling dice. LnL Tactical Digital is my favorite computer game that is similar to ASL. The digital version runs on the same rules as the tabletop version and includes a digital copy of the 190+ page manual.

But it is actually quite easy to pick up and understand the basics. The interface is mostly intuitive (I think so anyway). But is is truly as deep as the tabletop version, it's just that much of complexity is handled for you in the PC version.

If you are unsure, try the base version for just a few dollars and then download whatever DLC interests you. The Battle Generator / Editor is a great way to extend the game. You can even edit the official scenarios. I am anxiously waiting for the release of WWII Eastern Front scenarios. I've played about 1/4 of the Normandy scenarios in packs 1 and 2 and found them to be interesting and well conceived.

If you like tactical wargames I think you should check this out.

Only about 9 hours in but so far I think it's great. Love the characters, the atmosphere, the graphics and gameplay. It reminds me of Firefly / Serenity - a kind of space western. Voice acting is very good and so far quests are interesting. One complaint is the lack of a way to compare equipped weapons to the ones offered by a merchant. That is annoying.

I'm not a completionist but I do try to do most of the side quests. We'll see how many hours it takes me to reach the end of the main quest.

Played a lot of 2K19 and enjoyed it. 2K21 improves on some things but I miss some minor things from 2K19. The swing mechanics are more accessible at low difficulties but at Pro and above can present a good challenge. It is important calibrate your swing. If you think your going to consistently hit a perfect shot at high difficulties levels, you won't. And this is one of the things I like. It's YOUR skill level that matters. Your player doesn't gain skill levels. It is all about you.

The game looks better than 2K19 and there are a lot of downloadable course available. The commentary though is not too great. I like having commentary but when I'm putting and he says I'm "going for the green" it breaks immersion. I miss the item customization options that were in 2K19. It has nothing to do with gameplay, but I liked it.

The inclusion of real life players in the PGA tour is welcome. It is a shame that there are no women pros though.

I held out until it went on sale to upgrade but I'm glad I did.

At the point I'm writing this I have about 60 hours into the game. I am really enjoying HZD. It has elements of some of my favorite games like Witcher 3, Tomb Raider and other open world games. But the setting is unique. Instead of a bleak brown and grey apocalyptic world like Wasteland or Fallout, it is a lush and beautiful world. The story (so far) is well-written and interesting, with a well-developed world.

Gameplay for me is fun. If you are to be successful against the machines, you best study the right strategy to defeat each model. Stealth is very helpful but not required. Ranged combat is often needed and preferred but you can get up close and personal too.

I know some users have had crashes and performance issues. Fortunately I have not. I get a steady 60FPS at high or a mix of high, ultra and medium settings. Specs: i4770k, 32GB RAM, gtx1070 w/ 8GB .

Pros

• Beautiful World
  
• Good Story
  
• Good Voice Acting
  
• Engaging Gameplay
  
• Stealth Options
  
• Most of all - Fun!

Cons

• Some users have had performance issues, but current patches may have helped
  
• A bit too much resource gathering for me, but manageable
  
• No user mods
  
• Controls designed for console so they do not take advantage of the large number of keys available on PC. For example, there is no hotkey to take a certain potion. You must scroll through the options.

I just completed my first Special Transport delivery! Hauled a large tank to Boise. Great fun! The escorts did exactly as they were supposed to do, no glitches.

Here are a couple of hints:

1. Sleep and gas up BEFORE you accept the job. You can't do either after it starts.
   
2. Choose a job close to where you are to make sure you can arrive in time.
   
3. Take your time! These loads are HUGE and it's easy to nick something on a tight curve.
   
4. You don't need to stop for lights or stop signs.

I think it's more than worth the price. If it's on sale just buy it now!