Recent reviews by MercurialJester🌡

It's GTA.
The multiple characters is a nifty idea, and the heists theme makes for some seriously compelling gameplay.
Falls flat in many places, and is still often exceedingly juvenile in it's "satire" but at this point I don't expect people care.
Obviously, the draw here is Online.

Get some friends, make a crew, do some heists, get cash.
Rinse and repeat.

The in-game stock market is not available, and probably never will be again, since player trading and manipulation of the market by places like reddit (or god help us all "channers") would render the Shark Card purchasable addons moot.
I understand this decision from a business perspective (Online must be a massive money drain) and doing jobs with friends will earn you more cash than the market will anyway, but it would have been nice to do some day trading.

You already know if you want this game. The story is typical over the top puerile humour and drivel that has plagued the GTA series since San Andreas, but there are flashes of absolute brilliance that could make it worthwhile. The meat is in the online though and that's probably why you should pick this up if that interests you in the slightest.

[insert overused comedy rating system of your choosing here]

It's janky as hell, numerous bugs, and its treatment of women is...questionable at best.

And yet, it has an interesting take on conversation trees, lets you play how you want, and can be very challenging no matter what style you play with. Think of Alpha Protocol as an unpolished Human Revolution, but with a protagonist that is a little more likeable and and ending that doesn't rely on pressing three buttons.

Overall, I enjoyed Alpha Protocol. However, if you don't have the patience for a lack of polish, and timed dialogue trees are not your thing, you might want to pass on this, at least until it's on a deep sale.

Batman: Arkham Origins review. It's no Arkham Asylum or Arkham City.

Set just two years after Bruce Wayne becomes Batman, the game has our caped crusader still as yet unknown, a myth amongst criminals and a wanted man by Gotham City PD. Bruce is on his own, and Origins explores how Batman becomes protector of Gotham.

Let's start off with the bad. There are a HUGE amount of horrific bugs and control issues that really hamper the game, including a few game breaking ones. Combat flows awkwardly and haphazardly, with serious AI issues abounding all throughout. Often the gadgets can stop working, and many times it's not always clear where to go next. However, YMMV in these areas, so take that with a grain of salt.

That being said, there are flashes of pure unadulterated brilliance in Origins. The story is AMAZING, and I would put it superior to both Asylum and City, even if they played it a bit safe with the ending. Fights with Deathstroke, Deadshot (♥♥♥♥ that fight) and even Firefly are great to see and pulled off nicely. Deathstroke's fight is absolutely brilliant, requiring strategy and constant awareness to do flawlessly.

The game looks very nice, even on my middle-range system. I can only imagine what a beastly rig would make this game look like. Environments however are a little bland. Would have liked to see more greenery, but the setting of the game at Christmas does explain away that omission.

Overall, while not as tight mechanically as Asylum, or City, Origins is worth your time. A great imagining of a Batman not yet a recognisable hero, but still a threat to the criminals of Gotham.

Rating: 3.5/5

Warner Brothers has no intention of patching bugs that don't break the game, so be aware that some issues can and most likely will arise while playing.

A fantastic little short story. Featuring the voice talents of Sarah 'Pushing Up Roses' Wilson, this is a story that really keeps you wondering until 'that point'. Not so much an adventure game in the pure sense, as there is no inventory as such, but once you get the hang of the controls, you won't have too much trouble. A few issues wondering what to do next, but if you follow a certain pattern, you'll get through it fairly quickly.

Overall, give this game a shot. After all, it's free and there is obviously a lot of love and care put into the game. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

While still in deep Beta, it's clear this game is likelt to become the next big YouTube hit. A little fiddly to control and some of the concepts seem a little obtuse to start with however there is clearly a brilliant game waiting to blossom, and it remains to be seen if Chucklefish can coax it out. If you enjoyed Terraria, this game will likely appeal. Just bear in mind it is full of bugs and you aren't likely to keep your character for any length of time.

A fantastic aesthetic matched with wit and an incredible tutorial system that makes you feel like your could master fighting games.
While I'm a little put off by some of the gratuitous panty-flashing, it is a very minor gripe that is personal and doesn't affect the game in the slightest. If you like fighting games, or wanted to try one but were put off by the idea of learning, then I suggest Skullgirls is a good place to start.

An intriguing, beautifully well written story about a family told through exploring an empty family home. Play as Katie, the returning daughter, and investigate the mystery of the empty family home through a fully interactive environment. A fantastic debut by Fullbright Studios, and I look forward to more from them in the future. Highly recommended.

DXHR is almost perfect. The choices, the atmosphere, the incredible amount of work put into the world. It's a fantastic game, and everything you do matters. But there are some glaring issues. Boss fights. These are HORRIBLE! So much so, that the developers actually apologised for them, admitting they were not up snuff. Playing as a gung-ho Rambo character, these fights are nothing. Easy as pie. But if you dedicate yourself to non-lethal, stealth tactics, these fights are a massive punch in the face. In a game so rife with choices, these sections rob you of all of it, forcing you to act against your play style. And the ending is also pretty bad. Not Mass Effect 3 bad, but pretty close. But, those out of the way, DXHR is very close to perfect, and you should still play this game to recapture the feeling of the original, which just pips the post in terms of satisfaction.

While you can play this game on your own, don't. It's not only a far better experience with friends, but it is a lot more fun, and you will get a lot more out of it. This game was made for co-op (although that's more of a technical term than the actual truth) and while still full of bugs, it is by no means a game to turn down playing. Kill lots of monsters, but most importantly, kill your friends. Who can resist!?

While a terrible PC port, this game is still incredibly fun, and a great alternative to the increasingly sombre realism of the GTA series. With tonnes to do and more customisation options than you can poke a stick at, this game is actually better than than its successor.