Volt's Monthly Game Recommendation and Review

[voltingshock]

This months Recommendation (drumroll please!) is...

Death Stranding


  

Developer: Kojima Industries
Engine: Decima
Designer: Hideo Kojima
Platforms: Playstation and PC (steam)
Release Date: November 8th, 2019 (Playstation), July 14th, 2020 (PC)
Price: 59.99 USD
Awards: GANG Audio of the Year, GANG Sound Design of the Year, Titanium Best Soundtrack award, BAFTA Technical Achievement award, The Game Best Game Direction, The Game Best Performance, The Game Best Score and Music. Many other nominees in sound design and soundtrack
Metacritic: 83

Plot Synopsis (no spoilers): In the near future, mysterious explosions have rocked the planet, setting off a series of supernatural events known as the Death Stranding. With spectral creatures plaguing the landscape, and the planet on the verge of a mass extinction, it's up to Sam to journey across the ravaged wasteland and save mankind from extinction.

Genre: Strand (A new genre created by this game that aimed to connect players asynchrounously. It doesn't really fit in a defineable genre otherwise, with action and adventure, but also long narrative and exploration mechanics). It is not horror, although it may appear that way


My rating: 9/10
My Review: While at times it may appear tedious and you can just be walking for a few minutes, Death Stranding delivers a cinematic and narrative experience that has really been unrivaled in the past few years of games I've played. The mechanics in the game, from balancing your center of gravity to delivering orders and the combat are delivered seamlessly and it never feels clunky or rushed. While yes a mechanic of the game is the long delivery journeys that have gotten it branded as a walking simulator, it really enhances the experience and makes it all the more rewarding, which blends into how the game's combat and intensity spikes rapidly during those journeys. Graphics are excellent, mechanics are excellent, and I could nitpick minor details about it, it overall is an amazing experience that I can recommend anyone to pick up. It manages to deliver an emotional story through rewarding gameplay in such a weird plot and concept, much like games like Mass Effect (the good ME, not Andromeda), but that's about where the similarities end between the two.

I look forward to the second title in the Strand universe or series (after I finish this one!), which Kojima confirmed started development in 2019.


Played the game yourself? Have any questions about it? Respond to the thread with your own take on this game, if you agree with me or you think my review was wrong, let me know!

[AndrewS]

I can agree on that, this game is a 9.3/10 for me.

[ris]

I prefer Anime Standing

[voltingshock]

This months Recommendation (drumroll please!) is...

Rogue Legacy 2


  

Developer: Cellar Door Games
Engine: In-house.
Designer: Teddy Lee
Platforms: Steam
Release Date: August 18th (early access) 2020, full release: TBA
Price: 19.99 USD
Awards: None
Metacritic: Not yet rated (early access). Rogue Legacy 1 earned an 80

Plot Synopsis (no spoilers): Every time you die, your children will succeed you, and each child is unique. Your daughter might be a Colourblind Archer, and your son could be a Pacifistic Chef. Either way, one of them is getting conscripted to explore an ever changing dungeon and defeat the evils within.

Genre: Metroidvania, platformer, roguelike


My rating: 8/10
My Review: Initially I was thrown off by the steep learning curve combat and movement had, dying to simple rooms and enemies, but after playing for a few hours and kind of getting the hang of it, the challenge of combat starts to feel exciting and rewarding. Taking the roguelike dungeon-generating genre to a new level using platforming and mixes of unique traits, it is a game I never heard of before it popped up in my steam queue, but I'm glad it did. Originally my review would have been Slay the Spire for this month, but everyone knows that game, this game is much more deserving of the small spotlight my review can put on it. I highly recommend you check out this game and supports its dev till full release! 

The full release will be glorious, and perhaps mod support is coming in the future.

Sorry for my lack of posts for the last 2 months, oops


Played the game yourself? Have any questions about it? Respond to the thread with your own take on this game, if you agree with me or you think my review was wrong, let me know!