Dead Space 3 - Unfinished Review

I have been pressed for time for awhile now and haven't had time to sit down and write up a proper review. So this is a work-in-progress that I don't have time to flesh out just yet, and probably wont ever get around to finishing, unfortunately. But I decided it was still worth putting up my thoughts on Dead Space 3 as well as an an insight into my process. What you will see below is my version of notes; when I am reviewing something I typically write random things down like evocative words, descriptive sentences, anything that comes to mind while in the review process. I generally leave the sentences scattered throughout the write-up and pick and chooses from my collection of thoughts. Oftentimes they are reworded to fit a different flow or even torn apart to get to the germ of the idea and sometimes they are completely discarded as they are minor problems that are addressed or are simply unusable ramblings. So enjoy and feel free to question my process. *I never completed the game so my final thoughts are TBA.

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Hokey writing

Combat against enemies with guns is new for Dead Space but it quickly justifies itself by varying up the challenge between the hoards of necromorphs.

Dead Space 3 continues with the series tradition of well-tuned combat that is immensely fun and satisfyingly challenging without being aggravating. (seems a bit easier though)

The game looks fantastic at times, the zero-g exploratory sequences are a real standout.

Predictable, contrived, forced-sequel

Carver is hilariously blunt

Dead Space 3 displays a soap-opera level of storytelling that is baffling and eye-roll inducing, but above all else completely unwarranted and disturbingly coy, as if to let the player know its a joke, but then why even attempt such a ridiculously cheesy story.

Weapon customization is a ton of fun but oddly under-explained, encourages experimentation which complements the great combat which is largely unchanged from the previous game.

Infuriatingly, character motivations and feelings change at the drop of a hat. All in service of a painfully written, melodrama soaked narrative that has no place in a Dead Space game.

Uncharted-lite, over the top but lacking ingenuity

The lack of inventive and memorable set-pieces that its predecessor had in spades is sorely missed. In its place are overlong combat sequence that while engaging feel like padding.

The game also seems eager to stretch for time, oftentimes sending you through the same areas multiple times to retrieve separate items that could have just as easily been rounded up in one trip.

Optional Missions as the game calls them are sometimes interesting divergences that flesh out minor events that occurred before Issac and his team turned up. These vignettes are oftentimes more eerie and well told than the main story line and a welcome addition if not entirely unnecessary.

Dead Space 3 maintains the series supremely high quality standard but overall falls short with a handful of poor design choices.

There were moments of pure unfettered joy to be had while playing Dead Space 3 but they were all times where I was blissfully unaware of the ongoing story, but I promise that those joyous moments of narrative brevity were magical.

Dead Space 3 doesn't do much for the franchise as a whole, but its a superbly well made game that is, at times, one hell of a fun time.

3 or 4 out of 5, can go either way (fuck this story is terrible)

Tomb Raider Review

Tomb Raider attempts to reinvent Lara Croft and tell an origin story that justifies how she became the badass archaeologist from the classic games. Unfortunately Crystal Dynamics gets sidetracked making an action thrill ride which apes from far more successful games and more often than not betrays its initial ambitions of telling a more grounded story. Lara and her journey is the most compelling aspect of the game and watching her go from apologetically killing an animal for food so she wont starve to in the final act of the game actively edging on her enemies is the most satisfying aspect of the entire game. Tomb Raider fails in some respect in appropriately charting Lara journey from naive skeptic to heroine through inconsistent writing and convenient storytelling but it maintains a break-neck pace that anyone will have trouble putting down.

Tomb Raider take place on the island of Yamatai which as legend explains was ruled by the shaman queen Himiko the "Sun Queen". Lara and her cohorts find themselves stranded on this island after a horrible storm, and they quickly realize that they are not alone on this island and the legends of the queen's undead feudal army may be true. The game opens up fairly large areas to explore regularly but is overall quite linear, there is never any other route other than the one the game specifically lays out for you. But some "Metroidvania" type elements of hidden secrets that you need to return to with better equipment makes scouring the island quite fun. The lack of actual tombs is unforgivable given the title of the game with what amounts to a total of 6 roughly 3 minute long tombs that test all the mental capability of a rodent in their simplicity. But what the game lacks in the traditional exploratory aspects it makes up for with one of the most well tuned combat experiences in recent memory.

The game doles out skills, weapon, and traversal upgrades in such a way that maintains a balance between a vulnerable and incapable Lara and one who is fed up with her predicament and is dishing out payback in brutal fashion. There is an odd discontent between the gruesome levels of violence and abuse that Lara is subjected to as well as dishes out that doesn't align with the story and character arch that is supposed to be unfolding. The game takes a much more action focused route which makes more a fun roughly 10 hour experience but never amounts to anything memorable. The games most impressive moments are long  enjoyably challenging segments of traversal that show off the impeccable graphics and its a shame the game never delves deeper into the puzzle solving adventure the series was known for. Tomb Raider is a supremely well made game and at times its pitch of a watching a survivor being born in the midst of this island comes to fruition but it too often indulges in action game cliches that flys in the face of its more intimate character developments.

  (4 out of 5)

Mass Effect 3 DLC: Citadel Review

Here we are, at the end of an era as they say, as Citadel marks the absolute last piece of dlc for the Mass Effect Trilogy. It's been six years since the release of the first game and while its truly sad to see this dlc signal the end of an era, BioWare could not have gone out on a higher note. Citadel stands as the true end-cap to the series, not the cobbled together extended cut that fan outcry forced out of BioWare. This dlc was truly crafted with fans in mind. All along the way BioWare winks and nods to the series's past going so far as to reference memes from popular fan-fiction and internet communities. The add-on is supremely well written with one-liners and pop-culture reference being thrown out in a fury of delightful reverence. This was the send off the Mass Effect universe deserved and it was an absolute delight to go on this victory lap disguised as dlc even when it gets cheesier than it can handle. But as much as I feel like gushing about this last hurrah let me state with absolute clarity, this dlc will only have the impact as I've described it if you are a die-hard fan. If you love this universe and the characters that inhabit it as much as I do this piece of content will leave a massive smile plastered across your face for the duration of its endearingly wacky run-time.

I should probably describe the dlc as that is typically the approach a "review" would take. Without going into too much detail as the many surprises in store for prospective players is a large chunk of your overall enjoyment, Citadel involves a conspiracy that aims to usurp the now legendary Commander Shepard and end his life. But while the structured missions allow for an excuse to return to this universe and revel in the 6 years of history and fan adoration its the small things that make this dlc the single greatest thing to come out of BioWare in a very long time. Suffice to say everyone involved in the development of this add-on is talking directly to fans with a story-line so cheesy there isn't a cracker in the galaxy that could support it. It's all in good fun though, and its a blast to revisit this world in a more jovial fashion. Everyone comes back for this final farewell, unless they have been killed previously (narratively or as a result of shitty player decisions) and they all get the treatment they so richly deserve. If one of your favorite parts of Mass Effect 3 was the sniper competition on the Citadel with Garrus than you will absolutely adore this dlc. The real meat of this content is in the social interactions you can have with all your current and past squad mates. I will simply state that just when the story raps up the party is only just beginning. The dlc has a lot more to offer than is initially made clear, but a little exploration reveals more social interactions than the entirety of the trilogy. All of which culminates in a surprisingly poignant ending that had me on the verge of tears as I realized this was truly the last time I would see all these characters I have grown to love over the past six years. 

Fans = (6 out of 5) 

Literally Everyone Else = (2 out of 5)

Saga Vol.1 Review

Now this is a first, huh, a comic book review. Now now, don't go running for the hills. I may have never done a comic book review on this blog before but I would like to think I'm well versed in the medium. For reference on my expertise I can tell you I know Superman's other weakness besides kryptonite is magic, I know the name of every Robin (yes, there have been more than one), and I can recite the Green Lantern oath. I would type it but that wouldn't really validate anything as you would just think I looked it up and pasted it here. You'll just have to trust that I'm a non-discriminating all encompassing nerd and I'm obnoxiously proud of that fact. But anyways, I'm sitting here on a Sunday after having just spent roughly 4-5 hours studying for a Law and Ethics class and since this blog is only partially a diary I figured I should review something and this is the only thing I've recently enjoyed and would like to tell more people about. This review will cover the paperback collection of issues 1-6.

Saga is the latest glimpse into the genius mind of Brian K. Vaughan who previously gave us Ex Machina and Y: The Last Man two of the most revered comic book series in the industry. The two series earned him 13 Eisner Awards and a Hugo Award the highest honor of works within the science fiction and fantasy  realm. An award shared by The Watchmen considered by many to be the single greatest and most important graphic novel ever conceived. So when Vaughan got started on his latest creation my interest was peeked especially since he expressed an interest in telling a story that spanned a greater length of time on a massive scale. I picked up the first issue and was blown away, the sincere emotion and subtle humor Vaughn is known for is on full display emphasized by the indescribable insanity that is the design of the world and its inhabitants. Fiona Staples demands a lot of the praise as well as her art is jarring and demands inspection it also very humanly expresses subtle emotional nuances, an important feat in a book littered with so much insanity.

Saga tells the story of the newlyweds Alana and Marko as well as their recently born daughter Hazel as they traverse the galaxy dodging mercenaries and side-stepping an all out war between the inhabitants of the planet Landfall and its moon Wreath. There is a lot of back story and while at first it may appear overwhelming it is doled out slowly enough with emphasis remaining on the new parents making it easy to follow. The story is sometimes cleverly narrated by Hazel as recalling the story in the far off future. The series is supremely well written with sharp naturalistic dialogue and a deep history and lore that further fills out the world as each issue delves a little deeper into this odd universe. Staples art is also something to behold, especially given how strange some of the things she has to draw are from a ruthless aristocrat who happens to have a television for a head to a femme fatale spider assassin. Saga is still early in its life and only time will tell if the inventiveness and engaging familial drama keeps up but as of the first volume (issues 1-6) it's looking like another modern classic from Vaughn. I highly recommend Saga for those interested in a comic that's comfortable in left field and doesn't mind reveling in some of the weirder idiosyncratic elements Vaughn so often brings.

(5 out of 5)