Topic: User Impressions/Reviews Thread

@RogerRoger but seriously, let’s see that review please!

@RogerRoger
I, along with the majority of folks on here - I think, always enjoyed reading your reviews which I found to be well written, informative and often amusing. I feel it a shame you no longer feel comfortable posting them but respect your decision to do what is best for you.
Just know you have way more supporters than detractors.

What the hell happened in here?!?! All I’d say, as someone who can be very opinionated… is I love to hear about opinions that seem in total opposition to my own. The whole point of a forum is for people with a common interest to discuss their various and different opinions. Sad that @RogerRoger feels unable to do that right now but I hope that they just feel like this temporarily, as while I might not always feel the same way about the games that we’ve both played… I always appreciate the perspective.

Another vote for the review to be undeleted @RogerRoger, but totally understand if you do not want to.

Although I do not frequent this thread that often, it always amazes me quality of the writing for the reviews I do read. Hats off to all that contribute!

@RogerRoger Another virtual nudge in support of your excellent reviews. Over the years your reviews and other side discussions and recommendations have exposed me to several games that I’ve enjoyed and otherwise may have missed. And if nothing else, I’ve been entertained and enlightened to read about your journeys — like your self-conflicting sojourn through the Shenmue series, or your struggle to complete FF7, or the surprising self-discovery of becoming a Dragon Age fan, or seeing the beauty of Abzu through your eyes and ears, or discussing the socio-political underpinnings of Life is Strange 2, or seeing your 180 degree shifting thoughts while playing through Horizon Forbidden West… and so on and so on. I’m appreciative to have been a passenger along for the ride.

I know the feeling of wanting to withhold thoughts and opinions and lately I’ve been guilty of the same. But if you’re concerned about how your impressions would be received, you need not. They are absolutely top-shelf, whether I end up agreeing fully (which I usually do, ignoring Sonic Mania 😅) or not.

Yet, of course I’d support you in whatever direction you go with it. Sharing pieces of oneself is a risky business. But there’s no doubt that over the years every one my RogerRoger interactions has left me edified.

@RogerRoger 👍 I look forward to reading it.

Last of Us 2.
Well I think it's basically a better game then the first game in all ways. Maybe more importantly I think its basically everything I wanted the first game to be, which is not to say little (so interesting to experience it). That said its also quite violent so if you are a sensitive person I guess you should not play it. The animations in this game are so very beautiful and I felt challenged during my time with the game. Also the sounds effect are very cool and impressive (which I think contribute to make such an interesting experience). Its kind of I think its important to note that the game contains many stealth elements so its kind of beneficial that you enjoy those things in order to enjoy the game.

@RogerRoger Glad you reconsidered your decision to take this down. I'm not going to confront people if they don't feel comfortable posting on here, but I do think it's important for well-articulated minority positions to be maintained online, when possible.

Anyway, it sounds like this is a really good release, but maybe not the one you were looking for. A better traditional video game, but it sounds like a worse role-playing experience.

The game itself looks nice, but wow, it's yet another super unpolished AAA release. The PC version really hot hammered, but even the next-gen consoles were producing unfortunate results. Sometimes I wonder if games aren't getting too visually complex for their own good!

Damning Uncharted reference there. You did remind me that I really need to play The Lost Legacy, though.

Great read as always, Rog!

@RogerRoger fantastically written review as always mate… and I’m really happy that I got a chance to read it. I’ll be real interested to see how I find the change in Cal’s portrayal having read through your perspective. As I’ve mentioned before… I’m a bit of a cut-scene button-masher, so narrative in games has never been high up on my totem pole but it will be something that I look for as a result of your review.

What I’m most shocked by is how little Respawn appears to have developed the framework they laid down in Fallen Order. I’ve long been under the impression that this would end up being an Uncharted 2-like leap in quality… but the more I read the less this seems to be the case. I wasn’t overly into the first game, so I’m thinking my take will end up being much the same here. Wait for a sale seems to be my take unfortunately.

@RogerRoger Thanks for the contextual information and I completely agree with you — I’ve come to appreciate that a persons opinions and viewpoints do not define them, as you effectively state. And it’s amazing how often I might disagree with someone about one thing and then vehemently agree with them on another. Anyways, cheers and here’s to many happy days ahead. 🍻

Now, about this review… Awesome review, my friend, and slightly surprising! Really glad you shared it. I appreciate your balance and honesty, because I know how much Star Wars means to you and how much the first game resonated for you. Also, after reading 9/10 praises dropped from Push Square and other outlets I was excited for you and the rest of us Star Wars enthusiasts. So it’s a bit of a shock that it fell short. Although, it does seem like there was plenty of enjoyment to be had and a decent Star Wars game is better than a bad one, like you mention in your review.

Out of curiosity I looked back at my Fallen Order review as a level-set to refresh my own expectations. I remember quite enjoying it and having the joy of running around in that ‘power fantasy with a lightsaber’ overshadowed some of the more annoying aspects of the game design. I’m happy to see that the map is improved and fast travel is enabled. Those were two large gripes on my end, and from many other gamers. I never considered that in the process of improving and refining that Respawn might drop the ball on the story and character development though. Sometimes when writers try too hard they lose that ‘special sauce’ that comes with following their own passions, rather than making a character by committee.

I’ve bought the game already, on launch day. In fact I’ve loaded it on my console (all one million GB of it!) and booted it briefly, only to shut it back down so I can finish off my other licensed game time-sink I’m playing. I also figured I’d give Respawn a couple weeks to make good on their promise of patching the game up to snuff. Regardless, I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll definitely drop some impressions for comparison sake when I get around to it. (Maybe in a week or two. Life continues to be hectic)

Thank you for reposting @RogerRoger, you and I can be contrary fairies together if need be!

Again love the screenshots, but this time I will remember to say I love the writing too. You tackled it from a personal angle, a Star Wars fan angle, a gamer and even took the time to break down some more technical/mechanical stuff. Really rad to cover so much in a cohesive writing style and certainly has helped me calibrate expectations. Certainly puts me to shame when the last review I shared in here was just me crying about Rachel Amber 😂 I haven't actually ever finished Fallen Order, feel like maybe I now need to, and hopefully in that time Survivor will be fixed so I can see how I land with it, as someone who has kinda always had Star Wars in his life but wouldn't say he is a massive fan of the franchise as a whole.

@RogerRoger I could have assumed you were reviewing Dead Space 2 after Dead Space 1 from your opening section. Lots of people preferred Isaac in the original, although he was intentionally a blank slate where as it sounds like it was quite accidental in Fallen Order! I suppose where it differs is that Dead Space 2 had a very cool story with even better pacing! Your mileage will vary, I suppose, when you’re left to imprint a bit of yourself onto the character you’re playing.

I would have stuck my 2 cents in but @Hallowmoonshadow said all that needed to be said. I try and give the benefit of the doubt, I dunno, perhaps it was an attempt at being playful. Just don’t understand the need to dig in when you’re obviously in the wrong, how hard is it to apologise these days 🙂

This man speaks The Truth.

This is probably sacrilege in review circles @RogerRoger, but I've only read your closing comments. 😬

I've not played Fallen Order yet, but will be soon. I will make sure to play the PS4 version on my PS5. But so glad you put the review up for everyone to see!