QUARTER BREAKDOWN
APRIL
The Month of Layed Back Completion
DRAGON'S DOGMA 2
I managed to complete this game after being on it almost daily. I loved every minute of it and if it wasn't so short, I would have played more. The time spent includes mastering every single class, doing every side quest and exploring the entire map. Getting the best gear and just maxing out my pawn and hero.
Now I'm left to return to the original and analyze it as in-depth as I did the second one. That being said, I highly recommend this game.
"But it is one thing to read about dragons and another to meet them." - Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
| 🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Vibrant, realistic, and believable fantastic world. • Combat is different yet refined and fun. • More challenging than the first game but well worth exploring. • Exploration is done freely, deliberate, and interesting. • Quests are primarily scarce from what I could see, but well-designed and interesting. • Amazing character customizations. One of the best, in fact. • Classes are revamped and offer different skills that combine well with other classes. • Great sound design. • Pawn system improved. Pawns feel more believable and interesting. • New race introduced adds flavor to the world. |
• Poor optimization visible for the most part in Main Big Cities. • Denuvo restricts Linux users or blocks people from playing this game. • Not uncommon but strange business practices for a single-player game. • Some issues present in the first game can still be found in this game, but most of them are improved. • Sometimes crashes occur. Luckily auto-save brings you back fairly close to the period and time of crash. |
| 🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Had some clipping glitches, and several random crashes out of the blue when upgrading the skills of my pawn's character, ALT+TABing and for no reason. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: High FPS: 25-40 (City) 60 (Outside) |
| 🌌 Content & Replay Value | The game is 4x larger in map than the first one, and for someone who likes exploring the world, you can spend more than 100 hours getting lost in the game. It offers a vibrant and rich experience that is worth revisiting. There's no replay value unless you wish to change your vocation/looks and start again. Although you can do this without encountering issues. |
| 💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes. I think the game is well worth trying despite the performance issues. If you have an RTX 3070+ you can run this game without many issues. |
| 🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Have not tested. People reported having Denuvo issues, so please don't attempt to try it until Capcom fixes the restrictions on Linux. |
🧾 Verdict: Excellent |
A big step in the right direction from someone who recently replayed the prequel and jumped into this game. Despite its technological flaws and people speaking nonsense about microtransactions that can all be purchased in-game, this game is a perfect testimony that with care, love, passion, and a lot of dedication, you can pull off an incredible RPG. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
Dragon's Dogma is an action-adventure open-world game focused on combat, monster hunting, tactical planning, and intensive, over-the-top difficult combat. Its system focuses on the pawn system, a system used before in the first game where you control, to a certain degree, up to 3 additional pawns that serve as different classes to aid you in combat.
The difference this time around is the change in the class system, where we see separations between archer and dual-wielding warriors into two separate classes. It's a nice change in my opinion as it doesn't force you to mainly use blades despite preferring an archer class and vice versa.
The combat is intense, a lot more difficult, but feels more realistic. Pawns work together much better this time around, prompting for combo skills, and evolving in experience the further you progress in the world and face different monsters.
Physics play a nice role here and can be utilized better in your advantage. It's a lot harder to dodge incoming attacks from large beasts as the hitbox does feel change and the combos not so predictable.
Exploration is improved this time around greatly. The world is expansive, rich, full of life, with impressive visuals and places to explore, each carrying interesting places to visit.
😄 Fun:
This game is truly something else. It's so much fun and impressive for what it is.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
Gorgeous-looking game, with stunning visuals, over-the-top visual effects, and elements that left me surprised at every step. The world is filled with points of interest and attention to detail.
This time around we're introduced with some incredible visuals in cinematics that blend excellently with the game and make things fairly seamless.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
The sound effects are great and give a good sense of impact when striking. Voice acting is fairly good, but not impressive in all regards. I feel there's somewhat a mismatch between exhausting breaths and the voice of my character.
Main characters from the story are well-performed. I must remark that the loose language is very well covered by old English expressions, and foul language is well-censored by different expressions that I personally appreciate. The use of old English is interesting in this regard and it's something I don't remember being part of the first game.
📖 Story & Writing:
A step in the right direction. Despite not being heavily focused on the story and more on the experience, this game is a step forward in that area. A lot of the side quests and main quests can be missed or skipped if you truly just wish to see the game to the end. It has 3 potential endings, one being the true and the most interesting endings. The other two, despite one being good, feels somewhat like something is missing.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
It's a very lengthy game to complete, and so was the first game. Since the developers have said this game is 4x larger, you can expect a good 100+ hours to complete it. Difficulty-wise, it is fairly more balanced in a way considering the fact that there's no difficulty picking, and in Dark Arisen Hard mode, getting hit once is fatal; here, you're still challenged, but with careful positioning and patience, you can pull it off better.
⭕️Verdict:
Dragon's Dogma 2 is an impressive game and by far one of the best games I've played in 2024. I'm excited to explore and complete this game and share more if ever I change my views on the game. I only wish it would get the fixes in performance it deserves. Other than that, I'd avoid taking people's complaints on the matters they don't understand because except for Denuvo and microtransactions, the game is a gem.
A SHORT HIKE
After completing Dragon's Dogma 2, I had a few days on my hand before the month ended, so I decided to play something sweet and short. So, I picked this game.
Despite not being perfect, I honestly enjoyed it for what it was.
"Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it." - Andy Rooney
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
| 🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
|---|---|
|
• An endearing tale full of charm. • Intuitive controls that are easy to navigate. • Delightful conversations brimming with humor and heartwarming moments. |
• Brief with forgettable characters. • Maze-like layouts that often lead to confusion, would benefit from the addition of a mini-map. • Limited Ultrawide compatibility, requiring cheats to unlock. |
| 🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth flight with no obstacles in sight. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: Ultra FPS: 75+ |
| 🌌 Content & Replay Value | I'm speaking from the perspective of a completionist. You can complete this game in 3-5 hours at most. You get to meet and help all the characters, and replaying this game adds no value. There's no new game plus or other benefits to starting over. |
| 💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes. But I'd probably go for a discount if I was to buy this game. |
| 🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Perfect game for Steam Deck. It's recommended using a controller, so I can't recommend this game enough. It runs perfectly on it too. |
🧾 Verdict: Decent |
While I liked the game, I can't say it was the best game I've played so far. It has a wholesome, cute, and humorous story at parts, with easily forgettable characters, but overall, it's a satisfying game to play for some reason. I do think it's perfect for those who like a laid-back experience and just want to play something relaxing in a single sitting. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
A Short Hike is a platformer adventure game where your main objective, reaching the mountain's summit, is presented right from the start. As you embark on your journey, you're equipped with the ability to fly and glide. However, flying initially proves challenging as it doesn't provide much elevation. To overcome this limitation, you must collect golden feathers as rewards from assisting island residents, granting you additional climbing and flying capabilities.
You can gather a maximum of 20 feathers, greatly easing your ascent to the mountain peak. Gameplay centers around exploring the map, interacting with and aiding all the island residents with various tasks.
😄 Fun:
While it's a calming game and has enjoyable moments, I wouldn't say it's the most entertaining experience I've had in quite some time.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
It's a cute and minimalistic game that offers you the possibility to choose between playing with very pixelated graphics or not. I appreciate this feature in video games because I know that some people dislike overly pixelated graphics, so it's a good option to have.
The game can look really nice in some cases, with a calming and warm palette of colors that are pleasing to the eye.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
The music is somewhat forgettable, though not unpleasant. Characters speak in gibberish when fast-forwarded, reminiscent of Animal Crossing, which, I must admit, I enjoyed.
📖 Story & Writing:
In the game, you take on the role of Claire, a bird visiting an island from the city. She's on a quest to find cellphone reception, and rumor has it that the only place to get it is at the very top of the island.
Along the way, you meet characters, some know Claire better than others and you create relationships with some of them by helping them.
The game offers a funny, loose way of dialogue, making each casual encounter humorous and wholesome.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
Very short and very easy game to beat and complete.
⭕️Verdict:
A Short Hike offers a decent gaming experience with its charming and minimalistic aesthetic, relaxed gameplay, and engaging exploration mechanics. While its music may not be the most memorable and its characters' dialogue may be reminiscent of other titles like Animal Crossing, these elements contribute to its overall appeal. With its mix of relaxation and adventure, A Short Hike proves to be a satisfying and enjoyable experience for those seeking a laid-back gaming session.
Games Completed this Month
-
Dragon's Dogma 2
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A Short Hike
Despite not being perfect
Oomph, those are fighting words Vash. ;)
I literally played the game couple days ago, and had my socks blown off at how perfect it was :o
It’s now an instant favourite of mine…
Shame you didn’t get to experience it the way I did. I had an afternoon in front of my PC feel like a holiday :3
It didn’t click for me as much. I guess games like this might not be my cup of tea. I don’t mean the gameplay, but the story and dialogue. Was too laid back and without voice-over that kinda didn’t impress me.
I was told by others that the game is good and all, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as you and others did. Still, recommend the game. Decent is still good game.
Well, personal preferences are what they are. I’m sure you have your own favourites I wouldn’t be impressed by and will never know they joy they can bring.
And haha, I had somewhat reversed situation. I was told by others that the game is good and all, but I wasn’t told it would be THIS good :P
Absolutely! We also shouldn’t rob away the joy and fun others had. I’ll give you an example of a game that really surprised me.
NBA Playgrounds was a game I had a complete blast in. Most people reviewed it okay-ish but I LOVED IT! It matters from person to person and what we grew up playing I guess.
Well, I’m sure growing up part has a significance. For example, I never played a fighting game in my childhood, and now I can’t seem to even want to get into one.
But at the same time, I’m sure personal preferences are as important. I had an abundance of racing games my older brother would install and play, and yet…
to me they’re kind of meh.
On the other hand, just like A Short Hike for me, some things catch you so unexpectedly by being EXACTLY what you didn’t know you wanted that it was impossible to predict before, childhood genre or not. I’m fortunate to have had multiple such surprises by now (Crypt of the Necrodancer, RAZED, Hunt Showdown…)
Surprises like that are always great. For me Point and Click Adventure has always been something I never got into because of it’s simplicity. I happen to come across via Steamgifts to one that completely moved me and I fully enjoyed it. It’s called Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth. Sometimes you never know you need it.
On the other hand, I’ve experienced a lot of genre as a kid, including fighting and racing, but something most gamers nowadays don’t experience as much real-time strategy and classic RPG’s.
We have different definitions of “short”, you and I. :’D
I actually expect 200-300 hours to completion, so when I completed it under 150 hours, I wanted more out of it. So, judging by the scale and feel, the game feels somewhat short, if that makes sense. 142+ hours is definitely not short. I’d classify it as Very Long Game to Beat/Complete.
Oh yeah, I didn’t even consider the possibility of an expectation. Maybe one day, I’ll get to buckle up and dive into a big RPG like that myself :)
I cam to the conclusion that if you love a game, 150 hours might feel like 15 hours.
I could see that! It’s just that I don’t usually play 100h+ games :D
I mix and match. I don’t do it either, but every quarter I play 1-2 games like that.