Forums > Contributor Zone > RotW // 19th -- 25th JULY //

Yes, there is a week missing. It’s Jason’s; he’s late. Everyone point and laugh.

Here there be reviews.


THIRD - Fallout 4: Automatron [PC] Brian

The obvious issue with this review is mainly subject matter related. It’s an add on rather than a full game, so you’re going to have to assume some level of existing knowledge because it’s not like you can tack on a Fallout 4 base game review as the introduction and keep things at a manageable size. Still I think this is sidestepped very well because you take the focus away from that early on and talk about how it’s a genuine attempt to be a showcase for the higher end mod work. It’s likely I’ll never play F4 (I gave up halfway through F3, after all) so this little pocket of oddness would have been forever undiscovered if not for this, so it’s an appreciated effort for something most people wouldn’t feel the need to cover

SECOND - Realms of Ancient War [PS3] Overdrive

I feel for Rob; he’s been stuck with the mediocre Diablo clone full of basic fantasy tropes. Doesn’t really lend itself to inspired writing, does it? The highlights of the review are, unsurprisingly, the complaining, because at least it’s something to talk about! The rest of the review is a brave trudge through an uninspired plot attached to an uninspired game. It’s informative and tells you all the nuts and bolts, so maybe if a generic fantasy slasher was your current mood (there are weirder cravings out there), everything you need to know is on this page. Jason has a similar middle of the road game to talk about, but he can distract himself with talk of neo vampires and stripping innocent bystanders to their underwear. I can’t award you first place with that in mind, but I’ll certainly go back and search you down some screenshots later.

FIRST - Akiba's Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed [PS4] Jason

Despicable Jerec gets his wish, and Jason’s calculator work falls on my week by way of carry over. I’ve said every time I get a Jason oddity review (they do tend to fall on my shift almost exclusively) that I really do appreciate the little nods to these forgotten bits of software and I think they’re well worth documenting.

Akiba’s Trip, on the other hand, is a game I’m familiar with after playing through the sequel which, until recently, was the first game to be ported to Western shores. I had begrudgingly decided that I should probably cover this one sooner rather than later because of that, so Jason taking that burden away from me has scored him heavy RotW placement points been a welcome relief. Mainly because he confirms my thoughts that the first outing was more of an exciting concept than it is a competent game.

I think this is communicated well; Jason is obviously taken by the idea of wandering around nerd mecca, beating the snot out of bystanders and stripping them to their underwear. The second game leans hard into the goofy nature of this, but the first game seems to take itself more series and comes off as a stuffier affair. I appreciate the fact that the game’s been released for those that have become fans of the series through its later releases, even if it perhaps fails to hold up as well, because otherwise that little itch would remain unscratched. I also appreciate Jason proving that it might be better off viewing it as a foundation to better things

For us. For them. For you.

I don't know what it says about me that I'm only posting to defend Trails of Cold Steel from complaints that make no sense rather than the shot at me, but it would seem you've linked to the correct Overdrive review, but given it the wrong name.

See, I'm despicable, but also helpful at pointing out when you've made a mistake.

I can avoid death by not having a life.

It's lucky no one (else) reads these things, or that might have been embarrassing.

For us. For them. For you.

I read it. I just spaced out when the time came to add my own comments to the mix. Thanks for the comments on my review, and especially for awarding me the win. I gotta keep myself in the Site King running!

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - John F. Kennedy on reality

"What if everything you see is more than what you see--the person next to you is a warrior and the space that appears empty is a secret door to another world? What if something appears that shouldn't? You either dismiss it, or you accept that there is much more to the world than you think. Perhaps it really is a doorway, and if you choose to go inside, you'll find many unexpected things." - Shigeru Miyamoto on secret doors to another world2

I read it, too. Had a brief laugh at the review name not being swapped out and then went on with what I was doing, as I didn't have time to respond.

But I am now. Thanks for the placement here. With this second place and the one I got from Jason, that really puts me on pace to be the all time greatest at getting second! Which, as far as accolades go, isn't exactly Number One in my book, but I take what I can get.

I'm not afraid to die because I am invincible
Viva la muerte, that's my goddamn principle