Recent reviews by Gameslip

Fun with friends

Extremely pay-to-win game, but chill if you don't have anything else to do.

Title: Smite Review: A Thrilling Battle of Gods

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars)


Smite, developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios, is a captivating multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that offers an exhilarating experience once you get the hang of it. While it may seem daunting at first, mastering Smite's mechanics proves to be highly rewarding. However, I highly recommend honing your skills before diving into matches with your friends, unless you want to risk being on the receiving end of their divine wrath!

Smite's unique selling point lies in its pantheon-based theme, featuring gods and mythological figures from various ancient civilizations. Whether you prefer the mighty Zeus, the cunning Loki, or the fierce Anubis, there's a character to suit every playstyle and taste. The diverse roster of gods brings a refreshing variety to the game, allowing for strategic team compositions and creative approaches to battles.

Learning the ropes in Smite can be a bit overwhelming initially, particularly for those unfamiliar with the MOBA genre. The game's tutorial does a decent job of introducing the basics, but to truly grasp its intricacies, investing time in practice modes and solo matches is crucial. Smite rewards players who master its mechanics, such as positioning, ability management, map awareness, and teamwork.

One of the standout features of Smite is its immersive third-person perspective, setting it apart from traditional top-down MOBAs. This perspective offers a more dynamic and visceral experience, allowing you to fully appreciate the beautifully designed maps and engaging combat mechanics. Whether you're navigating the ancient ruins of Conquest or clashing in the mythological realms of Arena, each battleground has a distinct feel and strategic elements that keep matches exciting and unpredictable.

The game's depth is further enhanced by its rich itemization system, which allows you to customize your god's abilities and playstyle. Choosing the right combination of artifacts and relics can significantly impact your effectiveness on the battlefield. Experimenting with different builds and discovering synergies among items and gods is an enjoyable aspect of Smite's gameplay.

While Smite can be an absolute blast to play, it's worth mentioning that the learning curve can be steep. Jumping straight into matches with friends who have already mastered the game can be a recipe for frustration. To avoid becoming a sacrificial offering to your more experienced companions, it's advisable to spend time familiarizing yourself with the gods, their abilities, and optimal strategies. Once you feel confident in your abilities, you'll be ready to join your friends and engage in epic battles as a cohesive team.

Overall, Smite is a fantastic game that offers an engaging and unique MOBA experience. Its immersive third-person perspective, diverse roster of gods, and strategic depth make it a standout title in the genre. Just remember to invest time in practicing and honing your skills before venturing into matches with your friends, unless you want to risk being on the receiving end of their divine might.

Title: Beyond: Two Souls - A Captivating Journey with Stunning Graphics

Rating: 4.5/5

Beyond: Two Souls, developed by Quantic Dream, is a highly immersive and visually stunning interactive drama that takes players on a captivating journey. The game offers a unique blend of storytelling, engaging gameplay mechanics, and breathtaking graphics that leave a lasting impression.

One of the standout features of Beyond: Two Souls is its incredible graphics. The attention to detail in character models, environments, and cinematic sequences is truly remarkable. The game's visuals are lifelike and contribute significantly to the overall immersion, making it a treat for the eyes. Whether you're exploring picturesque landscapes or witnessing intense action sequences, the graphics never fail to impress.

The storytelling in Beyond: Two Souls is another aspect that shines. The game follows the story of Jodie Holmes, a young woman with a mysterious connection to an otherworldly entity named Aiden. Throughout the game, players make choices that shape the narrative, leading to multiple branching paths and endings. The emotional depth of the characters and the complex themes explored in the game make for a thought-provoking and engaging experience.

Gameplay-wise, Beyond: Two Souls incorporates a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and interactive action sequences. Players take control of both Jodie and Aiden, utilizing their unique abilities to progress through the story. The gameplay mechanics are well-executed, with intuitive controls and a seamless transition between characters. However, some may find the pacing a bit slow at times, as the focus is primarily on narrative development rather than high-octane action.

The voice acting performances in Beyond: Two Souls are top-notch, with notable talent like Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe bringing the characters to life. The superb voice acting adds depth and authenticity to the storytelling, enhancing the emotional impact of the game.

While Beyond: Two Souls offers a remarkable experience, it is not without a few minor flaws. The occasional pacing issues and some moments of forced decision-making can be mildly frustrating. However, these minor quibbles do little to detract from the overall excellence of the game.

In conclusion, Beyond: Two Souls is a remarkable title that successfully pushes the boundaries of interactive storytelling. With its stellar graphics, engrossing narrative, and well-crafted gameplay mechanics, it stands out as a truly memorable gaming experience. Despite a few minor hiccups, it is a must-play for fans of immersive storytelling and showcases Quantic Dream's dedication to delivering unique and emotionally impactful games.

Title: Among Us: A Thrilling Social Deduction Game Best Enjoyed with Friends

Rating: 3/5

Among Us, developed by InnerSloth, has quickly captured the hearts of players worldwide with its addictive blend of social deduction and deception. This review delves into the key aspects that make Among Us a fun and engaging experience, particularly when played with friends.

• Social Deduction at Its Finest:
Among Us revolves around uncovering the impostors among a crew of astronauts on a spaceship or a base, leading to intense discussions and exciting gameplay moments. As a crewmate, your task is to complete objectives while keeping a watchful eye on your fellow players, trying to identify the traitors. The game encourages players to communicate, form alliances, and use deductive reasoning to root out the impostors. It's an exhilarating experience, particularly when you're playing with friends, as the mind games and suspense are taken to a whole new level.

• Interactive Multiplayer Experience:
Among Us is best enjoyed in a multiplayer setting, allowing you to connect and play with your friends or join a community of players online. The game fosters communication and teamwork as you discuss suspicious activities, present evidence, and ultimately cast your vote to eject a suspected impostor. The shared experience of unraveling the mystery together enhances the fun factor and strengthens friendships, making it an excellent choice for gatherings, parties, or online gaming sessions.

• Suspense and Tension:
Among Us effectively builds suspense and tension throughout each match. As you navigate the spaceship or base, the uncertainty of who could be an impostor keeps you on edge. Trust is a valuable currency, and anyone could be the enemy in disguise. The moment-to-moment gameplay creates a thrilling atmosphere as you try to complete tasks and stay alive while simultaneously keeping an eye on your surroundings. The adrenaline rush during emergency meetings and voting periods is unmatched, especially when the fate of the game hangs in the balance.

• Customization and Cosmetics:
Among Us offers a range of customization options, allowing players to personalize their characters with various hats, outfits, and colors. While these cosmetics are purely aesthetic, they add an extra layer of enjoyment and self-expression. Whether you want to stand out as a vibrant crewmate or don a sinister disguise as an impostor, the customization options provide a satisfying means of personalizing your in-game identity.

Among Us is an exceptional game that excels at bringing friends together for a thrilling and interactive social deduction experience. While it may not be the ideal choice for solo play, the game truly shines when enjoyed with a group of friends. The blend of suspense, deception, and teamwork keeps players engaged, fostering lively discussions and memorable moments. If you're looking for an enjoyable game to play when you have nothing else to do and you're surrounded by friends, Among Us is a must-try.

Title: Deadside Review: An Atmospheric Survival Experience

Rating: 4/5

Deadside is an open-world survival game developed by Bad Pixel. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the game offers a tense and atmospheric experience where players must navigate dangerous environments, scavenge for resources, and engage in both PvE and PvP combat.

One of the standout features of Deadside is its immersive atmosphere. The game effectively captures the desolate and gritty nature of its post-apocalyptic setting, with detailed environments, abandoned structures, and hauntingly beautiful landscapes. The sound design adds to the immersion, enhancing the feeling of tension and danger as you explore the world.

The survival mechanics in Deadside are well-implemented. Players need to manage their hunger, thirst, and health while also keeping an eye on their ammunition and equipment durability. Finding and utilizing resources becomes crucial, as it directly impacts your chances of survival. The game strikes a good balance between being challenging and rewarding, providing a sense of accomplishment when you successfully overcome the harsh conditions.

Combat in Deadside is intense and unforgiving. Whether you're facing off against AI-controlled enemies or engaging in PvP encounters with other players, every encounter feels dangerous and impactful. The gunplay mechanics are solid, offering a satisfying sense of weight and impact. The addition of stealth elements adds an extra layer of strategy to engagements, allowing players to choose between going in guns blazing or opting for a more covert approach.

The open-world aspect of Deadside provides a vast playground for exploration. There are different regions to discover, each with its own distinct environments and threats. The game world is filled with various landmarks, lootable areas, and hidden secrets, encouraging players to venture off the beaten path. Additionally, the inclusion of vehicles adds mobility and allows for faster traversal across the map.

While Deadside offers an enjoyable survival experience, it's not without its flaws. The game can feel somewhat repetitive at times, as the objectives and activities tend to follow a similar pattern. More variety in missions and tasks would have added depth to the gameplay. Additionally, the AI could be more refined, as enemy behavior can be predictable and lacks diversity.

Overall, Deadside delivers an engaging and atmospheric survival experience. With its immersive world, solid survival mechanics, and intense combat, it keeps players on their toes and provides a thrilling post-apocalyptic adventure. Despite some minor shortcomings, Deadside is a game worth exploring for fans of the survival genre.

Title: Payday 2 Review: A Thrilling Co-op Heist Experience

Rating: ★★★★☆

Payday 2, developed by Overkill Software, is an action-packed cooperative first-person shooter that puts you in the shoes of a professional criminal. This game has garnered a loyal fanbase over the years and has become synonymous with thrilling heists and high-octane gameplay. While it may have a few flaws, Payday 2 undoubtedly delivers an exciting and engaging experience.

One of the standout features of Payday 2 is its emphasis on cooperative gameplay. Assemble a team of up to four players and collaborate to execute elaborate heists, ranging from bank robberies to drug trafficking. The game encourages teamwork and coordination, rewarding players who strategize and communicate effectively. Whether you prefer stealthy approaches or explosive chaos, Payday 2 offers plenty of options to suit your playstyle.

The variety of missions and objectives in Payday 2 is impressive. Each heist has multiple paths and approaches, allowing players to tackle them differently each time. Whether you're stealing valuable artifacts from a museum, breaking into a high-security facility, or rescuing hostages, the game offers a good amount of diversity to keep you engaged. The replay value is further enhanced by the dynamic AI director, which adjusts the difficulty and intensity based on the players' performance.

The customization and progression system in Payday 2 are extensive, offering a plethora of weapons, equipment, masks, and skill trees to unlock. As you progress and accumulate in-game currency, you can purchase upgrades, abilities, and cosmetic items, allowing you to fine-tune your criminal arsenal. Experimenting with different loadouts and finding the perfect combination for your preferred playstyle adds a layer of depth to the game.

Visually, Payday 2 holds up well, although it may not have the graphical fidelity of newer releases. The game's art style captures the gritty atmosphere of heists and urban crime, and the level design is well-crafted, with intricate details that make each environment feel immersive. The sound design is excellent, enhancing the tension during intense moments and adding to the overall immersion.

However, Payday 2 is not without its shortcomings. The AI teammates, while helpful at times, can be unreliable and lack the intelligence of human players. The game's community has also expressed frustration with occasional bugs and technical issues that can hinder the overall experience. Although Overkill Software has made efforts to address these problems through updates and patches, they still persist to some extent.

Despite its small flaws, Payday 2 remains an incredibly fun and addicting cooperative shooter. The thrill of successfully executing a heist with your friends, the rush of intense firefights, and the satisfaction of unlocking new gear and abilities make it a standout title in the genre. If you enjoy cooperative gameplay and don't mind occasional technical hiccups, Payday 2 is well worth your time and offers countless hours of criminal mayhem.

Title: Conan Exiles: A Brutal Adventure with a Few Rough Edges

Rating: 3.5/5

Introduction:
Conan Exiles is an open-world survival game set in the harsh and unforgiving world of Conan the Barbarian. Developed by Funcom, it offers a brutal and immersive experience that lets players explore, build, and fight in a vast and treacherous landscape. While the game has its flaws, it still manages to captivate players with its atmospheric setting and challenging gameplay.

Gameplay:
The gameplay in Conan Exiles revolves around exploration, resource gathering, base building, and combat. From the moment you step into the game's savage world, you're thrust into a struggle for survival. Gathering resources, constructing shelters, and establishing a stronghold are essential to surviving the dangers that lurk around every corner. The combat system is satisfyingly visceral, offering a range of weapons and playstyles to suit different preferences. However, the learning curve can be steep, and the controls may feel clunky at times.

World Design:
Conan Exiles boasts a visually stunning and diverse world that is both breathtaking and foreboding. From deserts and jungles to snowy mountains, the environments are richly detailed and filled with secrets to uncover. The day-night cycle and dynamic weather system add to the immersive experience, while dangerous creatures and rival factions provide constant challenges. Despite occasional technical issues and performance hiccups, the world design overall is impressive.

Building and Crafting:
One of the highlights of Conan Exiles is its robust building and crafting system. Players can construct elaborate fortresses, homes, and even entire cities using a wide array of building pieces. The level of customization available is impressive, allowing for unique creations. The crafting system offers a wide variety of items, weapons, and armor to create, providing a sense of progression and personalization. However, the interface for building and crafting can be unintuitive and frustrating at times, requiring patience and trial-and-error.

Multiplayer:
Conan Exiles supports both cooperative and competitive multiplayer, allowing players to join forces or engage in PvP combat. Collaborating with friends to tackle challenges or building alliances with other players adds a layer of depth to the experience. However, the multiplayer aspect of the game suffers from occasional connectivity issues, server instability, and a lack of effective matchmaking options.

Take a Break Sometimes:
One crucial aspect of Conan Exiles that should be emphasized is the importance of taking breaks. The game can be immersive and time-consuming, often tempting players to invest countless hours. While the world is captivating, it's crucial to step away from the screen and take breaks to maintain a healthy balance in life. And it can get boring if you do not.

Conclusion:
Conan Exiles offers a gritty and engaging survival experience set in the world of Conan the Barbarian. While the game has its share of rough edges, including clunky controls, technical issues, and occasional frustration with building and crafting, it manages to deliver an immersive and visually stunning world. The combat system, diverse environments, and multiplayer options provide depth and longevity to the gameplay. With a rating of 3.5/5, Conan Exiles is recommended for fans of survival games who are willing to tolerate its flaws and appreciate its brutal charm. Just remember to take a break sometimes to avoid getting lost in the savage lands for too long.

Title: Fallout 76 - A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure Filled with Potential

Rating: 4/5

Fallout 76, the latest installment in the renowned Fallout series by Bethesda Game Studios, presents players with a vast open world set in the desolate wasteland of West Virginia. The game's ambitious concept and multiplayer focus generated a lot of excitement upon its release. While it had a rocky start and faced its fair share of criticism, Fallout 76 has evolved significantly over time, making it worthy of attention and praise.

One of the standout features of Fallout 76 is its expansive map, teeming with diverse locations to explore. From dilapidated towns and eerie forests to sprawling underground vaults, the world is rich in environmental storytelling. Uncovering the mysteries behind each location and encountering unique NPCs and creatures adds a sense of discovery and intrigue to the gameplay.

The multiplayer aspect introduces a new dimension to the Fallout experience, allowing players to team up with friends or engage in PvP encounters. The cooperative play enhances the exploration and survival aspects of the game, encouraging collaboration and resource-sharing among players. The online world also brings a dynamic element to the game, with public events and emergent gameplay moments that keep the wasteland feeling alive and unpredictable.

Over time, Bethesda has made commendable efforts to address many of the technical and gameplay issues that plagued Fallout 76 during its launch. Numerous updates and patches have improved stability, added new features, and enhanced the overall player experience. The addition of human NPCs in the Wastelanders expansion was a significant step forward, injecting much-needed life and depth into the game's quests and storytelling.

However, despite the significant improvements, Fallout 76 still faces some lingering issues. Occasionally, players may encounter bugs, glitches, and server stability problems that can hamper their immersion in the game. Additionally, the lack of a traditional single-player campaign may disappoint fans who were hoping for a more narrative-driven experience akin to previous Fallout titles.

That being said, Fallout 76 is an ever-evolving game that continues to grow and improve with each update. Bethesda's dedication to addressing community feedback and expanding the game's content is commendable. The recent introduction of the Steel Reign update, which concludes the Brotherhood of Steel storyline, showcases the studio's commitment to providing meaningful content updates to keep players engaged.

In conclusion, Fallout 76 has come a long way since its troubled launch, and its current state deserves recognition. While it still has its imperfections, the game offers an engrossing open world, cooperative multiplayer, and a post-apocalyptic setting brimming with potential. Considering the ongoing improvements and the dedication of the development team, Fallout 76 earns a respectable rating of 4 out of 5. It's a game that fans of the series and open-world enthusiasts can find enjoyment in, especially as Bethesda continues to shape the wasteland into a more immersive and compelling experience.

Title: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG): An Intense Battle Royale Experience

Rating: ★★★★☆

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) has solidified its place as one of the most popular and influential battle royale games since its release in 2017. With its unique blend of tactical gameplay, intense firefights, and a vast open world, PUBG offers an adrenaline-pumping experience that keeps players hooked.

One of the standout features of PUBG is its realistic and immersive gameplay. Dropping into an expansive map with 100 players, you must scavenge for weapons, gear, and resources while staying within the ever-shrinking safe zone. The game's attention to detail is impressive, with realistic weapon mechanics, bullet physics, and dynamic weather conditions that add an extra layer of challenge and strategy.

The gunplay in PUBG is exceptionally satisfying. Each weapon feels distinct, requiring skill and precision to master. Whether you prefer close-quarters combat with shotguns and SMGs or long-range engagements with sniper rifles, there's a weapon to suit every playstyle. The wide variety of attachments and equipment further enhances the tactical depth, allowing players to customize their loadouts and adapt to different situations.

The map design in PUBG is diverse and meticulously crafted. From the iconic island of Erangel to the arid deserts of Miramar, each map offers a unique setting with its own strengths and challenges. The addition of new maps, such as Vikendi and Sanhok, provides even more variety and replayability. Furthermore, the constant updates and improvements from the development team ensure that the game remains fresh and engaging.

PUBG's multiplayer experience is where the game truly shines. Whether you team up with friends or take on the challenge solo, the adrenaline rush of surviving against all odds and outsmarting opponents creates unforgettable moments. The combination of teamwork, communication, and individual skill elevates PUBG to a highly competitive and rewarding experience.

While PUBG offers an exceptional gameplay experience, it does have a few drawbacks. The game's optimization on certain platforms can be inconsistent, leading to occasional performance issues and frustrating bugs. Additionally, the learning curve for new players can be steep, as the game requires a good understanding of mechanics and strategies to succeed.

Despite these minor flaws, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds remains a must-play title for battle royale enthusiasts. Its realistic gameplay, intense firefights, and constant updates keep the game feeling fresh and relevant. PUBG's ability to create unforgettable moments of triumph and tension makes it a thrilling and addictive experience that has captivated millions of players worldwide.

Overall, if you're looking for a battle royale game that delivers a high-stakes, heart-pounding experience, PUBG is definitely worth diving into. Just be prepared for the steep learning curve and occasional technical hiccups along the way.