Recent reviews by Sophrosyne

I genuinely don't have it in me to nitpick Wolfenstein: The New Order. I get to shoot nazis and that never really gets old, gameplay or pacing problems be damned. This game is stellar and absolutely a must-play.

Celeste is brilliant, although there is little I can say about it that has not already been said. Everyone, myself included, learned something about themselves through playing this game. The gameplay is smooth, the art is gorgeous, and it's really fun.

Delta Particles is exceptional in very nearly every regard. I particularly appreciated how cohesive its setting felt throughout and how consistently perfect its atmosphere was. I also enjoyed how each of the mod's four chapters brought a unique approach to the gameplay, which helped the experience remain fresh despite its considerable length. I can confidently recommend it to any Half-Life fan.

What Remains of Edith Finch is absolutely heart-wrenching in the best possible way. The fantastic music, the myriad art direction, and especially the beautiful writing all come together to elevate it to unparalleled emotional damage. I personally found Lewis's story the most potently poignant; it captivated me on every level and really resonated with me.

The Unfinished Swan is a beautiful game. It's simple yet complex in both design and story. The gameplay is varied but remains cohesive throughout. The music is gorgeous and utilised flawlessly. It invites introspection and tears. Every aspect of this game is without flaw. I desperately wish I had more to say about it.

BioShock 2 is an improvement over BioShock 1 in almost every way, which is a significant accomplishment. The gameplay mechanics are brilliantly refined, resulting in much more fluid combat. The story is far more emotionally driven than in the first game, not to mention better-paced. The political commentary, if taken as a critique of the technocracy movement and cults in general, excels at its messaging. The Protector Trials is a cute, fun set of challenges, and Minerva's Den is an incredible bonus campaign absolutely worthy of mention.

BioShock is a stunningly beautiful experience, especially for its age. The environmental storytelling is phenomenal and I adored getting lost in its world. It also meticulously deconstructs anarcho-capitalist ideology and Ayn Randian thought, which is always appreciated. However, its age introduces drawbacks beyond clunky mechanics and underwhelming player choice. This game is outright hostile to modern systems; running it was an ordeal and troubleshot fixes frequently broke themselves. The fact that I'm recommending this game despite that is a testament to how good it is when it decides to work.

The Complex: Found Footage is stellar. The environments are so downright gorgeous that I didn't mind getting lost in them. Each level is imposing and makes for a deeply uncomfortable experience, which is precisely how liminal horror should present itself. The dread amasses flawlessly, and the environment's unease enhances it. The game's lack of active threats makes it the most competent experience based on the Backrooms I've seen by a significant margin. My own imagination turned against me, lost in the tension.

Half-Life: Escape 2.0 is charming despite its flaws. The mod finds its greatest strength in not holding back from experimenting with its gameplay. The lack of any melee attack resulted in a much more focused experience, which I appreciated. However, the art direction severely lacked cohesion. The developers borrowed assets with unique styles and carelessly combined them. While bugs were rare during my playthrough, they weren't completely absent; one forced me to complete the final fight a second time to progress. I enjoyed playing this mod, but it's glimmering with the potential to be a significantly better experience.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is an elegant masterpiece. The controls are smooth, the environments are beautiful, the music is exceptional, and the story has heart. The game is invitingly simplistic, with each design choice having abundant meaning behind it. It perfectly captures the serene beauty of flight. This game was a shockingly emotional experience that I cannot recommend enough.