Recent reviews by Siggi Windklotz

I always said that Yakuza: Like a dragon was like Assassin's Creed or Masse Effect: A good game with some rough spots that begs for a Sequel that improves it and makes it one of the best games ever made. I am glad to say that Infinite Wealth is that game! It picks right up after the previous game in both gameplay and Story.

In terms of story, it's a bit of a step down from be previous game, for two reasons. Firstly, it doesn't make much sense if you haven't played the previous game, so if you didn't I don't think it's worth bothering with this one, even though it's the superior game. Also it seems to have less impactful moments in my opinion or at least they do get lost in later parts of the game where it ends up in a confusing clan vs clan in the final stretches. I don't wanna say it's bad or anyhting just in my opinion the previous game had a better flow and theme to it.

However the gameplay is where this one truly shines. Combat has been drastically improved. It's noticeable that they took the criticism that the previous game wasn't a real time thing like the rest of the Yakuza Series. However instead of backing down and getting rid of the turn based combat, they stuck with it while making it more action focused. The fact that you can freely move around (in a certain area) during combat does wonders. Just trying to get the position of your character right so attacks it has many enemies as possible is extremely fun. It's almost like every single fight is a bowling minigame. Also adding Kiryu to the party helps a lot as he brings a playstyle very similair to the rest of the series, just in turn based form. I'm not gonna name everything else there is here due to spoilers, but rest assured this is one of the best turn based combat system I have ever seen.

Also what would a Yakuza/ Like a Dragon game without the Minigames? And they sure return here again. While we have the essentials like gambling and Karaoke, we also get some cool unique stuff in here. My favourites being a Dating App Simulator that feels surpisingly close to the real deal, at least to my experience. But the best one is a Resort Tychoon minigame that has so much content and addicting gameplay, it might as well be it's own mid-price cozy game.

While we're on the topic of pricing, I unfortunately have to bring up the Day 1 DLC politics in this game. There is tons of stuff hidden behind more expensive Deluxe and Ultimate edition, that really should come in the base game. The worst offender being the master vacation DLC from the deluxe edition that, I kid you not, includes the New Game+. I personally don't care since I very rarely use these modes But still the fact that content that is a standard elsewhere is locked behind a paywall in a 70€ game is unacceptable.

Despite this, Infinite wealth is a fantastic game that I'd say is a must play title for any open world and RPG fan. It's a game bursting with (quality) content and is sure to keep you busy for weeks. A lot of time on your hands but not enough money to take a trip to Hawaii? Infinite wealth might be a worthy alternative for that!

Yooka-Laylee has always been a game very dear to me. I’ve beaten it 3 times under different conditions and couldn’t wait for more. I was always recommending that game to people but with some reservations (e.g. how it’s not really fun to 100%, but rather to cherry-pick the good stuff out of it). So, imagine my scepticism when all they delivered, after 6 years of nothing, was a remake of a game I thought, while flawed, was a fun time. So, with this review I want to write down my honest thoughts about this remake and in the end, I want to answer the question if this is an improvement, a decline or a, what we Germans call “verschlimmbesserung” from the original. I don’t plan to hold any punches. Get yourself some Tea, it’s going to be a long one!


Immediately at the very start you’ll notice the wonderful reworked cutscenes that are so full of life and character now. They truly do the already charming cast justice so that they finally get to shine in ways they always deserved.
Also, the Game has a map now, which I was sceptic about at first. After all the game is about exploration and I think just moving from icon to icon could ruin that. Glad to say it doesn’t, and it does help if you get lost or overlooked a Pagie. Only wish it was a bit more helpful as it only gives you the locations of Pagies and not puzzle pieces and quills (all of which are needed for 100%) and those were the ones that always made me look for them like crazy. Some of these puzzle pieces are also hidden in very esoteric places, really wish the game would give you some help for them. A fast travel system was implemented which greatly helps downtime. Respawing coins were added that make the worlds seem less empty even after completing them.
Stuff wasn’t just added but also removed like the world expansion system from the original and all I can say is “Thank God!”. All worlds are their full size right from the get-go, no more weird mini worlds that have nothing to do in them. You might also remember the controversial World 4 “Capital Cashino” that replaced the Pagies with casino tokens that could buy you a Pagie for 10 each. I personally thought that was a great idea and allowed for a more densely filled world (which, be real, was what the original game was lacking in a lot of places). It’s still in this game, however every single Task in this world gives you exactly 5 Tokens which are enough to buy a Pagie in this version. So, what’s the point in keeping the token system to begin with? At least the map accounts for it and tells you where to find tokens instead of Pagies.
A lot of the existing stuff was improved, either subtly by adding additional visual hints and animations while others were completely reworked and are just a lot more fun now. All of these improvements are so good, that the stuff they still left in (mostly) unchanged feels low quality in comparison. This all adds up so that the Pagie count was doubled from 145 to 300. So, enough content to fit in a completely new game. However…


Once you get down to it however you notice there isn’t all that much new stuff. A lot of the new Pagies are now crammed into already existing task. Take the ghostwriters for example. Previously collecting all 5 rewarded you with a single Pagie. Now you get one for collecting each individual ghost and additionally 3 for completing the whole set. Those are 8 Pagies for what was a single Quest in the original. And that is what I think is the biggest flaw of this remake. It rewards you constantly and in turn everything feels completely weightless. It’s almost like the game is scared that you will lose interest if you aren’t rewarded for every 5 minutes. And in the end, you only need 120/300 Pagies to beat the final boss which I reached at 6 Hours. That’s way too quick. It takes inspiration from Super Mario Odyssey, but I feel the constant stream of Moons works because they are not the sole focus of the game as it also has a linear story to it. Also, it gives you some bonus levels after beating the final boss which helps making collecting more after the credits seem worthwhile. Both things are notably missing from Yooka-Replaylee and it makes the post-game, if you can call it that, feel a bit hollow.

Also, all moves are available from the start, which eliminates backtracking. That might be good for some, but for me that just means there is nothing to look forward to. Everything you see you can just grab immediately, there is no more teasing or wondering what will be in the future. Playing the game just requires so little brainpower now that I almost forgot instantly what I did. I even sometimes re-did challenges I already beat in the very same session thinking they would be new, but no I just completely forgot about them already.


I’ve always been heavily stating the opinion that a lot of the games design flaws are in how the stretch goals were handled. Let’s got through them one by one to see if and how they are still in the game:

• Boss Battles: Much like the cutscenes, these got a massive glow up. The bosses are properly introduced and hyped up through high quality animations and reworked to be a lot more intense. They get their time to shine while not feeling too different from the originals but different enough to just be better versions.
  
• Pre-Final Boss Quiz: Totally gone. Shame but it doesn’t bring the game down.
  
• Transformations: Still here, mostly unchanged. Which is fine because they were great in the later worlds but the awful sections in the first two ones were revised. Good conservative change.
  
• Minecart Rides aka. Kartos Rides: Still here but slightly reworked. Much simplified here by removing the boost and slow down option which make them a lot easier. However, this is then again ruined by the fact that one of the three Pagies you get out of them is locked behind a completely perfect run, which is a massive difficulty spike. Also, the gravity still being changed in the final one is such a rug pull. It was bad Idea then and is bad Idea now.
  
• coop buddy: I actually don’t know if that feature is still in there but that fact alone should tell you how much it matters. NEXT!
  
• 2-4 player Minigames aka. Rextro games: Completely reworked. These unloved clunky games were replaced with a simple action puzzle game. Not great, but it does the job. It’s a trade-off that makes the game a little less diverse but at the end of the day playing the same fun game 8 times is better than playing 8 completely different games that aren’t. 4 Player mode is done but I doubt anyone ever used it to begin with.

Also if you’ve been paying attention. This game includes the conclusion of the Toybox Mystery that was started 9 years ago. Just keep your expectations in check…


So where does that leave us? Is Replaylee a better game than the original? Yeah, I’d say so, at least for most people. It’s a much more polished and fluid game now that just makes you happy while playing it. Whenever you crave to replay Yooka-Laylee or want to give it a much deserved second chance I think you should give this game a shot. However, the streamlining the game does comes with the price of it feeling a bit less meaningful and memorable. While the original required you to truly immerse yourself in it to fully get it, Replaylee is easily playable while talking to someone on the phone or missing work due to sickness. But kudos to Playtonic for listening to criticism. I hope they once again do it for this game when the sequel comes around that this game is definitely teasing. But in the meantime, Yooka-Replaylee break the Mold to become one of the best 3D platformers of all time but it’s a step up from the uncut indie gem the original was.

Truth be told I was sceptical of this remake, as in my opinion the original is still perfectly fine nowadays. Thank god this isn't just a graphical update but reather a new game heavily inspired by the old one.

The Story is still the same although slightly differently told. The map is a good mix of old and new rooms. Bossfights are completely different and dare I say even better. But everything that worked is still here. Combat is mostly the same but you can move now while shooting .The inventory, upgrade and lootsystem are still there. And most importantly Ashley is a lot less annoying to deal with. I was worried they would remove her gameplay element completely much like Ellie in the last of us works but that isn't the case. You still need to mind her and keep an eye on her but she got heavily nerved by being smarter and also not haibng her own live bar you need to take care of.

I know this reveiw might sound a bit biasd and maybe even like an ad, but there is geniuly nothing wrong about the game I can think of from the back of my head. It's pretty clearly in what it'S trying to achive and it completely succseeds in that. Aside from maybe the one or two frustrating sections, but hey it is a survival horror game, it needs those.

Back in 2005 Resident Evil 4 was considered one of the best game ever released and I am happy to say this remake further cements that. Whenever you are returning from the original or playing Resident Evil 4 for the first time, this is a must play (if you can stomach the violence that is).

This is a tough one to truly recommend or not. But since steam is forcing me to pick I am gonna side with recommend. Because from a technical point of view this is a fantastic re-release that works just as intended and makes an old game more accessible than it ever was. Also thanks to the filter settings the visuals can pass as an art style rather than just plain outdated graphics.

However, you need to understand that what you are getting here is a 18 year old old Indie game for the Nintendo DS. And what might have worked 18 years ago on a console that has less power than grandma's current phone, doesn't nessesarily work on a modern PC. And it shows. There is barely a story to speak of. Copy pasted rooms with tons of actual fake doors. Setpieces like bloodstains and bloody handprints on doors that are just here to make the game look spooky but not tell any stories. Limited enemies that do the classic "pallet swap with double HP and damage" thing
All this repetitiveness results in the game overtstaying it's welcome even though it is just 4-6 hours long.

So in the end this is a fantastic port for a game that hasn't quite stood the test of time. Sure it is still impressive at points and I couldn't stop thinking "it is so cool they pulled this of on the old DS" but I also gotta be honest and say I was glad when the credits finally rolled.

Also as a side note there is a sequel that fixes most of my problems with this game, but while it's the better game, ironically the port it has on steam is absolutely awful. Now if Dementium 2 would get a port like this, that would be something i could whole heartedly recommed. But for now, Dementium 1 is just interesting for those that are interested in odd games from a time gone by...

Well as the name Suggests, Robocop Rouge City - Unfinished Buisiness is indeed a standalone expansion for Robocop Rouge City. Compareable examples would be games like Wolfenstein The Old Blood or Spider-Man: Miles Morales. You know, games that work on their own and offer more content than the usual DLC would offer but without any notable changes. And wouldn't you know you get exaclty what you see here. Pretty much more of the same. To some this might be offputting, but if you're like me Rouge City felt fresh enough, I was more than willing to go for an extra round. And yeah, most of the positive and negative things about the Main game do still apply here, so if you're curious, check out my review for Robocop Rouge City.

Unsurpisingly the game is a bit more streamlined. The Skilltrees that unlocked new Dialouge options were cut and the levels are a lot less open. This gives you a more linear experience and in most cases your dialouge choices really don't matter. The Polive Station as a HUB world also is gone and the game now feels like one singular very long level. You'd think taht these changes would make the game feel a bit faster but I perosnally found the opposite the case, thanks to the small imtermissions in which you play as other characters which do not feature combat at all.

Speaking of those let's turn our attention to those that are the most advertised on the sotre page themselves, starting with Alex Murphy. Now the game first presents his section as something with a more boots to the ground and maybe even tactical approach. But in reality it features just the very basics of generic FPS gameplay. Fun but nothing too deep. But the section is also very short so it doesn't overstay it's welcome.If anything it doesn't even stay for half of it's welcome time.

As for ED-209, his section plays a lot like your average Mech game. He has tons of HP, unlimited chaingun ammo and Missiles that have to be reloaded over time. Again the very basics of what it's trying to be. But it's a fun and different seciton so this one is devinitely a highlight of the game.

The Story, not that it matters all that much, is a bit thin this time around. Robocop hunts some merchenaries in an Occupied OCP building and he meets some characters along the way that are connected to his past as Alex Murphy. No real surpises happen here but atleast Robo's one liners are on point. And that is all that matters to me personally.

And what about the new Cryo Cannon? It feels like a gun straight out of a Duke Nukem game and I mean that in the best way possible. It's strong, it satisfying, it has enough *ummphhh* to it and if you're afraind that it's just like the usual power weapons in games that you might get to use for just one or two sections and then it's out of ammo forever, don't be. In general the final levels are such a mess with enemies bearing power weapons, inclidng the Cryo Cannon. But that is not so bad as every single one you defeat drops full Ammo for all those weapons, you'll probably use exclusively power weapons in the final two levels.

Once again Fanservice is more than just on point. So much that it even manages to reference Robocop 3 in a way that doesn't feel out of place.

So in the end, Unfinished Buisiness, while still a good time, turned out slightly inferior to it's big brother. Not by much but there isn't a point in playing this game before playing Rouge City. So go play that one first and if you end up wanting more come back here for well... more of the same!
Still, what you get here for just 30 Bucks is more than just worth it.

Didn't think I would ever say this but, the new Bubsy game is absolutely fantastic
It has everything you'd need. A catchy soundtrack, nicely animated cut scenes and a move set so smooth, it would even put a hat in time to shame
Bubsy 4D has the potential to be the best indie 3D platformer yet and I am saying this without a hint of irony.

Been debating with myself for a rather long time whenever or not I should recommed this game or not. So after long thinking, while I did enjoy my time with this game I can't say I would actively recommend it. It's fine for what it is but it could have been so much more.

At a first glance all the basics that you would want from this game are here. The game works as expected, the weapon selection is vast and the gunplay is pretty decent (for those who played the godawful demo it is a lot better than it was back then). The first impression is also good with one of the few boomer shooters that actually try to tell a story, which at a first glance could rival Half-Life's. But then you get into it and notice a few things. First of all the friendly NPCs that seem to be hinted at in the promotional material all exist exclusively in cutscenes. In the few instances where they will actually be around during gameplay they are just setpieces that stand there that do not react to your actions at all. You can shoot them or walk literal circles around them and they will not care at all. And secondly the story makes absolutely no sense. Even with the low expectations most people would put towards a FPS story, the character motivations either don't make sense at all or are explored on a very surface level. Throw in a cameo of Blade from sin that neither makes much sense nor adds anything to it and you get a story that is way too serious for it's own good, while going absolutely nowhere.

But now to the one thing that actually straight up ruins the game: The Leveldesign. It will constantly make you ask yourself "where do i have to go?" There seems no logical guidance through any of these levels at all. Sometimes you have to go past a barrier that in a different game would clearly be a dead end, sometimes a path that seems exploreable is sealed off by invisible walls or will straight up kill you and sometimes the game leads you in circles. It really made me question if they playtested anything to begin with because there is no way in hell nobody else would get lost that easily. This constant searching for the way forward doesn't feel like fun exploring, as there barely are any secrets worth mentioning, but it kills all the momentum that the game would have thought it's otherwise decent gunfights.

The upgrade system is also just headscratching as a lot of the weapong upgrades they are barely useful and in other cases where they would they become useless by not allowing you to equip two at the same time, despite them not affecting anything in the slightest. The pistol for example has a burst mod that replaces the primary fire and a taser that gives it an alternative fire mode. So why not just have both? The game has two trigger buttons why not use it? Another minor inconvinience is the AI being stupid as hell, they just run towards you not caring at all, never trying to flank or surpise you.

So in the end, it just makes you mourn over what this game could have been. I have the strong feeling that it actually had a team behind it that really belived in it and tried to make something great here. But in the end management probalby could time, money or possibly both making the final product feel more like a proof of concept. What should have been the Duke Nukem Forever we never got now just sits there as the actual Duke Nukem Forever we got but for Ion Fury.

Went in expecting a somewhat spooky and silly game. It completely pulled the rug from under my feet as I was not prepared to play one of the most scary and nerve wrecking games I would ever play. Even now as I have finished the game and typing these lines I am still shaking and can feel my heart beating in my chest, I don't think a game has ever done that to me so far.
Really recommend this game as it's, even though it's simple, a very unique experience that was crafted with love.

Been debating with myself if I should release this review at all but if I remember my time as a wannabe RPG Maker developer it was not the positive reviews that helped me to improve but rather the negatives.
So this is what this is trying to be, a friendly attempt at constructive critisism.

First and foremost: The writing. The store page promises a mysterious Story with tons of questions that have to be answered. The problem is: None of these are answered or even hinted at. In many cases it doesn't even ask the questions in the first place. I don't like games that hide their entire story in optional lore letters or audio recordings but in this case really anything would help. We don't get any information about the monster and why the titular hood feels so strange. In fact, if you make the right choices, our protagonist won't even see the monster once. And then it just ends with the protagonist entering a seemingly random door. I know there is a sequel/ connected title coming out too but the narrative here lacks a reason for me why I should check out the next one as well. I really have no clue what the vision of the creator is supposed to be here, if anythign I think it would have been better to truly finish telling this story before begining another.

Next thing on the list are the horror elements which quite frankly, aren't scary. Yes they migh make you jump but only because during scary scenes the game plays some incredibly loud and uncomforting noises. But I don't think it needs to do that, the game feels weird enough as it is and if it just tried a little harder, this could have been a good psychological horror experience. I'd much rather play a game that embraces it's weirdness than trying to be serious no matter what.

Lastly, let's adress the elephant in the room: The game feels cultural insensitive to put it nicely. For starters it doesn't do anything with it's settings. It doesn't try to carry a message nor does it actually help the story or gameplay in any way. Even the assets seem poorly chosen here, as the map feels less like a western city and more like a middle eastern one. The fact that AI voices were used for the characters doesn't help the case here either. Even a random friend recorded over discord would have been preferable here.

I hope this didn't came over too harsh as I hate dunking on hobby projects. It's noticeable that the creator is proud of their works here and they can be as they had the courage to publish a game to the public. But I hope this pride is not blinding them so they won't improve on further projects.

Once again a fantastic collection that leaves nothing to be desired. While the changes the perspective from Defense Attorney to a Prosecuter that changes surpisingly little about the writing. Every case still starts with a false assumption/accusation that you have tp correct to find the real culprit. That said there are changes to the game flow as the game breaks away from the strict seperation between investigations and court sessions. Both elements are still here they just blend in toghether more naturally. I quite like it and wonder why they have returned to the old system after these.

About the games themselves: The first one is unfortunately just alright, a bit too predictable for me. I'd put it in the same tier as justice for all and dual destinies. However the second part is fantastic and without a doubt is one of the best of the best in the series. This game is often considered a fan favourite and I can totally see why.

Now there is one teeny tiny detail about this game that I have to criticise: The original pixel art look as presented in this game is quite simply ugly. Nothing against pixel sprites or how the games used to look but they look like they were poorly cut out and just scaled for a bigger screen without changing the resolution. Stick to the HD graphics, at the very least those are very good.