July 2026 Progress Report

I bought this during the steam sale after playing the demo for around 7 hours. This is a remake but I was completely unfamiliar with the original game so I came into this with no expectations.

I really enjoyed my time with this one (as you can probably tell from my playtime) which is a bit odd because I also have a list of complaints a mile long. The characters annoyed me (very typically JRPG tropey), the plot was extremely predictable, and the cutscenes were way too long. Despite all that, the whole experience was incredibly addictive. I wishlisted the second installment long before I had finished playing this first one.

I still need to gather my thoughts into something more coherent before posting a steam review, but this is definitely a recommend.

I picked this game up for free via a Playtracker gift token after seeing it in the recent Humble Bundle. It is a story-driven, dice-based RPG which is my bread-and-butter of gaming. I haven't played the first entry yet which I have heard some people say is the better narrative, but it is on my wishlist to get to later because I really enjoyed my time with the sequel.

The game did a really good job of introducing new players to the universe in an easily understood and non-intrusive way. Based on some steam reviews, it seems like some of the NPCs were actually companions in the previous entry, which may impact my experience of that game but wasn't noticeable to someone playing them out-of-order. RNG could get a bit annoying at times, but otherwise the gameplay was easy, even playing on the hardest difficulty as I was.

Recommend for all RPG lovers but maybe not to anyone who gets easily annoyed by RNG.

An excellent sequel to an already very fun game. The gameplay is basically identical to what was in Strange Horticulture so anyone who played that and enjoyed it will enjoy this one too. Both games have what I would describe as "puzzle-light" gameplay. Nothing particularly mentally taxing, but just challenging enough to keep you engaged with the story. It is a short but sweet experience; it took me about 5 hours to 100% it, with one full playthrough and some strategic reloading to explore the different possible endings.

Recommended for a chill, low-stress game with an occult theme.

Copied from my steam review:

A strong return to form for the RE franchise, although it changes a few elements that existed in previous titles in an unexpected but effective way. Notably, CAPCOM switched the viewpoint from third to first person and the protagonist is completely unprepared for this situation rather than being a cop or some form of special forces. For fans of the classic series (or even the remakes of those classic games), the switch to first person might be a bit jarring. However, it actually works very well for enhancing the horror atmosphere especially given how unprepared our protagonist Ethan is.

It isn't my favorite of the modern titles--that probably either goes to Requiem or the remake of 2-- but it excellently executes what it sets out to do. The DLC was a bit more hit-or-miss but overall were nice additions to the game. They are also quite varied, so players should be able to find at least one that they enjoy. There are stealth/puzzles ones very like the main game, survival modes where you face off against hordes of enemies, and even a horror-themed blackjack simulator.

If you are new to the series, 7 is a decent starting point. If you are a returning fan, you'll likely be pleased with this return-to-form after the disappointing 5 and 6. Goes on sale frequently with all the DLC so it is an easy recommend to buy.

Slightly modified from my Steam review:

I really enjoyed this game. It is pretty short but well-paced. The bulk of the gameplay involves you creating your own tarot cards and then using them to read other characters' fates. There is a surprising amount of depth in the card creation mechanics. The game initially gives you an overview of the four elements that you can use to craft cards--air, water, earth, and fire--but there are hidden mechanics that you can learn more about if you take the time to study your academic texts.

There is a major switch-up to the gameplay toward the end, however. While most of the game revolves around the fortune-telling mechanic, the game eventually turns into a political sim. You're selecting policy proposals, bolstering your own campaign, and trying to sabotage other candidates. While you can continue to make cards during this period, you cannot actually use them until the final portion of the game. Personally, I enjoyed this switch-up as it kept the gameplay interesting. However, I understand that it might annoy other players who engaged with the game primarily for the unique card-building mechanic.

Story: The story was fine. It never wowed me but it was engaging enough to keep me invested in the game. The characters were varied and decently well-written. There were definitely some awkwardly worded lines that could kill immersion a bit but it wasn't egregious. There isn't any spoken dialogue but each character is written distinctly enough that they all feel as if they have their own voice.

Replayability: I'd say this is moderately replayable. You will definitely learn a lot about how your deck works as you play and therefore might want to start a new run with your new knowledge. However, you do gain the ability to remove and remake cards partway through so you don't actually have to restart to put your new knowledge to use. There are also some "character creation" changes that alter the gameplay slightly. At the beginning of the game you will bargain for certain things. For example, you will be asked if you most desire love, power, or knowledge. Some way into the game, this will reward you with a different skill based upon your choice. These could be powerful but won't dramatically change your experience.

Overall, I'd recommend playing the free demo and if you had fun then go ahead and buy the full game (your progress will carry over). I got it on sale but I think the full price is fair if you don't want to wait.

I've had several games from this series sitting in my backlog for years. I finally got around to playing this one as a Playtracker challenge and I loved it. Despite being a big fan of stealth games, I had never played a Deux Ex game previously. I can see why it is such a classic series and I'm actually looking forward to someday playing my Steam copy of it for the achievements (for some reason, I have a copy on both platforms). I'm not sure if I would rate it at the same level of the Thief series or the Dishonored series, but it still scratches that immersive sim itch.

Recommend.

GOG was giving this away for free, so I decided to give it a try. A nice, short, narrative experience. The puzzles were mostly straightforward and the graphics were lovely. I felt that the ending was underwhelming but considering you can complete it in a single evening and it was free, I'm satisfied with my time with it.

I picked up the entire series (except the most recent one) via Prime gaming giveaways. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't decided to play it on the hardest difficulty, as some of railroaded parts of the game had basically no margin for error (in particular, there was an annoying car chase scene where they enemies could basically one-shot you that I had to replay many times). Other than that, however, it was fun. The narrative and characters are definitely stronger aspects than the gameplay but (other than the aforementioned driving) the whole experience was pretty fun.