Posts by Nick McCaskey:

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Review: Old-School Charms

Posted on: 17 Dec 2024

I was on my third playthrough. I began a familiar quest, but this time I realized I could enlist the help of an entirely different character and bypass a particularly challenging section. This is an example of the delightful surprises that kept me engaged with Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven for three playthroughs, … Continue reading Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Review: Old-School Charms →

Starfield Review: A Galactic Letdown

Posted on: 01 Feb 2024

Here we are five months after the release of Starfield, but I just finished my review. This delay is because Starfield has been a significant slog to get through. Simply put, over my 100+ hours, there have been a handful of excellent moments mixed with a whole universe saturated by shallow and bland content. If … Continue reading Starfield Review: A Galactic Letdown →

Diablo IV Review: A Homecoming

Posted on: 29 Jun 2023

It was June 2000. I was seventeen years old. School just got out for the summer. Then Diablo II unleashed upon the PC gaming world. My dear dad (rest his soul) generously bought several copies of the game for my friends and me. We spent the summer having LAN parties at my house, trying to … Continue reading Diablo IV Review: A Homecoming →

Crisis Core FFVII Reunion PC Review: Zany Zack Fun

Posted on: 11 Jan 2023

In the first ten minutes of this remastered Crisis Core, I somersaulted onto a train, dodged bullets, slashed a behemoth to pieces, and clashed swords with the infamous Sephiroth. This game knows how to have absurd and quirky fun from start to finish. What a joyous contrast to so many ‘mature’ games of this age, … Continue reading Crisis Core FFVII Reunion PC Review: Zany Zack Fun →

Tactics Ogre: Reborn Review: Timeless but Tedious

Posted on: 24 Nov 2022

Have you ever adored a game but knew you couldn’t recommend it to most people? That is Tactics Ogre: Reborn. I’m brokenhearted because the game is near perfection from a narrative perspective. The story is timeless, the dialogue is sharp, and the voice work is excellent. However, the weighty tale is dragged to the depths … Continue reading Tactics Ogre: Reborn Review: Timeless but Tedious →

God of War PC Review: First-Rate Fatherhood

Posted on: 25 Jan 2022

God of War is a masterpiece that achieves near perfect synergy between narratively meaningful story segments, creatively brutal combat encounters, and immersive world exploration. It is a must-play, an essential game worthy of overwhelming praise. Before I gush some more, let me get personal with you.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Review: A Charming Delight

Posted on: 24 Dec 2021

Coming off the Marvel’s Avengers disaster, I expected Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy to be another big letdown. Instead, I was delighted by Guardian’s endearing cast, excellent storytelling, and ample charm. Quite simply, it’s a breezy good time that everyone is better off having experienced.

Far Cry 6 Review: A Very Familiar Power-Fantasy

Posted on: 11 Oct 2021

Far Cry 6 is power-fantasy first-person shooting at its finest. A gorgeous, huge tropical island is given to you, with carefully crafted locations, missions, and secrets to find and dominate. Urging you forward are the typical Far Cry cast of earnest and zany characters, providing motivation for your mad quest of vengeance upon a flamboyant … Continue reading Far Cry 6 Review: A Very Familiar Power-Fantasy →

Legend of Mana Review: A Gem Best Left Buried

Posted on: 01 Aug 2021

Originally an action-adventure RPG released in 1999 for the PlayStation, this virtually identical re-release of Legend of Mana is an imaginative banquet of charm, creativity, and quirkiness. It’s also not worth playing, as much as it pains me to say. While the colorful worlds, endearing cast, and gorgeous soundtrack are big draws, the painfully clunky … Continue reading Legend of Mana Review: A Gem Best Left Buried →

Days Gone PC Review: Tormented, Yet Triumphant

Posted on: 08 Jun 2021

Days Gone is a narrative strong, open world zombie game first released exclusively on PS4 in 2019. Now on PC, the game behind this rock-solid, ultra-smooth port is basically a quality amalgamation of Grand Theft Auto, The Last of Us, Far Cry, and Red Dead Redemption. As such, many players may find the game too … Continue reading Days Gone PC Review: Tormented, Yet Triumphant →