Members of the PC master race are engaged in a game that shapes their destiny.
Members of the PC master race are engaged in a game that shapes their destiny.
I usually enjoy playing Arma 3, the latest R6 Siege, CS:GO, and Skyrim VR during my downtime.
From the start of assembling my setup it was me: Andromeda, Final Fantasy XV, Witcher 3, Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider. Now with a month left before Shadow of the Tomb Raider drops, I’m thinking about what comes next. My ideas for the future include Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Anthem and Cyberpunk.
Sadly, still playing ESO. Ahh, Andromeda. Nothing like paying full price for a game, waiting for them to fix it... then the dev abandoning it/being shut down. Served me right, I suppose. And that Tomb Raider reboot looked like a great game (despite it being unplayable with a mouse and keyboard), but I couldn't play more than 20 minutes of it without it making me ill. Apparently I wasn't the only one, because the devs added an option to disable shaky cam in the sequel, but never backported it to the first one.
The game stands out from previous titles not just because it's not a perfect replica, but due to the overall experience it offers. While open world exploration may vary in personal taste, the combat remains unmatched. The way Ryder interacts with his crew has also seen noticeable improvements. Only the Citadel DLC feels somewhat average, struggling to align with the game's story or Reaper's expectations. Recent updates enhanced facial details and eye effects, which would likely boost its score on review platforms. The narrative could have been stronger, but the main issue was the franchise being put on hold indefinitely. I enjoyed Ryder a lot—she wasn't the same as Shepard, but I hadn't really cared about her until ME2. I'm curious about the fate of the Quarians. Controls were straightforward, using standard keys and mouse inputs, making it easy to pick up. Even aiming with a bow on a gamepad seemed manageable, though aim assistance is more common on consoles. Compared to my last Tomb Raider experience, this one felt much better, especially with the immersive details like blood-soaked mud and Lara's more relatable performance.
Neither the online controversy nor the fanfare was genuine. It mostly came from those unfamiliar with the title. Effects, visuals, and one developer’s stance on gender issues dominated the scene. It felt like pointless noise. Dive into the actual game, and you’d find it mostly a showcase, at most. Without being stuck by endless quest links, much of the narrative lost its punch—chapters spaced so far apart you couldn’t recall characters by chapter two. The interface seemed meant to annoy rather than engage. Movement and combat were clunky: jetpacks and dash features appeared early in trailers but felt tacked on, and walking felt like moving through thick syrup. By launch, the controls still seemed sluggish, making every action feel forced. Compared to ME2 or ME3, Andromeda’s mechanics looked surprisingly refined. Difficulty was inconsistent: either too easy to fail or dangerously hard to survive. I avoided investing in character stats, keeping abilities unused so the balance stayed intact. The AI often crashed, and enemies would vanish mid-battle. Setup was questionable—abilities had strict limits, making combos rare. The weapon system was decent, though the crafting UI was clunky. Save files kept getting corrupted, which was a real hassle. Overall, it felt like a misguided reboot of ME1, lacking polish and failing to impress. I’d rather have played a simpler version.