You know the feeling, finally getting around to playing that game you’ve been anticipating, only to be left disappointed (looking at you Animal Crossing: New Horizons). Or secretly enjoying the game that got awful reviews and everyone else seemed to absolutely hate.
Well, we thought we would start a column for you to voice all your gaming hot takes and unpopular opinions. So if you want to rave about an underrated game or absolutely tear apart every single aspect of the critically acclaimed game that you just couldn’t stand, we want to hear it. Send them to us at forgepress.games@sheffield.ac.uk.
Assassin’s Creed: Unity is better than you remember – Reiss Mason (He/him)
Don’t give me that look, it’s true. I’d go so far as to say that Unity is the last game in the series that still truly felt like Assassin’s Creed.
Unity was also the last of the series to feature big assassination missions where the hidden blade was an insta-stealthy-kill classic, ever since it just hasn’t had the same oomph. Not only was it the last to do this, but it pulled those missions off beautifully, with varied opportunities and informational titbits to learn before making your deadliest move.
Yeah, sure, it was bugged to shit, but frankly what triple A game isn’t graphically fucked up these days? Enough prodding and any cow is sure to fall. And, yes, okay, the multiplayer was pretty whack too but the colourful outfits you could equip on [GENERIC ASSASSIN #043] were a necessary and pretty-looking dash of fun.
Overall: the combat was fun, the stealthy assassinations were fun, and the silly costumes you could wear while doing it all were fun too. Why the hate?
Rose-tinted Glasses: A Halo 3 Retrospective – Connor Ost (He/him)
2007 was a formative year for gaming, and a special year to Halo fans born in time to witness the release of the third instalment of the mainline franchise.
The marketing alone had players wishing a whole live-action TV show would some day come (and, uh, something vaguely Halo-shaped did wander its way onto our tele-boxes over a decade later, I suppose).
Coinciding with the release of Xbox’s new console, the hype for Halo 3 was real. But it’s not as good as you remember. Movement is slow; equipment was an interesting addition but – for me – didn’t enhance the experience and was improved in Reach and Halo 4; weapon balancing was poor.
In terms of plot, character arcs, a conclusion to a 6 year saga of ancient mysteries and the plight of 26th century humans? C’est magnifique! But gameplay-wise? *Raspberry sound*.
You were a kid when you played it, you have fond memories of friends in matchmaking, and sure, Forge was a tantalising new playground – but take off the rose-tinted glasses.
