Recent reviews by Jakeman, Noble Citizen of London

Super Citizens! Do you value freedom, democracy, and Liberty-given apple pie? That's good, because the fascist bugs and socialist bots don't! Now, as we all know, the bots infiltrated Super Earth Command recently, and much confusion and disarray was sowed in our ranks, but Liberty never dies, and her disciples never roll over and allow tyranny to reign free. You are now called, Super Citizens, to bring managed democracy to all corners of the galaxy in the name of the Helldivers!

It's dead, Jim.

If, in 20 years' time, a group of HL fans release a remake of Half Life 2, this has really raised the bar for them. If HL2 wasn't a high enough standard, this certainly is. A truly faithful remake by a group of devoted fans that kept the game and its spirit while bringing it up to date with 2020.

I'm recommending this game because I actually really like it, but for £35 it's probably not worth it right now.

It's your typical Paradox release at the moment - it's not the most developed game in the world. Honestly, it's quite barebones. But what it has focused on, it does really well. Yes, it has mana, most nations feel quite generic, and it's probably got half a billion bugs, and I've crashed twice so hard that the crash reporter itself crashed. It is not a perfect game.

But on the other side, the peacetime gameplay post-war is honestly quite amazing. I conquer a province, and I get dissent straight away. They aren't particularly happy that I've come marching along, killed their rulers and planted a flag in their city. So, naturally, they get a bit upset and I have to try to integrate them. The internal politics are interesting, too. Tribal systems have clans, that you have to balance. Republics have Senates, who are just about as annoying as the name implies. Monarchies are just about the most free of the governments, but they can tear your nation apart.

Overall, don't go into this game with high expectations. Amusingly, I'm reminded of a quote from this year's Star Trek Discovery:

Originally posted by Captain Christopher Pike:

Sometimes it's wise to keep our expectations low, Commander. That way we're never disappointed.

This quote exemplifies this game at the moment. It's a good game, it's satisfying, but if you expect too much from it, it'll disappoint you. But it's got a lot of potential, and in a couple years' time I can see it being as great as other Paradox games.

FULLY

It's cheap and it's quite grand music. Worth the quid.

Those who criticise this game clearly never played it on release.

Homeworld.
It's Homeworld. What more is there to say?
This is a game that redefined the space RTS genre, the only game that did it right, and a game that's stood the test of time and is still beautiful even to this day.
The story dwarfs anything.

And somehow they've made it even more beautiful and better.
Gearbox have done an astonishing job with this.
Play it and like it, or get out.

I wanted to like this game. I really did.
I even played 9 hours of it.
But I just can't.

This isn't even recognisable as Command and Conquer anymore. Don't buy this.

Murdered 8/10ths of the Town before being hanged as the SK.
Charmed my way out of being hanged twice.
Sherlock Holmes skin.

10/10.