Raycevick's Recommendations: June 2017

With this being released at the start of E3, I wanted to see if there was a way to tie it in somehow... I failed, so here's the best I could do, keep this list restricted to video-games.

Metro: Redux (Bundle)

Metro is a series that I'm so happy found its place. I personally disliked 2033. It's awful voice-acting, poor AI, unoptimized engine, and laughable stealth and shooting got in the way of what I saw could be an amazing world. Last Light addressed nearly everything, and while it may not be a flawless game, it's one of the most memorable shooters in the past five years.

This Redux bundle brings all of the improvements Last Light brought, to its predecessor, along with a reduced price-tag. It's a textbook example of what I believe remakes should be. Take a game that didn't quite find its footing, the extra polish, and passion it deserves.

You really can't go wrong with picking up the bundle with both games, at full price or on sale.

Saints Row IV

At risk of spoiling a potential video in the future, I loathe Saints Row: The Third. I don't spend my time hating many things, but by god, if there's anything that can make me irrationally bitter and childish, it's Volition's third title in their open world series.

And yet, Saints Row IV is one of my favorite games ever made.

While I know IV has its detractors, I feel that it shows how much a few adjustments can result in maximum impact. Despite lifting so many assets from Saints Row: The Third, it adds fun to use superpowers, exploration that you want to do instead of have to, and hilarious writing and comedic timing that was sorely missing from The Third's teenage fanfic drivel (I speak from experience here, it was awful).

SRIV is a blast, solo or co-op, and I can't recommend it enough. Especially with Agents of Mayhem, a new title taking place in the Saints Row Universe, on the horizon.

Star Wars: KOTOR I & 2

Here's something that's bound to not make me any friends... I kinda didn't like Star Wars.

Now, I do enjoy the recent films, and feel that I can finally buy the universe after rolling my eyes at Troopers bashing their heads on doors and being defeated by teddybears in the OG Trilogy, and puking at the Prequel's dialogue.

But, in the scenario where everything Star Wars related is fired at the sun, lost to the ages forever and ever, there's only one thing about it that'd make me sad, and that's the KOTOR series.

While I may despise its D&D pseudo turn-based combat (to the point of using cheats to skip at points), it's story, characters, and worlds were enough to get pull me through the 40 hour journey of both.

KOTOR II is easily my favorite of them, as unlike the original which had its story done again in Mass Effect, I haven't really seen anything like its sequel. The Sith Lords is a slow burn, but when there's payoff, there's major payoff.

Half Life 3 may be the title that represents that game everyone wants but are never going to get, but KOTOR 3 is easily right along side it.

Both are a bargain on sale, as someone who isn't a Star Wars fan, I can still recommend KOTOR to just about anyone.