ASTRIX285 GAMING
🎮 Game Reviews
Borderlands 4
I have been looting, shooting, and laughing my way through the Borderlands since Borderlands 2 first hooked me with Handsome Jack’s over-the-top villainy. Borderlands 3 cranked the chaos to new heights with bigger worlds and more ridiculous guns than ever before.
Now with Borderlands 4,Gearbox is aiming to evolve the formula once again, and as someone who has spent hundreds of hours farming legendaries, I can say this entry feels both familiar and refreshingly new.
8.5
Movement Evolves the Mayhem
One of the biggest changes is how you move. Double jumping, grappling, dodging, and gliding across the battlefield adds a new layer of energy. Fights feel faster, more vertical, and more unpredictable than ever, which perfectly matches a game built on over-the-top action.
Action Skills That Matter
The new abilities are some of the best the series has offered. Vault Hunters feel distinct, and experimenting with branching skill trees actually changes how you play. For a franchise that has always been about crazy builds, this depth makes every firefight more rewarding.
Loot Still Rules
If you loved the loot grind in 2 and 3, it is alive and well here. Wild weapon designs, powerful gear, and the thrill of the chase keep you hooked. Farming never really feels like a chore when every drop could be something game-changing.
Co-op Done Right
Borderlands has always been better with friends, and 4 delivers on that promise again. Seamless four-player online crossplay and split-screen couch co-op keep the spirit of the franchise alive. Level scaling works well, too, so no one gets left behind.
Story Still Secondary
After the highs of Borderlands 2 and its unforgettable villain, Gearbox still struggles to recapture that magic. The humor is present, and the chaos is evident, but the narrative does not always land with the same impact.
Can Be Overwhelming
With new movement systems, loot floods, and branching builds, the game can feel like a lot to take in. Veterans like me will thrive, but newcomers might feel buried under systems.
Familiarity Creeps
In As wild as the new mechanics are, the formula is still very much “Borderlands.” Shoot, loot, repeat. If you have burned out on the cycle before, this entry will not completely change your mind.
As someone who has played since Borderlands 2 and sunk countless hours into 3, I would say Borderlands 4 delivers what I wanted. It is louder, faster, and more chaotic than ever. The new movement and build variety breathe life into the series, even if the story still lags behind.
It may not reinvent the wheel, but it keeps the Borderlands spirit alive: loot chasing madness with friends. For a veteran Vault Hunter, that is more than enough to keep me coming back.
Destiny 2
5.5
A Story Worth Caring About
Bungie has always struggled with consistent storytelling, but Edge of Fate finally gives us a narrative hook that feels worthy of the universe. The introduction of the Nine’s deeper role, mysterious figures like Lodi, and the sense that we’re stepping into uncharted territory make the campaign engaging in ways past expansions sometimes weren’t.
New Powers, New Possibilities
The Matterspark mechanic and traversal abilities bring a breath of fresh air. For the first time in a while, exploring a new destination — Kepler, out in the Oort Cloud feels different. Unlocking new pathways and powers scratches that itch for discovery that’s been missing since Forsaken or The Taken King.
Better Structure for the Future
After years of uneven seasonal content, Bungie’s new cadence of mid-size expansions with follow-up updates feels smarter. It gives players like me, who’ve endured the grindy lulls, a clearer sense of what to expect and why it’s worth logging in.
The Old Problems Aren’t Gone
As much as Kepler tries to shake things up, some areas still feel like recycled terrain. Destiny has always had stunning art design, but too many zones here tread familiar ground. The “been there, shot that” feeling creeps back in.
Mechanics That Divide
Matterspark is ambitious, but not flawless. At times it feels exhilarating, at other times clunky or unnecessary. Difficulty balancing across activities can be jarring, too, which reminds me of past expansions where tuning wasn’t quite right at launch.
Community Fatigue
I’ve seen this franchise at its peak (The Taken King, Forsaken) and its low points (Curse of Osiris, content droughts). Right now, Edge of Fate sits somewhere in the middle. Player counts and “Mixed” reviews show that not everyone is buying into the new vision just yet
As a veteran Guardian, I see Edge of Fate as a solid step, not a triumphant leap. The lore is richer, the systems are smarter, and the foundation feels stronger than it has in years. But the execution doesn’t always match the ambition.
If you’ve stood by Destiny through every expansion like I have, you’ll find plenty here to appreciate and plenty to critique. It’s not the franchise’s best moment, but it’s far from its worst. And most importantly, it proves there’s still life left in this universe we’ve called home for over a decade.
Conan Exiles
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
Total War: Warhammer III
Valheim
Black Myth: Wukong
Path of Exile
As a new exile stepping into Wraeclast, Path of Exile felt overwhelming at first. The world is dark, brutal, and complex, and the game doesn’t hold your hand. It took me time to understand what was happening, how the systems fit together, and how to survive the chaos. But the more I played, the more I began to see why so many people have been hooked for years. Beneath the confusion lies one of the deepest and most rewarding action RPGs ever made.
6.5
Endless Build Possibilities
Even early on, the game makes it clear that no two characters are ever the same. The skill tree looks intimidating, but once I understood how to connect nodes and plan my path, it became addictive. Each level felt like progress toward something uniquely mine.
Loot and Crafting That Feels Meaningful
Every drop matters. Even as a novice, I could feel the rush when something rare hit the ground. The crafting system is complex, but knowing that I could eventually create my own powerful gear gave the grind a sense of purpose.
Atmosphere and Lore
Wraeclast feels alive in its own bleak way. The environments are gritty, the monsters are grotesque, and the music sets a tone that pulls you in. Even when I didn’t fully understand the lore, I felt the weight of the world around me.
A True Free-to-Play Experience
Path of Exile doesn’t force you to pay to win. The monetization is fair, mostly focused on cosmetics and storage. It’s rare to find a game that offers this much without locking progress behind a paywall.
An Intimidating Learning Curve
There’s no gentle introduction. Systems pile on quickly, and it’s easy to feel lost. The passive tree, crafting, Atlas, and leagues can be overwhelming without outside help or guides.
Performance and Interface Hiccups
Even on decent hardware, performance dips happen during heavy fights. The UI also takes time to get used to, especially when managing maps, gems, and stash tabs.
The Grind for Progress
Like many ARPGs, the grind is part of the experience, but it can wear you down if you don’t set your own pace. The endgame, while massive, can feel like a wall if you’re not prepared for the investment it demands.
As a newcomer, Path of Exile was a challenge, but it’s one that grew on me with every hour. It’s not a game that explains itself, but that’s part of what makes it rewarding. Every small breakthrough feels earned.
Even as a novice, I can see why players dedicate years to mastering it. The complexity, the thrill of the loot hunt, and the satisfaction of building something powerful make it stand out. It’s rough around the edges, but beneath that is a masterpiece that rewards curiosity and patience.
For now, I’m still learning, still dying, and still figuring it all out — but I’m hooked.
Call of Duty - Modern Warfare
Battlefield 6
Elder Scrolls Online
Warhammer 40K
Mass Effect: Andromeda
ARK: Survival Ascended
Borderlands 3
New World
Space Engineers
The First Descendant
Battlefield 5
The Witcher 3
Destiny
