Beyond Citadel is a combat shooter that doesn’t seem to fully understand what it wants to be. Is it a philosophical thriller about the survival of humanity, an ultra-violent action game with manual reload mechanics, or a military training simulator for girls in lingerie? The game was created by a Japanese developer who was clearly inspired by Evangelion, Doom, Wolfenstein, and, apparently, a bunch of other cool stuff thrown in for good measure.

The gameplay is the main reason to dive into this. The shooting feels fantastic: every gun has a satisfyingly heavy kick, many have alternate fire modes, and the pistol with a grenade launcher attachment is an absolute standout. But there’s a catch: the reloading system takes realism to a whole new level. If you’re using a machine gun, you’ll need to open the feed tray, remove the old belt, insert a new one, close it, and rack the bolt only then are you ready to fire again. At first, this feels cool, but when you’re surrounded by hordes of enemies and fumbling with your weapon’s mechanics, the excitement quickly turns into quiet panic.

The game does have a story, but it’s presented in such a fragmented and chaotic way that even if you understand English, piecing it together feels like a low-priority task. And who needs it when you’re surrounded by cyber-waifus and tons of violence? There’s plenty of bloodshed here, but if it’s too much, you can turn it off apparently for the more sensitive souls who accidentally downloaded this game thinking it was something cute.

The level design seems interesting at first but starts to feel repetitive over time. Initially, you think, “Wow, these locations are massive!” But after a couple of hours, you’re just sprinting through them like a mad courier, trying to find keys and power cells to finish the level as quickly as possible. Occasionally, you’re entertained by different mechanics like piloting mechs or helicopters, but most of the time, you’re busy slicing through enemies and stocking up on supplies from merchants.

And, of course, the big question: why is there so much fanservice? Why are all the girls in armor that covers, at most, 10% of their bodies? Why do the enemies look like they’re dressed for a fashion show rather than combat? And why are you, the protagonist, fighting in your underwear? No one knows, but the developer decided it was necessary, so here we are.

Overall, Beyond Citadel is a strange but oddly cool shooter. It delivers satisfying gunplay but wears you down with repetitive level design. It tries to tell a story, but you quickly forget what it’s even about. It gives you intense combat but occasionally reminds you that you’re also a part-time gunsmith. Is it worth playing? If you’re into a dark cyberpunk world with hardcore shooting and questionable character design choices definitely.

Risen - The jankiest treasure of my gaming heart

If you’ve ever wanted a game that feels like the lovable, clumsy cousin to Gothic, then Risen is for you. Yes, it’s buggy. Yes, it’s got NPCs with the charm of a brick and the dialogue depth of a shopping list. And yes, combat feels like you’re locked in a slap-fight with an angry broom. But despite all that, Risen was my first gritty open-world adventure, so it’s forever glued to my heart like a magical, slightly cursed tattoo.

Thanks to a recent update, the game is somehow even more playable. Now you can roam the mystical island with a gamepad, if you’re brave enough to face controls that feel like they were cobbled together by a sleep-deprived goblin. Navigating the world with a controller is a bit like playing patty-cake with an octopus, but hey, at least now the struggle feels more modern.

And then there’s the story — a tale as old as time: mysterious island, monsters, a few overacted villains, and a "twist" ending that lands as softly as a wet sponge. But that's the magic of Risen! You’re not here for an award-winning narrative — you’re here to laugh, to die repeatedly, and to ponder the great mysteries of why half the NPCs think eye contact is optional. The ending feels a bit like an awkward goodbye hug with someone you’re not quite sure you’ll miss, but it leaves you with a weird, fond memory anyway.

So, dear Gothic, step aside — Risen might not be the favorite child, but with its “upgraded” controls, questionable plot, and final boss that’s about as intimidating as a large houseplant, it’s the scrappy one that forever stole my heart.