About the author: Scott Ellison II
- Profile
- Scott is a disabled Marine veteran, married to his wife Nicole and has three kids. Scott also has a full-time job with Fastly as the Manager of Tier 3 - CSE. Scott is most well-known for founding, and writing for Saving Content, but you can find his other work on G4@Syfygames (defunct) and GameCritics.com (active).
Posts by Scott:
Shredders Review
Mar 16, 2022
Shredders is made from a conjoining of two development studios: I-Illusions and Let It Roll, to become FoamPunch. Not only do they make games, but they snowboard in real-life and adapted that passion into their first game together. It evokes nostalgia without relying on it as a crutch, Shredders is a modern snowboarding game with a simcade take on controls and visuals. FoamPunch’s first outing isn’t everything I wanted, but it’s off to a good start. We’ve been spoiled by some snowboarding games over the years. And Shredders manages to be enjoyable, even if it is less than fully featured compared to its contemporaries.
FAR: Changing Tides Review
Mar 11, 2022
When I received code for FAR: Changing Tides, I had never played 2018’s FAR: Lone Sails from developer Okomotive. Once I sat down with it, I was absolutely enraptured by it and even completed it in a single sitting. While I’m glad I finally experienced it, I just wish I hadn’t been missing out all these years. Changing Tides is the long-awaited follow-up that adds meaningful new mechanics and depth throughout your odyssey. You’ll find that the FAR series has no spoken words, no text to display, yet says so much in spite of that. It’s a game series that shows, rather than tells. FAR: Changing Tides demands very little of you, but it will give so much in return for your efforts. Like Lone Sails before it, FAR: Changing Tides is also among my favorite games in recent memory, making both essential plays for anyone.
Shadow Warrior 3 Review
Feb 28, 2022
The resurrection of Shadow Warrior is one I never thought I’d see, and for it be so successful over the past nine years is a joy all its own. Flying Wild Hog was either predicting or echoing something in the first-person shooter genre, and always doing it better. With Shadow Warrior (2013) was DOOM (2016) before DOOM (2016). Shadow Warrior 2, this was a looter shooter like a mini-Borderlands, focusing on longevity and replayability. Now we have Shadow Warrior 3, a DOOM Eternal-like that’s more a continuation of the first game that chases its prior success. Unfortunately, Shadow Warrior 3 is a bit of a lo note for the series as Lo Wang and the gang go on a bloodthirsty yet ephemeral adventure.
GRID Legends Review
Feb 24, 2022
Codemasters are just that, experts at making games that cover broad strokes and niche corners of the racing genre. For GRID, the long-running series has really stepped into its own with the introduction of a story mode, and improvements on every facet with Legends. Codemasters have clearly heard the complaints about 2019’s reboot, and have expanded the number of locations, vehicles, and even types of disciplines. This entry smooths all of the rough edges of its predecessor. GRID Legends is exhilarating, exciting, and an enthusiastic arcade-based racer that is the series’ best entry to-date.
OlliOlli World Review
Feb 03, 2022
We haven’t had a new OlliOlli game for 7 years, but thankfully that drought is finally over. OlliOlli World is the third installment in the skateboarding platforming series, and is easily the best so far. Roll7 has revived the series with a new look, a new publisher, but have left the gameplay largely untouched. This is one of the finest skateboarding games out there with incredible depth and detail. OlliOlli World is simply sublime, carefully balancing accessibility and challenge in one magnificent game that’s not to be missed.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human Review
Feb 02, 2022
Christopher Cross sang, “Don’t surrender to the dying light; don’t take it lying down.” The world has changed as the first cutscene plays before getting to the main menu, catching us up from where we left off from Dying Light, and things are not entirely for the better leading in to Dying Light 2 Stay Human. Humanity is put to the test, possibly its last; so there’s an undying hope, an unwavering passion to persist against the face of extinction. Techland has been doing the zombie thing for a while now, and I’ve yet to tire of their vision of a zombie apocalypse – I’m fascinated by all the dimensions that they explore. While there’s a deeper focus on relationships, actions, and consequences, there’s no forgetting what this game is really about: zombie slaying with inventive melee weapons, utilizing a now expanded parkour moveset, a larger focus on role-playing, and even a city to save.
Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem Review
Jan 25, 2022
It may not be apparent that Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem is a standalone expansion to Serious Sam 4, mainly because it doesn’t have four in the title, but it is. Inserting itself into the main game as a lost episode opens the door for creativity without fitting into a mold. Timelock Studio (the developer formed out of making this expansion) offers up a challenging and memorable game, a rare case where it exceeds its predecessor. Croteam put hundreds of enemies onscreen and worked it around the gameplay. Timelock Studio instead built gameplay around the hundreds of enemies onscreen, and that’s the key to its brilliance and brutal difficulty within it.
God of War (PC) Review
Jan 21, 2022
Boy! It feels good to have more PlayStation games on PC, though I’d like to see PlayStation 5 games and not just several years old PlayStation 4 games. Santa Monica Studio re-invents Kratos and the God of War mythos to an exceptional degree, while still having threads tie back to the original series. Every element of God of War is so carefully thought out and well-executed. It’s all punctuated by punishing combat and powerful moments that simply have to be experienced for yourself. Nearly four years after its original release, those who don’t have a PlayStation for one reason or another can now enjoy it. God of War is an essential PlayStation game that’s now an essential PC game, as well.
Nobody Saves the World Review
Jan 18, 2022
DrinkBox Studios always delivers a twist on a well-worn genre to rework the formula. In Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack, it was a terrific puzzle-platformer with a B-movie backdrop. And in the Guacamelee! duology, it was a Metroidvania soaked in Mexican history with luchador action. Now with Nobody Saves the World, it’s an action RPG where instead of rolling multiple characters, you play as a single character that’s comprised of multiple classes that you can switch to on-the-fly. DrinkBox Studios demonstrates how sure-footed they are in what they’ve made, because there’s such an enchanting world with delightful role-playing elements and varied gameplay you’ve gotta play.
The Gunk Review
Dec 16, 2021
The Gunk comes from Thunderful Development, formerly known as Image & Form. While not a SteamWorld game, it has the intimate characteristics that have made those games such successes: tight gameplay, a rousing story, and unmatched exploration. While the story beats are formulaic and well-worn territory, it maintains your interest throughout to uncover this wide-reaching mystery. Cleaning up has never been so fun or as satisfying, and in The Gunk, you might just even save a civilization and the whole planet.
Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition Review
Dec 14, 2021
Thrustmaster has been at the forefront of flight hardware, up until now releasing HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle And Stick) systems. For the first time Thrustmaster has, in partnership with Boeing developed a yoke system, and their first entry is a home run. This is the de facto way to play flight sims if you’re going for complete accuracy in your flight sims. The Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition is simply in a league all its own, highly customizable, and feels like you’re flying a cloud.
Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue Review
Dec 13, 2021
$17.99The concept of a firefighting game with a woman as the lead is immediately attention grabbing. Developer Dejima does well at making a great looking, playing, and feeling game centered around Firegirl. However, Firegirl: Hack ’n Splash Rescue fails to spark any long-term interest despite having a metagame for improving yourself and the firehouse you work for, the more you play. There’s some interesting story beats, but they’re predictable. Firegirl: Hack ’n Splash Rescue has the embers to start something big, but never fully catches fire.
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Review
Dec 12, 2021
Bumping into people is seen as discourteous or even offensive in most circumstances. Which stands to reason how Shovel Knight & Friends use this as their primary form of attacking in this Dr Mario meets Wizardry mash-up of genres with Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon. It takes the concept of falling block puzzle games and wraps in the confines of movement like a classic dungeon-crawler. The result is an endlessly entertaining and challenging experience that’s also highly customizable to tailor to the way you want to play. This is an equally great game for those who know Shovel Knight well from his previous adventure, or have yet to meet him as this is a great introduction who may not enjoy platformers. There’s so much to love about Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, because no matter little or much time you have to spend, you’re always rewarded for your efforts.
Chorus Review
Dec 03, 2021
Cults, combat, and celestial bodies are what make-up Chorus, an incredible third-person space combat shooter. Accompanied by tight controls, fast-paced action, and clever abilities, there’s a lot to love. Chorus is ambitious and creative, often playing outside the boundary of the box for what to expect, and it all pays off. Chorus is an instant gem, and shouldn’t be overlooked as we are nearing the end of the year with a memorable and incredible space combat game.
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