Alexcicle
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15 Reviews liked by Alexcicle
Chrono Trigger
2018
This review contains spoilers
Wow, what an incredible game this is. I honestly can't believe I hadn't played it sooner, but damn am I glad I got around to it— in many ways it really does feel like a time machine, truly transcendent beyond its era, yet also a nostalgia capsule in equal measure. As it's practically a sibling to one of my all time favorite JRPGs, developed at roughly the same time as and sharing a lot of assets with Final Fantasy VI, I always knew I was gonna like this one, but not until playing it did I internalize just how deeply it would resonate with me. Chrono Trigger is a deeply sweet and sincere game, home to some of the most gorgeous art, music, and storytelling of not just its era (for which it was totally revolutionary of course), but the gaming medium as a whole.
For one, the time traveling narrative is brilliant not just for its uniqueness, but also for its simple execution. Instead of bogging you down with the boring intricacies of fictional physics and technology, it is no more than a fun gateway into all manner of wacky, aesthetically distinctive time periods. Going in, I thought these were just going to be the middle ages and the present day (which would have been more than cool enough might I add), but you can also visit an ancient magic civilization, a technologically advanced but desolate future, and even dinosaur times, 65,000,000 BC (though I don't think Jesus is canon in the game's universe lmao). All of this is of course accompanied by one of the greatest scores in gaming, as well as some fantastically fun art direction by the great Akira Toriyama (may he rest in peace). It all adds up to be such a cozy, endearing little adventure, and thankfully, certainly not one devoid of darker themes or stakes.
The only nitpick I have is with the game's combat: While the battle system is admittedly really fucking cool (and I GREATLY appreciate the lack of random encounters and grinding), I don't think it's quite deep enough or its animations concise enough not to wear out its welcome like halfway through the game. Even though there are only so many of them, the battles still do get monotonous after a certain point. With that being said, they FAR from ruin the game, and the fact I can still confidently give it a perfect score in spite of them should really speak to just how strong its strengths are. While personally, I think I still marginally prefer Final Fantasy VI over Chrono Trigger, I'm so happy to be able to place it directly behind it on my list of favorite games. To pass up such a masterpiece would be a colossal mistake.
For one, the time traveling narrative is brilliant not just for its uniqueness, but also for its simple execution. Instead of bogging you down with the boring intricacies of fictional physics and technology, it is no more than a fun gateway into all manner of wacky, aesthetically distinctive time periods. Going in, I thought these were just going to be the middle ages and the present day (which would have been more than cool enough might I add), but you can also visit an ancient magic civilization, a technologically advanced but desolate future, and even dinosaur times, 65,000,000 BC (though I don't think Jesus is canon in the game's universe lmao). All of this is of course accompanied by one of the greatest scores in gaming, as well as some fantastically fun art direction by the great Akira Toriyama (may he rest in peace). It all adds up to be such a cozy, endearing little adventure, and thankfully, certainly not one devoid of darker themes or stakes.
The only nitpick I have is with the game's combat: While the battle system is admittedly really fucking cool (and I GREATLY appreciate the lack of random encounters and grinding), I don't think it's quite deep enough or its animations concise enough not to wear out its welcome like halfway through the game. Even though there are only so many of them, the battles still do get monotonous after a certain point. With that being said, they FAR from ruin the game, and the fact I can still confidently give it a perfect score in spite of them should really speak to just how strong its strengths are. While personally, I think I still marginally prefer Final Fantasy VI over Chrono Trigger, I'm so happy to be able to place it directly behind it on my list of favorite games. To pass up such a masterpiece would be a colossal mistake.
replayed this with a friend recently and mario vs luigi mode dont fuck around, one of the most intense matchs you can have fighting for your life
Black cat 👍
Persona 5 Royal
2019
Amazing game, amazing experience, excellent battle system, fluid movement, one amazing story and incredible characters, a jrpg i'll certainly never forget.
My favorite 2d mario ever. Had a blast 100%ing it, amazing everything honestly. I don't know what to talk about this game other than it being absolutely creative with every damn course. I'll always cherish it
This is my favorite pokémon game, but unfortunately it lacks so much when compared to the main series. The new catching system is pretty satisfying, and it's something i wish they evolved, nice soundtrack, pretty good story for a pokémon game overall. It runs at nice 30fps when compared to SV (this one is a lot better than sv though) the artstyle is nice, but the graphics look like shit, and it has a pretty small pokédex too, fix all of these flaws and you'll have the best pokémon game yet.
Pokémon Unite
2021
Mid
Someone archive version 1.02 right now
Celeste
2018
One of the most challenging and fun platformer game i've ever played, great MC and great story.
When BOTW released and I got my switch for the release of that game, the hype was real. And I loved playing the game, even though I took breaks here and there and it took me a while to fully complete it. I loved playing the game a lot, but it didn't feel like the best game i've ever played. I saw all of it's strengths and it felt revolutionary in many ways, not because it invented many new things, but because it stripped the game of things that I expected in an open world game and it because it stitched aspects together so well, that made other similar games enjoyable.
The moment I started really diving into TOTK however, there was only one question popping up in my head over and over again: Is this the best game ever made?
After spending so many hours almost entirely completing all the game had to offer and almost the same amount of time spent in BOTW, I can say that I never felt as close to being sure I know the answer to that question.
I feel like i don't need to really say a lot more about the game. The Switch Zelda Games are a phenomenon talked about at length everywhere and unless you lived under a rock the last couple of years, you probably know all you need to know about the games. Instead, I rummaged through my notes and want to just leave a couple of bullet points here, that describe points in the game that pushed me more and more towards knowing the answer to the question, whether this is the best game ever made or not.
- That moment when you climb up to one of the highest points in the game and watch the sunset. The minimalist soundtrack and visuals are absolutely singular and the sense of freedom I felt right at that moment, is something i barely ever felt in a game.
- From a technical standpoint it's still unbelievable the game runs on the switch hardware. Somtetimes I wondered what the devs would be able to achieve with a much more capable machine, but I think the result would be something entirely different. I think the limitations actually led to the beauty of this game. it's timeless and unique and i'm sure it will feel the same way in 20 years.
- It's a game that makes you feel smart and gives you all the power you crave as a protagonist in an open world
- TOTK is testament to the devs understanding what the community loved about BOTW and why they kept on playing. The way they doubled down on the sandbox freedom and the glitch-culture by implementing that into the gameplay loop, is one of the best iterations on a videogame formula i've seen, period.
The moment I started really diving into TOTK however, there was only one question popping up in my head over and over again: Is this the best game ever made?
After spending so many hours almost entirely completing all the game had to offer and almost the same amount of time spent in BOTW, I can say that I never felt as close to being sure I know the answer to that question.
I feel like i don't need to really say a lot more about the game. The Switch Zelda Games are a phenomenon talked about at length everywhere and unless you lived under a rock the last couple of years, you probably know all you need to know about the games. Instead, I rummaged through my notes and want to just leave a couple of bullet points here, that describe points in the game that pushed me more and more towards knowing the answer to the question, whether this is the best game ever made or not.
- That moment when you climb up to one of the highest points in the game and watch the sunset. The minimalist soundtrack and visuals are absolutely singular and the sense of freedom I felt right at that moment, is something i barely ever felt in a game.
- From a technical standpoint it's still unbelievable the game runs on the switch hardware. Somtetimes I wondered what the devs would be able to achieve with a much more capable machine, but I think the result would be something entirely different. I think the limitations actually led to the beauty of this game. it's timeless and unique and i'm sure it will feel the same way in 20 years.
- It's a game that makes you feel smart and gives you all the power you crave as a protagonist in an open world
- TOTK is testament to the devs understanding what the community loved about BOTW and why they kept on playing. The way they doubled down on the sandbox freedom and the glitch-culture by implementing that into the gameplay loop, is one of the best iterations on a videogame formula i've seen, period.
One of the best conclusions to one of the greatest trilogies of all time to end off a series. Not explaining any story stuff in this review because you should play it for yourself but one of the greatest ever cooked. This being a love letter and a goodbye letter to this series as whole, being a celebration of the journey Takahashi has taken us through. This DLC content is so damn good to add onto the base game as a whole as you can treat it alongside to base game as a dessert after the well-cooked meal.
This DLC helps show that in the series as it goes through a bunch of the themes it has gone through its three games, the culmination of this beautiful DLC. Matthew being one of the main characters alongside Noah to help push along the core themes of Xenoblade 3 along with what base games does and its cast of characters, Matthew approaches the future, takes the good parts of the past and accepts the bad, and keeps moving forward. Rex and Shulk are also there as well with their themes from Xenoblade 1 & 2 to show that all these come together such as the future may be unknown but we should always keep matching forward no matter what happens and how our past hurts but we shouldn’t let it drag us behind, we can learn from our pasts, get back up on our feet and get stronger to be able to keep moving forward. This speaks to the Xenoblade Series as whole, to be able to reflect on our past, don’t let it drag us down but to let it help us move forward in life. To face our trauma and to be our true selves rather than to run away from ourselves.
Takahashi up there with the greats on being able to make beautiful art and personal stories throughout video-games.
"Nevertheless, our intentions will live on, and one day coalesce again. Be it tomorrow... or in a thousand years... Surely, the time will eventually come. I can see it, clear as day."
Future Awaits
This DLC helps show that in the series as it goes through a bunch of the themes it has gone through its three games, the culmination of this beautiful DLC. Matthew being one of the main characters alongside Noah to help push along the core themes of Xenoblade 3 along with what base games does and its cast of characters, Matthew approaches the future, takes the good parts of the past and accepts the bad, and keeps moving forward. Rex and Shulk are also there as well with their themes from Xenoblade 1 & 2 to show that all these come together such as the future may be unknown but we should always keep matching forward no matter what happens and how our past hurts but we shouldn’t let it drag us behind, we can learn from our pasts, get back up on our feet and get stronger to be able to keep moving forward. This speaks to the Xenoblade Series as whole, to be able to reflect on our past, don’t let it drag us down but to let it help us move forward in life. To face our trauma and to be our true selves rather than to run away from ourselves.
Takahashi up there with the greats on being able to make beautiful art and personal stories throughout video-games.
"Nevertheless, our intentions will live on, and one day coalesce again. Be it tomorrow... or in a thousand years... Surely, the time will eventually come. I can see it, clear as day."
Future Awaits
Awesome sequel to an already amazing game. Both combat and traversal feel so much better here, but I would've preferred more traversal challenges like the first game had instead of most of them being combat challenges. Overall the story isn't quite as strong as the first game's, but this has higher peaks with jaw-dropping sequences and some really well done character moments.
No More Heroes
2007
STUPID HENRYSEXUAL KEEPS BEATING MY ASS
IT'S. PEAK. Absolutely peak. No wonder it's my favorite game of all time, it's a amazing game that i just...can't describe how amazing it is and feels. Everything about it is just perfect. Comparing to the first two kingdom hearts (KH1 and chain of memories) It's a absolute monster and upgrades every aspect possible, the combat is smooth and fast, you feel satisfied as you lend combos and use magic, you can do a lot of tricks just with magic itself, not just swinging your keyblade, the story is easily the best of the series, the only thing i dislike about this masterpiece is the gummi routes, because i'd prefer be playing a shooting than a shooting on a JRPG game, but it's amazing. I absolutely love it!
This was essentially the only "real" Ghostbusters 3 we were ever going to get, thanks to Bill Murray. There didn't NEED to ever be a third film, but if there was going to be one, it should have happened in the 90s, and Bill shouldn't have dragged his goddamn feet forever, keeping it from ever being made.
As far as this game itself goes, it's OK. I owned and played the Wii version only, though I've seen video of the "more realistic" PS3 one. I got enjoyment out of this game, to a point, though gameplay-wise it isn't perfect. Like most motion-only Wii games, the "waggle" shit isn't always as responsive or accurate as it should be, which can make the already frustrating "slam caught ghosts ALL over the damn place before you can trap them" mechanic more cumbersome.
The story was EH. IT was nice to have most of the old actors back voicing their characters, but the story was VERY lazy, without spoiling much, essentially a retread of the first movie. It was fun enough to play through, but it was one of those games where I played it to see the ending, and never touched it again.
As far as this game itself goes, it's OK. I owned and played the Wii version only, though I've seen video of the "more realistic" PS3 one. I got enjoyment out of this game, to a point, though gameplay-wise it isn't perfect. Like most motion-only Wii games, the "waggle" shit isn't always as responsive or accurate as it should be, which can make the already frustrating "slam caught ghosts ALL over the damn place before you can trap them" mechanic more cumbersome.
The story was EH. IT was nice to have most of the old actors back voicing their characters, but the story was VERY lazy, without spoiling much, essentially a retread of the first movie. It was fun enough to play through, but it was one of those games where I played it to see the ending, and never touched it again.