Arcesius
2023
I had a good time with this one, as it managed to scratch that old-school jRPG itch I was having. With fantastic visuals and a great story, it managed to impress me. After a slow start, the plot really picked up and I found myself really invested in the story.
However, it has also quite a few shortcomings. Combat is fine, but there is really no reason to use different characters other than for the situational lock-breaking. Levels are linear and despite there not being too many enemies, the level layouts are often designed to slow you down (filled with ropes and uneccesary climbing sections, etc...). Puzzles are scarce and all of them really uninterestingly easy to solve. The list goes on.
However, the game is short enough that its strenghts managed to keep my motivation to continue up, though I have no interest in going back to find all treasures or complete all sidequests I missed.
However, it has also quite a few shortcomings. Combat is fine, but there is really no reason to use different characters other than for the situational lock-breaking. Levels are linear and despite there not being too many enemies, the level layouts are often designed to slow you down (filled with ropes and uneccesary climbing sections, etc...). Puzzles are scarce and all of them really uninterestingly easy to solve. The list goes on.
However, the game is short enough that its strenghts managed to keep my motivation to continue up, though I have no interest in going back to find all treasures or complete all sidequests I missed.
2020
Pretty good puzzle game. There are almost no BS puzzles (I can think of only one), and the mechanics never get too overwhelming.
Fun for a couple of hours, as the game is rather on the short side.
Fun for a couple of hours, as the game is rather on the short side.
2017
Fantastic game. It took me a long time to get around to playing this one, and I am glad I finally did.
This game is known for its incredible aesthetics, and man is it gorgeous. The added DLC shines in this department as well, with incredibly well animated bosses that are just gorgeous to look at.
In terms of gameplay, I didn't really care for the running levels, but the boss fights are all fantastic. I ended up S-ranking all base game bosses, which unfortunately was a much easier feat than I thought it would be. Probably due to the DLC charms and weapons, which make some of the requirements much easier to get.
This game is known for its incredible aesthetics, and man is it gorgeous. The added DLC shines in this department as well, with incredibly well animated bosses that are just gorgeous to look at.
In terms of gameplay, I didn't really care for the running levels, but the boss fights are all fantastic. I ended up S-ranking all base game bosses, which unfortunately was a much easier feat than I thought it would be. Probably due to the DLC charms and weapons, which make some of the requirements much easier to get.
Unique vertical 2D-platformer with some seriously infuriating design choices. The game is clearly designed for competitive multiplayer, which I personally didn't play.
Arcade mode is fine but having an AI playing against you, trying to hit you and make you fall was really unfun. So I was looking forward to trying out the Time Attacks, as I had heard that beating the Hiking Master Times is really difficult.
However, on consoles and playing with a controller, it is simply impossible to aim diagonally at the "grabbing" points. There is zero aim-lock, and so you are forced to aim straight up from precisely below those grabbing points, making the ascent oftentimes suboptimal and frustrating.
Maybe the game would leave a better impression if played with a mouse. On console, I can't recommend it.
Arcade mode is fine but having an AI playing against you, trying to hit you and make you fall was really unfun. So I was looking forward to trying out the Time Attacks, as I had heard that beating the Hiking Master Times is really difficult.
However, on consoles and playing with a controller, it is simply impossible to aim diagonally at the "grabbing" points. There is zero aim-lock, and so you are forced to aim straight up from precisely below those grabbing points, making the ascent oftentimes suboptimal and frustrating.
Maybe the game would leave a better impression if played with a mouse. On console, I can't recommend it.
2020
Fantastic game. While "Stadium" wasn't my favorite environment in Turbo, in this entry it feels really great to play.
There is a lot of content here as well, maybe a bit too much. New tracks being added on a daily basis, new seasons releasing four times a year, Royal mode, etc... After ~65h with it, I decided to move on (for now).
There is a lot of content here as well, maybe a bit too much. New tracks being added on a daily basis, new seasons releasing four times a year, Royal mode, etc... After ~65h with it, I decided to move on (for now).
I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as I'd thought. The setting isn't appealing to me, and there are way too many systems in place that all feel very similar and unecessary.
Character progression and build diversity is great, but that's the only aspect I could somewhat appreciate.
Character progression and build diversity is great, but that's the only aspect I could somewhat appreciate.
Without a doubt the best multiplayer game I've ever played. Initially, while playing on the lower difficulties, the game feels like a braindead horde killing game, but as you keep playing and increase the difficulty, it becomes apparent how important communication is, how a good strategy is crucial for survival, how complex and deep the combat actually is.
Completing 80 weaves was a brutal experience (done in Season 3), but by finishing those I went from struggling to play with a group on Legend / Cata, to being able to clear missions solo on that difficulty. It is rewarding, it is visceral, it is fun.
The game is most fun when played with a fixed party using voice chat, but can also be enjoyable when joining quick games.
Completing 80 weaves was a brutal experience (done in Season 3), but by finishing those I went from struggling to play with a group on Legend / Cata, to being able to clear missions solo on that difficulty. It is rewarding, it is visceral, it is fun.
The game is most fun when played with a fixed party using voice chat, but can also be enjoyable when joining quick games.
2023
Pretty mediocre experience. I enjoyed the game a lot initially, but quickly lost interest in reading what NPCs had to say or in completing sidequests.
After the campaign, unlocking higher World Tiers, completing Whispers and defeating World Bosses or fighting in Helltides was fun for a while, but past level 70, the only activity that makes you progress is clearing Nightmare Dungeons. And man, reaching lv. 100 with my rogue was such a boring slog.
After doing so and defeating Uber Lilith, I leveled a HC Sorc to lv. 50 before calling it quits.
Not really a game to invest more time into. Pretty casual experience.
After the campaign, unlocking higher World Tiers, completing Whispers and defeating World Bosses or fighting in Helltides was fun for a while, but past level 70, the only activity that makes you progress is clearing Nightmare Dungeons. And man, reaching lv. 100 with my rogue was such a boring slog.
After doing so and defeating Uber Lilith, I leveled a HC Sorc to lv. 50 before calling it quits.
Not really a game to invest more time into. Pretty casual experience.
I wished I enjoyed this game more. But while the Team Ninja DNA is still there, the game feels very streamlined, despite the randomized loot builds are not really as important, the parry mechanic makes boss fights incredibly easy, and the game itself is very short.
Besides, the game is not very well balanced. Magic is incredibly strong, while Martial Arts and Melee (my playstyle) is viable but very weak in comparison.
Besides, the game is not very well balanced. Magic is incredibly strong, while Martial Arts and Melee (my playstyle) is viable but very weak in comparison.
2020
Once again I started a FPS just to immediately notice that these games are not for me. Helped a friend with the Multiplayer, but didn't even bother finishing the single player campaign. Just not my type of gameplay.
The OST rocks though.
The OST rocks though.
2017
Great looking comic-themed roguelite with a straightroward but serviceable character progression, great unlockable weapons and fun combo-based gameplay.
2017
I was really intrigued by this game due to its unusual visuals. While I don't really care for PvP, the game also features a short PvE campaign that I somewhat enjoyed.
Man, I quickly felt overwhelmed... Putting together combat decks, switching stances, combat schools... I think there is a lot here for people that really enjoy the PvP, but combat is extremely complex and requires a lot of time to learn.
Man, I quickly felt overwhelmed... Putting together combat decks, switching stances, combat schools... I think there is a lot here for people that really enjoy the PvP, but combat is extremely complex and requires a lot of time to learn.
2021
Clunky combat, outdated visuals. The Boss fights are probably the highlight of the game, but the sections that lead up to the bosses are really unecessary and take the game down.
I also didn't like that the party members get buffs and debuffs randomly, I didn't see how such a system made the game any more fun.
I also didn't like that the party members get buffs and debuffs randomly, I didn't see how such a system made the game any more fun.
2014
Very unique platformer that has you move a heavy chariot around its levels. Having to take care of this chariot makes for very unusual platforming challenges, and so the game really manages to stand out.
Earning a Gold Medal in each level was easy but fun, with one exception... The Hidden Level 5-5.
The Hidden Level is the longest level in the game, with a speedrun Gold Medal time of 30 minutes, and completing it that fast is not easy at all. Additionally, the level has to be completed without gadgets, which I did via Shareplay with a friend, as doing it solo would have been torture and the game doesn't feature online-coop.
Earning a Gold Medal in each level was easy but fun, with one exception... The Hidden Level 5-5.
The Hidden Level is the longest level in the game, with a speedrun Gold Medal time of 30 minutes, and completing it that fast is not easy at all. Additionally, the level has to be completed without gadgets, which I did via Shareplay with a friend, as doing it solo would have been torture and the game doesn't feature online-coop.
2021
The game is as grotesque as the first one, and that is a good thing. I would have liked for it to allow for couch-coop, and the game was extremely short for the price point.
However, my time spent with Little Nightmares II was really enjoyable.
However, my time spent with Little Nightmares II was really enjoyable.