Armando777
19 reviews liked by Armando777
I had heard bad things about this one, but I went in with an open mind. It, unfortunately, was as bad as I'd heard. The story is a really lackluster follow up to the previous Corpse Party games, and after a certain point stops being any kinda horror and just feels like your typical shounen or JRPG plot. Don't get me wrong, love a good "chosen one saves the world" from time to time, but that's not what I want from this series. The newcomers feel pretty out of place for the most part, and the whole story has things ending off worse for the core five than at the start.
Gameplay wise, it's clunky, annoying, and tedious for the most part. I can understand wanting to do more than just the "walk around and figure it out (with occasional chases)" of the previous ones, but this was not the way to do it. If you wanna be tormented by shadow people chasing you down to beat the fuck outta you, I'd recommend mixing alcohol and benadryl, it'd be more fun. And those floor hazards are just a pain in the ass. Achievement hunters, be prepared for a pain in the ass.
Anyway, I don't have a good conclusion, but neither does this game, or the Heavenly Host saga as a whole, so it's only fitting.
Gameplay wise, it's clunky, annoying, and tedious for the most part. I can understand wanting to do more than just the "walk around and figure it out (with occasional chases)" of the previous ones, but this was not the way to do it. If you wanna be tormented by shadow people chasing you down to beat the fuck outta you, I'd recommend mixing alcohol and benadryl, it'd be more fun. And those floor hazards are just a pain in the ass. Achievement hunters, be prepared for a pain in the ass.
Anyway, I don't have a good conclusion, but neither does this game, or the Heavenly Host saga as a whole, so it's only fitting.
This review contains spoilers
Using this to review Canto 6
When Canto 4 dropped, a new standard for storytelling within Limbus was set, massively trumping the chapters that came beforehand in terms of quality. For a while, I didnt think that standard would be exceeded, and pretty much assumed every Canto afterwards would reach its heights. This chapter proved me wrong on so many levels. It is simply on another level, both in terms of story--gameplay integration and also just overall writing. It wouldn't be a stretch to call this chapter PM's magnum opus, delivering extremely satisfying payoff to Heathcliff's character and overall just crafting an extremely interesting narrative with the Erlking Heathcliff storyline. Also BIG VERGGGGG
When Canto 4 dropped, a new standard for storytelling within Limbus was set, massively trumping the chapters that came beforehand in terms of quality. For a while, I didnt think that standard would be exceeded, and pretty much assumed every Canto afterwards would reach its heights. This chapter proved me wrong on so many levels. It is simply on another level, both in terms of story--gameplay integration and also just overall writing. It wouldn't be a stretch to call this chapter PM's magnum opus, delivering extremely satisfying payoff to Heathcliff's character and overall just crafting an extremely interesting narrative with the Erlking Heathcliff storyline. Also BIG VERGGGGG
What you have here is a 90s point-and-click adventure game adaptation of a 60s short story, with heavy involvement of the original author, that (in my opinion) surpasses that original work. Unlike the short story, there's an underlying theme of hope within the hopeless walls of AM. Hope, not for salvation, but closure, to make amends with your past. Great story, great presentation, absolutely a game worth playing.
First game I ever played as a kid, and you know what? It still holds up. Even now, as an adult working to create my own games, I look back and can see how much this game has influenced me creatively. I only hope the current generation of kids can have something like that.
Fate/Hollow Ataraxia
2014
This review contains spoilers
I love Fate/Stay Night for being a very active story. In every route, there is always a fight around pushing the corner pushing the story forward, and they’re very cool to read, yes—but they’re also where the characters are at their best when it comes to expressing their emotions. When characters like Saber and Gilgamesh, Shirou and Archer, and Rin and Sakura clash, there is a lot of pent-up energy, emotion, and history that comes out in full force. It makes for a very powerful story full of cathartic bursts of character drama.
Fate/Hollow Ataraxia brings all that to a halt. Everything and everyone is static.
Seeing the characters of FSN live out happy, daily SoL activities is really fun. I love this cast and I already loved the downtime they got in the original VN, so seeing everyone at peace and developing through silly little skits is fantastic. I wanted to see all these characters happy, and that’s what the VN gives you.
But there’s a sense of wrongness about it all.
Shirou feels it. Certain servants who should be very dead feel it. I feel it as a reader. Even as a story that doesn’t try to tie itself to any “canon” FSN route, you know that not everyone here is supposed to be happy. It’s what they deserve, but the trauma of the Fifth Holy Grail War is not something that’s going away. Nor are the problems that the VN’s new protagonist, Bazett, is facing.
Everyone is living without anything changing. For Shirou and friends, that makes life fun, if strange. For Bazett, there’s no worse fate. She’s someone who’s never been able to change herself, but as long as she doesn’t do anything too new or scary, things won’t get worse for her. But they won’t get better, either. That’s the one, simple point that Hollow Ataraxia drives home from beginning to end. Things need to end, because you won’t grow or change if they stay the same forever. You have to let things go in order to find new ways to learn about yourself.
Expressed through Bazett and her partner Avenger, this is a perfectly succinct message delivered in a very cathartic finale, but it’s just as much a meta-story for fans of the FSN cast. It’s fun to see what these characters would be like if they’re at their happiest. It makes you feel good to see them discuss the memories of the best moments of FSN. But they’re characters whose stories are complete. It’s okay to keep appreciating them and your memories of them, but bit by bit you have to let them just exist as they are. There won’t be an infinite amount of new things to do with them, and that’s okay. That’s life. It’s the same way your relationships with friends don’t always stay the same, or why you start doing new things when life as it is gets stale. It’s something I’ve internalized a lot in the past few years as once-familiar things changed with the pandemic and going away to college, and I think it’s wonderfully represented here. It’s fun to have memories, and it’s fun to keep doing new things, and those things should exist together in harmony.
Fate/Hollow Ataraxia brings all that to a halt. Everything and everyone is static.
Seeing the characters of FSN live out happy, daily SoL activities is really fun. I love this cast and I already loved the downtime they got in the original VN, so seeing everyone at peace and developing through silly little skits is fantastic. I wanted to see all these characters happy, and that’s what the VN gives you.
But there’s a sense of wrongness about it all.
Shirou feels it. Certain servants who should be very dead feel it. I feel it as a reader. Even as a story that doesn’t try to tie itself to any “canon” FSN route, you know that not everyone here is supposed to be happy. It’s what they deserve, but the trauma of the Fifth Holy Grail War is not something that’s going away. Nor are the problems that the VN’s new protagonist, Bazett, is facing.
Everyone is living without anything changing. For Shirou and friends, that makes life fun, if strange. For Bazett, there’s no worse fate. She’s someone who’s never been able to change herself, but as long as she doesn’t do anything too new or scary, things won’t get worse for her. But they won’t get better, either. That’s the one, simple point that Hollow Ataraxia drives home from beginning to end. Things need to end, because you won’t grow or change if they stay the same forever. You have to let things go in order to find new ways to learn about yourself.
Expressed through Bazett and her partner Avenger, this is a perfectly succinct message delivered in a very cathartic finale, but it’s just as much a meta-story for fans of the FSN cast. It’s fun to see what these characters would be like if they’re at their happiest. It makes you feel good to see them discuss the memories of the best moments of FSN. But they’re characters whose stories are complete. It’s okay to keep appreciating them and your memories of them, but bit by bit you have to let them just exist as they are. There won’t be an infinite amount of new things to do with them, and that’s okay. That’s life. It’s the same way your relationships with friends don’t always stay the same, or why you start doing new things when life as it is gets stale. It’s something I’ve internalized a lot in the past few years as once-familiar things changed with the pandemic and going away to college, and I think it’s wonderfully represented here. It’s fun to have memories, and it’s fun to keep doing new things, and those things should exist together in harmony.
I spent middle and high school surrounded by Danganronpa fans, during the peak of its popularity. I played and loved Zero Escape. And yet, somehow, I managed to completely avoid this game, almost all spoilers, and the apparently radioactive fandom this has apparently spawned.
I'm so glad I did.
Going through this blind, without any outside biases clouding my judgement, was a phenomenal experience. Even the things I did know through osmosis were obscured enough within the actual plot that even finding out how said things would be revealed was still great. It also made all the deaths hit that much harder.
The gameplay is great, like a more active, dynamic version of Ace Attorney, oozing with style and personality. All the mysteries were a blast to piece together, and none were so out-there to make a reveal feel bullshit. And, I must admit, while I was never crazy about the art style from what I'd seen online, I was very surprised how good it looks in game. Stills really don't do it justice.
If your only exposure to this game is from people saying "cringe" and nothing else, I highly implore you to try it for yourself, removed from all that. I'm very happy I gave this a shot as an adult without bias, because it really is something else.
I'm so glad I did.
Going through this blind, without any outside biases clouding my judgement, was a phenomenal experience. Even the things I did know through osmosis were obscured enough within the actual plot that even finding out how said things would be revealed was still great. It also made all the deaths hit that much harder.
The gameplay is great, like a more active, dynamic version of Ace Attorney, oozing with style and personality. All the mysteries were a blast to piece together, and none were so out-there to make a reveal feel bullshit. And, I must admit, while I was never crazy about the art style from what I'd seen online, I was very surprised how good it looks in game. Stills really don't do it justice.
If your only exposure to this game is from people saying "cringe" and nothing else, I highly implore you to try it for yourself, removed from all that. I'm very happy I gave this a shot as an adult without bias, because it really is something else.
god fucking hell man i have so much i want to say but i have no idea how i can even put it into words
unlike the last serious review i did, the words just cannot come to me as i am typing this because what xc3 means to me is a bit beyond words
every aspect about it (with only slight exaggeration) is made for me from the story with problem some of the best (and most left-leaning) writing of the entire series (from what i have played), to the characters all just being incredible with none of the main 6 feeling lacking or even anything beyond fantastic and all the heroes being pretty good at the very worst to on the level of the main characters as well, to the villains in particular who help shape the theming of the entire story so so perfectly with none of them feeling like they do not fit and some of them even having some great character writing in their own right, and to the gameplay, that somehow, even with the massive world that the game presents, never felt boring or repetitive in the slightest and yes, this includes every part of the gameplay
from the combat, the exploration, the hero system, the sidequests, and even the fucking menuing are all the best they could ever be with only some slight minor problems (enemy debuff resistance is way too high and i wish you could respawn at unique monster statues and also sometimes i do not think the menu should have its own music lol)
this game probably could of been better if given more time especially with certain bugs many have found out about but to me, as it is now, this is my favorite game of all time and i have the highest of hopes for this series' future after it
stunt on those hoes, takahashi.
EDIT: thought i might add to this my thoughts on future redeemed because i am not stat padding my account and it's just an absolutely beautiful addition in every way. this game truly understands the beauty of life in that even if many want to hold back our future, the human spirit will always break through and stop such a thing, even if it takes 1 year, or 1000. the gameplay also was incredible. i loved the addition of the enemy/item encyclopedias because they make my brain go ooooo but even if the combat was way simpler than base game, i still had lots of fun. i'm so glad rex double spinning edge is still so broken.
unlike the last serious review i did, the words just cannot come to me as i am typing this because what xc3 means to me is a bit beyond words
every aspect about it (with only slight exaggeration) is made for me from the story with problem some of the best (and most left-leaning) writing of the entire series (from what i have played), to the characters all just being incredible with none of the main 6 feeling lacking or even anything beyond fantastic and all the heroes being pretty good at the very worst to on the level of the main characters as well, to the villains in particular who help shape the theming of the entire story so so perfectly with none of them feeling like they do not fit and some of them even having some great character writing in their own right, and to the gameplay, that somehow, even with the massive world that the game presents, never felt boring or repetitive in the slightest and yes, this includes every part of the gameplay
from the combat, the exploration, the hero system, the sidequests, and even the fucking menuing are all the best they could ever be with only some slight minor problems (enemy debuff resistance is way too high and i wish you could respawn at unique monster statues and also sometimes i do not think the menu should have its own music lol)
this game probably could of been better if given more time especially with certain bugs many have found out about but to me, as it is now, this is my favorite game of all time and i have the highest of hopes for this series' future after it
stunt on those hoes, takahashi.
EDIT: thought i might add to this my thoughts on future redeemed because i am not stat padding my account and it's just an absolutely beautiful addition in every way. this game truly understands the beauty of life in that even if many want to hold back our future, the human spirit will always break through and stop such a thing, even if it takes 1 year, or 1000. the gameplay also was incredible. i loved the addition of the enemy/item encyclopedias because they make my brain go ooooo but even if the combat was way simpler than base game, i still had lots of fun. i'm so glad rex double spinning edge is still so broken.
I feel so bad for my uncle who waited for another inclusion to the Mario Strikers games. Sadly, this one is not even close to the big leagues of the other Strikers. Three strikes and you're out. Wait, wrong sport...
the mysterious quadrilogy within the atelier series is possibly the closest one could ever experience an identity crisis while playing video games. but at the same time i utterly adored every game before this one for how ambitious they were and for the amazing characters every game brought. so going into this i did expect a lot and i can thoroughly say i was not let down at all.
obviously i have my small gripes like wishing there were more cgs and vocal songs like there were in the previous mysterious games but as a whole, this game is overflowing with passion for not just being apart of the atelier series, but also for being a game in general. even more so than previous entries honestly.
the gameplay mechanics are absolutely on point here with a lot of ideas being taken from previous entries (the tetris-esque alchemy from the mysterious games, a similar quest-reputation system to ryza 2, gathering minigames which apparently were from the mana khemia games, etc.) and the nods to both sophie 1 and firis are really really cute and enjoyable.
i loved the entire cast through and through and the story was great too. obviously, it isn't too deep or anything with what it says but i really do appreciate the messages about dreams a lot and the continued message of showing empathy and happiness that the mysterious games are known for is amazing here too.
one last complaint tho is that playing on the hardest difficulty (when you first start playing the game) can cause a couple fights feeling kinda bs, particularly the final two fights but not only did the final boss slap hard still, a majority of the fights in this game are really really good.
anyways yeah perfect video game, 10/10, the atelier series does it again.
also when the final line had "mysterious journey" in it i popped off.
obviously i have my small gripes like wishing there were more cgs and vocal songs like there were in the previous mysterious games but as a whole, this game is overflowing with passion for not just being apart of the atelier series, but also for being a game in general. even more so than previous entries honestly.
the gameplay mechanics are absolutely on point here with a lot of ideas being taken from previous entries (the tetris-esque alchemy from the mysterious games, a similar quest-reputation system to ryza 2, gathering minigames which apparently were from the mana khemia games, etc.) and the nods to both sophie 1 and firis are really really cute and enjoyable.
i loved the entire cast through and through and the story was great too. obviously, it isn't too deep or anything with what it says but i really do appreciate the messages about dreams a lot and the continued message of showing empathy and happiness that the mysterious games are known for is amazing here too.
one last complaint tho is that playing on the hardest difficulty (when you first start playing the game) can cause a couple fights feeling kinda bs, particularly the final two fights but not only did the final boss slap hard still, a majority of the fights in this game are really really good.
anyways yeah perfect video game, 10/10, the atelier series does it again.
also when the final line had "mysterious journey" in it i popped off.
Fate/Stay Night
2004
Fate/stay night fundamentally changed me, and gave words to my mental illness. To call it anything other than brilliant would be disingenuous. He's just like me.