CreamyClaws
This game was like a blowtorch to the nuts, even when you played """easy""" (still obscenely difficult) mode as Maria. I enjoyed my time marathoning Classicvania, but I'm glad it's over because these old CV games are not good for your mental well being.
Massive improvement over the first game. It's insane how close this game is to the original MGS1, and still plays decently well for something made 33 years ago.
Very fun game, feels like a frenetic movement shooter. They could've made a crappy Quake clone, but instead they made something so much better.
Platinumed it after ~110 hours, and it was really good even if it got really grindy and almost required buying at least a little DLC to reach level 70 as Ichiban.
The thing I appreciated the most is that it felt like a celebration of the games before it, and Kiryu in particular. This game started us on the path of closure and signified in one step towards Kiryu finally being allowed to be happy, without going into spoiler territory. I also appreciated how they treated the villains' endings, not falling into the same pitfalls as the rest of the series.
The gameplay was far improved from Yakuza 7, with the combat being almost reminiscent of Chrono Trigger. My only complaint was that the animations still take way too long to finish, which ends up wearing thin after so many hours of playing the game. The gear system also leaves much to be desired. Overall, a great game.
The thing I appreciated the most is that it felt like a celebration of the games before it, and Kiryu in particular. This game started us on the path of closure and signified in one step towards Kiryu finally being allowed to be happy, without going into spoiler territory. I also appreciated how they treated the villains' endings, not falling into the same pitfalls as the rest of the series.
The gameplay was far improved from Yakuza 7, with the combat being almost reminiscent of Chrono Trigger. My only complaint was that the animations still take way too long to finish, which ends up wearing thin after so many hours of playing the game. The gear system also leaves much to be desired. Overall, a great game.
2020
I give it an extra half star because the last batch of boss fights was really good.
Overall, here are the impressions for both versions (notwithstanding the westernized art style that I could take or leave and 8-direction movement):
+ Nice story that makes you feel genuine emotion at times.
+ Epic, cinematic gimmick boss fights like Maiden Astraea and the Storm King.
+ The high of finishing a difficult section.
+ Excellent dreamlike high fantasy atmosphere.
+ Excellent soundtrack.
- Horrendous level design with very few shortcuts, felt like banging your head against a wall due to lack of checkpoints within stages.
- Weird balancing, such as no poise and magic being overly favored.
- Unbalanced moon grass healing system.
- Carry weight.
- Swamp of sorrow. Seriously, Miyazaki must have a fetish for Louisiana.
Overall, here are the impressions for both versions (notwithstanding the westernized art style that I could take or leave and 8-direction movement):
+ Nice story that makes you feel genuine emotion at times.
+ Epic, cinematic gimmick boss fights like Maiden Astraea and the Storm King.
+ The high of finishing a difficult section.
+ Excellent dreamlike high fantasy atmosphere.
+ Excellent soundtrack.
- Horrendous level design with very few shortcuts, felt like banging your head against a wall due to lack of checkpoints within stages.
- Weird balancing, such as no poise and magic being overly favored.
- Unbalanced moon grass healing system.
- Carry weight.
- Swamp of sorrow. Seriously, Miyazaki must have a fetish for Louisiana.
2020
Patch all the bugs you want, it's still a poor RPG that feels like it's held together by Elmer's glue and duct tape.
2007
If this game were only the first two levels, it would easily be four stars.
What can I say? This is one of the greatest games ever made, to this day. It does something that most modern metroidvanias don't even do: gives you a sense of progression and makes you feel like you dominate the castle. The graphics are still some of the most beautiful that gaming has to offer, since it came out at the end of the 2D era of gaming. The aesthetic and soundtrack are extremely memorable, to the point where I think the 1700s drip is an integral part of my personality from having played this game at such a young age. The gameplay is stellar, though since it's made in 1997 not as smooth as something like Hollow Knight. This game does, however have some flaws: the leveling system introduces an issue where you're more or less underleveled for the upside down castle if you've played normally, and requires some grinding to beat enemies fairly if you don't want to use exploits, but other than that this is a great game. 10/10, go play it immediately.
Crappy, messy gameplay that feels like a discount Sekiro, but has a fun story.
Amazing game, but the last few endings could've been condensed into one without having to replay the entire second half of the game over again.
2017
That final chapter clapped me harder than Kanye (allegedly) clapped Jeffree Star's cheeks.
Maneater Mildrussy got me acting unwise.
Yennefer is peak trad cottagecore goth gf.
It's like playing an excel spreadsheet with a DnD session going on in another room.
2018
There are only two things I yell at in life: games like this, and traffic.