I promise this is the last Celeste related review I'm putting out (unless I decide to play Celeste Classic 2). I played this on the Pico-8 machine in the full length version of Celeste. There's not much to say really, it's just Celeste but without all the more complex mechanics or the emotional story. It's a fun little time, it only took me 15 mins, but there really isn't much to it. Cool prototype but that's about it. Also I got all but one strawberry but I don't feel like going back and getting them all.

Back in 2017, around when the game first came out, I was a Junior in High School. I remember watching YouTube videos on all the bosses in the game while I was in my computer class and thinking it looked awesome. Only problem is, I didn't own an Xbox (and still don't). Fast forward to 2019, the game comes out on the Switch and I buy it. Now I rarely buy digital games but I figured it was a big game I've always wanted to play and that it might not get a physical for a while, so I purchased it. Me and my girlfriend at the time played it for a bit and I myself got up to Grimm Matchstick but eventually dropped it. Fast forward again to 2022, on a whim I decide I want to play it again. I restarted the game and went and beat it for the first time finally. I thought it was really awesome! Once I heard they were coming out with a physical copy, and with the DLC included..I knew I had to buy it again. And that's what I did, so I decided to replay it once again. Not only did I beat it again, I beat every boss with an A- or higher and not only that, I beat every boss on expert difficulty and got the platinum trophy!

I'm just gonna start with the absolute best aspect of the game. You all know what it is, the presentation and art style. It's the main reason this game is loved, it's immaculate. The attention to detail in replicating old rubber hose cartoons is just amazing. The game is just pure eye candy and it's wonderful. This game will always hold the test of time because of this one aspect alone...but luckily there are other great aspects about the game as well.

Accompanying the amazing artstyle is the soundtrack. Now, it may not be an OST I'd listen to a ton outside of the game but wow it's a treat. It's upbeat, it's jazzy, and it's all orchestrated. It just makes the game feel more grand and way more authentic in it's homage to the time period these cartoons came from. My personal favorite songs would have to be the the Isle Three theme, Murine Corps and Floral Fury. The Isle three theme especially is my standout favorite. Idk man it's sooo jazzy I love it.

Now were onto the real meat and potatoes, the gameplay. It's a run and gun shooter and it's pretty simple. You have your normal attacks, your special move, your maxed out special, a dodge and a parry. Pretty simple move set but it works well with how chaotic the game can be. You can choose from several different normal attacks, special moves and charms. Charms just give you an extra ability. For most of the game I just had the charge shot and crackshot, the 1st special and the smoke bomb charm. I feel like a ton of people love the charge shot and smoke bomb especially since I've seen a ton of people have those in their arsenal.

What levels do you use these moves on? Let's start with the run and gun stages. They're alright! They are not the main focus of the game, and apparently were only added because of fan outcry but they're decent overall. If the game was just composed of these, it probably wouldn't be nearly as well liked as it is cuz people seem to not really dig these stages. Which I can see, they are definitely the weakest part of the game I think. However, they aren't the main focus of the game. Those would be the bosses.

The bosses on the other hand are awesome. These were gonna be the main and only focus of the game and it makes sense. They're pretty much all well done and a lot of fun to go against. Here's where the visuals are at their peak too because one of the most fun things is to just see all the different boss animations. This is why I wanted to play this game so bad back in 2017, the bosses are a sight the behold. This is also why I'm so excited for the DLC because I've barely seen any of it as of now so I'm ecstatic to see all the new animations contained in it. Anyways back to the bosses, like I said they're awesome. Some of my favorites were Captain Brineybeard, Werner Werman and Sally Stageplay. I guess I just really like Isle three lol. There were also some very brutal bosses. Back in 2019, Bippi the Clown gave me the hardest time and he was still tough nowadays. Dr. Kahl's robot can be brutal for newcomers and he gave me a hard time. However, the hardest for me still was the devil. I dont think I died quite as many times as I did back in 2022, but it wasn't far off. However in expert mode, he was absolutely ridiculous. Expert mode in general could be really crazy, mostly the plane bosses, but the devil was on another level at least for me. Either way, I beat em all and got the platinum in the end which I still can't believe. Never doing expert mode again lol. Also never ever doing the one pacifist trophy again fuck that one.

Glad I replayed this again cuz it was still an amazing time, even if going for the platinum made me lose my sanity at points lol. Definitely one of my favorite indie games now. Can't wait to dive into The Delicious Last Course!

When I first booted up Cuphead a few days ago, I was greeted with a brand-new title screen and song. It was for The Delicious Last Course and honestly, I like it a lot more than the new title screen. This was a sign of good things to come with the new DLC and I'm happy to say it's pretty great.

I actually used one of the new weapons a ton in my replay of the base game but crackshot really is amazing. It's basically chaser but better and it was my primary weapon in this DLC alongside charge shot. Converge and Twist-up were the other two new weapons and I wasn't really a fan of either so I barely used them. There were also some new charms that were added as well. Astral cookie let's you play as Ms. Chalice, the ghost that awards you your different supers in the base game. She can be kinda broken since she has 4 health, an invincible role and a dash that parries. I also found it kind of weird to use her so I used Cuphead for the most part. The divine relic is one you need to put a bit of work into. It starts as a broken relic which you can basically activate by defeating this weird secret graveyard boss. Once you do, you can start defeating other bosses to eventually turn it into the divine relic. While you do, all sorts of effects happen like starting at 1 HP, having your normal attack change constantly and having an in-consistent smoke bomb. Once you defeat enough bosses tho, you get the divine relic which can be incredibly OP if you're skilled enough. The changing normal attacks are still a thing, which is why you need to be skilled enough I said, but you get a normal smoke bomb, the axe parry move and you have an ability where you get health on your 1st, 3rd and 6th parry which can be crazy broken. The last charm is basically just that last parry effect on its own and its the one I stuck with throughout the DLC, it can make A and S ranks stupid easy to get.

Speaking of Ms. Chalice again, I did use her a lot in one area of the game. The king's leap is a series of parry challenges and she is super useful with her dash parry. This one one of my favorite parts of the DLC ngl, it was really fun. I even did The Gauntlet which has you doing all of the challenges in a row without a break in between. It wasn't too bad and the executioner was definitely my favorite of the bunch. Also the presentation of the castle and it looking like it's made out of clay was amazing.

Now onto the meat and potatoes once again, the bosses. Yeah, there's only bosses now and no Run and Gun stages. While I do prefer the bosses a bunch, with there only being 6 total this DLC just flies by and is one of my biggest criticisms tbh. Idk, I just wish this was a little longer because what's here is great, you can just beat it in no time is the problem. Anyways onto the bosses. It has some of the best bosses in the entire game and some alright ones. The Howling Aces was easily my least favorite when I first played and that was all because of the last phase where the screen rotates. It felt cheap at the time and I really did not like it but now after S ranking it (yes this is the one and only S rank I got funnily enough) if you turn your head and understand that the dog bowl color lets you know what they will do, it's not that bad. I'm still not the biggest fan of it tho. Esther Winchester was the only flying stage and I thought it was okay. I just found some of the later stages really annoying but again funnily enough, it was another one I was able to expert in the end. Mortimer Freeze and Glumstone the Giant I don't really have much to say besides they were both pretty good. I didn't expert either, Mortimer especially is a pain in the ass on expert. Chef Saltbaker was definitely one of the best in the game even though his fight can be a real bullet hell at times. The spectacle of it really did it for me and he was another one I didn't expert. I saved the best for last and while the fight is fun, the presentation alone made this my favorite. Moonshine Mob was easily my favorite fight just because it was so creative. It's a mob of bugs that all play a part in the fight. First off the announcer was different this time and it was one of the members of the mob which was great. The spider and the light bug were both fun and very expressive. The music is also sung by the light bug which is a nice touch. Then near the end of the fight, we find out the head of the mob was actually the announcer from the beginning..the snail. He's teaming up with an anteater which is so brilliant because you know he uses the anteater to scare or even kill other bugs. Then when you defeat the anteater there's a fucking fake knock out screen that can actually trip you up since I thought it was just a quirky little change up like the initial announcer was but the fact it's a fake out from the snail, it was the cherry on top of the already incredible presentation in this fight. Like I said, easily the best in this DLC and may even be the best in the game. This was another fight I was able to expert as well.

I got all trophies which only required me to S rank one boss so I didn't expert everything like I said. I just don't find expert mode too fun so I don't think it's a huge deal. Either way, great DLC overall. I think I do like the base game more just because this DLC was really short and I didn't love every boss here, but what was good was really damn good so I definitely recommend every Cuphead fan plays it.

Okay I swear my next review will be Chrono Trigger. I keep putting it off and I really got to get back to it 😭

Planet of Lana is a side-scrolling game that draws inspiration from Limbo and Inside. In this adventure, you take control of Lana, a young woman embarking on a rescue mission through a vibrant world teeming with heartless machines and peculiar creatures.

As mentioned earlier, Planet of Lana strongly echoes the influences of Limbo and Inside. While playing, I couldn't help but notice the striking similarities in Lana's control mechanics, particularly in her movements. A unique aspect introduced in this game is the presence of a companion, a small creature that can be directed to access certain areas and perform specific actions. The gameplay is generally solid, though there may be occasional challenges in issuing commands to your companion, but nothing too serious.

The game's standout feature is its artistry. Planet of Lana captivates with its beautiful and colorful visuals. The characters and environments are meticulously crafted, setting it apart from the more mystical and dark atmospheres of Limbo and Inside.

Regarding the narrative, the game encourages players to use their imagination to interpret the events. There are notable similarities with the storytelling styles of Limbo and Inside. Developers intentionally leave some aspects unexplained, allowing players to construct their own narratives. The premise involves Lana's world being invaded by machines that have captured all humans, and players must confront this imminent threat.

While the game doesn't have any major issues, it fails to deliver a sense of novelty. Throughout my playthrough, I couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu, constantly reminded of my experiences with Limbo and Inside, which detracted from the overall enjoyment.

In conclusion, Planet of Lana is recommended for those who enjoyed Limbo and Inside. It offers a great experience with enjoyable gameplay. However, if you haven't played the aforementioned titles, it's advisable to try them first, as they excel in achieving their intended goals, a standard not entirely met by Planet of Lana.

Hi-Fi Rush is a new addition to Xbox's franchises. After years without a significant console exclusive, Microsoft released this game out of nowhere and caught everyone off guard. Is it good enough to achieve everything the fans dreamed?

Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm-focused game, a hack n' slash that encourages players to attack, jump, and perform in sync with the beat constantly playing. To be honest, the concept is cool, but in my opinion, it didn't work. You can perform actions out of rhythm, and it won't impact your gameplay.

Analyzing it as a pure hack n' slash, it's fun to play. Not outstanding, but it has its moments. The combat is enjoyable, but it's the only significant activity during gameplay.

One remarkable aspect of the game is its ambiance. The art is beautiful and colorful. It's impressive how they synchronized all objects on the screen with the beat mentioned earlier.

The downside of the game, for me, is the soundtrack. As a game focused on music, it should feature an unforgettable soundtrack. Unfortunately, the music in this game is disappointing.

The story is not that compelling, but the characters are charismatic. There is room for more development for them, and I'm excited to see what they could do in a sequel.

In conclusion, Hi-Fi Rush is a valuable addition to the Game Pass catalog. It may not be the blockbuster Microsoft needed, but overall, it's a good game.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder marked a necessary and innovative direction for Super Mario's 2D games. After numerous titles following a similar formula and several years without a new release, Nintendo decided to introduce some significant changes.

At the beginning of this review, it's essential to highlight that Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a classic 2D side-scrolling game with modern features. While introducing something new to the franchise, it represents an evolution of the first Super Mario games released on the NES.

Critics argue that the game is completely different from the New Mario Bros. series, but I disagree with that assessment. Despite having some distinct features and being an improved version, it essentially remains the same game. It is undoubtedly an evolution of the previous games released on the Wii, DS, and Wii U.

The art is incredible, making it arguably the most beautiful Mario game ever released.

In conclusion, the timing was perfect for the 2D Mario games, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder stands out as the best side-scrolling Mario game to date. Personally, it might not be the type of game I typically enjoy, but I can't deny its excellence. It's a game that excels in everything it sets out to accomplish.

I had high expectations for High on Life. Even though I'm not an FPS fan, I was excited to play this Xbox exclusive. When I saw the first reviews, I was convinced that the hype was unwarranted, and the game wasn't anything special.

Perhaps the most significant feature of this game is its ambiance. That's probably the best part of the game, for sure. The world is completely crazy in a good way, and I liked it, but I had the feeling that it was too much at some times. The game is 100% crazy all the time, and it can be overwhelming.

The story is as crazy as its ambiance. It's a game that doesn't take anything seriously. Most of the time, you'll be interacting with your talking guns. In the end, the story is crafted to have your guns making jokes while creating a reason for the crazy world.

The gameplay is just okay. It's an FPS, nothing special in this regard. It's a pretty common game in this aspect.

High on Life is not a game for everybody. I only recommend it if you are expecting dark humor and don't care about its simple gameplay. I finished this game disappointed. It's not bad, but it could be better.

Assassin's Creed: Mirage is a new addition to the classic franchise. After years of people complaining about the directions Ubisoft took in previous games, Mirage departs from RPG features and returns to the original gameplay seen in the initial entries.

Mirage primarily focuses on stealth gameplay. Although an open world is still present for exploration, main objectives are situated in closed areas where maintaining concealment from enemies is crucial. You can choose to engage in combat, but doing so significantly increases the game's difficulty.

The open world is somewhat generic, offering limited exploration opportunities. Infiltrating certain bases provides an engaging experience, but it becomes repetitive after a few hours.

Regrettably, the story is lacking and becomes progressively worse. After a few hours, I found it so uninteresting that I chose to stop paying attention. The characters lack charisma, and it's the weakest narrative in the franchise.

Honestly, Mirage appears to be a game developed solely to fulfill Ubisoft's agenda. While I understand the commercial aspect of gaming, I failed to discern any artistic justification for its development.

In conclusion, Assassin's Creed: Mirage is a game best avoided. There are similar yet superior options available. I only recommend it if you're curious about experiencing this revival of the franchise's original era. My concern for the future of Assassin's Creed remains significant.

Horizon Chase 2 is the sequel to a critically acclaimed indie racing game originally released for Apple Arcade, now available on various consoles. Due to the immense success of the first game, the studio was acquired by Epic Studios.

Compared to its predecessor, Horizon Chase 2 doesn't introduce significant changes. It remains a racing game inspired by titles released on the Super Nintendo. The gameplay stays true to its roots, offering limited control over your car, allowing you to brake, accelerate, and turn left and right. Each race begins with you in the last position, and your goal is to reach the podium.

The art can be considered near-perfect when you take into account what the developers aimed to achieve. Don't expect realistic graphics; as mentioned earlier, it draws inspiration from classic racing games on the Super Nintendo.

Horizon Chase 2 is a suitable option for those who aren't adept at racing games and are seeking a departure from the typical gameplay found in franchises like Need For Speed and Forza. Despite being a better game than its predecessor, there is a noticeable lack of inspiration in this sequel.

For Apple Arcade users, it's a must-play, even for those not particularly fond of racing games like myself. As for other platforms, I recommend considering it if you can find it at a reasonable price.

Super Mario RPG is a remake of a game with the same name originally released on the Super Nintendo. For many years, fans treated this game as a forgotten classic only available on illegal emulators. Now, these remake allows young players to enjoy this important game.

To start this review, I have to say that I never played the original game. Even so, I was able to see that this new version preserves many aspects of the older version. After I finished, I decided to read some reviews, and people were thinking the same. It doesn't make the game dated or bad; the minor changes were enough to make this remake an enjoyable experience for anyone.

As the title suggests, the game is an RPG. The gameplay is the classic turn-based RPG that we were used to in the '90s. To be honest, Super Mario RPG is the easiest RPG game that I have ever played. I never felt weak against any enemy.

Even with not an outblowing story, I can say for sure that it is the best we ever had in the Mario franchise. The characters are charismatic, and it is really fun to see some unexpected alliances.

The graphics are quite good, and the new cinematics are amazing! A significant downside, in my opinion, is the absence of voice acting.

I can say for sure that we finally have this necessary remake. This new version of Super Mario RPG is crucial to bringing back one of the best games from the Super Nintendo. I truly recommend this game to anyone who likes turn-based RPGs, and I can say that you should really give it a chance even if you're not a big fan of this genre of games.