(SPOILERS)
When I finish a game, I need time to reflect on the journey before I give it a fair score, but VA-11 HALL-A is a different case. Once I booted up that title screen and saw the gorgeous pixel art did I realize that I was in for a treat.
Valhalla is a game that prioritizes its story and characters above all else. The game is all about connecting with the people of Glitch City and what better way of doing that than by serving them drinks! In exchange for your service, you get dialogue that helps to expand upon the lore while also developing the characters you meet along the way. I'll never forget experiencing Sei's arc. Starting as a paramedic, she talks about her experience and what it's like working in that field. But as the story continues, she gets caught in a terrorist attack that leaves her injured and her division ruined. One thing that hit me the most was how Stella (her friend) talks about Sei's past, and how she grew up in an abusive household with a school system that failed to recognize her needs.
Without going into detail, it was a story that I could relate to on some level. I understood that pain, and it was something that hit me on a deeper level. It was really unlike anything I've ever played before, and that experience alone describes the beauty of VA-11 HALL-A. It's a game that understands the struggles of the player and comforts them through a short, unforgettable journey. If you want a game with solid writing and characters, then, by all means, pick this game up. I promise that you won't regret it.
10/10
When I finish a game, I need time to reflect on the journey before I give it a fair score, but VA-11 HALL-A is a different case. Once I booted up that title screen and saw the gorgeous pixel art did I realize that I was in for a treat.
Valhalla is a game that prioritizes its story and characters above all else. The game is all about connecting with the people of Glitch City and what better way of doing that than by serving them drinks! In exchange for your service, you get dialogue that helps to expand upon the lore while also developing the characters you meet along the way. I'll never forget experiencing Sei's arc. Starting as a paramedic, she talks about her experience and what it's like working in that field. But as the story continues, she gets caught in a terrorist attack that leaves her injured and her division ruined. One thing that hit me the most was how Stella (her friend) talks about Sei's past, and how she grew up in an abusive household with a school system that failed to recognize her needs.
Without going into detail, it was a story that I could relate to on some level. I understood that pain, and it was something that hit me on a deeper level. It was really unlike anything I've ever played before, and that experience alone describes the beauty of VA-11 HALL-A. It's a game that understands the struggles of the player and comforts them through a short, unforgettable journey. If you want a game with solid writing and characters, then, by all means, pick this game up. I promise that you won't regret it.
10/10
2001
Silent Hill 2 is a game that I've wanted to play for a long time. Everybody on the internet calls it one of the best horror games of all time and one of the greatest games, period. So, I found a way to play it, and I can agree with the majority in saying that SH2 is a beautiful work of art.
The setting is eerie and filled with morbid creatures around every corner; whether you find yourself in the open streets of Silent Hill or the claustrophobic and rusted hallways of the prison, each location feels fresh and doesn't overstay its welcome.
The story is also incredible. It's similar to a rabbit hole due to the various twists and turns that our protagonist has to endure. James Sunderland is an ordinary man looking for his deceased wife, who calls him to the town of Silent Hill. It's one of those stories that leaves you thinking about what you just witnessed. Without spoiling it, the ending and the events leading up to it will leave you rethinking the entire adventure.
In addition to it's beautiful yet eerie soundtrack, Silent Hill 2 is a landmark in video game history. There's a reason why everyone loves it, and now I know why. It's one of many games that I would call perfect, as it takes every single element to craft an unforgettable experience.
10/10
The setting is eerie and filled with morbid creatures around every corner; whether you find yourself in the open streets of Silent Hill or the claustrophobic and rusted hallways of the prison, each location feels fresh and doesn't overstay its welcome.
The story is also incredible. It's similar to a rabbit hole due to the various twists and turns that our protagonist has to endure. James Sunderland is an ordinary man looking for his deceased wife, who calls him to the town of Silent Hill. It's one of those stories that leaves you thinking about what you just witnessed. Without spoiling it, the ending and the events leading up to it will leave you rethinking the entire adventure.
In addition to it's beautiful yet eerie soundtrack, Silent Hill 2 is a landmark in video game history. There's a reason why everyone loves it, and now I know why. It's one of many games that I would call perfect, as it takes every single element to craft an unforgettable experience.
10/10
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect example of a game where you kick back and relax.
Growing your island is what makes this game so addicting. You start on a small island with tents and from there, create houses and new businesses. It feels rewarding to see your island transform and decorated the way you like.
My only issue comes from terraforming my island. No matter what I do, it seems like objects like bridges, inclines, and shops will never be centered correctly. I wish I could move them more efficiently instead of having the game decide that for me.
Growing your island is what makes this game so addicting. You start on a small island with tents and from there, create houses and new businesses. It feels rewarding to see your island transform and decorated the way you like.
My only issue comes from terraforming my island. No matter what I do, it seems like objects like bridges, inclines, and shops will never be centered correctly. I wish I could move them more efficiently instead of having the game decide that for me.
2016
Yeah, this game's not for me. I appreciate the lighter tone when compared to the first game, but Watch Dogs 2 didn't convince me enough to keep playing.
Aside from a couple of missions, most of them didn't stand out. I'm tired of how Ubisoft handles their open-world games. They add so many things to do, but none of those activities felt fun or rewarding. I can't recall how many missions I had to do that was just hacking into buildings and stealing information. I know hacking's the point of this game, but my god did it get old quick.
That's not to say everything was bland. I liked driving around the streets of San Francisco and seeing the city come to life. Dare I say it's one of the best open-worlds I've seen as of recently. I also liked taking down guards with non-lethal weapons. It adds a lot of variety to combat and gives you more to do with your arsenal.
But at the end of the day, I just couldn't get into it. If you don't mind the mission design or if you're just curious about it, then I would suggest picking this game up. Who knows, you might find some value in it, and with its frequent discounts, you're getting a good deal.
7/10
Aside from a couple of missions, most of them didn't stand out. I'm tired of how Ubisoft handles their open-world games. They add so many things to do, but none of those activities felt fun or rewarding. I can't recall how many missions I had to do that was just hacking into buildings and stealing information. I know hacking's the point of this game, but my god did it get old quick.
That's not to say everything was bland. I liked driving around the streets of San Francisco and seeing the city come to life. Dare I say it's one of the best open-worlds I've seen as of recently. I also liked taking down guards with non-lethal weapons. It adds a lot of variety to combat and gives you more to do with your arsenal.
But at the end of the day, I just couldn't get into it. If you don't mind the mission design or if you're just curious about it, then I would suggest picking this game up. Who knows, you might find some value in it, and with its frequent discounts, you're getting a good deal.
7/10
2020
It's good, but for $60? That ain't worth it. Unless you're really curious, please wait for a discount. $60 for a 6-hour experience is inexcusable.
2011
This game is great. Its got fun levels, fluid controls, solid graphics, and nice service. If there's one Sonic game worth revisiting, it's gotta be this one.
However, that's not without its issues. The story is semi-forgettable, the game is too short (excluding side missions), the side characters don't get to do anything, and this is just me, but I wished SEGA made DLC levels.
How cool would it have been to get stages like Kingdom Valley or Casino Night Zone? There are a ton of stages brimming with potential that SEGA never capitalized on. But hey, that's what modders are for.
However, that's not without its issues. The story is semi-forgettable, the game is too short (excluding side missions), the side characters don't get to do anything, and this is just me, but I wished SEGA made DLC levels.
How cool would it have been to get stages like Kingdom Valley or Casino Night Zone? There are a ton of stages brimming with potential that SEGA never capitalized on. But hey, that's what modders are for.
Spyro Reignited is a great remake of three beloved titles. The worlds are colorful, the characters are cartoony and likable, and the levels are a lot of fun to traverse. Collecting gems and bashing enemies never felt so good!
My only gripe(s) with the game is the occasional glitches and wonky hitbox detection. I've died many times because of random enemies killing me from a distance or the hitbox not registering properly. It's tolerable but still annoying.
At the end of the day, these games are still worth playing. If you dig platformers, then you will definitely like this. Here are my ratings for each game.
Spyro The Dragon (8/10)
Ripto's Rage (9/10)
Year of the Dragon (TBA)
My only gripe(s) with the game is the occasional glitches and wonky hitbox detection. I've died many times because of random enemies killing me from a distance or the hitbox not registering properly. It's tolerable but still annoying.
At the end of the day, these games are still worth playing. If you dig platformers, then you will definitely like this. Here are my ratings for each game.
Spyro The Dragon (8/10)
Ripto's Rage (9/10)
Year of the Dragon (TBA)
Danganronpa V3 was a tough game to finish.
I started playing after watching the anime, and I liked what I saw. The story was interesting, the characters were as fun as ever, and the music was energetic and catchy. However, I put the game down after a while because I burnt myself out on the series.
I picked it up recently, and I'm happy to say that V3 may just be my favorite game of the series. I grew attached to the cast and was surprised by all the twists that the game kept throwing at me. I even liked the ending, despite being hard to follow at times. V3 is like a rollercoaster. It's an exciting ride from start to finish, despite messing with your head.
Sadly, some things keep this game from being perfect. The Monokubs are annoying and disrupt the flow of the story. They'll chime in and make some stupid jokes that halt the story. I know Monokuma (and the students) did that in previous games, but the difference there is that Monokuma was fun to watch. These little shitstains were not.
I'm also not a fan of how lengthy the trials were. I still enjoyed them a lot (in fact, some of these trials are my all-time favorites), but MAN do they drag. They follow the same pattern of examining evidence, arguing, occasionally lying, and having characters make jokes before discovering the culprit. Past games did this before (and in similar fashions), but V3 made it more noticeable and stretched it out quite a bit.
Danganronpa V3 may not be to everyone's liking, but I had a ton of fun with it. Even with the issues I previously mentioned, they weren't enough to drag down the experience for me. If you're a Danganronpa fan who somehow hasn't played this game, I implore you to play this game. You may not like everything, and some choices may piss you off, but it's worth it in the end.
9/10
I started playing after watching the anime, and I liked what I saw. The story was interesting, the characters were as fun as ever, and the music was energetic and catchy. However, I put the game down after a while because I burnt myself out on the series.
I picked it up recently, and I'm happy to say that V3 may just be my favorite game of the series. I grew attached to the cast and was surprised by all the twists that the game kept throwing at me. I even liked the ending, despite being hard to follow at times. V3 is like a rollercoaster. It's an exciting ride from start to finish, despite messing with your head.
Sadly, some things keep this game from being perfect. The Monokubs are annoying and disrupt the flow of the story. They'll chime in and make some stupid jokes that halt the story. I know Monokuma (and the students) did that in previous games, but the difference there is that Monokuma was fun to watch. These little shitstains were not.
I'm also not a fan of how lengthy the trials were. I still enjoyed them a lot (in fact, some of these trials are my all-time favorites), but MAN do they drag. They follow the same pattern of examining evidence, arguing, occasionally lying, and having characters make jokes before discovering the culprit. Past games did this before (and in similar fashions), but V3 made it more noticeable and stretched it out quite a bit.
Danganronpa V3 may not be to everyone's liking, but I had a ton of fun with it. Even with the issues I previously mentioned, they weren't enough to drag down the experience for me. If you're a Danganronpa fan who somehow hasn't played this game, I implore you to play this game. You may not like everything, and some choices may piss you off, but it's worth it in the end.
9/10
If the Ninja Storm games served to tell the story of Shippuden, then Ultimate Ninja Storm R was the filler arc. It's far from a bad game (in fact, I quite liked it), but it wasn't as good as NS3. I guess CyberConnect 2 had to get a game out so they can hold fans over for Ninja Storm 4? I don't know why this wasn't an expansion.
It's a mess, but it was a fun mess.
2018
Fallout 76 is a game that I initially hated, but have grown to somewhat like.
I can respect the effort put into the Wastelanders update, and how it does its best to fix the game. It's still a mess, but it's a fun mess. Roaming the beautiful landscape with friends and taking out mutated creatures is fun, and so is surviving and building a small community together.
However, the numerous bugs and performance issues, along with the outdated engine holds the game back from being any good. I believe that if Bethesda had created a new engine to support the game on top of focusing more on the online and survival aspect, we might have gotten a neat little spinoff.
But as we all know, that's not what happened. You hear stories about games like No Man's Sky and FFXIV winning over their audiences with free updates and patches, and I want F76 to be in that same category. But at its very core, it's still broken, and no amount of Wonderglue or Duct Tape can fix it.
6/10
I can respect the effort put into the Wastelanders update, and how it does its best to fix the game. It's still a mess, but it's a fun mess. Roaming the beautiful landscape with friends and taking out mutated creatures is fun, and so is surviving and building a small community together.
However, the numerous bugs and performance issues, along with the outdated engine holds the game back from being any good. I believe that if Bethesda had created a new engine to support the game on top of focusing more on the online and survival aspect, we might have gotten a neat little spinoff.
But as we all know, that's not what happened. You hear stories about games like No Man's Sky and FFXIV winning over their audiences with free updates and patches, and I want F76 to be in that same category. But at its very core, it's still broken, and no amount of Wonderglue or Duct Tape can fix it.
6/10
2009
When I was a kid, my neighbor (who was also around my age) came over to play, and he pretended to be a jockey in real life and tackled me. I ended up spraining my wrist and had to wear a cast for about a month or so.
I hope that guy's doing alright. Also, this game rocks.
I hope that guy's doing alright. Also, this game rocks.
I wish Atlus waited until Royal/Strikers to add more songs. The remixes are fine, but they don't do anything for me personally. That, and some of the songs (Life Goes On) don't belong in a rhythm game, period.
But the thing that stopped me from continuing was how you earn costumes. As you play, you unlock Confidants with the Phantom Thieves, which knab you a set of glasses or headphones. I hate doing random challenges to get accessories. It gets repetitive when you have to sit through mostly boring conversations just to customize your character of choice. I don't see why Atlus couldn't have incorporated the in-game shop from P4D, seeing as there was nothing wrong with it.
But the thing that stopped me from continuing was how you earn costumes. As you play, you unlock Confidants with the Phantom Thieves, which knab you a set of glasses or headphones. I hate doing random challenges to get accessories. It gets repetitive when you have to sit through mostly boring conversations just to customize your character of choice. I don't see why Atlus couldn't have incorporated the in-game shop from P4D, seeing as there was nothing wrong with it.
As a newcomer to the Pro Skater franchise, I had a good time with this remake. It's fun exploring the maps and completing objectives while pulling off insane tricks and combos. I would spend hours learning how to do manuals and combo chains, which felt rewarding once I finally got the hang of it.
My only issue with the game comes from the lackluster character creator. It's a nice feature, but I wish we had more options for hair, clothing, or hell, a face slider to adjust a character's face. I was disappointed that I could not recreate myself in the game since that's something I like to do in most games.
Aside from that, I can say that my money was well spent. I was cautious about going in, fearing that I wouldn't like it. Thankfully, those fears subsided as I lost myself in the experience. If you were worried about picking this game up, don't be. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is a fun game that's worth the $40. I highly recommend it.
8.5/10
My only issue with the game comes from the lackluster character creator. It's a nice feature, but I wish we had more options for hair, clothing, or hell, a face slider to adjust a character's face. I was disappointed that I could not recreate myself in the game since that's something I like to do in most games.
Aside from that, I can say that my money was well spent. I was cautious about going in, fearing that I wouldn't like it. Thankfully, those fears subsided as I lost myself in the experience. If you were worried about picking this game up, don't be. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is a fun game that's worth the $40. I highly recommend it.
8.5/10
2020
Fix the game and then I'll review it.