DeckOfUlysses
2024
⏰ In a rush? Don't worry, I gotchu'! ⏰
What Works:
✅ Gorgeous Art Style: Stunning visuals reminiscent of Vanillaware's previous hits.
✅ Deep Strategy: Addictive gameplay with customizable squads and tactics.
✅ Meaningful Choices: Decisions impact the story and character relationships.
✅ Replayability: Multiple paths and consequences keep things fresh.
✅ Accessibility Features: Difficulty options, battle speed control, and story summaries.
What Doesn't:
❌ Generic Plot: Familiar story for RPG veterans.
❌ Repetitive Battles: Combat visuals can become monotonous.
❌ Overwhelming Mechanics: Steep learning curve with a lot to absorb.
❌ Cluttered Interface: Menus can be confusing with numerous features.
🎮 Vanillaware Strikes Again
Vanillaware, company responsible for hits like 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and Dragon's Crown, is back dueling for our wallets, and surprising absolutely no one, fires another shot across the bow of the video game industry. It's astonishing how the team's quality and mastery in game design shines through title after title, with this latest one drawing heavy inspiration from Fire Emblem and, even more blatantly, Ogre Battle. Unicorn Overlord injects a drop-dead gorgeous art style, already considered the company's trademark, popularized since Odin Sphere.
👑 Journey of Prince Alain
With that said, Unicorn Overlord explores the journey of Prince Alain, heir to the kingdom of Cornia and leader of the Liberation Army, in a world under the tyrannical control of the Zenoira Empire, led by Emperor Galerius. While I won't spoil any surprises, despite the plot delivering a generic and familiar rhythm for fans of the genre, it unfolds progressively, battle by strategic battle, with dialogue choices and moral dilemmas taking center stage during intense narrative moments, resulting in unlikely alliances, well-written betrayals and mysteries, and phenomenal voice acting.
💬 Impactful Choices and Consequences
For example, in one of the first dilemmas, Alain has the power to decide a character's fate. After making a choice and facing the consequences, I hopped online (thanks, internet!) to see the outcome of the opposite option, and the result couldn't have been more different! However, what truly enriches Alain's main quest, which is a bit weak in comparison and focused on weakening Galerius' dominion, are the characters and companions that make it up, each with their own motivations, desires, and personal story, just like the decisive moments exemplified above.
⚔️ Immersive Gameplay Experience
Although the plot holds our interest to a certain extent, the real draw of Unicorn Overlord lies in its gameplay, where its progression cycle satisfies from start to finish. After the first few hours, we freely explore the world surrounding Alain and company, completing minor side quests, liberating towns, and using various resources to enhance gameplay mechanics, such as increasing the number of units in a formation or the number of available squads.
This, along with the plot, pushes us from objective to objective, making Unicorn Overlord's progression system robust and rewarding, with ample opportunities in each battle to increase the strategic intensity, meticulously preparing the appropriate tactics to face each challenge. I understand this might sound like marketing speak, but the truth is that every choice, whether it's for the narrative or the gameplay, has (almost) always an impact.
🛡️ Master the Tactical Squad System
Inherent to the gameplay, both in the overworld and in battles, is the aforementioned expansive and experimental squad system with two rows, each composed of up to five units. The beginning of the adventure limits the quantity to ease the player into this system. That being said, all members of the Liberation Army have a class associated with them, like Thief, Knight, or Soldier (among others), loaded with strengths and weaknesses, passive or active abilities, and thanks to this mechanic, the possibility of adopting a personal playstyle becomes a reality. Of course, like all tactical RPGs, there's always one unit or another within a class that's more capable than another.
Having said that, I mentioned earlier that the plot is enriched by the cast that composes it, and that is due to its Fire Emblem influences. When building a squad, it's important to consider who to pair the units with. This is because as units fight or have meals together, a relationship grows between them, where each milestone can unlock a special event between them or increase their passive battle stats when together.
📚 Learning Curve and Accessibility
However, this whole web of mechanics, exposed right from the beginning of the game, can be intimidating even for the most experienced players in the genre, with tutorials frequently bombarding players with the sheer number of concepts to consider. This carries an inevitable consequence: too many concepts and mechanics are introduced, and the video game, even with various difficulty options available, ceases to be accessible, especially for those who enjoy taking long breaks between sessions. Nevertheless, on the other hand, Unicorn Overlord tries to mitigate the experience and learning curve with a gradual introduction of these issues, finding success to a certain point.
🌌 Dynamic and Visually Stunning Battles
On the other hand, while the battles are impressive eye-candy for the first few dozen times, they become repetitions of visually monotonous spectacles. However, their usefulness shines when the outcome goes south, and as these battles occur in a specific order, dependent on the initiative (the most important stat) of each unit, it's always worth paying close attention to the flow of troops to understand where, strategically, the approach can be improved. It's also noteworthy to mention that any unit can be customized with a list of actions à la Gambit from Final Fantasy XII, here called Tactics.
⚙️ Accessible Gameplay Options
Thankfully, Unicorn Overlord also introduces some accessibility options regarding gameplay. For example, not only is the overall difficulty adjustable between four options, but you can also speed up the battle pace or skip them entirely before they even happen, useful when you already know the outcome. Other menus, like a history of the dialogue that occurred, an archive that reminds you of previous events, as well as a section that covers various elements of the world, are invaluable aids for those who easily lose track of the narrative.
🦄 A Must-Play for Tactical RPG Fans
It's a herculean task not to recommend this title to all tactical RPG fans, especially those who adore Ogre Battle, Fire Emblem, and Vanillaware. Sure, at the end of the day, Unicorn Overlord isn't perfect. The main story is a generic, well-chewed trope, and the battles, despite being visually impressive, quickly cause eye strain. Additionally, the user interface can be confusing and cluttered with the (almost) abnormal amount of mechanics constantly on display. However, these complaints, in the grand scheme of things, are practically insignificant, overshadowed by the deep strategic element at play, composed of the squads and classes of each unit. The overworld is interesting to explore, with an addictive gameplay loop and well-written side stories, not to mention the visual and auditory feast it presents. Thankfully, this Unicorn exists and is easy to acquire, unlike its mythical namesake.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Visit my Linktree for more content.
◻️ 📝 Original review published on March 22nd, 2024.
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more reviews written by me.
◻️ 🎮 Discover PlayStation 5 games I've played.
◻️ ✍️ Reviewed in European Portuguese, translated with A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 148.
✨ F I N ✨
What Works:
✅ Gorgeous Art Style: Stunning visuals reminiscent of Vanillaware's previous hits.
✅ Deep Strategy: Addictive gameplay with customizable squads and tactics.
✅ Meaningful Choices: Decisions impact the story and character relationships.
✅ Replayability: Multiple paths and consequences keep things fresh.
✅ Accessibility Features: Difficulty options, battle speed control, and story summaries.
What Doesn't:
❌ Generic Plot: Familiar story for RPG veterans.
❌ Repetitive Battles: Combat visuals can become monotonous.
❌ Overwhelming Mechanics: Steep learning curve with a lot to absorb.
❌ Cluttered Interface: Menus can be confusing with numerous features.
🎮 Vanillaware Strikes Again
Vanillaware, company responsible for hits like 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and Dragon's Crown, is back dueling for our wallets, and surprising absolutely no one, fires another shot across the bow of the video game industry. It's astonishing how the team's quality and mastery in game design shines through title after title, with this latest one drawing heavy inspiration from Fire Emblem and, even more blatantly, Ogre Battle. Unicorn Overlord injects a drop-dead gorgeous art style, already considered the company's trademark, popularized since Odin Sphere.
👑 Journey of Prince Alain
With that said, Unicorn Overlord explores the journey of Prince Alain, heir to the kingdom of Cornia and leader of the Liberation Army, in a world under the tyrannical control of the Zenoira Empire, led by Emperor Galerius. While I won't spoil any surprises, despite the plot delivering a generic and familiar rhythm for fans of the genre, it unfolds progressively, battle by strategic battle, with dialogue choices and moral dilemmas taking center stage during intense narrative moments, resulting in unlikely alliances, well-written betrayals and mysteries, and phenomenal voice acting.
💬 Impactful Choices and Consequences
For example, in one of the first dilemmas, Alain has the power to decide a character's fate. After making a choice and facing the consequences, I hopped online (thanks, internet!) to see the outcome of the opposite option, and the result couldn't have been more different! However, what truly enriches Alain's main quest, which is a bit weak in comparison and focused on weakening Galerius' dominion, are the characters and companions that make it up, each with their own motivations, desires, and personal story, just like the decisive moments exemplified above.
⚔️ Immersive Gameplay Experience
Although the plot holds our interest to a certain extent, the real draw of Unicorn Overlord lies in its gameplay, where its progression cycle satisfies from start to finish. After the first few hours, we freely explore the world surrounding Alain and company, completing minor side quests, liberating towns, and using various resources to enhance gameplay mechanics, such as increasing the number of units in a formation or the number of available squads.
This, along with the plot, pushes us from objective to objective, making Unicorn Overlord's progression system robust and rewarding, with ample opportunities in each battle to increase the strategic intensity, meticulously preparing the appropriate tactics to face each challenge. I understand this might sound like marketing speak, but the truth is that every choice, whether it's for the narrative or the gameplay, has (almost) always an impact.
🛡️ Master the Tactical Squad System
Inherent to the gameplay, both in the overworld and in battles, is the aforementioned expansive and experimental squad system with two rows, each composed of up to five units. The beginning of the adventure limits the quantity to ease the player into this system. That being said, all members of the Liberation Army have a class associated with them, like Thief, Knight, or Soldier (among others), loaded with strengths and weaknesses, passive or active abilities, and thanks to this mechanic, the possibility of adopting a personal playstyle becomes a reality. Of course, like all tactical RPGs, there's always one unit or another within a class that's more capable than another.
Having said that, I mentioned earlier that the plot is enriched by the cast that composes it, and that is due to its Fire Emblem influences. When building a squad, it's important to consider who to pair the units with. This is because as units fight or have meals together, a relationship grows between them, where each milestone can unlock a special event between them or increase their passive battle stats when together.
📚 Learning Curve and Accessibility
However, this whole web of mechanics, exposed right from the beginning of the game, can be intimidating even for the most experienced players in the genre, with tutorials frequently bombarding players with the sheer number of concepts to consider. This carries an inevitable consequence: too many concepts and mechanics are introduced, and the video game, even with various difficulty options available, ceases to be accessible, especially for those who enjoy taking long breaks between sessions. Nevertheless, on the other hand, Unicorn Overlord tries to mitigate the experience and learning curve with a gradual introduction of these issues, finding success to a certain point.
🌌 Dynamic and Visually Stunning Battles
On the other hand, while the battles are impressive eye-candy for the first few dozen times, they become repetitions of visually monotonous spectacles. However, their usefulness shines when the outcome goes south, and as these battles occur in a specific order, dependent on the initiative (the most important stat) of each unit, it's always worth paying close attention to the flow of troops to understand where, strategically, the approach can be improved. It's also noteworthy to mention that any unit can be customized with a list of actions à la Gambit from Final Fantasy XII, here called Tactics.
⚙️ Accessible Gameplay Options
Thankfully, Unicorn Overlord also introduces some accessibility options regarding gameplay. For example, not only is the overall difficulty adjustable between four options, but you can also speed up the battle pace or skip them entirely before they even happen, useful when you already know the outcome. Other menus, like a history of the dialogue that occurred, an archive that reminds you of previous events, as well as a section that covers various elements of the world, are invaluable aids for those who easily lose track of the narrative.
🦄 A Must-Play for Tactical RPG Fans
It's a herculean task not to recommend this title to all tactical RPG fans, especially those who adore Ogre Battle, Fire Emblem, and Vanillaware. Sure, at the end of the day, Unicorn Overlord isn't perfect. The main story is a generic, well-chewed trope, and the battles, despite being visually impressive, quickly cause eye strain. Additionally, the user interface can be confusing and cluttered with the (almost) abnormal amount of mechanics constantly on display. However, these complaints, in the grand scheme of things, are practically insignificant, overshadowed by the deep strategic element at play, composed of the squads and classes of each unit. The overworld is interesting to explore, with an addictive gameplay loop and well-written side stories, not to mention the visual and auditory feast it presents. Thankfully, this Unicorn exists and is easy to acquire, unlike its mythical namesake.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Visit my Linktree for more content.
◻️ 📝 Original review published on March 22nd, 2024.
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more reviews written by me.
◻️ 🎮 Discover PlayStation 5 games I've played.
◻️ ✍️ Reviewed in European Portuguese, translated with A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 148.
✨ F I N ✨
⏰ In a rush? Don't worry, I gotchu'! ⏰
What Works:
✅ Unique Karakuri Mechanic: Building structures for combat and exploration adds a new dimension to the monster-hunting genre.
✅ Compelling Monster Design: Kemonos are interesting fusions of real animals and nature elements.
✅ Streamlined Monster Hunting: Focuses on the core hunt without pre-hunt rituals.
✅ Variety of Weapons: Offers multiple weapons with distinct learning curves, with the wagasa being a standout.
✅ Beautiful World: Azuma provides a diverse and visually appealing world to explore.
✅ Fun Gameplay Loop: Crafting gear and weapons from defeated kemonos fuels the gameplay loop.
✅ Strong Monster Hunter Inspiration: Provides a familiar experience for veterans while offering a fresh alternative.
What Doesn't Work:
❌ Abysmal Performance: Inconsistent frame rate and blurry visuals make for an unpleasant experience.
❌ Confusing Upgrade System: Unclear weapon upgrade paths can be frustrating to navigate.
❌ Limited Monster Variety: May feel repetitive after encountering a limited pool of kemonos.
🌿 A New Monster-Hunting Adventure
Wild Hearts storms onto the scene, offering a monster-hunting experience that blends formulaic familiarity with refreshing innovation. Priced at a premium $79.99, this title by Koei Tecmo, published under the EA Originals label, promises a thrilling adventure. However, despite its captivating potential, my experience on the Xbox Series S was a crushing disappointment.
🎮 A Disappointing Experience on Xbox Series S
Here's the truth: Wild Hearts, on the Xbox Series S, feels like a magnificent bird with clipped wings. Despite numerous attempts, I couldn't bring myself to finish the game, let alone invest enough hours for a thorough analysis. The allure of diving into the world and carving my path as a monster hunter simply wasn't there, shrouded in the haze of underwhelming performance. This is a harsh reality, especially considering my well-documented love for both video games and a good bowl of soup (seriously, who doesn't?). In fact, Monster Hunter, Capcom's monstrous success (pun intended), holds a special place in my gaming heart.
🌌 Drawing Inspiration, Forging Its Path
Wild Hearts, however, manages to carve its own niche while drawing clear inspiration from its predecessor. It avoids blatant imitation, presenting a compelling alternative within the monster-hunting genre. Here's where things get interesting – at least on the Xbox Series S, where the true potential of Wild Hearts remains frustratingly blurred. Theoretically, Wild Hearts has everything to keep me hooked for hours on end. Stunning visuals, a world teeming with ferocious beasts (kemonos), and a satisfying gameplay loop fueled by crafting and exploration – all the ingredients for a monster-hunting masterpiece. Unfortunately, the reality on this platform falls short.
The pain lies in the performance. Here's the deal: Wild Hearts is a genuinely good game. You can practically feel the Monster Hunter influence coursing through its veins. From the rhythmic hunts against intriguing kemonos, where dismembering body parts yields rewards and alters their behavior, to the meticulous progression system centered on crafting weapons and armor from these very monsters and the fantastical world of Azuma, everything evokes a sense of familiarity. Even the plot, a simple tale of a nameless hunter defending a village against the fury of the kemonos, feels comfortably familiar.
⚔️ Combat and Strategy
The Monster Hunter DNA is evident, but Koei Tecmo wisely avoids a simple copy-and-paste job. For instance, Wild Hearts offers complete control over camp placement. Here, you can rest, embark on missions, craft gear, and essentially set up your personal hunting haven. This freedom adds a layer of personalization to the experience, allowing you to tailor gameplay to your preferences. However, this system is tied to a resource management mechanic and the aptly named Dragon Pit, creating a somewhat intricate web of dependencies.
🌟 Exploring Azuma
While Azuma isn't a true open world, it borrows the Monster Hunter approach. Think of it as a collection of diverse biomes, each a sprawling and vertical playground filled with resources and secrets. Fans of the genre will find the combat in Wild Hearts instantly recognizable. Facing off against colossal kemonos demands a measured and tactical approach, relying on well-timed dodges and defensive maneuvers. Mastering not only your weapon of choice but also the kemonos' attack patterns becomes paramount, as certain attacks can leave you vulnerable and open to devastating counter-offensives.
Wild Hearts simplifies the genre's formula to a degree, making it a more approachable entry point compared to its inspiration. Gone are the elaborate pre-hunt rituals involving meal preparation and meticulous item selection. The focus here is purely on the hunt itself, with monsters exhibiting no signs of fatigue or capture mechanics. While I never found the kemonos themselves boring, their battle strategies felt somewhat predictable and monotonous.
On the other hand, the eight available weapons offer a satisfying learning curve. The katana, the first weapon you encounter, serves as the centerpiece of the Wild Hearts experience. However, the real showstopper is the wagasa – a multi-bladed umbrella that demands exceptional timing and mastery in parrying kemonos attacks.
🔧 Karakuri Constructions
And that's exactly what sets Wild Hearts apart in the genre. These karakuri constructions bring a Fortnite-like feel that fits very well into combat, allowing you to build boxes, trampolines, gliders, or torches to complement the gaps in your weapons. The inherent strategy of this mechanic can be both simple and deep. For instance, a box allows for a quick jump, which even helps with traversing the world, but building a trampoline on top of a box already covers much more distance and verticality.
Fusion Karakuri, however, are special contraptions unlocked during battles against specific kemonos. These serve more specific purposes, such as the Bulwark, built by piling six boxes together. When used at the right moment, like the charge of a Kingtusk (a giant boar), it allows it to be repelled and knocked down, open to a quick and efficient counterattack. There are many other variations, and they all enrich the gameplay, making it very fun. But this mechanic isn't only valued in combat. Dragon Karakuri, directly correlated with the Dragon Pit and the aforementioned resource management, are persistent devices (similar to structures in Death Stranding) with a number of passive uses, such as traversing long distances through a cable car line, or searching for scouting kemonos with a wooden radio tower. Karakuri is also cleverly integrated into the narrative, with its presence well justified both in the plot and in the presentation of Wild Hearts.
🔨 Crafting and Progression
Still referring to karakuri, this system features an upgrade tree and other unlockables like aesthetic elements: benches, signs, and others. However, the vast majority are quite useful, such as a box that stores all food items, a wind vortex to propel the hunter high in the air, and even a structure with shell-shaped paddles to collect fish, important ingredients in cooking or to sell for more money.
🎣 Encountering Kemonos
I haven't discussed the kemonos much, but the truth is that these creatures are a fantastic mix of real animals, such as boars or monkeys, each with a fantastic aesthetic, with various elements of nature like vines or moss. Each one fights in its own way, and, similar to Monster Hunter, each one has vulnerable weak points to various types of damage. Although I haven't reached the end of the game, from what I understood, the variety of monsters ends quickly, but this could also just be a bad habit of the other franchise mentioned here, one that has been around for several years.
After defeating a kemono or completing a demand, two options are given: return to the camp on the map to continue exploration or return to Minato, the main city and central hub of Wild Hearts. Here you are free to talk to the villagers, accept secondary demands, shop among general items and accessories, or, more importantly, visit the blacksmith (also available at a camp via Dragon Karakuri) to build equipment, weapons, or armor based on the kemonos you've been defeating and their parts.
🛠️ Armor and Weapon Crafting
This was the system I struggled with the most. When creating armor, something essential for facing stronger monsters, it's possible to forge two varieties, human or kemono, of some pieces: notwithstanding the visual difference between each, the armor of the human variant, for example, focuses on defensive-oriented abilities, with the kemono variant focusing on an aggressive style.
Weapons, however, are not easy and are more complicated to understand. Unlike the linear system used by Monster Hunter, dividing creations by categories (monsters), in Wild Hearts, each weapon follows a non-linear path, inheriting the abilities of the previous option in conjunction with the new ones acquired. In theory, it seems simple, but in practice, you battle against a giant diagram, going from one side of the screen to the other trying to understand what might be better or not. I want to believe that over time this system becomes a simpler subject to tackle, but although it's a bit frustrating, I admit that planning both the armor and the next weapon upgrade has become a focal point of the experience, and a goal always to pursue to improve the combat style that reflects the weapon used. Despite everything else, each armor was always visually more appealing than the previous one.
❌ Performance Woes on Xbox Series S
Let's address the elephant in the room, although I don't want to dwell on it. Wild Hearts on the Xbox Series S is not recommended. On other platforms, like the Series X, yes. However, on the Series S, you face inconsistent thirty frames per second performance with atrocious visual appearance. I often had to rub and blink my eyes because it's a blurry and unfocused experience, almost like those demanding third-party titles on a Nintendo Switch. It's sad to admit it, but that's the reality.
👍 A Promising Future
It saddens me that a game as competent and fun as Wild Hearts is corrupted by mediocre visual appearance (on the Series S) and such poor performance. However, enjoyed on a platform with strong performance, Wild Hearts firmly believes that the title will capture your heart, with plenty of fun things here.
The combat is crisp and challenging, with the karakuri constructions introducing a freshness rarely felt in the genre. The loop between hunting kemonos and developing new equipment is addictive (despite the slightly confusing progression), and the Asian aesthetic is very appealing and atmospheric. The Monster Hunter formula takes a few bumps in favor of originality and also simplicity, making Wild Hearts more accessible for newcomers.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Visit my Linktree for more content.
◻️ 📝 Website link published on March 28th, 2023.
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more reviews written by me.
◻️ 🎮 Discover Xbox Series games I've played.
◻️ ✍️ Reviewed in European Portuguese, translated with A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 124.
✨ F I N ✨
What Works:
✅ Unique Karakuri Mechanic: Building structures for combat and exploration adds a new dimension to the monster-hunting genre.
✅ Compelling Monster Design: Kemonos are interesting fusions of real animals and nature elements.
✅ Streamlined Monster Hunting: Focuses on the core hunt without pre-hunt rituals.
✅ Variety of Weapons: Offers multiple weapons with distinct learning curves, with the wagasa being a standout.
✅ Beautiful World: Azuma provides a diverse and visually appealing world to explore.
✅ Fun Gameplay Loop: Crafting gear and weapons from defeated kemonos fuels the gameplay loop.
✅ Strong Monster Hunter Inspiration: Provides a familiar experience for veterans while offering a fresh alternative.
What Doesn't Work:
❌ Abysmal Performance: Inconsistent frame rate and blurry visuals make for an unpleasant experience.
❌ Confusing Upgrade System: Unclear weapon upgrade paths can be frustrating to navigate.
❌ Limited Monster Variety: May feel repetitive after encountering a limited pool of kemonos.
🌿 A New Monster-Hunting Adventure
Wild Hearts storms onto the scene, offering a monster-hunting experience that blends formulaic familiarity with refreshing innovation. Priced at a premium $79.99, this title by Koei Tecmo, published under the EA Originals label, promises a thrilling adventure. However, despite its captivating potential, my experience on the Xbox Series S was a crushing disappointment.
🎮 A Disappointing Experience on Xbox Series S
Here's the truth: Wild Hearts, on the Xbox Series S, feels like a magnificent bird with clipped wings. Despite numerous attempts, I couldn't bring myself to finish the game, let alone invest enough hours for a thorough analysis. The allure of diving into the world and carving my path as a monster hunter simply wasn't there, shrouded in the haze of underwhelming performance. This is a harsh reality, especially considering my well-documented love for both video games and a good bowl of soup (seriously, who doesn't?). In fact, Monster Hunter, Capcom's monstrous success (pun intended), holds a special place in my gaming heart.
🌌 Drawing Inspiration, Forging Its Path
Wild Hearts, however, manages to carve its own niche while drawing clear inspiration from its predecessor. It avoids blatant imitation, presenting a compelling alternative within the monster-hunting genre. Here's where things get interesting – at least on the Xbox Series S, where the true potential of Wild Hearts remains frustratingly blurred. Theoretically, Wild Hearts has everything to keep me hooked for hours on end. Stunning visuals, a world teeming with ferocious beasts (kemonos), and a satisfying gameplay loop fueled by crafting and exploration – all the ingredients for a monster-hunting masterpiece. Unfortunately, the reality on this platform falls short.
The pain lies in the performance. Here's the deal: Wild Hearts is a genuinely good game. You can practically feel the Monster Hunter influence coursing through its veins. From the rhythmic hunts against intriguing kemonos, where dismembering body parts yields rewards and alters their behavior, to the meticulous progression system centered on crafting weapons and armor from these very monsters and the fantastical world of Azuma, everything evokes a sense of familiarity. Even the plot, a simple tale of a nameless hunter defending a village against the fury of the kemonos, feels comfortably familiar.
⚔️ Combat and Strategy
The Monster Hunter DNA is evident, but Koei Tecmo wisely avoids a simple copy-and-paste job. For instance, Wild Hearts offers complete control over camp placement. Here, you can rest, embark on missions, craft gear, and essentially set up your personal hunting haven. This freedom adds a layer of personalization to the experience, allowing you to tailor gameplay to your preferences. However, this system is tied to a resource management mechanic and the aptly named Dragon Pit, creating a somewhat intricate web of dependencies.
🌟 Exploring Azuma
While Azuma isn't a true open world, it borrows the Monster Hunter approach. Think of it as a collection of diverse biomes, each a sprawling and vertical playground filled with resources and secrets. Fans of the genre will find the combat in Wild Hearts instantly recognizable. Facing off against colossal kemonos demands a measured and tactical approach, relying on well-timed dodges and defensive maneuvers. Mastering not only your weapon of choice but also the kemonos' attack patterns becomes paramount, as certain attacks can leave you vulnerable and open to devastating counter-offensives.
Wild Hearts simplifies the genre's formula to a degree, making it a more approachable entry point compared to its inspiration. Gone are the elaborate pre-hunt rituals involving meal preparation and meticulous item selection. The focus here is purely on the hunt itself, with monsters exhibiting no signs of fatigue or capture mechanics. While I never found the kemonos themselves boring, their battle strategies felt somewhat predictable and monotonous.
On the other hand, the eight available weapons offer a satisfying learning curve. The katana, the first weapon you encounter, serves as the centerpiece of the Wild Hearts experience. However, the real showstopper is the wagasa – a multi-bladed umbrella that demands exceptional timing and mastery in parrying kemonos attacks.
🔧 Karakuri Constructions
And that's exactly what sets Wild Hearts apart in the genre. These karakuri constructions bring a Fortnite-like feel that fits very well into combat, allowing you to build boxes, trampolines, gliders, or torches to complement the gaps in your weapons. The inherent strategy of this mechanic can be both simple and deep. For instance, a box allows for a quick jump, which even helps with traversing the world, but building a trampoline on top of a box already covers much more distance and verticality.
Fusion Karakuri, however, are special contraptions unlocked during battles against specific kemonos. These serve more specific purposes, such as the Bulwark, built by piling six boxes together. When used at the right moment, like the charge of a Kingtusk (a giant boar), it allows it to be repelled and knocked down, open to a quick and efficient counterattack. There are many other variations, and they all enrich the gameplay, making it very fun. But this mechanic isn't only valued in combat. Dragon Karakuri, directly correlated with the Dragon Pit and the aforementioned resource management, are persistent devices (similar to structures in Death Stranding) with a number of passive uses, such as traversing long distances through a cable car line, or searching for scouting kemonos with a wooden radio tower. Karakuri is also cleverly integrated into the narrative, with its presence well justified both in the plot and in the presentation of Wild Hearts.
🔨 Crafting and Progression
Still referring to karakuri, this system features an upgrade tree and other unlockables like aesthetic elements: benches, signs, and others. However, the vast majority are quite useful, such as a box that stores all food items, a wind vortex to propel the hunter high in the air, and even a structure with shell-shaped paddles to collect fish, important ingredients in cooking or to sell for more money.
🎣 Encountering Kemonos
I haven't discussed the kemonos much, but the truth is that these creatures are a fantastic mix of real animals, such as boars or monkeys, each with a fantastic aesthetic, with various elements of nature like vines or moss. Each one fights in its own way, and, similar to Monster Hunter, each one has vulnerable weak points to various types of damage. Although I haven't reached the end of the game, from what I understood, the variety of monsters ends quickly, but this could also just be a bad habit of the other franchise mentioned here, one that has been around for several years.
After defeating a kemono or completing a demand, two options are given: return to the camp on the map to continue exploration or return to Minato, the main city and central hub of Wild Hearts. Here you are free to talk to the villagers, accept secondary demands, shop among general items and accessories, or, more importantly, visit the blacksmith (also available at a camp via Dragon Karakuri) to build equipment, weapons, or armor based on the kemonos you've been defeating and their parts.
🛠️ Armor and Weapon Crafting
This was the system I struggled with the most. When creating armor, something essential for facing stronger monsters, it's possible to forge two varieties, human or kemono, of some pieces: notwithstanding the visual difference between each, the armor of the human variant, for example, focuses on defensive-oriented abilities, with the kemono variant focusing on an aggressive style.
Weapons, however, are not easy and are more complicated to understand. Unlike the linear system used by Monster Hunter, dividing creations by categories (monsters), in Wild Hearts, each weapon follows a non-linear path, inheriting the abilities of the previous option in conjunction with the new ones acquired. In theory, it seems simple, but in practice, you battle against a giant diagram, going from one side of the screen to the other trying to understand what might be better or not. I want to believe that over time this system becomes a simpler subject to tackle, but although it's a bit frustrating, I admit that planning both the armor and the next weapon upgrade has become a focal point of the experience, and a goal always to pursue to improve the combat style that reflects the weapon used. Despite everything else, each armor was always visually more appealing than the previous one.
❌ Performance Woes on Xbox Series S
Let's address the elephant in the room, although I don't want to dwell on it. Wild Hearts on the Xbox Series S is not recommended. On other platforms, like the Series X, yes. However, on the Series S, you face inconsistent thirty frames per second performance with atrocious visual appearance. I often had to rub and blink my eyes because it's a blurry and unfocused experience, almost like those demanding third-party titles on a Nintendo Switch. It's sad to admit it, but that's the reality.
👍 A Promising Future
It saddens me that a game as competent and fun as Wild Hearts is corrupted by mediocre visual appearance (on the Series S) and such poor performance. However, enjoyed on a platform with strong performance, Wild Hearts firmly believes that the title will capture your heart, with plenty of fun things here.
The combat is crisp and challenging, with the karakuri constructions introducing a freshness rarely felt in the genre. The loop between hunting kemonos and developing new equipment is addictive (despite the slightly confusing progression), and the Asian aesthetic is very appealing and atmospheric. The Monster Hunter formula takes a few bumps in favor of originality and also simplicity, making Wild Hearts more accessible for newcomers.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Visit my Linktree for more content.
◻️ 📝 Website link published on March 28th, 2023.
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more reviews written by me.
◻️ 🎮 Discover Xbox Series games I've played.
◻️ ✍️ Reviewed in European Portuguese, translated with A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 124.
✨ F I N ✨
2020
⏰ In a rush? Don't worry, I gotchu'! ⏰
What Works:
✅ Ambitious Narrative: Amnesia: Rebirth delves into themes of colonialism, mental health, and motherhood, offering a sophisticated and thought-provoking story.
✅ Chilling Environments and Sounds: The game creates a palpable sense of fear through its atmospheric environments and sound design.
✅ Initial Fear Factor: The fear of the unknown lurking in the darkness contributes to a tense and immersive experience.
What Doesn't Work:
❌ Puzzles Lack Intuitiveness: Some puzzles are not intuitive, leading to moments of frustration and confusion.
❌ Unclear Objectives: At times, the objectives of the adventure can be ambiguous, detracting from the overall experience.
👻 Evolving Horror Experience
The terrors and nightmares crafted by Frictional Games in Amnesia: Rebirth deliver a more sophisticated and complete adventure when compared to previous titles. This time, the team's expertise emphasizes narrative and plot; an ambitious story that delves into various themes of colonialism, mental health, and even motherhood.
This, along with chilling environments and sounds, and, at least in the beginning, a great fear of what lies beyond the darkness, made the journey to the end challenging (in a good way). However, I felt that some puzzles were not very intuitive, and at times, the objectives of the adventure were unclear.
Nonetheless, that doesn't stop me from recommending this title to horror genre enthusiasts.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Visit my Linktree for more content.
◻️ 📝 Instagram post published on October 24th, 2023.
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more reviews written by me.
◻️ 🎮 Discover Xbox Series games I've played.
◻️ ✍️ Reviewed in European Portuguese, translated with A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 136."
✨ F I N ✨
What Works:
✅ Ambitious Narrative: Amnesia: Rebirth delves into themes of colonialism, mental health, and motherhood, offering a sophisticated and thought-provoking story.
✅ Chilling Environments and Sounds: The game creates a palpable sense of fear through its atmospheric environments and sound design.
✅ Initial Fear Factor: The fear of the unknown lurking in the darkness contributes to a tense and immersive experience.
What Doesn't Work:
❌ Puzzles Lack Intuitiveness: Some puzzles are not intuitive, leading to moments of frustration and confusion.
❌ Unclear Objectives: At times, the objectives of the adventure can be ambiguous, detracting from the overall experience.
👻 Evolving Horror Experience
The terrors and nightmares crafted by Frictional Games in Amnesia: Rebirth deliver a more sophisticated and complete adventure when compared to previous titles. This time, the team's expertise emphasizes narrative and plot; an ambitious story that delves into various themes of colonialism, mental health, and even motherhood.
This, along with chilling environments and sounds, and, at least in the beginning, a great fear of what lies beyond the darkness, made the journey to the end challenging (in a good way). However, I felt that some puzzles were not very intuitive, and at times, the objectives of the adventure were unclear.
Nonetheless, that doesn't stop me from recommending this title to horror genre enthusiasts.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Visit my Linktree for more content.
◻️ 📝 Instagram post published on October 24th, 2023.
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more reviews written by me.
◻️ 🎮 Discover Xbox Series games I've played.
◻️ ✍️ Reviewed in European Portuguese, translated with A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 136."
✨ F I N ✨
⏰ In a rush? Don't worry, I gotchu'! ⏰
What Works:
✅ Understanding of Property: One More Level demonstrates a deep understanding of what made the original Ghostrunner successful, maintaining its core elements while expanding upon them.
✅ Reinforced Gameplay Elements: Ghostrunner 2 delivers more of what fans loved from the first game, with enhancements in size, scale, and gameplay mechanics.
✅ Balanced Familiarity and Innovation: Offers a good balance between familiar gameplay foundations and the introduction of new elements, ensuring a satisfying experience for both returning players and newcomers.
✅ Level Design Variability: The game offers challenging levels with visually and audibly interesting environments, providing a harmonious balance between vertical and horizontal movement.
✅ Expanded Gameplay Features: Introduces segments focused on Jack's motorcycle, adding variety and excitement.
✅ Engaging Plot and Character Development: The narrative employs effective storytelling techniques such as flashbacks and character interactions, enhancing player immersion and investment.
✅ Flexible Upgrade System: The motherboard upgrade mechanic offers flexibility and strategic depth, allowing players to customize Jack's abilities according to their preferences.
What Doesn't Work:
❌ Occasional Physics Bugs: Some segments, particularly involving the motorcycle, may experience occasional physics bugs that can affect gameplay immersion.
❌ Visual Discrepancy in Motorcycle Levels: While exciting in terms of gameplay, the visual quality of motorcycle levels may feel lacking compared to other segments, likely due to performance optimization.
❌ Limited Replayability: Despite the initial content offering a substantial playtime, there's limited replayability beyond completing challenges and activities, potentially reducing long-term engagement for some players.
🕹️ Sequel Success: Ghostrunner Returns
Developing a sequel to any successful piece of entertainment is no easy task, no matter how much fans of the said piece may want to suggest otherwise. We're talking, of course, about a process formed by a thin line; one similar to the idiomatic expression tightrope, and it's so easy to mix noisy voices (read: feedback) from the community with the will of the responsible party to decide what to do with their intellectual property. Fortunately, Ghostrunner 2 doesn't suffer from anything written here.
🧩 Navigating Sequel Challenges
I digress on this because One More Level does indeed suffer from an excellent understanding of its property. It's so complicated to bet on what already works and to fill in what's wrong in building a sequel, fearing to fall into a boring feeling of sameness, but Ghostrunner 2 is a title that lives up to the word sequel and provides fans with what they loved from the first iteration, now reinforced by more, bigger, and better. At the same time, although there's nothing negative to point out, a decision of this caliber means that skeptics of the first Ghostrunner won't appreciate the second.
⚔️ Reinforced Gameplay Mechanics
That said, Ghostrunner 2 is widely enjoyable and for those coming from the first title, it offers a good balance between familiarity with the main gameplay foundations, and the challenge of introducing new elements to Jack's arsenal, the main character and titular ghostrunner, to finish the levels in the most ninja-cyborg-futuristic way possible. Thus, it's needless to add that the team didn't reinvent the wheel with the level design, but they spun it in various ways.
🏍️ Adrenaline-Fueled Motorcycle Segments
Notwithstanding the pun and double meaning, Ghostrunner 2 provides you with challenging levels, interesting both visually and audibly, and a very well-studied harmony between vertical and horizontal movement. Despite the current formula deviating a bit from the gauntlet style, and by this, I mean the rhythm of practicing parkour and exploration until reaching a room with enemies to defeat, this time there's a clear effort to provide different ways not only to approach the fights, whether through new abilities or mastery of the topography, but also to plan the order and route to take.
The previous pun was not accidental, as one of the surprises in Ghostrunner 2 are the segments focused on Jack's motorcycle. Full of adrenaline due to the speed and excellent soundtrack, with a first-person reference to the Akira Slide, these elevate the sequel a notch above the original, transcending limitations in the level design of the predecessor. Although, occasionally, the physics may cause some bugs, with the motorcycle stumbling or getting stuck, the segments work without breaking rhythm and enthusiasm. However, visually, these levels are poor, a decision surely made to avoid narrative dissonance and save on performance.
Nevertheless, apart from a couple of times when my internal GPS lost its way for no reason, the levels are well-built, and some of them are much more spacious, giving a false sense of open world that, with almost nonexistent loading times, almost manages to deceive. That said, at least regarding level construction, the final result in this sequel is a Ghostrunner bigger and more fun with numerous spectacular set pieces and objectives beyond "defeat the enemies to proceed."
It was equally enjoyable (and easy, thanks to a GR1 Recap in the extras menu) to follow the plot, which uses narrative techniques such as flashbacks or poetic justice to expose and dramatize Jack's tale. An interesting plot, although it starts tepidly and mildly until an unexpected twist arrives. To expand the player's interaction with the plot, there's a central hub where Jack frequently returns, and it's here that you converse with characters, learn about them, the world, and update the cybernetic arsenal. I found myself more invested compared to the previous title, even wishing to come back to hear more.
🤖 Cybernetic Ninja Evolution
That said, Jack has a set of cybernetic tools that aid him in combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving contexts, and these active abilities, as well as other passive ones, are upgradeable through the motherboard, a mechanic composed of rows and columns that houses various chips to, for example, increase the number of shurikens thrown or decrease their associated energy cost.
At first, I found the system not very intuitive because each row, at the beginning, only hosts one category of chips. However, I quickly understood its limitations, allowing me to devise strategies and adapt Jack to my taste and needs. I found it curious that some chips include conditions to unlock other improvements, such as needing to be placed at the end of the row, or being distant from other chips, proving to be a fun, flexible, and balanced system, where each player will find the ability to enhance how they prefer to be the cybernetic ninja of their dreams.
However, proceeding with these improvements requires collectibles arranged in each level. These increase Jack's motherboard capacity to collect more chips, and they are easily found by paying attention to the minimap during the adventure. They are not the only ones, as Ghostrunner 2 offers cosmetics like different appearances for Jack's sword or glove to collect.
Comparatively with the previous one, the bosses remain fun, challenging but, at the same time, accessible. They are difficult, yes, but each one has generous checkpoints and clearly shows how they can be damaged, using a readable set of attacks to hinder progress. What Ghostrunner 2 doesn't do (fortunately) is hold your hand and inform you which ability to use to exploit their weaknesses. For example, one of the abilities, called Tempest, expels a burst of wind from the palm of the hand, allowing to repel back some projectiles.
One of these bosses, reminiscent of the first one found in the previous title, is a massive feat for One More Level on several levels, from the fun factor, to the injection of adrenaline, and to the team's ambition to do more and better. It's also, however, where Ghostrunner 2's performance suffers the most, being one of the few times where the 60 frames per second take a hit. However, I don't want to imply that the segment is unplayable or has more moments like these.
Aside from this small setback, Ghostrunner 2, under preset Performance Mode, presents itself as a beautiful and exceptional video game in the translation of a cyberpunk post-apocalyptic world, full of neon lights and an atmosphere that can be both dark and bright and colorful. Although Performance Mode is the most recommended, I never found it to be detrimental to a good visual experience, although, at the same time, I don't find this title demonstrative of next-gen graphics.
🎮 Technical Marvel and Accessibility
I consider it, however, a technical marvel and accessible not only because of an abundance of checkpoints as mentioned earlier, but also because of the almost nonexistent loading times; instantaneous things without human explanation. Whether after a death or loading a level, after booting up Ghostrunner 2, I never had time to put down the controller and pick up the phone. Still, speaking of technical feats, I admit to experiencing a bug in a level where the sound completely cut off, producing occasional very annoying and harsh sound effects in its absence. It was quickly resolved by restarting the application, but it's worth mentioning.
💰 Value and Replayability
Although I find the base price of $39.99 fair for what Ghostrunner 2 brings to the table, the truth is that there's little replayability. After finishing the story mode (about 12 hours), the incentives available to replay as Jack are revisiting levels and completing them in shorter times, surpassing special challenges in each level with a gold medal, using the Photo Mode, or completing an activity called RogueRunner.exe. This is a kind of Gauntlet minigame with some courses where Jack receives power-ups for each room conquered, similar to what existed in the first Ghostrunner called Wave Mode.
🌟 A Sequel Done Right
Ghostrunner 2 represents the kind of sequel that the fan of the property begs for right after finishing the preceding title. A package for a fair price where the word more applies in all contexts: more story, more adrenaline, more challenges, and all this without ever losing the essence of what made the previous bet so beloved. It may not convert the skeptic; the one who simply didn't fancy the adventure, but it also doesn't need to, since the rest of the audience will rave about Jack's new adventure.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Visit my Linktree for more content.
◻️ 📝 Website link published on October 23rd, 2023.
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more reviews written by me.
◻️ 🎮 Discover PlayStation 5 games I've played.
◻️ ✍️ Reviewed in European Portuguese, translated with A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 135."
✨ F I N ✨
What Works:
✅ Understanding of Property: One More Level demonstrates a deep understanding of what made the original Ghostrunner successful, maintaining its core elements while expanding upon them.
✅ Reinforced Gameplay Elements: Ghostrunner 2 delivers more of what fans loved from the first game, with enhancements in size, scale, and gameplay mechanics.
✅ Balanced Familiarity and Innovation: Offers a good balance between familiar gameplay foundations and the introduction of new elements, ensuring a satisfying experience for both returning players and newcomers.
✅ Level Design Variability: The game offers challenging levels with visually and audibly interesting environments, providing a harmonious balance between vertical and horizontal movement.
✅ Expanded Gameplay Features: Introduces segments focused on Jack's motorcycle, adding variety and excitement.
✅ Engaging Plot and Character Development: The narrative employs effective storytelling techniques such as flashbacks and character interactions, enhancing player immersion and investment.
✅ Flexible Upgrade System: The motherboard upgrade mechanic offers flexibility and strategic depth, allowing players to customize Jack's abilities according to their preferences.
What Doesn't Work:
❌ Occasional Physics Bugs: Some segments, particularly involving the motorcycle, may experience occasional physics bugs that can affect gameplay immersion.
❌ Visual Discrepancy in Motorcycle Levels: While exciting in terms of gameplay, the visual quality of motorcycle levels may feel lacking compared to other segments, likely due to performance optimization.
❌ Limited Replayability: Despite the initial content offering a substantial playtime, there's limited replayability beyond completing challenges and activities, potentially reducing long-term engagement for some players.
🕹️ Sequel Success: Ghostrunner Returns
Developing a sequel to any successful piece of entertainment is no easy task, no matter how much fans of the said piece may want to suggest otherwise. We're talking, of course, about a process formed by a thin line; one similar to the idiomatic expression tightrope, and it's so easy to mix noisy voices (read: feedback) from the community with the will of the responsible party to decide what to do with their intellectual property. Fortunately, Ghostrunner 2 doesn't suffer from anything written here.
🧩 Navigating Sequel Challenges
I digress on this because One More Level does indeed suffer from an excellent understanding of its property. It's so complicated to bet on what already works and to fill in what's wrong in building a sequel, fearing to fall into a boring feeling of sameness, but Ghostrunner 2 is a title that lives up to the word sequel and provides fans with what they loved from the first iteration, now reinforced by more, bigger, and better. At the same time, although there's nothing negative to point out, a decision of this caliber means that skeptics of the first Ghostrunner won't appreciate the second.
⚔️ Reinforced Gameplay Mechanics
That said, Ghostrunner 2 is widely enjoyable and for those coming from the first title, it offers a good balance between familiarity with the main gameplay foundations, and the challenge of introducing new elements to Jack's arsenal, the main character and titular ghostrunner, to finish the levels in the most ninja-cyborg-futuristic way possible. Thus, it's needless to add that the team didn't reinvent the wheel with the level design, but they spun it in various ways.
🏍️ Adrenaline-Fueled Motorcycle Segments
Notwithstanding the pun and double meaning, Ghostrunner 2 provides you with challenging levels, interesting both visually and audibly, and a very well-studied harmony between vertical and horizontal movement. Despite the current formula deviating a bit from the gauntlet style, and by this, I mean the rhythm of practicing parkour and exploration until reaching a room with enemies to defeat, this time there's a clear effort to provide different ways not only to approach the fights, whether through new abilities or mastery of the topography, but also to plan the order and route to take.
The previous pun was not accidental, as one of the surprises in Ghostrunner 2 are the segments focused on Jack's motorcycle. Full of adrenaline due to the speed and excellent soundtrack, with a first-person reference to the Akira Slide, these elevate the sequel a notch above the original, transcending limitations in the level design of the predecessor. Although, occasionally, the physics may cause some bugs, with the motorcycle stumbling or getting stuck, the segments work without breaking rhythm and enthusiasm. However, visually, these levels are poor, a decision surely made to avoid narrative dissonance and save on performance.
Nevertheless, apart from a couple of times when my internal GPS lost its way for no reason, the levels are well-built, and some of them are much more spacious, giving a false sense of open world that, with almost nonexistent loading times, almost manages to deceive. That said, at least regarding level construction, the final result in this sequel is a Ghostrunner bigger and more fun with numerous spectacular set pieces and objectives beyond "defeat the enemies to proceed."
It was equally enjoyable (and easy, thanks to a GR1 Recap in the extras menu) to follow the plot, which uses narrative techniques such as flashbacks or poetic justice to expose and dramatize Jack's tale. An interesting plot, although it starts tepidly and mildly until an unexpected twist arrives. To expand the player's interaction with the plot, there's a central hub where Jack frequently returns, and it's here that you converse with characters, learn about them, the world, and update the cybernetic arsenal. I found myself more invested compared to the previous title, even wishing to come back to hear more.
🤖 Cybernetic Ninja Evolution
That said, Jack has a set of cybernetic tools that aid him in combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving contexts, and these active abilities, as well as other passive ones, are upgradeable through the motherboard, a mechanic composed of rows and columns that houses various chips to, for example, increase the number of shurikens thrown or decrease their associated energy cost.
At first, I found the system not very intuitive because each row, at the beginning, only hosts one category of chips. However, I quickly understood its limitations, allowing me to devise strategies and adapt Jack to my taste and needs. I found it curious that some chips include conditions to unlock other improvements, such as needing to be placed at the end of the row, or being distant from other chips, proving to be a fun, flexible, and balanced system, where each player will find the ability to enhance how they prefer to be the cybernetic ninja of their dreams.
However, proceeding with these improvements requires collectibles arranged in each level. These increase Jack's motherboard capacity to collect more chips, and they are easily found by paying attention to the minimap during the adventure. They are not the only ones, as Ghostrunner 2 offers cosmetics like different appearances for Jack's sword or glove to collect.
Comparatively with the previous one, the bosses remain fun, challenging but, at the same time, accessible. They are difficult, yes, but each one has generous checkpoints and clearly shows how they can be damaged, using a readable set of attacks to hinder progress. What Ghostrunner 2 doesn't do (fortunately) is hold your hand and inform you which ability to use to exploit their weaknesses. For example, one of the abilities, called Tempest, expels a burst of wind from the palm of the hand, allowing to repel back some projectiles.
One of these bosses, reminiscent of the first one found in the previous title, is a massive feat for One More Level on several levels, from the fun factor, to the injection of adrenaline, and to the team's ambition to do more and better. It's also, however, where Ghostrunner 2's performance suffers the most, being one of the few times where the 60 frames per second take a hit. However, I don't want to imply that the segment is unplayable or has more moments like these.
Aside from this small setback, Ghostrunner 2, under preset Performance Mode, presents itself as a beautiful and exceptional video game in the translation of a cyberpunk post-apocalyptic world, full of neon lights and an atmosphere that can be both dark and bright and colorful. Although Performance Mode is the most recommended, I never found it to be detrimental to a good visual experience, although, at the same time, I don't find this title demonstrative of next-gen graphics.
🎮 Technical Marvel and Accessibility
I consider it, however, a technical marvel and accessible not only because of an abundance of checkpoints as mentioned earlier, but also because of the almost nonexistent loading times; instantaneous things without human explanation. Whether after a death or loading a level, after booting up Ghostrunner 2, I never had time to put down the controller and pick up the phone. Still, speaking of technical feats, I admit to experiencing a bug in a level where the sound completely cut off, producing occasional very annoying and harsh sound effects in its absence. It was quickly resolved by restarting the application, but it's worth mentioning.
💰 Value and Replayability
Although I find the base price of $39.99 fair for what Ghostrunner 2 brings to the table, the truth is that there's little replayability. After finishing the story mode (about 12 hours), the incentives available to replay as Jack are revisiting levels and completing them in shorter times, surpassing special challenges in each level with a gold medal, using the Photo Mode, or completing an activity called RogueRunner.exe. This is a kind of Gauntlet minigame with some courses where Jack receives power-ups for each room conquered, similar to what existed in the first Ghostrunner called Wave Mode.
🌟 A Sequel Done Right
Ghostrunner 2 represents the kind of sequel that the fan of the property begs for right after finishing the preceding title. A package for a fair price where the word more applies in all contexts: more story, more adrenaline, more challenges, and all this without ever losing the essence of what made the previous bet so beloved. It may not convert the skeptic; the one who simply didn't fancy the adventure, but it also doesn't need to, since the rest of the audience will rave about Jack's new adventure.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Visit my Linktree for more content.
◻️ 📝 Website link published on October 23rd, 2023.
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more reviews written by me.
◻️ 🎮 Discover PlayStation 5 games I've played.
◻️ ✍️ Reviewed in European Portuguese, translated with A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 135."
✨ F I N ✨
2021
⏰ In a rush? Don't worry, I gotchu'! ⏰
What Works:
✅ Unique Premise: Embraced By Autumn offers a unique and engaging premise set within an exclusive girls' boarding school in 1896 France, focusing on the story of Marcel, a boy forced to join.
✅ Exploration of Crossdressing: The game explores the theme of crossdressing with thoughtful and sincere writing, offering a romantic tone rarely seen in the medium.
✅ Thoughtful Writing: Despite occasional verbosity, the writing is thoughtful and sincere, drawing players into the narrative.
✅ Author's Notes: The inclusion of author's notes from ebi-hime adds depth to the experience, providing insight into the creation process and enhancing appreciation for the narrative.
What Doesn't Work:
❌ Inconsistent Artistic Style: While picturesque, the artistic style of Embraced By Autumn may suffer from inconsistencies in certain characters, potentially detracting from immersion.
❌ Functional Music: The music serves its function but may not contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere or emotional impact of the game.
🎮 Enchanting Narrative Journey
This is a romantic and charming tale that unfolds within the four walls of an exclusive girls' boarding school in France around 1896, following Marcel, a boy who, for various reasons, is forced to join it. It is with this premise that Embraced By Autumn embraces the player, and through its thoughtful and sincere writing (sometimes a bit verbose), covers crossdressing, a theme that doesn't see the light of day often in the medium, much less with this romantic tone.
Nevertheless, while I find the artistic style picturesque, despite not up to the level of the plot (with some inconsistencies in certain characters) as well as the music only being there to fulfill its function, Embraced By Autumn still manages to impress, especially with the author's notes from ebi-hime that delve into the creation process of this French epic.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Visit my Linktree for more content.
◻️ 📝 Instagram post published on October 17th, 2023.
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more reviews written by me.
◻️ 🎮 Discover Xbox Series games I've played.
◻️ ✍️ Reviewed in European Portuguese, translated with A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 134.
✨ F I N ✨
What Works:
✅ Unique Premise: Embraced By Autumn offers a unique and engaging premise set within an exclusive girls' boarding school in 1896 France, focusing on the story of Marcel, a boy forced to join.
✅ Exploration of Crossdressing: The game explores the theme of crossdressing with thoughtful and sincere writing, offering a romantic tone rarely seen in the medium.
✅ Thoughtful Writing: Despite occasional verbosity, the writing is thoughtful and sincere, drawing players into the narrative.
✅ Author's Notes: The inclusion of author's notes from ebi-hime adds depth to the experience, providing insight into the creation process and enhancing appreciation for the narrative.
What Doesn't Work:
❌ Inconsistent Artistic Style: While picturesque, the artistic style of Embraced By Autumn may suffer from inconsistencies in certain characters, potentially detracting from immersion.
❌ Functional Music: The music serves its function but may not contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere or emotional impact of the game.
🎮 Enchanting Narrative Journey
This is a romantic and charming tale that unfolds within the four walls of an exclusive girls' boarding school in France around 1896, following Marcel, a boy who, for various reasons, is forced to join it. It is with this premise that Embraced By Autumn embraces the player, and through its thoughtful and sincere writing (sometimes a bit verbose), covers crossdressing, a theme that doesn't see the light of day often in the medium, much less with this romantic tone.
Nevertheless, while I find the artistic style picturesque, despite not up to the level of the plot (with some inconsistencies in certain characters) as well as the music only being there to fulfill its function, Embraced By Autumn still manages to impress, especially with the author's notes from ebi-hime that delve into the creation process of this French epic.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Visit my Linktree for more content.
◻️ 📝 Instagram post published on October 17th, 2023.
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more reviews written by me.
◻️ 🎮 Discover Xbox Series games I've played.
◻️ ✍️ Reviewed in European Portuguese, translated with A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 134.
✨ F I N ✨
⏰ In a rush? Don't worry, I gotchu'! ⏰
What Works:
✅ Unique RPG Relics: Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean and Baten Kaitos Origins offer a glimpse into the RPG landscape of the early 2000s, showcasing Monolith Soft's creativity and experimentation.
✅ Innovative Mechanics: The incorporation of real-world concepts into gameplay mechanics, such as the player being a guardian spirit and the use of Magnus cards, adds depth and uniqueness to the experience.
✅ Plot Twists: Both titles feature compelling plot twists that captivate players and drive the narrative forward, adding layers of intrigue and engagement.
✅ Artistic Style and Soundtrack: The graphical enhancements and Motoi Sakuraba's exceptional soundtrack elevate the immersive experience, capturing the essence of classic RPGs from the GameCube era.
What Doesn't Work:
❌ Clunky Magnus Concept: The Magnus system, while bold and innovative, can feel cumbersome and antiquated, leading to potential frustrations and inconveniences, particularly with the expiration mechanic.
❌ Complex Combat System: The turn-based combat system, heavily reliant on deckbuilding and timing, may present a steep learning curve and require patience to fully grasp and master.
❌ Performance Issues: Despite enhancements, both titles suffer from occasional frame drops and performance issues, detracting from the overall experience.
🌊 Dive into the RPG Relics: Baten Kaitos Collection
I've always been curious about Monolith Soft, a Nintendo first party studio and creator of franchises like Xenosaga or Namco x Capcom, and given that Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (2003) and Baten Kaitos Origins (2006; prequel) have always been under the GameCube umbrella, with a third title for the Nintendo DS canceled, I approached this collection with a hungry desire to travel through one of the most peculiar RPG relics of the early 2000s.
🎮 Monolith Soft: A Legacy Defined
Before kicking off the analysis, I think it's crucial to contextualize Monolith Soft. If you're a fan of the genre and have survived in the dark for the past twenty years, this company's image is closely tied to the excellent world of Xenoblade Chronicles. However, lately, besides what was mentioned earlier in the previous paragraph, the company has been hard at work helping to build the best titles for the Nintendo Switch.
Do you know Breath of the Wild? Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Splatoon 3? Tears of the Kingdom? All titles that Monolith Soft helped bring out, and in between, they even have the audacity to pour out on their fans a pseudo-remake remaster, two new titles, and all the DLC associated with the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise on the Nintendo Switch. It's a team with incredible productivity and consistent high-quality levels.
For that same reason, the Baten Kaitos franchise, now available to all RPG fans with a Switch, has always piqued my curiosity as a window into the past of a studio like this. After spending a few hours with this collection, I notice several similarities to Xenoblade Chronicles, and perhaps one of the most meta and peculiar video games in recent memory.
🛡️ Interactive Real-World Concepts
I mention this because one of the aspects that stood out and impressed me during my adventure were the responses to real-world concepts that Baten Kaitos produces, rooted in various mechanics. For example, in Baten Kaitos, you (player) are a guardian spirit for the main character, with several characters interacting with you and depending on your decisions and advice, akin to the moral compass of more recent video games, receiving certain advantages in battle. Here, you realize that you, as a player, are actively recognized within that world, not as the agent who controls the main character (embodying it to some extent) but as a distinct character, and this gives a new meaning to all your actions.
📜 Plot Twists and Japanese Clichés
As for the plot, apart from other peculiarities, it doesn't surprise much until a certain point and is full of Japanese clichés perpetuated over the years: Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean details the vengeful journey of a teenager named Kalas. He wakes up in a village and circumstance after circumstance finds himself on a quest to save the world. Little or no novelty for you, almost certainly, at least until a certain plot twist halfway through that hits like a truck and subsequently captivates you until the end of the narrative.
Baten Kaitos Origins follows more or less the same path and twenty years before its successor. The plot follows Sagi, a black ops member of an empire where an ultra-secret mission went wrong, putting him on a path of political conspiracy and other clichés. All run-of-the-mill stuff until, of course, just like in the first game, a spectacular twist grabs your attention and holds it until the end of the story.
However, there is a differentiating element in the world of Baten Kaitos that governs not only turn-based combat but also stands out as another peculiarity (guardian spirits style). Magnus is its name, cards that absorb the magna essence of almost everything in the real world (except living beings). Considering the extraordinary intricacies of a typical RPG, carrying cards is a great justification for protagonists with Doraemon-like bags.
🃏 Magnus: A Unique Mechanic
But these magnus have much more to them. The mechanic serves mostly for battles but sees more use in the plot and in solving puzzles within Baten Kaitos. It's a brilliant idea but goes further with an annoying expiration date. Let me explain. At one point, in the first title, I collected two Pow Milk. Over time, they turned into Pow Milk Yogurt and later into Pow Milk Cheese. When I realized it, I no longer had what I needed to complete one of the quests. This is just one of the many antiquated aspects of game design in this genre, artificially creating extra hours of gameplay for rewards that amount to nothing.
I admit that on paper, it's a bold, different, and even cool idea, but I always felt it as a clunky mechanic. It may seem like an exaggeration, but this also affects the cards used for combat, with an example being Bamboo Shoots, healing magnus transforming into Young Bamboo, attack magnus. Apply this logic to any other magnus, and you'll realize that there's another element to consider during your everyday adventure, unpredictable and unsettling.
⚔️ Friction in Combat
That said, it was in combat that I faced more friction, spending long hours without really understanding how everything worked (despite there being tutorials). The thing is, turn-based combat relies heavily on deckbuilding, and every action taken in battle requires a corresponding card, whether it's for healing, attacking, or defending, and both attacks and defenses depend on your comfort with multitasking, reflexes, and attention. Again, let me explain.
Imagine this: You're in a cave and encounter a fire enemy. Combat starts, and your deck is composed of almost random cards. Following logic, it's almost guaranteed that everything from the enemy will be of the fire element, so without water, the opposite element, for both attack and defense, you're likely to have a tough time. So far, the logic seems easy: switch to water element cards, but here's the catch, while attacking or defending, you have a timing to play the cards you want.
Moreover, much of your success in battle will depend on a poker-like system, with attack combinations being stronger if you execute straights or pairs, where each magnus has a number, and if you match them or place them in succession, your combo will be much stronger. However, it's a bit annoying that each card has a certain ATK or DEF, weighing heavily on deckbuilding. So, as time goes on and difficulty increases, you progressively feel the need to tighten the noose with frequent changes to the deck to match the environment you're in. It's worth noting, however, that Origins, the prequel, simplified the formula a bit.
For those who love this vein of more experimental RPGs, embrace this dynamic and have good doses of patience, Baten Kaitos will have fun gameplay, but my experience, without taking away merit from the execution, as I recognize that it's more my ineptitude and itchiness, was more irksome than I'd like to admit. The two titles included in this collection are classics, of that you can be sure, but the combat system didn't click, which, on one hand, made me immensely grateful for the new pause menu where you can increase the game's speed, battles, destroy everything in one attack, or prevent any combat from happening.
🔄 Quality of Life Improvements
Not only does Baten Kaitos live by these Quality of Life improvements, but there's also improved graphical work in all aspects. Something to be commended, certainly, as both titles mark the end of an era with a mixture of 3D models and pre-rendered backgrounds, a technique considered innovative in the PlayStation era, now relegated to the nostalgia of every fan. Add to all this a soundtrack composed by Motoi Sakuraba, the genius responsible for Star Ocean, Tales of Arise, or Valkyrie Profile, and you get that classic RPG that simply isn't heard of these days.
I admit, unfortunately, that not all the edges are smoothed out. For a couple of titles touched up on the hardware in question, I expected flawless performance, but the truth is that frame drops exist. However, I also admit that at some point they obstructed my quest too much, albeit being only a point to be noted.
🎵 Classic RPG Experience
Notwithstanding what has already been pointed out as negative, such as antiquated game design in certain aspects, performance that does not do justice to the hardware it's inserted in, and the somewhat clunky magnus concept, both Baten Kaitos titles survive the test of time thanks to a slew of unique and experimental ideas, coupled with a very beautiful artistic style and spectacular soundtrack. The plot has its moments, but honestly, I see this collection more as a unique glimpse into the past of Monolith Soft and RPGs from the GameCube era, which in itself may already be worth the price of admission.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 Click here for the website link published on October 4th, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Nintendo Switch video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 133
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
What Works:
✅ Unique RPG Relics: Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean and Baten Kaitos Origins offer a glimpse into the RPG landscape of the early 2000s, showcasing Monolith Soft's creativity and experimentation.
✅ Innovative Mechanics: The incorporation of real-world concepts into gameplay mechanics, such as the player being a guardian spirit and the use of Magnus cards, adds depth and uniqueness to the experience.
✅ Plot Twists: Both titles feature compelling plot twists that captivate players and drive the narrative forward, adding layers of intrigue and engagement.
✅ Artistic Style and Soundtrack: The graphical enhancements and Motoi Sakuraba's exceptional soundtrack elevate the immersive experience, capturing the essence of classic RPGs from the GameCube era.
What Doesn't Work:
❌ Clunky Magnus Concept: The Magnus system, while bold and innovative, can feel cumbersome and antiquated, leading to potential frustrations and inconveniences, particularly with the expiration mechanic.
❌ Complex Combat System: The turn-based combat system, heavily reliant on deckbuilding and timing, may present a steep learning curve and require patience to fully grasp and master.
❌ Performance Issues: Despite enhancements, both titles suffer from occasional frame drops and performance issues, detracting from the overall experience.
🌊 Dive into the RPG Relics: Baten Kaitos Collection
I've always been curious about Monolith Soft, a Nintendo first party studio and creator of franchises like Xenosaga or Namco x Capcom, and given that Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (2003) and Baten Kaitos Origins (2006; prequel) have always been under the GameCube umbrella, with a third title for the Nintendo DS canceled, I approached this collection with a hungry desire to travel through one of the most peculiar RPG relics of the early 2000s.
🎮 Monolith Soft: A Legacy Defined
Before kicking off the analysis, I think it's crucial to contextualize Monolith Soft. If you're a fan of the genre and have survived in the dark for the past twenty years, this company's image is closely tied to the excellent world of Xenoblade Chronicles. However, lately, besides what was mentioned earlier in the previous paragraph, the company has been hard at work helping to build the best titles for the Nintendo Switch.
Do you know Breath of the Wild? Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Splatoon 3? Tears of the Kingdom? All titles that Monolith Soft helped bring out, and in between, they even have the audacity to pour out on their fans a pseudo-remake remaster, two new titles, and all the DLC associated with the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise on the Nintendo Switch. It's a team with incredible productivity and consistent high-quality levels.
For that same reason, the Baten Kaitos franchise, now available to all RPG fans with a Switch, has always piqued my curiosity as a window into the past of a studio like this. After spending a few hours with this collection, I notice several similarities to Xenoblade Chronicles, and perhaps one of the most meta and peculiar video games in recent memory.
🛡️ Interactive Real-World Concepts
I mention this because one of the aspects that stood out and impressed me during my adventure were the responses to real-world concepts that Baten Kaitos produces, rooted in various mechanics. For example, in Baten Kaitos, you (player) are a guardian spirit for the main character, with several characters interacting with you and depending on your decisions and advice, akin to the moral compass of more recent video games, receiving certain advantages in battle. Here, you realize that you, as a player, are actively recognized within that world, not as the agent who controls the main character (embodying it to some extent) but as a distinct character, and this gives a new meaning to all your actions.
📜 Plot Twists and Japanese Clichés
As for the plot, apart from other peculiarities, it doesn't surprise much until a certain point and is full of Japanese clichés perpetuated over the years: Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean details the vengeful journey of a teenager named Kalas. He wakes up in a village and circumstance after circumstance finds himself on a quest to save the world. Little or no novelty for you, almost certainly, at least until a certain plot twist halfway through that hits like a truck and subsequently captivates you until the end of the narrative.
Baten Kaitos Origins follows more or less the same path and twenty years before its successor. The plot follows Sagi, a black ops member of an empire where an ultra-secret mission went wrong, putting him on a path of political conspiracy and other clichés. All run-of-the-mill stuff until, of course, just like in the first game, a spectacular twist grabs your attention and holds it until the end of the story.
However, there is a differentiating element in the world of Baten Kaitos that governs not only turn-based combat but also stands out as another peculiarity (guardian spirits style). Magnus is its name, cards that absorb the magna essence of almost everything in the real world (except living beings). Considering the extraordinary intricacies of a typical RPG, carrying cards is a great justification for protagonists with Doraemon-like bags.
🃏 Magnus: A Unique Mechanic
But these magnus have much more to them. The mechanic serves mostly for battles but sees more use in the plot and in solving puzzles within Baten Kaitos. It's a brilliant idea but goes further with an annoying expiration date. Let me explain. At one point, in the first title, I collected two Pow Milk. Over time, they turned into Pow Milk Yogurt and later into Pow Milk Cheese. When I realized it, I no longer had what I needed to complete one of the quests. This is just one of the many antiquated aspects of game design in this genre, artificially creating extra hours of gameplay for rewards that amount to nothing.
I admit that on paper, it's a bold, different, and even cool idea, but I always felt it as a clunky mechanic. It may seem like an exaggeration, but this also affects the cards used for combat, with an example being Bamboo Shoots, healing magnus transforming into Young Bamboo, attack magnus. Apply this logic to any other magnus, and you'll realize that there's another element to consider during your everyday adventure, unpredictable and unsettling.
⚔️ Friction in Combat
That said, it was in combat that I faced more friction, spending long hours without really understanding how everything worked (despite there being tutorials). The thing is, turn-based combat relies heavily on deckbuilding, and every action taken in battle requires a corresponding card, whether it's for healing, attacking, or defending, and both attacks and defenses depend on your comfort with multitasking, reflexes, and attention. Again, let me explain.
Imagine this: You're in a cave and encounter a fire enemy. Combat starts, and your deck is composed of almost random cards. Following logic, it's almost guaranteed that everything from the enemy will be of the fire element, so without water, the opposite element, for both attack and defense, you're likely to have a tough time. So far, the logic seems easy: switch to water element cards, but here's the catch, while attacking or defending, you have a timing to play the cards you want.
Moreover, much of your success in battle will depend on a poker-like system, with attack combinations being stronger if you execute straights or pairs, where each magnus has a number, and if you match them or place them in succession, your combo will be much stronger. However, it's a bit annoying that each card has a certain ATK or DEF, weighing heavily on deckbuilding. So, as time goes on and difficulty increases, you progressively feel the need to tighten the noose with frequent changes to the deck to match the environment you're in. It's worth noting, however, that Origins, the prequel, simplified the formula a bit.
For those who love this vein of more experimental RPGs, embrace this dynamic and have good doses of patience, Baten Kaitos will have fun gameplay, but my experience, without taking away merit from the execution, as I recognize that it's more my ineptitude and itchiness, was more irksome than I'd like to admit. The two titles included in this collection are classics, of that you can be sure, but the combat system didn't click, which, on one hand, made me immensely grateful for the new pause menu where you can increase the game's speed, battles, destroy everything in one attack, or prevent any combat from happening.
🔄 Quality of Life Improvements
Not only does Baten Kaitos live by these Quality of Life improvements, but there's also improved graphical work in all aspects. Something to be commended, certainly, as both titles mark the end of an era with a mixture of 3D models and pre-rendered backgrounds, a technique considered innovative in the PlayStation era, now relegated to the nostalgia of every fan. Add to all this a soundtrack composed by Motoi Sakuraba, the genius responsible for Star Ocean, Tales of Arise, or Valkyrie Profile, and you get that classic RPG that simply isn't heard of these days.
I admit, unfortunately, that not all the edges are smoothed out. For a couple of titles touched up on the hardware in question, I expected flawless performance, but the truth is that frame drops exist. However, I also admit that at some point they obstructed my quest too much, albeit being only a point to be noted.
🎵 Classic RPG Experience
Notwithstanding what has already been pointed out as negative, such as antiquated game design in certain aspects, performance that does not do justice to the hardware it's inserted in, and the somewhat clunky magnus concept, both Baten Kaitos titles survive the test of time thanks to a slew of unique and experimental ideas, coupled with a very beautiful artistic style and spectacular soundtrack. The plot has its moments, but honestly, I see this collection more as a unique glimpse into the past of Monolith Soft and RPGs from the GameCube era, which in itself may already be worth the price of admission.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 Click here for the website link published on October 4th, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Nintendo Switch video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 133
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
2022
🔔 While images may captivate the view, it's analysis that unveils what's true. 🔔
A Glimpse of Horizon Chase 2
I'll admit I'm pleased with Horizon Chase 2. Developed as a sequel to the popular Horizon Chase – World Tour, my history with the franchise from the Brazilian studio goes through the console version Horizon Chase Turbo. In case you're unaware, Horizon Chase markets itself as an arcade racing game in the good style of OutRun, Cruis’n USA, and Top Gear, where quick reflexes are key to facing sudden curves and dodging other competitors.
Racing Around the Globe
Its simple premise and addictive gameplay loop brings forth several fun racing tracks of very short duration (around 3 minutes each) worldwide where the United States of America, Brazil, or Thailand are some examples of what will pass through your rearview mirror at high speed, with your first contact being through the World Tour mode where you'll unlock content like more tracks, cars, and other customizations for your ride.
Endless Racing Excitement
This World Tour tends to be the main attraction of Horizon Chase 2, a global race where you compete for first place through various tracks and countries. Coming in first and collecting blue medals during races, called race tokens, contributes to unlocking even more content at your disposal. However, initially, your automotive choices will be somewhat limited, but over time you'll not only unlock new cars but also level up your most used ride.
This allows you to upgrade the car's passive statistics like nitro, suspension, gearbox, among others, for improved speed and handling. Speaking of which, although vehicle control is quite straightforward, with few brakes and a constant acceleration, be careful with momentary collisions when cutting corners! Fortunately, in my experience, I found the penalties for such to be lenient and not very punitive, managing to quickly regain my first place.
The other issue lies in the repetitiveness. Don't get me wrong, but given the simplicity of Horizon Chase 2, I can't stay glued to the wheel for much more than an hour and so. It's fun, stylish, and exhilarating, but the very same addictive loop gets tiring quickly: participating in races to unlock content and thus get a faster or more beautiful vehicle to integrate into more races.
Considering the nostalgia of this more arcade gameplay that Horizon Chase 2 is trying to emulate, these are not negative points at all. This humility in design allows for a freedom to hop between races (perhaps due to its mobile roots) that other titles don't provide. It's refreshing to see it as the Gari of your Backlog, one full of excitement and adrenaline with fantastic and colorful visual presentation, alongside a lively electronic soundtrack by Barry Leitch. In fact, Barry Leitch was also responsible for the soundtrack of Top Gear on the SNES!"
Conclusion: A Joyride of Nostalgia
Although it's not quite my cup of tea, I tested the Playground mode (online), and it lived up to expectations, functioning within the norms with Online Races, random races against other players, and Challenges, more challenging races with modifiers (like bad weather) to earn tickets and obtain even more content. With that said, Horizon Chase 2 solidifies itself as one of my favorite titles for unwinding with fun races, beautiful artistic style, and electrifying soundtrack. Granted, it's a bit lacking in game modes, but for the type of game it is, it doesn't need more.
Pros:
✅ Nostalgic Arcade Racing Gameplay
✅ Vibrant Visuals
✅ Catchy Soundtrack by Barry Leitch
✅ Addictive Progression Loop
Cons:
❌ Repetitive Gameplay
Is it worth playing Horizon Chase 2? Disregarding the rhetorical question and concluding, in other words, summarizing, yes!
This was the third bit-nalise, an analysis so short it doesn't even take up a bit, and below you can find the technical specifications.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ Title: Horizon Chase 2
◻️ Price: €24.99
◻️ DLC: No announcements yet
◻️ HowLongToBeat: Horizon Chase 2
◻️ Achievements: 38 Achievements, 1000 EXP (guide not available)
◻️ Tested on: Legion 5 15ACH6H – Model: 82JU006TPG
◻️ Acknowledgments: Special thanks to EPIC for providing a key for testing purposes (Epic Games Store).
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 Click here for the website link published on September 29th, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Windows PC video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 132
🌟 F I N 🌟
A Glimpse of Horizon Chase 2
I'll admit I'm pleased with Horizon Chase 2. Developed as a sequel to the popular Horizon Chase – World Tour, my history with the franchise from the Brazilian studio goes through the console version Horizon Chase Turbo. In case you're unaware, Horizon Chase markets itself as an arcade racing game in the good style of OutRun, Cruis’n USA, and Top Gear, where quick reflexes are key to facing sudden curves and dodging other competitors.
Racing Around the Globe
Its simple premise and addictive gameplay loop brings forth several fun racing tracks of very short duration (around 3 minutes each) worldwide where the United States of America, Brazil, or Thailand are some examples of what will pass through your rearview mirror at high speed, with your first contact being through the World Tour mode where you'll unlock content like more tracks, cars, and other customizations for your ride.
Endless Racing Excitement
This World Tour tends to be the main attraction of Horizon Chase 2, a global race where you compete for first place through various tracks and countries. Coming in first and collecting blue medals during races, called race tokens, contributes to unlocking even more content at your disposal. However, initially, your automotive choices will be somewhat limited, but over time you'll not only unlock new cars but also level up your most used ride.
This allows you to upgrade the car's passive statistics like nitro, suspension, gearbox, among others, for improved speed and handling. Speaking of which, although vehicle control is quite straightforward, with few brakes and a constant acceleration, be careful with momentary collisions when cutting corners! Fortunately, in my experience, I found the penalties for such to be lenient and not very punitive, managing to quickly regain my first place.
The other issue lies in the repetitiveness. Don't get me wrong, but given the simplicity of Horizon Chase 2, I can't stay glued to the wheel for much more than an hour and so. It's fun, stylish, and exhilarating, but the very same addictive loop gets tiring quickly: participating in races to unlock content and thus get a faster or more beautiful vehicle to integrate into more races.
Considering the nostalgia of this more arcade gameplay that Horizon Chase 2 is trying to emulate, these are not negative points at all. This humility in design allows for a freedom to hop between races (perhaps due to its mobile roots) that other titles don't provide. It's refreshing to see it as the Gari of your Backlog, one full of excitement and adrenaline with fantastic and colorful visual presentation, alongside a lively electronic soundtrack by Barry Leitch. In fact, Barry Leitch was also responsible for the soundtrack of Top Gear on the SNES!"
Conclusion: A Joyride of Nostalgia
Although it's not quite my cup of tea, I tested the Playground mode (online), and it lived up to expectations, functioning within the norms with Online Races, random races against other players, and Challenges, more challenging races with modifiers (like bad weather) to earn tickets and obtain even more content. With that said, Horizon Chase 2 solidifies itself as one of my favorite titles for unwinding with fun races, beautiful artistic style, and electrifying soundtrack. Granted, it's a bit lacking in game modes, but for the type of game it is, it doesn't need more.
Pros:
✅ Nostalgic Arcade Racing Gameplay
✅ Vibrant Visuals
✅ Catchy Soundtrack by Barry Leitch
✅ Addictive Progression Loop
Cons:
❌ Repetitive Gameplay
Is it worth playing Horizon Chase 2? Disregarding the rhetorical question and concluding, in other words, summarizing, yes!
This was the third bit-nalise, an analysis so short it doesn't even take up a bit, and below you can find the technical specifications.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ Title: Horizon Chase 2
◻️ Price: €24.99
◻️ DLC: No announcements yet
◻️ HowLongToBeat: Horizon Chase 2
◻️ Achievements: 38 Achievements, 1000 EXP (guide not available)
◻️ Tested on: Legion 5 15ACH6H – Model: 82JU006TPG
◻️ Acknowledgments: Special thanks to EPIC for providing a key for testing purposes (Epic Games Store).
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 Click here for the website link published on September 29th, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Windows PC video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 132
🌟 F I N 🌟
2022
🔔 While images may captivate the view, it's analysis that unveils what's true. 🔔
Seen as bargain bin Vanillaware Ltd., Sword of the Vagrant is an indie bet for hack-and-slash lovers with some Metroidvania elements; a rudimentary adventure that doesn't shine in its plot, either due to the clumsy English translation or convoluted exposition, but rather one with some promising foundations in gameplay.
Despite finding it mediocre, throughout Vivian's quest, I felt compelled to unlock abilities, battle bosses, and equip new weaponry, finding enjoyment in this simple and linear loop. That said, despite some rough edges, Sword of the Vagrant presents you with decent combat, beautiful artistic style, and a medium duration of twenty hours to complete everything.
Perhaps a sequel will do justice and improve all the aspects mentioned above.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Check out my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 View the original post shared on September 17th, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more of my reviews
◻️ 🎮 Discover Xbox One games I've played
◻️ ✍️ Written in European Portuguese, translated using A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 131
✨ F I N ✨
Seen as bargain bin Vanillaware Ltd., Sword of the Vagrant is an indie bet for hack-and-slash lovers with some Metroidvania elements; a rudimentary adventure that doesn't shine in its plot, either due to the clumsy English translation or convoluted exposition, but rather one with some promising foundations in gameplay.
Despite finding it mediocre, throughout Vivian's quest, I felt compelled to unlock abilities, battle bosses, and equip new weaponry, finding enjoyment in this simple and linear loop. That said, despite some rough edges, Sword of the Vagrant presents you with decent combat, beautiful artistic style, and a medium duration of twenty hours to complete everything.
Perhaps a sequel will do justice and improve all the aspects mentioned above.
🌟 M I S C 🌟
◻️ 🌳 Check out my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 View the original post shared on September 17th, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Explore more of my reviews
◻️ 🎮 Discover Xbox One games I've played
◻️ ✍️ Written in European Portuguese, translated using A.I.
◻️ 📜 Review Number 131
✨ F I N ✨
🔔 While images may captivate the view, it's analysis that unveils what's true. 🔔
Astro Flame: Starfighter is the most mediocre shmup I've ever played, as it has nothing to highlight since it performs poorly within the genre, engaging the player with standard mechanics (upgrade the ship, destroy enemies, reveal power-ups, etc.).
That said, the short duration (4 hours for 15 levels and 3 difficulty levels) and lack of other modes, along with uninspired graphics and occasionally poor performance in chaotic scenarios, snatch away any possible replayability.
I'm not a fan of "beating the same drum", but scenario repetition in levels and enemy variety don't help. It also fails in ship control, being either too fast or too slow, with no way to adjust its speed smoothly.
In summary, Astro Flame: Starfighter is only recommended if cheaper, as otherwise, it doesn't deserve our time.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 Click here for the Instagram post published on August 31st, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Xbox Series video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 130
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
Astro Flame: Starfighter is the most mediocre shmup I've ever played, as it has nothing to highlight since it performs poorly within the genre, engaging the player with standard mechanics (upgrade the ship, destroy enemies, reveal power-ups, etc.).
That said, the short duration (4 hours for 15 levels and 3 difficulty levels) and lack of other modes, along with uninspired graphics and occasionally poor performance in chaotic scenarios, snatch away any possible replayability.
I'm not a fan of "beating the same drum", but scenario repetition in levels and enemy variety don't help. It also fails in ship control, being either too fast or too slow, with no way to adjust its speed smoothly.
In summary, Astro Flame: Starfighter is only recommended if cheaper, as otherwise, it doesn't deserve our time.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 Click here for the Instagram post published on August 31st, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Xbox Series video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 130
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
2023
🔔 While images may captivate the view, it's analysis that unveils what's true. 🔔
Enclave HD goes straight to the point, structured around several chapters with missions in different locations, but omitting modern conveniences like a mini-map or other indicators (where enemies are, items, etc.).
Despite the fun of choosing different classes and upgrading weapons between levels, a poorly responsive control system and lack of lock-on hinder the experience.
Because of this, I was forced more into button mashing than anything else, and attacks lack a sense of weight, causing frustration. Nevertheless, it retains a characteristic charm of the 2000s, making it advisable for those seeking that experience and nostalgia.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 Click here for the Instagram post published on August 22nd, 2023
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◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Xbox One video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 129
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
Enclave HD goes straight to the point, structured around several chapters with missions in different locations, but omitting modern conveniences like a mini-map or other indicators (where enemies are, items, etc.).
Despite the fun of choosing different classes and upgrading weapons between levels, a poorly responsive control system and lack of lock-on hinder the experience.
Because of this, I was forced more into button mashing than anything else, and attacks lack a sense of weight, causing frustration. Nevertheless, it retains a characteristic charm of the 2000s, making it advisable for those seeking that experience and nostalgia.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 Click here for the Instagram post published on August 22nd, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Xbox One video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 129
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
2021
🔔 While images may captivate the view, it's analysis that unveils what's true. 🔔
I confess that the current landscape needs more video games like this: short but delightful and frenetic adventures, filled with vibrant colors and lively tones that spice up any screen. It's undeniable that the pixelated graphics appeal to nostalgia and set it apart from its peers, resembling a lost feat from the days of the Game Boy Advance, but Steel Assault's ruthless and electrifying gameplay also has something to say.
That's why, despite Steel Assault being a fun side-scroller, with a tiny and cliché plot, paired with a short duration (60 minutes), recommending it is somewhat difficult. Making comparisons between these values never ends well, but the truth is that Steel Assault feels good but lacks substance, notwithstanding the excellent and diverse level design with gameplay so good that the only fitting adjective is "crispy."
That said, without wanting to contradict, Steel Assault is a complete package and an excellent experience, whose sources of inspiration are (almost certainly) Castlevania and Bionic Commando. These influences are reflected not only in the gameplay but also in the creativity of the five available levels, standing out for the way constant danger, at every turn, engages the player in a race to the end that only ends when they decide to inhale oxygen.
Still, one of the elements that truly sets Steel Assault apart from other indies is the main character's zipline: a contraption that shoots a rope with two hooks, one on each end, in eight different directions. This mechanic is used by the game without exception, rewarding the player for inventive and fun implementations, with the entire title designed to accommodate this gimmick. It's strange because it doesn't always seem to want to work as needed in moments of distress, but after a few minutes, it becomes almost like an extension of the body itself.
Apart from the usual options in a title of this caliber, such as the option to turn specific filters on or off to provide a more retro experience, the different difficulty levels will accommodate players of all abilities. Those, however, seeking a greater challenge have Arcade Mode available, a mode that increases the overall difficulty, removes checkpoints, and provides only one life to finish the adventure from start to finish.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ C O N C L U S I O N
It's brutal, but all things considered, Steel Assault is yet another one of those coveted action-packed adventures, with challenging gameplay and nostalgia, featuring that arcade flair in level progression and how the narrative is delivered to the audience. Its short duration and final price may not please many who like to quantify their experiences per hour, but it is certainly one of the most enjoyable side-scrollers in recent memory.
Pros:
✅ Breathtaking Pixel Art
✅ Intense, Grappling Hook-Fueled Gameplay
✅ Multiple Difficulty Options
Cons:
❌ Very Short Campaign
❌ Story is Clichéd
❌ Grappling Hook Can Be Unreliable at Times
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 Click here for the website link published on June 22nd, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Xbox One video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 128
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
I confess that the current landscape needs more video games like this: short but delightful and frenetic adventures, filled with vibrant colors and lively tones that spice up any screen. It's undeniable that the pixelated graphics appeal to nostalgia and set it apart from its peers, resembling a lost feat from the days of the Game Boy Advance, but Steel Assault's ruthless and electrifying gameplay also has something to say.
That's why, despite Steel Assault being a fun side-scroller, with a tiny and cliché plot, paired with a short duration (60 minutes), recommending it is somewhat difficult. Making comparisons between these values never ends well, but the truth is that Steel Assault feels good but lacks substance, notwithstanding the excellent and diverse level design with gameplay so good that the only fitting adjective is "crispy."
That said, without wanting to contradict, Steel Assault is a complete package and an excellent experience, whose sources of inspiration are (almost certainly) Castlevania and Bionic Commando. These influences are reflected not only in the gameplay but also in the creativity of the five available levels, standing out for the way constant danger, at every turn, engages the player in a race to the end that only ends when they decide to inhale oxygen.
Still, one of the elements that truly sets Steel Assault apart from other indies is the main character's zipline: a contraption that shoots a rope with two hooks, one on each end, in eight different directions. This mechanic is used by the game without exception, rewarding the player for inventive and fun implementations, with the entire title designed to accommodate this gimmick. It's strange because it doesn't always seem to want to work as needed in moments of distress, but after a few minutes, it becomes almost like an extension of the body itself.
Apart from the usual options in a title of this caliber, such as the option to turn specific filters on or off to provide a more retro experience, the different difficulty levels will accommodate players of all abilities. Those, however, seeking a greater challenge have Arcade Mode available, a mode that increases the overall difficulty, removes checkpoints, and provides only one life to finish the adventure from start to finish.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ C O N C L U S I O N
It's brutal, but all things considered, Steel Assault is yet another one of those coveted action-packed adventures, with challenging gameplay and nostalgia, featuring that arcade flair in level progression and how the narrative is delivered to the audience. Its short duration and final price may not please many who like to quantify their experiences per hour, but it is certainly one of the most enjoyable side-scrollers in recent memory.
Pros:
✅ Breathtaking Pixel Art
✅ Intense, Grappling Hook-Fueled Gameplay
✅ Multiple Difficulty Options
Cons:
❌ Very Short Campaign
❌ Story is Clichéd
❌ Grappling Hook Can Be Unreliable at Times
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 📝 Click here for the website link published on June 22nd, 2023
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Xbox One video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 128
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
🚫 ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW IS AVAILABLE. READ MISC SECTION ON WHY 🚫
Shantae and the Seven Sirens adds one more chapter to a very appreciated series and while the ambition to be the best game to carry the Shantae name is not a full success, this is a very appealing work that combines a marvelous presentation, good level design and a gameplay experience that will please veterans of the series as well as welcome any newcomers.
👉 opencritic SUMMARY
Shantae and the Seven Sirens could have been the best game in the series. It is not, mostly because of its undemanding difficulty level, unhelpful map and lacklustre soundtrack, but Seven Sirens is still a very enjoyable game with an overall experience that will welcome both newcomers and veterans alike, a lovely visual presentation and a well designed level structure. Yet another welcome arrival to the Nintendo Switch catalogue.
👉 metacritic SUMMARY
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ ⚠️ Review originally written for FNintendo (defunct website) and published on June 10th, 2020. Full review is currently unavailable. Expect restored written piece translated into English.
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Nintendo Switch video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (Main body of text translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 41
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
Shantae and the Seven Sirens adds one more chapter to a very appreciated series and while the ambition to be the best game to carry the Shantae name is not a full success, this is a very appealing work that combines a marvelous presentation, good level design and a gameplay experience that will please veterans of the series as well as welcome any newcomers.
👉 opencritic SUMMARY
Shantae and the Seven Sirens could have been the best game in the series. It is not, mostly because of its undemanding difficulty level, unhelpful map and lacklustre soundtrack, but Seven Sirens is still a very enjoyable game with an overall experience that will welcome both newcomers and veterans alike, a lovely visual presentation and a well designed level structure. Yet another welcome arrival to the Nintendo Switch catalogue.
👉 metacritic SUMMARY
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ ⚠️ Review originally written for FNintendo (defunct website) and published on June 10th, 2020. Full review is currently unavailable. Expect restored written piece translated into English.
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Nintendo Switch video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (Main body of text translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 41
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
2020
🚫 ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW IS AVAILABLE. READ MISC SECTION ON WHY 🚫
Liberated on the Nintendo Switch assumes the form of an interactive comic book that uses a noir aesthetic and a very dystopian plot to put the player in the middle of a sombre, disquieting and genuinely frightening experience. Its technical issues and quick time events are the game's Achilles' Heel but the plot, visual outlook and accessibility, which even allows the player to treat it as if it was purely a comic book, make this a very interesting choice for Nintendo Switch owners.
👉 opencritic SUMMARY
With its noir aesthetic and unsettling premise, Liberated gets most things right and will appeal to those who enjoy a good interactive story. It's not without its flaws, namely some technical issues and less than enjoyable quick time events but overall, this is a very welcome arrival to the Nintendo Switch catalogue.
👉 metacritic SUMMARY
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ ⚠️ Review originally written for FNintendo (defunct website) and published on June 8th, 2020. Full review is currently unavailable. Expect restored written piece translated into English.
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Nintendo Switch video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (Main body of text translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 40
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
Liberated on the Nintendo Switch assumes the form of an interactive comic book that uses a noir aesthetic and a very dystopian plot to put the player in the middle of a sombre, disquieting and genuinely frightening experience. Its technical issues and quick time events are the game's Achilles' Heel but the plot, visual outlook and accessibility, which even allows the player to treat it as if it was purely a comic book, make this a very interesting choice for Nintendo Switch owners.
👉 opencritic SUMMARY
With its noir aesthetic and unsettling premise, Liberated gets most things right and will appeal to those who enjoy a good interactive story. It's not without its flaws, namely some technical issues and less than enjoyable quick time events but overall, this is a very welcome arrival to the Nintendo Switch catalogue.
👉 metacritic SUMMARY
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ ⚠️ Review originally written for FNintendo (defunct website) and published on June 8th, 2020. Full review is currently unavailable. Expect restored written piece translated into English.
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Nintendo Switch video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (Main body of text translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 40
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N
2019
🚫 ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW IS AVAILABLE. READ MISC SECTION ON WHY 🚫
Ion Fury brings an action experience that aims to replicate its inspirations from over twenty years ago using today's technology, as if to bring a game that features a retro charm with contemporary elements. And it works, Ion Fury is very successful at striking a balance between the retro feel and today's amenities that make gameplay more enjoyable.
👉 opencritic SUMMARY
With its frantic action and sharp level design, Ion Fury on the Nintendo Switch is more than worthy of the time and efforts of any players who enjoy a more old school experience that didn't stop in time.
👉 metacritic SUMMARY
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ ⚠️ Review originally written for FNintendo (defunct website) and published on May 22nd, 2020. Full review is currently unavailable. Expect restored written piece translated into English.
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Nintendo Switch video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (Main body of text translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 39
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N |
Ion Fury brings an action experience that aims to replicate its inspirations from over twenty years ago using today's technology, as if to bring a game that features a retro charm with contemporary elements. And it works, Ion Fury is very successful at striking a balance between the retro feel and today's amenities that make gameplay more enjoyable.
👉 opencritic SUMMARY
With its frantic action and sharp level design, Ion Fury on the Nintendo Switch is more than worthy of the time and efforts of any players who enjoy a more old school experience that didn't stop in time.
👉 metacritic SUMMARY
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C
◻️ ⚠️ Review originally written for FNintendo (defunct website) and published on May 22nd, 2020. Full review is currently unavailable. Expect restored written piece translated into English.
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Nintendo Switch video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (Main body of text translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 39
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N |
2000
🚫 ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW IS AVAILABLE. READ MISC SECTION ON WHY 🚫
While certainly not as content-full or complex as more recent works, its simple gameplay is extremely fun and the local multiplayer mode will be thoroughly appreciated. It could be even better if an online multiplayer component had been added.
👉 opencritic SUMMARY
SNK Gals’ Fighters does a fine job at bringing back a 20-year old fighting game originally made for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, with all its features and limits. But even if the game has not been expanded to face up to today's offers, this piece of retro gaming has quite a charming appeal in its simplicity. If only its local multiplayer had been improved with the adding of an online component, that would have been even better.
👉 metacritic SUMMARY
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C |
◻️ ⚠️ Review originally written for FNintendo (defunct website) and published on May 14th, 2020. Full review is currently unavailable. Expect restored written piece translated into English.
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Nintendo Switch video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (Main body of text translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 38
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N |
While certainly not as content-full or complex as more recent works, its simple gameplay is extremely fun and the local multiplayer mode will be thoroughly appreciated. It could be even better if an online multiplayer component had been added.
👉 opencritic SUMMARY
SNK Gals’ Fighters does a fine job at bringing back a 20-year old fighting game originally made for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, with all its features and limits. But even if the game has not been expanded to face up to today's offers, this piece of retro gaming has quite a charming appeal in its simplicity. If only its local multiplayer had been improved with the adding of an online component, that would have been even better.
👉 metacritic SUMMARY
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I S C |
◻️ ⚠️ Review originally written for FNintendo (defunct website) and published on May 14th, 2020. Full review is currently unavailable. Expect restored written piece translated into English.
◻️ 🌳 Don't forget to visit my Linktree here
◻️ 🙋♂️ Also tap here to find more reviews of mine
◻️ 🎮 And touch here to discover more Nintendo Switch video games I've played
◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (Main body of text translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 38
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F I N |