Guturalnutria
One of my all-time favourite games, ended up playing this as a Dex/Faith build, first with a Scimitar and Great Lightning Spear combo, then The Occult Club and finally finishing it out with The Dragonslayer spear. It is such an immensely fun game, I think I will keep coming back to this every once in a while.
The opening and first couple hours of this game has a special place in my heart as it was around the time when I had just started to tune into the Video Game sphere, following news and actively checking out trailers and such. Large part thanks to me watching a lot of Let's Plays, this at release being one of them.
I really like the art style and in general the "edgy" Legend of Zelda take. But it definitely feels a bit padded and I kinda lose my rose-tinted glasses after you leave The Forge Lands. It might be a tad unfair to compare like this, but having just played Hollow Knight I just can't help but feel the wonkyness in these controls and how unsatisfying the platforming at times feels.
I really like the art style and in general the "edgy" Legend of Zelda take. But it definitely feels a bit padded and I kinda lose my rose-tinted glasses after you leave The Forge Lands. It might be a tad unfair to compare like this, but having just played Hollow Knight I just can't help but feel the wonkyness in these controls and how unsatisfying the platforming at times feels.
2014
This review contains spoilers
The introductory missions kick ass and I do love the evolution of the story and the worldbuilding. The cutscenes look fantastic even today.
But it didn't keep the strong momentum going and with it leading to a cliffhanger ending, I didn't really feel anything. However that is in some part to Halo 3 actually being the first game in the series that I played and I love that game, kinda hyped to replay it after so many years, so I lose the build up and suspense that must have been off the charts for people playing this when this had just come out, so I won't knock it for that. And it does end on a kickass line.
But it didn't keep the strong momentum going and with it leading to a cliffhanger ending, I didn't really feel anything. However that is in some part to Halo 3 actually being the first game in the series that I played and I love that game, kinda hyped to replay it after so many years, so I lose the build up and suspense that must have been off the charts for people playing this when this had just come out, so I won't knock it for that. And it does end on a kickass line.
2017
This review contains spoilers
I played most of this in 2018 but got stuck on Nightmare King Grimm and after a bit of a hiatus I couldn't be bothered to relearn everything. So there sat poor Hollow Knight in my steam library, unfinished, for more than 5 years.
Until last weekend, where after me and some friends had played a Hollow Knight inspired TTRPG I was so submerged in the vibe of the game that I had to pick it up again with a brand new save file, and I'm very glad I did.
I got to rediscover this wonderful gem and the heavyweight of atmosphere that it is. Super nice traversal and sense of discovery and combat that feels great even at the start. The music and sound design is outstanding, I love just listening to some areas. Almost wish that there was a peaceful mode that just let you walk around and listen to everything.
My top 3 favourite fights are:
The Mantis Lords, I find it to be a really fun fight.
Troupe Leader Grimm, has the best music, it really pumps me up.
The Hollow Knight, the design and the for the narrative side. There is just something I love about how it gets weaker and more desperate and literally gives everything its got in effort to stop you. But it becomes clear that you are actually stronger than it.
I said fuck it to The Pantheons, the Trial of the Fool and Path of Pain. I just couldn't be bothered. Mostly here for the vibes, not to punish myself. I just might do a couple more attempts at The Radiance in the coming days, but otherwise I will consider my journey through Hallownest complete, got a lot more games I wanna finish, but I wouldn't be opposed to try some speedruns in the future.
Until last weekend, where after me and some friends had played a Hollow Knight inspired TTRPG I was so submerged in the vibe of the game that I had to pick it up again with a brand new save file, and I'm very glad I did.
I got to rediscover this wonderful gem and the heavyweight of atmosphere that it is. Super nice traversal and sense of discovery and combat that feels great even at the start. The music and sound design is outstanding, I love just listening to some areas. Almost wish that there was a peaceful mode that just let you walk around and listen to everything.
My top 3 favourite fights are:
The Mantis Lords, I find it to be a really fun fight.
Troupe Leader Grimm, has the best music, it really pumps me up.
The Hollow Knight, the design and the for the narrative side. There is just something I love about how it gets weaker and more desperate and literally gives everything its got in effort to stop you. But it becomes clear that you are actually stronger than it.
I said fuck it to The Pantheons, the Trial of the Fool and Path of Pain. I just couldn't be bothered. Mostly here for the vibes, not to punish myself. I just might do a couple more attempts at The Radiance in the coming days, but otherwise I will consider my journey through Hallownest complete, got a lot more games I wanna finish, but I wouldn't be opposed to try some speedruns in the future.
2017
Fantastic, Yakuza 0 remains my favourite so far, but only by a short margin, the story and the ending in particular is such a stand out here. The area where Zero beats it out tho is in the presentation and fight variety, nothing will ever top literally beating the cash out of your foes and with all of the different fighting styles combat never got stale.
I wasn't that big a fan of the Clan Creator, not much of a tower defence guy, but I did stick it out for my man, Majima and it was ultimately worth it, and the music did a lot of heavy lifting, at times I kept going just for the music alone.
Also, this game's got one of the most bonkers, amazing cuts to credits I've ever seen and I just respect the hell out of Ryu ga Gotoku for that one
I wasn't that big a fan of the Clan Creator, not much of a tower defence guy, but I did stick it out for my man, Majima and it was ultimately worth it, and the music did a lot of heavy lifting, at times I kept going just for the music alone.
Also, this game's got one of the most bonkers, amazing cuts to credits I've ever seen and I just respect the hell out of Ryu ga Gotoku for that one
2023
Played Previously and Loved it, waiting to get back on it.