LSav00
A solid way to play the game, though it has the usual trappings of not feeling like explaining anything - this was one of the first 'proper' RPGs I played as well as my first Final Fantasy, and the obtuse nature of it meant I quickly grew fed up with running into walls.
In hindsight, it was the folly of youth that stopped me from making any progress, but now the Switch version is out, I don't see much of a reason to return to this one.
In hindsight, it was the folly of youth that stopped me from making any progress, but now the Switch version is out, I don't see much of a reason to return to this one.
A derivative Mario Party clone with hardly any minigames, no 'party mode' to speak of, and a hideous art style. I remember this game even frightened me when I was young, as sometimes after a minigame the Rabbids would loudly scream at you for no reason.
There were rhythm games, I suppose? With high-pitched versions of cheap, easily licensed songs like 'Celebration?' ...Is that really a plus?
The version I got came with a Rabbid-shaped stress ball, which I wish I still had, so I could violently cave its spongy skull in under my grip whenever I remember this game exists.
There were rhythm games, I suppose? With high-pitched versions of cheap, easily licensed songs like 'Celebration?' ...Is that really a plus?
The version I got came with a Rabbid-shaped stress ball, which I wish I still had, so I could violently cave its spongy skull in under my grip whenever I remember this game exists.
A bizarre idea for a crossover, and definitely lacking in places compared to the two games immediately after it, but still a very fun multiplayer experience. Many a Wii Remote was accidentally tossed in my younger days.
The type of game that could only exist in a vacuum of when the DS was the hot new Nintendo console on the market, and in its stride - especially given the gameplay revolves entirely around the touch screen.
Far more sophisticated than the previous game in the trilogy, with some surprisingly good music, as well as a fascinating story and plenty of little nips and tucks to gameplay to make it more engaging.
A damn shame that we can never get spinoffs like this again, given how necessary the two-screen setup is for it to exist.
Far more sophisticated than the previous game in the trilogy, with some surprisingly good music, as well as a fascinating story and plenty of little nips and tucks to gameplay to make it more engaging.
A damn shame that we can never get spinoffs like this again, given how necessary the two-screen setup is for it to exist.
2006
Yet another fun, unique game in the DS' infinite ocean of such games. Square Enix collaborating with Nintendo again, for the first time in YEARS, for a basketball game? It's the type of curio that could ONLY come about from the wild frontier days of the console.
It's simply fine. The art style is funky, the music just as much so, and the gameplay is as touch-screen reliant as you'd expect. Much like other Mario sports games, the AI become cheatsy little fuckers - especially in the later on stages - which can make it frustrating, but the sheer oddity of the game, Final Fantasy characters and cameos included, carry the day.
It's simply fine. The art style is funky, the music just as much so, and the gameplay is as touch-screen reliant as you'd expect. Much like other Mario sports games, the AI become cheatsy little fuckers - especially in the later on stages - which can make it frustrating, but the sheer oddity of the game, Final Fantasy characters and cameos included, carry the day.
While the structure has some wrinkles (specifically, the way the narrative jumps all over the timeline of events), the actual story here and simple, yet effective way it's told, make this a worthy followup to the previous games in the series.
Fantastic MGS gameplay, with an extremely entertaining storyline. I know calling this one the 'James Bond' of MGS is cliché and done to death, but it hits all the same right notes as a good Bond flick.
An absolutely fascinating story, as expected from the minds at Monolith, and extremely ambitious for the console it's housed on. The only thing holding it back from pure greatness is the gacha system to obtain new Blades.
Three brilliant, BRILLIANT games in one amazingly cheap package. The storytelling is on another level, with an amazing cast of characters, and some of gaming's best soundtracks. Trials and Tribulations especially is one of my favourite games of all time.
A proper classic, one of the many, MANY gems in the DS' library. While it may have been at least partially responsible for setting down Mario on the path of being extremely 'safe,' the way it took its predecessors and expanded upon their mechanics in small, but innovative ways, make it a must-play, even now.
A fitting end to the Fates saga, taking an odd, half-sloppy story and slapping a ending that resolves (almost) everything on top to cap it all off. It feels like the tie-in version of a Pokémon game, with how much of its immediate predecessors is mixed into the brew, and it's not overly bad by any means - the brilliant gameplay carries it easily - but is overly reliant on gimmicks.
Short, and perhaps on the easy side (until Ephraim's maps start to absolutely suck), but the plot of political intrigue, fascinating villain, and excellent cast of characters make this an essential GBA game. Very much 'Fire Emblem Gaiden Portable', but that's a good thing in this case.
A fantastic roster of characters that dips into the storied legacies of both IP holders, and is an absolute blast to play with friends.
This game is commonly derided as being the most 'generic' Fire Emblem game, which I don't think is very fair. The worldbuilding, storyline (especially villain motives) and the general atmosphere of the game is far removed from its brethren. Still one of the most content-rich games in the series, to boot, so there's always plenty more to come back to.
Lyn's story being a glorified and force tutorial sucks, however. There's no denying that.
Lyn's story being a glorified and force tutorial sucks, however. There's no denying that.
More straightforward and 'simple' compared to the other games in Fates' overarching trilogy, and also the easiest by far given it was made to appeal more to newcomers, but still fine in its own right. The gameplay is very much among the best of the franchise as a whole. You can't really go wrong with this game, even if it's not the most exciting thing in the world.