LSav00
2020
An all-timer. Extremely fun acrobatic movement, some properly iconic locales and music, and a shockingly solid cornerstone in the realm of 3D gaming.
...Which is pretty much what everyone else says, and with good reason!
...Which is pretty much what everyone else says, and with good reason!
A game that is far, FAR too big for its own good. It tried to appease everyone with the multiple campaigns - 'survival horror' fans with Leon's, chase monsters and spy movies with Jake's, Call of Duty with Chris', and staring at a hot woman's arse for a few hours with Ada's.
In doing so, it appealed to basically nobody, and VASTLY overstays its welcome with the painfully long runtime. Has a lot of content, but at what cost, I tell you? What cost?!
In doing so, it appealed to basically nobody, and VASTLY overstays its welcome with the painfully long runtime. Has a lot of content, but at what cost, I tell you? What cost?!
2021
Arcade-based insanity at its finest. Playing this game multiplayer and witnessing the reaction of my friend as the double-decker bus he was driving down a mountain did a front flip off my hammerhead shark (complete with laser helmet attachment on his head) and careened through the air at mach 2 is proof enough this game is the stuff of legend.
Could've done with more content, but c'est la vie.
Could've done with more content, but c'est la vie.
A game that celebrated a sporting event that never was is quite a fascinating piece of modern history. It's not particularly GOOD, by any means (though it gets points for at least trying with the story mode). So average that it's almost painful. Just play the original or the London 2012 one if you HAVE to play one of these games.
2017
A story that takes itself far too seriously to the point of mockery. Three different gameplay styles mashed together with none of them particularly standing out as good. Embarrassingly short levels that can be glossed over and forgotten immediately.
The only reason it has a star at all is because the soundtrack is good. But that's like saying having food poisoning is good because your body is finally finished violently expelling its content from both ends - I'd rather just not experience it at all.
The only reason it has a star at all is because the soundtrack is good. But that's like saying having food poisoning is good because your body is finally finished violently expelling its content from both ends - I'd rather just not experience it at all.
The only redeeming factor of this DLC is that it's free.
Even so, the blister on the heel of your foot developing a rash is ALSO free, and not something worth celebrating.
Even so, the blister on the heel of your foot developing a rash is ALSO free, and not something worth celebrating.
Extremely ambitious in scope, with an utterly fascinating world and lore (seriously, the backstory is incredible) with a fantastic cast of characters and a top-tier soundtrack, it's hard to go wrong with this game. It's easy to see how it got as blisteringly popular as it did.
The biggest flaw is in the Monastery exploration being on the clunkier side, and the first half of the game being the EXACT same on all the story routes, meaning that attempting replays to see the other sides of the story is a tough pill to swallow.
The biggest flaw is in the Monastery exploration being on the clunkier side, and the first half of the game being the EXACT same on all the story routes, meaning that attempting replays to see the other sides of the story is a tough pill to swallow.
Painful. Brutally painful. A game that will properly test your mettle. The gameplay itself is utterly glorious, endlessly customisable and keeping you on your toes in the midst of combat, alongside one of the best soundtracks in any video game ever made.
The story is absolutely bonkers, and pretty naff, but the rest of this game is so good that it doesn't do much to bring the overall experience down. By far the best slice of the Fates trilogy.
The story is absolutely bonkers, and pretty naff, but the rest of this game is so good that it doesn't do much to bring the overall experience down. By far the best slice of the Fates trilogy.
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.
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.
A fantastic remake that respects its original version, while improving and updating gameplay elements to be more in-line with modern needs.
In every way except the map design, which is a complete pain in the arse. Highlights include 'movement-lowering desert with a fortress full of archers in it' and 'necromancer on far end of a poisonous river that spawns infinite zombie dragons'.
Thankfully, the interesting dungeon-crawling gameplay, skills in battle and weapon effects pick up the slack. The story's no slouch, either!
In every way except the map design, which is a complete pain in the arse. Highlights include 'movement-lowering desert with a fortress full of archers in it' and 'necromancer on far end of a poisonous river that spawns infinite zombie dragons'.
Thankfully, the interesting dungeon-crawling gameplay, skills in battle and weapon effects pick up the slack. The story's no slouch, either!
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 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.
Widely regarded as one of the best Pokémon games, and I'm inclined to agree... In some aspects.
The upped challenge, inclusion of more double battles, and better mon variety were excellent. It adds way more endgame content in the form of the Battle Frontier, but I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be.
Half of the Battle Frontier is effectively luck-based, and that's just not fun. Losing a win streak as a result of a coin flip is artificial difficulty at its finest. There's a difference between hard and 'hard' after all.
The upped challenge, inclusion of more double battles, and better mon variety were excellent. It adds way more endgame content in the form of the Battle Frontier, but I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be.
Half of the Battle Frontier is effectively luck-based, and that's just not fun. Losing a win streak as a result of a coin flip is artificial difficulty at its finest. There's a difference between hard and 'hard' after all.
Quite an oddity, and one that set the precedent for better (or in this case "better") tie-in versions of Pokémon games. While the bizarre cuts to obtainable Pokémon felt arbitrary and pointless, the revamped sprites for the mons and little bits of extra content here and there make it the definitive 1st gen Pokémon game.
Which isn't really MUCH of an achievement, but hey. It's something.
Which isn't really MUCH of an achievement, but hey. It's something.