Limayde
2021
Just about everything aside from the core gameplay was enjoyable. The characters are all fun, voice acting is surprisingly good for an indie game, the art style is gorgeous, the soundtrack... could've used a few more themes, but overall it was good. And the story... was... fine? It didn't blow me out of the water, but it wasn't like awful. The characters absolutely carry the story, they're almost all likable.
However... the core gameplay is... not great. Firstly, it's RIDDLED with bugs. Every time you round a corner, there's a missing texture, or the game softlocks, or a character that's not supposed to be with you is now suddenly back. It's one of the least-polished modern games I've ever played. The game also has serious balancing issues, everything is either WAY too easy, or ludicrously hard, but in both scenarios the same strategy is almost always the best course of action. Just use the strongest attack you have and hope your numbers are bigger that theirs. Which is a darn shame, because the game gives you a wide variety of spells that all sound like they'd be really fun to use strategically, but in every fight where you'd want to use them, you can't because they're immune to it. It frustrates me so much, because I want to have fun, but it won't let me. (Also I think there's supposed to be a New Game +, but that is also bugged, and the option only appears for half a second, meaning it's inaccessible.)
The game packs some pretty decent sidequests, they aren't just your standard "go here and kill X monster" they're pretty well thought out and fun. The problem is, there are no sidequests past the halfway point in the game, and the ones in the beginning are all missable. Now, the game does tell you WHEN you won't be able to do any more in any given area, but that's also a big fat lie, because there are SOME that you just cannot complete unless you did them way earlier, or talked to specific people in a specific order before that point. I really want to give them the benefit of the doubt and believe this was oversight, but it almost feels deliberate. And if you don't complete every sidequest in the game, you cannot get the true ending, meaning I was locked out of it since the second area.
It all just... sucks. I've been patiently waiting for this game for so long, and it just... isn't what I wanted it to be. Despite taking so long to come out, it still needed another year or two before this was something they could truly be proud of. They put way too much of their focus into the art, and the voice acting, and the animation, and didn't stop to consider if that was what they should've been using their time with.
However... the core gameplay is... not great. Firstly, it's RIDDLED with bugs. Every time you round a corner, there's a missing texture, or the game softlocks, or a character that's not supposed to be with you is now suddenly back. It's one of the least-polished modern games I've ever played. The game also has serious balancing issues, everything is either WAY too easy, or ludicrously hard, but in both scenarios the same strategy is almost always the best course of action. Just use the strongest attack you have and hope your numbers are bigger that theirs. Which is a darn shame, because the game gives you a wide variety of spells that all sound like they'd be really fun to use strategically, but in every fight where you'd want to use them, you can't because they're immune to it. It frustrates me so much, because I want to have fun, but it won't let me. (Also I think there's supposed to be a New Game +, but that is also bugged, and the option only appears for half a second, meaning it's inaccessible.)
The game packs some pretty decent sidequests, they aren't just your standard "go here and kill X monster" they're pretty well thought out and fun. The problem is, there are no sidequests past the halfway point in the game, and the ones in the beginning are all missable. Now, the game does tell you WHEN you won't be able to do any more in any given area, but that's also a big fat lie, because there are SOME that you just cannot complete unless you did them way earlier, or talked to specific people in a specific order before that point. I really want to give them the benefit of the doubt and believe this was oversight, but it almost feels deliberate. And if you don't complete every sidequest in the game, you cannot get the true ending, meaning I was locked out of it since the second area.
It all just... sucks. I've been patiently waiting for this game for so long, and it just... isn't what I wanted it to be. Despite taking so long to come out, it still needed another year or two before this was something they could truly be proud of. They put way too much of their focus into the art, and the voice acting, and the animation, and didn't stop to consider if that was what they should've been using their time with.
While fun, the game is plagued with technical issues. Most of them you could ignore because they were just silly graphical things, but there were others that weren't so easy brush off. For one, the water spell you get at the beginning just stopped functioning correctly at one point, making it a lot harder to play through the first area. The game also froze multiple times during my playthrough. I'm not sure if it was specifically an issue with the Switch version, but it was bad.
Another thing I think the game suffers for is too much customization. There are loads of abilities, weapons, items, food, all of which are craftable via one of the NPCs. My inventory ended up being cluttered with loads of items and I didn't even know what purpose of any of them served. The Shard system is cool, but it also suffers from this. You get too many of them too quickly, and I eventually just settled on three or four I used for the whole game. Toning down the number of customizable options would drastically improve my enjoyment of the game.
Not to say I didn't have fun, I did enjoy myself up until the near end. The game has an EXP system to reward and encourage you to fight enemies as they come, but this resulted in the bosses eventually just becoming HP sponges, meaning I either needed to grind, or just tough it out and fight them for half an hour. I chose the latter.
There is potential here. Things need to be ironed out, the fat trimmed, and properly balanced, but despite my complaints, it's just fun. If you like Castlevania, you'll probably enjoy it. I can't say for certain though because I've never played Castlevania lmao.
Another thing I think the game suffers for is too much customization. There are loads of abilities, weapons, items, food, all of which are craftable via one of the NPCs. My inventory ended up being cluttered with loads of items and I didn't even know what purpose of any of them served. The Shard system is cool, but it also suffers from this. You get too many of them too quickly, and I eventually just settled on three or four I used for the whole game. Toning down the number of customizable options would drastically improve my enjoyment of the game.
Not to say I didn't have fun, I did enjoy myself up until the near end. The game has an EXP system to reward and encourage you to fight enemies as they come, but this resulted in the bosses eventually just becoming HP sponges, meaning I either needed to grind, or just tough it out and fight them for half an hour. I chose the latter.
There is potential here. Things need to be ironed out, the fat trimmed, and properly balanced, but despite my complaints, it's just fun. If you like Castlevania, you'll probably enjoy it. I can't say for certain though because I've never played Castlevania lmao.
2019
This game takes almost all the best parts of both the original and Dark Moon and squeezes them together into a very enjoyable experience. The new mechanics and returning ones blend very well together, creating a diverse set of puzzles and boss fights.
The actual ghost catching I don't think is the main appeal of this entry. I was definitely more enthralled with the puzzles scattered throughout every inch of the hotel. Seriously, they are literally everywhere. It's honestly impressive how many secrets they managed to cram into every floor. It had me searching every room top to bottom looking cor collectables and money, as unimportant as they are.
Like in the first game, money has basically no value in the actual gameplay segments, only serving to give you a letter rank at the end of the game. You can buy items from E. Gadd in his lab, but these are inconsequential. Extra lives, Boo seekers (which I don't think I ever actually unlocked for some reason?), and gem seekers are literally all you get. I would've much preferred if they went the route they did in Dark Moon and granted you upgrades to your kit, such as a stronger vacuum, or maybe extra health.
Another knock I'd give it is the lack of ghost variety. Contrary to the first game and Dark Moon, there are only four regular ghosts, two mini variants, and one that can only be described as an equivalent to those eye doors in Metroid. As you might've guessed, these ghosts don't really present much of a challenge, but I think that's fine as the puzzle aspect of the game is top-notch.
You have a whole host of options at your disposal when it comes to solving puzzles.The Dark Light is my favorite returning addition. Having objects be invisible and intangible until scanning is a great concept and is very well executed. Having a mirror reflect an object that is supposed to be there but isn't is still fun to point out and go "aha". Another plus to the Dark Light is it not being the main focus of the game, this means the solution isn't always just "use the Dark Light" like in Dark Moon.
However, I think the best feature is Gooigi. Your friendly translucent, squishy companion. Along with him just being silly, he also provides couch co-op, which is something I sorely miss in modern games. Even when alone, Gooigi being able to slip past fence gates and into crevasses not normally accessible is such a fun idea that my brain was just not used to. It actually took me a fair bit to come to grips with "oh, this fence doesn't actually prevent my from progressing" which was kind of a cool feeling as it turned my knowledge of in-game mechanics on its head.
Overall, Luigi's Mansion 3 is a fantastic puzzle game that really gets you thinking, especially if you want all those collectibles. However, if you want more of a combat-oriented challenge, I suggest finding a copy of Dark Moon instead.
(Also why is it called Luigi's Mansion 3 and not something else like Dark Moon was? This bothers me way more than it should.)
The actual ghost catching I don't think is the main appeal of this entry. I was definitely more enthralled with the puzzles scattered throughout every inch of the hotel. Seriously, they are literally everywhere. It's honestly impressive how many secrets they managed to cram into every floor. It had me searching every room top to bottom looking cor collectables and money, as unimportant as they are.
Like in the first game, money has basically no value in the actual gameplay segments, only serving to give you a letter rank at the end of the game. You can buy items from E. Gadd in his lab, but these are inconsequential. Extra lives, Boo seekers (which I don't think I ever actually unlocked for some reason?), and gem seekers are literally all you get. I would've much preferred if they went the route they did in Dark Moon and granted you upgrades to your kit, such as a stronger vacuum, or maybe extra health.
Another knock I'd give it is the lack of ghost variety. Contrary to the first game and Dark Moon, there are only four regular ghosts, two mini variants, and one that can only be described as an equivalent to those eye doors in Metroid. As you might've guessed, these ghosts don't really present much of a challenge, but I think that's fine as the puzzle aspect of the game is top-notch.
You have a whole host of options at your disposal when it comes to solving puzzles.The Dark Light is my favorite returning addition. Having objects be invisible and intangible until scanning is a great concept and is very well executed. Having a mirror reflect an object that is supposed to be there but isn't is still fun to point out and go "aha". Another plus to the Dark Light is it not being the main focus of the game, this means the solution isn't always just "use the Dark Light" like in Dark Moon.
However, I think the best feature is Gooigi. Your friendly translucent, squishy companion. Along with him just being silly, he also provides couch co-op, which is something I sorely miss in modern games. Even when alone, Gooigi being able to slip past fence gates and into crevasses not normally accessible is such a fun idea that my brain was just not used to. It actually took me a fair bit to come to grips with "oh, this fence doesn't actually prevent my from progressing" which was kind of a cool feeling as it turned my knowledge of in-game mechanics on its head.
Overall, Luigi's Mansion 3 is a fantastic puzzle game that really gets you thinking, especially if you want all those collectibles. However, if you want more of a combat-oriented challenge, I suggest finding a copy of Dark Moon instead.
(Also why is it called Luigi's Mansion 3 and not something else like Dark Moon was? This bothers me way more than it should.)
I got Thwacked at 0%
2017
It is far from my favorite, but believe me when I tell you that this is the best game ever made.
This game absolutely rules. It's such a cute, charming experience the whole way through with some twists and turns here and there. The story is a bit lacking, and isn't overall satisfying, but it's hard to care when I'm enjoying myself so much. It kinda feels like Zelda 2... but if it was really well-done. So, if you like Zelda 2, definitely pick it up. If you wanted to like Zelda 2 but it didn't quite click with you, maybe give this a try? It may be more what you're looking for.
For the uninitiated, Phoenotopia Awakening (pronounced "fee-no-toe-pia", like phoenix and utopia) is a reimagining of a 2014 flash game simply called Phoenotopia. It takes elements of that game, expands upon it, and then adds a whole buncha new stuff on top of that. The game is comprised of three major points, combat, puzzles, and exploration, much like a Zelda or Metroid game. Zeltroid?
The combat, while a bit clunky at first, is loads of fun. Dodging in an out of enemy attacks and finding just the right moment to strike. A whole arsenal of weapons and items at your disposal, it's just a solid, satisfactory package I can't recommend enough. The game runs on a stamina meter you need to manage, especially during combat. Everything is tied to stamina, running, rolling, attacking. Jumping is the only thing exempt from this. Combining your knowledge of stamina management and combat prowess makes for a very thrilling and challenging experience. If you're not into difficult games, there are some accessibility options you can toggle on or off. I personally played without the bat taking any stamina, and I think that made me enjoy it more than I would have otherwise.
The puzzles are pretty well-made and thought provoking. They kinda remind me of Fez in a way, where some are pretty cryptic but feel great when you finally figure it out. Phoenotopia takes cues from Zelda and adds a flute into the game, but takes it so much further than any Zelda ever did. It's not just "play X song here" and you solve the puzzle, no no no no no, there are environmental cues everywhere. Symbols on the wall, a series of different colored flowers, or even something akin to that Pipe Maze mini game from Mario Party. You really gotta keep your eyes peeled and ascend to a higher level of thinking to solve some of the trickier puzzles.
Exploring in this game is an absolute joy. There's tons of secrets both on the world map as well as in towns, caves, and just about everything else. Generally when you come across a secret, you'll be rewarded with a Heart Ruby, which increases your HP, an Energy Gem, which increases your stamina, or a Moonstone, which have various uses tied to them. Upon beating the game I went back and got all the collectibles because I didn't want it to be over... I don't think I can recommend getting all the Moonstones, there's too many and I eventually had to resort to scouring the internet for answers since there isn't a guide. (I'm in the midst of fixing that.) There were a couple Heart Rubies and Energy Gems that were also pretty annoying to get, but I personally still think it's worth it for... a secret thing you can do at the very end of the game.
Collecting every Heart Ruby, Energy Gem, Moonstone, and the doing the secret awesome bonus thing is required if you want to 100% the game. There's also some achievements you can do. You will not get them all on your first playthrough. It requires things like beating the game without any health or stamina upgrades, or getting to the final save point in a certain amount of time. Unfortunately, if you didn't fill those requirements beforehand, you're locked out of them permanently... so you'll need to start up a new save. It's a bit annoying, but thankfully there's no tangible reward for that, aside from some concept art.
Also the music is an ABSOLUTE jam. Thomas' Lab is all bouncy and fun, Katash's Theme gets me pumped, and then you have the serene melody of Sanctuary that envelops you in a warm, gentle hug.
And... I think that wraps up my review. So, if I convinced you... please play this game. I really wish more people knew about Phoenotopia because it is a marvelous experience. It deserves to sit up there with the titans of the indie world, along with the likes of Hollow Knight, Hades, and Celeste.
For the uninitiated, Phoenotopia Awakening (pronounced "fee-no-toe-pia", like phoenix and utopia) is a reimagining of a 2014 flash game simply called Phoenotopia. It takes elements of that game, expands upon it, and then adds a whole buncha new stuff on top of that. The game is comprised of three major points, combat, puzzles, and exploration, much like a Zelda or Metroid game. Zeltroid?
The combat, while a bit clunky at first, is loads of fun. Dodging in an out of enemy attacks and finding just the right moment to strike. A whole arsenal of weapons and items at your disposal, it's just a solid, satisfactory package I can't recommend enough. The game runs on a stamina meter you need to manage, especially during combat. Everything is tied to stamina, running, rolling, attacking. Jumping is the only thing exempt from this. Combining your knowledge of stamina management and combat prowess makes for a very thrilling and challenging experience. If you're not into difficult games, there are some accessibility options you can toggle on or off. I personally played without the bat taking any stamina, and I think that made me enjoy it more than I would have otherwise.
The puzzles are pretty well-made and thought provoking. They kinda remind me of Fez in a way, where some are pretty cryptic but feel great when you finally figure it out. Phoenotopia takes cues from Zelda and adds a flute into the game, but takes it so much further than any Zelda ever did. It's not just "play X song here" and you solve the puzzle, no no no no no, there are environmental cues everywhere. Symbols on the wall, a series of different colored flowers, or even something akin to that Pipe Maze mini game from Mario Party. You really gotta keep your eyes peeled and ascend to a higher level of thinking to solve some of the trickier puzzles.
Exploring in this game is an absolute joy. There's tons of secrets both on the world map as well as in towns, caves, and just about everything else. Generally when you come across a secret, you'll be rewarded with a Heart Ruby, which increases your HP, an Energy Gem, which increases your stamina, or a Moonstone, which have various uses tied to them. Upon beating the game I went back and got all the collectibles because I didn't want it to be over... I don't think I can recommend getting all the Moonstones, there's too many and I eventually had to resort to scouring the internet for answers since there isn't a guide. (I'm in the midst of fixing that.) There were a couple Heart Rubies and Energy Gems that were also pretty annoying to get, but I personally still think it's worth it for... a secret thing you can do at the very end of the game.
Collecting every Heart Ruby, Energy Gem, Moonstone, and the doing the secret awesome bonus thing is required if you want to 100% the game. There's also some achievements you can do. You will not get them all on your first playthrough. It requires things like beating the game without any health or stamina upgrades, or getting to the final save point in a certain amount of time. Unfortunately, if you didn't fill those requirements beforehand, you're locked out of them permanently... so you'll need to start up a new save. It's a bit annoying, but thankfully there's no tangible reward for that, aside from some concept art.
Also the music is an ABSOLUTE jam. Thomas' Lab is all bouncy and fun, Katash's Theme gets me pumped, and then you have the serene melody of Sanctuary that envelops you in a warm, gentle hug.
And... I think that wraps up my review. So, if I convinced you... please play this game. I really wish more people knew about Phoenotopia because it is a marvelous experience. It deserves to sit up there with the titans of the indie world, along with the likes of Hollow Knight, Hades, and Celeste.