PKD2
1993
Despite this game being arguably one of the most important ever made from a Western market perspective, I had never bothered to actually play through the game in its entirety until very recently. I always saw it as a neat iconic relic from the past and only ever played the first few levels. But, my interest in the early games of the Mario franchise did spark up a bit recently, which led to me playing through this fully.
The actual game is…ok! It’s the most fundamental Mario title, but also potentially the most basic. There’s nothing really super flawed or bad about this game; I think it’s actually probably as perfect as it could’ve been. It’s just nothing that crazy to begin with. And that’s fine for the first entry, but it makes this game all the worse in retrospect compared to its peers.
Regardless, the game is still enjoyable. If you have the will to actually try it, you’ll probably enjoy some kind of fun from its simplicity. You just need to actually get past the first few worlds for the game's addictive nature to set in.
The actual game is…ok! It’s the most fundamental Mario title, but also potentially the most basic. There’s nothing really super flawed or bad about this game; I think it’s actually probably as perfect as it could’ve been. It’s just nothing that crazy to begin with. And that’s fine for the first entry, but it makes this game all the worse in retrospect compared to its peers.
Regardless, the game is still enjoyable. If you have the will to actually try it, you’ll probably enjoy some kind of fun from its simplicity. You just need to actually get past the first few worlds for the game's addictive nature to set in.
CANT HAVE SHIT IN HINAMIZAWA
after 128 days…it is over…i have now finished evening cicada!! and with that, i now leave hinamizawa…like a bird leaving his tight cage, it is time i spread my wings and soar to greater worlds and VNs like euphoria, like maggot baits, like dustmania grotesque…🕊️❤️
NOT!!
HIGURASHI IS NEVER OVER. THE FIRST EIGHT CHAPTERS ARE ONLY THE FIRST STEP. I WILL SEE YOU ALL IN HIGURASHI NO NAKU KORO NI REI. HINAMIZAWA FOREVER!!!
NOT!!
HIGURASHI IS NEVER OVER. THE FIRST EIGHT CHAPTERS ARE ONLY THE FIRST STEP. I WILL SEE YOU ALL IN HIGURASHI NO NAKU KORO NI REI. HINAMIZAWA FOREVER!!!
This review contains spoilers
Did not play this DS version specifically, just going to use this page to write my thoughts on this short story separately from the rest of Rei.
This story is essentially the conclusion of Rika’s character, or at least her character presented in Higurashi. This story builds off the point presented previously- that Hinamizawa is a place to relive yourself of your sins- and shifts attention towards the only character who has not done so: Rika. And it does this very interestingly by placing Rika within a sinless world, highlighting the blight of her mere existence as an immortal world hopping being. Rika is human, not a god or witch, but her abilities have caused her to confuse her place in the world…in this way, it furthers the duality between Takano and Rika. But with one of them being knocked out of their delusion, it is time for the other. Because of this, alongside Minagoroshi-hen and Matsuribayashi-hen, Saikoroshi-hen completes the Rika Furude trilogy, and despite it massively being the shortest of the three, it adds the most to her character.
This story is essentially the conclusion of Rika’s character, or at least her character presented in Higurashi. This story builds off the point presented previously- that Hinamizawa is a place to relive yourself of your sins- and shifts attention towards the only character who has not done so: Rika. And it does this very interestingly by placing Rika within a sinless world, highlighting the blight of her mere existence as an immortal world hopping being. Rika is human, not a god or witch, but her abilities have caused her to confuse her place in the world…in this way, it furthers the duality between Takano and Rika. But with one of them being knocked out of their delusion, it is time for the other. Because of this, alongside Minagoroshi-hen and Matsuribayashi-hen, Saikoroshi-hen completes the Rika Furude trilogy, and despite it massively being the shortest of the three, it adds the most to her character.
Because the normal Hirukowashi-hen doesn’t have a page here, this review will have my thoughts on both.
Frankly…this story…is very degenerate. Despite that, I didn’t really find it painful to read. It was so ridiculous and idiotic, I just didn’t care and went along with the ride. And I think once you do that the sheer insanity of this side story becomes a little funny, which is the point. Towards the end the writer, whoever wrote this, tries to justify it all by making it about how good partners in relationships at least try to get themselves invested into what their partner likes but like…it’s so weak and meaningless it really doesn’t matter.
The alternative version is slightly better, Irie being a blatant pedophile would normally be extremely cringeworthy, but the lunacy of the events made it a bit funnier. Satoko and Shion also have more dialogue in this version as well, which makes it instantly better. Sadly, this version cuts out Hanyuu entirely but like…the less young looking characters around Irie, the better.
Frankly…this story…is very degenerate. Despite that, I didn’t really find it painful to read. It was so ridiculous and idiotic, I just didn’t care and went along with the ride. And I think once you do that the sheer insanity of this side story becomes a little funny, which is the point. Towards the end the writer, whoever wrote this, tries to justify it all by making it about how good partners in relationships at least try to get themselves invested into what their partner likes but like…it’s so weak and meaningless it really doesn’t matter.
The alternative version is slightly better, Irie being a blatant pedophile would normally be extremely cringeworthy, but the lunacy of the events made it a bit funnier. Satoko and Shion also have more dialogue in this version as well, which makes it instantly better. Sadly, this version cuts out Hanyuu entirely but like…the less young looking characters around Irie, the better.
This review contains spoilers
reading this activated my hinamizawa syndrome and bumped me up to L5…it’s over for me….THERE ARE MAGGOTS IN MY SKIIINN
You can read the reviews I made on each individual story on their respective pages but…Saikoroshi-hen is a solid follow up to the main story, and the other two are absolutely awful. I do believe it’s still worthwhile to go through the entire thing, however, as it’s short and culminates as a fitting last work to Higurashi.
2021
has a very…questionable community but i enjoyed the story and characters of what i’ve played very much. will slowly play through the rest of the main story ^-^
SAVIOR OF DUAL DESTINIES.
i played this game ages go now when i was a child. at the time, the only other kirby titles i would’ve had were triple deluxe, canvas curse, and maybe super star ultra (can’t quite remember.) regardless, i really enjoyed this game. seeing the abilities unique to this title and not in future entry’s filled my heart with joy, and i recall having a really hard time with the final boss before beating it…several years after i had cleared the rest of the game. looking at it now, i feel very nostalgic about it, just like all the other kirby games i’ve played. even though i feel like i’ve mostly outgrown the series, it’s simple charm and gameplay that had kid me hooked, and the memories that came with that are something i’ll cherish well into the future.