Razalhague
2018
The gun crafting is absolutely the best part of this game. The rest is somewhat mediocre and repetitive, so I wouldn't recommend this if the crafting (and fighting with your crafted guns) doesn't interest you.
Once you figure out what works for you, I'd advice against rebuilding the same two guns over and over for every single mission, as that is just going to bring the mediocrity and repetitiveness into focus.
Once you figure out what works for you, I'd advice against rebuilding the same two guns over and over for every single mission, as that is just going to bring the mediocrity and repetitiveness into focus.
1997
Trying to look back at this objectively, it's not particularly good as a game. Of the three win-conditions for a race (drive until finish line, wreck all opponents, kill all pedestrians), it's wrecking all your opponents that is almost always the best strategy since they don't really have a defense against that. AFAIK only you can fix your car, so it's not even that hard and victory through destruction is pretty much just a question of time.
And yet, I had a ton of fun playing this as a kid. The value of this game isn't in the challenge, it's more in the aesthetics, the fun of a physics simulation, and the freedom of a sandbox.
Also, the soundtrack rocks.
And yet, I had a ton of fun playing this as a kid. The value of this game isn't in the challenge, it's more in the aesthetics, the fun of a physics simulation, and the freedom of a sandbox.
Also, the soundtrack rocks.
2019
A very good game with excellent worldbuilding and exploration. While there is argument over whether this counts as a metroidvania or not, I have to say that it still scratches the same itch for me, and in fact does it better than many "proper metroidvanias".
My main complaints are the insta-kill spikes and pits, and how a part of the (free) DLC is only accessible in NG+.
My main complaints are the insta-kill spikes and pits, and how a part of the (free) DLC is only accessible in NG+.
2013
The game's difficulty comes mainly from: A) old style jump controls (ie. you can't change trajectory once in the air, except with the double jump), B) somewhat newbie-hostile level design that results in plenty of trial-and-error gameplay, C) unforgiving health system where you lose gear when you take damage, and D) long distances between checkpoints.
And yet... this isn't as rage-inducing as I would've expected.
It kind of reminds me of Celeste, in the way that you first need to figure out a sequence of actions, and then execute it with little room for improvization or mistakes. Also in the way that you will die a lot. The difference is that Celeste has waaay more checkpoints, an interesting story, and actually enjoyable fluid movement.
While I've never beaten this and have uninstalled it several times, it has never made me go "I'm never playing this again".
And yet... this isn't as rage-inducing as I would've expected.
It kind of reminds me of Celeste, in the way that you first need to figure out a sequence of actions, and then execute it with little room for improvization or mistakes. Also in the way that you will die a lot. The difference is that Celeste has waaay more checkpoints, an interesting story, and actually enjoyable fluid movement.
While I've never beaten this and have uninstalled it several times, it has never made me go "I'm never playing this again".
As an aspiring game designer, I enjoyed analyzing this game more than I did playing it. It tries many interesting things, but unfortunately fails on the execution.
I ended up abandoning the game because the final boss (for the path I took) was floorless and I kept accidentally doing the stomp attack.
I ended up abandoning the game because the final boss (for the path I took) was floorless and I kept accidentally doing the stomp attack.
2016
Nowadays people act like OW1 was a perfect game and OW2 made everything worse.
But I remember pirateships. I remember Paris, Horizon, and Anubis. I remember shield-watch: shooting at Orisa's shield until it broke, only to be replaced by Sigma's shield, and vice versa, until the thing that broke was me. I remember... and amid the grief for all that was lost, I am grateful that these things are no more.
But I remember pirateships. I remember Paris, Horizon, and Anubis. I remember shield-watch: shooting at Orisa's shield until it broke, only to be replaced by Sigma's shield, and vice versa, until the thing that broke was me. I remember... and amid the grief for all that was lost, I am grateful that these things are no more.
2022
Now, there's going to be a lot of complaining in this review, but that doesn't really reflect how much I liked the game. There's many things that could be improved, but none of these are major issues and the core gameplay is solid. Overall, this was quite a nice metroidvania.
First and foremost, the game suffers a bit from having slightly too many abilities and upgrades, and would probably have been a better game if a few had been removed and more time and polish were spent on each of the remaining ones.
Map is large and fairly good, though backtracking is a bit of a chore. There's a bit too many long and windy passages without any shortcuts, and the fast travel system wasn't good enough for most of the game.
Save points are also a little sparse and not discoverable enough. That is compensated somewhat by the lives-system, but it feels a bit out of place and like a band-aid solution. The sparseness is also a problem because by default, the map only updates when you visit a save point. Now, this behaviour is easy to change, but I wish the game had just committed to one and designed the map to suit that one.
The optional platforming challenges remind me of Celeste and I liked many of them, but also disliked many because of how fiddly the timings are.
First and foremost, the game suffers a bit from having slightly too many abilities and upgrades, and would probably have been a better game if a few had been removed and more time and polish were spent on each of the remaining ones.
Map is large and fairly good, though backtracking is a bit of a chore. There's a bit too many long and windy passages without any shortcuts, and the fast travel system wasn't good enough for most of the game.
Save points are also a little sparse and not discoverable enough. That is compensated somewhat by the lives-system, but it feels a bit out of place and like a band-aid solution. The sparseness is also a problem because by default, the map only updates when you visit a save point. Now, this behaviour is easy to change, but I wish the game had just committed to one and designed the map to suit that one.
The optional platforming challenges remind me of Celeste and I liked many of them, but also disliked many because of how fiddly the timings are.
2021
I'm just disappointed in this game. I kept hoping it would get better because there's potential in the mechanics and occasional moments where it's fun, but fundamentally it's just too damn repetitive.
Also, for a game where fluid movement is this important, it's way too easy to get stuck on level geometry.
Also, for a game where fluid movement is this important, it's way too easy to get stuck on level geometry.
No major flaws, but not really anything novel either.
I think the game could've used a couple more areas and especially a couple more abilities.
I think the game could've used a couple more areas and especially a couple more abilities.
2022
Very cool idea. I wish I liked this more, but between the mediocre writing/worldbuilding and kinda frustrating gameplay I just can't.
2020
It's a pretty good game that I would characterize as puzzle/stealth. My main complaints are the length (4.5 hours for me) and that it doesn't explore the potential within its mechanics enough. There's a decent variety of abilities, but it felt like the game breezed through them too fast. I would've also liked more variety in enemy encounters.
One of the best investigation games I've ever played. Had a lot of fun figuring things out.
The game is very hands-off when it comes to investigating. There's no "detective mode" that highlights important things, no evidence log, no deduction mechanic where you combine clues. What you have is a bunch of faces that you have to assign a name and a fate to. Once you manage to fill in the correct details for any three people, the game locks in those answers and gives you a little pat on the head. The lack of guidance is rather freeing, but it also means that you really have to use your own eyes and brain.
I expected this to have basically no replay-value, but was pleasantly surprised when I played it again about two years after my first time. The story is the same so you won't get the same experience of uncovering that, but the investigative part was still fun since there's enough people on board that I had forgotten most of their names and exact fates by the time I replayed this.
The game is very hands-off when it comes to investigating. There's no "detective mode" that highlights important things, no evidence log, no deduction mechanic where you combine clues. What you have is a bunch of faces that you have to assign a name and a fate to. Once you manage to fill in the correct details for any three people, the game locks in those answers and gives you a little pat on the head. The lack of guidance is rather freeing, but it also means that you really have to use your own eyes and brain.
I expected this to have basically no replay-value, but was pleasantly surprised when I played it again about two years after my first time. The story is the same so you won't get the same experience of uncovering that, but the investigative part was still fun since there's enough people on board that I had forgotten most of their names and exact fates by the time I replayed this.
1994
Even though I'm an old gamer and a metroidvania fan, I'd never played this until now as I just never really got my hands on an SNES and emulation isn't really my thing. So, having had this game touted as "peak metroidvania", I have to say I was rather disappointed when I finally finished it. It's not a bad game by any means, but it definitely didn't live up to the hype.
The movement never felt fluid to me. The combat seemed to lack depth, but I'm not sure if this is a problem with the combat or simply because I prefer melee combat to shooting in these type of games.
The only part I really enjoyed was the exploration, but even that fell short as the rewards for it are mostly just endless missile capacity upgrades.
It may have been amazing for its time and a formative experience for many, but it is far from the best in the genre.
The movement never felt fluid to me. The combat seemed to lack depth, but I'm not sure if this is a problem with the combat or simply because I prefer melee combat to shooting in these type of games.
The only part I really enjoyed was the exploration, but even that fell short as the rewards for it are mostly just endless missile capacity upgrades.
It may have been amazing for its time and a formative experience for many, but it is far from the best in the genre.
A fun investigation game about digging through the archives. I just wish there was more, it's not even two hours long.
2022
Absolutely would not recommend this to new players. The reason I'm still playing this is because I know all the heroes and maps so it's just a comfy familiar game. And the way I keep it comfy is by playing low-stress games of Mystery Heroes. The RNGsus giveth and the RNGsus taketh away, and I just do my best with what I have.