Tarpstone
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This review contains spoilers
Pros: amazing visuals and sound. Fan service (e.g. the cover art scene), but not TOO much. Injected so much more personality into already-awesome characters. For folks like me who played the original FF7, sometimes it feels like you're getting to go behind the curtain and spend more time with characters, details, and plot lines that couldn't all fit into the original. Somehow, we got a full-game deep dive into not even half of the first disc of the original FF7, yet it doesn't feel totally wacky from a pacing perspective.
Cons: while it doesn't feel TOTALLY wacky, pacing can be erratic. Some chapters feel just right, while others feel stretched/overblown (the cynical take here is that it was done for $$$, but I wouldn't go quite that far). I understand that you can't change the industrial setting without changing the story, but I was entirely ready to leave Midgar a little over halfway through the game. The Whispers were way too convenient/meta of a plot device, even for a Final Fantasy (but I will reserve full plot judgment until the trilogy plays out and come back to edit this if necessary). Ending went pretty far off the rails into timeline hell. Way, way too much of the near-death, "grab my hand before you fall" trope (so much so that Barret even acknowledges it at one point, which was admittedly funny). Some really upsetting game crashes when played on PS5 that cost me well over an hour of gametime, including one during the final sequence.
Cons: while it doesn't feel TOTALLY wacky, pacing can be erratic. Some chapters feel just right, while others feel stretched/overblown (the cynical take here is that it was done for $$$, but I wouldn't go quite that far). I understand that you can't change the industrial setting without changing the story, but I was entirely ready to leave Midgar a little over halfway through the game. The Whispers were way too convenient/meta of a plot device, even for a Final Fantasy (but I will reserve full plot judgment until the trilogy plays out and come back to edit this if necessary). Ending went pretty far off the rails into timeline hell. Way, way too much of the near-death, "grab my hand before you fall" trope (so much so that Barret even acknowledges it at one point, which was admittedly funny). Some really upsetting game crashes when played on PS5 that cost me well over an hour of gametime, including one during the final sequence.
2021
This review contains spoilers
I'm so disappointed that I've been unable to get into this game. Aside from the excellent soundtrack, for me the 3DS games are in another league of quality entirely. The visual charm and polish of those earlier entries is gone: traded for choppy animations, FPS drops, and long load times, with motion blur on everything as a coverup. The voice acting doesn't measure up at all. The pacing and combat is surprisingly frustrating: you can get to a point where you're comfortable with the area's mobs and then still get totally blown out by bosses, with no answers in sight. Even the usual JRPG answer of "just grind" doesn't offer much in the way of satisfaction. I'm sitting here 15 hours in wondering if a power spike or cool new job is ever coming, but I think unfortunately I'm done waiting. Bravely Default and Bravely Second brought a ton to the table 10 years ago that made turn-based JRPG feel new again. This game feels like a step backwards in comparison.
2023
When I fell in love with Paper Mario as a child, I had no idea that it was the spiritual successor to this game. The influence can be found everywhere: timing-based combat, Mario's hammer, colorful original characters as Mario's party members, star pieces, the list goes on...but the writing stands above it all, from dialogue to enemy thoughts. You read just a few lines and the humorous, witty Paper Mario tone is set (or now I should say: the Super Mario RPG tone).
I'm also grateful to have played games like KH and FF15 before hearing one of Yoko Shimomura's first (and I would now say best) soundtracks. Certain songs in this game immediately teleported me into those worlds, which is a testament to her consistency. Sometimes I am really not a fan of modern sound remasters (Silver vs. Soul Silver is my textbook example), but that's not the case here. This remastered soundtrack is golden: symphonic and full of life. Despite playing the game with the new sound, I really appreciate that there's the option of playing with the classic SNES soundtrack. This should be standard in almost all remakes.
P.S. Mallow is the GOAT.
I'm also grateful to have played games like KH and FF15 before hearing one of Yoko Shimomura's first (and I would now say best) soundtracks. Certain songs in this game immediately teleported me into those worlds, which is a testament to her consistency. Sometimes I am really not a fan of modern sound remasters (Silver vs. Soul Silver is my textbook example), but that's not the case here. This remastered soundtrack is golden: symphonic and full of life. Despite playing the game with the new sound, I really appreciate that there's the option of playing with the classic SNES soundtrack. This should be standard in almost all remakes.
P.S. Mallow is the GOAT.
2023
This review contains spoilers
Mad respect to anyone not using occasional checkpoints. If we hadn't, we would be playing this game until we were dead. Neat little world building dialogues as you climb the mountain. Strong co-op game.
This review contains spoilers
Really loved the swordplay in the end, and how they reused locations in a clever way during the game's "second pass". You can see some of the early seeds of BOTW in this game if you look hard enough, but I would love another game of this flavor (or closer to a more classic Zelda pattern).
2017
This game is a work of art and so satisfying to conquer at the same time. More games in this style would be welcome.
It's not Mario Golf GBC in terms of story, music or charm, but it could be worse. Could have been great with some higher quality online multiplayer.
2021
Must play co-op with an incredible setting + variety of puzzles and mini-games. This is a special experience that I haven't found anywhere else.
2020
For years I sat on the sideline of the BR hype train, waiting for my turn. Fall Guys delivered it in the form of a massively multiplayer platformer, where out-smarting and out-grabbing are your keys to winning the Crown.
Something about bean physics was made for me. This game gave me and my friends some incredible moments and lobbies during the COVID era (especially after they finally did something to address cheaters). Once they started introducing more lobby variety (duos, special queues, etc.), very little remote work got done in weeks where Fall Ball Cup or Hexagone-only was live. I'm eternally grateful to the devs for this game, even though it's entered its free-to-play, one-too-many-currencies arc. A few hundred crowns in the pile, and every single one felt special.
Bonus: my most improbable clip.
Something about bean physics was made for me. This game gave me and my friends some incredible moments and lobbies during the COVID era (especially after they finally did something to address cheaters). Once they started introducing more lobby variety (duos, special queues, etc.), very little remote work got done in weeks where Fall Ball Cup or Hexagone-only was live. I'm eternally grateful to the devs for this game, even though it's entered its free-to-play, one-too-many-currencies arc. A few hundred crowns in the pile, and every single one felt special.
Bonus: my most improbable clip.
This review contains spoilers
Still completely scarred by Mummy-Me Maze. But proud of Toad for having a super solid, standalone puzzle game of his own now.
I'll be the first to admit that I never expected this crossover to suit me that well, but I was totally wrong. Rather, I was impressed by the combat depth and replayability you'll find in this gem. It stands on its own in the turn-based tactics genre, even without the Mario buff.
Super grindy beat 'em up, but we sure did grind for a while. More fun with friends.
2018
Actually one of the more enjoyable handling systems in an arcade off-road racer. Wish it was a little longer and had a little more track variety, but was worth the $30.
2017
Any game that can channel shades of Mario Golf (GBC) will always be a winner in my book. The music isn't quite on the same level, but everything else is there.
There's no disputing the fact that BOTW is a great game. But the more I play, the more I miss the classic Zelda recipe. Open world just isn't for me. I'm hopeful that the two formulas can coexist going forward.