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Muv-Luv Alternative
2006
One of the greatest pieces of science fiction ever conceived. People play around with peak fiction no this is the pinnacle of the medium. This is real peak fiction. True Kamige. Greatest of all time. Zenith of the medium. Hallmark of media. Gold standard of storytelling. Apogee of creativity. Vertex of invention. Crest of ingenuity. Acme of imagination. Pinnacle of innovation. Epic of epics. Legend among legends. Peak fiction.
So first of all a giant thanks to my buddy Brandon for gifting this to me. Realistically if this doesn't get gifted to me I never play this game. The trails game (falcom other series) burnt me out. I had zero desire to play any more of their games. However this game was a delightful surprise in so many ways and fixes so many issues I have with the trails series.
First of all the comabt is way more fun for me. Just simple hack and slash and dodging around but super quick and easy to pick up. The story is really solid hear, it takes a while to cook (like all falcom stuff) but once it does it cooks hard. The characters are all great here. There's real consequence and meaning and sadness to the plot here, and at times reminded me of a final fantasy like story in that regard.
Being able to explore just a giant island and feel like a pirate was pretty cool. Finding all the people that had washed ashore kept it interesting.
I do wish the story got going sooner or some hours were cut here, and the map was finnicky and I wish was stronger.
There's some falcom jank here too (the slow pan introductions/the presentations/cheesy dialogue/everyone way too happy)
But overall this was a great game and one I can easily reccomened. Can't wait to check out ys ix at some point!
First of all the comabt is way more fun for me. Just simple hack and slash and dodging around but super quick and easy to pick up. The story is really solid hear, it takes a while to cook (like all falcom stuff) but once it does it cooks hard. The characters are all great here. There's real consequence and meaning and sadness to the plot here, and at times reminded me of a final fantasy like story in that regard.
Being able to explore just a giant island and feel like a pirate was pretty cool. Finding all the people that had washed ashore kept it interesting.
I do wish the story got going sooner or some hours were cut here, and the map was finnicky and I wish was stronger.
There's some falcom jank here too (the slow pan introductions/the presentations/cheesy dialogue/everyone way too happy)
But overall this was a great game and one I can easily reccomened. Can't wait to check out ys ix at some point!
Corn Kidz 64
2023
Sadly this has nothing to do with Children of the Corn… but it was still pretty fun. It’s a 3D platformer that is a nice blend of different games in the genre, some Mario 64, some Banjo, but really it’s sort of its own unique thing. For what it is I enjoyed it, not as much as other indie platformers I’ve played but I appreciated its unique mechanics and ideas, I just struggled with some of the level design that could be a bit obtuse or didn’t mix well with the camera. Worth a try for fans of the genre but not going to win anyone over who isn’t.
Final Fantasy XVI
2023
This review contains spoilers
6/10 not diverse enough - joshua not kissed enough
i have issues - i see flaws, cracks and holes - someone kicks my door down and screams in my face "what was that scene, that was JRPG NONSENSE!!", i point my smartphone at him showing a gif of james franco in the 2018 western cinematic film the ballad of buster scruggs, he grabs my head and shakes it, "THAT CHARACTER IS UNDEVELOPED", i laugh as he is instantly crushed by $200 million in 100 yen coins, to be spent on the next bossfight cinematic
you laugh nervously, you ask me "we'll get back to the game of thrones stuff soon, right?" - i do not register it, i am already preparing to fight the concept of midlife crisis or some other dumb abstract shit personified into human with wings of arbitrary color - and personally i wouldnt have it any other way
ultimately, yoshida-dono said he wanted "the best graphics, the best story and the best battle system" and inspecting with any lens of signifant width it is clear that it is his victory and we mere peasants can squabble about things that could have been done better (some things of which i'd probably agree with), but in the end we can do nothing but kneel
while these bumps in the road may prove nauseating to those not accustomed to riding chocobos with no seatbelt, fact is that when the road gets smooth, thats when playing this game feels like finally playing every fake e3 trailer thats been dumped on our eyes for the past 15 years, thats when playing this game feels like FFXV finally released, thats when we are so back bros
it cannot be overstated how much these bossfights and cinematics feel like i can finally understand what it means when someone says their minds were blown by the FFVIII intro cinematic when it first came out, or what fighting sephiroth in 1997 felt like
if you ever doubted that this is "real" final fantasy, you need only take a look at the plotholes and weird sidequests that probably should have been main quests - true marks of a really good final fantasy game - if you don't get it why this is or you think this is stupid, click off the page and go back to livetweeting your colonoscopy or whatever it is you freaks do, and if you actually want to understand it, go play FFV for the love of god someone please play that game im fucking begging you
know that i was leaning on somewhere between 4 and 4.5 but had to round up because i saw some asshole put 3 stars with dishonored in his favorite games list and im fucking done playin with you foolsbut also i dont think i'd go below 8.5/10 anyway so i had to round up regardless please dont hurt me
where is biggs and wedge ? huh ? wait dont roll the credits yet you forg-
i have issues - i see flaws, cracks and holes - someone kicks my door down and screams in my face "what was that scene, that was JRPG NONSENSE!!", i point my smartphone at him showing a gif of james franco in the 2018 western cinematic film the ballad of buster scruggs, he grabs my head and shakes it, "THAT CHARACTER IS UNDEVELOPED", i laugh as he is instantly crushed by $200 million in 100 yen coins, to be spent on the next bossfight cinematic
you laugh nervously, you ask me "we'll get back to the game of thrones stuff soon, right?" - i do not register it, i am already preparing to fight the concept of midlife crisis or some other dumb abstract shit personified into human with wings of arbitrary color - and personally i wouldnt have it any other way
ultimately, yoshida-dono said he wanted "the best graphics, the best story and the best battle system" and inspecting with any lens of signifant width it is clear that it is his victory and we mere peasants can squabble about things that could have been done better (some things of which i'd probably agree with), but in the end we can do nothing but kneel
while these bumps in the road may prove nauseating to those not accustomed to riding chocobos with no seatbelt, fact is that when the road gets smooth, thats when playing this game feels like finally playing every fake e3 trailer thats been dumped on our eyes for the past 15 years, thats when playing this game feels like FFXV finally released, thats when we are so back bros
it cannot be overstated how much these bossfights and cinematics feel like i can finally understand what it means when someone says their minds were blown by the FFVIII intro cinematic when it first came out, or what fighting sephiroth in 1997 felt like
if you ever doubted that this is "real" final fantasy, you need only take a look at the plotholes and weird sidequests that probably should have been main quests - true marks of a really good final fantasy game - if you don't get it why this is or you think this is stupid, click off the page and go back to livetweeting your colonoscopy or whatever it is you freaks do, and if you actually want to understand it, go play FFV for the love of god someone please play that game im fucking begging you
know that i was leaning on somewhere between 4 and 4.5 but had to round up because i saw some asshole put 3 stars with dishonored in his favorite games list and im fucking done playin with you fools
where is biggs and wedge ? huh ? wait dont roll the credits yet you forg-
Unicorn Overlord
2024
I just absolutely adored this game and could not put it down. I love tactics games and this unique turned based hybrid real time was just perfect for me.
Lets start with the story. There are some good twists overall but it's a pretty simple fantasy storyline of good vs evil which I really enjoyed. The characters are great and I love how involved with the story most of them are. They also have dedicated support conversations for every characters which fleshes out all the characters nicely. You are able to choose a partner in marriage which plays a big part in the story with a nice fully voiced proposal scene. The support conversations reminded me a lot of Fire Emblem which you can see this game has heavy inspiration from.
The gameplay as I mentioned combines turned based strategy with real time. Throughout the game you will earn honor points which let you upgrade how many units each battalion can hold. You only start out with 2 units per battalion but you will eventually get to twelve units with 5 characters per. This sounds confusing but it all gets introduced slowly and is easy to wrap your head around. You move these battalions in real time but can pause at any time. You setup what characters and what type of moves you want them to do most often or for specific circumstances. There is a ton of customization and it's a lot of fun to experiment. They have a bunch of different difficulty options which give you different levels to find your perfect comfort zone, and it can be changed whenever.
The world map is the biggest and best surprise about this game. It is fully interactive with tons of resources and secrets to find. Each village you build up with increase your honor score and then you can assign a guard which will auto gather resources for you. The graphics are just gorgeous in typical Vanillaware fashion. The characters always look great and the battles are super flashy.
Overall I just adore this game and can't say enough good things about it. Vanillaware you did again!
Lets start with the story. There are some good twists overall but it's a pretty simple fantasy storyline of good vs evil which I really enjoyed. The characters are great and I love how involved with the story most of them are. They also have dedicated support conversations for every characters which fleshes out all the characters nicely. You are able to choose a partner in marriage which plays a big part in the story with a nice fully voiced proposal scene. The support conversations reminded me a lot of Fire Emblem which you can see this game has heavy inspiration from.
The gameplay as I mentioned combines turned based strategy with real time. Throughout the game you will earn honor points which let you upgrade how many units each battalion can hold. You only start out with 2 units per battalion but you will eventually get to twelve units with 5 characters per. This sounds confusing but it all gets introduced slowly and is easy to wrap your head around. You move these battalions in real time but can pause at any time. You setup what characters and what type of moves you want them to do most often or for specific circumstances. There is a ton of customization and it's a lot of fun to experiment. They have a bunch of different difficulty options which give you different levels to find your perfect comfort zone, and it can be changed whenever.
The world map is the biggest and best surprise about this game. It is fully interactive with tons of resources and secrets to find. Each village you build up with increase your honor score and then you can assign a guard which will auto gather resources for you. The graphics are just gorgeous in typical Vanillaware fashion. The characters always look great and the battles are super flashy.
Overall I just adore this game and can't say enough good things about it. Vanillaware you did again!
Rollerdrome
2022
A very kinectic and awesome experience that it's giving me the Max Payne fix i've been missing all these years. Only issues were the controls being a tad wonky during some corner turning and I wish it had more bosses and enemies.
A sequel that takes a totally new different approach in its design to the first games formula and it mostly pays off incredibly well. I think some of the levels feel padded out which leads to some annoying tedium, the boss fights aren't as dynamic and don't take as much risk as the first games. But the game makes up for it in much smoother gameplay in its platforming, combat, etc. Fantastic presentation and atmosphere in each level bring the world of Sly Cooper to even more life then the first games. Only issue is that the levels don't feel at all well designed for Bentley or Murray to run around in. Another noticeable step up from the first is the games narrative, the core gang each have even wittier and funnier written comradery, it also makes them all feel fleshed out as characters who learn and grow. Murray especially becomes an actual character this time and isn't just the fat one in the group looking for hot dogs like in the first game. Bentley having his moments to take the lead beyond the planning phase and face his fears. Overall a surprisingly great sequel full of surprises and fun even with its rough edges. Another 6th generation PS2 gem.
Tearaway: Unfolded
2015
A game with 10/10 aesthetics and presentation. Absolutely adored the art style, music, and craft. Unfortunately can't say the same for the entire gameplay expierence as its (ahem) paper thin and too long with not enough ideas for the kind of game it is. If its length was cut in half this would have been a significantly more impactful gem of some of Media Molecules strongest flourishes in creativity that are vividly brought to life on its center stage. A shame Mm spent all this time after the fact on Dreams and never took a swing like this again.
(I hear the Vita version is better but not sure by how much)
(I hear the Vita version is better but not sure by how much)
Crisis Core Reunion was an essential game to play for me, especially with a Rebirth being released recently. Zack is a lovable oaf, Genesis is an interesting villain, and some other familiar faces are overall the best parts of the game. Some chapters drag on a little too long, Genesis trying to reveal his plans through poems is somewhat annoying, but I still enjoyed my play through.
For a PSP game, the combat still holds up, yeah it’s button mashy like Kingdom Hearts but it’s part of the fun, and the Materia system is still the best.
If you’re a fan of Final Fantasy 7, or are thinking about playing Remake, play this game.
For a PSP game, the combat still holds up, yeah it’s button mashy like Kingdom Hearts but it’s part of the fun, and the Materia system is still the best.
If you’re a fan of Final Fantasy 7, or are thinking about playing Remake, play this game.
Average, but with enough charm to make me feel positive about it by the end. In terms of the things I enjoyed, the sprite art is quite pleasing, and the music is surprisingly good. However, the movement speed feeds incredibly slow for the type of game it is, and it suffers the same fate as early 3DS or even DS games where the stylus is overused to the point where it slows down the game even more. Doing all of the side content--which involved replaying the same levels multiple times to find new characters to rescue or chests to unlock--took about 10 hours, so it really does not overstay its welcome. It was perfect for small sessions during a busy work week, but probably would not be worth any more than the $8 I bought it for.
