etria_girl
2024
Fantastic vocal direction and performance in service of one of the most generic horror game stories possible. Still the setting and visuals are fantastic for the first half before everything kind of melts into a boring through-line to the predictable ending.
After how disappointing V was, it wouldn’t be hard to top it, but VI makes a true effort to try something new. Ys VI is a great start to possibly the best era of the Ys series, taking elements of older games and bringing them in a new fun direction.
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VI has a larger story focus than the past several entries, with several returning characters, the dialogue of all the NPCs in both towns is updating very regularly (fitting that Trails in the Sky would release so soon after this game), and an attempt to tie parts of previous games together into a larger backstory. I feel that this works quite well, the story and NPCs are charming and fun, and the localization is strong too, with a lot of personality.
The gameplay is still the first attempt at a style they would refine more in the next two games, but it’s already a very solid foundation. It retains the feeling of being fairly fast paced, and sort of feels like another approach to what V was trying, with an emphasis on platforming and actually needing to consider your sword techniques alongside movement. Down thrusts, upward swings, and the interesting but too-difficult dash jump (though thankfully nearly completely optional). The level design is mostly pretty basic, but the moments of tricky platforming while dealing with rooms of enemies is always fun.
Overworld areas are fairly short, and dungeons are quite long, some of them getting fairly labyrinthine layouts, which works well in some and less in others, but overall I enjoyed them.
The game also retains the early-series concepts of levels dramatically affecting your damage + survivability, and the area balancing being hard at the start of the area and easy by the end as you level up.
The music is a significant improvement from V, and while I wouldn’t say it’s the best in the series, I enjoyed basically everything in it to some extent, and there are some really great songs in there too. I think it's a soundtrack that grows on you with repeated listens, or at least it made a lot more of an impression on me this second time around.
(Also, the credits song going for the early-Ys-style super upbeat sound was very cute.)
Overall I was really happy to revisit this game, and had a great time!
Selected song: The Ruined City 'Kishgal'
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VI has a larger story focus than the past several entries, with several returning characters, the dialogue of all the NPCs in both towns is updating very regularly (fitting that Trails in the Sky would release so soon after this game), and an attempt to tie parts of previous games together into a larger backstory. I feel that this works quite well, the story and NPCs are charming and fun, and the localization is strong too, with a lot of personality.
The gameplay is still the first attempt at a style they would refine more in the next two games, but it’s already a very solid foundation. It retains the feeling of being fairly fast paced, and sort of feels like another approach to what V was trying, with an emphasis on platforming and actually needing to consider your sword techniques alongside movement. Down thrusts, upward swings, and the interesting but too-difficult dash jump (though thankfully nearly completely optional). The level design is mostly pretty basic, but the moments of tricky platforming while dealing with rooms of enemies is always fun.
Overworld areas are fairly short, and dungeons are quite long, some of them getting fairly labyrinthine layouts, which works well in some and less in others, but overall I enjoyed them.
The game also retains the early-series concepts of levels dramatically affecting your damage + survivability, and the area balancing being hard at the start of the area and easy by the end as you level up.
The music is a significant improvement from V, and while I wouldn’t say it’s the best in the series, I enjoyed basically everything in it to some extent, and there are some really great songs in there too. I think it's a soundtrack that grows on you with repeated listens, or at least it made a lot more of an impression on me this second time around.
(Also, the credits song going for the early-Ys-style super upbeat sound was very cute.)
Overall I was really happy to revisit this game, and had a great time!
Selected song: The Ruined City 'Kishgal'
Ys V is a strange game. My friend described it as “workman-like” in her review, and that really is the perfect description. It isn’t awful, but it feels like they made it just to put something out. Ys IV had been given to two other developers, already likely a sign they didn’t know where to go with the series after III, and like III is a Zelda 2-like, V ends up just being a dull riff on Link to the Past.
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The in-universe setting is probably the most unique one in the series to that point, but the game does nothing with it at all. Most villages and field areas could be in any fantasy medieval JRPG, and in fact the assets and aesthetics look almost like they could have been made before deciding on the setting. The story and characters are barely present, despite all of the parts being things that could totally work in a typical Ys story. The game feels like it finally develops an identity by the final few hours, but it’s just too little too late, and the legendary ancient city of alchemy just looks like a generic JPRG village and castle anyway.
The gameplay is Fine. The transition to overhead perspective and sword and shield button combat works pretty well, because the game does a nice job of making it still feel speedy. The game is incredibly easy though, so much so that months after release Falcom released a new version called Ys V Expert to inject any sort of friction to the game.
Perhaps the saddest thing for me though, is the music is just Nothing. Despite the slight hypocrisy of liking the GBA soundfont a lot, the SNES soundfont is always fighting an uphill battle for me in the best of games, and this game is not the best of SNES compositions. Generic and completely unmemorable, I couldn’t hum a single bar of any song from the game and I beat it last night.
Ys V is likely the worst Ys game, and it says something that it is easily the least referenced or considered in later games and discussions about Ys. Unless you’re a series completionist, I’d say to just skip this one. It’s not absolutely terrible but it’s simply not interesting enough to justify it’s 7-8 hours.
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The in-universe setting is probably the most unique one in the series to that point, but the game does nothing with it at all. Most villages and field areas could be in any fantasy medieval JRPG, and in fact the assets and aesthetics look almost like they could have been made before deciding on the setting. The story and characters are barely present, despite all of the parts being things that could totally work in a typical Ys story. The game feels like it finally develops an identity by the final few hours, but it’s just too little too late, and the legendary ancient city of alchemy just looks like a generic JPRG village and castle anyway.
The gameplay is Fine. The transition to overhead perspective and sword and shield button combat works pretty well, because the game does a nice job of making it still feel speedy. The game is incredibly easy though, so much so that months after release Falcom released a new version called Ys V Expert to inject any sort of friction to the game.
Perhaps the saddest thing for me though, is the music is just Nothing. Despite the slight hypocrisy of liking the GBA soundfont a lot, the SNES soundfont is always fighting an uphill battle for me in the best of games, and this game is not the best of SNES compositions. Generic and completely unmemorable, I couldn’t hum a single bar of any song from the game and I beat it last night.
Ys V is likely the worst Ys game, and it says something that it is easily the least referenced or considered in later games and discussions about Ys. Unless you’re a series completionist, I’d say to just skip this one. It’s not absolutely terrible but it’s simply not interesting enough to justify it’s 7-8 hours.
This game is so much fun. An incredibly lavish swan song for this era of Ys with possibly the best soundtrack in the series, detailed colorful PCE visuals, a charmingly awkward fandub, a fun riff on the single Ys plot (complimentary), its truly everything you could want.
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The does an unusual thing of framing itself as being a direct sequel to 1&2, going so far as having you start the game in Esteria, return to it in the middle of the game, and have the final credits sequence there too. It’s so invested in this idea that it repurposes Dark Fact and the goddesses of Ys for the backstory of Celceta, brings back all the magic spells from 2, and has you bring Dogi along for the final dungeon instead of any of the new characters you’ve met in Celceta. It’s a strange choice, and the game would in some ways be better without it, but it sort of works in retrospect with Ys V beginning the series’ now expected gameplay pivots, it ends up feeling like the last hurrah for bump-combat Adol and his adventures.
The game has fantastic presentation, with charming overworld sprites, high quality animated anime portraits and cutscenes, incredible CD audio (all arranged by Ryo Yonemitsu, truly one of the best to ever do it), and a surprising amount of voice acting. This exact era of anime cheesiness just totally hits the spot for me and I really enjoyed everything about the look and sound of this game.
The gameplay is solidly fun, if you come at this from the Chronicles remakes of 1&2 not having 8-way movement is a slight adjustment, but an easy one. Progression feels very similar to Ys 2, with linear equipment upgrades and the Ys 2 spells making a return (though Fire is significantly less powerful, and Alter is not nearly as cleverly used). Enemies hit quite hard in this game, and at endgame can melt nearly your entire health bar in seconds, but healing isn’t too hard to come by (even if waiting around gets old fast when you have a large health bar).
Bosses are quite tricky and mostly satisfying to beat, there are one or two annoying fights but mostly they’re fast paced puzzles in a way I really enjoyed. Dungeons are pretty good too, most of them very linear but a few that are actually fun mazes (though nothing on the scale of Solomon Shrine).
Overall I really enjoyed this game, it’s the exact tone and feel I love from Ys, and it’s mostly just a shame they didn’t get to make more in this style.
Selected track: Truly an impossible choice but I’ve been dancing to the final dungeon theme all day today so it’s going to be that.
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The does an unusual thing of framing itself as being a direct sequel to 1&2, going so far as having you start the game in Esteria, return to it in the middle of the game, and have the final credits sequence there too. It’s so invested in this idea that it repurposes Dark Fact and the goddesses of Ys for the backstory of Celceta, brings back all the magic spells from 2, and has you bring Dogi along for the final dungeon instead of any of the new characters you’ve met in Celceta. It’s a strange choice, and the game would in some ways be better without it, but it sort of works in retrospect with Ys V beginning the series’ now expected gameplay pivots, it ends up feeling like the last hurrah for bump-combat Adol and his adventures.
The game has fantastic presentation, with charming overworld sprites, high quality animated anime portraits and cutscenes, incredible CD audio (all arranged by Ryo Yonemitsu, truly one of the best to ever do it), and a surprising amount of voice acting. This exact era of anime cheesiness just totally hits the spot for me and I really enjoyed everything about the look and sound of this game.
The gameplay is solidly fun, if you come at this from the Chronicles remakes of 1&2 not having 8-way movement is a slight adjustment, but an easy one. Progression feels very similar to Ys 2, with linear equipment upgrades and the Ys 2 spells making a return (though Fire is significantly less powerful, and Alter is not nearly as cleverly used). Enemies hit quite hard in this game, and at endgame can melt nearly your entire health bar in seconds, but healing isn’t too hard to come by (even if waiting around gets old fast when you have a large health bar).
Bosses are quite tricky and mostly satisfying to beat, there are one or two annoying fights but mostly they’re fast paced puzzles in a way I really enjoyed. Dungeons are pretty good too, most of them very linear but a few that are actually fun mazes (though nothing on the scale of Solomon Shrine).
Overall I really enjoyed this game, it’s the exact tone and feel I love from Ys, and it’s mostly just a shame they didn’t get to make more in this style.
Selected track: Truly an impossible choice but I’ve been dancing to the final dungeon theme all day today so it’s going to be that.
1991
weird game! it's got incredible music (easily in contention for the best version of this soundtrack), weird difficulty balancing, a pretty fun presentation and aesthetic, and its about as short as ys 1 too.
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they make the bizarre choice to have adol talk but only in text boxes, but its still strange to see him have a voice, and mostly he just says variations of "elena you are too much of an innocent girl to go into danger you must flee" which is a choice alright. most of the rest of the game gets actual VA, and it's charmingly awkward and feels very of its time in a way i enjoyed.
the difficulty of the game is strange, half the bosses melt instantly when you find the right spot to stand and the other half are kind of annoying and take a bit to figure out how best to approach. the regular stage enemies are the same, with most posing no threat but an occasional one who can do a ton of damage with just one touch.
despite the weirdness i had fun with this game, despite shifting to a zelda 2-ish side-scrolling platformer, this game maintains the feeling of speed that ys 1 and 2 have, and the game is quite short overall, so it really doesn't overstay it welcome. definitely recommended if you have an afternoon to kill and are curious!
standout track: so hard to pick just one honestly, the whole thing is amazing, but here
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they make the bizarre choice to have adol talk but only in text boxes, but its still strange to see him have a voice, and mostly he just says variations of "elena you are too much of an innocent girl to go into danger you must flee" which is a choice alright. most of the rest of the game gets actual VA, and it's charmingly awkward and feels very of its time in a way i enjoyed.
the difficulty of the game is strange, half the bosses melt instantly when you find the right spot to stand and the other half are kind of annoying and take a bit to figure out how best to approach. the regular stage enemies are the same, with most posing no threat but an occasional one who can do a ton of damage with just one touch.
despite the weirdness i had fun with this game, despite shifting to a zelda 2-ish side-scrolling platformer, this game maintains the feeling of speed that ys 1 and 2 have, and the game is quite short overall, so it really doesn't overstay it welcome. definitely recommended if you have an afternoon to kill and are curious!
standout track: so hard to pick just one honestly, the whole thing is amazing, but here
Eh. Challenging maps but a bad main plot and I don't love the new characters.
Didn't expect much from the DLC story since it has to be grafted to fit the main setting, but even the character writing is a step down from the main game. The new characters feel like Fates characters that got lost in 3H. Sadly even the supports are kinda weak.
Didn't expect much from the DLC story since it has to be grafted to fit the main setting, but even the character writing is a step down from the main game. The new characters feel like Fates characters that got lost in 3H. Sadly even the supports are kinda weak.
A beautiful looking game, and a game that comes across as stronger than many of the games inspired by it.
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The game has a big focus on the diorama aspect of the stages, setting each one up like a little theater scene, and very expressive sprite pantomime acting, leaning in to what gave FF so much identity with the SNES sprites. Characters coming in from offstage and having great characterful animation while a scene plays out on a nicely decorated stage never stopped charming me, and I think it’s one of the games greatest strengths.
The music really grew on me too, I’d heard it out of context before and never felt much for it, but it ends up fitting the game well.
The writing is also remarkably terse and effective compared to all the purple-prose-choked scripts that plague every game inspired by it. The main story itself is mostly standard fantasy beats but the execution is confident and compelling, only somewhat hampered by the awkward translation (though it’s still perfectly readable outside very optional backstory menus). The game also ends very strong, I was very impressed with that final scene, just great stuff.
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The game has a big focus on the diorama aspect of the stages, setting each one up like a little theater scene, and very expressive sprite pantomime acting, leaning in to what gave FF so much identity with the SNES sprites. Characters coming in from offstage and having great characterful animation while a scene plays out on a nicely decorated stage never stopped charming me, and I think it’s one of the games greatest strengths.
The music really grew on me too, I’d heard it out of context before and never felt much for it, but it ends up fitting the game well.
The writing is also remarkably terse and effective compared to all the purple-prose-choked scripts that plague every game inspired by it. The main story itself is mostly standard fantasy beats but the execution is confident and compelling, only somewhat hampered by the awkward translation (though it’s still perfectly readable outside very optional backstory menus). The game also ends very strong, I was very impressed with that final scene, just great stuff.
This review contains spoilers
they really should just commit to making a musical at this point
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Following up on remake's worst tendencies, the rest of disc 1 of final fantasy 7 is turned into a low stakes road trip game. Seeing the 7 party banter and have fun is enjoyable, it was my favorite part of this game, but it comes at the cost of making this game's pacing bizarre. Every town the party exclaims "let's hang out for a bit and have some fun!" even though all they've been doing is hanging out and having fun the entire game. Another downside to the hanging out is the character writing is way less consistent in this game than in Remake. Remake’s characterization of everyone was rock solid and well done, whereas stuff like Tifa and Aerith forming the weird Anime Girl Hivemind in most scenes they share here was really awkward. The additions of Elena, Yuffie, and Cait Sith were all really well done though, those three really shine in this game.
Every open world section between towns is completely cut off and unrelated to the rest of the game, and unlike FF’s last open world game, party interaction or dialogue is completely absent unless you’re on a sidequest. The maps are filled with Tasks to do, and none of it matters or even gives you much besides some light combat challenges or minigames (though the game is not in short supply of these, wow). Chadley and Mai are the only two characters in 90% of the open world, and while they’re fun, the world feels so strange and empty the entire game.
Despite my slight disappointment with the open world though, nearly all of my negative feelings on this game are centered on its story. Despite all of the fuss of the last game, this game rarely deviates from final fantasy 7’s plot, and even when it does it quickly snaps back into line, seemingly afraid you’ll actually have anything interesting to ponder during the 100+ hours it’ll ask of you.
Every emotional scene of the original is recreated here, but always with a terrible twist. Barret and Dyne are having a deeply emotional confrontation, the fight is compelling, the voice acting is well done, the scene is working BUT WAIT the camera pans from Barret clutching Dyne’s body to Palmer the goofy Shinra man in a dumb mech for a comedy boss fight in the middle of the cutscene for absolutely no reason. The return to Dyne after the fight as if the moment could still possibly work was so insane I set the controller down to just sit, stunned, for a minute. After a massively protracted dungeon, Red XIII is finally learning the truth about his father, the statue sheds a tear, the music is swelling, and the camera swings to the side to reveal an unhinged tribal caricature ghost man who opens the wall to lead you to a new dungeon about how the Cetra are now racist and so we can give the black materia Lore instead of it being part of the very obvious metaphor of the original.
These twists are all leading to The Moment though, the one everyone’s been debating about since Remake came out, Are They Going To Kill Aerith Again? And to answer that question, awful MCU brainrot has been introduced, with a new AU timeline where Zack is around (though it amounts to basically nothing) and Sephiroth 2 from the last game trying to combine the multiverses to ensure the plot of final fantasy 7 happens as it did originally (for some reason???) and fighting Cloud at a different edge of creation from the last game, and blowing a Sephiroth boss form from the end of 7 for good measure. All of this culminates in Cloud saving Aerith, but the game saying “just kidding” and killing her anyway. Even the scenes after her death are ruined by cutting the burial altogether, a completely baffling move.
In the end, I’m walking away from Rebirth with a bad taste in my mouth, but I still had fun throughout. Despite the open world feeling strange and the game feeling much too long, the gameplay part was pretty fun! Several of the minigames were engaging, the open world was good looking, andTriple Triad 2 Queen’s Blood was genuinely really fun. I really enjoyed the battle system this time too, it clicked way better for me this time than it did in Remake. It’s no FF13 ATB but it’s pretty good. It’s just a shame about the rest of it.
(Also, this is mostly a consequence of the game not being static detailed backgrounds anymore but FF7 has some truly incredible backgrounds, and shinra manor and the forgotten capital were some of the strongest in the original game. Rebirth shinra manor being one floor and a characterless basement and the forgotten capital being two screens long and filled with dementors from the last game was deeply disappointing compared to the remarkable atmosphere the original backgrounds had.)
((also holy shit 3D brawler is the hardest thing in the game by a huge margin, i think that minigame is evil))
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Following up on remake's worst tendencies, the rest of disc 1 of final fantasy 7 is turned into a low stakes road trip game. Seeing the 7 party banter and have fun is enjoyable, it was my favorite part of this game, but it comes at the cost of making this game's pacing bizarre. Every town the party exclaims "let's hang out for a bit and have some fun!" even though all they've been doing is hanging out and having fun the entire game. Another downside to the hanging out is the character writing is way less consistent in this game than in Remake. Remake’s characterization of everyone was rock solid and well done, whereas stuff like Tifa and Aerith forming the weird Anime Girl Hivemind in most scenes they share here was really awkward. The additions of Elena, Yuffie, and Cait Sith were all really well done though, those three really shine in this game.
Every open world section between towns is completely cut off and unrelated to the rest of the game, and unlike FF’s last open world game, party interaction or dialogue is completely absent unless you’re on a sidequest. The maps are filled with Tasks to do, and none of it matters or even gives you much besides some light combat challenges or minigames (though the game is not in short supply of these, wow). Chadley and Mai are the only two characters in 90% of the open world, and while they’re fun, the world feels so strange and empty the entire game.
Despite my slight disappointment with the open world though, nearly all of my negative feelings on this game are centered on its story. Despite all of the fuss of the last game, this game rarely deviates from final fantasy 7’s plot, and even when it does it quickly snaps back into line, seemingly afraid you’ll actually have anything interesting to ponder during the 100+ hours it’ll ask of you.
Every emotional scene of the original is recreated here, but always with a terrible twist. Barret and Dyne are having a deeply emotional confrontation, the fight is compelling, the voice acting is well done, the scene is working BUT WAIT the camera pans from Barret clutching Dyne’s body to Palmer the goofy Shinra man in a dumb mech for a comedy boss fight in the middle of the cutscene for absolutely no reason. The return to Dyne after the fight as if the moment could still possibly work was so insane I set the controller down to just sit, stunned, for a minute. After a massively protracted dungeon, Red XIII is finally learning the truth about his father, the statue sheds a tear, the music is swelling, and the camera swings to the side to reveal an unhinged tribal caricature ghost man who opens the wall to lead you to a new dungeon about how the Cetra are now racist and so we can give the black materia Lore instead of it being part of the very obvious metaphor of the original.
These twists are all leading to The Moment though, the one everyone’s been debating about since Remake came out, Are They Going To Kill Aerith Again? And to answer that question, awful MCU brainrot has been introduced, with a new AU timeline where Zack is around (though it amounts to basically nothing) and Sephiroth 2 from the last game trying to combine the multiverses to ensure the plot of final fantasy 7 happens as it did originally (for some reason???) and fighting Cloud at a different edge of creation from the last game, and blowing a Sephiroth boss form from the end of 7 for good measure. All of this culminates in Cloud saving Aerith, but the game saying “just kidding” and killing her anyway. Even the scenes after her death are ruined by cutting the burial altogether, a completely baffling move.
In the end, I’m walking away from Rebirth with a bad taste in my mouth, but I still had fun throughout. Despite the open world feeling strange and the game feeling much too long, the gameplay part was pretty fun! Several of the minigames were engaging, the open world was good looking, and
(Also, this is mostly a consequence of the game not being static detailed backgrounds anymore but FF7 has some truly incredible backgrounds, and shinra manor and the forgotten capital were some of the strongest in the original game. Rebirth shinra manor being one floor and a characterless basement and the forgotten capital being two screens long and filled with dementors from the last game was deeply disappointing compared to the remarkable atmosphere the original backgrounds had.)
((also holy shit 3D brawler is the hardest thing in the game by a huge margin, i think that minigame is evil))
2023
a very interesting set of new cats, the variety of takes on the mechanics is really interesting, some really leaning into the gameplay and game-y ideas, and some getting more into the story and new areas. the writing ranges from appropriately sparse and evocative, to sort of fanfic-y and less interesting, but the imagery and new areas are all pretty compelling.
delightfully ridiculous game. feels like a typical british mystery show but if everyone (especially the main character) was really over-acting every line of dialogue. the filmed footage all looks good, but the pacing is a bit weird as you do the typical adventure game back and forth showing evidence to people and putting together contradictions.
as the game goes the plot gets wilder and wilder and it becomes clear the game is not even going to try wrapping anything up by the end, and it does just kind of randomly end and then gives you a sequel hook that will never be paid off. despite that though, a lot of fun in its way.
as the game goes the plot gets wilder and wilder and it becomes clear the game is not even going to try wrapping anything up by the end, and it does just kind of randomly end and then gives you a sequel hook that will never be paid off. despite that though, a lot of fun in its way.
A totally enjoyable but average metroidvania. Quite linear, but with a couple instances of needing to double back to missed nooks. Areas are decently sized and have fun gimmicks, and the game has pretty pixel art. The music fits each area but is nothing catchy or memorable, and the game in general is pretty easy.
Despite the game not blowing me away, I am basically always in the mood for a SOTN-ish metroidvania, and this did hit that spot for me.
And lastly, Momo/Yuhia is the OTP :p
Despite the game not blowing me away, I am basically always in the mood for a SOTN-ish metroidvania, and this did hit that spot for me.
And lastly, Momo/Yuhia is the OTP :p
2023
alan wake's new york is what every suburban parent tells their children what the city is like
1986
i played the famicom cartridge version of the game because it has an easy mode, which ive never played before and got me curious
games still super tough but this mode makes surviving the relentless second half easier, and makes the bosses Significantly easier if you get the multipliers for subweapons
anyway its still castlevania, so it looks fantastic, has very catchy music, and great (if sometimes evil) level design
games still super tough but this mode makes surviving the relentless second half easier, and makes the bosses Significantly easier if you get the multipliers for subweapons
anyway its still castlevania, so it looks fantastic, has very catchy music, and great (if sometimes evil) level design
2017
beautiful looking and animated game. well designed but brutal at all times. while there is a win state and "story", the real game is internalizing your movement and learning the environment really well. when to fight, when to run, locations of food, quickest routes to shelter, and of course, coming up with a personal ranking of which lizard type is the cutest.
gamemaster anthony voice (all the plots of every 80s anime, ova, and pop culture sci-fi movie all happen at the same time for 40 hours)
what if minmay was in megazone 23 with the terminator running around etc etc etc
what if minmay was in megazone 23 with the terminator running around etc etc etc