insuredgecko
An incredible expansion, to the point where I’d say this is where the real game is. The levels all provide their own unique challenge, and can feel more like puzzles than levels in a shooter game’s campaign. It’s a nice direction, and the levels often provide a fair level of difficulty. The vibes of the campaign are unique and stylish, and the characters are immensely likable. The final boss was a much bigger and more exciting challenge than the final boss of the base game’s campaign, which I found lackluster. All in all, there’s no reason not to play this if you already like Splatoon.
This is actually a fair bit better than the base game, and I had some fun with it!
Pretty pitiful DLC for an already not great game.
2017
Perhaps it's not a substantial enough improvement on the first game, but this is still a great, unique shooter.
2015
A very stylish, fun game! I didn’t get the chance to try out multiplayer, but the single player campaign is fun and snappy. Shame it’s on the Wii U.
This game can be an absolute slog to play, but it’s so fucking good I don’t even care. This is definitely one of those games that sticks with you.
This review contains spoilers
JANUARY 2024 EDIT: I'm keeping this review up because I still agree with most of what was said, but time has soured my view of this game, and I was definitely too nice to it here. Bear that in mind.
I spent a little while waffling over whether to give this game a 7 or 8 out of 10, before remembering that I gave BOTW an 8 and I don’t feel this game is quite as good as its predecessor. So a 7 it is, though this is really more of a 7.5
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: you don’t need me to tell you that the gameplay is top notch. It’s like playing BOTW again for the first time (an incredible feeling already), except bigger and better with even more to do. The new features allow for so much creativity, and are a natural fit for the game. BOTW’s design philosophy of “if it works it ain’t stupid” is compounded here, and its a joy to experience. It’s also wonderful to see all the characters and the land of Hyrule again. It really feels like visiting old friends.
Any prerelease promise of traditional Zelda dungeons were out and out lies, but these dungeons are leagues more interesting, both visually and gameplay wise, than the Divine Beasts. The bosses are a return to form as well, playing much more like classic Zelda bosses. The final boss especially is a notable improvement. You can’t just brute force your way through it and it actually looks, well, cool!
Where the game loses me is in its story. I really care about the stories in Zelda games, they’ve told some fantastic and thematically rich ones in the past. But Tears of the Kingdom’s is kind of a mess.
The reason why the memories system worked well in BOTW, at least in my opinion, is that the majority of them weren’t focused on story so much as they were focused on character. Their purpose was to let you get to know Zelda, and care about saving her. And she actually does have a character. She’s bitter about her circumstances and needs time to warm up to Link, but cares deeply and is passionate about her interests. This system does not work as well in TOTK. The memories in this game serve a different goal, they’re intended to show the events of the plot, not give insight into characters. Seeing as you can discover the memories in any order, the whole story loses its impact when you’re seeing it out of order. It’s not confusing, just frustrating. And the characters feel like props moving the story along, not characters in their own right. Characters who become very important (Mineru, I’m talking about Mineru) are difficult to care about like you’re supposed to because they never feel real. This sacrifice in character moments in service to a story that’s damaged by the way it’s told really stings.
And can we talk about that story? How you hear it repeated every single fucking time you complete a dungeon? The past sages provide no new insight and do not tell the story any differently so you just hear the same old thing, over and over. I think it’s a good thing they didn’t try to make the past sages characters, they would have just felt like replacements for the champions, but it means it’s boring as sin to hear them go on.
Speaking of the champions, the new champions sure are there. They all have fine roles in the story, but I can’t help but yearn for more. There’s glimpses into better arcs, but the conclusion of “it’s my entire people’s purpose to assist Link so I’ll do my best!” is uncomfortable to watch happen four times. And on the subject of that conclusion…
Much smarter people than me have talked about the Zelda franchise’s issues with racism and imperialism, but I’ll throw in my two cents. The suggestion that the other races of Hyrule’s purpose is to assist the royal family is an uncomfortable one, and it’s made worse by the fact that Ganondorf is back in this game and. Like that. I shouldn’t need to tell you his design plays on several harmful tropes. At the absolute bare minimum, the vai outfit is gone from the game and you can make Link girlboss with being fetishistic (thank you frostbite set).
I don’t dislike everything the game’s story has to offer, I love the little mysteries about what the fuck Zelda’s been up to (my friends and I took to calling the Zelda imposter Zelwario) and I love everything to do with the light dragon. I wish we got to see Fi, but I know I’m one of maybe a dozen people on earth who wanted to see that, so I understand why it didn’t happen.
I don’t know. I got really invested in the simple yet effective story of BOTW, and it feels like this game is a good example of bigger isn’t always better.
It really speaks to how damn fun this game is that I’d still rank it so highly with so many negative things to say about it. I may have beaten the main story, but I’m nowhere near done with this game. Those Koroks aren’t going to torture themselves.
I spent a little while waffling over whether to give this game a 7 or 8 out of 10, before remembering that I gave BOTW an 8 and I don’t feel this game is quite as good as its predecessor. So a 7 it is, though this is really more of a 7.5
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: you don’t need me to tell you that the gameplay is top notch. It’s like playing BOTW again for the first time (an incredible feeling already), except bigger and better with even more to do. The new features allow for so much creativity, and are a natural fit for the game. BOTW’s design philosophy of “if it works it ain’t stupid” is compounded here, and its a joy to experience. It’s also wonderful to see all the characters and the land of Hyrule again. It really feels like visiting old friends.
Any prerelease promise of traditional Zelda dungeons were out and out lies, but these dungeons are leagues more interesting, both visually and gameplay wise, than the Divine Beasts. The bosses are a return to form as well, playing much more like classic Zelda bosses. The final boss especially is a notable improvement. You can’t just brute force your way through it and it actually looks, well, cool!
Where the game loses me is in its story. I really care about the stories in Zelda games, they’ve told some fantastic and thematically rich ones in the past. But Tears of the Kingdom’s is kind of a mess.
The reason why the memories system worked well in BOTW, at least in my opinion, is that the majority of them weren’t focused on story so much as they were focused on character. Their purpose was to let you get to know Zelda, and care about saving her. And she actually does have a character. She’s bitter about her circumstances and needs time to warm up to Link, but cares deeply and is passionate about her interests. This system does not work as well in TOTK. The memories in this game serve a different goal, they’re intended to show the events of the plot, not give insight into characters. Seeing as you can discover the memories in any order, the whole story loses its impact when you’re seeing it out of order. It’s not confusing, just frustrating. And the characters feel like props moving the story along, not characters in their own right. Characters who become very important (Mineru, I’m talking about Mineru) are difficult to care about like you’re supposed to because they never feel real. This sacrifice in character moments in service to a story that’s damaged by the way it’s told really stings.
And can we talk about that story? How you hear it repeated every single fucking time you complete a dungeon? The past sages provide no new insight and do not tell the story any differently so you just hear the same old thing, over and over. I think it’s a good thing they didn’t try to make the past sages characters, they would have just felt like replacements for the champions, but it means it’s boring as sin to hear them go on.
Speaking of the champions, the new champions sure are there. They all have fine roles in the story, but I can’t help but yearn for more. There’s glimpses into better arcs, but the conclusion of “it’s my entire people’s purpose to assist Link so I’ll do my best!” is uncomfortable to watch happen four times. And on the subject of that conclusion…
Much smarter people than me have talked about the Zelda franchise’s issues with racism and imperialism, but I’ll throw in my two cents. The suggestion that the other races of Hyrule’s purpose is to assist the royal family is an uncomfortable one, and it’s made worse by the fact that Ganondorf is back in this game and. Like that. I shouldn’t need to tell you his design plays on several harmful tropes. At the absolute bare minimum, the vai outfit is gone from the game and you can make Link girlboss with being fetishistic (thank you frostbite set).
I don’t dislike everything the game’s story has to offer, I love the little mysteries about what the fuck Zelda’s been up to (my friends and I took to calling the Zelda imposter Zelwario) and I love everything to do with the light dragon. I wish we got to see Fi, but I know I’m one of maybe a dozen people on earth who wanted to see that, so I understand why it didn’t happen.
I don’t know. I got really invested in the simple yet effective story of BOTW, and it feels like this game is a good example of bigger isn’t always better.
It really speaks to how damn fun this game is that I’d still rank it so highly with so many negative things to say about it. I may have beaten the main story, but I’m nowhere near done with this game. Those Koroks aren’t going to torture themselves.
Already knowing this game’s twist before you play it does dampen the experience slightly: it takes a little too long to drop the ruse. That being said, it still has its effective moments.
2013
This is a very difficult game to rate and review. For all the controversy surrounding it, it’s remarkably simple and inoffensive (and nowhere near as heavy as the hefty warning would make you think). It does not accurately reflect my experience with mental illness, but if making it was a helpful experience for the creator, I can respect its existence. It should go without saying it did not deserve the vitriolic reaction it received.
2001
Honestly, my one major complaint is that there wasn't enough Sonic and Shadow, their levels were just so fun. This game was a blast and is dripping with personality. What do you mean Shadow the Hedgehog as a concept didn't just appear alongside the creation of the universe. he's been here forever.
Very wistful little game
Almost all of my Sonic knowledge comes from being friends with some huge fans, but I knew enough to have fun with this! Short and sweet (and quite funny) adventure. The collecting rings segments overstayed their welcome a little bit, but this is fantastic for essentially a free April Fool’s day joke.
I’m not a rhythm game guy, but I’ll never pass up some free Zelda. And this was a great experience! It wasn’t too difficult to keep the beat, and fighting enemies in tune to it was immensely satisfying. Despite not having puzzles in the same way Zelda games do, this game still offered some room for experimentation and problem solving, since there are multiple ways to access certain areas or fight!
Most importantly for a rhythm game, the music slapped. Excellent covers to some iconic songs. I’ll definitely be listening to some of these again.
This was a very pleasant bite-sized Zelda experience and I’m happy I checked it out.
Most importantly for a rhythm game, the music slapped. Excellent covers to some iconic songs. I’ll definitely be listening to some of these again.
This was a very pleasant bite-sized Zelda experience and I’m happy I checked it out.
1995
It’s simplistic, repetitive, and very easy, but I’ve always enjoyed just basking in the atmosphere of Ecco games, and it’s nice to have a chance to do that without constant death and horror. And besides, you get to play as an orca! The game objectively isn’t great, but I had a nice time. Worth an afternoon if you are also an intense enjoyer of whales.
Gameplay wise, it’s almost all here. It feels great to explore the castle, uncover secrets, and experiment with all your options as far as combat goes. If you’re yearning for Castlevania, this will definitely keep you sated. I’m still floored by the amount of content this game offers, I definitely didn’t see everything.
Where the game loses me a bit is in its story. Which isn’t a big deal to everyone, but as someone who loves over analyzing the Castlevania franchise, it’s a little disappointing. It treads well-worn ground without the excuse of demonstrating the cycle of violence Castlevania is about. In particular, it feels a little derivative of Order of Ecclesia, my favorite Castlevania game and one of my favorite games of all time. Disappointing, but no deal breaker.
I’m so happy this game had a chance to be made, and it demonstrated that plenty of people still want some non-linear castles to explore. Can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Where the game loses me a bit is in its story. Which isn’t a big deal to everyone, but as someone who loves over analyzing the Castlevania franchise, it’s a little disappointing. It treads well-worn ground without the excuse of demonstrating the cycle of violence Castlevania is about. In particular, it feels a little derivative of Order of Ecclesia, my favorite Castlevania game and one of my favorite games of all time. Disappointing, but no deal breaker.
I’m so happy this game had a chance to be made, and it demonstrated that plenty of people still want some non-linear castles to explore. Can’t wait to see what the future holds!