jtduckman
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I definitely like how they tried to do something a little different than the IMOQ series, focusing more on story and cutscenes over the unending grind of those games, but I do think the story that they are spending all these cutscenes to tell really hasn't been grasping me... Most of the characters feel like generic anime archetypes with not much going on with them both visually and characteristically. The actual game, when the game actually lets you play it, is a pretty standard and simple action RPG. It can feel trivially easy with how simple enemy stunlocks can be done, which certainly doesn't help my engagement with the game... Idk, maybe this game is slow so the other 2 volumes can pick up the pace, but considering my experience with IMOQ, I'm not really holding my breath.
2002
As a standalone game it's kind of boneless for sure but as a first part of the .hack series, it serves its purpose. Expect lots of grinding, so if you aren't into that kind of thing, stay very far away. Protip for those interested in getting into the series: watch the anime tie-ins around the same time, this whole series is kind of designed around multimedia n whatnot.
2002
This was much less a sequel to part 1 and more like they took one four disc game and sold each disc individually. The game pretty much has all the same content as the previous part, with old sidequests even still being active and doable if you missed them in the last game. The core gameplay is still as grindy as ever, but if you made it this far, I don't think that would be an issue. There's no point trying to play this if you haven't played the first part though.
2002
Disc 3 of the .hack IMOQ experience. It's the same as the previous two games, just with the story continuing to progress. The story itself is certainly interesting in a retrospective sense as it clearly shows a sort of uncertainty about the future of technology circa the early 2000s, but those kinds of tropes have long since become cliche in todays day and age. Still kinda interesting tho
2003
Oh boy. To say this is an underwhelming payoff to three games worth of buildup is a bit of an understatement. This volume is .hack at its absolute grindiest with most of the game revolving around random virus core farming. Don't pay the absurd prices to play this physically, I assumed this was rare and expensive because it was amazing when in actuality it seemed like not a lot of copies were made for an extremely grindy game that basically requires 3 previous games worth of context to get any understanding out of. I don't think the .hack IMOQ series is absolutely horrible, but looking at this game on its own, yeesh what a way to go out.
2017
They aren't paying those actors enough. It's okay? Fun, I guess? For the one month of time between the switch's launch and Mario Kart releasing, this served its purpose as a funny joy-con tech demo for those not interested in BOTW like I was. But nowadays this has pretty much zero purpose. Nintendo still tryin to sell it for 50 bucks lmao
1998
Perhaps I lack the proper context of snowboarding games pre-SSX/tony hawk renaissance but I couldn't grasp how this game controls. It always felt like the slightest thing knocked my character around and I couldn't really do anything to stop it. That being said the vibes are kinda on point so I didn't dislike my time with the game, and I'm sure if I spend a solid amount of time grasping the mechanics there's probably a fun snowboarding game in here.
2003
YO THIS IS A HELLA GLOWUP FROM THE N64 ONE. It plays like the original, except with a ton of quality of life improvements and there's now a lot of feedback to the player, which was what the N64 version lacked. However, the game really shines with its spectacle. The courses are varied and all use really fresh and original ideas, and the game doesn't take itself too seriously which allows for really exciting places with wacky setpieces for you to blast through at a hundred miles an hour on a snowboard. Banger.
2009
fun lil time. you don't see a lot of top-down zelda clones from this generation. Its extremely easy to compare this to zelda since it's basically the same formula of finding and clearing dungeons with items from a top down perspective, but this game differentiates itself by being extremely beautiful with its pretty art style and unique shaders, as well as having a pretty bumpin OST. I don't think this game will rock your world or anything, but I'd definitely say its still worth checking out, especially if you like 2D zelda games.
2017
Solid platformer with a lot of charm to it. A lot of the levels have memorable moments, the hat powers are fun to find and use, and the boss fights are phenomenal. If you like 3D platformers it's definitely worth a play.
Fun little flash game that is a tribute to all things NES. You play as abobo from Double Dragon for some reason, and you beat the everloving fuck out of every NES character you can think of. Through all the cameos and gameplay homages to classic NES games, this is a great tribute to the system. A bit violent though, so those that are gore-averse might wanna pass.
I mean it took me like 5 years to actually get around to finishing this game so take with that what you will but it was okay. Not much else to say besides that. besides, if you are interested enough in the series to be looking at the reviews for this game in particular rather than the main series entries, you likely already like ace attorney enough to be on board for this.
I definitely was expecting something a bit more like ace combat 3 in terms of story when I first played this, and I am definitely not a crazy ace combat lore buff so I can't really comment on the deeper meaning of the war in the story, but I can say that this game is a neat little dogfighting game. The missions are varied enough to keep things interesting and the gameplay is tight enough to be fun. mobius 1 go brrrrrr
1997
NGL I don't really remember most of this game from what I played of it, this game and the first one are kinda forgettable due to their lack of any crazy plot nonsense and okay gameplay. The OST is hot fire tho so maybe try it out just for that, otherwise there are several better ace combat games you could and should be playing instead.
this is ghost in the shell but with planes. if you play the ace combat games in order shit starts getting crazy with this one. multiple paths and endings to go through, anime ass story and characters everywhere, theres a cult that tries to turn people into planes or something. Wack stuff but I absolutely dig it. The gameplay is also the best here out of all the PS1 ace combats, the graphics are some of the best I have ever seen on PS1, and the OST has that namco techno vibe that we all know and love from this era. MAKE SURE TO PLAY THE JAPANESE VERSION SINCE THE US VERSION CUTS OUT A WHOLE DISC OF CONTENT AND PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE STORY. JP version is even fan translated too!