liambsulliva
2023
This game is pretty awesome. I will admit that I'm a bit fan of Dan's work so I'm biased, but the aesthetics and music are top-notch and are in line with Rivals' game feel.
There are some flaws though, for one, there are some systems that are just not implemented well. I didn't know, like the fact that you could drop items, for example. So I kept moving back and forth selling things that I didn't want. I also wish the bosses were a little tougher, since by endgame I had so many pieces of epic/legendary equipment that I seemed to breeze through with damage boosters and dice-altering scrolls.
On the whole though, sweet game! I love that The Aether Team put a lot of effort into giving each character a specific playstyle that matches their personality. It motivated me to switch up my habits every once in awhile.
There are some flaws though, for one, there are some systems that are just not implemented well. I didn't know, like the fact that you could drop items, for example. So I kept moving back and forth selling things that I didn't want. I also wish the bosses were a little tougher, since by endgame I had so many pieces of epic/legendary equipment that I seemed to breeze through with damage boosters and dice-altering scrolls.
On the whole though, sweet game! I love that The Aether Team put a lot of effort into giving each character a specific playstyle that matches their personality. It motivated me to switch up my habits every once in awhile.
2007
Super original and unique for its time. This game definitely made a huge mark on the industry as a whole. Don't have super strong feelings for it, but it's cool for what it brings to the table.
2018
Cool for a AAA experience. Story was pretty solid, even having zero background in the God of War lore. The axe throwing mechanic was fun and definitely a standout. Other than that though, it was just fine. Never got into the RPG aspect, and the combat was sort of forgettable.
2011
I actually played the two games out of order and started with this one first. Using the portal mechanics for puzzle solving is so intuitive, it's genius. I think the game has suffered with age, but still has its memorable moments, especially Cave Johnson. He's the GOAT.
On paper, this is the best Smash Bros game ever made, and I don't think Nintendo can ever top this breadth of content. Ultimately, I love Melee a little more, but only because of its competitive mechanics.
2022
Best FromSoft game I've ever played! Kidding obviously, but the combination of the simplicity and depth of the combat reminds me a lot of Sekiro. It can be brutally difficult to keep your age low, but it makes it so satisfying when you're finally able to get a (near) deathless run.
This game is gorgeous! Even though it borrowed a lot from Hollow Knight, it made much appreciated changes to the Ori formula that made this game far more enjoyable. This game's smooth animation work makes it really hard for me to return to Blind Forest. Weirdly though, it's not as memorable as some of the other Metroidvanias I've played, so it gets docked a bit for that.
2011
I don't know what there is to say about Minecraft that hasn't been said. I got into this game back in 2011 and it has been a staple of my life since. Infinite worlds mixed with a (recent) emphasis on exploration really quenched my thirst for discovery. Only reason for not rating it higher is its repetitiveness over time, even with servers and mods.
2020
I'm usually not a fan of roguelikes, since they tend to be pretty repetitive and infuriating to die in, but I never felt that monotony in this game. This is in no small part because of the abilities, which fundamentally alter how Zagreus plays. There are so many combinations and synergies that I never got bored. I also always felt like my deaths were fair, and was always excited to see if I could buy a new weapon or death defiance back in the hub world.
Stellar game. Please play even if you aren't a huge fan of this style of game, because it may work for you like it worked for me.
Stellar game. Please play even if you aren't a huge fan of this style of game, because it may work for you like it worked for me.
2016
Vibes are immaculate. The game does a great job of making the world feel huge but empty. Usually this is a con for me, but the story plays into that emptiness beautifully. The ending felt rushed a bit, but still a walking sim classic.
I had a lot of expectations for this game, but the game I got met some of them and introduced new things I wasn't ready for. I was surprised by this game's reasonable difficulty, but thought the battle mechanics weren't as in-depth as I thought they would be. Ultimately, this game was quite good, and its' style kept me captivated the whole way through.
I didn't play the original mirror's edge, but this one was just... fine. The parkour is fun, but the story and fight mechanics fit somewhere between average and crap.
2011
Not bad. This game definitely gets overshadowed by 3D world, but it doesn't deserve it really. Is it groundbreaking? No, but it managed to fit the whimsy of 3D Mario into bite-sized linear Mario levels.
2021
Short little game, and I enjoyed my time with it. I liked the little bits of character development in what items she brings in and where she can place them. It felt like a bit of a drag near the end though.
2013
To be fair, gamefreak was grappling with a lot in the 3DS era, since creating models and animations for every single pokemon in 3D is a tough challenge. But I'm ranking this game based on its merits alone, and as such, I can't say it's any more than below average. Too easy, bland characters and fights, and barely any new pokemon brought to the table this gen.