sodarebs
What a super fun game! Everything I wanted and more! I loved the familiar Naughty Dog vibe in a new style with an addictive collectathon gameplay loop! Beautiful scenery, fun characters, and smooth gameplay with a lot of depth! Only complaints are a slightly short length (though I love a bite-size adventure!), a frustrating section or two, and some key moves being only mentioned on the manual/poster! Not really damning stuff, is it?
This review contains spoilers
I did not expect to enjoy this game this much! It's a fun, satisfying game to play your way through, with a lot of good moments, locations, characters, and songs! There's certainly a lot of very frustrating parts (platforming and 3D Zelda do not mix oh my god) but also a lot to love! The locations and dungeons are enjoyable to venture through with lots of cool ideas and people to meet! The writing is great too!
Midna is an absolute delight throughout the game, one of my all time favourite characters in Zelda history. She's funny, useful, and has a great design! Her history with Zant, another amazing character, also makes the story have stakes and intrigue! It's a shame how Zant is kind of overshadowed by Ganon, but he's great while he's there! I also love Ilia as a better relation to Link, with more stakes being introduced through her. The whole supporting cast is great, and it would be too much to name them all!
I never thought I'd love the design of this game as much as I did! Windwaker is more my style, but I was absolutely in love with a lot of the very of-the-time darker designs and moments. Maybe due to this being the current Zelda that I first remember, but the design of Link, Zelda, and Ganon are extremely iconic to me, and so much of the world is designed in such a cool way! Some of it's grotesque, but in a pretty cool way! The Twilight Beasts with their distorted designs and corrupted audio are very cool minions for the baddies. I also adored the Hero's Spirit with his whole lore and moments.
In the vain of the darker tone, that finale! I couldn't believe not only the persistence of Ganon which really showed his power, and the brutal finale! I loved how it came down to a sword fight in the rain, and Ganon's end was so shockingly cool and violent, but also in a very poignant and quiet way.
Speaking of the battle, I think the swordplay was SUPER satisfying! I loved the many techniques you could learn and how powerful even I felt towards the end after mastering many of them. The battles with various bosses and enemies like Darknuts actually felt like a combat situation between two strong foes!
As mentioned, many things were irritating. The platforming nearly drove me away quickly, with the Goron Mines opening standing out as I repeatedly fell in lava whilst going back and forth across the opening of the dungeon, though this occurred throughout. There were also many moments of obscure next steps where I felt really stuck. Additionally, there was a clear level of newness to the Wii console during development, as they couldn't quite decide what would be the norm for the hardware. As a result, noises for each item came out VERY LOUDLY from the Wii remote every time I used them. That was just a mild frustration though.
Overall, a really fun game to work through and explore through! And most importantly, it's got GENGLE! CHILLEST CAT EVER! TOP 10 CATS NUMBER ONE GENGLE NUMBER TWO GENGLE THEY'RE ALL GENGLE!
Midna is an absolute delight throughout the game, one of my all time favourite characters in Zelda history. She's funny, useful, and has a great design! Her history with Zant, another amazing character, also makes the story have stakes and intrigue! It's a shame how Zant is kind of overshadowed by Ganon, but he's great while he's there! I also love Ilia as a better relation to Link, with more stakes being introduced through her. The whole supporting cast is great, and it would be too much to name them all!
I never thought I'd love the design of this game as much as I did! Windwaker is more my style, but I was absolutely in love with a lot of the very of-the-time darker designs and moments. Maybe due to this being the current Zelda that I first remember, but the design of Link, Zelda, and Ganon are extremely iconic to me, and so much of the world is designed in such a cool way! Some of it's grotesque, but in a pretty cool way! The Twilight Beasts with their distorted designs and corrupted audio are very cool minions for the baddies. I also adored the Hero's Spirit with his whole lore and moments.
In the vain of the darker tone, that finale! I couldn't believe not only the persistence of Ganon which really showed his power, and the brutal finale! I loved how it came down to a sword fight in the rain, and Ganon's end was so shockingly cool and violent, but also in a very poignant and quiet way.
Speaking of the battle, I think the swordplay was SUPER satisfying! I loved the many techniques you could learn and how powerful even I felt towards the end after mastering many of them. The battles with various bosses and enemies like Darknuts actually felt like a combat situation between two strong foes!
As mentioned, many things were irritating. The platforming nearly drove me away quickly, with the Goron Mines opening standing out as I repeatedly fell in lava whilst going back and forth across the opening of the dungeon, though this occurred throughout. There were also many moments of obscure next steps where I felt really stuck. Additionally, there was a clear level of newness to the Wii console during development, as they couldn't quite decide what would be the norm for the hardware. As a result, noises for each item came out VERY LOUDLY from the Wii remote every time I used them. That was just a mild frustration though.
Overall, a really fun game to work through and explore through! And most importantly, it's got GENGLE! CHILLEST CAT EVER! TOP 10 CATS NUMBER ONE GENGLE NUMBER TWO GENGLE THEY'RE ALL GENGLE!
2017
Right off the bat, it's Mario Kart, of course it rules. The game is gorgeous, has tons of killer tracks and character, and is just the perfect fun party experience. It's a staple of every gathering with my friends, even if there's a repetitiveness to me losing on 200cc these days! I used to be the best!
Is it perfect? No, some character choices/omissions are frustrating, and at this point, it's become an icon of Mario Kart not updating! I really want more MK! But Double Dash 2 on Switch is my million dollar idea because MK8 Deluxe is so great on the most part that you can take the risk on the unique formula for one more entry!
It's a 5 star game for me though, because the fact that a kart racer about an Italian plumber is a special and touching game for me is incredible. It means a lot to me as it was one of my first Switch games, so I played it a lot, and grew very fond of it thanks to all the memories and cosy nights. It kept me company when I needed something fun! And also, the many times sharing a great time with friends, bringing us together throughout Sixth Form and at any night-in!
Catch me as Peach on the City Tripper, with Retro Off-Roads and the Peach Parasol destroying you on Yoshi's Circuit (the best level with the best music)
Is it perfect? No, some character choices/omissions are frustrating, and at this point, it's become an icon of Mario Kart not updating! I really want more MK! But Double Dash 2 on Switch is my million dollar idea because MK8 Deluxe is so great on the most part that you can take the risk on the unique formula for one more entry!
It's a 5 star game for me though, because the fact that a kart racer about an Italian plumber is a special and touching game for me is incredible. It means a lot to me as it was one of my first Switch games, so I played it a lot, and grew very fond of it thanks to all the memories and cosy nights. It kept me company when I needed something fun! And also, the many times sharing a great time with friends, bringing us together throughout Sixth Form and at any night-in!
Catch me as Peach on the City Tripper, with Retro Off-Roads and the Peach Parasol destroying you on Yoshi's Circuit (the best level with the best music)
Ignoring the awful business practices around this release, this is an absolutely delightful collection. 3 very fun games for the price of one modern one. I wish Galaxy 2 was included but I can't really judge it on something it wasn't. What is there is 3 incredible games that steadily progress in fun and quality! I would detail more thoughts on each in independent reviews, but for my brief thoughts, incredible fun!
2021
This review contains spoilers
Toree 3D is probably the best game you can buy for exactly $1 without any offers. It's a fun little runner with nice control and cool graphics! I found issues with the camera and how manual it had to be, as it was very awkward to turn it while moving, which is key to the gameplay. This is particularly annoying when spawning from a checkpoint and the camera is facing away from your destination.
It's a very short game, I finished my playthrough in all of an hour, but I rather enjoyed it for one particular reason.
The subtle horror stuff was soooo good. When the first creepiness ebbed in, I joked to myself that maybe it's a horror game, which I already felt from the odd fake "lost media" feel to the whole thing, with the total lack of context and retro-feel modern graphics. Then, when things start to hit the fan, I felt such a mix of fear and pride. It was an amazing build, and I always love that sort of thing. I kind of wish they went more into it though! It genuinely unnerved me and got a scream out of me at one point! It's super cool!
It's a very short game, I finished my playthrough in all of an hour, but I rather enjoyed it for one particular reason.
The subtle horror stuff was soooo good. When the first creepiness ebbed in, I joked to myself that maybe it's a horror game, which I already felt from the odd fake "lost media" feel to the whole thing, with the total lack of context and retro-feel modern graphics. Then, when things start to hit the fan, I felt such a mix of fear and pride. It was an amazing build, and I always love that sort of thing. I kind of wish they went more into it though! It genuinely unnerved me and got a scream out of me at one point! It's super cool!
Stunning. I remember the moment when it really hit me how special this game was, this game that I was seeing everywhere for a year and I had long decided that I would have it and try something new. It was late at night, as my first play session ended and I listened to the quiet music and peaceful bustle of Hateno Village after arriving there. I knew then that this was special. I don't know why, but that was the moment.
The gameplay, the expanse, and the freedom are extremely enjoyable, featuring one of the most populated open worlds I've expected. There's always something to keep you engaged, be it fighting the local wildlife or enemies, meeting an NPC, finding a trial, or just seeing how you can throw yourself off something. It really feels like an open world that knows how you're going to enjoy it, with the little fun you get up to leading to new things.
The revamped formula felt very fresh, and honestly has made going back to older Zelda games more smooth and refreshing! The Divine Beasts are fun dungeons with an enjoyable cast of characters surrounding each one.
Speaking of, what little story and character moments we get are so wonderful, and have led to some of the most realised and well-loved iterations of old characters, as well as plenty of new friends.
Link's and Zelda's designs are also just peaking in this game.
The graphical style is also gorgeous, even if frame drops and poor textures occasionally mire it.
Honestly, probably my favourite game of all time.
The gameplay, the expanse, and the freedom are extremely enjoyable, featuring one of the most populated open worlds I've expected. There's always something to keep you engaged, be it fighting the local wildlife or enemies, meeting an NPC, finding a trial, or just seeing how you can throw yourself off something. It really feels like an open world that knows how you're going to enjoy it, with the little fun you get up to leading to new things.
The revamped formula felt very fresh, and honestly has made going back to older Zelda games more smooth and refreshing! The Divine Beasts are fun dungeons with an enjoyable cast of characters surrounding each one.
Speaking of, what little story and character moments we get are so wonderful, and have led to some of the most realised and well-loved iterations of old characters, as well as plenty of new friends.
Link's and Zelda's designs are also just peaking in this game.
The graphical style is also gorgeous, even if frame drops and poor textures occasionally mire it.
Honestly, probably my favourite game of all time.
2018
One of my absolute favourite games of all time. The gameplay is so smart and fun, always remaining devilishly challenging yet engaging and fair. Rarely did I feel that the puzzles or platforming was unfair or obscure, and despite frequent deaths, I felt they were my fault, and not the game's.
The art is absolutely beautiful, the pixel art working so nicely. Multiple times I have stopped to remark at the beauty of the game.
The story is also really impactful, with lovable characters that help drive it forward. While minimalist, it drives a really meaningful narrative with multiple scenes that are masterful. The well thought-out intricacies and the way that even the creator didn't realise quite what it meant even for them is brilliant.
This game is really special on a first playthrough, and there's even more to say when delving into completion.
The art is absolutely beautiful, the pixel art working so nicely. Multiple times I have stopped to remark at the beauty of the game.
The story is also really impactful, with lovable characters that help drive it forward. While minimalist, it drives a really meaningful narrative with multiple scenes that are masterful. The well thought-out intricacies and the way that even the creator didn't realise quite what it meant even for them is brilliant.
This game is really special on a first playthrough, and there's even more to say when delving into completion.