sunkencrayon
2021
I don't think a game's camera placement has infuriated me as much as this game. This is a 3D platformer. A fixed isometric camera does not work. I can't count the number of times I have died because its impossible to know where Mario is landing. How did anyone think this is a good idea? The fixed camera is so uncomfortable. It genuinely ruins the levels for me, which are actually really well designed. I don't have the patience to unlock the secret worlds in this game specifically cause the camera makes me want to pull my hair. Also the Cat Suit is not fun to use in my opinion, I much prefer the Tanooki or Fire Flower power up. This game is heavily carried by its level design, I was unsure whether to give it a 2.5 or 3 because of the stupid camera placement, but the levels (and music) saved this game.
1994
Note that I have no nostalgia associated with this game. I played it on the SNES Emulator on my Switch, with NSO. I used the Save State feature a lot.
Donkey Kong Country is heavily carried by its music in my opinion. The soundtrack has to be one of the best soundtracks of any video game. Its so rich, luxurious and flavorful. Every level's atmosphere is amplified with the soundtrack. David Wise killed it.
However, lets talk about the gameplay. I really didn't like the gameplay. The characters are very awkward to control, and feel slippery when moving around. A lot of times I felt that a death could be avoided if my character listened to what I told it to do.
Another issue is there is no visual clarity in the levels. I genuinely cannot figure out where platforms begin and end, and the enemies have these janky hitboxes which leave me confused. It gets really really frustrating after a point.
But nothing ruins the fun like the level design. When I play a platformer, I want to keep a certain pace (think Mario, Celeste). In this game, I am forced to play so damn cautiously. I cannot move fast cause there is a very high chance a random enemy or obstacle or hole randomly appears and I die. I hate it.
I avoided using Save States until the snow levels, after which I didn't care. It was getting so damn annoying. And the game in general is really difficult. I don't think I would have the patience or time to beat it without save states.
Regardless of all my criticisms, I think everyone should play it once, just to experience it. The music and ambience alone are good enough reasons tbh.
Donkey Kong Country is heavily carried by its music in my opinion. The soundtrack has to be one of the best soundtracks of any video game. Its so rich, luxurious and flavorful. Every level's atmosphere is amplified with the soundtrack. David Wise killed it.
However, lets talk about the gameplay. I really didn't like the gameplay. The characters are very awkward to control, and feel slippery when moving around. A lot of times I felt that a death could be avoided if my character listened to what I told it to do.
Another issue is there is no visual clarity in the levels. I genuinely cannot figure out where platforms begin and end, and the enemies have these janky hitboxes which leave me confused. It gets really really frustrating after a point.
But nothing ruins the fun like the level design. When I play a platformer, I want to keep a certain pace (think Mario, Celeste). In this game, I am forced to play so damn cautiously. I cannot move fast cause there is a very high chance a random enemy or obstacle or hole randomly appears and I die. I hate it.
I avoided using Save States until the snow levels, after which I didn't care. It was getting so damn annoying. And the game in general is really difficult. I don't think I would have the patience or time to beat it without save states.
Regardless of all my criticisms, I think everyone should play it once, just to experience it. The music and ambience alone are good enough reasons tbh.
Maybe this game isn't for me. I spent over 150 hours and I don't get it. Every chore seems tedious, and not fun. My player keeps misclicking stuff, such as pulling out flowers instead of weeds, or digging a hole somewhere else. Don't even get me started on the button mashing fest that is bug catching and fishing. I don't care - stop giving me a wall of text for every single thing I do. I have no clue how people enjoy this game. You need a lot of patience, and I don't have that kind to sink in one game. I kinda started to like my island after those 150 hours, but it is nowhere near what I envisioned, and landscaping/planting/decorating is a time consuming tedious chore.
2019
I can't play this, it's just not for me. I hate the wonky controls, it doesn't feel right. The game has way too much text in places where there shouldn't be. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do on a planet, and I generally hate time loop games. How are you going to build an exploration game with extremely cryptic puzzles and then force me to solve them in 20 minutes? It just doesn't work. Also I genuinely feel nauseous moving the character and spaceship in space. It is SO uncomfortable.
DKC2 improves a lot of stuff I didn't like in the 1st game. The levels are designed better, Dixie is so much more fun to control with her propeller making it more fun to tackle a level, and the level design and mechanics are pretty neat too.
However, this game is still very much a Donkey Kong Country game. A lot of the issues from the first are still present. The annoying zoomed in camera, slippery characters, lack of visual clarity (especially the bee level, everything is yellow) and insane difficulty curve. Seriously, these games feel so unfair at times. For how short they are, and for how few checkpoints you have, this game has no right being this torturous.
Again, I feel this game is carried by it's fantastic music - it is the reason I give it a 3/5.
However, this game is still very much a Donkey Kong Country game. A lot of the issues from the first are still present. The annoying zoomed in camera, slippery characters, lack of visual clarity (especially the bee level, everything is yellow) and insane difficulty curve. Seriously, these games feel so unfair at times. For how short they are, and for how few checkpoints you have, this game has no right being this torturous.
Again, I feel this game is carried by it's fantastic music - it is the reason I give it a 3/5.
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is a masterpiece by modern standards. There are barely any flaws in this game, and not an ounce of fat. This is what video games should strive to be.
Let me start with the graphics. The cel shaded world is so colorful and vibrant. The gorgeous colors still hold up, and put modern AAA games to shame. Look at the Great Sea. How is it so good looking? I can feel the sea breeze against my face, the waves crashing into the boat. The water changes color, and we see higher waves deeper in and shallower textures towards the coast, which is genius.
All the character models are so cartoony and I love it. They let the characters show emotions more expressively and the overall design is just so damn charming. I love it. A really simple example early on - when Link is leaving Outset Island, the little facial expressions on his face and the Granny's face convey so much emotion.
On the same line, the themes in this game are fantastic. Link is just a child trying to bring his family together. He is not some pre-destined hero who is going to save the world, he just an older brother trying to save his sister. Residents of Outset island feel like a part of your extended family. Everyone is concerned about you and your sister, and try to support you. And its not just the people on Outset - the pirates, people on Windfall - you develop a connection with everyone in this game. Hell, even Ganondorf, but I won't spoil anything.
We cannot talk about Zelda without talking about the music. And oh my god - they killed it with this one. The Great Sea is such a fantastic track. You get that sense of adventure and grandeur as you sail the seas. For a game where you will be sailing a lot, this song is a blessing. Then we have Dragon Roost Island - we've got something upbeat and fun - really suits the vibe of the island. This game has one of the best Mini-boss themes, especially with the sword sounds mixed in with the music. And how can I forget about Grandma's theme - this almost brings you to tears, especially since the Grandma has been super caring and worried about you and Aryll through the entire game. Also, this game has the best rendition of the Fairy Fountain theme in my opinion.
Another integral part of any game is the gameplay, and this game does not disappoint. We've got the classics - the bomb, boomerang, and the hookshot, along with new tools like the grappling hook and deku leaf which make the dungeons and puzzles super varied and fun. The movement in this game feels snappy and smooth here. And combat is really great - its super simple but very satisfying to pull off.
Then we have the Dungeons. These dungeons are simpler compared to the older games, but I kinda preferred these, and had more fun with them. I love the atmosphere and theme of how a whole dungeon is an island. These dungeons have a larger sense of scale and size to them, but its not really possible for you to get lost in them, compared to older dungeons. And the checkpoint system in the dungeons is really really nice.
Speaking of dungeons, the dungeon bosses are a treat. You basically have to use all the stuff you learned in the dungeon to figure how to take down the boss, which is pretty standard, but the boss rooms and design are what make the fights even more fun.
This is definitely my favorite Zelda, and I really hope that we get a HD Switch port!
Let me start with the graphics. The cel shaded world is so colorful and vibrant. The gorgeous colors still hold up, and put modern AAA games to shame. Look at the Great Sea. How is it so good looking? I can feel the sea breeze against my face, the waves crashing into the boat. The water changes color, and we see higher waves deeper in and shallower textures towards the coast, which is genius.
All the character models are so cartoony and I love it. They let the characters show emotions more expressively and the overall design is just so damn charming. I love it. A really simple example early on - when Link is leaving Outset Island, the little facial expressions on his face and the Granny's face convey so much emotion.
On the same line, the themes in this game are fantastic. Link is just a child trying to bring his family together. He is not some pre-destined hero who is going to save the world, he just an older brother trying to save his sister. Residents of Outset island feel like a part of your extended family. Everyone is concerned about you and your sister, and try to support you. And its not just the people on Outset - the pirates, people on Windfall - you develop a connection with everyone in this game. Hell, even Ganondorf, but I won't spoil anything.
We cannot talk about Zelda without talking about the music. And oh my god - they killed it with this one. The Great Sea is such a fantastic track. You get that sense of adventure and grandeur as you sail the seas. For a game where you will be sailing a lot, this song is a blessing. Then we have Dragon Roost Island - we've got something upbeat and fun - really suits the vibe of the island. This game has one of the best Mini-boss themes, especially with the sword sounds mixed in with the music. And how can I forget about Grandma's theme - this almost brings you to tears, especially since the Grandma has been super caring and worried about you and Aryll through the entire game. Also, this game has the best rendition of the Fairy Fountain theme in my opinion.
Another integral part of any game is the gameplay, and this game does not disappoint. We've got the classics - the bomb, boomerang, and the hookshot, along with new tools like the grappling hook and deku leaf which make the dungeons and puzzles super varied and fun. The movement in this game feels snappy and smooth here. And combat is really great - its super simple but very satisfying to pull off.
Then we have the Dungeons. These dungeons are simpler compared to the older games, but I kinda preferred these, and had more fun with them. I love the atmosphere and theme of how a whole dungeon is an island. These dungeons have a larger sense of scale and size to them, but its not really possible for you to get lost in them, compared to older dungeons. And the checkpoint system in the dungeons is really really nice.
Speaking of dungeons, the dungeon bosses are a treat. You basically have to use all the stuff you learned in the dungeon to figure how to take down the boss, which is pretty standard, but the boss rooms and design are what make the fights even more fun.
This is definitely my favorite Zelda, and I really hope that we get a HD Switch port!
What a masterpiece of a game. My favorite FromSoft game. This game has not a single ounce of fat. Just great gameplay paired with amazing level design and fantastic bosses. Once the mechanics click, this game becomes a blast to play. Not once did I get frustrated at a boss. The super aggressive nature makes it a fast paced game, and I love how it plays out. If you aren't daunted by its difficult learning curve, pick it up!
2011
A fantastic 3DS game that captures the spirit of the Galaxy games. Of course, this isn't as good as the Galaxy games due to the 3DS' hardware constraints, but I think they did a pretty damn good job with it. The levels are small, fun and creative, and the controls work great. But the most significant thing for me was the 3D effect. 3D World was a rough experience for me because I just did not understand depth there. With 3D Land it is so much easier to gauge your jumps! The game was built with the 3D effect in mind.
The levels have a lot of inspiration from the Galaxy levels, though I wish they also stuck to the traditional 3D Mario formula of "Power Stars" and "3 Lives" instead of Flag poles and "2D Mario lives".
Must have 3DS game imo!
The levels have a lot of inspiration from the Galaxy levels, though I wish they also stuck to the traditional 3D Mario formula of "Power Stars" and "3 Lives" instead of Flag poles and "2D Mario lives".
Must have 3DS game imo!
This is everything I wanted from the SNES DKC trilogy. I really loved these games. It takes everything which made the SNES games good and polishes it, while subsequently removing the annoying parts. There is amazing visual clarity, DK handles really well, and Diddy's jetpack is really cool to use. The level design is fabulous, and each level is so unique.
This game is brutal, especially the boss fights. I really needed Diddy for pretty much everything. However, they are still a lot of fun.
The music is great even though its mostly remasters of old tracks. Smokey Peak/Palm Top Groove was my favorite.
I have one thing to mention though. Around halfway through the game, I decided to dump my cartridge and play it on an emulator with an actual controller. This was probably the best decision I made. The 3DS does not do the game justice. Playing it on an emulator really shows the beautiful details of the levels, and an actual controller makes it just way more comfortable to play. You are basically getting the Wii experience without the bad controls.
This is a fantastic game, and I highly recommend it!
This game is brutal, especially the boss fights. I really needed Diddy for pretty much everything. However, they are still a lot of fun.
The music is great even though its mostly remasters of old tracks. Smokey Peak/Palm Top Groove was my favorite.
I have one thing to mention though. Around halfway through the game, I decided to dump my cartridge and play it on an emulator with an actual controller. This was probably the best decision I made. The 3DS does not do the game justice. Playing it on an emulator really shows the beautiful details of the levels, and an actual controller makes it just way more comfortable to play. You are basically getting the Wii experience without the bad controls.
This is a fantastic game, and I highly recommend it!
2018
Can't believe I put this game off for so long. This a fabulous game. I really love the pixel art, and the movement - its wonderful! I love how snappy everything feels.
The game is about climbing a metaphorical mountain, and its a sweet story. The actual mountain we climb is really difficult though. That's why I really appreciate the instant respawn feature. Its like a series of the Expert Mario Maker levels, with great level design, instant respawn times, and pretty pixel art! Grab it, its a short and sweet game, which makes you feel really nice and warm!
The game is about climbing a metaphorical mountain, and its a sweet story. The actual mountain we climb is really difficult though. That's why I really appreciate the instant respawn feature. Its like a series of the Expert Mario Maker levels, with great level design, instant respawn times, and pretty pixel art! Grab it, its a short and sweet game, which makes you feel really nice and warm!
This game is a disgrace, and solidifies how little TPC cares about their franchise. Looks likes a mobile game. Plays identical to the DS versions. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about these games. Can't believe they put this crap out after the fantastic remakes that were ORAS.
Game Freak actually did something. Wow. This game was incredible and a lot of fun. Much needed change for the series. The catching and battles are fast, seamless and entertaining. Most battles end up quickly - either you KO the opponent, or you get KO'd. You level up really fast too, but are never overleveled. Also has a dodge roll button! Graphics are really bad, but this is the step in the right direction.
2016
First half of the game is a dive with the best visibility, the second half of the game gave me decompression sickness.
Note that I have no nostalgia associated with this game.
I played Majora's Mask right after Ocarina of Time with high expectations, and man was I disappointed. Maybe this game is not for me but getting through it was a chore and not fun at all. Let me get the good aside - the music is great - not as impactful as OoT, but still good.
Now lets get to the bad.
1. Time Gimmick: I was excited to see how the time gimmick would work out, but over time I felt it was just a hindrance. It is the most annoying thing when you are in the middle of a dungeon and you are running low on time. I get that its supposed to convey loss when you reset, but it was being more painful than anything
2. Dungeons: God, these are some painful dungeons. I hate how they play, and they are so much more tedious than OoT's dungeons. Plus the assortment of dungeons feels so random. There is no uniformity to them. OoT managed to create some sort of connection between the dungeon themes.
3. The world: While Clock Town is great, Termina field just looks out of place. It looks like a biodome the way the terrain and geography suddenly changes from canyons to snow. It looks out place and unpleasant in my opinion.
4. Repeated Content: While I don't care much for the repeated assets from OoT, the amount of repeated ideas is insane. This is kinda spoilery, so read at your own risk. We have the same follow Dampe/Deku Butler puzzle, Gerudo Valley Women/Pirate Fortress Women puzzle, using Ocarina songs for everything, Zelda's Lullaby being replaced by the Song of Healing, Lost Woods/Woods of Mystery trying to find the correct path, Mirror Shield/Sunlight puzzles - the list goes on. It kinda left a bad taste in my mouth.
5. Jank controls - I played it on the 3DS, and holy hell this is a pain to control. Z-targeting doesn't work half the time, and trying to look in a different direction is a pain in the ass, especially when the dungeon design expects you to look at various different angles.
6. Forgettable, horrible bosses - All the bosses in this game are no fun. Twinmold was one of the worst bosses I have fought, and Gyorg was extremely janky. The final boss is meh, its better than all the other bosses, but nothing spectacular.
7. Fairies in the dungeon: This is a horribly executed mechanic. I have a time limit to beat a dungeon, and on top of that you expect me to find these stupid fairies? Not once was I able to find all of them, I have no clue what these even do. I just gave up after a point.
Overall, I am very, very disappointed with this game. Maybe I am comparing it with OoT too much, or maybe I went in with very high standards, but this game just isn't it.
I played Majora's Mask right after Ocarina of Time with high expectations, and man was I disappointed. Maybe this game is not for me but getting through it was a chore and not fun at all. Let me get the good aside - the music is great - not as impactful as OoT, but still good.
Now lets get to the bad.
1. Time Gimmick: I was excited to see how the time gimmick would work out, but over time I felt it was just a hindrance. It is the most annoying thing when you are in the middle of a dungeon and you are running low on time. I get that its supposed to convey loss when you reset, but it was being more painful than anything
2. Dungeons: God, these are some painful dungeons. I hate how they play, and they are so much more tedious than OoT's dungeons. Plus the assortment of dungeons feels so random. There is no uniformity to them. OoT managed to create some sort of connection between the dungeon themes.
3. The world: While Clock Town is great, Termina field just looks out of place. It looks like a biodome the way the terrain and geography suddenly changes from canyons to snow. It looks out place and unpleasant in my opinion.
4. Repeated Content: While I don't care much for the repeated assets from OoT, the amount of repeated ideas is insane. This is kinda spoilery, so read at your own risk. We have the same follow Dampe/Deku Butler puzzle, Gerudo Valley Women/Pirate Fortress Women puzzle, using Ocarina songs for everything, Zelda's Lullaby being replaced by the Song of Healing, Lost Woods/Woods of Mystery trying to find the correct path, Mirror Shield/Sunlight puzzles - the list goes on. It kinda left a bad taste in my mouth.
5. Jank controls - I played it on the 3DS, and holy hell this is a pain to control. Z-targeting doesn't work half the time, and trying to look in a different direction is a pain in the ass, especially when the dungeon design expects you to look at various different angles.
6. Forgettable, horrible bosses - All the bosses in this game are no fun. Twinmold was one of the worst bosses I have fought, and Gyorg was extremely janky. The final boss is meh, its better than all the other bosses, but nothing spectacular.
7. Fairies in the dungeon: This is a horribly executed mechanic. I have a time limit to beat a dungeon, and on top of that you expect me to find these stupid fairies? Not once was I able to find all of them, I have no clue what these even do. I just gave up after a point.
Overall, I am very, very disappointed with this game. Maybe I am comparing it with OoT too much, or maybe I went in with very high standards, but this game just isn't it.
I abandoned this game really early on. I couldn't deal with the pacing, and the "empty" world. Yes, its a really pretty game, but the realistic aspect of the game was a bit too realistic for me. Movement felt clunky, and a lot of the tasks felt like a chore. Maybe I'll give it a shot later, but I had a really bad first impression.