Alezarde
A full collection of all three Jak games gives you tons of bang for your buck(kinda literally since Jak 2 has GUN).
2010
This game is such an underrated, neglected gem. You know this game was abandoned by its publisher, and didn’t have any support on release, because it doesn’t even have a subtitle function. Despite this, it’s an inventive time-travel FPS with tons of cool powers, a neat story, good shooting, and a lot of strategic depth for how to use your abilities. Hell of a gem, shame it couldn’t have more attention.
This is probably my favorite Telltale game besides Wolf Among Us. It's story is so well written, the characters flawed but lovable and interesting, and just how it gives a lot of heart to the Borderlands world makes it such a great addition.
2019
I was really excited for this game for a long time. I had hailed this as the return of Obsidian with a game in the critical vein of New Vegas. They hype was real, and while I did have fun with this game, it felt way too short, too surface level, and just smacked of a game that was cut way, way too short. The story is fine, the moral complexities of dialogue and characters just aren't there. The characters are fine. Some stand out more than others like Parvati and Max, but they don't bring enough to the table to make them worth exploring. Gameplay is fine enough but nothing really stands out. And the game's length is an issue, because while a shorter RPG experience is fine and all, but the world of the game feels so sprawling, and you feel so excited to explore it, only for it to slam the doors on you when you start to hit it's stride. I hope the sequel is better and actually delivers on the sprawling world filled with satirical hyper corporate stories because that is interesting.
It's very middling, but it's a good foundation for the sequel, but doesn't stand on it's own.
It's very middling, but it's a good foundation for the sequel, but doesn't stand on it's own.
Not only does the Kaito DLC feature Kaito with in his caked up glory, the story is surprisingly fantastic and the gameplay is still hella fun.
2006
This game sucks. But I love it. Something about it appeals to my love of the 2000's jank and Hot Topic, anime fan who just got really into Japanese made games more. It's skungy as fuck and downright broken and unfinished. A prime example of what could have been. It's gonna have real reevaluations this decade, mark my words.
Before growing up and having to embrace adulthood, and all the reality that came with it, there was a time where you could turn on your television and be whisked away into a world of colorful heroes, giant robots, cheesy fights and enough transformation poses to guarantee that you accidentally break at least something in your house when you mimicked them. But, just for that half an hour, you could imagine yourself as a hero, a stalwart defender of justice and peace, fighting monsters, aliens, mutated creatures and really anything that seems evil. It's a wonderful feeling, and the Wonderful 101 wants you to relive the days of doing silly poses to the rainbow adorned heroes taking on the bad of the week.
Here, alien invaders, the GEATHJERK, have launched their assault on our great planet Earth. And here, you take control of not one, not two, but an legion of 100 heroes united to take them on.
Essentially, imagine Pikmin, Super Sentai, and Kamen Rider were blended together into a wonderful, over the top, challenging, but obtuse action game. Don't let it's appearance fool you: this is a Platinum Games game, and as such, it's all about the frenetic, stylish, and challenging action gameplay.
The main attraction here is the system known as the Wonder Liner. By drawing a shape(in the case of this remaster, using the right stick), you can form a specific weapon called a Unite Morph such as a fist, a sword, a gun, and much more. The bigger the shape, the bigger the damage and the bigger the morph. But this comes at a cost: the 100 heroes in your group are essentially your resources, and by drawing a circle around helpless civilians on each level, you can recruit more and more to your ranks, including unique heroes. The Liner also uses the Unite Gauge, your battery level, as the size of the morph is also determined as such.
The Wonderful 101 is a hard game to get into at times. Something that likely precedes it's own reputation as an underlooked gem, and something indicative of Platinum's brand of game. However, W101 can be obtuse for the wrong reasons. The game at times simply does not clue the player into enough information to make judgments on what they encounter. While this allows players to discover new techniques and ways to play on their own, certain info feels it should be divulged. For example, the block ability of the game, Unite Guts, is only effective against specific types of attacks. Guts is shaped like a pudding, so it gives you a clue as to what it can block, but it still feels as if the game's logic is overriding what the player expects. The Guts, since the game doesn't say this outright, can be bigger or smaller depending on how big the current Unite Morph is, and as such can deflect bigger attacks. There's certain illogical aspects throughout the game that can make it frustrating at times. The game's learning curve is also notoriously high, but, when this game clicks, it becomes an wonderful classic.
More than just the satisfying and intricate gameplay, is the pure spectacle, passion and heroic spirit emanating from every piece of W101. From results screens for each fight taking the form of a newspaper congratulating our great heroes for their valiance, to the insane presentation of boss fights through(a rare sight) fun quick time events that endow the heroic action unfolding before you.
The characters are also fun and surprisingly likable despite being essentially parodies. The game is also really, really funny with Platinum's goofy and earnest sense of humor that shines even beyond character interactions and to the gameplay itself in many surprising ways.
Passion is in it's purest form in this game. It's a passion project from Platinum, and it feels as such that you can't help but love it. If you can surpass the game's learning curve and ride with the game instead of fighting it, there's a truly unforgettable experience here.
Most of all, the game whisks you back to that innocent time, where you with all your heart cheered on the great heroes to defeat the cartoon bad guy. Wonderful indeed, and a wonderful game of pure heroic passion. Give it a try, you may just be surprised.
Here, alien invaders, the GEATHJERK, have launched their assault on our great planet Earth. And here, you take control of not one, not two, but an legion of 100 heroes united to take them on.
Essentially, imagine Pikmin, Super Sentai, and Kamen Rider were blended together into a wonderful, over the top, challenging, but obtuse action game. Don't let it's appearance fool you: this is a Platinum Games game, and as such, it's all about the frenetic, stylish, and challenging action gameplay.
The main attraction here is the system known as the Wonder Liner. By drawing a shape(in the case of this remaster, using the right stick), you can form a specific weapon called a Unite Morph such as a fist, a sword, a gun, and much more. The bigger the shape, the bigger the damage and the bigger the morph. But this comes at a cost: the 100 heroes in your group are essentially your resources, and by drawing a circle around helpless civilians on each level, you can recruit more and more to your ranks, including unique heroes. The Liner also uses the Unite Gauge, your battery level, as the size of the morph is also determined as such.
The Wonderful 101 is a hard game to get into at times. Something that likely precedes it's own reputation as an underlooked gem, and something indicative of Platinum's brand of game. However, W101 can be obtuse for the wrong reasons. The game at times simply does not clue the player into enough information to make judgments on what they encounter. While this allows players to discover new techniques and ways to play on their own, certain info feels it should be divulged. For example, the block ability of the game, Unite Guts, is only effective against specific types of attacks. Guts is shaped like a pudding, so it gives you a clue as to what it can block, but it still feels as if the game's logic is overriding what the player expects. The Guts, since the game doesn't say this outright, can be bigger or smaller depending on how big the current Unite Morph is, and as such can deflect bigger attacks. There's certain illogical aspects throughout the game that can make it frustrating at times. The game's learning curve is also notoriously high, but, when this game clicks, it becomes an wonderful classic.
More than just the satisfying and intricate gameplay, is the pure spectacle, passion and heroic spirit emanating from every piece of W101. From results screens for each fight taking the form of a newspaper congratulating our great heroes for their valiance, to the insane presentation of boss fights through(a rare sight) fun quick time events that endow the heroic action unfolding before you.
The characters are also fun and surprisingly likable despite being essentially parodies. The game is also really, really funny with Platinum's goofy and earnest sense of humor that shines even beyond character interactions and to the gameplay itself in many surprising ways.
Passion is in it's purest form in this game. It's a passion project from Platinum, and it feels as such that you can't help but love it. If you can surpass the game's learning curve and ride with the game instead of fighting it, there's a truly unforgettable experience here.
Most of all, the game whisks you back to that innocent time, where you with all your heart cheered on the great heroes to defeat the cartoon bad guy. Wonderful indeed, and a wonderful game of pure heroic passion. Give it a try, you may just be surprised.
The best Zelda game. No other comes close to matching it's unique atmosphere and somber tone.
2015
Episode 1: A Knight to Remember: 4 out of 5
-A lovely opening chapter to the adventure of Kings Quest. It's colorful, funny, filled with great characters and obtuse but satisfying puzzles, a great story and just is lovely to experience. The lack of a skip function does make certain bits tedious however.
Episode 2: Rubble Without a Cause: 3/5
-This episode features a largely self-contained setting that just isn't as interesting as the previous episode, and the puzzles can be frustratingly obfuscated and obscure. Still a fun time, but not as good as the previous episode.
Episode 3: Once Upon a Climb: 4.5/5
-A lovely episode that takes the self contained setting of Episode 2 but makes it better through a lovely romance story and genuinely fun moments, one of the best so far.
Episode 4: Snow Place Like Home: 4/5
-I like this one more than most it seems, but it's really an subjective opinion. It's very puzzle focused rather than on exploration. Still very fun though and very heartfelt.
Episode 5: The Good Knight: 4.5/5
-Comes full circle and takes the most after the first episode, and endcaps the story in a very bittersweet way. More focused on the world and exploring rather than a self-contained setting, and this is done for the better.
-A lovely opening chapter to the adventure of Kings Quest. It's colorful, funny, filled with great characters and obtuse but satisfying puzzles, a great story and just is lovely to experience. The lack of a skip function does make certain bits tedious however.
Episode 2: Rubble Without a Cause: 3/5
-This episode features a largely self-contained setting that just isn't as interesting as the previous episode, and the puzzles can be frustratingly obfuscated and obscure. Still a fun time, but not as good as the previous episode.
Episode 3: Once Upon a Climb: 4.5/5
-A lovely episode that takes the self contained setting of Episode 2 but makes it better through a lovely romance story and genuinely fun moments, one of the best so far.
Episode 4: Snow Place Like Home: 4/5
-I like this one more than most it seems, but it's really an subjective opinion. It's very puzzle focused rather than on exploration. Still very fun though and very heartfelt.
Episode 5: The Good Knight: 4.5/5
-Comes full circle and takes the most after the first episode, and endcaps the story in a very bittersweet way. More focused on the world and exploring rather than a self-contained setting, and this is done for the better.
2011
Well I used to really like this game but I've kinda gotten less favorable to it over time. Still hella fun though. Weighty, bloody melee combat(kinda janky however), a rich resort setting, and 4 player co-op. Story is bleh. Check it out if you want to play the precursor to a game like Dying Light.
2014
This game isn't perfect by any means but it's a fun and solid horror experience. It's kinda tropey and the story is a bit wack but it really revel's in it's inspirations, and it makes for a bloody fun romp through madness. I quite love the absolute insanity it just kinda rolls with.
Surprisingly enough, this game was so, so much fun. It's gameplay is a relatively simple turn based setup, but collecting and evolving Digimon is always great. The story is pretty fun too, and the world feels very stylized and neat to explore. Definite recommendation.
2001
This is such a charming little rhythm game, a classical music rhythm game no doubt. The character designs exude charm and the general feel is just so delightful.
It's funny, despite how my tastes with games change over time, Shadow of the Colossus stays stuck in my brain over and over again. Something about it is so mysterious and enigmatic. The Forbidden Lands(the main setting of the game), feel alive but filled with mystery, the main narrative in minimalist but profound, and the feeling you get when seeing the first Colossus, this massive towering thing, is a fantastic experience. Play this game, it's worth everything you've heard. Words can't fully describe it.
Yeah yeah, I know it's the boob game. I won't deny that boobs are cool. But this game genuinely has a ton of mechanical depth. It's fast and furious and with a ton of character variety. You can't go wrong playing it, either for the fun as hell fighting mechanics, or just the titties. Both are valid.