AmpleSamuel
2022
I'm not a 'horror guy' - but I still loved Signalis more than I ever thought I could.
The gameplay consists of perfect survival horror, to the point where it almost becomes metroidvania-esque in just how fun it is to clear the map. Sure, there are some fun puzzles, but nothing is more satisfying than the feeling of making it past the horrific enemies in your way, and, against all odds, conquering each area. This is only amplified by the visuals and music that accompany you, which create an experience that's hard to put down, and a 7 hour game that flies by, as you simply need to make it to the next area to see what's there for you. It's a gameplay loop that's deeply addicting, something that feeds into the narrative.
And, oh boy, what a narrative it is. Signalis is the type of game where, even if you create a theory that makes it make sense in your head, you will never be able to explain it to someone else. It's a game where themes conquer all, as character moments are linked together by a general apathy towards the part of the world that tear us apart, and love towards the part of the world that brings us together.
Addicting gameplay, a deeply impactful story, terrific visuals and music (Cigerette Wife!?!?) - Signalis is a game that transcends genres. There are some games, (although probably only a handful), that I personally like more than Signalis, but there is no game I recommend more that everybody play.
10/10
Game #11 of 2024, February 9th
The gameplay consists of perfect survival horror, to the point where it almost becomes metroidvania-esque in just how fun it is to clear the map. Sure, there are some fun puzzles, but nothing is more satisfying than the feeling of making it past the horrific enemies in your way, and, against all odds, conquering each area. This is only amplified by the visuals and music that accompany you, which create an experience that's hard to put down, and a 7 hour game that flies by, as you simply need to make it to the next area to see what's there for you. It's a gameplay loop that's deeply addicting, something that feeds into the narrative.
And, oh boy, what a narrative it is. Signalis is the type of game where, even if you create a theory that makes it make sense in your head, you will never be able to explain it to someone else. It's a game where themes conquer all, as character moments are linked together by a general apathy towards the part of the world that tear us apart, and love towards the part of the world that brings us together.
Addicting gameplay, a deeply impactful story, terrific visuals and music (Cigerette Wife!?!?) - Signalis is a game that transcends genres. There are some games, (although probably only a handful), that I personally like more than Signalis, but there is no game I recommend more that everybody play.
10/10
Game #11 of 2024, February 9th
2022
One of the first memories I have of intaking the internet's opinion on games is learning that Wii Music, a game that I loved before I could put it into words, was nearly universally criticized and made fun of. And while I intentionally avoid playing Wii Music for fear of realizing that my nostalgia is hiding a pretty underwhelming experience, I've never forgotten the feeling that game gave me - a feeling that adult me, for the first time, got through Trombone Champ.
Trombone Champ is an extremely goofy game, to some pretty high highs, like some really great jokes, and some pretty low lows, like the requirements to beat the game pretty much just being random. But, when you actually get into the gameplay, it's just so much fun to play. It's not a rhythm game that you could sink your teeth into for months on end, and the actual music played doesn't always, or usually, sound that great - but the approach towards appreciation for the fun of playing is so immensely rewarding.
It's pretty easy to get custom songs downloaded too, and, while some people create not so fun tracks, when you find a song you love with an actually fitting track - it creates such a rhythmically terrific time. Definitely a game I'll return to a bunch, as the catalogue of songs, both official and unofficial, continue to grow.
9/10
Game #30 of 2024, May 16th
Trombone Champ is an extremely goofy game, to some pretty high highs, like some really great jokes, and some pretty low lows, like the requirements to beat the game pretty much just being random. But, when you actually get into the gameplay, it's just so much fun to play. It's not a rhythm game that you could sink your teeth into for months on end, and the actual music played doesn't always, or usually, sound that great - but the approach towards appreciation for the fun of playing is so immensely rewarding.
It's pretty easy to get custom songs downloaded too, and, while some people create not so fun tracks, when you find a song you love with an actually fitting track - it creates such a rhythmically terrific time. Definitely a game I'll return to a bunch, as the catalogue of songs, both official and unofficial, continue to grow.
9/10
Game #30 of 2024, May 16th
(This review is for Blaze Black 2 Redux)
Again, this is the fourth Pokémon game I've reviewed in the last ~45 days, and the third difficulty hack - this is basically just Pokémon with my two least favorite aspects, low difficulty and team restriction, removed.
10/10
Game #24 of 2024, April 17th
Again, this is the fourth Pokémon game I've reviewed in the last ~45 days, and the third difficulty hack - this is basically just Pokémon with my two least favorite aspects, low difficulty and team restriction, removed.
10/10
Game #24 of 2024, April 17th
It's Celeste, but shorter and in 3D.
That's about it. Still has the introspective writing that Celeste is beloved for, still has the hard but fair gameplay that Celeste is beloved for, and still has the Celeste-ness that Celeste is beloved for. While it's length never gives it a chance to match up to the original, there's no reason to not check it out if you liked it's 2D equivalent.
8/10
Game #9 of 2024, January 30th
That's about it. Still has the introspective writing that Celeste is beloved for, still has the hard but fair gameplay that Celeste is beloved for, and still has the Celeste-ness that Celeste is beloved for. While it's length never gives it a chance to match up to the original, there's no reason to not check it out if you liked it's 2D equivalent.
8/10
Game #9 of 2024, January 30th
I'd put off Anodyne 2 for long enough. Sephonie was one of my favorite games I'd ever played, Anodyne had a bunch of really fun moments, EtO had the best core gameplay of any of the Analgesic games, and even All Our Asias proved meaningful w/o any inherently fun aspects. No matter what, I felt that Anodyne 2 was going to be disappointing to me, as I had envisioned it as one of my favorite games ever before even playing it.
It was better than I really thought it could be.
Gameplay is pretty simple, with some fun platforming and a slight expansion of Anodyne 1's 2d sections, both of which mostly serve as a method to experience the true joy of the game - the music, visuals, and characters that make up each of the game's lovely locations. So many places in this game will forever be seared into my memory, as each place feels so distinct and so foreign - while also being instantly nostalgic, something accomplished through both 'beautiful ps2 but better' graphics, as well as one of my favorite soundtracks from any game ever.
But despite all the praise I just gave, the part of this game I can't stop thinking about is the writing. It was my favorite part of Sephonie, and lo and behold, it's my favorite part of its predecessor as well. It's ability to go from hilarious to sad to 'rethink your entire life' is awe-inspiring, and there are so many moments that you can't do anything but just pause the game and think about. Anodyne 2 is truly a special experience among special experiences, and a game that will be hard to displace as my favorite thing I played this year. And it's January.
10/10
Game #3 of 2024, January 15th.
It was better than I really thought it could be.
Gameplay is pretty simple, with some fun platforming and a slight expansion of Anodyne 1's 2d sections, both of which mostly serve as a method to experience the true joy of the game - the music, visuals, and characters that make up each of the game's lovely locations. So many places in this game will forever be seared into my memory, as each place feels so distinct and so foreign - while also being instantly nostalgic, something accomplished through both 'beautiful ps2 but better' graphics, as well as one of my favorite soundtracks from any game ever.
But despite all the praise I just gave, the part of this game I can't stop thinking about is the writing. It was my favorite part of Sephonie, and lo and behold, it's my favorite part of its predecessor as well. It's ability to go from hilarious to sad to 'rethink your entire life' is awe-inspiring, and there are so many moments that you can't do anything but just pause the game and think about. Anodyne 2 is truly a special experience among special experiences, and a game that will be hard to displace as my favorite thing I played this year. And it's January.
10/10
Game #3 of 2024, January 15th.
2024
It's been a while I was this excited for a game - and it lived up to that feeling.
Crow Country isn't a perfect game, as there is a complete lack of difficulty on the both the combat/puzzle side, with the combat especially being less than interesting, which obviously leaks into all parts of the experience. But, outside of that, everything else is pretty much perfect. The story is well written with a neat concept and a couple of fun twists, the PS1 graphics are just stunning, the music is terrific, (to the point where I'm excited about the soundtrack releasing), and the entire experience is so obviously lovingly crafted by people who understand survival horror.
Moving forward, while it's perhaps not the best of the genre, it's hard to think of a more beginner friendly, yet still amazing, intro to this style of survival horror. Definitely wish it was a bit longer, but would much rather be left wanting more than sick of it all by the end. Truly such a memorable time, and one that I'll definitely revisit.
9/10
Game #29 of 2024, May 15th
Crow Country isn't a perfect game, as there is a complete lack of difficulty on the both the combat/puzzle side, with the combat especially being less than interesting, which obviously leaks into all parts of the experience. But, outside of that, everything else is pretty much perfect. The story is well written with a neat concept and a couple of fun twists, the PS1 graphics are just stunning, the music is terrific, (to the point where I'm excited about the soundtrack releasing), and the entire experience is so obviously lovingly crafted by people who understand survival horror.
Moving forward, while it's perhaps not the best of the genre, it's hard to think of a more beginner friendly, yet still amazing, intro to this style of survival horror. Definitely wish it was a bit longer, but would much rather be left wanting more than sick of it all by the end. Truly such a memorable time, and one that I'll definitely revisit.
9/10
Game #29 of 2024, May 15th
2021
Just because Solar Ash could have been better, doesn't mean that it's not great.
At its core, Solar Ash is a movement based Shadow of the Colossus, that somehow looks even better. It even has the same type of twist, (although Solar Ash's ending, which is so easily the best part of the game, does enough different from SotC to appreciate them equally and separately). Of course, while there are benefits to being similar to such a beloved game, it's hard to not immediately draw comparisons between the two.
On the one hand, when it's at its best, Solar Ash is as fun any really any game can get. Most of the boss fights reach this height, with the final pair being just unbelievably good, as you just zip all around with a really great move set. Visually too, this game is so beautiful, with the stunning colors and terrific sequences being a constant.
Unfortunately, this game does struggle in one key compartment, which is its attempt to recreate 'Team Ico'-esque simplicity. The game makes the decision to not really explain most of its concepts, something that causes a bit of confusion as you just go around hitting stuff until something happens, but something that does increase immersion. The problem with this though, is that this immersion is immediately destroyed by the inherent 'gamey' ness of this game, with health upgrades and glowing weak points and everything. At parts of Solar Ash, it feels like you get the worst of both worlds, as you struggle to figure out what to do, while also feeling like there's a layer in between you and the story.
Speaking of which, the story is... overall fine. There is a ton of dialogue, (especially if you go for the side quest stuff,) all of which having pretty rough voice acting. There are a couple of twists at the end that I did really enjoy though, and it's the type of story where you can kind of forget about the boring first 90% because the ending is just that solid. Definitely a moral at the end that'll rumble around your brain for a bit.
Overall, Solar Ash is a weird game to talk about, as there are so many parts of it that are truly fantastic, but you still unfortunately spend about half your time either looking for the next fun bit, or reading mountains of dialogue. Still, if you can sit through some somewhat boring stuff, and you allow yourself to struggle while learning the game's rhythm, there's a really good core here.
7/10
Game #27 of 2024, May 10th
At its core, Solar Ash is a movement based Shadow of the Colossus, that somehow looks even better. It even has the same type of twist, (although Solar Ash's ending, which is so easily the best part of the game, does enough different from SotC to appreciate them equally and separately). Of course, while there are benefits to being similar to such a beloved game, it's hard to not immediately draw comparisons between the two.
On the one hand, when it's at its best, Solar Ash is as fun any really any game can get. Most of the boss fights reach this height, with the final pair being just unbelievably good, as you just zip all around with a really great move set. Visually too, this game is so beautiful, with the stunning colors and terrific sequences being a constant.
Unfortunately, this game does struggle in one key compartment, which is its attempt to recreate 'Team Ico'-esque simplicity. The game makes the decision to not really explain most of its concepts, something that causes a bit of confusion as you just go around hitting stuff until something happens, but something that does increase immersion. The problem with this though, is that this immersion is immediately destroyed by the inherent 'gamey' ness of this game, with health upgrades and glowing weak points and everything. At parts of Solar Ash, it feels like you get the worst of both worlds, as you struggle to figure out what to do, while also feeling like there's a layer in between you and the story.
Speaking of which, the story is... overall fine. There is a ton of dialogue, (especially if you go for the side quest stuff,) all of which having pretty rough voice acting. There are a couple of twists at the end that I did really enjoy though, and it's the type of story where you can kind of forget about the boring first 90% because the ending is just that solid. Definitely a moral at the end that'll rumble around your brain for a bit.
Overall, Solar Ash is a weird game to talk about, as there are so many parts of it that are truly fantastic, but you still unfortunately spend about half your time either looking for the next fun bit, or reading mountains of dialogue. Still, if you can sit through some somewhat boring stuff, and you allow yourself to struggle while learning the game's rhythm, there's a really good core here.
7/10
Game #27 of 2024, May 10th
2016
Even the Ocean is by far Analgesic's most ambitious game, and every thing I love and hate about the game comes from that fact. To start with the story, unlike the brilliant characters of Anodyne 2 and Sephonie, EtO feels like it cares more about the world and the story around the world rather than the the people who live in it. And while that does serve the narrative of the game, it also meant that, until the big impact moment at the end of this one, there were only a few little moments that felt worth it to take a break from platforming to experience. (The namesake song is definitely one of them). Still, when comparing this game to non Analgesic-stories, it's hard to not love the charm of this world, and the way that playing it after playing Anodyne greatly increases the amount of perspective you feel it provides. It's a story that I feel impacted me the way it did because I had already played some of Melos and Marina's other games, and thus felt a connection with the way their games view the world.
Gameplay-wise, this one is definitely an oddity. On the one hand, the actual gimmick that replaces health is pretty uninteresting, and just serves as a puzzle-creator. On the other hand, the shield mechanic in this game is just an unfathomable amount of fun to use, and it by far the reason that this game is still likely going to be one of my favorites I play this year - just like Shovel Knight's Shovel, it completely transforms platforming, this time into a duel stick experience, something that made breezing through levels so much fun. While the levels never quite get difficult enough to be interesting, I still found just running around a beautiful place with a beautiful score to be too much fun to not call this game great.
9/10
Game #1 of 2024, January 2nd.
Gameplay-wise, this one is definitely an oddity. On the one hand, the actual gimmick that replaces health is pretty uninteresting, and just serves as a puzzle-creator. On the other hand, the shield mechanic in this game is just an unfathomable amount of fun to use, and it by far the reason that this game is still likely going to be one of my favorites I play this year - just like Shovel Knight's Shovel, it completely transforms platforming, this time into a duel stick experience, something that made breezing through levels so much fun. While the levels never quite get difficult enough to be interesting, I still found just running around a beautiful place with a beautiful score to be too much fun to not call this game great.
9/10
Game #1 of 2024, January 2nd.
2024
Boomeroad feels like a tech demo. A lot of neat mechanics that simply don't go anywhere, and a story that feels largely non-existent. The gameplay at its core is a pretty neat idea though, and while I don't think they'll ever go back to it, this could potentially fuel a much longer, and ultimately better, game.
6/10
Game #20 of 2024, March 27th
6/10
Game #20 of 2024, March 27th
2012
Kid Icarus Uprising was the first game I ever loved. Since first playing it nearly a decade ago, I've always been immensely fond of it. And while the younger me fell in love with it's 'cool gameplay' and 'crazy visuals,' the reason that it's still a favorite of mine when other games I loved during that period are not is because, without a doubt, it has the most fun set of characters from any game I have ever played. Sure, the gameplay is pretty fun when your hand isn't in pain, and yeah, the visuals are pretty stellar for the 3ds, but the fully voice-acted dialogue that you hear from start to finish is why this game is an all time favorite of mine. It's not effortlessly funny - the entire game feels like them desperately trying to make every single line memorable - and it's all the more endearing because of it. It's just a game that, at every moment, feels like you're watching your favorite show, and your favorite moment is about to come up.
Except, that favorite moment never ends.
10/10
Game #4 of 2024, January 15th.
Except, that favorite moment never ends.
10/10
Game #4 of 2024, January 15th.
2004
By far the most disappointing 6/10 I've ever played.
Without judging it against the other games in the series, Pikmin 2 is a pretty fun game with some frustrating moments and weird decisions. The story is still charming, the game is still beautiful, the music is still a vibe, and, during the overworld sections, it's fun to explore the world and see what you can do with 2 captains.
But as a sequel to Pikmin, it's mind-blowing why they would turn such a chill and well designed experience into a randomly generated and precise RTS experience for the majority of the gameplay.
6/10
Game #18 of 2024, March 20th
Without judging it against the other games in the series, Pikmin 2 is a pretty fun game with some frustrating moments and weird decisions. The story is still charming, the game is still beautiful, the music is still a vibe, and, during the overworld sections, it's fun to explore the world and see what you can do with 2 captains.
But as a sequel to Pikmin, it's mind-blowing why they would turn such a chill and well designed experience into a randomly generated and precise RTS experience for the majority of the gameplay.
6/10
Game #18 of 2024, March 20th
1990
The NES at its absolute best.
StarTropics is a game that, while still suffering from a bit of its console's tropes, such as the pretty ridiculous difficulty, feels so ahead of its time. It's focus on story, including some really charming dialogue, it's focus on sprite work / music, including some of the best of both for the era - everything about this game is just kind of mind-blowing for something that isn't talked nearly as much some of its peers
Obviously, even if it's a really good one, it's still an NES game - but I had a blast with Startropics.
8/10
Game #22 of 2024, April 7th
StarTropics is a game that, while still suffering from a bit of its console's tropes, such as the pretty ridiculous difficulty, feels so ahead of its time. It's focus on story, including some really charming dialogue, it's focus on sprite work / music, including some of the best of both for the era - everything about this game is just kind of mind-blowing for something that isn't talked nearly as much some of its peers
Obviously, even if it's a really good one, it's still an NES game - but I had a blast with Startropics.
8/10
Game #22 of 2024, April 7th
2016
(This review is for the rom hack, Pokémon Eternal X)
Even if, as somebody who as now played other games, it's pretty easy to see all of the ways that Pokémon definitely could be better, I'll always have love in my heart for franchise, all the way back to the first game in the series that I played, Pokémon X. And while kid me enjoyed that game plenty with low level opponents and a slow 3DS, playing through Eternal X, a game that makes XY into an actual challenge and adds in every missing Pokémon, and playing it through an Emulator, which allows it to be played at a speed that isn't absolutely ridiculously slow compared to every other modern RPG, and I can finally have a good turn-based experience, along side the nostalgia filled coziness of Kalos. Not sure that this rating would hold if I didn't have such nostalgia for this game, but there was no way to give an experience I loved this much any other score.
10/10
Game #14 of 2024, March 1st
Even if, as somebody who as now played other games, it's pretty easy to see all of the ways that Pokémon definitely could be better, I'll always have love in my heart for franchise, all the way back to the first game in the series that I played, Pokémon X. And while kid me enjoyed that game plenty with low level opponents and a slow 3DS, playing through Eternal X, a game that makes XY into an actual challenge and adds in every missing Pokémon, and playing it through an Emulator, which allows it to be played at a speed that isn't absolutely ridiculously slow compared to every other modern RPG, and I can finally have a good turn-based experience, along side the nostalgia filled coziness of Kalos. Not sure that this rating would hold if I didn't have such nostalgia for this game, but there was no way to give an experience I loved this much any other score.
10/10
Game #14 of 2024, March 1st
Silent Hill 2 is a beautiful mix of being wonderfully dated, and immensely ahead of its time.
The controls of this game feel a bit janky, but it completely works to emphasize the horror, as it allows the sound design to stand alone as you struggle to see the incoming - something that's fueled by the genius of the radio. The gameplay loop is simple, but deeply addicting, as perhaps the best game of its type. The voice acting is occasionally, (okay, maybe more than occasionally), hilariously goofy, but it can't stop the story from being one of the most impactful ever put in a game. (The ending VA performance though!)
SH2 is just a series of incredibly cool moments, such as the first time your flashlight turns off, and a series of examples of genius game design, such as how it uses camera angles to make sure that you pretty much never miss a key object, while also never feeling like it holds your hand.
I don't really even love horror, but I do really love Silent Hill 2.
10/10
Game #15 of 2024, March 6th
The controls of this game feel a bit janky, but it completely works to emphasize the horror, as it allows the sound design to stand alone as you struggle to see the incoming - something that's fueled by the genius of the radio. The gameplay loop is simple, but deeply addicting, as perhaps the best game of its type. The voice acting is occasionally, (okay, maybe more than occasionally), hilariously goofy, but it can't stop the story from being one of the most impactful ever put in a game. (The ending VA performance though!)
SH2 is just a series of incredibly cool moments, such as the first time your flashlight turns off, and a series of examples of genius game design, such as how it uses camera angles to make sure that you pretty much never miss a key object, while also never feeling like it holds your hand.
I don't really even love horror, but I do really love Silent Hill 2.
10/10
Game #15 of 2024, March 6th
2001
(Review for the GameCube version, and thus the jank I complain about is probably something I voluntarily played with)
Pikmin is a game that's boring, until it's not. You go from thinking that the Pikmin are dumb and don't listen, the day cycle is pointless and just wastes time, and the world is some boring forest or whatever, to realizing that the Pikmin are the best minions in gaming, the day cycle is absolutely brilliant and allows for so much strategy on every playthough, and that the setting is genuinely stunning, and perfectly contrasts with the game's somewhat nihilistic tendencies. While there is some jank, being able to reset any day nearly eliminates it, and leaves behind one of the most replayable and relaxing experiences I've ever had.
9/10
Game #7 of 2024, January 24th
Pikmin is a game that's boring, until it's not. You go from thinking that the Pikmin are dumb and don't listen, the day cycle is pointless and just wastes time, and the world is some boring forest or whatever, to realizing that the Pikmin are the best minions in gaming, the day cycle is absolutely brilliant and allows for so much strategy on every playthough, and that the setting is genuinely stunning, and perfectly contrasts with the game's somewhat nihilistic tendencies. While there is some jank, being able to reset any day nearly eliminates it, and leaves behind one of the most replayable and relaxing experiences I've ever had.
9/10
Game #7 of 2024, January 24th