ArabiWasabi
I genuinely really enjoyed the story mode. The only thing that is a bit bothering is the way the whole thing is packaged. I mean, would it be so hard for them to just release the story mode as its own game? Is it that fucking hard blizzard? Wouldn't that generate hype and a lot more money with a 60$/€ pricetag? That's what the people want, not this seasonal, 15$/€, 1,5h campaign bullshit. Get it together Blizzard, fuck. I see that a lot of work has been put into the story and I see the potential it could have had if it was its own thing. A fully dedicated story release will probably only see the light of day once the whole story has been squeezed out on the various seasons going forward, which is probably some years in the future. Aware
Also, good job blizzard on the Steam release, the reception and the reviews are pretty hilarious. "Overwhelmingly Negative (57,197)" as of (2023-08-12)
{1}
Also, good job blizzard on the Steam release, the reception and the reviews are pretty hilarious. "Overwhelmingly Negative (57,197)" as of (2023-08-12)
{1}
2022
What an incredibly wholesome game!! If you're ever in the mood of not playing anything demanding, this is THE easygoing and laid-back game it is you're after. Nothing is at stake, just an imaginary* world of paper-cut-out monsters and everyone wanting to be your friend. Fuck, why isn't real life more like this? :((
People make strong connections to Zelda, and yes, that is very much the case to put it lightly. Most other games that draw heavy inspiration from Breath of The Wild try to sweep the influence under the rug. What makes Lil Gator Game on the other hand so likable is that it's so upfront about its heavy inspiration and even goes its way to reference it as much as possible.
This whimsical world of silly animals and their silly quests kept me engaged at all times, well maybe not at all times. What maybe held it back at times were the ever-ending dialogues. To be fair, it only happened on a few occasions. I just wanted to keep exploring and break every pot I could get my hands on. While exploring I wished there'd be some better songs to go along. The music felt a little flat and not very unique. I kept being reminded of the Slime Rancher OST which has of what I remember: a very mid soundtrack. Don't let the nitpicks I mentioned influence your decision to play this game. It's amazing and if it sounds like a you-game, I really recommend it. Lemme just advise you to play the game whenever you're in that one mood and is tired of overexaggerated action titles.
_ _ _ _ _
I think Immana link to every recorded part in every review I do going forward, so here are the recorded parts from this game:
{1}, {2} & {3}
People make strong connections to Zelda, and yes, that is very much the case to put it lightly. Most other games that draw heavy inspiration from Breath of The Wild try to sweep the influence under the rug. What makes Lil Gator Game on the other hand so likable is that it's so upfront about its heavy inspiration and even goes its way to reference it as much as possible.
This whimsical world of silly animals and their silly quests kept me engaged at all times, well maybe not at all times. What maybe held it back at times were the ever-ending dialogues. To be fair, it only happened on a few occasions. I just wanted to keep exploring and break every pot I could get my hands on. While exploring I wished there'd be some better songs to go along. The music felt a little flat and not very unique. I kept being reminded of the Slime Rancher OST which has of what I remember: a very mid soundtrack. Don't let the nitpicks I mentioned influence your decision to play this game. It's amazing and if it sounds like a you-game, I really recommend it. Lemme just advise you to play the game whenever you're in that one mood and is tired of overexaggerated action titles.
_ _ _ _ _
I think Immana link to every recorded part in every review I do going forward, so here are the recorded parts from this game:
{1}, {2} & {3}
1989
~ 3DS Homebrew Journey - Game 11 ~
The whole reason as to why I started playing this old-fart of a game in the first place was thanks to AutomaticPause’s video “Wario Land Series Retrospective” (2022), which is a very enjoyable 3h+ in-depth video about pretty much everything revolving our favorite nose-picking, motorcycle riding, chunky Mario wannabe — Wario, and his Wario Land series. So what does Wario have to do with Super Mario Land one might ask? Well, the third instalment in the series was weirdly named: Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994). This makes it the third instalment of the Super Mario Land series but also the first of the brand new Wario Land series. As someone who has recently been playing a lot of WarioWare have I grown to really like the guy. I wanted to give Wario Land a shot, but also Super Mario Land. So instead of just jumping into the third Mario Land, I thought I’d start from the top with Super Mario Land(1989)
I heard people talking about platforming being floaty. What. Are. They. Talking. Bout. ? I mean, a little float, but it’s barely noticeable. I guess I was too busy being mesmerised by the soundtrack. Which evolved into this. Thanks @lasagnaloverleo for bringing it to my attention. Aside from those bangers, when receiving a star power-up you don’t get the iconic Star Theme but instead this, which I think is a sample from the classical masterpiece Infernal Galop, which is odd but fun. It took me less time to beat the game than to write this review, so not much bang for the buck if one bought the game back when it was released. It has some simple yet somewhat challenging platforming with no Mega Man bullshit platforming. It strikes a good balance, including its world themes. The auto-sidescrolling plane sections are great and a good way to implement some variety — something most other 2D Mario games lack. The final boss being a plane section was also a really good way to end things. It sure isn’t the prettiest game but it gets the job done and then some. The zoomed-out view making everything look a little smaller may make for some more challenging platforming, as it is harder to see but it also gives the game a picturesque and unique feel, unlike any other 2D Mario.
The whole reason as to why I started playing this old-fart of a game in the first place was thanks to AutomaticPause’s video “Wario Land Series Retrospective” (2022), which is a very enjoyable 3h+ in-depth video about pretty much everything revolving our favorite nose-picking, motorcycle riding, chunky Mario wannabe — Wario, and his Wario Land series. So what does Wario have to do with Super Mario Land one might ask? Well, the third instalment in the series was weirdly named: Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994). This makes it the third instalment of the Super Mario Land series but also the first of the brand new Wario Land series. As someone who has recently been playing a lot of WarioWare have I grown to really like the guy. I wanted to give Wario Land a shot, but also Super Mario Land. So instead of just jumping into the third Mario Land, I thought I’d start from the top with Super Mario Land(1989)
I heard people talking about platforming being floaty. What. Are. They. Talking. Bout. ? I mean, a little float, but it’s barely noticeable. I guess I was too busy being mesmerised by the soundtrack. Which evolved into this. Thanks @lasagnaloverleo for bringing it to my attention. Aside from those bangers, when receiving a star power-up you don’t get the iconic Star Theme but instead this, which I think is a sample from the classical masterpiece Infernal Galop, which is odd but fun. It took me less time to beat the game than to write this review, so not much bang for the buck if one bought the game back when it was released. It has some simple yet somewhat challenging platforming with no Mega Man bullshit platforming. It strikes a good balance, including its world themes. The auto-sidescrolling plane sections are great and a good way to implement some variety — something most other 2D Mario games lack. The final boss being a plane section was also a really good way to end things. It sure isn’t the prettiest game but it gets the job done and then some. The zoomed-out view making everything look a little smaller may make for some more challenging platforming, as it is harder to see but it also gives the game a picturesque and unique feel, unlike any other 2D Mario.
~ 3DS Homebrew Journey - Game 10🎉 ~
Of the few Taiko games I’ve played, this one goes the hardest in every department — meaning banger music, duh. A thing about Taiko no Tatsujin is that it has a lot of reoccurring tracks throughout the franchise. Although it works as filler to easily make more out of the game, it also makes it feel more Taiko, and familiar if that makes sense(?). This Taiko takes one step back in bringing less classic Taiko tracks, but instead two steps forward in bringing a bunch of new tracks, each bopping harder than the other. Remember, I haven't played that many Taiko games, but to me a lot of the songs were new.
As one would expect, the ds touch-screen work like a physical Taiko drum would, and that's really cool. Really unfortunate that this gem never officially set sail outside of Japan. This is a game no Taiko enjoyer should miss out on.
Of the few Taiko games I’ve played, this one goes the hardest in every department — meaning banger music, duh. A thing about Taiko no Tatsujin is that it has a lot of reoccurring tracks throughout the franchise. Although it works as filler to easily make more out of the game, it also makes it feel more Taiko, and familiar if that makes sense(?). This Taiko takes one step back in bringing less classic Taiko tracks, but instead two steps forward in bringing a bunch of new tracks, each bopping harder than the other. Remember, I haven't played that many Taiko games, but to me a lot of the songs were new.
As one would expect, the ds touch-screen work like a physical Taiko drum would, and that's really cool. Really unfortunate that this gem never officially set sail outside of Japan. This is a game no Taiko enjoyer should miss out on.
2018
~ 3DS Homebrew Journey - Game 7 ~
I could never wrap my head around what type of game WarioWare was, but its vast colourful cast reeled me in and gave me a chance to see what all the fuss was all about.
And after having completed both WarioWare Gold (2018) and WarioWare: Touched! (2004) I am in love. As the game’s name suggests, is it through and through a “GOLD”en experience.
I’d like to compare WarioWare to a great buffet, with all its microgames being different dishes. The games can be divided into categories, yes, but each microgame is distinct enough to be its own dish with its own flavour and texture despite sharing similarities with games within the same category. Because of the multitude of microgames there’s in store, you may think that they look much alike, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Each 5 or so seconds game adds a lot of its own quirkiness to this already fuckfest of quirkinesses.
The addition of voice acting may sound trivial to some, but I think it adds a lot to this already colourful cast.
I will without a doubt play any WarioWare I come across in the future, as long as I can get my hands on the required system and game. Can’t wait!
I could never wrap my head around what type of game WarioWare was, but its vast colourful cast reeled me in and gave me a chance to see what all the fuss was all about.
And after having completed both WarioWare Gold (2018) and WarioWare: Touched! (2004) I am in love. As the game’s name suggests, is it through and through a “GOLD”en experience.
I’d like to compare WarioWare to a great buffet, with all its microgames being different dishes. The games can be divided into categories, yes, but each microgame is distinct enough to be its own dish with its own flavour and texture despite sharing similarities with games within the same category. Because of the multitude of microgames there’s in store, you may think that they look much alike, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Each 5 or so seconds game adds a lot of its own quirkiness to this already fuckfest of quirkinesses.
The addition of voice acting may sound trivial to some, but I think it adds a lot to this already colourful cast.
I will without a doubt play any WarioWare I come across in the future, as long as I can get my hands on the required system and game. Can’t wait!
It does not matter how many times I play this game, after all this time it still feels fresh and there are always new things to discover and find out about. I roam the realm of Hyrule for hours upon hours yet my curiosity for this world never valleys. This game is truly a breath of fresh air, not only in terms of the Zelda foundation but also in its influence on games made throughout the generation. This game gives me hope that despite the sad state of the gaming world, there's still hope. Art will prevail and prosper.
~ 3DS Homebrew Journey - Game 2 ~
Right before playing A Link Between Worlds (2013), I gave A Link to the Past (1991) a shot, which gave some good first impressions. I will most certainly complete that game too in the time coming. What surprised me when I played this game though was how similar everything felt. Same overworld and a similar opening. Whilst I learned it was in fact "something of a sequel", it still felt kinda cheap re-using the exact same map. It being an old 2D map shows in a few ways. It's a little awkward at times to navigate through the world because many places feel cramped. I really have nothing against them re-using the map since it's a sequel, but I think the overall atmosphere could've been improved if the developers took some liberties in changing a few things up.
The controls feel smooth and snappy and it helps a lot that it runs in a much-appreciated 60fps, though with minor stuttering. One-on-one encounters with the overworld enemies feel quite bad unless you have any Ravio items since you just spam sword attacks in hopes of landing a hit. The main gimmick of this game with Link being able to go into walls is brilliant and works great in both discovering hidden items and collectibles. I only wish it had a bigger impact on dungeon puzzle-solving instead of Ravio items.
In terms of story, this game hit me in the feels. A predictable story isn't always a bad one and it's shown here. I can't say how good the 3D effect was during gameplay but during cutscenes, the 3D effect looked amazing. It almost felt like I got sucked into the screen.
Dungeons were overall great but I ended up with the two darkest ones at the end. I kinda despise dark environments in games. I think it's cool that you can tackle the dungeons in any order you want (if you have the equipment needed that is). I felt like I picked quite a bad order since I felt underpowered most of the time. I got more powerful by the end and could handle the later dungeons with zero hardship.
At this point, I can't expect to be disappointed by any Zelda game. Nintendo nails both 2D and 3D Zelda, not maybe to the same extent, but still. I can't wait to see how it compares with A Link to the Past whenever I get around to completing that game!
Right before playing A Link Between Worlds (2013), I gave A Link to the Past (1991) a shot, which gave some good first impressions. I will most certainly complete that game too in the time coming. What surprised me when I played this game though was how similar everything felt. Same overworld and a similar opening. Whilst I learned it was in fact "something of a sequel", it still felt kinda cheap re-using the exact same map. It being an old 2D map shows in a few ways. It's a little awkward at times to navigate through the world because many places feel cramped. I really have nothing against them re-using the map since it's a sequel, but I think the overall atmosphere could've been improved if the developers took some liberties in changing a few things up.
The controls feel smooth and snappy and it helps a lot that it runs in a much-appreciated 60fps, though with minor stuttering. One-on-one encounters with the overworld enemies feel quite bad unless you have any Ravio items since you just spam sword attacks in hopes of landing a hit. The main gimmick of this game with Link being able to go into walls is brilliant and works great in both discovering hidden items and collectibles. I only wish it had a bigger impact on dungeon puzzle-solving instead of Ravio items.
In terms of story, this game hit me in the feels. A predictable story isn't always a bad one and it's shown here. I can't say how good the 3D effect was during gameplay but during cutscenes, the 3D effect looked amazing. It almost felt like I got sucked into the screen.
Dungeons were overall great but I ended up with the two darkest ones at the end. I kinda despise dark environments in games. I think it's cool that you can tackle the dungeons in any order you want (if you have the equipment needed that is). I felt like I picked quite a bad order since I felt underpowered most of the time. I got more powerful by the end and could handle the later dungeons with zero hardship.
At this point, I can't expect to be disappointed by any Zelda game. Nintendo nails both 2D and 3D Zelda, not maybe to the same extent, but still. I can't wait to see how it compares with A Link to the Past whenever I get around to completing that game!
2011
~ 3DS Homebrew Journey - Game 1 ~
I finally decided to homebrew my 3DS. MK7 was the first 3DS game on my mind that I haven’t gotten to play yet. So I let it be the first game to be (legally) downloaded. As a MK connoisseur I find it weird that I never bought this game despite always having a 3DS.
Anyhow, this MK does everything you’d expect a MK game to be and never really goes out of its comfort-zone. Sure, it adds gliding, but I felt like it didn’t add too much. It has some really good tracks and some really bad ones as well. That snow mountain can go to hell. That dino track was really nice, I liked that one. I hope it gets added to the MK 8 Deluxe DLC. I found it a little odd but fun that they added the queen bee from Super Mario Galaxy. Wiggler, carried the otherwise average character-roster.
As I’m writing this I have a massive cramp in my right hand due to the awkward distance between the gas and drift button. What I like about MK8 is that you have the option to turn on auto acceleration which may sound silly and unnecessary but is in actuality quite amazing. It gives room to actually use the brake which is crucial in 200cc but also useful in 150cc if going really fast. There’s also no reason to stop accelerating so I don’t see how it hasn’t been implemented earlier such as in MK7.
MK7 is mediocre in most ways. What I take with me though is that it does a really good job of making use of the 3D effect. I’m not much for sitting straight and having to bother with flickering, half-functional 3D effects, but here they really nailed it, giving MK7 immersion I haven’t experienced in any other MK game before. It’s ultimately a worthy experience for any who has an appreciation for Mario Kart.
I finally decided to homebrew my 3DS. MK7 was the first 3DS game on my mind that I haven’t gotten to play yet. So I let it be the first game to be (legally) downloaded. As a MK connoisseur I find it weird that I never bought this game despite always having a 3DS.
Anyhow, this MK does everything you’d expect a MK game to be and never really goes out of its comfort-zone. Sure, it adds gliding, but I felt like it didn’t add too much. It has some really good tracks and some really bad ones as well. That snow mountain can go to hell. That dino track was really nice, I liked that one. I hope it gets added to the MK 8 Deluxe DLC. I found it a little odd but fun that they added the queen bee from Super Mario Galaxy. Wiggler, carried the otherwise average character-roster.
As I’m writing this I have a massive cramp in my right hand due to the awkward distance between the gas and drift button. What I like about MK8 is that you have the option to turn on auto acceleration which may sound silly and unnecessary but is in actuality quite amazing. It gives room to actually use the brake which is crucial in 200cc but also useful in 150cc if going really fast. There’s also no reason to stop accelerating so I don’t see how it hasn’t been implemented earlier such as in MK7.
MK7 is mediocre in most ways. What I take with me though is that it does a really good job of making use of the 3D effect. I’m not much for sitting straight and having to bother with flickering, half-functional 3D effects, but here they really nailed it, giving MK7 immersion I haven’t experienced in any other MK game before. It’s ultimately a worthy experience for any who has an appreciation for Mario Kart.
2023
Now, this is what I call art! This developer went his way to hand-paint EVERYTHING except for two of the three last worlds. It's beautiful and so very tasteful in both form and color.
It's a very straightforward puzzle platformer. There are many worlds to discover, each being set in a different dimension and each having different artistical themes from acrylic to watercolor. Each of these worlds has one or more gimmicks to spice up the puzzle platforming, with the oil pastels world having different insects you can ride to traverse the area in different ways to unlock the way toward your objective. The puzzles are very straight to the point and I can guarantee you that you'll never get stuck. It's not a mindless playthrough but one that you can make your way through without getting headaches and instead feel kinda clever. Let's not forget about the amazing soundtrack, wow.
Storywise I got reminded of Wondersong (2018) and how it played around with the theme of being the hero. Since The Multi-Medium is a 2- or so hour-long experience there isn't much to go off of, but I still think its message came across by the end, to a satisfying end at that! Play this, you who is a platformer fanatic, and a connoisseur of the arts.
It's a very straightforward puzzle platformer. There are many worlds to discover, each being set in a different dimension and each having different artistical themes from acrylic to watercolor. Each of these worlds has one or more gimmicks to spice up the puzzle platforming, with the oil pastels world having different insects you can ride to traverse the area in different ways to unlock the way toward your objective. The puzzles are very straight to the point and I can guarantee you that you'll never get stuck. It's not a mindless playthrough but one that you can make your way through without getting headaches and instead feel kinda clever. Let's not forget about the amazing soundtrack, wow.
Storywise I got reminded of Wondersong (2018) and how it played around with the theme of being the hero. Since The Multi-Medium is a 2- or so hour-long experience there isn't much to go off of, but I still think its message came across by the end, to a satisfying end at that! Play this, you who is a platformer fanatic, and a connoisseur of the arts.
2023
As soon as this was shown at that Xbox Direct I had this god-gamer instinct that this was going to be something out of the ordinary. I went to backloggd to instantly put this on my wish list, to then realise: "wait, this comes out today".
This game is action-packed to the brim and never stops to surprise. It's highly concentrated with one moment looking very different from the one before.
It took a while for me to get a hang of how to make the most out of my arsenal. But before I knew it, it sat well with me. I guess it's those jazz genes of mine that came into play. The only thing really bothering me combat-wise is that the support cooldowns are way too short which kinda makes it less necessary to fight; as they are really powerful by themselves.
The 3D platforming segments felt really awkward at times as the jump is very short in forward momentum but triple that in height.
For being a rhythm game, it had a somewhat underwhelming soundtrack. It's your basic rock with guitar and drums, yeah that's it. At least you can feel the rhythm and follow it with ease.
The characters are charming and they got me to crack a few ”haHAA”s but they are at times a little cringe-y and cheesy.
I want to end this review by saying how admirable it is that this somewhat randomly dropped 30$ game pass game comes out more refined and polished than the majority of AAA games. Gg, snail developers! 🐌
This game is action-packed to the brim and never stops to surprise. It's highly concentrated with one moment looking very different from the one before.
It took a while for me to get a hang of how to make the most out of my arsenal. But before I knew it, it sat well with me. I guess it's those jazz genes of mine that came into play. The only thing really bothering me combat-wise is that the support cooldowns are way too short which kinda makes it less necessary to fight; as they are really powerful by themselves.
The 3D platforming segments felt really awkward at times as the jump is very short in forward momentum but triple that in height.
For being a rhythm game, it had a somewhat underwhelming soundtrack. It's your basic rock with guitar and drums, yeah that's it. At least you can feel the rhythm and follow it with ease.
The characters are charming and they got me to crack a few ”haHAA”s but they are at times a little cringe-y and cheesy.
I want to end this review by saying how admirable it is that this somewhat randomly dropped 30$ game pass game comes out more refined and polished than the majority of AAA games. Gg, snail developers! 🐌
2022
Let's just say that the sushi I ate for dinner didn't sit that well with me after having played this.
The theming felt quite deep and that's probably why I didn't catch anything of what it wanted to say. It was atmospheric and scary which is a win in my book. Can't wait for the sequel: How Eel Is Made; since no one actually seems to know.
The theming felt quite deep and that's probably why I didn't catch anything of what it wanted to say. It was atmospheric and scary which is a win in my book. Can't wait for the sequel: How Eel Is Made; since no one actually seems to know.
2013
What's up with all these games like Tomb Raider and Uncharted having infinite amounts of breakable objects? Any ledge or wall you merely touch is bound to crumble like a month-old bread loaf, which is fine from an action standpoint, but is it that realistic?
I mentioned Uncharted, and yeah this is Uncharted but you get to see a woman's ass instead, and I like it and prefer it. Wait, maybe that's why I like : a lost legacy (2017) so much...
Anyhow, there's really nothing to complain about. Puzzles are good, short, and sweet. The action can be a bit over the top with things exploding and breaking at pretty much all times.
It has some very forgiving gunplay since you can spray as much as possible without ever running out of ammo.
Tomb Raider (2013) is overall a really fun and straightforward game with the stuff to expect.
I mentioned Uncharted, and yeah this is Uncharted but you get to see a woman's ass instead, and I like it and prefer it. Wait, maybe that's why I like : a lost legacy (2017) so much...
Anyhow, there's really nothing to complain about. Puzzles are good, short, and sweet. The action can be a bit over the top with things exploding and breaking at pretty much all times.
It has some very forgiving gunplay since you can spray as much as possible without ever running out of ammo.
Tomb Raider (2013) is overall a really fun and straightforward game with the stuff to expect.
2022
What a meh-ass tech demo. The only fun part was shooting with gyro motion-controls but that’s also the only part where it drops in frames. You don’t do much else than that other than to flush toilets and listen to this blue portal-looking mf.
I took too long to sign my name on the touch screen, so it went like: actually fuck you, you don’t get to sign anything.
At least this game does something right, and that is to redefine the meaning of what a job is. #normalizetoiletwarmachienes #normalize #toilet #war-machines
I like the mantises tho, they cute. :D
I took too long to sign my name on the touch screen, so it went like: actually fuck you, you don’t get to sign anything.
At least this game does something right, and that is to redefine the meaning of what a job is. #normalizetoiletwarmachienes #normalize #toilet #war-machines
I like the mantises tho, they cute. :D
Hahaha, I added this game! I used to play this on my kindergarten PC and I remember it vividly! :D
2022
I had no intention of writing a review, simply because I had no idea how to express myself after an adventure such as this. I'm simply floored. I seriously don't know how this can be topped.
During my playthrough I kept thinking that something felt off, and that the story at times didn't connect. In retrospect, I realise it all was the perfect buildup to what eventually led to Ragnarök. Every thread of the story I felt was mishandled eventually weaved into this bulletproof piece of fabric of a story.
For now I'll need to collect myself before I collapse. (Just completed the game). Prolly make a more fleshed out review once I potentially 100% the game.
In the review I did for God of War (2018) , which also my first review on Backloggd, I expressed my expectations and anticipation of this game. Let's just say I wasn't let down. :,)
During my playthrough I kept thinking that something felt off, and that the story at times didn't connect. In retrospect, I realise it all was the perfect buildup to what eventually led to Ragnarök. Every thread of the story I felt was mishandled eventually weaved into this bulletproof piece of fabric of a story.
For now I'll need to collect myself before I collapse. (Just completed the game). Prolly make a more fleshed out review once I potentially 100% the game.
In the review I did for God of War (2018) , which also my first review on Backloggd, I expressed my expectations and anticipation of this game. Let's just say I wasn't let down. :,)