For anyone wanting to get into the older Dragon Quest titles, IV seems like the best starting point, personally. Think about this: You have an RPG that originally came out in 1990 for the NES, with an actual attempt at character development. Not only that, but they took it a step further by dividing it up into chapters. The first four specifically focus on certain characters, giving you a nice introduction to each one and their basic jobs in a party setting. As an introduction to the series, this works really well, as the chapter system allows for a big window of time to familiarize yourself with the world exploration and battle mechanics in a relatively linear fashion. Many RPGs from this era can be intimidating due to the lack of direction, but DQ IV makes it feel accessible and welcoming. For reference, there are five main chapters in this remake (with an optional post-game chapter), and it took me around 10 hours to finish the first 4. The fifth chapter is where everyone finally comes together and the real journey begins. By that point, you've spent a good chunk of time with the game and opening up the world is no
longer so intimidating.

Granted, while dividing up the game like this is a very innovative storytelling technique for the time, some may be curious if drags out for too long. I will admit, some character's chapters are certainly more interesting than others. Chapter 3 in particular is pretty slow as you take control of a merchant character who goes about his day selling weapons at a shop to make some money. You'll be doing this for a while at the start of it just to afford proper gear to go out and fight some baddies. While certain sections like this can be rather sluggish, they often don't drag on for too long, and they provide some really cool immersion into these characters' lives. By the time you reach Chapter 5, I feel that you will be invested enough in these characters (provided you are enjoying the game), to make the final chapter all the more interesting.

I spent enough time trying to sell you on the game's main storytelling gimmick, but how does the game itself play? If you've never played a Dragon Quest game, it's pretty standard classic JRPG fare. You talk to people and receive valuable hints, traverse dungeons, fight bosses, the works. DQ IV's bright and colorful world keeps things fun. No dungeons ever truly feel tedious, and while grinding is certainly necessary at points, it's nothing too bad. The great thing about this series in general is how valuable level ups can be. Leveling up even once can make all the difference when confronted with a difficult area/boss. And with the ability to swap out characters even during battle once you have your full team with you in the latter half of the game, the game feels quite forgiving for the most part. With this remake, you get some great quality of life improvements too, such as quick saving in most places, even within dungeons. Besides this, you also get full party control in the final two chapters (this includes the post-game chapter). In the original game, you could only control the hero while the rest of your party was AI-controlled. The option is still there for anyone that wants to go the traditional route, though.

Overall, while I think some of the chapters could have benefitted from being a bit more fleshed out or cutting some minor fluff, it still does a great job on worldbuilding and keeping things fresh with some variety in its gameplay and character POV. The world is vibrant and charming, boss fights are a joy to conquer, and the story and characters have enough depth for a 30+ year old game to be worth the time. Also, this game seriously has one of the coolest final boss fights I've ever encountered in any JRPG. I recommend the mobile version due to it including the party chat feature, which serves to slightly flesh out character personalities more through fun side banter. It's not necessary to enjoy the game, but the option is there. Whichever version you play, you're still in for a great classic DQ experience, just with the added modern QOL improvements.

GATO ROBOTO REVIEW

If Gato Roboto was specifically created for anyone in the world, it was me. I’m an avid cat fan, I love metroidvanias (though I’ve only played a few), and I devour short indie games. So, as you can imagine, I was VERY excited to dip into this - what is essentially a standard, 4 hour metroidvania, but with the novelty of getting to play as a cat in a mech suit. Is that feline MC biasing me a little bit here? Maybe. But, come on, there’s a dedicated meow button.
In all seriousness, I think that GR has a very solid game going underneath the gimmick. While it certainly isn’t anything groundbreaking, it’s a good way to spend a few hours. I even had fun speedrunning it.


SHORT REVIEW

Visuals: 4/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Story: 2.5/5
Gameplay: 3.5/5
Worldbuilding: 3/5
Achievements (Does not count toward overall score.): 3.5/5
Overall game score: 3.5/5


IN-DEPTH REVIEW

Visuals:
Gato Roboto boasts simple, charming pixel art that fits the metroidvania genre well - but what really makes its visuals stand out is the two-tone color palette. It’s a unique, remarkably executed style that I enjoyed a lot. In fact, my favorite part of the game might be the collectible cassettes, which unlock other palettes beyond the default black and white. On top of just being a cool idea, it helps keep things fresh for the short playtime. They all look nice, too, though some are less usable than others due to the clashing colors.
The enemies and environments aren’t very memorable, but they get the job done. While it would’ve been nice to see this stuff fleshed out more, I understand that the lack of any color theory makes that more difficult. It certainly isn’t bad, at least.
The menu setup is easy to understand and appealing. I thought it was cute how the cat was the center of the power-up screen. I found the map very helpful, too, as a room isn’t added until you’ve actually entered it. This might be standard for the genre, I’m not sure, but I still appreciated it.
The cat is extremely cute. Best purrtagonist in history, maybe.
Overall, 4/5.

Sound:
While the music here is really cool. It provides amazing ambience. However, it’s also loopy and short. Like, ‘a lot of the tracks are only around a minute and a half’ short. I think it’s a great style, but that repetitiveness is definitely noticeable for me.
I feel like focusing on this area more would’ve really benefited the overall game. Distinct, longer pieces for different levels/boss fights would’ve helped set things apart in a way the visuals lack.
The sound effects are satisfying and distinct.
The cat's meow is very cute.
Overall, 3.5/5.

Story:
The story isn’t anything too special, but it’s enough to move everything along. I’m not a fan of these plots driven entirely by going from one place to the next, but I can’t say I expected much more here.
The writing and childlike humor actually made me chuckle a few times. I’m used to indie stuff like this having awful comedy, and while this one still isn’t AMAZING, it’s decent.
Overall, 2.5/5.

Gameplay:
Others have pointed out that Gato Roboto borrows heavily from the original Metroid. I personally can’t compare the two, but I would agree that GR’s mechanics are pretty typical for the genre. That doesn’t mean it’s not fun, though!
While I wasn’t a big fan of its platforming initially, the ball jump and dash upgrades made it a lot more enjoyable to get around the world. There were still a few times where room/enemy setups annoyed me, but it was never egregiously bad.
I wish that the shooting felt more powerful early on. It seems obsolete for a large chunk of the game, since the missile launcher is just a lot stronger. Still, the limits put on the missile launcher incentivize shooting every once and a while, and it does become much more useful once you finally get to upgrade it.
The boss fights were fun! I only wish they’d been more diverse in visual design. They’re still entertaining, though, and most of them have a unique enough gameplay gimmick where it doesn’t get repetitive while playing. I especially enjoyed them while speedrunning, where the challenge became to beat them as quickly as possible.
Overall, 3.5/5.

Worldbuilding:
As I’ve mentioned, a lot of the environments are hurt by the lack of color. They don’t really stand out from each other, despite being drastically different settings. It’s just a sacrifice made for the two-tone style, unfortunately. That’s why I think more music would’ve helped to pick up the slack.
I really like the collectibles/hidden upgrades, though. They’re not often difficult to get, but they’re rewarding. It makes the world feel a lot larger and worth paying attention to. What Gato Roboto lacks in ‘lore’ or environmental design, it makes up for with the exploration aspect of the gameplay.
There are some ‘audio’ logs, too. It’s a nice touch that adds to the plot a bit.
Overall, 3/5.

Extra Category - Achievements:
A good chunk of the achievements are progression-based, but there are a few that require additional playthroughs. To my surprise, I actually really enjoyed replaying to get those. While it was frustrating at times, it wasn’t unmanageable.
One of them is for beating the game in under an hour. This took me a few attempts, but I eventually got it while streaming for my friends. It was a very satisfying moment, and it’s probably one of my favorite achievements I’ve earned as a result.
Overall, 4/5.

Overall game score: 3.5/5. Gato Roboto is an imperfect, but fun and precise little metroidvania with a lot of heart. While I wish there was a bigger soundtrack, and the story and environmental design are lacking, the unique visual presentation, good gameplay, and great exploration make up for it. It managed to keep me entertained for multiple playthroughs. Worth a try if you’re a fan of the genre.

It has been several days since I completed Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device, and still I find it impossible to compose my thoughts. The experience has shaken me to my core... nay, it has destroyed it. What was I before Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device? Do I even care? I am not so desperate a masochist that I would contemplate my previous existence any farther. I have left that grim, ignorant darkness. My life before this game was one of waste and sloth... desolate of purpose. Boldly, Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device subverted my every expectation and has remade me in its image. Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device is not merely a game, it is mockery. It is a cruel and merciless indictment of all our hubris. Mortal hands will never again achieve the rapturous bliss that is Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device, and to chase it would end only in calamitous despair. 9.5/10.

I feel like the best way to describe God of War is that its basically one of those E3 showcase demos, only it keeps on going. Honestly, if western AAA games were always done this well, id feel confident saying blockbuster films are a way of the past, because this type of experience is something a film could never achieve. Unfortunately, there not, and God of War is in the minority in that aspect. Everything about this game feels like there was no expense spared, the art direction, the voice acting, the music, the graphics, the list goes on. There are some small blemishes that can take you out of the experience and will not age well come 5 years from now, like the very frequent loading zone “tight spots”. But obviously with the PS4 that was unavoidable. I went into this game, probably like a lot of people, having not played a God of War game before, and I REALLY like coming from that angle. I was vaguely familiar with the concept of the series going in, and the way this game strikes a balance between setting up a new trilogy and keeping the past games intact, while also feeling like a reboot of sorts, is pretty masterful. Really makes me want to go and play the original trilogy sooner rather than later.