Dekoma
2022
This review contains spoilers
Ignoring the stuff that scared the pants out of people on sleeping on this title (which i still think is a dumb reason to skip out on this gen), the games are very solid titles. Quite a number of things to get you ready for competitive have been made easier (hyper training now only requires your pokemon to be lv50 as opposed to lv100 plus bottle caps are purchisable), while some removals are very questionable (literally no interiors, barely any cave dungeons, postgame is reduced to just raids as of this review). My biggest gripe is no refighting elite four or gym leaders. As they would've been a good source of grinding for money postgame. but for whatever reason, Game Freak decided to just make them all a one and done thing.
Gameplay wise, the world is even massive than before. wild pokemon are pretty lively (even if they have 2 behavioral settings upon seeing you), sandwiches makes encountering certain types easier, herba mystica is a welcome addition for shiny hunters. and as I previously stated, battling is as solid as ever. Aside from graphical glitches that would happen sometimes because of improper terrain (my tinkaton slipped off a cliff because she was battling on a steep hill).
And because I have to point out the pink elephant in the room, the graphical glitches can get ugly sometimes. especially when you make it to the lake or do the cortondo gym challenge. it can especially be a bit jarring online since the game is less hinged during union circle sessions depending on the connection.
Story wise, I'd honestly say is better than black and white's story. You can argue with me that black and white left an imaginable impression on you as an 8 year old and can never change your opinion, but that's your opinion. the story here i feel shines brighter than black and white's. especially the little twist at the end (despite me marking this as spoiler warning, I'm still not saying). Its probably the best story in any pokemon game ever. Especially since the league isn't treated as the main thing (even if you are still collecting 8 gym badges plus the other badges for the other quests).
Overall, the games are a very good experience. Though unfortunately, i'm only giving a 3 and a half stars because the postgame is as dry as water in a desert. Most of my playtime came from EV training and exploring Paldea as much as possible. Which I really enjoyed. I just wish they gave us more to do during the endgame and didn't outright remove the battle tower. Maybe my score will change when there's a free update that gives us more postgame stuff to do or when dlc rolls around. But as of now, it gets the score i've appointed it.
Gameplay wise, the world is even massive than before. wild pokemon are pretty lively (even if they have 2 behavioral settings upon seeing you), sandwiches makes encountering certain types easier, herba mystica is a welcome addition for shiny hunters. and as I previously stated, battling is as solid as ever. Aside from graphical glitches that would happen sometimes because of improper terrain (my tinkaton slipped off a cliff because she was battling on a steep hill).
And because I have to point out the pink elephant in the room, the graphical glitches can get ugly sometimes. especially when you make it to the lake or do the cortondo gym challenge. it can especially be a bit jarring online since the game is less hinged during union circle sessions depending on the connection.
Story wise, I'd honestly say is better than black and white's story. You can argue with me that black and white left an imaginable impression on you as an 8 year old and can never change your opinion, but that's your opinion. the story here i feel shines brighter than black and white's. especially the little twist at the end (despite me marking this as spoiler warning, I'm still not saying). Its probably the best story in any pokemon game ever. Especially since the league isn't treated as the main thing (even if you are still collecting 8 gym badges plus the other badges for the other quests).
Overall, the games are a very good experience. Though unfortunately, i'm only giving a 3 and a half stars because the postgame is as dry as water in a desert. Most of my playtime came from EV training and exploring Paldea as much as possible. Which I really enjoyed. I just wish they gave us more to do during the endgame and didn't outright remove the battle tower. Maybe my score will change when there's a free update that gives us more postgame stuff to do or when dlc rolls around. But as of now, it gets the score i've appointed it.
Pretty standard YGO game. Compared to the other World Championship games (or at least the ones i've played), there's no duelists in the anime that appears in this game. Nor do any of the monster opponents have decks similar to what they use.
Honestly there's not much you can do in this game except build your deck and keep dueling monster opponents until you reach the highest rank. I built my dragon deck from 2005 in this game and faired pretty well against the computer. The game isn't even an RPG like the DS games. So interest in this one is very limited to weither you've actually played the card game in 2005-2006 or not. Since the cards and rulesets are from that era.
You also spend points to buy booster packs. Which is only good for getting extra cards if you used the password system to get your cards instantly for you ingame deck. Again, not much I can say about this game since there's barely anything goes on in this game.
Honestly there's not much you can do in this game except build your deck and keep dueling monster opponents until you reach the highest rank. I built my dragon deck from 2005 in this game and faired pretty well against the computer. The game isn't even an RPG like the DS games. So interest in this one is very limited to weither you've actually played the card game in 2005-2006 or not. Since the cards and rulesets are from that era.
You also spend points to buy booster packs. Which is only good for getting extra cards if you used the password system to get your cards instantly for you ingame deck. Again, not much I can say about this game since there's barely anything goes on in this game.
Feels like a back to the basics kind of game after World. The game just throws you in without much of an introduction and expects you to know what to do. Which imo is something I appreciate. Especially since i've played an MH game before world. One thing most of these games have in common with the opening sequence is you're always attacked by something and the game teaches you the basic controls there. Here, that never happens. The way the game opens is maybe reminicent to how they were when the series is just starting.
Besides that, its the usual MH fare. Kill monsters, make weapons and armor out of their remains, do missions to progress. But being a bit more open means the game can leave you in the dark if you don't bother looking at missions. If you're used to every later game's story progression, then this might throw you off. But if you're used to how things were before the whole story stuff, then you won't have much problems playing through this entry.
Pretty fun overall. Plus as I said, I like that its a back to the basics entry with all the new stuff still in tact.
Besides that, its the usual MH fare. Kill monsters, make weapons and armor out of their remains, do missions to progress. But being a bit more open means the game can leave you in the dark if you don't bother looking at missions. If you're used to every later game's story progression, then this might throw you off. But if you're used to how things were before the whole story stuff, then you won't have much problems playing through this entry.
Pretty fun overall. Plus as I said, I like that its a back to the basics entry with all the new stuff still in tact.
Xenoverse 2 is one of those games that are still supported today rather than making a proper sequel. It also has way more characters than Budokai Tenkaichi 3 as of the Super Hero dlc pack (which is has yet to be released as of this writing). Making characters is as fun as you'd expect, shaping them as you'd see fit. Though one of the drawbacks of this game is that its very grind heavy. So if you want a specific skill or costume, expect to keep replaying the same missions over and over until you actually get it.
One other is transformations lean heavily towards saiyan characters. I mean I guess it makes sense since Goku and Vegeta has utilized every transformation available to that race? Given, other races still have access to their own unique transformations (though some drastically changes your moveset so using them depends on your playstyle), but I feel like the ones that are used universally are potential unleashed (the transformation that's used mainly by Gohan and as of recent, Piccolo) and kaioken. But lets be honest, everyone wants to at least use Ultra Instinct.
Gameplay wise, its almost the same song and dance as the first Xenoverse. The main difference probably being the way super saiyan works. Instead of draining your ki until you revert back, it stays on and upgrades on its own depending on your ki. So your saiyan will probably achieve SSJ3 by the time you get the quest from Vegeta. Story however is ever expanding thanks to the countless dlc Bandai Namco keeps releasing. As well as numerous characters spanning from movies, filler episodes (no Garlic jr though. not like anyone cares about him), to GT, and Super. Besides Z characters of course. Coop can be pretty fun and can potentially speed up the farming process since there will be someone in the party that can one shot the enemies.
The game overall is pretty fun, but that fun is probably limited to fans of Dragonball. The game continues to be updated and dlc is still being released for this game. Despite the game originally being from 2016. Combat can be monotonous, but depends on how you see that. If you're used to how things were in Budokai Tenkaichi 3, then you'll probably like this game. Plus the addition of being able to make your own character is always fun.
One other is transformations lean heavily towards saiyan characters. I mean I guess it makes sense since Goku and Vegeta has utilized every transformation available to that race? Given, other races still have access to their own unique transformations (though some drastically changes your moveset so using them depends on your playstyle), but I feel like the ones that are used universally are potential unleashed (the transformation that's used mainly by Gohan and as of recent, Piccolo) and kaioken. But lets be honest, everyone wants to at least use Ultra Instinct.
Gameplay wise, its almost the same song and dance as the first Xenoverse. The main difference probably being the way super saiyan works. Instead of draining your ki until you revert back, it stays on and upgrades on its own depending on your ki. So your saiyan will probably achieve SSJ3 by the time you get the quest from Vegeta. Story however is ever expanding thanks to the countless dlc Bandai Namco keeps releasing. As well as numerous characters spanning from movies, filler episodes (no Garlic jr though. not like anyone cares about him), to GT, and Super. Besides Z characters of course. Coop can be pretty fun and can potentially speed up the farming process since there will be someone in the party that can one shot the enemies.
The game overall is pretty fun, but that fun is probably limited to fans of Dragonball. The game continues to be updated and dlc is still being released for this game. Despite the game originally being from 2016. Combat can be monotonous, but depends on how you see that. If you're used to how things were in Budokai Tenkaichi 3, then you'll probably like this game. Plus the addition of being able to make your own character is always fun.
2006
Very bland entry to the Kirby series. At the point in time when this was announced, I've already played every Kirby game up to this point. Once I got this game though, yeah. The whole mixing mechanic was interesting. You got every copy ability from Amazing Mirror present plus some new ones. But that's about it. I don't know, something about this Kirby game didn't sit well with me. Maybe its the extremely dull storyline compared to the previous game (having to save Meta Knight by finding shards of a magic mirror while exploring a world that wasn't Dreamland vs someone stole Kirby's cake go kick King Dedede's ass). The only positive I can think of for this game is it made King Dedede's castle design from the anime canon. that's about it. Otherwise I feel the same way I did with Megaman 4 with this game. Same old formula, stale gameplay. And exclusive to this game, a stupid story that's become the basis of every Kirby fan born after 2000.
If you liked this game, good for you. Me it made me question if I was getting too old for Kirby games at that point in time. And I was a teenager who played every Kirby game before this one. Thankfully it wasn't true when Superstar Ultra and Return to Dreamland was released. Then it turned out that this game was just bland and is the Kirby equivalent of Megaman 4.
If you liked this game, good for you. Me it made me question if I was getting too old for Kirby games at that point in time. And I was a teenager who played every Kirby game before this one. Thankfully it wasn't true when Superstar Ultra and Return to Dreamland was released. Then it turned out that this game was just bland and is the Kirby equivalent of Megaman 4.
When this game was first announced, I was excited that we were getting a new top down Zelda game. Since I was interested on what they could pull off after Minish Cap. Unfortunately that excitement turned into dissapointment once I got my hands on the game. Everything is touch screen only. All those buttons that could've done something just opens menus. Even the dpad is not used to move Link. The game itself could've been better. It picks up where Wind Waker left off but stuff happen and you're forced to search for Tetra.
I might finish this game in the future, but my initial impression is dissapointment. And I'm pretty sure it won't change since I really don't like what they tried to do with this entry.
I might finish this game in the future, but my initial impression is dissapointment. And I'm pretty sure it won't change since I really don't like what they tried to do with this entry.
2016
A very brief hack based on a creepypasta of the same name. Its impressive that they were able to recreate the effects described in the creepypasta. The fight with Luigi is also a tad interesting. Overall, i'd only recommend this to people that likes creepypasta content and read the story.
The first in the trilogy of LJN wrestling games. Honestly this is still not a good wrestling game. Can't even figure out how to properly do finishing moves and specific grapples without mashing the controller. Maybe one neat little thing is the genesis version has a few wrestlers that replace the ones from the SNES version (and Ted DiBiase's portrait is different). But that's about it. Outside of those, you're better off playing one of the Fire Pro Wrestling games on Super Famicom, which has WWF wrestlers in some of them.
1994
Same song and dance as Super Wrestlemania and Royal Rumble. Just with an updated roster to reflect WWF from that year. Plus new match types to supposably spice things up. Honestly I couldn't figure out how to properly play any of these games. Not surprisingly, these games are all made by LJN.
One other thing is apparently the kids back then where I lived all had this game. Weither they enjoyed it or not I wouldn't know, but this game apparently made its way to everyone's library.
One other thing is apparently the kids back then where I lived all had this game. Weither they enjoyed it or not I wouldn't know, but this game apparently made its way to everyone's library.
Pretty much the beginning of Sonic being the only playable character and the continuous rehashing of Green Hill Zone. And although fans will not admit it, its entirely their fault that Sonic is the way it is today. This game was the start of Sega attempting to please everyone in the fanbase but obviously not living up to expectations and creating the dreaded Sonic Cycle.
As for the game itself, it fails to live up to both expectations and the games before it. Physics tries to be like the genesis games but completly fails at it. Bubble badniks are everywhere to say "hey stupid. use your homing attack here to reach a secret area that's not so secret because i'm telling you where it is", special stages are frustrating, and everything is just a remixed level of an existing level from Sonic 1 and Sonic 2. Same with the bosses.
This is probably the only Sonic game i refuse to replay. Even its second episode gets a bit more replayability than this one since it does something more original. This game also marks the horrid communication between Sega and the Sonic fans. Aiming to please, but hardly pleasing. As well as said fans never ever being satisfied.
As for the game itself, it fails to live up to both expectations and the games before it. Physics tries to be like the genesis games but completly fails at it. Bubble badniks are everywhere to say "hey stupid. use your homing attack here to reach a secret area that's not so secret because i'm telling you where it is", special stages are frustrating, and everything is just a remixed level of an existing level from Sonic 1 and Sonic 2. Same with the bosses.
This is probably the only Sonic game i refuse to replay. Even its second episode gets a bit more replayability than this one since it does something more original. This game also marks the horrid communication between Sega and the Sonic fans. Aiming to please, but hardly pleasing. As well as said fans never ever being satisfied.
2005
This game was a letdown especially after going through Digimon World 3. Although co-op sounds nice, you'd better have each digimon at the same level or else whoever is player 2 will die alot. Its also back to nonsensical digivolutions with rediculous requirements to get them. Again, considering this game came after 3 RPGs under the same name that had you raising monsters, this one was just really bizzare and not so good.
At least data squad went back to the whole raising digimon to get different digivolutions thing.
At least data squad went back to the whole raising digimon to get different digivolutions thing.
1992
I've always prefered a game in its original form. So I always play this version over Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine and Kirby's Avalanche. Not to hate on the AoStH cast (well, half of them are one hit wonders who only appear on the first ep of that cartoon), but the cast here are far more colorful. And Mean Bean Machine doesn't even seem to have a protagonist. Unlike in Puyo Puyo where we're obviously using Arle for the puzzle matches. The game itself is a fun color matching combo making puzzle game. Might take time getting used to if you're more used to games like Tetris or Dr Mario. One other thing I must mention is the music in Puyo Puyo alone are all bangers.
1992
I know i'm not that great in fighters (ok, maybe a little), but Art of Fighting is a hard fighting game to get into. The gigantic sprites from what I can see is just for show. Mainly to just try to one up Street Fighter II. The only difference between this and Street Fighter II is how much more the game limits you.
First off, the game only lets you play as Ryo or Robert. This game's Ryu and Ken. So if you wanted to play someone like King or Mr Big, then tough luck. You can only do that on vs. Second is the stupid power meter. I mean i guess its there to prevent you from using your specials all willy nilly and be more strategic? But that honestly doesn't help when the AI is the typical input reading ass created for the sole purpose of eating quarters. But if you're playing it on a collection or the AES, then its a control tosser.
The game is just not fun. Even as a fighter. You're better off playing Fatal Fury or King of Fighters. Which is unfortunate since this is the only series that Ryo stars in. And its ass. The ending is also not even worth it, because it ends on a cliff hanger. The 2nd AoF game isn't any good either btw.
First off, the game only lets you play as Ryo or Robert. This game's Ryu and Ken. So if you wanted to play someone like King or Mr Big, then tough luck. You can only do that on vs. Second is the stupid power meter. I mean i guess its there to prevent you from using your specials all willy nilly and be more strategic? But that honestly doesn't help when the AI is the typical input reading ass created for the sole purpose of eating quarters. But if you're playing it on a collection or the AES, then its a control tosser.
The game is just not fun. Even as a fighter. You're better off playing Fatal Fury or King of Fighters. Which is unfortunate since this is the only series that Ryo stars in. And its ass. The ending is also not even worth it, because it ends on a cliff hanger. The 2nd AoF game isn't any good either btw.
1994
The other half of the best game on Sega Genesis. This time instead of Tails, you can play as Knuckles, who has some stages that defer from Sonic's. Gameplay wise, its the same as Sonic 3's. I mean being the other half and all that's expected. The only difference is this game is noticably harder than any other game the first time you play it. It also lacks a water level (which is good to alot). But the emerald stages are a pain to go through. Despite being Blue Spheres again, these stages are also noticably harder. So if you're playing this game on its own, expect to not finish the game with all emeralds and be unable to use Super Sonic or Super Knuckles. This one also has no save so hope your Sonic skills are up for it.
I don't have much else to say aside from these. So if you want a more extensive review, then just read my Sonic 3 review.
I don't have much else to say aside from these. So if you want a more extensive review, then just read my Sonic 3 review.
1994
One half of a fantastic game for the Sega Genesis. The reason why it was split in the first place is kinda stupid imo (they wanted to meet with a toy deadline with McDonalds). Because of that, Sonic 3 was split into 2 games. With the later half being finished later in the same year. The game itself brings up the ante with Sonic by giving elemental shields, Sonic the instashield (Which increases his hitbox) and Tails the ability to fly. Acts now have a boss each, act 1 bosses being larger boss robots and the 2nd being a fight with Dr Robotnik/Eggman. This game also introduces Knuckles as an enemy to our duo, who mostly does stuff to prevent our heroes from reaching their goal.
A few criticisms I had with this game is obviously being a bit shorter compared to Sonic 2. The game stops after you've beaten Big Arms, who imo besides the music felt less climatic compared to the Death Egg Robot in Sonic 2. Another is Knuckles is more or less uncerimoniously removed from the game. No epic showdown against that echidna in this game. You have to wait for Sonic & Knuckles to come out. Maybe the primary criticism I have with this game is the drum in Carnival Night act 2. Because of the way it works, it was nearly impossible to figure this crap out back in the day. And because of that, I was unable to beat Sonic 3 back then. One more thing I have to put out that this game is a bit easy to break when you mess around with the debug cheats. Such as the game continously loading Angel Island Zone Act 1's mapped level layout despite also loading the zone you selected. So you'll die from a supposed bottomless pit despite not normally being that way.
Overall, Sonic 3 is still a pretty good game. Even though its half of what everyone is used to by now. Music rights have prevented this from being rereleased unfortunately. And as much as I'd point out Sonic Origins, not alot of Sonic fans like the redone proto tracks (I do though). So if you really want to experience Sonic 3 on its own, you're better off getting the cart or at least a compilation that contains the game since there's really no way you can play this game ever again in later consoles.
A few criticisms I had with this game is obviously being a bit shorter compared to Sonic 2. The game stops after you've beaten Big Arms, who imo besides the music felt less climatic compared to the Death Egg Robot in Sonic 2. Another is Knuckles is more or less uncerimoniously removed from the game. No epic showdown against that echidna in this game. You have to wait for Sonic & Knuckles to come out. Maybe the primary criticism I have with this game is the drum in Carnival Night act 2. Because of the way it works, it was nearly impossible to figure this crap out back in the day. And because of that, I was unable to beat Sonic 3 back then. One more thing I have to put out that this game is a bit easy to break when you mess around with the debug cheats. Such as the game continously loading Angel Island Zone Act 1's mapped level layout despite also loading the zone you selected. So you'll die from a supposed bottomless pit despite not normally being that way.
Overall, Sonic 3 is still a pretty good game. Even though its half of what everyone is used to by now. Music rights have prevented this from being rereleased unfortunately. And as much as I'd point out Sonic Origins, not alot of Sonic fans like the redone proto tracks (I do though). So if you really want to experience Sonic 3 on its own, you're better off getting the cart or at least a compilation that contains the game since there's really no way you can play this game ever again in later consoles.