Kinnooo
i didn't think 01 had particularly enjoyable gameplay but just a few hours of this already made me miss it, honestly did not expect this to have combat that somehow feels worse than fucking Dragon Quest I (1986) on the NES. legitimately some of the most frictionless, slow, poorly thought-out combat design i've ever seen, the only thing that even slightly redeems it is the turbo button but even then playing through it feels like experiencing ego death, actual kuso.
all that being said, the incredibly funny writing and flavorful translation (seriously, amazing work here) definitely helped me get through it. also much, much more enjoyable script in the moment-to-moment than 01 even if the plot pretty much goes nowhere, which i wouldn't have a problem with if it didn't feel like they just gave up having any sort of conclusion at the end. love all the witches though, excited for them to appear again.
all that being said, the incredibly funny writing and flavorful translation (seriously, amazing work here) definitely helped me get through it. also much, much more enjoyable script in the moment-to-moment than 01 even if the plot pretty much goes nowhere, which i wouldn't have a problem with if it didn't feel like they just gave up having any sort of conclusion at the end. love all the witches though, excited for them to appear again.
really tried to force myself to finish this because i thought there'd be anything of worth here but outside of takada's soundtrack (which might actually be some of his best work) there really isn't.
it's like a suda game made by people who think suda's games are only composed of random movie references (90% of Sylvia's scenes in this are just an awful Paris, Texas pastiche for no real reason other than shoving her tits on your face) and over-the-top "what were they on making this 🤣🤣" humor. without suda's manic character writing and personal reflections on alienation with the repetition and aimlessness of daily life (which the methodical structure and mostly empty open world of the first game contributed to) it just feels like a cheap and exploitative power fantasy. it's noticeable suda was more hands-on with TSA because just from what i've played of it, it already feels way more self-reflective and well thought-out than this dreck.
it's like a suda game made by people who think suda's games are only composed of random movie references (90% of Sylvia's scenes in this are just an awful Paris, Texas pastiche for no real reason other than shoving her tits on your face) and over-the-top "what were they on making this 🤣🤣" humor. without suda's manic character writing and personal reflections on alienation with the repetition and aimlessness of daily life (which the methodical structure and mostly empty open world of the first game contributed to) it just feels like a cheap and exploitative power fantasy. it's noticeable suda was more hands-on with TSA because just from what i've played of it, it already feels way more self-reflective and well thought-out than this dreck.
2011
was NOT expecting to like this as much as i did, holy shit this rocked. i'm often mixed on urobuchi's works because while i love his quirks and style (like the intentional anticlimaxes, the unique way he deals with morality in his stories and the dramatic irony that's present in a lot of his characters' arcs) i never feel it all really comes together. but this hit all the notes for me in a way i wish fate/zero, saya no uta or even kamen rider gaim did (madoka fucking rules though). just a completely unhinged and twisted take on the hero's journey and wuxia that still manages to understand and capture the heart of why these stories work, all complete with some of his most insane action scenes. also features a much better rendition of twisted love than whatever saya no uta was trying to do imo. there's definitely problems i can point to, like the beginning being very rough and the story only coming into its own later on but it leaves such a strong impression that i can honestly mostly ignore them.
just a very fun time overall and definitely my second favorite Nitro+ VN now, only behind Muramasa for my actual favorite.
just a very fun time overall and definitely my second favorite Nitro+ VN now, only behind Muramasa for my actual favorite.
2003
slurpers fr the worst enemies of all time
Huge step-up over A Realm Reborn which I thought mostly ranged from bad to mediocre (except for the patch quests which were great), focusing mostly on only one region of Eorzea and its history rather than having you be an errand boy and go everywhere helped a LOT, it feels way more focused and it's easier to get actually attached to the characters, making the emotional parts hit way harder. The dungeons and trials have fun mechanics that you actually want to interact with and not just be done with as soon as possible. There's even some Matsuno/Ivalice influence in here which absolutely rules. It does hit the brake from time-to-time for the mandatory fetch quests and the Ul'Dah subplot (which sadly concludes rather unceremoniously) but even these moments don't feel as bad as the ones in ARR did because the shadow of its main plot is always looming over, there's always a sense you're advancing the plot through one way or the other. Legitimately great stuff, hoping the next expansions keep striding ever heavensward.
SUCH DEVASTATION
THIS WAS NOT MY INTENTION
THIS WAS NOT MY INTENTION
2021
man fuck oddball i just wanna play CTF or slayer
2020
This review contains spoilers
After putting off finishing this for months and finally doing it today I can say I... liked it! But man was it a mixed experience, especially towards the end, both in story and gameplay. Not only does it fall into the Persona trap of becoming a slog to get through with the formula it feels the need to strictly follow but also with its overreliance on series tropes, most of which I'm just kinda tired of at this point. It's not all bad since I do like most of the character interactions in this, the additions to the cast (like Zenkichi) and the roadtrip aspect to the story. Ichinose as someone who closed herself emotionally due to trauma but hides it behind faking the way she talks and sees that as a virtue also really works! Legit one of my favorite antagonists in the series now.
I also appreciate the musou take on Persona combat and it CAN be really fun once you get used to it, but it starts to show its faults in the endgame with how all the enemies NEED to be damage sponges for the weaknesses to work and all the grinding you have to do for Persona fusions, it really does try its best to adapt Persona's battle system for an action game but all the concessions they have to do for it to work just makes this become a grindy and repetitive mess by the end.
I did enjoy my time with this though, even as someone who's not the biggest fan of OG P5, it's just a shame it fizzles out by the end.
I will say though, the soundtrack fucking BANGS, props to Atsushi Kitajoh, Gota Masuoka, Ayana Hira and the rest of the ATLUS/Koei Tecmo Sound Team for not only following up Meguro's footsteps this well but also successfully taking it on a more rock-oriented direction.
I also appreciate the musou take on Persona combat and it CAN be really fun once you get used to it, but it starts to show its faults in the endgame with how all the enemies NEED to be damage sponges for the weaknesses to work and all the grinding you have to do for Persona fusions, it really does try its best to adapt Persona's battle system for an action game but all the concessions they have to do for it to work just makes this become a grindy and repetitive mess by the end.
I did enjoy my time with this though, even as someone who's not the biggest fan of OG P5, it's just a shame it fizzles out by the end.
I will say though, the soundtrack fucking BANGS, props to Atsushi Kitajoh, Gota Masuoka, Ayana Hira and the rest of the ATLUS/Koei Tecmo Sound Team for not only following up Meguro's footsteps this well but also successfully taking it on a more rock-oriented direction.
2021
The worst part about this was not that it's bad (because it is not), it's just incredibly disappointing.
Halo Infinite's campaign takes the idea of something like Halo CE's 2nd level and tries to expand on it into a larger, more open area to explore on your own pace, but whereas CE and even the other Bungie games are still fun to revisit due to the carefully crafted pacing and setpieces, Infinite just feels like an absolute slog to get through at times, especially in the latter half, one of the missions for example revolves around going to 4 identical towers with the same layout and pressing a button, it's not exciting or memorable in the least, the plot being basically non-existent and resolving many of 5's plot threads off-screen (because for some reason they still think most fans go out of their way to read the books and comics) doesn't help. Even if the gameplay and movement is really solid and a step in the right direction, the level design feels the most dull and repetitive the series has ever felt, there's really nothing in this campaign that sticks out in my mind as truly impressive, it's just consistently "okay" or boring. Compared to something like 4 or 5 it's hard to blame 343i entirely for this because this is clearly a rushed project that hit tons of roadblocks during development due to how the company itself is structured (only hiring temporary contractors), countless directors leaving and having to switch engines already years into development but it's a shame that the one time it felt like they could deliver something on par with the older titles, they came out with this instead because of poor project and company management.
Halo Infinite's campaign takes the idea of something like Halo CE's 2nd level and tries to expand on it into a larger, more open area to explore on your own pace, but whereas CE and even the other Bungie games are still fun to revisit due to the carefully crafted pacing and setpieces, Infinite just feels like an absolute slog to get through at times, especially in the latter half, one of the missions for example revolves around going to 4 identical towers with the same layout and pressing a button, it's not exciting or memorable in the least, the plot being basically non-existent and resolving many of 5's plot threads off-screen (because for some reason they still think most fans go out of their way to read the books and comics) doesn't help. Even if the gameplay and movement is really solid and a step in the right direction, the level design feels the most dull and repetitive the series has ever felt, there's really nothing in this campaign that sticks out in my mind as truly impressive, it's just consistently "okay" or boring. Compared to something like 4 or 5 it's hard to blame 343i entirely for this because this is clearly a rushed project that hit tons of roadblocks during development due to how the company itself is structured (only hiring temporary contractors), countless directors leaving and having to switch engines already years into development but it's a shame that the one time it felt like they could deliver something on par with the older titles, they came out with this instead because of poor project and company management.
2005
perfect... the big CHEESE..
kohaku gaming
2005
gay nerds fighting: the visual novel
2018
Replayed it for Chapter 2 and still a lot of fun, think how short it is makes the side cast feel pretty underutilized and all the nice moments with them kinda fall flat for me but at this point it IS kinda soon to judge that yet, the main cast compensates a lot for that though, Toby really manages to make you care about them in this short span of time and I'm certainly not fucking ready for when they decide to go all in with the mental health stuff it tackles.
2005
cage-sama... i kneel...
2000
kohran li my beloved