Lemonstrade
This is exactly how the Second Run in RE2R should've been!
Separate Ways is an interesting spin on an already intriguing narrative paired with great gameplay and fun new mechanics (grappling hook!). The new bosses and levels are pretty amazing and it even comes with 50 new challenges AND new costumes for Ada and Luis!
Amazing value for just 10 bucks, an easy recommendation from my side.
Separate Ways is an interesting spin on an already intriguing narrative paired with great gameplay and fun new mechanics (grappling hook!). The new bosses and levels are pretty amazing and it even comes with 50 new challenges AND new costumes for Ada and Luis!
Amazing value for just 10 bucks, an easy recommendation from my side.
Fun 3D platformer. Not as memorable as the Galaxy duology or as creative as Odyssey, but it's enjoyable enough.
Unfortunately the level quality somewhat drops at World 5 and doesn't really pick up again until the final world, which is a shame.
Unfortunately the level quality somewhat drops at World 5 and doesn't really pick up again until the final world, which is a shame.
2019
This might just be the best mainline Yakuza game next to Zero. The combat feels satisfying, there's a LOT of side content, the different cities are fun to traverse and the vibes in general are incredible. Also the final boss is easily one of the best fights in the series.
Unlike Persona 3 and 5 Dancing, Persona 4 Dancing is an actual good spinoff and unironically one of the best spinoffs in the series.
The story is lame, but you'll find yourself entertained with many great remixes...and even HATSUNE MIKU!!!
The story is lame, but you'll find yourself entertained with many great remixes...and even HATSUNE MIKU!!!
I was absolutely hooked on Somnium Files when I've played it!
The plot is constantly engaging (with full voice acting!) and the cast is simply amazing. My only real complaint is the trial-and-error gameplay, which can get really frustrating (especially near the end where you're on a tight timer).
The plot is constantly engaging (with full voice acting!) and the cast is simply amazing. My only real complaint is the trial-and-error gameplay, which can get really frustrating (especially near the end where you're on a tight timer).
2017
Colorful, fun and innovative!
Super Mario Odyssey feels like a modern re-imagining of Super Mario 64. The game is incredibly charming and just feels so unique with all the creative designs of the different life forms and worlds. Definitely worth a look if you're a fan of 3D platformers!
Super Mario Odyssey feels like a modern re-imagining of Super Mario 64. The game is incredibly charming and just feels so unique with all the creative designs of the different life forms and worlds. Definitely worth a look if you're a fan of 3D platformers!
2019
Taking a star off just because you need to beat the game twice to see the true ending.
2020
Despite the linearity and short playtime, Resident Evil 3 is an absolute blast to play from start to finish. Great level design and an immersive atmosphere make this game totally worth your time. Buy it when it's on sale!
Soundtrack, atmosphere and even immersion are pretty close to perfection in this game. Just listen to some of the hourly music on Youtube if you haven't already. I'll link some of my favorites here.
5 PM
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The gameplay loop consists of classic Animal Crossing - you collect fruit from trees, catch bugs and fish and dig up an occasional fossil. The main 'goal' of the game is paying off your house's debt, but it shouldn't be treated as the main focus, because you'd usually play this game for other reasons than just to 'finish' it as fast as possible. I'm talking about a key part of the franchise here - the villagers and the interactions with them.
If you're coming from New Horizons, you're probably sick of your villagers repeating the same three lines every single day. Fortunately this is not the case in New Leaf. Villagers have a lot more variety in conversations and are not your biggest superfans at the beginning (as opposed to New Horizons). Of course the topics will be repeated every now and then - but that's because the game doesn't expect you to talk to someone a hundred times in a row and the devs didn't want to spend a lifetime working on dialogue for humanoid animals - which is understandable!
I mentioned the atmosphere in this game being especially good earlier. The emptiness and closed shops with calm songs in the nighttime are a direct contrast to the cheerful and lively atmosphere with peppy songs during the day. Both feel very different and it's hard to explain that feeling. It just feels right.
Decoration is a rather major aspect in this game too and it's obviously not as refined as in New Horizons, but you still have many options to design your town and home nonetheless. For the only time in an Animal Crossing game you take the role of a mayor and are allowed to build various sorts of infrastructure in your town - if you have the funds. You can't place furniture outside in this entry, but it's not a negative for me, as this feature wasn't added before either and is just a really good QoL improvement in New Horizons.
The upgradeable shops in the shopping district are a really cool concept and give you a feeling of progression. The more you play the game, the more stuff you'll be able to buy. This is done entirely without FOMO (fear of missing out) and allows you to play the game at your own pace.
Speaking of FOMO, the seasonal events like Halloween and Christmas are unmissable and repeated in a yearly cycle. If you would really like to attend those events despite not being there at the given day, you can go into the game's settings and set the day to whenever you want. I would not recommend time traveling as it messes with the intended slow pacing of the game, but feel free to adjust the date as you want if you want to experience more of the game in a shorter timespan.
5 PM
7 PM
11 PM
The gameplay loop consists of classic Animal Crossing - you collect fruit from trees, catch bugs and fish and dig up an occasional fossil. The main 'goal' of the game is paying off your house's debt, but it shouldn't be treated as the main focus, because you'd usually play this game for other reasons than just to 'finish' it as fast as possible. I'm talking about a key part of the franchise here - the villagers and the interactions with them.
If you're coming from New Horizons, you're probably sick of your villagers repeating the same three lines every single day. Fortunately this is not the case in New Leaf. Villagers have a lot more variety in conversations and are not your biggest superfans at the beginning (as opposed to New Horizons). Of course the topics will be repeated every now and then - but that's because the game doesn't expect you to talk to someone a hundred times in a row and the devs didn't want to spend a lifetime working on dialogue for humanoid animals - which is understandable!
I mentioned the atmosphere in this game being especially good earlier. The emptiness and closed shops with calm songs in the nighttime are a direct contrast to the cheerful and lively atmosphere with peppy songs during the day. Both feel very different and it's hard to explain that feeling. It just feels right.
Decoration is a rather major aspect in this game too and it's obviously not as refined as in New Horizons, but you still have many options to design your town and home nonetheless. For the only time in an Animal Crossing game you take the role of a mayor and are allowed to build various sorts of infrastructure in your town - if you have the funds. You can't place furniture outside in this entry, but it's not a negative for me, as this feature wasn't added before either and is just a really good QoL improvement in New Horizons.
The upgradeable shops in the shopping district are a really cool concept and give you a feeling of progression. The more you play the game, the more stuff you'll be able to buy. This is done entirely without FOMO (fear of missing out) and allows you to play the game at your own pace.
Speaking of FOMO, the seasonal events like Halloween and Christmas are unmissable and repeated in a yearly cycle. If you would really like to attend those events despite not being there at the given day, you can go into the game's settings and set the day to whenever you want. I would not recommend time traveling as it messes with the intended slow pacing of the game, but feel free to adjust the date as you want if you want to experience more of the game in a shorter timespan.
2016
A fantastic entry and easily the best game in the franchise when it comes to bosses (and they're the main draw of the Souls games). Many cool designs and movesets with a good soundtrack make for some memorable fights.
Unfortunately Irithyll Dungeon exists. The person who made this ten-minute-long 'experience' is probably still laughing, knowing they've made the most unfair level in the game.
But overall an easy recommendation from my side, awesome game. If you've liked ANY other Souls game before, you'll very likely love this one too.
Unfortunately Irithyll Dungeon exists. The person who made this ten-minute-long 'experience' is probably still laughing, knowing they've made the most unfair level in the game.
But overall an easy recommendation from my side, awesome game. If you've liked ANY other Souls game before, you'll very likely love this one too.
Yakuza 6 was a turning point in the series in more than one way, so I felt the urge to express my thoughts on the game I've had for a while now.
This is the first entry made with the 'Dragon Engine', which also was used in the newer games of the series like Yakuza 7 or the Judgment duology. It's notable for the more fluid combat and ragdoll mechanics, but also introduced small changes like directly being able to walk into street fights without having to sit through the loading screens disguised as intros. I won't go too much in-depth about this, since the review is about the game and not the engine :p
Let's just say it feels very obvious that Yakuza 6 was the first game to run on the Dragon Engine, as the combat is really wonky and a lot of heat action moves from the previous games are just missing, even simpler ones. People love to meme about Yakuza 3 enemies blocking all of your attacks, but it's honestly almost as bad in 6. Not to mention that fighting groups of enemies at once in this game is a disaster, since they WILL stun you. Repeatedly. Very fun. Fortunately the combat in general was fixed in later games and Kiryu got a proper Dragon Engine moveset in Kiwami 2.
After complaining about the combat for a while now, it's time to name the strong aspect of Yakuza 6 - the story. It might be very divisive in some regards, but in my opinion it's one of the best stories in the franchise and has lots of well written and memorable characters. Without giving away too much, it feels reminiscent of Yakuza 3's story, but in a new light.
The side content in this game... exists. All substories in this game are voiced, but I only found a handful of them actually interesting and memorable. Substories are always a subjective topic so your experience with them might differ from mine. Some other new side activities include spearfishing (rail shooter), the gym (press some buttons) and the Clan Creator, which I won't go in-depth about because I personally hate that minigame. To put it short, you deploy troops in battles to take down other troops, paired with a pretty generic and boring side storyline.
In conclusion, Yakuza 6 has a great story, but suffers from the annoying early Dragon Engine combat and the side stuff is mediocre at best. Not the best game for a cohesive Yakuza experience, but still a good finale for the Kiryu Saga.
(Also it's locked to 30 FPS on consoles, just a heads up :p)
This is the first entry made with the 'Dragon Engine', which also was used in the newer games of the series like Yakuza 7 or the Judgment duology. It's notable for the more fluid combat and ragdoll mechanics, but also introduced small changes like directly being able to walk into street fights without having to sit through the loading screens disguised as intros. I won't go too much in-depth about this, since the review is about the game and not the engine :p
Let's just say it feels very obvious that Yakuza 6 was the first game to run on the Dragon Engine, as the combat is really wonky and a lot of heat action moves from the previous games are just missing, even simpler ones. People love to meme about Yakuza 3 enemies blocking all of your attacks, but it's honestly almost as bad in 6. Not to mention that fighting groups of enemies at once in this game is a disaster, since they WILL stun you. Repeatedly. Very fun. Fortunately the combat in general was fixed in later games and Kiryu got a proper Dragon Engine moveset in Kiwami 2.
After complaining about the combat for a while now, it's time to name the strong aspect of Yakuza 6 - the story. It might be very divisive in some regards, but in my opinion it's one of the best stories in the franchise and has lots of well written and memorable characters. Without giving away too much, it feels reminiscent of Yakuza 3's story, but in a new light.
The side content in this game... exists. All substories in this game are voiced, but I only found a handful of them actually interesting and memorable. Substories are always a subjective topic so your experience with them might differ from mine. Some other new side activities include spearfishing (rail shooter), the gym (press some buttons) and the Clan Creator, which I won't go in-depth about because I personally hate that minigame. To put it short, you deploy troops in battles to take down other troops, paired with a pretty generic and boring side storyline.
In conclusion, Yakuza 6 has a great story, but suffers from the annoying early Dragon Engine combat and the side stuff is mediocre at best. Not the best game for a cohesive Yakuza experience, but still a good finale for the Kiryu Saga.
(Also it's locked to 30 FPS on consoles, just a heads up :p)
Strawberry Jam is an amazing project made by many talented people in the Celeste community. The soundtrack is great and a lot of the levels are full of personality and unique gimmicks. It's also a good place to learn new techniques and practice them in the built-in tutorial sections.
Unfortunately I'll have to take a star off because some levels have annoying gimmicks or are just straight up unfun at times, but it's to be expected for a collab to have a few bad apples every now and then. Please don't let this demotivate you, as the experience in every level differs from person to person and Strawberry Jam is definitely worth your time.
Unfortunately I'll have to take a star off because some levels have annoying gimmicks or are just straight up unfun at times, but it's to be expected for a collab to have a few bad apples every now and then. Please don't let this demotivate you, as the experience in every level differs from person to person and Strawberry Jam is definitely worth your time.
Ocarina of Time 3D manages to fix all the small nitpicks I've had with the N64 version (like having to constantly open the menu to equip the iron boots in the water temple) and is probably the best way to experience the game these days.
Honestly just suffers from having too much content that goes absolutely nowhere. You can have the biggest open world, but it won't matter if it's not actually fun to do the activities in this world - which is precisely the issue with Valhalla.
2019
The game is very good, yes. You've heard all the positives by now anyways (in case you missed it, I'm talking about soundtrack, artstyle, characters, gameplay and level design), so I'm just gonna mention the small things that keep a very solid JRPG from being a 10/10 in my books.
The most apparent flaw in the game in my opinion is the pacing and how the story sometimes unnescessarily drags on just for the sake of padding the game's length. Sometimes the dialogue goes on for ages, just to resolve a matter that could've been solved in two or three sentences. Oh well.
Now the next issue is how the developers treat the Royal-only girl Kasumi Yoshizawa. Unlike many others, I don't believe that she feels shoehorned into the story and never overstays her welcome. Of course she's going to get screentime, but that's because she's one of the main additions to Royal and NEEDS that screentime to shine and stand out among the rest of the cast. Like I said, this wasn't an issue for me, but rather how they integrated her into the gameplay. I'm not going to spoil anything specific here, but I'll just say that she unfortunately joins very late in the story and you can't use her in your party any earlier. Really a weird choice if you advertise her so much, feels like Atlus just didn't bother enough to rewrite the story to include her earlier, since that would be very possible given the in-game circumstances.
With the main complaints out of the way, there isn't really a lot I could list as a negative. Atleast not enough for me to substract a whole star. As I mentioned in the beginning, the game is really good and the third semester in one of the best written arcs in the franchise, so I'd recommend anyone to play through this game atleast for one time - it doesn't matter if you've already played Persona 5 or never touched a JRPG in your life, the first playthrough of this game is magical and absolutely worth your time. Thanks for reading :)
The most apparent flaw in the game in my opinion is the pacing and how the story sometimes unnescessarily drags on just for the sake of padding the game's length. Sometimes the dialogue goes on for ages, just to resolve a matter that could've been solved in two or three sentences. Oh well.
Now the next issue is how the developers treat the Royal-only girl Kasumi Yoshizawa. Unlike many others, I don't believe that she feels shoehorned into the story and never overstays her welcome. Of course she's going to get screentime, but that's because she's one of the main additions to Royal and NEEDS that screentime to shine and stand out among the rest of the cast. Like I said, this wasn't an issue for me, but rather how they integrated her into the gameplay. I'm not going to spoil anything specific here, but I'll just say that she unfortunately joins very late in the story and you can't use her in your party any earlier. Really a weird choice if you advertise her so much, feels like Atlus just didn't bother enough to rewrite the story to include her earlier, since that would be very possible given the in-game circumstances.
With the main complaints out of the way, there isn't really a lot I could list as a negative. Atleast not enough for me to substract a whole star. As I mentioned in the beginning, the game is really good and the third semester in one of the best written arcs in the franchise, so I'd recommend anyone to play through this game atleast for one time - it doesn't matter if you've already played Persona 5 or never touched a JRPG in your life, the first playthrough of this game is magical and absolutely worth your time. Thanks for reading :)