MachPizza
2010
First played this on release, but hadn’t properly completed it until now. Played start to finish on Steam Deck — a fun experience made even better with the number of QOL mods available.
2022
First game I played on the Steam Deck, as is tradition. And hey, it was fun!
2023
This game is exactly my shit for the following reasons:
RE4 style inventory management. Chill fishing minigames and boat upgrades to manage. Spooky story. Really messed up looking fish to catch. Plenty of fun flavor text to read. And sailing at night can be legitimately scary. Loved it!
RE4 style inventory management. Chill fishing minigames and boat upgrades to manage. Spooky story. Really messed up looking fish to catch. Plenty of fun flavor text to read. And sailing at night can be legitimately scary. Loved it!
2020
WE ARE BECOME AS FORKLIFTS.
A weird short game where you mostly drive around an empty city delivering barrels of fuel to talking vehicles and collect journal pages to learn what became of humanity. I'd probably like this a lot more if the missions weren't so frustrating to complete.
A weird short game where you mostly drive around an empty city delivering barrels of fuel to talking vehicles and collect journal pages to learn what became of humanity. I'd probably like this a lot more if the missions weren't so frustrating to complete.
2018
Heaven was indeed theirs.
2021
A great remaster of a great game with some much-needed quality of life options added to the Nintendo Switch version.
The soundtrack is fantastic (if a bit repetitive), it’s light on story but the lore is interesting, and it’s fun to make your own party composition (hell yeah Red Mage main character). Plus, you can crank up EXP and Gil gain, and turn random encounters on/off with a button press.
Just be prepared for a final boss battle that can feel a little unfair. But you’re a warrior of light, so you should be fine, all told.
The soundtrack is fantastic (if a bit repetitive), it’s light on story but the lore is interesting, and it’s fun to make your own party composition (hell yeah Red Mage main character). Plus, you can crank up EXP and Gil gain, and turn random encounters on/off with a button press.
Just be prepared for a final boss battle that can feel a little unfair. But you’re a warrior of light, so you should be fine, all told.
2015
Despite it being a low budget affair, it definitely feels like the developers wrung every bit of quality out of it that they could.
I loved seeing Arnice and Lilysse exchane small gestures of affection throughout the game. Hugs from behind, a hand on the cheek, sharing a dance, holding hands, etc. Little actions that seem obvious for two people in love to do, but also something you don't see all that often in video games, right? Especially between two women protagonists!
Unfortunately, there are enough rough edges that I think hold the game back: The plot/characters are somewhat trope-y, the gameplay isn't all that compelling, and I was left unsatisfied by the ending(s).
But I'm glad I gave this game a shot, if for nothing else than to experience a sweet love story taking place at the end of the world.
Oh, and the soundtrack kicks ass.
I loved seeing Arnice and Lilysse exchane small gestures of affection throughout the game. Hugs from behind, a hand on the cheek, sharing a dance, holding hands, etc. Little actions that seem obvious for two people in love to do, but also something you don't see all that often in video games, right? Especially between two women protagonists!
Unfortunately, there are enough rough edges that I think hold the game back: The plot/characters are somewhat trope-y, the gameplay isn't all that compelling, and I was left unsatisfied by the ending(s).
But I'm glad I gave this game a shot, if for nothing else than to experience a sweet love story taking place at the end of the world.
Oh, and the soundtrack kicks ass.
An ok, but (now) unnecessary prologue / demo for Dissidia Duodecim. At least you can finish the story mode in under an hour!
2004
Thoroughly charmed by Akira Toriyama’s designs, and the clean simplicity of the quest laid out in front of you. It’s essentially “get the relics and beat the bad guy,” and so you do just that — battling a variety of monsters, sleeping at various inns in towns across the map and steadily improving your gear along the way. It’s a bit of a linear experience, but that feels refreshing in 2023 where every game needs to be a 50+ hour time sink.
I enjoyed playing this in short bursts on my phone, grinding levels right before bed, or poking around a dungeon on my commute. The vertical / portrait mode presentation is also pretty striking. I just wish it was possible to remove the obnoxious d-pad graphic from the screen. Love and appreciate the quick save option, though.
I enjoyed playing this in short bursts on my phone, grinding levels right before bed, or poking around a dungeon on my commute. The vertical / portrait mode presentation is also pretty striking. I just wish it was possible to remove the obnoxious d-pad graphic from the screen. Love and appreciate the quick save option, though.
1995
I was mistaken in thinking that the Donkey Kong Land series were just lesser ports of the DKC games. Instead, the Land games are closer to being portable bonus levels for each of the three SNES titles. At least, that’s what it seems like Rare tried to accomplish here.
At its peak, Donkey Kong Land feels like more Donkey Kong Country. You get to play as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, and you start the game running through various jungle and pirate ship-themed settings. You roll and jump over kremlings, toss barrels, collect KONG letters and bop along to some great David Wise Donkey Kong music (with a distinct Game Boy flavor). The game even offers some neat novelties, like having an entire world set in a city, and a level where you use KONG letters to form platforms to cross bottomless pits.
There are also some Game Boy-specific quirks to the game that I loved — like how Donkey Kong and Diddy literally shrink down into nothing when you swap between them. Or how breaking a DK barrel will send the Kong you aren’t currently controlling straight up in the air like they’ve been beamed into space. Falling deaths happen with zero fanfare: The game just immediately dumps you back to the world map, which can feel like impeccable comedic timing when you goof up a jump. Plus, as I mentioned, the soundtrack rips, featuring new tunes and Game Boy-ified versions of classic DKC themes (Aquatic Ambience even gets a GB version, which transcends the platform it was made for, just like its SNES sibling).
It’s not all great, though. Many deaths can be attributed to simply falling faster than the game can keep up, despite there being a platform just off screen. I died multiple times because I climbed down a rope too fast, or had the audacity to jump down to collect some bananas before the game could load in the platform they were floating above. The game isn’t clear about when it saves your progress, which can have you repeating levels you already completed if you’re not careful. There are also a few truly miserable levels in World 3 that nearly made me quit the game — in particular an obnoxiously long level taking place entirely on tiny, auto-scrolling platforms. Gross!
In the end though, a lot of the “limitations” of the Game Boy work in Donkey Kong Land’s favor — giving the game its own distinct feel while keeping the gameplay and audio in-line with what you expect from a mid-90’s Rare platformer starring a couple of banana-loving Kongs. I’m glad I gave DKL a shot, and I’m definitely planning to play the other two games in the trilogy in the future.
At its peak, Donkey Kong Land feels like more Donkey Kong Country. You get to play as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, and you start the game running through various jungle and pirate ship-themed settings. You roll and jump over kremlings, toss barrels, collect KONG letters and bop along to some great David Wise Donkey Kong music (with a distinct Game Boy flavor). The game even offers some neat novelties, like having an entire world set in a city, and a level where you use KONG letters to form platforms to cross bottomless pits.
There are also some Game Boy-specific quirks to the game that I loved — like how Donkey Kong and Diddy literally shrink down into nothing when you swap between them. Or how breaking a DK barrel will send the Kong you aren’t currently controlling straight up in the air like they’ve been beamed into space. Falling deaths happen with zero fanfare: The game just immediately dumps you back to the world map, which can feel like impeccable comedic timing when you goof up a jump. Plus, as I mentioned, the soundtrack rips, featuring new tunes and Game Boy-ified versions of classic DKC themes (Aquatic Ambience even gets a GB version, which transcends the platform it was made for, just like its SNES sibling).
It’s not all great, though. Many deaths can be attributed to simply falling faster than the game can keep up, despite there being a platform just off screen. I died multiple times because I climbed down a rope too fast, or had the audacity to jump down to collect some bananas before the game could load in the platform they were floating above. The game isn’t clear about when it saves your progress, which can have you repeating levels you already completed if you’re not careful. There are also a few truly miserable levels in World 3 that nearly made me quit the game — in particular an obnoxiously long level taking place entirely on tiny, auto-scrolling platforms. Gross!
In the end though, a lot of the “limitations” of the Game Boy work in Donkey Kong Land’s favor — giving the game its own distinct feel while keeping the gameplay and audio in-line with what you expect from a mid-90’s Rare platformer starring a couple of banana-loving Kongs. I’m glad I gave DKL a shot, and I’m definitely planning to play the other two games in the trilogy in the future.
2015
Definitely worth playing if you’re curious about the Ys games and want a solid place to start. I found both Chronicles I and II on iOS for a couple bucks and I’m glad I gave them a shot.
I hear future games in the series drop the “bump” battle system, but I did really enjoy it here. Once you’re properly equipped you basically become a murderous pinball, bouncing off of, and tearing through, everything that’s in your way. It reminds me a bit of the momentum of DOOM, as you race around literally tearing through enemies and leaving (weirdly gruesome for the setting) splatters of blood and limbs in your wake.
Unfortunately, the translation for this first game is pretty bad, so keep that in mind. Otherwise, Ys Chronciles I is fun to play and feels like a good introduction to the series and world of Ys. Plus, you can knock it out in less than 10 hours, so you don’t have much to lose!
I hear future games in the series drop the “bump” battle system, but I did really enjoy it here. Once you’re properly equipped you basically become a murderous pinball, bouncing off of, and tearing through, everything that’s in your way. It reminds me a bit of the momentum of DOOM, as you race around literally tearing through enemies and leaving (weirdly gruesome for the setting) splatters of blood and limbs in your wake.
Unfortunately, the translation for this first game is pretty bad, so keep that in mind. Otherwise, Ys Chronciles I is fun to play and feels like a good introduction to the series and world of Ys. Plus, you can knock it out in less than 10 hours, so you don’t have much to lose!
Absolutely terrific game.
The gender/pronouns customization for your character is outstanding, and the game really lets you play and make choices according to how you wish to present your character (and even change certain things on the fly). Plus the optional content warnings are sure to be useful to those who need it.
The game itself is a narrative adventure game set in an extra-solar start up colony, where you make choices and develop your character and their relationships from childhood and through their teens. Throughout, there’s plenty of potential to affect change in the people around you, and the colony at large as you make choices and each year brings its own challenges and narrative wrinkles.
The whole thing (to me) feels very inclusive. The story is gripping, and the characters all have interesting personalities and motivations. Be prepared to experience both happy and crushingly sad moments for your character and the people around them over the course of the game.
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is one of those games that, once you finish it, you immediately want to start again to see what other choices you could’ve made. The game also encourages this, sprinkling in moments of deja-vu where your character “remembers” these past lives and allows you to make certain new choices in future playthroughs. I love how this was implemented, and the many possible endings means that I’ll likely play this at least once more.
There are some narrative hiccups, though. It’s possible to experience certain (in my case minor) events out of order. Like seeing a scene where two characters are in a relationship, and then seeing another scene later where it reads like the characters just met. Stuff like that. This happened maybe two or three times in my first playthrough, which was about 10 hours long, so it’s a minor flaw that’s easy to excuse.
I’m really glad I played this game. If any of the above things I mentioned interests you, it’s definitely worth playing!
The gender/pronouns customization for your character is outstanding, and the game really lets you play and make choices according to how you wish to present your character (and even change certain things on the fly). Plus the optional content warnings are sure to be useful to those who need it.
The game itself is a narrative adventure game set in an extra-solar start up colony, where you make choices and develop your character and their relationships from childhood and through their teens. Throughout, there’s plenty of potential to affect change in the people around you, and the colony at large as you make choices and each year brings its own challenges and narrative wrinkles.
The whole thing (to me) feels very inclusive. The story is gripping, and the characters all have interesting personalities and motivations. Be prepared to experience both happy and crushingly sad moments for your character and the people around them over the course of the game.
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is one of those games that, once you finish it, you immediately want to start again to see what other choices you could’ve made. The game also encourages this, sprinkling in moments of deja-vu where your character “remembers” these past lives and allows you to make certain new choices in future playthroughs. I love how this was implemented, and the many possible endings means that I’ll likely play this at least once more.
There are some narrative hiccups, though. It’s possible to experience certain (in my case minor) events out of order. Like seeing a scene where two characters are in a relationship, and then seeing another scene later where it reads like the characters just met. Stuff like that. This happened maybe two or three times in my first playthrough, which was about 10 hours long, so it’s a minor flaw that’s easy to excuse.
I’m really glad I played this game. If any of the above things I mentioned interests you, it’s definitely worth playing!
I never played the original (despite wanting to for years), so I was really excited to hear this was coming, especially after how much I loved FF7 Remake, and my hype for the coming sequel.
Honestly, Crisis Core Reunion exceeded my expectations. I loved Zack's character, and watching him grow as a person alongside his relationships with Sephiroth, Cloud and especially Aerith. The combat system took a little getting used to (which is upgraded from the original, I hear), but it was a ton of fun once I got a handle on it.
The mostly optional missions are a bit repetitive, but they can be completed in at most a few minutes each and they offer some helpful items, upgrades and lore as rewards. This is where the game's PSP roots feel the most prominent. You can tell that these missions were designed for when you need to kill a few minutes on the train or waiting on line but can't dig too deep. In that regard, they are enjoyable and work as intended.
The story overall can be goofy, but its great fun and the ending hits like an emotional ton of bricks. The only major flaw I had with the game was Genesis as a character and main villain. (Seriously, every time this dude was on screen I was like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifaoKZfQpdA.) He's just corny and overtop in a way that doesn't ever loop around to being good. He spouts edgy poetry and just reminds me of an early-aughts Hot Topic mall teen.
Aside from that, I think this game stands tall next to the original FF7, the Remake and Final Fantasy games in general. If you like ARPGs or Final Fantasy, it's well worth your time.
Honestly, Crisis Core Reunion exceeded my expectations. I loved Zack's character, and watching him grow as a person alongside his relationships with Sephiroth, Cloud and especially Aerith. The combat system took a little getting used to (which is upgraded from the original, I hear), but it was a ton of fun once I got a handle on it.
The mostly optional missions are a bit repetitive, but they can be completed in at most a few minutes each and they offer some helpful items, upgrades and lore as rewards. This is where the game's PSP roots feel the most prominent. You can tell that these missions were designed for when you need to kill a few minutes on the train or waiting on line but can't dig too deep. In that regard, they are enjoyable and work as intended.
The story overall can be goofy, but its great fun and the ending hits like an emotional ton of bricks. The only major flaw I had with the game was Genesis as a character and main villain. (Seriously, every time this dude was on screen I was like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifaoKZfQpdA.) He's just corny and overtop in a way that doesn't ever loop around to being good. He spouts edgy poetry and just reminds me of an early-aughts Hot Topic mall teen.
Aside from that, I think this game stands tall next to the original FF7, the Remake and Final Fantasy games in general. If you like ARPGs or Final Fantasy, it's well worth your time.
One of the Dragon Ball games of all time. I played it over the course of a weekend, and had an OK time with it. Definitely didn't feel like essential playing, but better than other asymmetrical multiplayer games I've played, for what it's worth. Be prepared for some gacha nonsense, though.
I didn't think I'd get into this, or even try it out, if it wasn't on Xbox PC Game Pass. I LOVE the farm/life sim genre, and I have a lot of nostalgia for Disney, but this didn't exactly feel "must play" to me.
I was wrong! It's incredibly charming and it's filled with fun activities that you'd expect from a game like this - fishing, farming, home decorating, outfit collecting and decorating, etc. There's even a social link component where you can rank up friendship levels of residents and unlock furniture/outfits and story quests.
That being said, it has plenty of early access growing pains. Glitches and issues galore. Friendships max out at level 10, and they're not hard to level, so you're stuck with residents who feel kind of useless. Characters have a habit of repeating voice lines, etc. over and over again. Quests can bug out, or require a grindy amount of materials to craft.
Fortunately, the developers have listened to players, and continue to update the game to fix bugs and add new things to it (which you'd expect from something in early access, but still). If you're curious, give it a shot when it comes out of early access and goes F2P later this year.
I was wrong! It's incredibly charming and it's filled with fun activities that you'd expect from a game like this - fishing, farming, home decorating, outfit collecting and decorating, etc. There's even a social link component where you can rank up friendship levels of residents and unlock furniture/outfits and story quests.
That being said, it has plenty of early access growing pains. Glitches and issues galore. Friendships max out at level 10, and they're not hard to level, so you're stuck with residents who feel kind of useless. Characters have a habit of repeating voice lines, etc. over and over again. Quests can bug out, or require a grindy amount of materials to craft.
Fortunately, the developers have listened to players, and continue to update the game to fix bugs and add new things to it (which you'd expect from something in early access, but still). If you're curious, give it a shot when it comes out of early access and goes F2P later this year.