Mboy92
2024
A fun, bitesized metroidvania with a vibe all its own. It was very addicting to explore this lovably weird game, especially with the wonderfully cute power-ups you get to further your progress.
I've got a couple of criticisms but my overall feeling is very positive. There's not a lot of meaningful backtracking, a new power-up rarely opened up new paths all across the map, and sometimes I felt the punishment for failing a puzzle was a bit too harsh. I don't know how to feel about the dog chase, it was frustrating to complete but I felt very accomplished once I'd done it. Maybe the controls for the power-ups are a bit too finicky for that part but I did appreciate the challenge.
Despite the lack of backtracking I did love the progression through the map, I never really mind when the journey through a metroidvania is a bit more linear. I also really appreciated how every power-up got a couple of dedicated puzzle rooms to explore all of its mechanics. The puzzle design is top notch.
I can see myself replaying this in the future, just to experience this wonderful vibe again for a couple of hours.
I've got a couple of criticisms but my overall feeling is very positive. There's not a lot of meaningful backtracking, a new power-up rarely opened up new paths all across the map, and sometimes I felt the punishment for failing a puzzle was a bit too harsh. I don't know how to feel about the dog chase, it was frustrating to complete but I felt very accomplished once I'd done it. Maybe the controls for the power-ups are a bit too finicky for that part but I did appreciate the challenge.
Despite the lack of backtracking I did love the progression through the map, I never really mind when the journey through a metroidvania is a bit more linear. I also really appreciated how every power-up got a couple of dedicated puzzle rooms to explore all of its mechanics. The puzzle design is top notch.
I can see myself replaying this in the future, just to experience this wonderful vibe again for a couple of hours.
I was never really engaged enough with 3D world to make more of an effort than clearing the courses, with it just being an added bonus if I'd actually collected everything, but the variety of the levels and the freedom of playstyles the different power-ups provide have to be commended.
Bowser's Fury is a whole different story though, that might be the most fun I've ever had with Mario. After the rigid time limit of the 3D levels it was such a relief to just get the time to explore this huge level and search for collectables at my own pace. The Fury moments were a nice threat to keep in mind while exploring, always making sure I had enough places to hide should Bowser rise up from the water again.
I'm also just a huge sucker for tropical locations in Mario games, so this game being all islands and water was a big plus for me.
If it were just 3D world I'd give it 3 stars, but BF notches it up to 4!
Bowser's Fury is a whole different story though, that might be the most fun I've ever had with Mario. After the rigid time limit of the 3D levels it was such a relief to just get the time to explore this huge level and search for collectables at my own pace. The Fury moments were a nice threat to keep in mind while exploring, always making sure I had enough places to hide should Bowser rise up from the water again.
I'm also just a huge sucker for tropical locations in Mario games, so this game being all islands and water was a big plus for me.
If it were just 3D world I'd give it 3 stars, but BF notches it up to 4!
2021
This review contains spoilers
A big step up from the first game in terms of visuals, gameplay, story and above all else: scariness. There were some legitimately terrifying sequences here that transcended the first game's creepiest moments by a mile.
The game is more polished than the first part overall, but there are still some hiccups in the gameplay mechanics that limit it from being a completely smooth experience. There are a lot of chase sequences here and my character frustratingly refused to grab onto ledges or got stuck on geometry one too many times. I'm also still not a fan of these games' combat moments, I feel like to properly deal with these enemies the game requires tighter controls than it has. I was also left with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth because of the cheap twist ending. I played this directly after the dlc of the first game and it felt like an expectation they should have subverted instead of just going for a (way more clichéd) twist ending again.
It's still an 8/10 though, because the game's art direction is hard not to love and the way more involved story connects the chapters in a more effective, engaging way than the first game. The big enemies in every chapter are great as well, especially the teacher. I also liked the player expression enabled by the handholding-mechanic, grabbing Six' hand after an especially harrowing set piece had a nice, simple roleplaying feeling to it that I really liked.
I'm excited to see what the third game has to offer, hope it surpasses its predecessor as well.
The game is more polished than the first part overall, but there are still some hiccups in the gameplay mechanics that limit it from being a completely smooth experience. There are a lot of chase sequences here and my character frustratingly refused to grab onto ledges or got stuck on geometry one too many times. I'm also still not a fan of these games' combat moments, I feel like to properly deal with these enemies the game requires tighter controls than it has. I was also left with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth because of the cheap twist ending. I played this directly after the dlc of the first game and it felt like an expectation they should have subverted instead of just going for a (way more clichéd) twist ending again.
It's still an 8/10 though, because the game's art direction is hard not to love and the way more involved story connects the chapters in a more effective, engaging way than the first game. The big enemies in every chapter are great as well, especially the teacher. I also liked the player expression enabled by the handholding-mechanic, grabbing Six' hand after an especially harrowing set piece had a nice, simple roleplaying feeling to it that I really liked.
I'm excited to see what the third game has to offer, hope it surpasses its predecessor as well.
Very charming, spooky little puzzler with great art direction. I recently played Inside and it almost feels like the same game with a different skin. Inside is the smoother experience though.
I came across a couple of frustrating bugs, having to kill my character to reset one of the little helpers that got stuck in some geometry for instance, or the freezing upon dying bug in the first dlc that's apparently been a problem for years and has never been fixed. I think it also could have helped the experience if the movement of the character would have been limited to left and right at times, falling off stairs and wooden beams because I happened to not quite move my stick exactly to left or right was frustrating.
The part with the shadow creatures in the last dlc was the most frustrating gaming experience I've had in a while, they are far too relentless in their pursuit if you ask me, but generally I thought the three dlc's were a step up gameplay wise. I also liked how the dlc addressed the somewhat lackluster conclusion of the original game by presenting you with a way more elaborate final level.
The game's greatest trick is the parallel storyline between the original game and the dlc, with an amazing twist at the end that had me gawking at my screen in disbelief. My favourite part was definitely the level with the guests, this might be as close as we'll ever get to a Spirited Away videogame.
There's a game in here that I'd absolutely love, I'm checking out the sequel next and I hope it streamlines the gameplay somewhat so I really get to fully enjoy this kind of experience.
I came across a couple of frustrating bugs, having to kill my character to reset one of the little helpers that got stuck in some geometry for instance, or the freezing upon dying bug in the first dlc that's apparently been a problem for years and has never been fixed. I think it also could have helped the experience if the movement of the character would have been limited to left and right at times, falling off stairs and wooden beams because I happened to not quite move my stick exactly to left or right was frustrating.
The part with the shadow creatures in the last dlc was the most frustrating gaming experience I've had in a while, they are far too relentless in their pursuit if you ask me, but generally I thought the three dlc's were a step up gameplay wise. I also liked how the dlc addressed the somewhat lackluster conclusion of the original game by presenting you with a way more elaborate final level.
The game's greatest trick is the parallel storyline between the original game and the dlc, with an amazing twist at the end that had me gawking at my screen in disbelief. My favourite part was definitely the level with the guests, this might be as close as we'll ever get to a Spirited Away videogame.
There's a game in here that I'd absolutely love, I'm checking out the sequel next and I hope it streamlines the gameplay somewhat so I really get to fully enjoy this kind of experience.
2023
A very competent soulslike, it definitely deserves all the praise it gets but it's not entirely for me. I saw it through to the end because of the addicting souls gameplay loop but the steampunk theming is not really my jam and I didn't like the writing, especially everything Gemini had to say.
It's also not very friendly to people who don't like to engage in parry mechanics, despite some bosses and weapons suggesting that a dodge-centered, slower style of gameplay is viable as well. I did make it to the end without ever learning any parry sequences so there's that, but some bosses, especially the last one, seemed to beg me to engage in the parry mechanics and I'm just worthless in that department.
My biggest praise will go to the level design, in that regard this game easily rivals Fromsoft. The fast travel system and all its features was a big plus as well and the spread of the bonfires and shortcuts was very forgiving and logical every time. I'm glad I've experienced it but I won't go into NG+ and probably won't touch the DLC. 7/10!
It's also not very friendly to people who don't like to engage in parry mechanics, despite some bosses and weapons suggesting that a dodge-centered, slower style of gameplay is viable as well. I did make it to the end without ever learning any parry sequences so there's that, but some bosses, especially the last one, seemed to beg me to engage in the parry mechanics and I'm just worthless in that department.
My biggest praise will go to the level design, in that regard this game easily rivals Fromsoft. The fast travel system and all its features was a big plus as well and the spread of the bonfires and shortcuts was very forgiving and logical every time. I'm glad I've experienced it but I won't go into NG+ and probably won't touch the DLC. 7/10!