MuhammadMcDonald
After about 10-15 hours I had to shelve this one. I had heard a ton about this series and love JRPGs in general, but this bounced off me very hard very quickly.
-The game seems to have a sort of subtle disdain for series newcomers. Unlike JRPGs that do this right, gameplay systems are introduced in a very haphazard, incomplete way and it's impossible to tell which are worth paying attention to and which aren't.
-The story and world didn't draw me in at all. The game tries to tell me why I should care about this school full of rich brats, but it never SHOWS me. Again, it gives off a feeling that I missed some important backstory or that the game is just talking past me.
-It straight-up looks like a 3DS game. I'm fine with outdated/downscaled graphics but when I buy a $60 MSRP game in 2019 I expect it to look way better than this.
-The battle system just doesn't work for me. Perma-death isn't implemented well whatsoever - you are better off overextending yourself with thenmain protagonist/house leader than any of your units which comes off as totally ass-backwards. There is zero story impact when a unit dies - you wouldn't even know a character died permanently if you happened to miss that in the tutorial. There's still way too much of a focus on RNG here for a game that's supposed to be "tactical" and features perma-death. And ultimately there doesn't seem to be much flexibility with how to approach certain maps on harder difficulties.
It's not all bad: I tolerated the monastery portions/side quests better than others might have, but it's still hard to get through knowing how much I don't enjoy the rest of the game. I also really like the music that plays in the monastery. And some of the characters I was genuinely interested in getting to know better.
-The game seems to have a sort of subtle disdain for series newcomers. Unlike JRPGs that do this right, gameplay systems are introduced in a very haphazard, incomplete way and it's impossible to tell which are worth paying attention to and which aren't.
-The story and world didn't draw me in at all. The game tries to tell me why I should care about this school full of rich brats, but it never SHOWS me. Again, it gives off a feeling that I missed some important backstory or that the game is just talking past me.
-It straight-up looks like a 3DS game. I'm fine with outdated/downscaled graphics but when I buy a $60 MSRP game in 2019 I expect it to look way better than this.
-The battle system just doesn't work for me. Perma-death isn't implemented well whatsoever - you are better off overextending yourself with thenmain protagonist/house leader than any of your units which comes off as totally ass-backwards. There is zero story impact when a unit dies - you wouldn't even know a character died permanently if you happened to miss that in the tutorial. There's still way too much of a focus on RNG here for a game that's supposed to be "tactical" and features perma-death. And ultimately there doesn't seem to be much flexibility with how to approach certain maps on harder difficulties.
It's not all bad: I tolerated the monastery portions/side quests better than others might have, but it's still hard to get through knowing how much I don't enjoy the rest of the game. I also really like the music that plays in the monastery. And some of the characters I was genuinely interested in getting to know better.
2019
This is one of the best video games I have ever played. It takes a great story (granted one with ups and downs), a beautiful world, lovable characters, and an engaging fast-paced turn-based combat system, and manages to combine it all into a cohesive, immersive experience. It also makes you feel cool while playing it, as the aesthetic and music are on point.
The 100-150 hours it will take to complete the game may scare some people off, but by the end I was wishing I had another 100-150 hours to spend with it.
The 100-150 hours it will take to complete the game may scare some people off, but by the end I was wishing I had another 100-150 hours to spend with it.
2007
A game that literally invents the wheel in terms of 3D platforming, and should be played by anyone who enjoys having fun.
2002
This game is more than fun and enjoyable enough to make you overlook its many design flaws, and will give a quality 15-20 hours of playtime to anyone who enjoyed Odyssey/Galaxy and wants to see where they came from.
Issues holding the game back include: the blue coin system that becomes more tedious than satisfting; a weird mix of difficulty where everything is either extremely easy or extremely difficult thanks to FLUDD; linear progression through the different worlds despite obstensibly being a sandbox game.
That said, I love the level design and how "lived-in" the worlds feel. Plus Mario is just so fun to control here thanks to Fludd, and the "secret" Fludd-less levels provide the platforming challenge that more seasoned Mario players might be looking for.
Issues holding the game back include: the blue coin system that becomes more tedious than satisfting; a weird mix of difficulty where everything is either extremely easy or extremely difficult thanks to FLUDD; linear progression through the different worlds despite obstensibly being a sandbox game.
That said, I love the level design and how "lived-in" the worlds feel. Plus Mario is just so fun to control here thanks to Fludd, and the "secret" Fludd-less levels provide the platforming challenge that more seasoned Mario players might be looking for.
2000
FFIX is an excellent classical take on the JRPG genre. They really refined the PS1 graphics at this point so it looks and runs great, the battle system is well-done and gives you incentives to use weaker items, and the story and characters are both extremely endearing.
It suffers from pacing issues particularly around the beginning and middle of the game, and the battle system can be pretty slow. Also, some party characters needed some more time in the limelight.
That said, strong recommend to any JRPG fan and an absolute must-play if you loved the NES/SNES era of Final Fantasy.
It suffers from pacing issues particularly around the beginning and middle of the game, and the battle system can be pretty slow. Also, some party characters needed some more time in the limelight.
That said, strong recommend to any JRPG fan and an absolute must-play if you loved the NES/SNES era of Final Fantasy.
1996
Undoubtedly ground-breaking for it's time, but doesn't hold up without nostalgia goggles. The few moments of genuine fun and enjoyment are surrounded by more moments of pure frustration due to the controls and camera. The only real difficulty in the game is derived from needing to navigate the game's physics rather than being an inherent challenge. Plus the worlds just seem lacking compared to what came after in games like Sunshine or Odyssey.
Still, worth checking out if you buy the All Stars collection or just appreciate Mario's history.
Still, worth checking out if you buy the All Stars collection or just appreciate Mario's history.
2017
I'm not even a huge MV fan but this is a near-masterpiece. It starts a little slow but becomes more and more addictive with all the exploration, customization and tough but mostly fair boss fights. The sound design, art design, and environmental storytelling are unbelievable as well. A must-play even if you're not into 2D games, MVs, or indies.
1997
For just $5, the Switch port of this game is well-worth it. Pretty straight-forward classic DOOM action. However, it may be a little hard to play and get through due to the level design - after level 5 or so you'll get stuck wondering "where am I supposed to be going" at least once a level.
I'm a huge Zelda fan, but never experienced this game until playing the Switch remake.
Overall a great way to get your classic LoZ fix. Tricky bosses, cryptic but satisfying dungeon puzzles, and a charming story/world are all there. The dungeon design can be downright baffling, and there's a sense of emptiness to the game with limited items to spend all your rupees on and only one (two?) real towns.
If you can borrow a copy or get one cheap, this will be a nice little 15-hour diversion from between bigger, meatier games.
Overall a great way to get your classic LoZ fix. Tricky bosses, cryptic but satisfying dungeon puzzles, and a charming story/world are all there. The dungeon design can be downright baffling, and there's a sense of emptiness to the game with limited items to spend all your rupees on and only one (two?) real towns.
If you can borrow a copy or get one cheap, this will be a nice little 15-hour diversion from between bigger, meatier games.
2015
I could write an essay about this game's flaws and never struggle for content. Sloppy world, dumbed down and inconsequential RPG elements, terrible main story, bugs all over the place, and an overall feeling of pointlessness.
That said, I still got a ton of playtime out of the explore > shoot and loot > come back and base-build gameplay loop. Far Harbor DLC is also great.
Overall a frustrating experience considering the game it could have been.
That said, I still got a ton of playtime out of the explore > shoot and loot > come back and base-build gameplay loop. Far Harbor DLC is also great.
Overall a frustrating experience considering the game it could have been.
(Review based on FFX only)
What a weird game - for better and for worse. The pacing of the early-game is absolutely brutal, frequently interrupting the actual gameplay with an incoherent story that doesn't hook you.
I'm glad I didn't drop it, because the combat and progression system are the best of any FF game. The story picks up about 20% of the way in and the characters become much more endearing (despite some of them being a touch underdeveloped), to the point that I really cared about them by the end.
A must-play for any JRPG fan.
What a weird game - for better and for worse. The pacing of the early-game is absolutely brutal, frequently interrupting the actual gameplay with an incoherent story that doesn't hook you.
I'm glad I didn't drop it, because the combat and progression system are the best of any FF game. The story picks up about 20% of the way in and the characters become much more endearing (despite some of them being a touch underdeveloped), to the point that I really cared about them by the end.
A must-play for any JRPG fan.
2016
(Played on Switch)
This game has one of the most accessible and most purely fun FPS campaigns I've ever played. No quicktime events, no stodgy dialogue, no lulls in the action. Just a non-stop satisfying gameplay loop of killing demons, healing up, and repeating that never gets old.
Although pricey, the Switch port is one of the best-looking games you can play for the system. I played 50% handheld and it never detracted from the experience.
This game has one of the most accessible and most purely fun FPS campaigns I've ever played. No quicktime events, no stodgy dialogue, no lulls in the action. Just a non-stop satisfying gameplay loop of killing demons, healing up, and repeating that never gets old.
Although pricey, the Switch port is one of the best-looking games you can play for the system. I played 50% handheld and it never detracted from the experience.
1997
This game has aged horribly. The poor graphics are detriment, to the point where you sometimes need a guide just to figure out how to get to the next screen. The combat system is fine if not bland - your party members lack any individual identity in battle. The minigames scattered throughout are mostly a nuisance.
That said, it's more than worth slogging through to experience a once-in-a-lifetime story, a unique world, and one of the best JRPG soundtracks ever created.
That said, it's more than worth slogging through to experience a once-in-a-lifetime story, a unique world, and one of the best JRPG soundtracks ever created.