I was reading 16 Bit Sensation and it did make me want to try this one again since is part of a niche style of games that are mostly made only for doujinshi events and it was a way better experience, even if trying to set up the control in the Steam port is a kick in the dick and only after 15 minutes I found a way to make the game on a Dual Shock ok to play.
Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae is perfect for what it wants to be, is a type of arcade game that is almost impossible to reach out if you are not japanese and I am very happy that this one got a chance. I still feel the game would be better if a little bit more shorter since the bigger enemies feels like you are just trying to break a wall with a toy hammer and there a lot of moments where you have to fight a lot of them but is cool in general. I never hated the game, just felt very disappointed and nowadays I don't have the sentiment, feel way better knowing the game is trying to be like Spike Out instead of Oneechanbara. Hell, I want to try more games in this style now. I definitely recommend if anyone wants to check out more of the unique things in the indie asian games scenery and wants to have a good hack and slash for a session of 3 hours.
Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae is perfect for what it wants to be, is a type of arcade game that is almost impossible to reach out if you are not japanese and I am very happy that this one got a chance. I still feel the game would be better if a little bit more shorter since the bigger enemies feels like you are just trying to break a wall with a toy hammer and there a lot of moments where you have to fight a lot of them but is cool in general. I never hated the game, just felt very disappointed and nowadays I don't have the sentiment, feel way better knowing the game is trying to be like Spike Out instead of Oneechanbara. Hell, I want to try more games in this style now. I definitely recommend if anyone wants to check out more of the unique things in the indie asian games scenery and wants to have a good hack and slash for a session of 3 hours.
2019
This is like if Dead or Alive was made by someone who never touched the franchise and thought it was a porn game with a fighting mode.
Dead or Alice always knew how to use the sexual elements in their fighting games, it was a perfect mix in 5. You want sexy skins? You can have as much as you want. You want to play more normally? You can too. You want just to enjoy how good of a fighting game 5 is? Sure, just go play some rounds in the arcade mode. The story mode was like playing an anime game, the direction was amazing and had so many cool stuff in the chapters and the sexual side never felt as the only selling point. But for some reason, since the beach games are popular people never took Dead or Alive seriously. So how you deal with this? Remove all the personality from the series, try to hide the sexy side (is still crazy how they were thinking Kasumi and Ayane normal outfits were way to much horny), make the simple but complex mechanics of 5 way to much more simple, make a story mode based on Persona Arena Ultimax for some reason and put a lot of bad monetization and try to appeal do EVO folks.
Dead or Alive 6 was a failure because the majors decisions were made with disrespect. Dead or Alive 5 could be easily in EVO alongside Tekken, there's nothing that could make a big problem but they just decided to make 5 without most of the things that makes the series great. Is just sad to see as a fan of the series but at the same time the game being just 5 but weaker is enough to me to like playing for a bit of time. I just hope the reboot don't try to do the same shit.
Dead or Alice always knew how to use the sexual elements in their fighting games, it was a perfect mix in 5. You want sexy skins? You can have as much as you want. You want to play more normally? You can too. You want just to enjoy how good of a fighting game 5 is? Sure, just go play some rounds in the arcade mode. The story mode was like playing an anime game, the direction was amazing and had so many cool stuff in the chapters and the sexual side never felt as the only selling point. But for some reason, since the beach games are popular people never took Dead or Alive seriously. So how you deal with this? Remove all the personality from the series, try to hide the sexy side (is still crazy how they were thinking Kasumi and Ayane normal outfits were way to much horny), make the simple but complex mechanics of 5 way to much more simple, make a story mode based on Persona Arena Ultimax for some reason and put a lot of bad monetization and try to appeal do EVO folks.
Dead or Alive 6 was a failure because the majors decisions were made with disrespect. Dead or Alive 5 could be easily in EVO alongside Tekken, there's nothing that could make a big problem but they just decided to make 5 without most of the things that makes the series great. Is just sad to see as a fan of the series but at the same time the game being just 5 but weaker is enough to me to like playing for a bit of time. I just hope the reboot don't try to do the same shit.
No More Heroes 2 is a strange beast.
It doesn't understand the first one. The power fantasy that the original makes a joke with becomes the fantasy the sequel sells for the player. Henry who was a Vergil parody for a hack and slash parody now becomes Vergil but the version of DmC, Shinobu becomes a fetishized character and Sylvia who was the way of the game literally says to the player that the game is a joke now becomes a kinda of femme fatale and a fetishized character too. And Travis even if the game start with him being a anime hero for the sake of the power fantasy, by the end becomes a character more aline with the way of Suda's writing. I could go on and on about this because it's all you see for the first half of the game, the minigames were turned into a way of grinding instead of a nice way to make the game flow better, the way the game deals with sexual content is way worse and so on. But at the same time, No More Heroes 2 does a lot of cool stuff.
The combat is amazing, as good as the first one. Melee being a full playstyle makes all Fire Pro Wrestling references cooler, the scenery being a big part of the fights makes everything so more dynamic and cool, the juggle combos. Is just very good, even more so with the multiple swords. Is just not as smart as Travis Strikes Again and No More Heroes 3 with the enemies and bosses. But the boss battles in No More Heroes 2 are usually in between mid and very good, for some reason when you got the Ryuji fight the game decides to make every boss just as good as the first one and is in the final half that the game becomes great.
The power fantasy left, Travis becomes more like Travis, the text and cutscenes becomes good. Is like the devs suddenly remembered what makes No More Heroes 1 great and they decided to try that but with a vengeance story while dealing with the way those characters interacts with violence. And even the final boss is interesting, he is like Iwami from Yakuza 6, a shit guy trying to play the cool guy with a shit fight because he couldn't do anything.
Nobutaka Ichiki did a cool work, sure I would love to see Suda51 version (even more after discovering that the game was supposed to be inspired by Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2) but I liked his take and I hope someday he get a chance to make a big project of his own.
It doesn't understand the first one. The power fantasy that the original makes a joke with becomes the fantasy the sequel sells for the player. Henry who was a Vergil parody for a hack and slash parody now becomes Vergil but the version of DmC, Shinobu becomes a fetishized character and Sylvia who was the way of the game literally says to the player that the game is a joke now becomes a kinda of femme fatale and a fetishized character too. And Travis even if the game start with him being a anime hero for the sake of the power fantasy, by the end becomes a character more aline with the way of Suda's writing. I could go on and on about this because it's all you see for the first half of the game, the minigames were turned into a way of grinding instead of a nice way to make the game flow better, the way the game deals with sexual content is way worse and so on. But at the same time, No More Heroes 2 does a lot of cool stuff.
The combat is amazing, as good as the first one. Melee being a full playstyle makes all Fire Pro Wrestling references cooler, the scenery being a big part of the fights makes everything so more dynamic and cool, the juggle combos. Is just very good, even more so with the multiple swords. Is just not as smart as Travis Strikes Again and No More Heroes 3 with the enemies and bosses. But the boss battles in No More Heroes 2 are usually in between mid and very good, for some reason when you got the Ryuji fight the game decides to make every boss just as good as the first one and is in the final half that the game becomes great.
The power fantasy left, Travis becomes more like Travis, the text and cutscenes becomes good. Is like the devs suddenly remembered what makes No More Heroes 1 great and they decided to try that but with a vengeance story while dealing with the way those characters interacts with violence. And even the final boss is interesting, he is like Iwami from Yakuza 6, a shit guy trying to play the cool guy with a shit fight because he couldn't do anything.
Nobutaka Ichiki did a cool work, sure I would love to see Suda51 version (even more after discovering that the game was supposed to be inspired by Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2) but I liked his take and I hope someday he get a chance to make a big project of his own.
2016
The game die on my machine when I am at the end of chapter 5 but I think I can say a lot about this one.
YSK is one of my favorite studios ever, even if I still can only understand two games, everything they made is just so much unique, so much fun and interesting. Kenka Banchou 3 is a bit disappointing because everything else is more interesting to me, I want to see they doing a story about a guy trying to make a name of his own while having to deal with friendship and his own sense of honor, I want to see a story about a yakuza teacher helping a classroom, a delinquent becoming a better person during three years in school. And Uppers is the same thing. Sure, you have a fun combat for a little portable game trying to do his own thing (in this case being the same thing as animes like Ben-to, High School DXD and others in the same vibe but playable) but man, is so disappointing seeing their most simple titles beings the ones who got translation.
Uppers works well for what it wants to be, is kinda strange to play something that you feel just wrong to not be playing on a Vita but is fun. I just expected way better since this is right after Kenka Banchou 6 and 6 looks like is gonna be one of my favorite games ever.
YSK is one of my favorite studios ever, even if I still can only understand two games, everything they made is just so much unique, so much fun and interesting. Kenka Banchou 3 is a bit disappointing because everything else is more interesting to me, I want to see they doing a story about a guy trying to make a name of his own while having to deal with friendship and his own sense of honor, I want to see a story about a yakuza teacher helping a classroom, a delinquent becoming a better person during three years in school. And Uppers is the same thing. Sure, you have a fun combat for a little portable game trying to do his own thing (in this case being the same thing as animes like Ben-to, High School DXD and others in the same vibe but playable) but man, is so disappointing seeing their most simple titles beings the ones who got translation.
Uppers works well for what it wants to be, is kinda strange to play something that you feel just wrong to not be playing on a Vita but is fun. I just expected way better since this is right after Kenka Banchou 6 and 6 looks like is gonna be one of my favorite games ever.
2017
Style and substance.
One of the most creative horror games out there and it's works so well that is kinda surprising to see.
One of the most creative horror games out there and it's works so well that is kinda surprising to see.
2011
Will always love how japanese devs made the most creative stuff with the bakumatsu setting. It's like is the best historical moment to make anything you want. A hack and slash? Sure, here you have one. A RPG with turn based combat? Sure, why not? A RPG where instead of battle you just talk? Why the fuck not? A Rance game? A Yakuza game? Just go dude. And it's aways incredible. Way of the Samurai 4 takes everything good in the franchise and do a good mix that is irresistible to not play over and over. Will get a couple more of runs and I am sure that once I get enough with this one it gonna be a 5 stars.
Guys complaining about Hotline Miami 2 when a real enemies killing you off screen is right here
In the half of the game I started having a feeling that the game is very much like Kurohyou 2 and by the end of it, man this is just Kurohyou 2.
Kurohyou 2 picks the first one and decides to make the small psp spin off have style more similar to the PS3 ones and nails it. The action in general is way more complex and even more fun with the amount of cool shit you can do going to eleven. The citys are better to explore, more side content and even the time of the campaign is more aligned to the PS3 games. Kurohyou 1 is a game that focus in his discussion and thematic for 90% of the game and the plot just exist to have a way to discuss how violence affects everyone and how someone can turn that violence in something positive. But 2? The plot is 80% of the game, they show you a lot of ex fighters, assholes and cool stuff while putting as a side line the whole point of teenagers trying to defend the place they can call home.
Infinite Wealth does the same thing. The game now is a full rpg, the gameplay had way more time to the team do cool stuff and even the action scenes now use the fact that is a rpg in a cool way (with the whole party taking part in the action half of the time). They left aside Dragon Quest but still have a lot of love for games, a whole minigame for Animal Crossing and Pokemon, and so on. And Infinite Wealth too put aside the thematic and discussion as a side line BUT only for Ichiban.
Ichiban side is very solid, plot focused to show a lot of cool villains in cool fights but only in the start and final scene talks about something. Half of the time the only thing you have to care in Ichiban side is the cast having a cool dynamic. Kiryu side is like: ONE OF THE BEST CHAPTFRS IN THE ENTIRE SERIES, THE BEST SIDE CONTENT IN GAMES AS A WHOLE WITH THE BUCKET LIST, THE MOST POWERFUL MOMENT THAT USES TURN BASED RPG AS A WAY TO TELL STORIES, A BEAUTIFUL FINAL FIGHT AND A POWERFUL HUMAN CONVERSATION ABOUT HAVING TO FACE DEATH WITH SOMETHING LIKE CANCER.
I wish Ichiban could have a game with him not having problem with presentation and things like this. Ichiban can handle a full game, Kiryu side could not be there to the game tell a tale about trying to fit society when society is against you joining them. But at the same time, the game is only strong as it is because it does have Kiryu. One of the best characters the medium ever had doing his final tale be about death and forgiveness.
Kurohyou 2 picks the first one and decides to make the small psp spin off have style more similar to the PS3 ones and nails it. The action in general is way more complex and even more fun with the amount of cool shit you can do going to eleven. The citys are better to explore, more side content and even the time of the campaign is more aligned to the PS3 games. Kurohyou 1 is a game that focus in his discussion and thematic for 90% of the game and the plot just exist to have a way to discuss how violence affects everyone and how someone can turn that violence in something positive. But 2? The plot is 80% of the game, they show you a lot of ex fighters, assholes and cool stuff while putting as a side line the whole point of teenagers trying to defend the place they can call home.
Infinite Wealth does the same thing. The game now is a full rpg, the gameplay had way more time to the team do cool stuff and even the action scenes now use the fact that is a rpg in a cool way (with the whole party taking part in the action half of the time). They left aside Dragon Quest but still have a lot of love for games, a whole minigame for Animal Crossing and Pokemon, and so on. And Infinite Wealth too put aside the thematic and discussion as a side line BUT only for Ichiban.
Ichiban side is very solid, plot focused to show a lot of cool villains in cool fights but only in the start and final scene talks about something. Half of the time the only thing you have to care in Ichiban side is the cast having a cool dynamic. Kiryu side is like: ONE OF THE BEST CHAPTFRS IN THE ENTIRE SERIES, THE BEST SIDE CONTENT IN GAMES AS A WHOLE WITH THE BUCKET LIST, THE MOST POWERFUL MOMENT THAT USES TURN BASED RPG AS A WAY TO TELL STORIES, A BEAUTIFUL FINAL FIGHT AND A POWERFUL HUMAN CONVERSATION ABOUT HAVING TO FACE DEATH WITH SOMETHING LIKE CANCER.
I wish Ichiban could have a game with him not having problem with presentation and things like this. Ichiban can handle a full game, Kiryu side could not be there to the game tell a tale about trying to fit society when society is against you joining them. But at the same time, the game is only strong as it is because it does have Kiryu. One of the best characters the medium ever had doing his final tale be about death and forgiveness.
2006
Usually Yakuza 3 is the one people talk as the blueprint of the series but Yakuza 2 deserves way more this title.
In a series with so many unique games Yakuza 2 stay unique by how he picks everything the original tried out and sticking together to build something.
Is a Hokuto no Ken game with hanzai eiga elements in it with a strong direction and a lot of choices that makes the whole experience strong. The game have jazz, have the cool as fuck brutal combat, a fun side content and a cool cast.
Yakuza 2 do a lot of interesting things with the writing and how everything plays out and have some misteps because of how early he was doing some of the questions (like the whole debate about misogyny and how it impacts Kaoru being made with good intentions but is not so well done) but still manage to work.
It's a classic, Kiwami 2 did dirty a lot of things with it.
In a series with so many unique games Yakuza 2 stay unique by how he picks everything the original tried out and sticking together to build something.
Is a Hokuto no Ken game with hanzai eiga elements in it with a strong direction and a lot of choices that makes the whole experience strong. The game have jazz, have the cool as fuck brutal combat, a fun side content and a cool cast.
Yakuza 2 do a lot of interesting things with the writing and how everything plays out and have some misteps because of how early he was doing some of the questions (like the whole debate about misogyny and how it impacts Kaoru being made with good intentions but is not so well done) but still manage to work.
It's a classic, Kiwami 2 did dirty a lot of things with it.
2000
I could say a lot of things about the game but the opening alone says it all.
Rent A Hero literally means hero for hire.
High Tech Company SECA rents out the Combat Armor for the good of mankind.
Rent A Heroes are part time heroes who always fight for justice.
Is a SEGA game using their identity in a cool town, is a tokusatsu parody that use the monologues in the opening of the original Kamen Rider show, is just very cool.
Rent A Hero literally means hero for hire.
High Tech Company SECA rents out the Combat Armor for the good of mankind.
Rent A Heroes are part time heroes who always fight for justice.
Is a SEGA game using their identity in a cool town, is a tokusatsu parody that use the monologues in the opening of the original Kamen Rider show, is just very cool.
2012
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios second take in shooters is a pretty good one. The entire team are so experienced with action that they can handle turn based, hack and slash, shooting mechanics, beat up or even help with things like adventure just fine.
Binary Domain is very much like Gears of Wars but the entire concept of picking this and putting Persona 1 concepts in the game with Ninja Gaiden 2 style of action made everything feel way more unique. The entire squad is fun to dealt with, the multiple way the campaign can go on makes me want to try again some other time, the enemies are all very fun and even the story is very cool. It isn't RGGS doing masterpieces like they are used to but I can't find anything that bothers me besides knowing that the studio can be at the same level as Takeshi Kitano or Kinji Fukusaku if they want to.
My only problem with the entire game is two things that never bothered me in ANY Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios game and let me very sad because of this. The soundtrack and boss fight, both are so forgettable and generic that is the only thing that make strange RGGS making this game. But overall, very good stuff.
Cain is the coolest character ever btw
Binary Domain is very much like Gears of Wars but the entire concept of picking this and putting Persona 1 concepts in the game with Ninja Gaiden 2 style of action made everything feel way more unique. The entire squad is fun to dealt with, the multiple way the campaign can go on makes me want to try again some other time, the enemies are all very fun and even the story is very cool. It isn't RGGS doing masterpieces like they are used to but I can't find anything that bothers me besides knowing that the studio can be at the same level as Takeshi Kitano or Kinji Fukusaku if they want to.
My only problem with the entire game is two things that never bothered me in ANY Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios game and let me very sad because of this. The soundtrack and boss fight, both are so forgettable and generic that is the only thing that make strange RGGS making this game. But overall, very good stuff.
Cain is the coolest character ever btw
2008
The cooler Nobunaga Ambition
I am not much a fan of Hideyuki Shin work in Grasshopper since I like more when the studio decides to go all out with everything instead of just playing with one concept (Let It Die playing with arcade games being a hard core rogue like with only this idea) but here he does a great job. Killer is Dead is a very normal hack and slash with focus in his presentation and does this very well. You have all the problems Grasshopper faced during this time but for the most time they are very manageable. The Killer7 DNA almost don't have anything left, the forced sexual side content you can ignore since the sub weapons almost don't have much use besides the one that do slow motion. Overall is a fun game, Hideyuki Shin can do some pretty cool.
Ryu ga Gotoku Studio bringing a manga format to video games made them showcase how strong the series is.
The game was made in 6 months but it only works because there's one since 2005. It was made in 6 months but have one of the most strong final fights and segments in games because of how auto conscious RGGS is with their own unique style. It was made in 6 months with a small budget (probably the last one like that) but have the same care as any other game. It's a game about erasing the past to protect the future, about freedom, loneliness and with only 10 hours works very well with all that. It can't be compared with the most strong work of RGGS like Kurohyou, Ishin, 5 but it sure does deserve be at the same rank as them of being very very good. The only complaint I can think of is the skill three but at least is very easy to pick everything you need just a little bit boring.
One of the best games of 2023 easily
The game was made in 6 months but it only works because there's one since 2005. It was made in 6 months but have one of the most strong final fights and segments in games because of how auto conscious RGGS is with their own unique style. It was made in 6 months with a small budget (probably the last one like that) but have the same care as any other game. It's a game about erasing the past to protect the future, about freedom, loneliness and with only 10 hours works very well with all that. It can't be compared with the most strong work of RGGS like Kurohyou, Ishin, 5 but it sure does deserve be at the same rank as them of being very very good. The only complaint I can think of is the skill three but at least is very easy to pick everything you need just a little bit boring.
One of the best games of 2023 easily
Kusoge done right