RandomContent
The average of two scores:
ReMind: 2/10
Worst piece of sit DLC I ever wasted money on. I had to pay $30 just to play the main game again and re-watch a ton of cutscenes with the only added feature being the option to play as a much weaker character? It's amazing how much this DLC learns nothing from the flaws of the main game and provides debatably the worst experience in KH history. This is an outrage!
Limit Cut: 10/10
Holy sit, best boss roster in years. Each boss is challenging, distinct, loaded with great music and unique mechanics. Limit Cut offers 12 of the best bosses in KH history(Dark Riku is there too), and it doesn't stop there. I never thought Lingering Will would be topped in terms of difficulty, but I haven't beaten Yozora to this day. Be that as it may, I never found myself frustrated. This boss roster must be experienced!
Overall: 6/10
You know ReMind is bad if having one of the greatest boss collections in gaming history waiting for you at the end just barely justified the purchase. I would have much preferred it if ReMind was removed or at least shortened and the price was dropped down to at most $20, but I'll take Limit Cut however I can get it. If you buy this DLC, please don't stop playing until you finish ReMind, it will be worth it.
ReMind: 2/10
Worst piece of sit DLC I ever wasted money on. I had to pay $30 just to play the main game again and re-watch a ton of cutscenes with the only added feature being the option to play as a much weaker character? It's amazing how much this DLC learns nothing from the flaws of the main game and provides debatably the worst experience in KH history. This is an outrage!
Limit Cut: 10/10
Holy sit, best boss roster in years. Each boss is challenging, distinct, loaded with great music and unique mechanics. Limit Cut offers 12 of the best bosses in KH history(Dark Riku is there too), and it doesn't stop there. I never thought Lingering Will would be topped in terms of difficulty, but I haven't beaten Yozora to this day. Be that as it may, I never found myself frustrated. This boss roster must be experienced!
Overall: 6/10
You know ReMind is bad if having one of the greatest boss collections in gaming history waiting for you at the end just barely justified the purchase. I would have much preferred it if ReMind was removed or at least shortened and the price was dropped down to at most $20, but I'll take Limit Cut however I can get it. If you buy this DLC, please don't stop playing until you finish ReMind, it will be worth it.
2016
One step forward, one step back.
Ratchet is much more likable in this version, but his relationship with Clank feels like an afterthought. The gameplay is much more addicting, but the story is far weaker. As a remake, it changes too much to feel loyal to the original game, but keeps enough elements from the 2002 game to stop it from being able to stand on its own entirely.
Oh well, at least it was better than the movie
Ratchet is much more likable in this version, but his relationship with Clank feels like an afterthought. The gameplay is much more addicting, but the story is far weaker. As a remake, it changes too much to feel loyal to the original game, but keeps enough elements from the 2002 game to stop it from being able to stand on its own entirely.
Oh well, at least it was better than the movie
2007
Dr. Nefarious and Andrew Ryan have the same voice actor? Armin Shimerman is the Brando of video game antagonists.
2017
An interesting, yet minimal experience. The game is deficient in terms of puzzles and lacking in overall gameplay and setting variety. I think it is rather unacceptable for such a short game to be so lacking in replay value. Nothing about the lore or characters of this world drew me in and I was never tempted to explore the mysteries of the Maw. I can recommend a single playthrough for those who are curious, but go in with measured expectations.
My feelings about this game, especially with regards to the other two, are pretty easy to sum up: I like it quite a bit more than the first game, and quite a bit less than the second.
The whacky, unconventional story and memorable side characters from Going Commando are mostly gone. Up Your Arsenal instead opts for a pretty generic story with plenty of plot holes and mostly re-used characters I didn't even like that much in their first appearances, echoing many of my problems with the first game. Most of the new cast is either totally forgettable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Thank goodness this game brought us Dr. Nefarious and Lawrence, otherwise I'd have nothing positive to say in the writing department.
With that said, Dr. Nefarious is a perfect antagonist for a Ratchet and Clank game: walking a perfect line between being genuinely hilarious and a legitimate threat. His vocal performance is excellent, he has most of the best lines in the game, and his range of motion and animations are very impressive for the PS2 era. Also, Lawrence is underrated. His lines and vocal delivery are also excellent, and the schtick between him and Nefarious is gold: Nefarious wouldn't be the legend he is without his butler.
Still, the quality of the game's humor is very inconsistent, for every genuine laugh, there is a painful groaner, and the humor has a mean-spirited tinge I really don't care for. There are a few character moments that sound good on paper, but the game's conclusion is so rushed, none of them are able to resonate the way they should.
So, I didn't care for the story, characters, or writing. Thankfully, the gameplay is still up to standard. The game has an excellent selection of weapons, strong enemy variety, and an addictive gameplay loop that does its predecessor justice. In addition to satisfying combat in story missions, there is also an addictive arena section, a decent hacking mini-game, and a surprisingly-fun video-game-within-the-video-game that add welcome variety without overstaying their welcomes. With that said, there were a number of curious downgrades: the crystal collection mini-game is much worse due to the lack of visibility and repetitive enemies, most levels lend themselves less to exploration than previous games, and the sheer number of enemy-wave shootout sequences in the game can become tedious after a while. Still a strong gameplay loop, just lacking the polish and variety of Going Commando.
In summary, Up Your Arsenal is a really good podcast game: Strong gameplay with occasional hiccups and weak writing with occasional brilliance. I certainly wouldn't call it Insomniac's best, but I would call is a really fun time.
The whacky, unconventional story and memorable side characters from Going Commando are mostly gone. Up Your Arsenal instead opts for a pretty generic story with plenty of plot holes and mostly re-used characters I didn't even like that much in their first appearances, echoing many of my problems with the first game. Most of the new cast is either totally forgettable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Thank goodness this game brought us Dr. Nefarious and Lawrence, otherwise I'd have nothing positive to say in the writing department.
With that said, Dr. Nefarious is a perfect antagonist for a Ratchet and Clank game: walking a perfect line between being genuinely hilarious and a legitimate threat. His vocal performance is excellent, he has most of the best lines in the game, and his range of motion and animations are very impressive for the PS2 era. Also, Lawrence is underrated. His lines and vocal delivery are also excellent, and the schtick between him and Nefarious is gold: Nefarious wouldn't be the legend he is without his butler.
Still, the quality of the game's humor is very inconsistent, for every genuine laugh, there is a painful groaner, and the humor has a mean-spirited tinge I really don't care for. There are a few character moments that sound good on paper, but the game's conclusion is so rushed, none of them are able to resonate the way they should.
So, I didn't care for the story, characters, or writing. Thankfully, the gameplay is still up to standard. The game has an excellent selection of weapons, strong enemy variety, and an addictive gameplay loop that does its predecessor justice. In addition to satisfying combat in story missions, there is also an addictive arena section, a decent hacking mini-game, and a surprisingly-fun video-game-within-the-video-game that add welcome variety without overstaying their welcomes. With that said, there were a number of curious downgrades: the crystal collection mini-game is much worse due to the lack of visibility and repetitive enemies, most levels lend themselves less to exploration than previous games, and the sheer number of enemy-wave shootout sequences in the game can become tedious after a while. Still a strong gameplay loop, just lacking the polish and variety of Going Commando.
In summary, Up Your Arsenal is a really good podcast game: Strong gameplay with occasional hiccups and weak writing with occasional brilliance. I certainly wouldn't call it Insomniac's best, but I would call is a really fun time.
2020
Best video game ever.
Worth playing for 2 and 5 alone.
The ultimate podcast game.
Why did I bother to review this again?
Pokemon pinball: That's what it advertises; that's what it provides. Take it for what it's worth.
Pokemon pinball: That's what it advertises; that's what it provides. Take it for what it's worth.
2001
I thoroughly enjoyed the FF7 remake, but I was nervous when I heard it would be split into three chapters. After all, when you add three to seven, you get ten, and I didn't want that.
Final Fantasy ten is really bad. The characters are all frustrating and obnoxious in their own special way(Auron excluded), the repeated enemy encounters are irritating, the voice acting is embarrassing, and the story is contrived nonsense. I could only sit through so may hours of ear-bleeding, un-skippable cutscenes before I shelved the game. The only reason I don't give it a lower score is because I don't feel like I can get away with it, having not played the game in a while. I really don't want to play it again, so we'll settle on this. Perhaps the latter parts of the game are far better, and perhaps the remake is fantastic, in which case, I'll look like a fool; but, honestly, I doubt it.
I had an aggressive bias against Final Fantasy for years, and I blame this game for why honestly.
Final Fantasy ten is really bad. The characters are all frustrating and obnoxious in their own special way(Auron excluded), the repeated enemy encounters are irritating, the voice acting is embarrassing, and the story is contrived nonsense. I could only sit through so may hours of ear-bleeding, un-skippable cutscenes before I shelved the game. The only reason I don't give it a lower score is because I don't feel like I can get away with it, having not played the game in a while. I really don't want to play it again, so we'll settle on this. Perhaps the latter parts of the game are far better, and perhaps the remake is fantastic, in which case, I'll look like a fool; but, honestly, I doubt it.
I had an aggressive bias against Final Fantasy for years, and I blame this game for why honestly.
Do you want to play Battle for Bikini Bottom with fewer playable characters, less-interesting levels and objectives, and having the whole game be linear for some reason? No: well this game is hard to recommend.
Honestly, this game is fine in its own right. But, when compared to BfBB, it feels like a step backwards in so many ways. The charming characters, world exploration, and interconnectedness of the previous game played a huge role in making it such a classic. By comparison, this one ironically has the same issue Spongebob and Patrick have in the movie, taking themselves too seriously and pretending to be something they're not.
Still, if you loved BfBB, you'll probably like this one fine.
Honestly, this game is fine in its own right. But, when compared to BfBB, it feels like a step backwards in so many ways. The charming characters, world exploration, and interconnectedness of the previous game played a huge role in making it such a classic. By comparison, this one ironically has the same issue Spongebob and Patrick have in the movie, taking themselves too seriously and pretending to be something they're not.
Still, if you loved BfBB, you'll probably like this one fine.
1996
Megaman 8/10
10/10 in the pure VOICE ACTING DEPARTMENT!
10/10 in the pure VOICE ACTING DEPARTMENT!
2010
I've played some amazing sequels in my day; this is not one of them.
Strap in yall, this one is going to be long.
Part two is a step backwards in every conceivable way. The fascinating themes, implicit characterization, haunting atmosphere, sharp writing, subtle worldbuilding, and air-tight cohesion of the first game is mostly, if not completely gone. The sad thing is that many of Bioshock 2's ideas are good, many of its characters have promise, and many of the changes made to gameplay were for the better. Hell, the game fixed my two biggest issues with the previous game(the pipe minigame and the binary endings). I feel like these ideas would have worked brilliantly in a different game, but they don't fit here.
Sophia Lamb could have been a strong antagonist, but she doesn't fit the world of Bioshock at all; she feels more like a Harry Potter villain than a Bioshock villain, and she could never compare to Andrew Ryan in terms of dialogue, presence, or ideology. Some changes to gameplay were improvements, but they take away from the atmosphere just as much as they add to the fun. It is hard to be scared when I'm this overpowered and the enemies need to be this ludicrous in order to pose a challenge. I played the game on the highest difficulty and rarely felt in any danger. I also feel the emotional connection between Elanor and Delta could have been very strong, but the two needed more time together for it to resonate, and the game's structure didn't allow for that. And, both as a follow-up to Bioshock 1, and as a story on its own, this game has far too many plot holes.
The next paragraph is just plot holes
How is the city still habitable with all those leaks from the first game? Why were Lamb, Alexander, or Sinclair never mentioned in the first game? How did all these non-splicer characters survive in Rapture for ten years? Why is Delta the only Big Daddy who can use plasmids!? How was Elanor able to revive Delta and why did she wait ten years to do it!?! How are there still so many splicers in the city eight years after Jack left!!?!! If Lamb could sever Delta and Elanor's bond by temporarily stopping her heart WHY DIDN'T SHE DO IT SOONER!!!!!? Why don't the splicers attack the little sister I take control of when I use her to gather ADAM? THEY ATTACKED EVERY OTHER TIME, AND SHE'S RIGHT THERE!!! Why... in her great wisdom... did Elanor choose to revive Delta ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CITY!!!!!!!!?!!!!!!!! You could have brought me back at the chamber right outside your room! THANKS FOR NOT SAVING ME A TRIP ELANOR.
So, it sounds like I'm not the biggest fan of this game... I'm not. You may ask the question, 'why recommend it at all? Why a score as high as even a seven?' A valid question, the answer: Minerva's Den.
This DLC campaign is everything the main game should have been. It's a bit shorter obviously, but most of Bioshock 2 felt like filler anyway, so a more concise game was a nice change of pace. Minerva's Den brings back the atmosphere and sophisticated storytelling from the first game, as well also having a plot twist that, while it certainly wouldn't rival that of the first game's plot twist, is still gripping and well-deserved reveal. Minerva's Den is also a blast to play, adding so many new weapons and plasmids to make it really stand out from the main campaign. This is honestly one of the best DLCs out there, and I enjoyed it quite a bit more than the main game. The protector trials were fun too.
I must recommend this game, just to experience Minerva's Den. Play the main campaign if you want.
Strap in yall, this one is going to be long.
Part two is a step backwards in every conceivable way. The fascinating themes, implicit characterization, haunting atmosphere, sharp writing, subtle worldbuilding, and air-tight cohesion of the first game is mostly, if not completely gone. The sad thing is that many of Bioshock 2's ideas are good, many of its characters have promise, and many of the changes made to gameplay were for the better. Hell, the game fixed my two biggest issues with the previous game(the pipe minigame and the binary endings). I feel like these ideas would have worked brilliantly in a different game, but they don't fit here.
Sophia Lamb could have been a strong antagonist, but she doesn't fit the world of Bioshock at all; she feels more like a Harry Potter villain than a Bioshock villain, and she could never compare to Andrew Ryan in terms of dialogue, presence, or ideology. Some changes to gameplay were improvements, but they take away from the atmosphere just as much as they add to the fun. It is hard to be scared when I'm this overpowered and the enemies need to be this ludicrous in order to pose a challenge. I played the game on the highest difficulty and rarely felt in any danger. I also feel the emotional connection between Elanor and Delta could have been very strong, but the two needed more time together for it to resonate, and the game's structure didn't allow for that. And, both as a follow-up to Bioshock 1, and as a story on its own, this game has far too many plot holes.
The next paragraph is just plot holes
How is the city still habitable with all those leaks from the first game? Why were Lamb, Alexander, or Sinclair never mentioned in the first game? How did all these non-splicer characters survive in Rapture for ten years? Why is Delta the only Big Daddy who can use plasmids!? How was Elanor able to revive Delta and why did she wait ten years to do it!?! How are there still so many splicers in the city eight years after Jack left!!?!! If Lamb could sever Delta and Elanor's bond by temporarily stopping her heart WHY DIDN'T SHE DO IT SOONER!!!!!? Why don't the splicers attack the little sister I take control of when I use her to gather ADAM? THEY ATTACKED EVERY OTHER TIME, AND SHE'S RIGHT THERE!!! Why... in her great wisdom... did Elanor choose to revive Delta ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CITY!!!!!!!!?!!!!!!!! You could have brought me back at the chamber right outside your room! THANKS FOR NOT SAVING ME A TRIP ELANOR.
So, it sounds like I'm not the biggest fan of this game... I'm not. You may ask the question, 'why recommend it at all? Why a score as high as even a seven?' A valid question, the answer: Minerva's Den.
This DLC campaign is everything the main game should have been. It's a bit shorter obviously, but most of Bioshock 2 felt like filler anyway, so a more concise game was a nice change of pace. Minerva's Den brings back the atmosphere and sophisticated storytelling from the first game, as well also having a plot twist that, while it certainly wouldn't rival that of the first game's plot twist, is still gripping and well-deserved reveal. Minerva's Den is also a blast to play, adding so many new weapons and plasmids to make it really stand out from the main campaign. This is honestly one of the best DLCs out there, and I enjoyed it quite a bit more than the main game. The protector trials were fun too.
I must recommend this game, just to experience Minerva's Den. Play the main campaign if you want.
2002
I did not remember Ratchet being this much of an a**hole
Why did I remember this game being so mediocre? It's actually good!
Tight controls which compliment a distinct gameplay loop; A charming Outback aesthetic and lovely soundtrack bolstered by strong enemy, character, and level design; and a good variety in terms of weapons and gameplay styles. It feels great to re-visit an old game and realize it's way better than you remember it.
However, not all of my initial criticisms were unfounded. Ty is an early, low-budget PS2 game, and the first game in a series, and it shows: Character interactions and dialogue are very awkward(and not in a self-aware kind of way), the cutscenes don't look great, and the storytelling is so poor the basic narrative can be confusing. The game also suffers from tedious item collection and an abysmal boss roster. These are definitely issues, they just aren't as bad as I remembered them.
Given how much Ty had going against it, I think Chrome turned out a strong product. I'm very glad I gave this game a second chance, and I'll happily recommend it to any fan of classic platformers.
This game is RIPPER! (there I said it.)
Tight controls which compliment a distinct gameplay loop; A charming Outback aesthetic and lovely soundtrack bolstered by strong enemy, character, and level design; and a good variety in terms of weapons and gameplay styles. It feels great to re-visit an old game and realize it's way better than you remember it.
However, not all of my initial criticisms were unfounded. Ty is an early, low-budget PS2 game, and the first game in a series, and it shows: Character interactions and dialogue are very awkward(and not in a self-aware kind of way), the cutscenes don't look great, and the storytelling is so poor the basic narrative can be confusing. The game also suffers from tedious item collection and an abysmal boss roster. These are definitely issues, they just aren't as bad as I remembered them.
Given how much Ty had going against it, I think Chrome turned out a strong product. I'm very glad I gave this game a second chance, and I'll happily recommend it to any fan of classic platformers.
This game is RIPPER! (there I said it.)