ScoutmasterDemi
An absolute gem of a game. Gorgeous writing, staggeringly deep job class system. Battles are a challenge, and while permanent character death is brutal, I can't help but love the thrill it provides. I wish grinding weren't as necessary and the music is forgettable, but make no mistake: This is a phenomenal blend of story and gameplay that can't be missed.
2002
This review contains spoilers
Mario is already fun to control in 3D. F.L.U.D.D. is a simple but brilliant way to complement Mario's movement (pretty much any trick can be tweaked or enhanced with water!).
Then you have Isle Delfino, a vibrant, memorable hub world. I love that each level is thematic and cohesive; it's probably the only Mario game to commit to location, and the immersive reward is evident.
There are flaws, but it's so hard to pin-point what exactly they are. The game has this lingering feeling of being rushed or incomplete. Maybe it's the sparse storybeats, the overreliance on Shadow Mario (he quickly gets old) or the underwhelming climax. You get the sense that Sunshine could have been... more. But what it IS is such a joy. A must-play game!
Then you have Isle Delfino, a vibrant, memorable hub world. I love that each level is thematic and cohesive; it's probably the only Mario game to commit to location, and the immersive reward is evident.
There are flaws, but it's so hard to pin-point what exactly they are. The game has this lingering feeling of being rushed or incomplete. Maybe it's the sparse storybeats, the overreliance on Shadow Mario (he quickly gets old) or the underwhelming climax. You get the sense that Sunshine could have been... more. But what it IS is such a joy. A must-play game!
The best thing about this game is the Switch console itself. AC is such a social franchise; it was practically designed for the system! So why is it that the original Animal Crossing for Gamecube, more than 20 years old, oozes so much more personality? Neighbors run out of things to say and do by the time you've unlocked terraforming. This game is as fun as your playgroup is, but boy... There really needs to be more to do, and the SLOW loading times for parties is backbreaking.
This review contains spoilers
I've long felt jaded with Square Enix. I expected so little from this game and was blown away by the care put into it. Battles are a unique blend of real-time and turn-based systems. Each character plays uniquely, and shifting between them is thankfully seamless! I loved loved LOVED the pacing. Midgard deserves an entire game devoted to it. The sci-fi eco-fantasy premise is still fresh as can be. You get all these disparate cultures and forces that have no right to harmonize as they do. It's magic. Final Fantasy deserves this redemption. And while the ending, uh, hmm... I truly can't wait for the next installment.
If Square bothered to remap lip flaps to dialogue and fixed the stiff walking during cutscenes this game would be Heaven on Earth.
This is the perfect "open-world" game: it gently guides you to the next narrative location while simultaneously handing you the reigns. You can spend days exploring islands, unearthing (un-seaing?) buried treasure... Co-op, quite rare in this series, is a blast. The Windwaker just OOZES charm: This might be the first Link with personality. BotW is great, but I don't think Zelda gets better than this.
2017
At no point in this game did I stop being impressed. Hollow Knight pushes indie game boundaries with unassuming grace. I love how rich the lore is without any hand-holding whatsoever. If you crave exploration in video games, it doesn't get better than this.
1993
One thing that always strikes me is how phenomenal the sound design is. Yes, the music is obviously fantastic, but the BLAST of a charged Mega Buster never fails to impress. Dashing around, climbing up walls... It's just so much fun. While the story is nothing special, there's this quality to the X bootup cutscene that pulls at my imagination. And then the title screen! And the intro stage!! Someone at Capcom knew how to bring the HYPE. Timeless!!!!
1994
Less good, still great.
2015
This review contains spoilers
Charming, unique, surprisingly fresh battle system. The retro 8-bit style accentuates the dialogue. Genuinely moving, even surprising moments. A great game!
The secret to this game is that you let your guard down. It's a Shonen game, you've seen it all. Before you know it this game has eclipsed every expectation. So many memorable and downright badass moments go down in the story, the crown jewel of the entire franchise. Battles are fantastic--mixing and matching Styles by drawing upon your Brothers BrotherBands, accumulating Noise to acquire Illegal Cards and while simultaneously transforming into a godly beast... The gameplay loop is fun. Ridiculously fun. Music is top-notch. And while PvP can never live up to Battle Network, this is deep and rewarding in its own right. I think it's all the better because it's a Shonen game. It's a rare game that evokes youth without preying on nostalgia. I can't heap enough praise on Megaman Starforce 3.
This review contains spoilers
Imagine following up a great game by doing the opposite of everything that worked. Vista Point? School? Nah, those important plot beats just don't exist anymore. Constellations? Space? Nah, here's some cheesy... I don't even know what to describe it. But cramming dinosaurs, ninjas, the abominable freaking snowman into a game, it's just dumb. That's the most concise way to describe this game. Dumb. And while you're at it, he's a broken encounter rate. But hey, Rogue is pretty cool.
The secret to this game is that you let your guard down. It's a Shonen game, you've seen it all. Before you know it this game has eclipsed every expectation. So many memorable and downright badass moments go down in the story, the crown jewel of the entire franchise. Battles are fantastic--mixing and matching Styles by drawing upon your Brothers BrotherBands, accumulating Noise to acquire Illegal Cards and while simultaneously transforming into a godly beast... The gameplay loop is fun. Ridiculously fun. Music is top-notch. And while PvP can never live up to Battle Network, this is deep and rewarding in its own right. I think it's all the better because it's a Shonen game. It's a rare game that evokes youth without preying on nostalgia. I can't heap enough praise on Megaman Starforce 3.
2000
This review contains spoilers
Choosing when to fire the laser is a hooped mechanic. You can't just dilly-dally all day hunting for upgrades. Plus... You might just get there firing it on a mise! A few standout tunes, possibly the best ending(s) in the series. It's a shame Capcom forced more sequels when this was clearly the intended finale. Pretty good, but I'll take X1 any day.
2002
An absolute gem. I can gaze at the cover and listen to "Dearly Beloved" all day.
Everything about Kingdom Hearts is pure magic. You can tell Nomura put all of his craft into making something special. He had something to prove with his mash-up of Disney and Final Fantasy. Sometimes the weight of that crossover hits me unexpectedly, like "Yeah, that was a thing. And it was incredible!!"
Also. "Deep Dive." 'Nuff said.
Everything about Kingdom Hearts is pure magic. You can tell Nomura put all of his craft into making something special. He had something to prove with his mash-up of Disney and Final Fantasy. Sometimes the weight of that crossover hits me unexpectedly, like "Yeah, that was a thing. And it was incredible!!"
Also. "Deep Dive." 'Nuff said.