StalwartClam
This review contains spoilers
I found this game to be maximalist in both the best and worst ways. In some ways, expanding in detail on some key relationships was quite fun. I enjoyed the deeper dig into Barret mostly, as well as Cloud and Tifa's relationship (though that fumbles a bit with some of the post-Gongaga scenes). On the other hand, it's an open world game with towers and dozens of minigames, and repetitive exploration. I don't want to press triangle three times at a lifestream vent anymore.
There are so many good pieces to this game that don't cohere for me. The visuals are stunning, with some great direction on the look of key areas. The music is great throughout, with such a diversity of styles and genres. Some of the minigames are great (though I don't love Queen's Blood as much as everyone else seems to). And lastly, the combat remains quite good, much like in Remake, and the additions to it are fun.
Despite that, I felt the whole game was wheels-spinning, which in fairness, was the case of this section of the game in the original FF7, but there are two major problems with that: 1) this section in the original took 10-15 hours to get through and not 60-100, and 2) the previous game, which I quite liked, promised a change of fate at its conclusion, which is not seen at all throughout this game. We have a few segments where we play as Zack in a doomed universe, and a few minor changes to plot points, but otherwise 95% of this game plays out exactly as in the original.
The ending as well seems unable to decide what it wants to be, and is just a tease for Reunion in 3-4 years. I was anxiously awaiting this game after Remake being a great surprise, but that won't be the case for the next one.
There are so many good pieces to this game that don't cohere for me. The visuals are stunning, with some great direction on the look of key areas. The music is great throughout, with such a diversity of styles and genres. Some of the minigames are great (though I don't love Queen's Blood as much as everyone else seems to). And lastly, the combat remains quite good, much like in Remake, and the additions to it are fun.
Despite that, I felt the whole game was wheels-spinning, which in fairness, was the case of this section of the game in the original FF7, but there are two major problems with that: 1) this section in the original took 10-15 hours to get through and not 60-100, and 2) the previous game, which I quite liked, promised a change of fate at its conclusion, which is not seen at all throughout this game. We have a few segments where we play as Zack in a doomed universe, and a few minor changes to plot points, but otherwise 95% of this game plays out exactly as in the original.
The ending as well seems unable to decide what it wants to be, and is just a tease for Reunion in 3-4 years. I was anxiously awaiting this game after Remake being a great surprise, but that won't be the case for the next one.
First completion of the main dungeon today. Still haven’t had a chance to play with all the mechanics yet since many were unlocked during this last run, but this is the evolution I was hoping for after the DS version that I enjoyed. Looking forward to even more runs as I continue to learn this game!
1980
Amazing that this game still holds up and has some surprises! The progenitor of the genre really does have a ton of charm, worth trying to see where they all began!
This review contains spoilers
Great game, cleaned up most of the issues I had with Yakuza 7’s combat system. Hawai’i is a great location, and I had a great time exploring the area, there is so much to see.
Story-wise, it doesn’t hit the same heights as Y7, and this is more of a Kiryu game than Ichiban. Still, I loved the opportunity to reflect on the series with Kiryu, and his ending. I really liked giving Ichiban the opportunity for a do-over with Eiji, who stands in for Aoki in the last game.
Great game overall, with some silly side activities (sicko snap, crazy eats, and sujimon were highlights for me), though not all shined for me (Dondoko Island). Looking forward to the next game, hoping Kiryu stays on as a mentor, support character from now on and we get to visit him in Okinawa.
Story-wise, it doesn’t hit the same heights as Y7, and this is more of a Kiryu game than Ichiban. Still, I loved the opportunity to reflect on the series with Kiryu, and his ending. I really liked giving Ichiban the opportunity for a do-over with Eiji, who stands in for Aoki in the last game.
Great game overall, with some silly side activities (sicko snap, crazy eats, and sujimon were highlights for me), though not all shined for me (Dondoko Island). Looking forward to the next game, hoping Kiryu stays on as a mentor, support character from now on and we get to visit him in Okinawa.
This game really nailed making an open world that really feels like going on a Fantasy adventure. The combat feels incredible, especially with some of the unusual vocations (e.g., magick archer) and the monsters are beautiful and terrifying, with so much detail included in how to fight them. I'm generally not the biggest fan of open-world games but this one kept me intrigued throughout, and I'm glad it did as the last few hours are truly some of the most wild storytelling twists (in a good way) I've encountered in a game.
In the end, it all comes down to gaming.
Can't wait for Dragon's Dogma 2!
In the end, it all comes down to gaming.
Can't wait for Dragon's Dogma 2!
2023
I probably would have stopped playing this game if my kids didn’t enjoy the high-concept levels, and it does hit that same fun silliness as What the Golf? from time to time (though not as often). But I really did not appreciate the controls (my thumb often slid off the corner of the iPad and there’s no way to reposition as far as I could find), and the focus on player-created levels while neat, is not something I’m interested in.
Lastly, the game isn’t really done. After Episode 7, there’s a closed door that says to come back later for more episodes, but I’m not sure when those episodes will come? I probably will not be revisiting this one, unfortunately.
Lastly, the game isn’t really done. After Episode 7, there’s a closed door that says to come back later for more episodes, but I’m not sure when those episodes will come? I probably will not be revisiting this one, unfortunately.
Good 2D Mario game, the wonders are a nice touch, but a bit disappointing that they get repeated quite a bit. The badge system is neat, but as mentioned by a lot of reviews, it’s kind of pointless because they can’t build the levels around the badges (since you can swap at any time). The levels that do use the badges are fantastic, but there aren’t enough of them, imo.
All told, I’m sure this will be a great intro to Mario game for a new generation (I think my kids will love it), but I’m mainly left looking forward to the next 3D Mario.
All told, I’m sure this will be a great intro to Mario game for a new generation (I think my kids will love it), but I’m mainly left looking forward to the next 3D Mario.
RGG really know how to nail the emotional scenes these days to wrap up the games. Overall a fun game, I enjoyed the newly introduced characters and villains, as well as the returning cast when they showed up. It's nice to have one of these games be so short, I really enjoyed doing all the side activities this time (minus the Cabaret Club), both Pocket Circuit and the Coliseum were great implementations of old ideas, I think.
But yeah, that ending had me in tears and made me excited for Infinite Wealth next month!
But yeah, that ending had me in tears and made me excited for Infinite Wealth next month!
2023
Great little strategy game with roguelike elements, and some mechanics from the board game world (worker placement). Really hard to build up your little village and survive winter early on, but does get very easy once you start snowballing. I really enjoyed the feeling of being on a knife's edge in terms of survival early in the game, but by the end it was a bit too easy so I kind of lost interest...
I originally shelved this game in the bloated middle of it, which is the weakest part of the game. Coming back to it after finishing the remaining Yakuza games, I had some new appreciation for Ichiban as a character. And luckily, the game really took off story-wise when I came back, just escalating in fun ways until the incredible conclusion.
Having played most of the Yakuza games this year (2-6), the ending here is not as convoluted as most, and the performances and drama in the epilogue are truly second to none. Ichiban’s VA deserves an award for sure, and I can’t wait to see what they do in the next game.
Other stuff, RPG mechanics were a bit too simple, Jobs were kind of unimportant, and once I figured out what I had to do to level/gear up, it was a nice smooth ride to the finish. Side stories were fun, I really liked the addition of Pound Mates as summons, and some really great moments that hit hard if you’ve played all the other games in the series. One of the best for sure.
Having played most of the Yakuza games this year (2-6), the ending here is not as convoluted as most, and the performances and drama in the epilogue are truly second to none. Ichiban’s VA deserves an award for sure, and I can’t wait to see what they do in the next game.
Other stuff, RPG mechanics were a bit too simple, Jobs were kind of unimportant, and once I figured out what I had to do to level/gear up, it was a nice smooth ride to the finish. Side stories were fun, I really liked the addition of Pound Mates as summons, and some really great moments that hit hard if you’ve played all the other games in the series. One of the best for sure.
[played a ROM hack that fixed having to do signs and the bug with luck not affecting drop rates]
I know this game is not considered as good as Aria of Sorrow, and there's no question that the story is flat-out worse. But I like the central puzzle to getting the best ending, and the soul collecting is truly fun, and I didn't really mind it at all. Some of the weirder souls are fun to experiment with, and I had a joy replaying it recently. I also liked some of the unusual puzzles (numbered rooms in the Demon Guest House is a favourite of mine).
Yeah, the story really is nothing but a retread after Aria of Sorrow, but I enjoyed the rhythm of the combat and souls so much that it outweighed it in the end.
I know this game is not considered as good as Aria of Sorrow, and there's no question that the story is flat-out worse. But I like the central puzzle to getting the best ending, and the soul collecting is truly fun, and I didn't really mind it at all. Some of the weirder souls are fun to experiment with, and I had a joy replaying it recently. I also liked some of the unusual puzzles (numbered rooms in the Demon Guest House is a favourite of mine).
Yeah, the story really is nothing but a retread after Aria of Sorrow, but I enjoyed the rhythm of the combat and souls so much that it outweighed it in the end.
It feels like being stuck on a treadmill to me. Graphics and music are cute, but nor having a way to direct the goals I want to achieve made me tire of it pretty quickly.
2016
Made it to Yhorm, so many things are much easier now after Elden Ring. Those big hand-face beasts killed me so many times in 2016, now I haven’t died to them once.