It's alright, but I just don't like it as much as Donkey '94. I'm not big on the two-screen format and having to clear two screens in a row without dying to get the gold star on a level was kind of annoying. I think it's missing some of the simplicity the original had, even if it largely retains some of the same elements and does them decently well. If I went for 100%, I think I'd do it on the Switch version instead. Not bad, but I think DK94 is just slightly better and more well-executed. I can definitely see the promise with all those extra levels and challenges though, so I can't fault it for content.

Super solid puzzle-platformer that holds up really well, even 30 years later. It's a fantastic reinvention of the original Donkey Kong that actually serves as the first entry in the Mario vs Donkey Kong series (before it became about toys). Mario's flips, jumps, leaps and throws are really fun to utilise and the game's level design and world gimmicks never outstay their welcome, making the game feel fresh. I don't know if I would call this game underrated, but I would definitely encourage more people to check it out if they want to play a great Game Boy game.

It's janky in the way a lot of Game Boy and NES games are, but it's short enough it doesn't outstay its welcome. It's still decent, though, and somewhat unique for a Mario game with its level themes.

Fantastic experience from beginning to end. Despite the small issues I had with this port's motion control workarounds, I can't deny this still holds up as one of the best 3D platformers ever made. Gameplay, level design, music, atmosphere, everything is A+. I got all 120 stars as Mario, but I think I'll leave Luigi for another occasion. Loved this game on the Wii and I still love it now.

Penny's Big Breakaway is a pretty cool game. It seems to take a bit from 3D Mario, while also having a focus on momentum that was probably inspired by 2D Sonic. It's still definitely its own thing though overall. You'll be using Penny's yo-yo to fly through the air, hang from poles, grab unique power-ups and ride it like a vehicle down slopes along with many other uses. It can seem a bit clunky at first, but once you get the hang of the movement, it's great soaring through levels at high speeds while racking up as high a score as possible by keeping up your combo.

The level design was decent, never to the point of frustrating, but also not like too easy. There are bonus levels you can unlock with the in-stage collectibles that offer a bit more of a challenge.

The music and aesthetic were consistently great, no complaints there. I really like the style of this game.

I will say however, that it can also feel a bit janky at times. You'll encounter collision detection issues sometimes, falling through an object or sliding across it unable to move until you fall off. It isn't too bad, but it is there. A part of me also wishes there was something a bit more to this game, but it's an indie game and I'd definitely be up for them to iterate and improve upon this formula.

Out of all the 3D platformers I've played, I'd rate this pretty highly, but it's not beating the highs of Super Mario Galaxy or A Hat in Time for me. SMG is just a lot more well-constructed and consistently great game (probably not fair to compare an indie with a AAA, but still), while I feel AHIT has a movement system I enjoy a lot more. Penny isn't trying to do the same thing obviously, and I will say, this is an outstanding effort by a talented team of devs and I'm waiting in baited breath for whatever they do next. Definitely check this out if you're a fan of 3D platformers and want a fun time.

I thought the story structure and the multiple protagonists were pretty cool, but the execution itself I wasn't big on. It took the story a lot longer to engage compared to previous games and splitting the game up like this definitely makes it suffer a bit with the wider scope story it's trying to tell. The wider story isn't even something I found particularly interesting or engaging until a bit further in when the pieces start coming together.

Gameplay is fine. I appreciate the new characters and wider variety of movesets. It's fun, but I'm not big on the engine they've used for Yakuza 3 and this game. Definitely still feels a bit jarring coming off the more polished 0, Kiwami and Kiwami 2, but that isn't a fault of the developers when they originally released these games so I mean that's more of a nitpick if anything. 3 had elements that endeared it to me, but this game I feel is still a bit lacking in some departments.

It's not a bad game, just not one of my favourites.

This was a great game. I had been meaning to get to this one for a while as someone who loved 2D Metroid and wanted to finally experience the other half of Metroidvania genre. This game has a lot of depth, and does a decent job making sure you never feel bored. The fact that you can equip tons of different items that make your experience wholly your own is really cool. There's some great level design with plenty of secrets, cool bosses and a generally gothic atmosphere. This is genre-defining for a reason, I think.

RE5 is an alright enough game by itself, although having played RE4 before it, you can definitely feel how it retains a lot of the same elements, just not as good. The story is quite cheesy, but not quite as charming as RE4. The antagonist in this game is definitely a highlight though, and there are some cool moments.

I was recommended to play this game in co-op, which I'm glad I did. While it isn't the best co-op experience ever produced, it's still a good time with a friend. It was nice going through the action-style of RE with another person and all the possibilities that unlocks. Sad about some of the stuff they stripped away, like the removal of the suitcase and the merchant, etc, but I get why it had to happen. There's plenty of content in this game still, which I commend it for.

Also that leech boss fight was ass. A friend told me it might be broken, which is quite bad if true.

Still, I had an alright time with this game. It isn't as good as RE4, but it's still a fun game in its own right, especially with the addition of co-op. I'm not sure I could be so generous if I had to play this game alone with the AI.

This was my first Castlevania game and I had a pretty good time. It was challenging at points, but never to the point of feeling completely unfair (which is what scares me away from the NES games). The movement is smooth and the ability to use your whip in eight directions is a really good feature and allows for smart enemy eradication. The bosses are pretty good too. I quite enjoyed the final boss rush at the end.

I look forward to checking out more of the franchise in the future.

Pretty much just the original but better, in my opinion. This is a nice and solid game. The remake treatment also definitely helps the original's good points shine even more.


Also turns out I played on Easy. Oops. Wish the difficulty selection screen just said the difficulties.

Pretty good, well-balanced game. I'm not huge on the touch-only controls, but I can't deny it has that usual Zelda polish and shine. My only complaints would probably be that I really wasn't a big fan of the Ocean King Temple segments, and the sailing could get a bit dull after a while. Other than that, I had a good time.

This is definitely a game that exists. The ideas and mechanics are cool, but the actual execution itself is quite mediocre. Not to mention the story and characters are pretty whatever. Gets better towards the end at least. A cool novelty, but ultimately, not really anything special.

A pretty nice and straightforward game. It's not doing anything complex in terms of story, characters or themes, but it's earnest and charming enough. Nayuta plays pretty differently from other Trails games, but it still retains some of the charm and vibe of them without needing to go all out in scope, which I think it benefits from. I think this game even stands on its own outside of Trails just in terms of content and gameplay. It's a nice game.