Superhondanut
There are things I liked more about this game compared to the first. There is much more common enemy variety and being able to switch weapons on the fly is great. However, due to the engine change or direction or whatever, combat feels like it has less weight and has been dumbed down a bit. You can slice through most enemies and even bosses with ease. The strategy of how to approach each boss from the first game isn't quite here, or at least, there's not as much depth. That's how I'd describe it.
The story feels a bit simpler here. I won’t delve too deep into it, but this feels much more like an episode that happened for the sake of there being a sequel. There was some funny moments, but for the most part, it's telling a story that's still trying to make a point, but it doesn't have the same feeling as the first. It's hard to replicate. I enjoyed some of the fanservicey moments.
I also feel it's clear some corners were cut here. The open world is completely gone and the jobs have been turned into 8-bit minigames, which I actually don't mind. They're all perfectly good. I appreciate them going for something different to change up the structure. The game does feel a bit emptier without that aspect though, I will admit. I wasn't the biggest fan of the first game's open world, but it had a charm. As someone who cares about time I appreciate cutting some of the fat, but that waste of time was also a part of the original game's feel. This game isn't exactly going for that, but still. I beat this game in half the time it took me to beat the original.
Overall, I like this game. It had some changes I was a fan of, but along with that, I think it lost some of the charm. Still a fun time, but it doesn't feel as special as the first. I knoe Suda didn't direct this one himself, so I wonder how that impacted things.
The story feels a bit simpler here. I won’t delve too deep into it, but this feels much more like an episode that happened for the sake of there being a sequel. There was some funny moments, but for the most part, it's telling a story that's still trying to make a point, but it doesn't have the same feeling as the first. It's hard to replicate. I enjoyed some of the fanservicey moments.
I also feel it's clear some corners were cut here. The open world is completely gone and the jobs have been turned into 8-bit minigames, which I actually don't mind. They're all perfectly good. I appreciate them going for something different to change up the structure. The game does feel a bit emptier without that aspect though, I will admit. I wasn't the biggest fan of the first game's open world, but it had a charm. As someone who cares about time I appreciate cutting some of the fat, but that waste of time was also a part of the original game's feel. This game isn't exactly going for that, but still. I beat this game in half the time it took me to beat the original.
Overall, I like this game. It had some changes I was a fan of, but along with that, I think it lost some of the charm. Still a fun time, but it doesn't feel as special as the first. I knoe Suda didn't direct this one himself, so I wonder how that impacted things.
2007
No More Heroes is an interesting game. As someone already familair with Suda and his work going in (and having pretty much the entire series' story spoiled by watching a friend play it), I didn't expect for there to be much to surprise me. Playing it yourself really does change the experience, however. The story never takes itself too seriously, but still manages to insert some surprisingly heartfelt moments in-between the somewhat cynical and crude presentation. It also loves being ridiculous and making no sense. I think there's some layers to it, and while I could talk about that, I think I'll save it for when talking to friends.
I didn't play on the Wii, but while the gameplay was decent and had some depth, it still felt a bit clunky. Due to the focus on targeting singular enemies (and hoping others land in your crossfire) it was common for enemies to land hits on me from off-screen, or to swarm me while fighting one enemy. It got annoying, especially if I tried tackling those no-hit missions. Fuck those, by the way.
I think where the combat works best in this game is the boss fights. Here, you duel one-on-one, learning the boss patterns and figuring out the perfect time to strike. Without those other enemies, you can focus on blocking and evading without worrying about groups of enemies grouping up on you. I enjoyed the challenge and all the different ways the game spiced up each battle. It was great.
What I didn't find so great, however, was the stuff in-between. I understand the whole "you feel how repetitive and tiring it is for Travis by experiencing it yourself", but it still doesn't change the fact that it isn't that fun and is boring and repetitive. I get the artistry there, but making something intentionally bad doesn't stop it from being bad. The minigames weren't awful, but they pale in comparison to the combat.
There's probably more I could say, but to end things, I don't think Suda is a genius or anything. His games have charm, but I feel the execution here could be hit or miss. There were really cool things, but also not so cool things. This feels like the kind of game you should play multiple times to appreciate fully, so who knows how I'll feel in the future. For now, I'll say this is a great game, but I'm not fully on the Suda train yet.
I didn't play on the Wii, but while the gameplay was decent and had some depth, it still felt a bit clunky. Due to the focus on targeting singular enemies (and hoping others land in your crossfire) it was common for enemies to land hits on me from off-screen, or to swarm me while fighting one enemy. It got annoying, especially if I tried tackling those no-hit missions. Fuck those, by the way.
I think where the combat works best in this game is the boss fights. Here, you duel one-on-one, learning the boss patterns and figuring out the perfect time to strike. Without those other enemies, you can focus on blocking and evading without worrying about groups of enemies grouping up on you. I enjoyed the challenge and all the different ways the game spiced up each battle. It was great.
What I didn't find so great, however, was the stuff in-between. I understand the whole "you feel how repetitive and tiring it is for Travis by experiencing it yourself", but it still doesn't change the fact that it isn't that fun and is boring and repetitive. I get the artistry there, but making something intentionally bad doesn't stop it from being bad. The minigames weren't awful, but they pale in comparison to the combat.
There's probably more I could say, but to end things, I don't think Suda is a genius or anything. His games have charm, but I feel the execution here could be hit or miss. There were really cool things, but also not so cool things. This feels like the kind of game you should play multiple times to appreciate fully, so who knows how I'll feel in the future. For now, I'll say this is a great game, but I'm not fully on the Suda train yet.
2022
It was better than I expected (I played after the patch), but it was still mostly just Pokémon. The new open world premise didn't feel like it reached its full potential, especially when the game claims you can go anywhere, but nothing in the game actually scales so it's just semi-linear if anything (unless you like exploits lol).
Story was alright. There's definitely a charm, and the character and Pokémon designs are great. I thought the characters were likeable enough, but I don't think they'll stick with me.
Music was pretty good, actually. Cool they got Toby Fox to compose again. There was some real stand-out tracks, too. Probably my favourite part of the game.
Pokémon gameplay still leaves much to be desired for me. It's so slow compared to other turn-based RPGs and the strategy in singleplayer boils down to hit super-effective move, become crystal, end. It works, I guess.
The open world itself didn't do much for me. It's mostly just grassy plains and generic weather biomes. The geometry reminded me of baby's first Unity structure. Just felt bland.
I'm not the biggest fan of Pokémon, so I definitely don't have any bias clouding my eyes like I would with other things. There was cool things in this game, and I appreciate them, but this series still feels so lackluster compared to the amount of money it earns. You'd think Game Freak could afford to oil their money-making machine but the end products always feel rushed or half-baked in some areas. It's not a bad game, but it didn't do much for me. Pokémon fans will play it no matter what. As long as I keep getting gifted these, I'll play them too.
Story was alright. There's definitely a charm, and the character and Pokémon designs are great. I thought the characters were likeable enough, but I don't think they'll stick with me.
Music was pretty good, actually. Cool they got Toby Fox to compose again. There was some real stand-out tracks, too. Probably my favourite part of the game.
Pokémon gameplay still leaves much to be desired for me. It's so slow compared to other turn-based RPGs and the strategy in singleplayer boils down to hit super-effective move, become crystal, end. It works, I guess.
The open world itself didn't do much for me. It's mostly just grassy plains and generic weather biomes. The geometry reminded me of baby's first Unity structure. Just felt bland.
I'm not the biggest fan of Pokémon, so I definitely don't have any bias clouding my eyes like I would with other things. There was cool things in this game, and I appreciate them, but this series still feels so lackluster compared to the amount of money it earns. You'd think Game Freak could afford to oil their money-making machine but the end products always feel rushed or half-baked in some areas. It's not a bad game, but it didn't do much for me. Pokémon fans will play it no matter what. As long as I keep getting gifted these, I'll play them too.
2017
A step up from the first Kiwami. The style, presentation, gameplay (in my opinion) and story have all gotten a bump in quality. There was some good moments in here. I'm still waiting for that one Yakuza story to wow me, however. Still, a great game. Do recommend.
2022
I didn't know what to expect going into this game. In the beginning the marketing was a shitshow, which immediately soured public opinion on the game. It was only months later when they showed better stuff that I gained interest and some actual hope it might be a good game.
So I played it, and it's overall what I expected. I tempered my expectations and it surprised me in some ways. There was some cool moments, some nice gameplay bits, but in the end, it's just decent I'd say.
Combat was cool and the moves were nice, but usually basic attacks will work along with the Cyloop.
Story was okay. I'm glad they brought Ian Flynn on board. The tone was much more serious compared to the previous games. He's got a good grasp on the characters.
So yes, I liked it. My opinion really changed around from the beginning lmao. I hope Sonic Team knows where to go from here if this is the future of the franchise.
So I played it, and it's overall what I expected. I tempered my expectations and it surprised me in some ways. There was some cool moments, some nice gameplay bits, but in the end, it's just decent I'd say.
Combat was cool and the moves were nice, but usually basic attacks will work along with the Cyloop.
Story was okay. I'm glad they brought Ian Flynn on board. The tone was much more serious compared to the previous games. He's got a good grasp on the characters.
So yes, I liked it. My opinion really changed around from the beginning lmao. I hope Sonic Team knows where to go from here if this is the future of the franchise.
2016
Solid game. Not a bad starting point for the series, but I think you'll get more out of 0. I can't say how it compares to the PS2 original. Overall a good time.
A decent A-JRPG that doesn't take up too much of your time or your patience. There were small things that irked me, but overall, it was a decent experience. The characters and story are charming enough too. Ys is cool so far I guess.
2006
A decent game that gets a bit repetitive due to its structure. Still, it's a good time and short enough that beating it fully shouldn't be too much of a bother. I recommend. Play Ys 1 and 2 first, though.
This review contains spoilers
Just like the original, I have some mixed feelings about this game. While there are definitely notable improvements in the combat and SOME of the pacing, there are still frustrating and disappointing elements.
Coming off the ending of Cold Steel 1, I was expecting a really exciting story with high stakes taking place in the middle of the civil war. The idea of Rean being separated from his classmates and needing to travel across the continent to get them back while also contending with the war was really interesting to me. The actual story of CS2 is similar to this, but also not. You reunite with your classmates pretty quickly and then spend the rest of the time being this third force for good in the war, which you're not seeing most of. You're retreading the same areas you explored in the first game with like one or two new sections. I can see how originally this game and CS1 were going to be a single game in that respect. It really did feel like Cold Steel 1.5. I liked the new format at first, but it quickly got repetitive.
As I was playing this game, something finally occurred to me: following a guide to do and see EVERYTHING actually really makes the game repetitive. I think part of the reason the Sky games and Zero were so fun for me was knowing nothing and just going forward. I missed out on content, but it was my experience of letting myself be immersed, 100% or not. That's why I think being a completionist can make these games less fun for me.
Like I said before, the story disappointed me, but I didn't hate it. I just wish the execution could've been better. Still a decent time, just not my favourite. I will say they're setting up some cool stuff, and the side story with Lloyd and Rixia came completely by surprise and was awesome. I liked the cast and Class VII I guess. Definitely frustrated me but they're not bad characters. I still think the Crossbell and Sky games did it better. I liked Jusis and Gaius. Rean had nice development. Still plenty of groanworthy moments like the first game.
The gameplay was fine. The mech battles were cool. Overdrive and Burst are a thing. Spirit Unification is cool but busted. Quartz stuff is still simplified from the older games, but I don't mind the new system. Sometimes the game feels cheesy so I cheese it back.
I wish the epilogue was just scenes. The final dungeon, while not long, wasn't a welcome surprise for me. I was shocked it still wasn't over to be honest. Cold Steel 2 sure doesn't end.
I don't hate this game, but it isn't my favourite. There's still plenty of Trails in there, but sometimes there's anime game too. I've heard mixed things about CS3 and 4, but hopefully I can enjoy them. Trails still really means a lot to me.
The OST is fucking BASED though. Falcom's sound team are the GOATs. Easily my favourite part of the game. Sad to hear most of them left after this.
Coming off the ending of Cold Steel 1, I was expecting a really exciting story with high stakes taking place in the middle of the civil war. The idea of Rean being separated from his classmates and needing to travel across the continent to get them back while also contending with the war was really interesting to me. The actual story of CS2 is similar to this, but also not. You reunite with your classmates pretty quickly and then spend the rest of the time being this third force for good in the war, which you're not seeing most of. You're retreading the same areas you explored in the first game with like one or two new sections. I can see how originally this game and CS1 were going to be a single game in that respect. It really did feel like Cold Steel 1.5. I liked the new format at first, but it quickly got repetitive.
As I was playing this game, something finally occurred to me: following a guide to do and see EVERYTHING actually really makes the game repetitive. I think part of the reason the Sky games and Zero were so fun for me was knowing nothing and just going forward. I missed out on content, but it was my experience of letting myself be immersed, 100% or not. That's why I think being a completionist can make these games less fun for me.
Like I said before, the story disappointed me, but I didn't hate it. I just wish the execution could've been better. Still a decent time, just not my favourite. I will say they're setting up some cool stuff, and the side story with Lloyd and Rixia came completely by surprise and was awesome. I liked the cast and Class VII I guess. Definitely frustrated me but they're not bad characters. I still think the Crossbell and Sky games did it better. I liked Jusis and Gaius. Rean had nice development. Still plenty of groanworthy moments like the first game.
The gameplay was fine. The mech battles were cool. Overdrive and Burst are a thing. Spirit Unification is cool but busted. Quartz stuff is still simplified from the older games, but I don't mind the new system. Sometimes the game feels cheesy so I cheese it back.
I wish the epilogue was just scenes. The final dungeon, while not long, wasn't a welcome surprise for me. I was shocked it still wasn't over to be honest. Cold Steel 2 sure doesn't end.
I don't hate this game, but it isn't my favourite. There's still plenty of Trails in there, but sometimes there's anime game too. I've heard mixed things about CS3 and 4, but hopefully I can enjoy them. Trails still really means a lot to me.
The OST is fucking BASED though. Falcom's sound team are the GOATs. Easily my favourite part of the game. Sad to hear most of them left after this.
Ender Lilies is a beautiful, atmospheric and at the same time horrific Metroidvania. You're tasked with making your way through a ruined kingdom, purifying "blighted" souls. Through your journey, you'll slowly uncover how everything went so horribly wrong. There's so much worldbuilding here, and the environments are lovingly drawn to showcase their beauty and vileness. There's so much to explore and uncover using the abilities you get along the way and your own curiosity. The level design and enemies can also be quite challenging, so don't underestimate them, especially when it comes to learning their patterns.
This was an amazing experience. Everything about this game is great: the story, the graphics, the gameplay, and the soundtrack (which is beautiful, to keep overusing that word). If you're looking for a challenging game or just something to get deeply immersed in, this is it. I wholly recommend it.
This was an amazing experience. Everything about this game is great: the story, the graphics, the gameplay, and the soundtrack (which is beautiful, to keep overusing that word). If you're looking for a challenging game or just something to get deeply immersed in, this is it. I wholly recommend it.
1994
Fantastic, amazing game. One of the best on the Super Nintendo, and arguably, of all time. I personally don't think so, but this is still objectively a stellar game. The atmosphere is peak here. You always know where to go intuitively because the level design in this game is top-notch. There's never a dull moment and it never outstays its welcome. It also hasn't aged badly at all, although I still prefer how later Metroids control. If you have to play any 2D Metroid, this one is it. You won't be disappointed. I know I wasn't.
I still like Zero Mission more though. Kill me if you must, 90s kids.
I still like Zero Mission more though. Kill me if you must, 90s kids.
2005
A really solid game the entire way through. The worst part by far is the boss battles, but other than that, and some weird level design quirks every once in a while, it's good. WAY better than Sonic Heroes (bad game).
2005
A decent platformer. It's not especially difficult, but the emotion system and the puzzle-focused aspect to the level design makes it a pretty relaxing time. Not too long either, if you're looking for something short.
1999
Improvement over the first game just by being slightly better in every department all around. A really great time
1996
Pretty good. The animations are insane and the violence is gratuitous in a good way. A blast to play with a friend.