TacticOrtega
BACKER
2005
Backloggd come out to Play-ay!
The Warriors is without a doubt up there with the best of the best in terms of Movie-tie in game. Handled by Rockstar themselves (Toronto Team) when they had all the time in the world to pump out games, it was great to see a Late 70s filled with mystique fleshed out in not only a direct tie in but also a prequel to the events before the big event that kick offs the plot.
Bringing in most of the original cast to reprise their roles, The Warriors game is a great beat-em-up action game that generates a ton of fun especially with co op, but some levels can be quite frustrating in nature as there is some head scratching level design, also the throwing mechanic can just go to hell and have a baseball bat shoved up its ass and turned into a popsicle (I hated it lol). The A.I can be bonkers from time to time but being able to keep em in check with the Warlord callouts can mitigate it when it works (Which it does for the most part). For its time, its probably fine as this game can be beaten rather quickly in about 8 or so hours. Not bad for a Beat-em up. Tons and tons of extras to be had here. Cheat Codes, Rumble Mode (1v1, 2v2) which you can select any gang or even civilians. What's great is that every NPC can be playable in this mode. Flashback missions which provide even more content and context into the warriors history which is always appreciate and the beat'em up arcade within the beat'em up called Armies of the night, a 2D side scroller beat'em up lol similar to double dragon.
If you're a fan of the movie, it's definitely worth checking out. If you have a friend, I would highly recommend playing the game co-op. Lots of Shenanigans can ensue like punching each other on accidently when you meant to punch another gang lol. I played the PS2 classic version on the PS3 which can be bought for less than 10 USD (I think). The PS4 and PS5 ports can be hit or miss from my understanding so I would overall recommend sticking as close as you can to the OG version. PS2 digital on PS3 did not have any issues for me.
The Warriors is without a doubt up there with the best of the best in terms of Movie-tie in game. Handled by Rockstar themselves (Toronto Team) when they had all the time in the world to pump out games, it was great to see a Late 70s filled with mystique fleshed out in not only a direct tie in but also a prequel to the events before the big event that kick offs the plot.
Bringing in most of the original cast to reprise their roles, The Warriors game is a great beat-em-up action game that generates a ton of fun especially with co op, but some levels can be quite frustrating in nature as there is some head scratching level design, also the throwing mechanic can just go to hell and have a baseball bat shoved up its ass and turned into a popsicle (I hated it lol). The A.I can be bonkers from time to time but being able to keep em in check with the Warlord callouts can mitigate it when it works (Which it does for the most part). For its time, its probably fine as this game can be beaten rather quickly in about 8 or so hours. Not bad for a Beat-em up. Tons and tons of extras to be had here. Cheat Codes, Rumble Mode (1v1, 2v2) which you can select any gang or even civilians. What's great is that every NPC can be playable in this mode. Flashback missions which provide even more content and context into the warriors history which is always appreciate and the beat'em up arcade within the beat'em up called Armies of the night, a 2D side scroller beat'em up lol similar to double dragon.
If you're a fan of the movie, it's definitely worth checking out. If you have a friend, I would highly recommend playing the game co-op. Lots of Shenanigans can ensue like punching each other on accidently when you meant to punch another gang lol. I played the PS2 classic version on the PS3 which can be bought for less than 10 USD (I think). The PS4 and PS5 ports can be hit or miss from my understanding so I would overall recommend sticking as close as you can to the OG version. PS2 digital on PS3 did not have any issues for me.
2016
End of the Year Catch up #5 Stardew Valley
Having been procrastinating playing this game for years and up until now in 2023 having played this all year long and accumulating alot hours into the game I have to say this game surprised me the most.
To have something so simple be VERY addicting is a compliment to the game itself. Having been recommended it, I always found it to be a cozy game I can come home and relax to when I did not want to play shooters or action based games. This is where I felt like the game really shined for me. Just waking up every day and just growing crops and talking to your community it felt like the world was very lived in and I was just glad to be apart of it. It's primary objective is not thrown in your face but it is always there when you want to chase it which is the community center and its request for items you can find through out the in game year either cooking it, fishing, or finding it in the caves. On top of all the farming simulation, there is a dungeons crawler aspect to the game which is quite a night and day difference in gameplay. There is where it itches my action craving, its so simple and easy to understand but it never overstays its welcome because you are in a time limit or else your character passes out.
There is quite no other game like Stardew honestly. You build your farm, meet new people (eventually your significant other) and just become one with the community and its whacky characters and dialogue. It a game I felt very immersed in and I cannot wait for the new update to the game to drop and having to play it all over again. A surprise hit for me this year! I would say honestly a masterpiece. Outside of the game, the game has a very welcoming community and I am happy to support and recommend this game for the foreseeable future.
Having been procrastinating playing this game for years and up until now in 2023 having played this all year long and accumulating alot hours into the game I have to say this game surprised me the most.
To have something so simple be VERY addicting is a compliment to the game itself. Having been recommended it, I always found it to be a cozy game I can come home and relax to when I did not want to play shooters or action based games. This is where I felt like the game really shined for me. Just waking up every day and just growing crops and talking to your community it felt like the world was very lived in and I was just glad to be apart of it. It's primary objective is not thrown in your face but it is always there when you want to chase it which is the community center and its request for items you can find through out the in game year either cooking it, fishing, or finding it in the caves. On top of all the farming simulation, there is a dungeons crawler aspect to the game which is quite a night and day difference in gameplay. There is where it itches my action craving, its so simple and easy to understand but it never overstays its welcome because you are in a time limit or else your character passes out.
There is quite no other game like Stardew honestly. You build your farm, meet new people (eventually your significant other) and just become one with the community and its whacky characters and dialogue. It a game I felt very immersed in and I cannot wait for the new update to the game to drop and having to play it all over again. A surprise hit for me this year! I would say honestly a masterpiece. Outside of the game, the game has a very welcoming community and I am happy to support and recommend this game for the foreseeable future.
2001
End of the Year Catch up #4 SSX Tricky
EA SPORTS........ BIG! IT'S TRICKY!
Engraved in the mind 20 years later. SSX Tricky does not disappoint. I would say this is probably my personal favorite Snowboarding game, but I am not gonna deny that SSX 3 is the superior game. They go balls to the wall here. It oozes style. From its characters on the character select screen, to all the courses being unique in their own way, to the classic sounds of Run DMC and its catchy "It's Tricky" while you pull off gnarly combo moves. Makes me miss the early 2000 aesthetics.
Racing or Showoff, this game has it all for you and your favorite rider. So much charm to it and I always try to comeback and play it every year. This is a certified hood classic!
EA SPORTS........ BIG! IT'S TRICKY!
Engraved in the mind 20 years later. SSX Tricky does not disappoint. I would say this is probably my personal favorite Snowboarding game, but I am not gonna deny that SSX 3 is the superior game. They go balls to the wall here. It oozes style. From its characters on the character select screen, to all the courses being unique in their own way, to the classic sounds of Run DMC and its catchy "It's Tricky" while you pull off gnarly combo moves. Makes me miss the early 2000 aesthetics.
Racing or Showoff, this game has it all for you and your favorite rider. So much charm to it and I always try to comeback and play it every year. This is a certified hood classic!
End of the Year Catch up #3 Spartan: Total Warrior
Spartan Total Warrior is one of those nostalgic games for me. I feel like this game never gets talked about and when I find someone to talk to they are immediately my friend. My history with this game is your once upon a time typical teenager experience. I went to Blockbuster (or equivalent) and my dad rented it as I was certainly was under the age of 17 lol.
Once I got home and played it and even playing it now. It brings back all the memories. I don't remember it being as hard as a remember but teenager me had all the time in the world after school. Honestly, its a pretty good hack and slash game. So much chaos and enemies (like 20-30+) is thrown and you in one arena and constantly upgrading your spartan and getting new weapons makes the repetitive nature of the game super exciting as you try new combos and enemies become strong as well. As the game box mentions, there are about 60 types of enemies. From Gladiators and barbarians, to skeletons and zombies. I think this game is certainly hidden under the radar as games like god of war certainly took the trophy home in this genre. If I had a criticism for this game I would say the checkpoint system and health items. Sometimes the checkpoint puts you at a disadvantage as it saves your health state as you had when you crossed it. Sometimes you might have to repeat the level because you are stuck as a one hit and you are dead. Also the health shrines at least in my game were bugged at times. Not a turn off but after restarting the game and loading up they were fixed so YMMV.
Spartan: Total warrior is fun and it will always have a special place in my heart for this game. Even my dad asks to borrow this game almost 20 years later. It is that fun for both of us.
Spartan Total Warrior is one of those nostalgic games for me. I feel like this game never gets talked about and when I find someone to talk to they are immediately my friend. My history with this game is your once upon a time typical teenager experience. I went to Blockbuster (or equivalent) and my dad rented it as I was certainly was under the age of 17 lol.
Once I got home and played it and even playing it now. It brings back all the memories. I don't remember it being as hard as a remember but teenager me had all the time in the world after school. Honestly, its a pretty good hack and slash game. So much chaos and enemies (like 20-30+) is thrown and you in one arena and constantly upgrading your spartan and getting new weapons makes the repetitive nature of the game super exciting as you try new combos and enemies become strong as well. As the game box mentions, there are about 60 types of enemies. From Gladiators and barbarians, to skeletons and zombies. I think this game is certainly hidden under the radar as games like god of war certainly took the trophy home in this genre. If I had a criticism for this game I would say the checkpoint system and health items. Sometimes the checkpoint puts you at a disadvantage as it saves your health state as you had when you crossed it. Sometimes you might have to repeat the level because you are stuck as a one hit and you are dead. Also the health shrines at least in my game were bugged at times. Not a turn off but after restarting the game and loading up they were fixed so YMMV.
Spartan: Total warrior is fun and it will always have a special place in my heart for this game. Even my dad asks to borrow this game almost 20 years later. It is that fun for both of us.
2023
End of the Year Catch up #2 Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 1 is probably in my opinion the most refined MK Fighting Experience to date. It is very responsive and very fast. Everything feels punchy and satisfying when you are facing a opponent and getting kombos off as they feel fluid. With the new Kameos, I felt like they were a welcoming addition and the fatalities although some felt short were very satisfying to watch. It would be a tough game if MK did not have strong fatalities IMO. I had a great time with the kampaign, albeit there were some spoilers segments that I was kinda konfused on. It was kool to see but it really kame out of left field. I still had a fun time regardless, I did not feel I was robbed in anyway.
Where I certainly felt robbed was the games modes and features. Single player activities were quite lacking and felt very grindy. A board game mode where every map feels the same and repeating the same thing felt like a chore till the end. Where was the Krypt? The dragon that gives me a RNG pull does not feel the same and unfortunately I felt like really dumbed down the Single player replayability and overall experience.
At its kore, MK1 might be one of the best in the series, when it comes to gameplay but it certainly has drawbacks in how it approaches SP kontent and Monetization. Grinding and Aggressive Monetization of Costumes that are sometimes simple recolors. I find it hard to recommend at full price when costumes are sometimes 1/3 of the cost of the game. Good time, but I just recommend just sticking to the Story mode.
Mortal Kombat 1 is probably in my opinion the most refined MK Fighting Experience to date. It is very responsive and very fast. Everything feels punchy and satisfying when you are facing a opponent and getting kombos off as they feel fluid. With the new Kameos, I felt like they were a welcoming addition and the fatalities although some felt short were very satisfying to watch. It would be a tough game if MK did not have strong fatalities IMO. I had a great time with the kampaign, albeit there were some spoilers segments that I was kinda konfused on. It was kool to see but it really kame out of left field. I still had a fun time regardless, I did not feel I was robbed in anyway.
Where I certainly felt robbed was the games modes and features. Single player activities were quite lacking and felt very grindy. A board game mode where every map feels the same and repeating the same thing felt like a chore till the end. Where was the Krypt? The dragon that gives me a RNG pull does not feel the same and unfortunately I felt like really dumbed down the Single player replayability and overall experience.
At its kore, MK1 might be one of the best in the series, when it comes to gameplay but it certainly has drawbacks in how it approaches SP kontent and Monetization. Grinding and Aggressive Monetization of Costumes that are sometimes simple recolors. I find it hard to recommend at full price when costumes are sometimes 1/3 of the cost of the game. Good time, but I just recommend just sticking to the Story mode.
End of the Year Catch up #1 Sid Meier's Civilization VI
Sid Meier's Civilization VI starts off the end of the year catch up where I finally "Complete" Games that I have been playing throughout the year and clearing out my backlog for the site.
Having played this since the beginning of the year and accumulating hundreds of hours into the game I can say I am glad this game was recommended to me by a friend. Having acquired it through a Humble Bundle, there was really no incentive for me to play it as it seemed out of my realm and being afraid of the mechanics the game was going to throw at me. I was certainly aware of the IP and its history but it never really captivated me till this year. I will always give games recommended to me a fair shake. It really helps me bond not only with friends but it also gives some great discussions into the game from a different point of view.
Playing the game, I must say the world of turn-based strategy is quite a experience. As someone who hadn't played any Civilization games before VI, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and complexity that this game offered. Having played mostly solo during my time, I still feel like I am learning something new every time I play matches and change leader which by the way there is LOAD of them, no two leaders really feel the same (Maybe?) lol. It felt like mindless fun and I always wanted to do "One more turn" as the time struck 3am on certain days lol very addicting I must also add. I certainly get lost in the complexity of it all. There is so much information on the wiki that sometimes I forget I am playing a match. If I were to give a criticism I would say, maybe the A.I at times is not fair on the higher difficulties. Maybe I just need to "git gud" but even playing optimally, I feel like one wrong move and its over for me. Throughout time I feel like this will get better as I get more hours into the game. I am not sure how others feel about it.
Overall, I quite enjoyed Civ VI. SUPER glad I was recommended it and it has been a blast playing it all year long. I cannot speak on the other Civ games but this one seemed super solid in my eyes. A rough start at first as It's hard to understand but fun once you really get into it. Soon you will say "One more turn"
Sid Meier's Civilization VI starts off the end of the year catch up where I finally "Complete" Games that I have been playing throughout the year and clearing out my backlog for the site.
Having played this since the beginning of the year and accumulating hundreds of hours into the game I can say I am glad this game was recommended to me by a friend. Having acquired it through a Humble Bundle, there was really no incentive for me to play it as it seemed out of my realm and being afraid of the mechanics the game was going to throw at me. I was certainly aware of the IP and its history but it never really captivated me till this year. I will always give games recommended to me a fair shake. It really helps me bond not only with friends but it also gives some great discussions into the game from a different point of view.
Playing the game, I must say the world of turn-based strategy is quite a experience. As someone who hadn't played any Civilization games before VI, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and complexity that this game offered. Having played mostly solo during my time, I still feel like I am learning something new every time I play matches and change leader which by the way there is LOAD of them, no two leaders really feel the same (Maybe?) lol. It felt like mindless fun and I always wanted to do "One more turn" as the time struck 3am on certain days lol very addicting I must also add. I certainly get lost in the complexity of it all. There is so much information on the wiki that sometimes I forget I am playing a match. If I were to give a criticism I would say, maybe the A.I at times is not fair on the higher difficulties. Maybe I just need to "git gud" but even playing optimally, I feel like one wrong move and its over for me. Throughout time I feel like this will get better as I get more hours into the game. I am not sure how others feel about it.
Overall, I quite enjoyed Civ VI. SUPER glad I was recommended it and it has been a blast playing it all year long. I cannot speak on the other Civ games but this one seemed super solid in my eyes. A rough start at first as It's hard to understand but fun once you really get into it. Soon you will say "One more turn"
“Building the future and keeping the past alive are one and the same thing.”
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty in hindsight, one of the best Single Player story games of the PlayStation 2. Many people that haven’t played it in years always say how this game was ahead of it’s time in 2001, certainly predicted the future with A.I & misinformation it’s really delicate themes of passing accurate history goes way beyond genetics, finding freedom and individuality. I can safely say after playing it since 2011, I am pretty much convinced once more. This story has aged like a fine wine. Kojima does it again and with it creates a literal movie feeling type game.
I will say from the get go, I am certainly not very nostalgic for this game. When I was originally playing it for the PlayStation 2, I was a Raiden hater I will admit. I just couldn’t grasp the idea of playing someone else other than the legendary solid snake. Many years later how I was proven so wrong and I have never felt so connected to Raiden on a personal level.
Gameplay I would say is great. They fixed a lot of what was missing in MGS1 and gave it some quality of life improvements. It felt right at home and I really appreciated that my skill in MGS1 could transfer over to MGS2. Swimming I would say needs a lot of improvements cause it was very clunky. Overall, Very interesting level design all things considered when you visit the plant. It feels very complex but when you dissect it, it’s a rather small map with a lot of narrow hallways which can be a detriment in playing the game stealthily.
Music is an absolute banger. Never felt dull in filler sections or when you are facing enemies/bosses. Great soundtrack!
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a great sequel, that is usually overshadowed by its twist early on in the game. If you look past that you are gonna have an absolute BANGER of a time playing it. I was playing this on the HD collection on the PS3 and to my surprise today (Nov 13) was the original date of when it came out in 2001 which is timed perfectly. Do yourself a favor and replay this masterpiece of a game. It’s crazy for me to think this was my least favorite Metal Gear solid game for a long time. I managed to log in 8hr 45m 27s on my run. Not a short game by any means.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty in hindsight, one of the best Single Player story games of the PlayStation 2. Many people that haven’t played it in years always say how this game was ahead of it’s time in 2001, certainly predicted the future with A.I & misinformation it’s really delicate themes of passing accurate history goes way beyond genetics, finding freedom and individuality. I can safely say after playing it since 2011, I am pretty much convinced once more. This story has aged like a fine wine. Kojima does it again and with it creates a literal movie feeling type game.
I will say from the get go, I am certainly not very nostalgic for this game. When I was originally playing it for the PlayStation 2, I was a Raiden hater I will admit. I just couldn’t grasp the idea of playing someone else other than the legendary solid snake. Many years later how I was proven so wrong and I have never felt so connected to Raiden on a personal level.
Gameplay I would say is great. They fixed a lot of what was missing in MGS1 and gave it some quality of life improvements. It felt right at home and I really appreciated that my skill in MGS1 could transfer over to MGS2. Swimming I would say needs a lot of improvements cause it was very clunky. Overall, Very interesting level design all things considered when you visit the plant. It feels very complex but when you dissect it, it’s a rather small map with a lot of narrow hallways which can be a detriment in playing the game stealthily.
Music is an absolute banger. Never felt dull in filler sections or when you are facing enemies/bosses. Great soundtrack!
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a great sequel, that is usually overshadowed by its twist early on in the game. If you look past that you are gonna have an absolute BANGER of a time playing it. I was playing this on the HD collection on the PS3 and to my surprise today (Nov 13) was the original date of when it came out in 2001 which is timed perfectly. Do yourself a favor and replay this masterpiece of a game. It’s crazy for me to think this was my least favorite Metal Gear solid game for a long time. I managed to log in 8hr 45m 27s on my run. Not a short game by any means.
1998
"Do you think love can bloom even on a battlefield?"
"Yeah. I do. I think at any time, any place, people can fall in love with each other."
Metal Gear Solid is quite honestly the best PSX game the console has to offer and I say it with utmost sincerity. I believe that is a tall order because you have giants like Resident Evil 2, Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night, Final Fantasy 7, Crash Bandicoot the list goes on and on! What I believe separates those games and Metal Gear is its impressive 3D environments and cinematic ambition. Couple that with some Meta related actions (looking for the codec number on the back of the box, Controller Port 2, HIDEO instead of VIDEO) and you got yourself a game that really thinks out-of-the-box.
I played this on the PS3 coupled with the MGS1 Download voucher code that came with the MGS Legacy Collection so I believe I am playing a faithful US port COUGH MASTER COLLECTION COUGH. Anyways, I’m still impressed by its presentation this game offers. Truly looking back this was a groundbreaking game for its time and really revolutionized not only the stealth genre but how was see Single player stories. Hideo Kojima is brilliant! The Story is gripping and the cutscenes are deployed very well considering the PSX limitations. Can't forget the great characters this game offers from Otacon, Meryl, Roy Campbell and the Legendary Solid Snake. All unique in their dialogue and easy to tell apart.
The Bosses this game offers are all unique mechanically and often making you think how to approach each situation without taking damage before it's too late. There is so much flavor to this game that this was certainly a labor of love.
Now this game as much as I ooze the love for it, certainly is not perfect. Really the only gripe I have with is honestly the backpedaling of objectives. I feel like mechanically did not age well. I feel like they really kill the overall pace of the game considering that one of the segments is really close to the "Final Boss" and it adds about maybe 1 hour of filler gameplay which is fine but I just wanted to continue to move forward in the story,
Overall I HIGHLY recommend replaying MGS1. I had a playtime of about 7hrs 2m 0s, considering this is my 3rd playthrough of this game. This game still holds up incredibly well, albeit some of the graphics maybe look blocky or pixelated but that is just the hardware limitations. Genuinely one of the best games ever made. I would easily put this in the top 10 best games I have ever played but not as good as say my MGS3 lmao but MGS1 had to walk so MGS3 could run, so I owe it to this game. You will be surprised how meta it gets with all the talks about nukes compared to our real world political talks.
"Yeah. I do. I think at any time, any place, people can fall in love with each other."
Metal Gear Solid is quite honestly the best PSX game the console has to offer and I say it with utmost sincerity. I believe that is a tall order because you have giants like Resident Evil 2, Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night, Final Fantasy 7, Crash Bandicoot the list goes on and on! What I believe separates those games and Metal Gear is its impressive 3D environments and cinematic ambition. Couple that with some Meta related actions (looking for the codec number on the back of the box, Controller Port 2, HIDEO instead of VIDEO) and you got yourself a game that really thinks out-of-the-box.
I played this on the PS3 coupled with the MGS1 Download voucher code that came with the MGS Legacy Collection so I believe I am playing a faithful US port COUGH MASTER COLLECTION COUGH. Anyways, I’m still impressed by its presentation this game offers. Truly looking back this was a groundbreaking game for its time and really revolutionized not only the stealth genre but how was see Single player stories. Hideo Kojima is brilliant! The Story is gripping and the cutscenes are deployed very well considering the PSX limitations. Can't forget the great characters this game offers from Otacon, Meryl, Roy Campbell and the Legendary Solid Snake. All unique in their dialogue and easy to tell apart.
The Bosses this game offers are all unique mechanically and often making you think how to approach each situation without taking damage before it's too late. There is so much flavor to this game that this was certainly a labor of love.
Now this game as much as I ooze the love for it, certainly is not perfect. Really the only gripe I have with is honestly the backpedaling of objectives. I feel like mechanically did not age well. I feel like they really kill the overall pace of the game considering that one of the segments is really close to the "Final Boss" and it adds about maybe 1 hour of filler gameplay which is fine but I just wanted to continue to move forward in the story,
Overall I HIGHLY recommend replaying MGS1. I had a playtime of about 7hrs 2m 0s, considering this is my 3rd playthrough of this game. This game still holds up incredibly well, albeit some of the graphics maybe look blocky or pixelated but that is just the hardware limitations. Genuinely one of the best games ever made. I would easily put this in the top 10 best games I have ever played but not as good as say my MGS3 lmao but MGS1 had to walk so MGS3 could run, so I owe it to this game. You will be surprised how meta it gets with all the talks about nukes compared to our real world political talks.
Sega x Jurassic Park, Sega was on a roll with IPs to the Supermodel 3!
As a kid, this was the game to beat. So much visceral action thrown at your and oh so many quarters to spend. Coming back once to see if this game was as exciting as it was as a adult, I would say it's a pretty solid on rail shooter all things consider.
As a tie in game with the movie, it certainly has some things that look from the movie and it ends with a good tease for your to go watch the movie but we all know what was the reception to that movie lol
This game some some good enemy variety and as well as some special challenges such as saving people. When you save the people it rewards you with some nice items that I would not have expected in this game such as a Lightning gun. Took me by surprise in all honesty. I felt at times the enemies were quite a little too fast for me and those generated cheap shots. Totally understandable from arcade perspective but had to mention it here. I will say some of the boss fights are quite repetitive in nature once you understand who you are fighting. I say this because the Male T-Rex and the Female T-Rex honestly play the same way ableit some minor hitbox locations. Just when I thought I was done with the game, there was still 1-2 more stages remaining which threw me by surprise as I selected the beginner course.
Overall I spent about 45 minutes to an hour with some continues and the standard 3 hits configuration. Super Solid Arcade shooter and glad I was able to finally beat it as this game is getting really hard to find at arcades since there is a RAW THRILLS version of Jurassic park. If you see it, toss in a few quarters and see how far you can make it, I'm sure its not configured to the hardest difficulty after 20 years lol.
As a kid, this was the game to beat. So much visceral action thrown at your and oh so many quarters to spend. Coming back once to see if this game was as exciting as it was as a adult, I would say it's a pretty solid on rail shooter all things consider.
As a tie in game with the movie, it certainly has some things that look from the movie and it ends with a good tease for your to go watch the movie but we all know what was the reception to that movie lol
This game some some good enemy variety and as well as some special challenges such as saving people. When you save the people it rewards you with some nice items that I would not have expected in this game such as a Lightning gun. Took me by surprise in all honesty. I felt at times the enemies were quite a little too fast for me and those generated cheap shots. Totally understandable from arcade perspective but had to mention it here. I will say some of the boss fights are quite repetitive in nature once you understand who you are fighting. I say this because the Male T-Rex and the Female T-Rex honestly play the same way ableit some minor hitbox locations. Just when I thought I was done with the game, there was still 1-2 more stages remaining which threw me by surprise as I selected the beginner course.
Overall I spent about 45 minutes to an hour with some continues and the standard 3 hits configuration. Super Solid Arcade shooter and glad I was able to finally beat it as this game is getting really hard to find at arcades since there is a RAW THRILLS version of Jurassic park. If you see it, toss in a few quarters and see how far you can make it, I'm sure its not configured to the hardest difficulty after 20 years lol.
Sega X Star Wars, What a Dynamic Duo!
1998->2023 25 years later, I believe this game can still carry arcades IMO. From Childhood to Adulthood once more I see myself wondering if things were once great as I remember them and I am glad Star Wars Trilogy Arcade still holds up very well.
Running on the Sega Super Model 3, this game certainly shines through the CRT television. This cursor-based rail shooter takes you through the epic battles of Episode IV-VI which include Death Star I, Battle of Hoth, Boba Fett Duel on Tatooine, Battle of Endor, Darth Vader duel in the Emperors Throne Room & Death Star II. This game is all gas and no breaks. It wants to throw you right into the action and even better they thrown in that John William Score which is absolutely memorable on the cabinet Sub woofer and Speaker system. There was never a moment I was not excited to thrown my quarter at it to continue.
Its length is about 30 minutes or so, the cabinet I was playing it was 25 cents to play and the cabinet seemed to be on the normal difficulty as "Cheap shots" were not as prevalent but were still there if you did not know the pattern. I would say the most important aspect is if the stick is calibrated correctly. Do not even bother playing it on a non calibrated or broken stick, you will have a mediocre time.
As far as cons go, you do have your arcade cheap shots which is unfortunate but I get it. There is also times during the duel were it was slightly hard to navigate the hand to where it needed to go but I don't blame it on the game but its stick calibration but no calibration is gonna be perfect.
Not much more I can say besides this is absolute classic SEGA managed to cook with the Super Model 3. I absolutely recommend this if you see it at a Barcade, Movie theatre, hell anywhere were they still have these machines. BANGER of a Arcade Game.
1998->2023 25 years later, I believe this game can still carry arcades IMO. From Childhood to Adulthood once more I see myself wondering if things were once great as I remember them and I am glad Star Wars Trilogy Arcade still holds up very well.
Running on the Sega Super Model 3, this game certainly shines through the CRT television. This cursor-based rail shooter takes you through the epic battles of Episode IV-VI which include Death Star I, Battle of Hoth, Boba Fett Duel on Tatooine, Battle of Endor, Darth Vader duel in the Emperors Throne Room & Death Star II. This game is all gas and no breaks. It wants to throw you right into the action and even better they thrown in that John William Score which is absolutely memorable on the cabinet Sub woofer and Speaker system. There was never a moment I was not excited to thrown my quarter at it to continue.
Its length is about 30 minutes or so, the cabinet I was playing it was 25 cents to play and the cabinet seemed to be on the normal difficulty as "Cheap shots" were not as prevalent but were still there if you did not know the pattern. I would say the most important aspect is if the stick is calibrated correctly. Do not even bother playing it on a non calibrated or broken stick, you will have a mediocre time.
As far as cons go, you do have your arcade cheap shots which is unfortunate but I get it. There is also times during the duel were it was slightly hard to navigate the hand to where it needed to go but I don't blame it on the game but its stick calibration but no calibration is gonna be perfect.
Not much more I can say besides this is absolute classic SEGA managed to cook with the Super Model 3. I absolutely recommend this if you see it at a Barcade, Movie theatre, hell anywhere were they still have these machines. BANGER of a Arcade Game.
"There they are...get them!"
It's time to Deflect, Defeat, and Destroy!
Star Wars Jedi Power Battles on PSX was the first ever game I managed to beat Co-Op with my Father. I have very fond memories of this game and frustrations that happened as a kid certainly came back after playing it solo as a adult. Looking back this era of Star Wars is still unmatched due to how much Lucas arts were very experimental from here on out with the Prequel video games.
This game is very challenging on the Jedi Mode, Considering this game only has a Jedi and Easy mode; I wanted to beat it on the "normal" difficulty. Comparing to both the Dreamcast version and the PSX version, I went ahead and beat it on Dreamcast. Although the PSX Version did come out first, I would say that game has aged very poorly graphically and even the control scheme and camera were mediocre playing the first few missions and the platforming was oh so frustrating. I would certainly recommend the Dreamcast version although that version has some weird design choices (Main Menu, UI, etc).
Gameplay is pretty straight forward, it reminded me of a beat em up with lots of platforming and I mean LOTS of it. In order to become a jedi master you must be patient with the polygon edges this game has. One mistake and BOOM back to the beginning of the level or checkpoint. Don't make me get started on the Coruscant level. That is the level where boys became men after accomplishing it. It was still the most challenging level yet besides the final stage. Gives me PTSD just thinking about it. Even harder on Co-op as you do share lives. AHHH!
I really love how this game introduced other Jedi besides Qui Gon and Obi Wan. Being able to play as Plo Koon was honestly the highlight of it all especially with his Yellow Lightsaber. It was honestly this game where my love for Plo Koon was started and eventually was sadden when I saw episode 3. All Jedi's apart from their basic moves are unique in terms of their force abilities so there is some replay value there. You have Jedi Master Mace Windu (with a blue lightsaber), Adi Gallia, and only available in the Dreamcast Version, Ki-Adi-Mundi (with a purple lightsaber for some reason..lol) apart from those I mentioned earlier with secret characters like Padme, Darth Maul, Battle Droid just to name a few
Music is straight out of the movie which is excellent as always from the legendary John Williams. Never missed a beat.
Coming back I would reiterate that I would seriously avoid the PSX version and just play the Dreamcast version as it has better controls and "easier" platforming albeit some weird aesthetic choices. It is still a frustrating game do not get me wrong but its pretty fun all things considered. If you want a refreshed take I would recommended it but if you want to keep your fond childhood memories of this game, I would avoid and just keep it in your head.
It's time to Deflect, Defeat, and Destroy!
Star Wars Jedi Power Battles on PSX was the first ever game I managed to beat Co-Op with my Father. I have very fond memories of this game and frustrations that happened as a kid certainly came back after playing it solo as a adult. Looking back this era of Star Wars is still unmatched due to how much Lucas arts were very experimental from here on out with the Prequel video games.
This game is very challenging on the Jedi Mode, Considering this game only has a Jedi and Easy mode; I wanted to beat it on the "normal" difficulty. Comparing to both the Dreamcast version and the PSX version, I went ahead and beat it on Dreamcast. Although the PSX Version did come out first, I would say that game has aged very poorly graphically and even the control scheme and camera were mediocre playing the first few missions and the platforming was oh so frustrating. I would certainly recommend the Dreamcast version although that version has some weird design choices (Main Menu, UI, etc).
Gameplay is pretty straight forward, it reminded me of a beat em up with lots of platforming and I mean LOTS of it. In order to become a jedi master you must be patient with the polygon edges this game has. One mistake and BOOM back to the beginning of the level or checkpoint. Don't make me get started on the Coruscant level. That is the level where boys became men after accomplishing it. It was still the most challenging level yet besides the final stage. Gives me PTSD just thinking about it. Even harder on Co-op as you do share lives. AHHH!
I really love how this game introduced other Jedi besides Qui Gon and Obi Wan. Being able to play as Plo Koon was honestly the highlight of it all especially with his Yellow Lightsaber. It was honestly this game where my love for Plo Koon was started and eventually was sadden when I saw episode 3. All Jedi's apart from their basic moves are unique in terms of their force abilities so there is some replay value there. You have Jedi Master Mace Windu (with a blue lightsaber), Adi Gallia, and only available in the Dreamcast Version, Ki-Adi-Mundi (with a purple lightsaber for some reason..lol) apart from those I mentioned earlier with secret characters like Padme, Darth Maul, Battle Droid just to name a few
Music is straight out of the movie which is excellent as always from the legendary John Williams. Never missed a beat.
Coming back I would reiterate that I would seriously avoid the PSX version and just play the Dreamcast version as it has better controls and "easier" platforming albeit some weird aesthetic choices. It is still a frustrating game do not get me wrong but its pretty fun all things considered. If you want a refreshed take I would recommended it but if you want to keep your fond childhood memories of this game, I would avoid and just keep it in your head.
Playing the greatest Star Wars battles anyway I want!
This game I am internally bias so I want to get that out of the way right now. This game is part of my Backloggd Top 5 and it is with good reason.
I think this is the best Star Wars Shooter Experience on the 6th Generation of consoles. I played this game on PC and PS2. On PC I managed to only install the Remastered Mod while on PS2 I remained Vanilla. I think the experience is well suited on PC nowadays with how much variety and mods there are for SWB2 such as KOTOR and different types of Era and Clone War varieties. On PS2 it remained with the nostalgia I had when I was a kid. I had a hard time managing to save up for this game but my father was kind enough to let us rent this game (Yeah renting games...lol) from our local movie rental place. I think what sucked me into this game was also that Star Wars Episode 3 was also playing in theatres and since the internet was very foreign to me; every slice of content from that movie I was very eager to play. It also did not help that TV commercials were playing for both Episode 3 and SWB2. Anyways back to the game
This game certainly has alot of love thrown into it. From all the modes it offers to the impressive amount of Maps and even SPACE battles which was super unheard of for this type of caliber game. I was mesmerized and even while playing it as a adult it certainly still remained to captivate me with details I did not catch as a kid. The story about seeing the war from the 501st was a cherry on top and it ties up all the memorable battles quite nicely albeit the gameplay and objectives were quite straight forward.
What was really the Slam duck IMO was being able to play your FAVORITE HEROES AND VILLIANS. This was something I was dreaming since I played the first game. Now being able to play as the Jedi/Sith or even the Alien lifeforms on some Hunt modes. This was a experience of a lifetime. The modes offered here as well from Instant action and my all time favorite Galactic Conquest certainly separates it from all the modern star was shooters and its a shame that mode has never come back in any capacity in our modern age.
As many have probably said in this review. This game is GOATED for a reason. Music, Gameplay and even the Online component is still active on PC and still remains nostalgic as ever. This game holds such a special place in my heart and I can never forget it. It celebrates all that was great with Star Wars as it was gearing up to its conclusion in the movies. (at the time). Lots of rich features to explore about and with some of the most fun shooting and dogfights. Do not miss this game if you are a Star Wars fan. Early 2000s was a era not to messed with for Star Wars.
This game I am internally bias so I want to get that out of the way right now. This game is part of my Backloggd Top 5 and it is with good reason.
I think this is the best Star Wars Shooter Experience on the 6th Generation of consoles. I played this game on PC and PS2. On PC I managed to only install the Remastered Mod while on PS2 I remained Vanilla. I think the experience is well suited on PC nowadays with how much variety and mods there are for SWB2 such as KOTOR and different types of Era and Clone War varieties. On PS2 it remained with the nostalgia I had when I was a kid. I had a hard time managing to save up for this game but my father was kind enough to let us rent this game (Yeah renting games...lol) from our local movie rental place. I think what sucked me into this game was also that Star Wars Episode 3 was also playing in theatres and since the internet was very foreign to me; every slice of content from that movie I was very eager to play. It also did not help that TV commercials were playing for both Episode 3 and SWB2. Anyways back to the game
This game certainly has alot of love thrown into it. From all the modes it offers to the impressive amount of Maps and even SPACE battles which was super unheard of for this type of caliber game. I was mesmerized and even while playing it as a adult it certainly still remained to captivate me with details I did not catch as a kid. The story about seeing the war from the 501st was a cherry on top and it ties up all the memorable battles quite nicely albeit the gameplay and objectives were quite straight forward.
What was really the Slam duck IMO was being able to play your FAVORITE HEROES AND VILLIANS. This was something I was dreaming since I played the first game. Now being able to play as the Jedi/Sith or even the Alien lifeforms on some Hunt modes. This was a experience of a lifetime. The modes offered here as well from Instant action and my all time favorite Galactic Conquest certainly separates it from all the modern star was shooters and its a shame that mode has never come back in any capacity in our modern age.
As many have probably said in this review. This game is GOATED for a reason. Music, Gameplay and even the Online component is still active on PC and still remains nostalgic as ever. This game holds such a special place in my heart and I can never forget it. It celebrates all that was great with Star Wars as it was gearing up to its conclusion in the movies. (at the time). Lots of rich features to explore about and with some of the most fun shooting and dogfights. Do not miss this game if you are a Star Wars fan. Early 2000s was a era not to messed with for Star Wars.
2000
Racing? Racing against what? The Clock?
007 Racing is a really rough game that has not aged well at all for "Racing" games. I would say this is more in line with Action Driving but I guess that would not fit on the box lol. It feels like a super modified version of previous Need for speed game engine; if anything but it looks super rough around the edges. I don't think NFS ever looked that bad even coming back to play them 20 years later. I came back to finish the job I did not finish as a kid. I made it only to the 2nd or 3rd mission without a Memory card and Mission 2 & 3 were for sure a nightmare to me as this game does not hold your hand at all. The missions after the 3rd became to be more chore like such as make sure to denotate 10 bomb in X amount of time rather than just creating a linear track and have some baddies come and shoot you. I will say there are some "Fun" missions (Maybe like 1-2) but the worst part is that they are EXTREMELY SHORT especially with cars that are BOND STAPLES like the Lotus Esprit. Such a bummer honestly. I managed to beat this game in the same time it took me to beat Tomorrow Never Dies which was about like 3-4 hours. Seems like these PS1 bond games have it locked in for that time for all its games.
It controls are overtly clunky and it certainly takes you out of the immersion at times because you forget what button does what and the weapon auto switch whenever you pick up a new item which is infuriating at times because there is self damage in this game and you might accidently throw a rocket instead of providing yourself a shield which you selected before passing over the item.
From what Wikipedia says the story of this game is "a high ranking European diplomat and businessman plans to hijack a shipment of NATO weapons and smuggle them to international terrorists" I wish I could tell you that's what I learned from watching the nonexistent story cutscenes this game has in its campaign. There are only 2; one at the beginning and one at the end lol. To "expand" the story a small briefing from M is heard before the mission starts. M never explains why you are on the mission in the first place then its followed by John Cleese "R" taking over the rest of the details of the car you will be driving. It does sprinkle in some "Sexy" Cutscenes if you get a perfect score but you are gonna achieve that maybe 1 time on a super basic mission out of the 12 missions it offers which are tied to the Cheats this game features. Those cutscenes are like 5 seconds of Bond Women just yelling some cheese Sexual Innuendo dialogue which is pretty funny at times. The "Main" Antagonist of this game only shows up as a portrait in the last mission which is hilarious.
It is really hard to recommend this game to anyone as it does create some unfairness and frustration which I did have as a kid and even now as a adult it still bothered me in those aspects. If you find it in a garage sale for less than the used 3rd party price which is 8 bucks by all means give it a shot if you are curious but its a bad game in all aspects. I would certainly not recommend beating it unless you are a masochist. I understand that some people enjoy this game because they had great memories on its 2-player mode and I do not fault them for that because it was a fun for 2 players. Very forgettable game as it came out 1 MONTH AFTER THE PLAYSTATION 2 RELEASE. At least I can tell my inner child that the the game has been completed and the nightmare is over. I am sure the inner child in me is relieved
007 Racing is a really rough game that has not aged well at all for "Racing" games. I would say this is more in line with Action Driving but I guess that would not fit on the box lol. It feels like a super modified version of previous Need for speed game engine; if anything but it looks super rough around the edges. I don't think NFS ever looked that bad even coming back to play them 20 years later. I came back to finish the job I did not finish as a kid. I made it only to the 2nd or 3rd mission without a Memory card and Mission 2 & 3 were for sure a nightmare to me as this game does not hold your hand at all. The missions after the 3rd became to be more chore like such as make sure to denotate 10 bomb in X amount of time rather than just creating a linear track and have some baddies come and shoot you. I will say there are some "Fun" missions (Maybe like 1-2) but the worst part is that they are EXTREMELY SHORT especially with cars that are BOND STAPLES like the Lotus Esprit. Such a bummer honestly. I managed to beat this game in the same time it took me to beat Tomorrow Never Dies which was about like 3-4 hours. Seems like these PS1 bond games have it locked in for that time for all its games.
It controls are overtly clunky and it certainly takes you out of the immersion at times because you forget what button does what and the weapon auto switch whenever you pick up a new item which is infuriating at times because there is self damage in this game and you might accidently throw a rocket instead of providing yourself a shield which you selected before passing over the item.
From what Wikipedia says the story of this game is "a high ranking European diplomat and businessman plans to hijack a shipment of NATO weapons and smuggle them to international terrorists" I wish I could tell you that's what I learned from watching the nonexistent story cutscenes this game has in its campaign. There are only 2; one at the beginning and one at the end lol. To "expand" the story a small briefing from M is heard before the mission starts. M never explains why you are on the mission in the first place then its followed by John Cleese "R" taking over the rest of the details of the car you will be driving. It does sprinkle in some "Sexy" Cutscenes if you get a perfect score but you are gonna achieve that maybe 1 time on a super basic mission out of the 12 missions it offers which are tied to the Cheats this game features. Those cutscenes are like 5 seconds of Bond Women just yelling some cheese Sexual Innuendo dialogue which is pretty funny at times. The "Main" Antagonist of this game only shows up as a portrait in the last mission which is hilarious.
It is really hard to recommend this game to anyone as it does create some unfairness and frustration which I did have as a kid and even now as a adult it still bothered me in those aspects. If you find it in a garage sale for less than the used 3rd party price which is 8 bucks by all means give it a shot if you are curious but its a bad game in all aspects. I would certainly not recommend beating it unless you are a masochist. I understand that some people enjoy this game because they had great memories on its 2-player mode and I do not fault them for that because it was a fun for 2 players. Very forgettable game as it came out 1 MONTH AFTER THE PLAYSTATION 2 RELEASE. At least I can tell my inner child that the the game has been completed and the nightmare is over. I am sure the inner child in me is relieved
Bad outing for the first EA James Bond but it does fall really short with what came before it.
Tomorrow Never Dies is a serviceable game albeit some tweaks in its settings and having a Analog Stick Controller. It super unfortunate that this game had come out after Goldeneye and how massive its influence was for shooters in general and makes it really hard to not compare to the two but I will try my best to keep Tomorrow Never Dies in it own lane compared to Goldeneye.
Gameplay wise, it really feels like a cheap knock off of Syphon filter at times. Considering SF came out months before Tomorrow Never Dies you can tell there was some influence and groundwork of inspiration which falls flat due to its camera, clipping and poor collision with enemies. I felt like it a situation of "Hey can I copy your homework?" Sure just make it look different do that it doesn't look like you just copied it" situation. The shooting was really abysmal at times and never locked on to who I wanted to and the zoom in was just as frustrating due to its slow turn speed. Was not a fan of it. Runtime of the levels I was able to beat in like a 4 hour sitting. It was pretty short. 10 missions, I would say the last 3 levels offer a challenge to the player. That is where I would say I had to use some of the "Lives" the game offers. The game also offers, Skiing and Driving which are legit only like 2-5 minutes of game time and they had the audacity to make it big feature in the Jewel case lol. Got a chuckle for sure out of me. I felt like they could have done so much more with these sections to make them feel unique.
It's story or lack there of (unless you have seen the movie), just uses Clips to move it story along. I feel like if you have not seen Tomorrow never dies, you would be super confused. That's all there really is to say about the story. In short Clips from the film are shown after each level to advance the story.
Where Tomorrow Never Dies exceeds is its Soundtrack. I was actually pausing my game at times to listen to the whole sound. It was that good considering this came from the PS1, I had to check who made this and it seems like Tommy Tallarico was the mastermind behind this Soundtrack. He puts out some absolute BANGERs and actual respect to the bond theme not gonna lie. I would certainly go out of my way to listen to this OST. It's that good. I give it some brownie points in this department for the OST.
Overall, I would really avoid this game unless you are a bond fan or a curious Syphon Filter fan. There is alot of drawbacks to this game but in hindsight it was a first step for EA for much more to come. There are some enjoyable moments but overall you are setting yourself up for a mediocre/bad time. Just play it if you are curious but overall I think its bad.
Tomorrow Never Dies is a serviceable game albeit some tweaks in its settings and having a Analog Stick Controller. It super unfortunate that this game had come out after Goldeneye and how massive its influence was for shooters in general and makes it really hard to not compare to the two but I will try my best to keep Tomorrow Never Dies in it own lane compared to Goldeneye.
Gameplay wise, it really feels like a cheap knock off of Syphon filter at times. Considering SF came out months before Tomorrow Never Dies you can tell there was some influence and groundwork of inspiration which falls flat due to its camera, clipping and poor collision with enemies. I felt like it a situation of "Hey can I copy your homework?" Sure just make it look different do that it doesn't look like you just copied it" situation. The shooting was really abysmal at times and never locked on to who I wanted to and the zoom in was just as frustrating due to its slow turn speed. Was not a fan of it. Runtime of the levels I was able to beat in like a 4 hour sitting. It was pretty short. 10 missions, I would say the last 3 levels offer a challenge to the player. That is where I would say I had to use some of the "Lives" the game offers. The game also offers, Skiing and Driving which are legit only like 2-5 minutes of game time and they had the audacity to make it big feature in the Jewel case lol. Got a chuckle for sure out of me. I felt like they could have done so much more with these sections to make them feel unique.
It's story or lack there of (unless you have seen the movie), just uses Clips to move it story along. I feel like if you have not seen Tomorrow never dies, you would be super confused. That's all there really is to say about the story. In short Clips from the film are shown after each level to advance the story.
Where Tomorrow Never Dies exceeds is its Soundtrack. I was actually pausing my game at times to listen to the whole sound. It was that good considering this came from the PS1, I had to check who made this and it seems like Tommy Tallarico was the mastermind behind this Soundtrack. He puts out some absolute BANGERs and actual respect to the bond theme not gonna lie. I would certainly go out of my way to listen to this OST. It's that good. I give it some brownie points in this department for the OST.
Overall, I would really avoid this game unless you are a bond fan or a curious Syphon Filter fan. There is alot of drawbacks to this game but in hindsight it was a first step for EA for much more to come. There are some enjoyable moments but overall you are setting yourself up for a mediocre/bad time. Just play it if you are curious but overall I think its bad.
2003
Monsters? They looked like monsters to you?
Silent Hill 3 is without a doubt a really strong successor to all the Silent Hill games that came before it and is without a doubt, one of the strongest games that came out on the 6th Generation.
Having played this only twice, once on PS2 and once on the "HD collection" about a decade or so ago. I am able to go in with a fresh perspective once again and see how this game has aged but also how much I can appreciate it.
Gameplay, I feel like is the most refined compared to Silent Hill 2. It feels more fluid and responsive and also making you feel claustrophobic and overwhelming at times. Although I tried to keep my kills to a minimum to save ammo or not wanting to deal with the "Monsters" I then realized that I was trying to play how I was in Silent Hill 2 and it made things slightly harder because of how drastically different the areas are in SH2 or SH3. I see this as a good thing as it tries to keep things fresh.
Story is a continuation to Silent Hill 1 to some extent while also having our protagonist Heather go through a realization of identity. It feels like a coming of age story at times when the plot demands it but I feel like Heather as a protagonist is leagues above Harry mason but slightly over James Sunderland cause of how much Charisma she has when she talks to folks in the game or defeating bosses. I felt like the story with the cult has left me with more to be desired considering they are the main plot going forward in future games. I feel at times it kind requires you to understand what happened in the previous games to some extent. Whether that is a good or bad thing is up to the player.
Level Design I feel like is really tight. As I mentioned this game makes you feel claustrophobic and overwhelming. This is due to the level design of tight corridors and dodging enemies if needed which in turn makes you decide quickly if you would like to exhaust your current resources to not take a health state or take a risk and potentially take one. Often the game will tease you and put you in trapped scenarios but you can easily hear them a mile away or once you enter a room and read the situation. Enemies I feel like are more Punchier this time around and certainly take a good chuck of health if you are stuck.
As for the resources in this game, I felt like they were fair. I hear that sometimes the game can be generous and often provide you with extra resources if you are low on supply. I felt like towards the end I was near the end of my First Aid Kits and Ampoules as I ran out of my Health Drinks but I had alot of Ammo since I was mostly using Melee or picking amd choosing my battles.
Now, I must include Akira Yamaoka who absolutely again knocks it out of the park! End of Small Sanctuary easily top 3 best Silent hill songs. Never misses a beat here and actually creates a very scary atmosphere while using his dark ambient, industrial, trip-hop, and rock. There is not much more I can say than he really elevates the game.
As I mentioned in my Silent Hill 2 review, Although that game is not perfect by any means I feel like there are some elements that can be charming or can be detrimental to a player when they first start the game. "level designs may also disorient a player and feel like they are not making much progression in the game and then feel a sense of being stuck. I feel like that is a valid reason because sometimes the game does not hold you hand at times if you accidently press X/A too fast or something and not knowing there is a MEMO button in the Inventory screen. I feel like these come to mind whenever someone tells me they are attempting to play the game." to add to this, I feel like this game is much harsher to the player if they do not know where to go next as there will be enemies that spawn at "random" and do not "Reset" positions often forcing a player to use of the resources that can be potentially "Scarce". Again this is all preference to the player but I feel like they can be valid reasons for charm or detriment.
I finished this playthrough with the "Normal" 1st playthrough ending. Overall time spent in this game will be about 5-7 hrs if you are not sure what to do but if you are a advanced player, about 4hrs or less will do the job I beat it in around 3:28:35 of game time based on the results screen considering its been a decade of having not played. The replayability is here for the game but I wouldn't say its the best the series has to offer. 3 endings this time around with 1 being the "Meme/Joke" ending.
Overall, should you play Silent Hill 3? I firmly believe so. Honestly any Silent hill game made by Team Silent should be played at least once in your life. I understand Silent Hill 3 is priced astronomically in the used game market place but websites like PC Gaming Wiki or even the Silent Hill Reddit Forums have ways to play this game for modern times on PC. Bless the community for continuing to preserve its original state and making it play better on PC. Do not do yourself a disservice and play the HD collection as I believe that is the inferior version of SH3 but If that is your only way to legally play, by all means go for it!
Silent Hill 3 is without a doubt a really strong successor to all the Silent Hill games that came before it and is without a doubt, one of the strongest games that came out on the 6th Generation.
Having played this only twice, once on PS2 and once on the "HD collection" about a decade or so ago. I am able to go in with a fresh perspective once again and see how this game has aged but also how much I can appreciate it.
Gameplay, I feel like is the most refined compared to Silent Hill 2. It feels more fluid and responsive and also making you feel claustrophobic and overwhelming at times. Although I tried to keep my kills to a minimum to save ammo or not wanting to deal with the "Monsters" I then realized that I was trying to play how I was in Silent Hill 2 and it made things slightly harder because of how drastically different the areas are in SH2 or SH3. I see this as a good thing as it tries to keep things fresh.
Story is a continuation to Silent Hill 1 to some extent while also having our protagonist Heather go through a realization of identity. It feels like a coming of age story at times when the plot demands it but I feel like Heather as a protagonist is leagues above Harry mason but slightly over James Sunderland cause of how much Charisma she has when she talks to folks in the game or defeating bosses. I felt like the story with the cult has left me with more to be desired considering they are the main plot going forward in future games. I feel at times it kind requires you to understand what happened in the previous games to some extent. Whether that is a good or bad thing is up to the player.
Level Design I feel like is really tight. As I mentioned this game makes you feel claustrophobic and overwhelming. This is due to the level design of tight corridors and dodging enemies if needed which in turn makes you decide quickly if you would like to exhaust your current resources to not take a health state or take a risk and potentially take one. Often the game will tease you and put you in trapped scenarios but you can easily hear them a mile away or once you enter a room and read the situation. Enemies I feel like are more Punchier this time around and certainly take a good chuck of health if you are stuck.
As for the resources in this game, I felt like they were fair. I hear that sometimes the game can be generous and often provide you with extra resources if you are low on supply. I felt like towards the end I was near the end of my First Aid Kits and Ampoules as I ran out of my Health Drinks but I had alot of Ammo since I was mostly using Melee or picking amd choosing my battles.
Now, I must include Akira Yamaoka who absolutely again knocks it out of the park! End of Small Sanctuary easily top 3 best Silent hill songs. Never misses a beat here and actually creates a very scary atmosphere while using his dark ambient, industrial, trip-hop, and rock. There is not much more I can say than he really elevates the game.
As I mentioned in my Silent Hill 2 review, Although that game is not perfect by any means I feel like there are some elements that can be charming or can be detrimental to a player when they first start the game. "level designs may also disorient a player and feel like they are not making much progression in the game and then feel a sense of being stuck. I feel like that is a valid reason because sometimes the game does not hold you hand at times if you accidently press X/A too fast or something and not knowing there is a MEMO button in the Inventory screen. I feel like these come to mind whenever someone tells me they are attempting to play the game." to add to this, I feel like this game is much harsher to the player if they do not know where to go next as there will be enemies that spawn at "random" and do not "Reset" positions often forcing a player to use of the resources that can be potentially "Scarce". Again this is all preference to the player but I feel like they can be valid reasons for charm or detriment.
I finished this playthrough with the "Normal" 1st playthrough ending. Overall time spent in this game will be about 5-7 hrs if you are not sure what to do but if you are a advanced player, about 4hrs or less will do the job I beat it in around 3:28:35 of game time based on the results screen considering its been a decade of having not played. The replayability is here for the game but I wouldn't say its the best the series has to offer. 3 endings this time around with 1 being the "Meme/Joke" ending.
Overall, should you play Silent Hill 3? I firmly believe so. Honestly any Silent hill game made by Team Silent should be played at least once in your life. I understand Silent Hill 3 is priced astronomically in the used game market place but websites like PC Gaming Wiki or even the Silent Hill Reddit Forums have ways to play this game for modern times on PC. Bless the community for continuing to preserve its original state and making it play better on PC. Do not do yourself a disservice and play the HD collection as I believe that is the inferior version of SH3 but If that is your only way to legally play, by all means go for it!