ViviMayoi
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GOTY '23
Participated in the 2023 Game of the Year Event
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Gained 10+ total review likes
GOTY '22
Participated in the 2022 Game of the Year Event
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Journaled 5+ games in a single day
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Found the secret ogre page
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Being part of the Backloggd community for 3 years
GOTY '21
Participated in the 2021 Game of the Year Event
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Played 250+ games
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Journaled games once a day for a week straight
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Played 100+ games
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Total Games Played
009
Played in 2024
191
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Chrono Ark's a new favorite of mine for sure.
I first got my eyes on this game a year or two ago — it was in very early access, and I was watching my friend play through it and just thought it looked real cool.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and I start playing the game for myself. It's changed a lot, obviously, but for the better. The story's not for everyone, and the final ending isn't out yet, but what's already there is quite good. The game's presentation rocks, and every character is as memorable and distinct as the next. The game blends deckbuilding and more traditional RPG mechanics seamlessly, too. Progressing throughout a run, trying to make the best of both your team's strengths and the luck of the draw, is extremely satisfying. This game's soundtrack is great, and the atmospheric overworld music transitions dynamically into battle themes (and vice versa), something I always like to hear.
With a ton of varied playstyles, build options, alternate game modes and difficulty settings, I really believe this game has potential to be great for any RPG, roguelite, or deckbuilder fan, whatever they may be looking for :)
Madness is akin to gravity.
I first got my eyes on this game a year or two ago — it was in very early access, and I was watching my friend play through it and just thought it looked real cool.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and I start playing the game for myself. It's changed a lot, obviously, but for the better. The story's not for everyone, and the final ending isn't out yet, but what's already there is quite good. The game's presentation rocks, and every character is as memorable and distinct as the next. The game blends deckbuilding and more traditional RPG mechanics seamlessly, too. Progressing throughout a run, trying to make the best of both your team's strengths and the luck of the draw, is extremely satisfying. This game's soundtrack is great, and the atmospheric overworld music transitions dynamically into battle themes (and vice versa), something I always like to hear.
With a ton of varied playstyles, build options, alternate game modes and difficulty settings, I really believe this game has potential to be great for any RPG, roguelite, or deckbuilder fan, whatever they may be looking for :)
Lament of Innocence is the franchise's first attempt at a 3D metroidvania game. Was it a successful one? Eh, kinda.
Let's get the bad out of the way — this game is much worse at being a metroidvania than any of its 2D siblings. To me, one of the biggest strengths of the genre is the ability to explore and reach new areas whenever a new ability or movement option is obtained. It's a core element of the gameplay loop, and getting to move around and become familiar with said abilities is what makes it a favorite of mine. Unfortunately, this game does not have much in the way of that. Most of the time, progressing will be done by unlocking doors, usually by hitting a few switches scattered around whatever area the door is found in. Secrets are sometimes found by acquiring a key in another area, and there's less than a handful of secrets that can be accessed thanks to elemental whips.
In the same vein, exploring the castle often feels tedious. Leon is lacking in movement options, and there's so many long, often empty corridors. Some have enemies, but most are devoid of anything to do except break candles to replenish Leon's hearts. It's possible to use a Relic to sprint through these rooms, or use a variation of the Axe subweapon to dash through them, but they're hardly interesting to traverse in any capacity.
The game's other aspects are actually pretty good— the combat is satisfying, boss design is fun and rewarding. The pace at which new combos are unlocked is just right, and there's just enough time to get acquainted with new options without getting bored of them. The atmosphere, of course, remains a highlight: immersive environments, cool enemy designs, and a quality soundtrack, as is par for the course for Castlevania.
As a 3D action-adventure game, or as a hack and slash, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence is competent and even quite good, but its metroidvania elements hold it back a lot of the time. It's still good fun, but not for the reasons I usually like a metroidvania.
Let's get the bad out of the way — this game is much worse at being a metroidvania than any of its 2D siblings. To me, one of the biggest strengths of the genre is the ability to explore and reach new areas whenever a new ability or movement option is obtained. It's a core element of the gameplay loop, and getting to move around and become familiar with said abilities is what makes it a favorite of mine. Unfortunately, this game does not have much in the way of that. Most of the time, progressing will be done by unlocking doors, usually by hitting a few switches scattered around whatever area the door is found in. Secrets are sometimes found by acquiring a key in another area, and there's less than a handful of secrets that can be accessed thanks to elemental whips.
In the same vein, exploring the castle often feels tedious. Leon is lacking in movement options, and there's so many long, often empty corridors. Some have enemies, but most are devoid of anything to do except break candles to replenish Leon's hearts. It's possible to use a Relic to sprint through these rooms, or use a variation of the Axe subweapon to dash through them, but they're hardly interesting to traverse in any capacity.
The game's other aspects are actually pretty good— the combat is satisfying, boss design is fun and rewarding. The pace at which new combos are unlocked is just right, and there's just enough time to get acquainted with new options without getting bored of them. The atmosphere, of course, remains a highlight: immersive environments, cool enemy designs, and a quality soundtrack, as is par for the course for Castlevania.
As a 3D action-adventure game, or as a hack and slash, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence is competent and even quite good, but its metroidvania elements hold it back a lot of the time. It's still good fun, but not for the reasons I usually like a metroidvania.
Easily the most fun Castlevania experience on the GBA: distinct and memorable areas, great OST, and super varied combat abilities thanks to the multitudes of souls found throughout the game.
Movement is a bit lackluster at the very start of the game; the dash Soma is equipped with feels pretty poor after playing the franchise's previous attempts at a metroidvania. On the other hand, the movement really shines when you near the end of the game.
Truly completing this game requires a fair amount of grinding if you want all the souls, as it's completely RNG-reliant whether you find what you want in a timely fashion. Still, that's the game's biggest problem in my eyes — a good sign that the game is truly solid in almost every department.
Movement is a bit lackluster at the very start of the game; the dash Soma is equipped with feels pretty poor after playing the franchise's previous attempts at a metroidvania. On the other hand, the movement really shines when you near the end of the game.
Truly completing this game requires a fair amount of grinding if you want all the souls, as it's completely RNG-reliant whether you find what you want in a timely fashion. Still, that's the game's biggest problem in my eyes — a good sign that the game is truly solid in almost every department.