alecomac
2023
I think this game is super fun! A unique idea that I think works very well as an online team game. I was thinking it was going to be something like Smash Bros., and wasn't expecting a sports-like scoring game, but I think I prefer it that way. It's original! I thought I was just going to wrap up playing after 100% completion, but I've found myself still finding it very enjoyable!
Not only that, but it's really cool to see an online team game that isn't a shooter. I can't name many others at the top of my head.
Though I'm rating it four stars, I can't really think of anything else it could add to it to make it better. As a platforming fighting game, it works and it's great, but I guess it's just locked at that.
It's fun to control, all the characters quite balanced, and its sense of humour and tendency to not take itself too seriously a lot of the time had me laughing my head off playing at times! All the maps provide something fun and unique too. With stuff like the relic stations giving you different abilities, the starting locations and banks being either super close together or very far apart, and even there being scalability and difficulty ratings for each map, games can be super chaotic but also require lots of strategy and teamwork to win. I gotta love the dynamic music when you boost your team, too!
My only little complaint though is that you need PlayStation Plus to play it, even for the practice with bots mode. But if you're getting this game, you're going to have PS Plus anyway so it doesn't matter too much. What would be really cool to see would be a single or multiplayer story mode, though, that features all the characters! Plus, it's honestly kind of hard to find players in matchmaking, so maybe that would be good to include for newcomers who would then perhaps try out the online mode.
This game does have "fear of missing out" elements though, with a battlepass, and hopefully they'll bring some items back sometime in the future. I started playing in the middle of season 3 so there is a bit I missed out on. But it's really just a couple of character skins, profile banners and performance songs though, and I got over it quickly. I can at least praise this game for not having an item shop and don't plan one any time soon.
Anyway, I'm really enjoying the regular updates and hoping the game will have lots more to come. The Spyro characters are such a fun addition and I hope they add more of them too! Crash and Spyro crossovers are perfect. I personally play as Crash and Elora the most, and they are a blast.
Not only that, but it's really cool to see an online team game that isn't a shooter. I can't name many others at the top of my head.
Though I'm rating it four stars, I can't really think of anything else it could add to it to make it better. As a platforming fighting game, it works and it's great, but I guess it's just locked at that.
It's fun to control, all the characters quite balanced, and its sense of humour and tendency to not take itself too seriously a lot of the time had me laughing my head off playing at times! All the maps provide something fun and unique too. With stuff like the relic stations giving you different abilities, the starting locations and banks being either super close together or very far apart, and even there being scalability and difficulty ratings for each map, games can be super chaotic but also require lots of strategy and teamwork to win. I gotta love the dynamic music when you boost your team, too!
My only little complaint though is that you need PlayStation Plus to play it, even for the practice with bots mode. But if you're getting this game, you're going to have PS Plus anyway so it doesn't matter too much. What would be really cool to see would be a single or multiplayer story mode, though, that features all the characters! Plus, it's honestly kind of hard to find players in matchmaking, so maybe that would be good to include for newcomers who would then perhaps try out the online mode.
This game does have "fear of missing out" elements though, with a battlepass, and hopefully they'll bring some items back sometime in the future. I started playing in the middle of season 3 so there is a bit I missed out on. But it's really just a couple of character skins, profile banners and performance songs though, and I got over it quickly. I can at least praise this game for not having an item shop and don't plan one any time soon.
Anyway, I'm really enjoying the regular updates and hoping the game will have lots more to come. The Spyro characters are such a fun addition and I hope they add more of them too! Crash and Spyro crossovers are perfect. I personally play as Crash and Elora the most, and they are a blast.
2024
Such a waste of time. I was kind of hyped seeing this in the PlayStation State of Play but it couldn't keep me hooked for over an hour.
While it's a bit inconsistent, I do like the art style, especially the 2D art style. The animation for everything is a bit stiff though and the story mode's cutscenes could probably be made in PowerPoint. The controls are fairly smooth and fun, though.
I would also like to talk about the near $70 AUD SKIN PACKS??? For like one character and weapon skin per pack. What? Thankfully it's a free game through PlayStation Plus but why does there have to be an item shop, let alone the PRICES, heck.
The story mode is boring, all you do is mindlessly fight easy waves in the same arena every mission while listening to characters talk.
I can't speak for the online modes because I could not get into a single match. I'm thinking this game might've died as soon as it came out.
The game is also reminding me why Splatoon doesn't have voice acting. If you're going to play Foamstars, at least switch to the Japanese voices. But speaking of Splatoon, it tries so hard to be that and fails in every regard, so maybe just go and play that.
While it's a bit inconsistent, I do like the art style, especially the 2D art style. The animation for everything is a bit stiff though and the story mode's cutscenes could probably be made in PowerPoint. The controls are fairly smooth and fun, though.
I would also like to talk about the near $70 AUD SKIN PACKS??? For like one character and weapon skin per pack. What? Thankfully it's a free game through PlayStation Plus but why does there have to be an item shop, let alone the PRICES, heck.
The story mode is boring, all you do is mindlessly fight easy waves in the same arena every mission while listening to characters talk.
I can't speak for the online modes because I could not get into a single match. I'm thinking this game might've died as soon as it came out.
The game is also reminding me why Splatoon doesn't have voice acting. If you're going to play Foamstars, at least switch to the Japanese voices. But speaking of Splatoon, it tries so hard to be that and fails in every regard, so maybe just go and play that.
2001
This review contains spoilers
The first game where Luigi gets the spotlight and builds on his personality, I love it!
It's an interesting concept to set a whole game inside the one mansion, but it works quite well. Making your way through on your first playthrough is so fun, and sucking up ghosts and collecting treasure feels amazing. The game... is actually pretty creepy for a Mario game. The presentation and sound design make you feel unsafe no matter where you are, and I like the detail of Luigi humming to fill the silence as well as him and the music and sounding different depending on how much health you have! The GameCube's graphics honestly add to the spooky experience as well. Despite that, the graphics are incredibly good for its time.
I really love the tidbits of story here and there too, with the information on the ghosts that had lived in the mansion along with Mario's story. I think the ending could have been so much more, though. The final boss is so cool and unique for the style of gameplay this game has, but I felt like the game ended too quickly after that for me to process it was over!
The Hidden Mansion is a great post-game mode though and I look forward to working towards beating it and getting the best rank I can. Mirroring the mansion is a surprisingly effective way of adding replayability and way better than nothing, and you get to really test your ghost-fighting skills as the game throws you tons of ghosts at once. It's a very silly challenge and I love it so far.
It's an interesting concept to set a whole game inside the one mansion, but it works quite well. Making your way through on your first playthrough is so fun, and sucking up ghosts and collecting treasure feels amazing. The game... is actually pretty creepy for a Mario game. The presentation and sound design make you feel unsafe no matter where you are, and I like the detail of Luigi humming to fill the silence as well as him and the music and sounding different depending on how much health you have! The GameCube's graphics honestly add to the spooky experience as well. Despite that, the graphics are incredibly good for its time.
I really love the tidbits of story here and there too, with the information on the ghosts that had lived in the mansion along with Mario's story. I think the ending could have been so much more, though. The final boss is so cool and unique for the style of gameplay this game has, but I felt like the game ended too quickly after that for me to process it was over!
The Hidden Mansion is a great post-game mode though and I look forward to working towards beating it and getting the best rank I can. Mirroring the mansion is a surprisingly effective way of adding replayability and way better than nothing, and you get to really test your ghost-fighting skills as the game throws you tons of ghosts at once. It's a very silly challenge and I love it so far.
THIS is the Mario we know and love.
It might even be some of the most fun I've ever had in a game, I absolutely adore everything about it from the super fun gameplay to the beautiful detail put in every single animation and environment. The music is incredible, too. You really must appreciate the six years of ideas and development that were put into this game.
Nothing makes me happier to at last, see Nintendo stop playing it safe with the 2D Mario series and add actual charm to their games again. A true sequel to Super Mario World, let's hope the "New" series is now gone for good and "Super Mario Bros." is finally back and here to stay.
And once again, another Mario title where running feels better than Sonic.
It might even be some of the most fun I've ever had in a game, I absolutely adore everything about it from the super fun gameplay to the beautiful detail put in every single animation and environment. The music is incredible, too. You really must appreciate the six years of ideas and development that were put into this game.
Nothing makes me happier to at last, see Nintendo stop playing it safe with the 2D Mario series and add actual charm to their games again. A true sequel to Super Mario World, let's hope the "New" series is now gone for good and "Super Mario Bros." is finally back and here to stay.
And once again, another Mario title where running feels better than Sonic.
I bought this from a friend and wasn't expecting much, but it was a fun game for what it was! It had some pretty nice music and scenery too from what I remember, and some good challenges.
I'm not sure why, but I can play this game for hours and hours a day when I'm really into an Animal Crossing phase! My sister never really liked the older games and whenever I try to explain to her what stuff I even spend my time doing in it... I don't know man! It's just relaxing and fun to walk around, collect stuff, catch creatures, make designs, sort my flowers, redecorate my house, write letters. When I think about it, there's not an insane amount to do, but it's a neat and creative-empowering experience where you can spend some quiet time with yourself.