compressedjpeg
If you look really, really close, there's an INKLING of an interesting game in there.
Solid RPG with crazy postgame content.
Frustrating chase mechanics will make me drop your survival horror game.
2020
Never seen a game land an aesthetic so effortlessly. Great cosmic horror. The gameplay, while fun, can be boiled down to "optimal choice vs. less optimal choice." Still totally rad.
2005
Shadow the Hedgehog is like half ironic so-bad-it's-good enjoyment and half sincere fun. Bump I Am All of Me one more time.
2016
Simple gameplay loop--catch survivors, hook survivors--with a lot of mechanical depth. It's addicting trying to find the best build(s) for each killer.
Admittedly, only one half of the asymmetrical gameplay really grabs me. You'll only catch me playing survivor if I'm with friends, given that the most optimal gameplan is to sit at a generator and succeed at an occasional QTE.
Admittedly, only one half of the asymmetrical gameplay really grabs me. You'll only catch me playing survivor if I'm with friends, given that the most optimal gameplan is to sit at a generator and succeed at an occasional QTE.
One of the best, most replayable adventure games you can sink your time into. You have a lot of freedom to decide how to go about any given task, whether by brute force, stealth, diplomacy, or some combination thereof. On the note of freedom, there's also faction endings and different clans with their own abilities to incentivize starting a fresh save once you finish it. Everything about the game is memorable to me: the moody rock soundtrack by Rik Schaffer, the sprawling hub worlds with their own dark vibes, and a cast of characters all chasing their own agendas. It's fucking peak.
The only thing holding this game back, unfortunately, is its age. It's a borderline necessity to download the Unofficial Patch before starting, which restores cut content and implements some much-needed quality of life fixes.
The only thing holding this game back, unfortunately, is its age. It's a borderline necessity to download the Unofficial Patch before starting, which restores cut content and implements some much-needed quality of life fixes.
2020
The controls are tight, but the level design bores me to tears. A step down from 64 and Sunshine to me.
2002
The sheer precision in the controls makes this game a genuine joy to play. The unifying theme of a tropical island lends the game a lot of charm, too. Compared to 64, though, it's a little short and not all of the missions take advantage of the stupendous platforming.
1996
For a pioneer in 3D platforming, it holds up impressively well. The objectives can be a little obtuse at times, and Mario feels just a smidge slippery to handle. Still, would recommend just once for the culture.
2007
I think I've beaten it four times over now, between the Wii and Switch ports. It's that good.
Fast hack-and-slash action coupled with a banger soundtrack. Travis Touchdown is a legend.
Fast hack-and-slash action coupled with a banger soundtrack. Travis Touchdown is a legend.
2021
I don't think about it often, but the feel of how your character controls in a video game makes a lot of difference. And man, Samus is fun to control: fast, acrobatic, merciless. MercurySteam did a bang-up job of movement options in this game, with a newly implemented slide and running melee counter in addition to the usual tools. By the lategame, the game will really start to test your mastery of that toolkit, and it's exhilarating.
It's probably the most story-involved Metroid game aside from Other M, so if you want maximum enjoyment out of it, I'd at least familiarize yourself with Super Metroid and Fusion first. Raven Beak (in all his glory) is also a welcome addition to the canon, with some hard-hitting revelations that reframe the whole game and the series at large.
As for negatives...it's sort of linear?
It's probably the most story-involved Metroid game aside from Other M, so if you want maximum enjoyment out of it, I'd at least familiarize yourself with Super Metroid and Fusion first. Raven Beak (in all his glory) is also a welcome addition to the canon, with some hard-hitting revelations that reframe the whole game and the series at large.
As for negatives...it's sort of linear?
2005
Good arcadey fun, though it's short and the ground segments suffer from some wonky controls.
A genuinely moving experience. I don't think there's any game that has more love put into it than Twilight Princess.
Perhaps the only--ONLY--thing I can hold against it is that some of the dungeon items have niche, disappointing uses. But that's a small blemish on what is otherwise a masterpiece.
Perhaps the only--ONLY--thing I can hold against it is that some of the dungeon items have niche, disappointing uses. But that's a small blemish on what is otherwise a masterpiece.
2018
Definitely more of a "not my game" kind of thing. Friends told me it was like TF2, but the sheer overload of information and constant digging just sucks the energy out of me. It's like watching your buddies play Minecraft with some L4D style horde thinning.