jayish
Another beautiful game that follows up on Kyle Hyde’s character from Hotel Dusk very nicely. The cast isn’t as great as the original’s- there are a few characters in Last Window who feel as though they’re out of place, which is something I never would’ve said for Hotel Dusk- and the story is good but lacking that personal feel that I really enjoyed about its predecessor. Taking place over a week rather than a day means that it’s not as tightly-written but that objectively more is going on, and I don’t think one way of telling a story is better than the other, but it simply just is the way it is. And I really liked Last Window’s story! I feel as though this review is giving the impression that I’m disappointed with it, and I’m really not. It had some really, really good moments, and even if the overall cast is lacking there are some stellar cast members. If you played Hotel Dusk, you should definitely find some way to play Last Window, because it’s well worth it (with perhaps all of the same mildly frustrating aspects of the gameplay as the last one).
A very good addition to the base game- as it’s basically just a whole other game attached with some stuff carried over via the characters and the titular world. Regardless, it adds a lot of content and some cool new monsters and fights that I would encourage MHW players to experience for themselves.
The tutorial phase is a slog, and even afterwards there are some parts of the game that drag; however, MHW’s gameplay is fantastic. Speaking as someone who played this game first and then got into older Monster Hunter games later on, this really is a great place to start. The QoL changes are good, the game is beautiful visually, and the selection of monsters and MHW originals is pretty great. I do really, really enjoy how the monsters are portrayed more than anything, but that tends to apply to all Monster Hunter games. Regardless, this game is well worth the purchase.
2007
One of my favorite games of all time with some of the best presentation and atmosphere I’ve ever seen. The cast is insanely good and well-written; so is the story, taking place over twenty-four hours and feeling very tight as a response. Flipping the DS feels like such a simple gimmick and yet it’s very cool to see. The gameplay, perhaps, is a bit punishing, and at times obtuse, but it’s well worth looking past to experience one of the most unique and captivating visual novels out there.
2017
If you haven’t played To the Moon, do so first and then come back to this and experience two very beautiful games. Finding Paradise is funny, sad, and… cathartic, I would say, above all else, and still to this day my favorite of the Sigmund Corporation games for a reason.
2014
Cute and simple with some good use of visual storytelling and metaphor. There’s not a whole lot going on here, but if you play it you get to point at your computer screen and gawk every time it’s referenced in Finding Paradise.
I can’t say that I thought it was excellent, but I did have an enjoyable enough time. At the very least, it was nice to play an older Kirby game and see how it might have helped shape the series. It’s simple, but a remake of an even older game, so it’s a bit unfair to judge by modern standards anyhow.
Weird, abstract, and enjoyable. For what it sets out to portray, I think that it does it with enough grace and complexity to call it poignant. It’s extremely short, and therefore easy to complete 100%, and I’d say it’s worth it.
2014
:|
This is seriously one of the best Kirby games to date. This was an excellent transition into 3D, all things considered. Sure, there weren’t many Copy Abilities, but I feel as though the Copy Abilities that did exist were all expanded upon and designed around as to make up for it. The presentation is fantastic. The portrayal of the characters, the plot, and the new lore were all so, so good. The Waddle Dees acting as the in-level collectibles! Waddle Dee Town! All of the side content! Forgotten Land fucking rocks. I’m still thinking about Elfilin and the True Arena.
2022
I don’t even want to touch whatever’s going on with the story but the gameplay is fantastic. So is the art direction, the music, the gimmick… The characters are nicely written for the most part, too. I really, really don’t want to talk about Triangle Strategy’s story. The Roselle are a weird narrative decision that unfortunately isn’t too out of character for Square Enix.
I’ll get the low-hanging fruit out of the way by mentioning how distracting the graphics are. The story is just alright, even as it picks up in the second half. However, the gameplay is so goddamn good for modern Pokémon and breath of fresh air in its own right. The mechanics are solid and the way in which Pokémon battles work is unique and fun. It’s so interesting to explore the Pokémon universe before Pokémon became so commonplace; the goal of the game putting emphasis on catching Pokémon and filling out the Pokédex is so, SO cool. In spite of its flaws, this game reminded me of my love for the franchise and its characters, which is more than I can say for other recent titles.
A good follow-up to the original! It adds some new mechanics, gimmicks, and environments that I found really enjoyable. It had more of a story this time around, but, truly, I really couldn’t care less; it was more of a pleasant, mild surprise than it was something I wanted from the last game. It’s cute and sweet regardless. The side quests are still tedious, and the split games are a bit silly, but it’s still a worthwhile play if you enjoyed its predecessor.
2021
👍
A good adaptation of what I’d consider Kirby’s best spinoff. It’s just as charming and just as fun (and just as surprisingly difficult, at times). There’s a lot to do and even more if you plan on 100%ing the game. If you haven’t played Epic Yarn yet and you don’t have a Wii, then this isn’t a bad way to go about trying it out.