jurgensen
The first case has one of the most clever twists in the series, and the last case has the dumbest twist in the series
The Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories of the series
I think the game is at its best when you’re facing a tough boss that requires rethinking your build. That being said, I think some of the early bosses have too much unnecessary friction since you don’t have the resources to try different builds without restarting the entire mission.
1993
genuinely wish the game had been longer. i was having so much fun discovering all the different things my mech could do basically up until the final level
did some interesting things for a 2010’s rpgmaker game. i like the dial-a-combo mechanica, and i appreciate an earthbound-inspired rpg that’s not about a little kid making friends or having depression. also the soundtrack absolutely rules
you know how the dragon quest devs realized after one game that it’s a bad idea to have a turn-based rpg with a one-member party? it kinda turns every fight into a slog, and it’s waaay too easy to get stuck in an endless loop of taking a big hit, healing, taking another big hit, healing again, etc. also, while i appreciate the addition of a timed hit mechanic, the timing felt really inconsistent.
Quite possibly the best overall story in the entire series. The only reason it’s not getting a perfect score is the occasional obtuse adventure game logic needed to progress, but even then it gives the option to say “I give up, just continue the story”
I appreciate the game for having a lot of built-in mechanics that really encourage the player to slow down and enjoy the abundant side content. That being said, if you hit a point where you want to just finish the game like I eventually did, you’ll find a lot of those mechanics start to feel more like annoying wastes of time.
If I was a more insane person, I’d probably really enjoy the entire extra games bundled in with the trooper raids and the weapon upgrade system, but I was content to only engage with the dojos and side stories, and I really appreciate that the game’s difficulty doesn’t require very much grinding for xp or crafting ingredients
If I was a more insane person, I’d probably really enjoy the entire extra games bundled in with the trooper raids and the weapon upgrade system, but I was content to only engage with the dojos and side stories, and I really appreciate that the game’s difficulty doesn’t require very much grinding for xp or crafting ingredients
2023
This might end up being my game of the year. Absolutely mind-bending puzzles, gorgeous atmosphere, and a killer soundtrack. Every time you think, “Okay, it can’t get any crazier than this,” they add one more twist on the mechanics that forces you to completely reconsider the tools you have at your disposal.
2022
Every turn-based RPG I play from here on will be judged against this game. An absolute gold standard for the genre.
2023
I hope we start to see more deduce-em-ups like this and Return of the Obra Dinn in the future. This game made me realize that I actually really like games that force me to take notes
Web-slinging might be the best form
of locomotion in video games. The stealth and combat are both okay, and the story’s kinda ehh, but man I really just love swinging around the city
of locomotion in video games. The stealth and combat are both okay, and the story’s kinda ehh, but man I really just love swinging around the city
A really fun and compelling supernatural mystery and plenty of clever little rube goleberg puzzles. Occasionally held back by adventure game moon logic but ehh what can ya do
The side missions are mostly chaff, but it works pretty well as a handheld game
— you pick it up, crank out a couple side missions, then go do something else. I found it very rewarding to get through all that and come out the other side with the ability to basically break the game over my knee with all the buffs you get from equipment and materia, and the last half dozen or so side missions pretty much require you to do just that.
I started this game to make sure I was up to speed on the story when Rebirth drops in February, but if anyone else is worried about it being required reading, it really doesn’t seem like it. There’s definitely some surprises for anyone who hasn’t played the original FF7, but for the most part the story is utter nonsense.
Edit: Having now played Rebirth, I guess this is actually pretty plot-important, huh. I will say, about 90% of this game still felt tangentially related at best. Basically everything that has to do with Angeal and Genesis just felt kind of confusing and pointless. But yeah, there is plenty of stuff in here that Rebirth builds on, so I guess it is actually a necessary part of the FF7R series.
— you pick it up, crank out a couple side missions, then go do something else. I found it very rewarding to get through all that and come out the other side with the ability to basically break the game over my knee with all the buffs you get from equipment and materia, and the last half dozen or so side missions pretty much require you to do just that.
I started this game to make sure I was up to speed on the story when Rebirth drops in February, but if anyone else is worried about it being required reading, it really doesn’t seem like it. There’s definitely some surprises for anyone who hasn’t played the original FF7, but for the most part the story is utter nonsense.
Edit: Having now played Rebirth, I guess this is actually pretty plot-important, huh. I will say, about 90% of this game still felt tangentially related at best. Basically everything that has to do with Angeal and Genesis just felt kind of confusing and pointless. But yeah, there is plenty of stuff in here that Rebirth builds on, so I guess it is actually a necessary part of the FF7R series.
Always love a game where you’re just a little guy going around.