mintcake
2008
We all know there's only one route that matters, but even that route has other games that tell the same story much better.
In this type of games I always try to let everyone live, but without utilizing the scarification mechanics, this game is crazy difficult. Solid gameplay and story, but I don't want to choose when and who to sacrifice, especially when it's tied to endings.
School setting and war never work well together and here is another example. The story is hard to take seriously. Compared to the first game (and third game), side characters are more fleshed out with their own quests, but the main characters are completely charmless and cliche. Both graphic fidelity and art style toke a huge blow. Maps are segmented due to hardware limitation as well, which does not hurt the core combat system too much. The nonexistent difficulty, on the other hand, reduces the fun factor quite a bit. The new elaborated class system is a plus and gives the game a stronger RPG flavor. Overall Valkyria Chronicles 2 is a step down from the excellent first game, saved by the solid core gameplay mechanics.
2008
It's rare that a game with innovative gameplay system comes out with engaging story, expensive presentation and banger soundtrack. Valkyria Chronicles hits the mark right off the bat. While the game has some balance issues, the genius of the core gameplay establish a solid foundation. Turn-based tactics games never felt so refreshing and engaging with real-time free roaming, yet the thrill of adjusting formation for emergent situation and the satisfaction of seeing carefully devised plans work out remain intact.
2013
This is the beginning of the end. Most Japanese developers faced difficulty when they made the jump to HD. Game Freak, on the other hand, fumbled the jump to 3DS. A marked lack of post game content and tap water story signified that GF no longer care about doing anything new.
The last time Game Freak poured their heart into a remake. Nothing is cut and sensible updates are added everywhere.
2017
The real chicken dinner is the friends we made along the way. I can distinctively remember the moment I won for the first time with a few acquaintances, that was the moment they became my friends. You know you hit something special when juggernaut franchises such as Call of Duty and Battlefield try to copy your formula.
This game (or the entire genre) makes little sense on DS. It could easily cause damage to the touch screen. I salute the developers for managing to make it work as well as it does, but I cannot recommend it to anyone.
My introduction to gaming, probability, logical deduction and more.
I can't decide if this is NTR or not.
2009
Somehow I don't think this game is on Linux.
Some of the best designed maps in the series offset by the dumbest plot I've ever seen in videogame. The mixest of bags.
Who would have known that the franchise was only one option of disabling perma-death from success? Story is uneventful and map design is on the weaker side, but accessibility options and support dialogues carried Fire Emblem Awakening to a height I simplify cannot understand.
2009
Gibberish galore: the game, featuring the most unlikable cast in the series. I still have to force myself to believe a mainline Final Fantasy game, inspired by Call of Duty of all things, could have no town at all. Unfortunately the story and world design drag down the excellent combat and soundtrack.
Please stop with Lightening Queue nonsense. They only worthwhile thing she did in FF13 is punching Snow in the face.
Please stop with Lightening Queue nonsense. They only worthwhile thing she did in FF13 is punching Snow in the face.
2001
Final Fantasy XIII-0, the proof of concept for FFXIII. It turned out a JRPG can succeed while comprising solely of corridors. The next logical step is obviously to take out the towns. One small detail that I simply cannot get over with is the UI for menu, it looks so cheap and uninspiring, when art direction in this game in general has been quite good.