notthepars
I won't ever think about this again it just had zero impact.
one positive I will give it is I love an integrated series of maps with lots of little nooks and crannies to double back on and explore as you level up. more of that please.
it's also funny how XVI just stole this whole game's deal but added a nonsense somber tone on top of it. least this is trying to be fun!
one positive I will give it is I love an integrated series of maps with lots of little nooks and crannies to double back on and explore as you level up. more of that please.
it's also funny how XVI just stole this whole game's deal but added a nonsense somber tone on top of it. least this is trying to be fun!
paraphrasing slightly Rob Zacny's Last of Us II review: there is so much good stuff in here in service of something
2020
all of that to get what was ultimately a pretty good game.
some terrific character writing, a fairly cringe tone, and functional gameplay.
I did like it!
some terrific character writing, a fairly cringe tone, and functional gameplay.
I did like it!
much tighter than the main game by dint of the (presumably) more generous development time and more condensed setting. almost makes me sad there won't be a sequel.
maybe they can do what they did the FFXIII trilogy and get some mileage out of the billions of assets
maybe they can do what they did the FFXIII trilogy and get some mileage out of the billions of assets
2023
a lovely game. exactly the sort of short blissful experience I wanted in this very cold month.
the traversal remains a joy and they've improved the combat somewhat with the boss battles being more fun to play but this is let down by a genuinely embarrassing at times vocal performance from Lowenthal. that whole Venom section is rough and feels like a first draft. the story as well is so sanitised and this vision of New York is idealistic to the point of total absurdity. I don't feel any real friction.
the battle system never really clicks, most of the music is recycled, everyone sounds bored or tired of being here but it sorta suits the vibe. the world is ending and everyone is ready to move on. you're just there to give them the shove they need.
I really enjoyed this trilogy all told.
I really enjoyed this trilogy all told.
it's quite remarkable given the complete mess of the development for this game versus what I understand to be a relatively smooth process for XVI and yet I don't think XVI can really claim to be a better game. at least this one is an RPG and I have a reason to explore the (imo much more interesting) world here. And it has dungeons!
jack wants to punch chaos or anything else which will give him a purpose.
multiple characters tell him you can't just punch the world's problems away.
jack says that's bullshit and proceeds to try and punch the world's problems away
this might be the smartest video game ever made
multiple characters tell him you can't just punch the world's problems away.
jack says that's bullshit and proceeds to try and punch the world's problems away
this might be the smartest video game ever made
2023
this has been done better in multiple other final fantasies
it narratively kinda fumbles the bag at the end which is a shame as they've really nailed on a lot of what makes this series good.
eh it's fine
2011
stephen merchant and JK simmons are superb and so are most of the puzzles. sometimes the direction isn't very clear though.
I still think this is good, sorry! the map is much bigger but it looks great and the traversal is so rapid and smooth that it doesn't become a chore to traverse.
compact enough that it doesn't get boring to traverse and enough side content to keep it fresh. also all the new additions are fun!