petro_sino
While A Realm Reborn was able to intrigue with Eorzea's mysteries, it could never hold a candle compared to the first expansion to the acclaimed MMORPG. I adored every single part, aside from suffering a little dragging at the end part, and it seamlessly connected the player to the land's characters. For the first time, you're an actual character in the story, not a vessel for plot progression but the plot's main protagonist, between many.
Impressive, by MMO standards outstanding.
Impressive, by MMO standards outstanding.
2006
Being the remake to the first game to include interchangeable job systems, balance in this game is a concept not for the faint of heart. Yes, there will be parts where your choices will kick you in the ribs. Yes, there is a boss where it's pratically mandatory to run Dragoon full party. But the freedom and the sense of discovery I had the first time I played this game was unparalleled. Add QoL improvements and a loosely improved storytelling with some characterization, there is a game you're going to play again and again. It's a bit more streamlined compared to the original, but I don't mind the 3D look, it's not as egregiously slow as IV for DS at least.
2012
Very short side scroller. I vividly remember growing frustrated with it up until it was over, yet if you asked me about its story and characters - I can't remember a single thing. Another drop in the bucket.
Absolutely the best experience you could have with a somewhat realistic combat and arcade-y mechanics, to think that this is the best WW2 shooter is probably an understatement. Those little experiences are what makes this game alive and full of soul and memories.
Fantastic game, reminds me of the old days of Desperados. Fun, the atmosphere is stratospheric and the game is genuinely hard at times but never punishing. There are way more ways to finish a map than it looks at first.
2008
Despite a fundamentally simple idea, it can get quite hard and it's exhilarating to beat some very hard levels. It was great for it time (2008!), yet today there's many more competitors who look better. It doesn't overstay its welcome too much, but it can get repetitive.
2015
For a free game, there's a lot of content. It's one of the best uses of real time combat on RPGMaker as others said and it doesn't take away much time. I keep thinking about this game for how adequate it is, it's just a short good game.
Despite being a tad unbalanced, this is one of the most fun and deep games I've ever played. The characters are very well built and feel genuine, so does their struggle. Ivalice becomes thus a perfect example of worldbuilding and ... oh man I'm so in love with this game.
Gate between the old and the new, Blazing Blade sits in a spot where it does its job fairly well, having a competent but not stellar cast of characters, a passable story and map design ranging from discreet to depressing. It's outclassed in each and every aspect by the older and the newer games, and I would even recommend it to new blood interested in the saga, if only Lyndis mode didn't exist.
If Lyndis mode was your first taste of Fire Emblem, I am genuinely sorry.
If Lyndis mode was your first taste of Fire Emblem, I am genuinely sorry.
Short and sweet self-contained story, very interesting concept and ideas. It goes beyond the typical RPG-maker horror story and creates rather than a world a blank canvas for the next games.
1998
What a charming little game! It had the worst of luck, with so many RPGs coming out at the same time, yet Guardian's Crusade, despite a simplistic design, has a lot of things going on for it.
No magic? No problem, with hundreds of summons at your disposal though the Living Toys, you can push through any adversity and they work like summons. With a deceptively simple but slick story and grander than life characters, Guardian's Crusade would be good without the Baby, who's not only co-protagonist but covers an entire half of the gameplay section. Be good to him and he'll heal, fight and transform in vicious enemies!
I admittedly grew up with this game, but every time I revisit it there's always something new that I appreciate. Few games make me feel as adventurous and looking for new things to do like Guardian's Crusade.
No magic? No problem, with hundreds of summons at your disposal though the Living Toys, you can push through any adversity and they work like summons. With a deceptively simple but slick story and grander than life characters, Guardian's Crusade would be good without the Baby, who's not only co-protagonist but covers an entire half of the gameplay section. Be good to him and he'll heal, fight and transform in vicious enemies!
I admittedly grew up with this game, but every time I revisit it there's always something new that I appreciate. Few games make me feel as adventurous and looking for new things to do like Guardian's Crusade.
Insane locations and quite endearing cast makes for a true crime game with serious choices and interesting dynamics. The game is fun to play and it really bothers me how Square litterally dropped the game the moment it wasn't profitable. Being somewhat unfinished makes me think how much more content and better it would've been.
Definitive compared to the original has DLC missions (debatably okay) and side-story (ranging from love letters to old movies and fun little parodies). Either version plays the same.
Definitive compared to the original has DLC missions (debatably okay) and side-story (ranging from love letters to old movies and fun little parodies). Either version plays the same.
I hope the true hardcore bobbleheads won't pop me up but ... I think this game is fine. Story mode I feel is obnoxious and levels feel either fun and exciting or uninspiring and a drag to sit through. Also I didn't expect for the game to have so much dialogue, which I found cute. The multiplayer is pretty cool, even though I never felt like playing through the Space Invaders crossover more than a couple of times. I played this game for some days but I don't think I'll 100% it.
It's still going to come up while playing with friends, outside of beating them up on Mario Kart.
It's still going to come up while playing with friends, outside of beating them up on Mario Kart.
Incredible ensemble of story and characters makes for THE passion project. I might be a bit biased since I have played this game a lot but it truly is a soulful game. It's basically blue rescue team and time rescue team, but way better in everything, from mechanics, which can be tedious I'll admit, to everything else which drips of love and careful design. It's not for everyone, since the dungeon aspects can become tedious in longer levels, but it's a timeless classic for me.
It doesn't get as classic as this gem. Many QoL improvements in the latter games make this one feel a bit dated and maybe not worth playing as much as the others, yet the charm it holds is incomparable.