queerasmichael
The discourse surrounding this game has been entirely disingenuous. The "omg it's just a card game" crowd gave it the impression that it's just like playing goldfish or uno but Midnight Suns is hardly just a card game.
You get to play as an original character to the Marvel universe known as "The Hunter" yet the creation aspect of it is very bare minimum. There's only one voice option (fortunately for the Male Hunter he is voiced by Matthew Mercer, not sure of the performance for Fem Hunter), the customization for your appearance is reminiscent of DCUO but even more lackluster, and there is no choice of playstyle for your Hunter for weapon/superpower options. All of the aforementioned lead to underwhelming immersion at times.
The card SYSTEM is how they guised the combat mechanics to give the tactical elements of a turn based strategy RPG a bit of flare. Although a bit repetitive at times, combat is the strongest feature of the game and can be fun yet challenging at the same time. There isn't much variety to the missions or bosses as there are only a handful of each on rotation but they are all different enough from each other and enjoyable nonetheless.
The most contentious aspect of Midnight Suns is the Abbey. This is where you can upgrade your Hunter abilities and interact with all the different Marvel characters. I do not disagree that at times the side quests in-between missions at the Abbey can be a bit of a chore but I found the relationship building simulator to be endearing, regardless of how camp and cheesy the dialogue came across. My biggest gripe is when you implement a mechanic like this, I expect potential romance scenarios. I understand why Marvel wouldn't allow this but that doesn't stop me from wanting it. If Blade was able to woo-hoo Captain Marvel then I should be able to kiss Peter Parker (Spiderman) or Robbie Reyes (Ghost Rider)!
Something I feel being overlooked though is the identity crisis this game seems to have. Is it a dark, brooding, supernatural experience or just another Marvel cliche? During mission cutscenes the game portrays itself as something contrary to a lot of the dialogue encounters you have at the Abbey. Where you're inviting a character to a movie night or book club and bantering about something that doesn't vibe with how the game was originally marketed.
However, ultimately, I enjoyed my time playing Midnight Suns. Is it without flaws? No but it definitely was treated unfairly and never given a proper chance due to the initial reception thus causing it to be commercial flop. A follow up is unlikely, which is unfortunate because the story was intriguing enough and in typical Marvel fashion, they teased a sequel. So we may never know what becomes of the Hunter.
You get to play as an original character to the Marvel universe known as "The Hunter" yet the creation aspect of it is very bare minimum. There's only one voice option (fortunately for the Male Hunter he is voiced by Matthew Mercer, not sure of the performance for Fem Hunter), the customization for your appearance is reminiscent of DCUO but even more lackluster, and there is no choice of playstyle for your Hunter for weapon/superpower options. All of the aforementioned lead to underwhelming immersion at times.
The card SYSTEM is how they guised the combat mechanics to give the tactical elements of a turn based strategy RPG a bit of flare. Although a bit repetitive at times, combat is the strongest feature of the game and can be fun yet challenging at the same time. There isn't much variety to the missions or bosses as there are only a handful of each on rotation but they are all different enough from each other and enjoyable nonetheless.
The most contentious aspect of Midnight Suns is the Abbey. This is where you can upgrade your Hunter abilities and interact with all the different Marvel characters. I do not disagree that at times the side quests in-between missions at the Abbey can be a bit of a chore but I found the relationship building simulator to be endearing, regardless of how camp and cheesy the dialogue came across. My biggest gripe is when you implement a mechanic like this, I expect potential romance scenarios. I understand why Marvel wouldn't allow this but that doesn't stop me from wanting it. If Blade was able to woo-hoo Captain Marvel then I should be able to kiss Peter Parker (Spiderman) or Robbie Reyes (Ghost Rider)!
Something I feel being overlooked though is the identity crisis this game seems to have. Is it a dark, brooding, supernatural experience or just another Marvel cliche? During mission cutscenes the game portrays itself as something contrary to a lot of the dialogue encounters you have at the Abbey. Where you're inviting a character to a movie night or book club and bantering about something that doesn't vibe with how the game was originally marketed.
However, ultimately, I enjoyed my time playing Midnight Suns. Is it without flaws? No but it definitely was treated unfairly and never given a proper chance due to the initial reception thus causing it to be commercial flop. A follow up is unlikely, which is unfortunate because the story was intriguing enough and in typical Marvel fashion, they teased a sequel. So we may never know what becomes of the Hunter.
"I'm not just sure, I'm HIV positive" that 'South Park: Snow Day!' is a bad day.
This game is a tired, lazy, unimaginative, poor attempt at the continuation of the recent South Park games that feature you as the "New Kid" who moved into the neighborhood during The Stick of Truth, which was the first entry into these line of games.
I wanted to give this game the benefit of the doubt upon seeing the initial trailer for the game but Snow Day, which was developed by Question LLC and published by THQ Nordic, decided to rip away the charm and magic from the third installment of the New Kid Trilogy; all of which were reasons why the first two games were so special.
The immersion of being in an extended episode of the South Park animated series is is completely gone, therefore, the dialogue and humor you experienced in the first two games are now watered down and essentially non-existent. The change from 2D to 3D made the environment and all the characters in it appear lifeless (Let's just admit that outside the self-titled South Park game for N64/PS1, South Park 3D games do not work). But the greatest sin of them all was the attempt to change the combat and playstyle of a traditional turn-based RPG into a low effort live service, hack 'n slash, adventure game. The formula for success was right there and they squandered it.
I understand the need to try something different, they even addressed it in the game that "New Kid" has become too OP so they had to change the rules but they swung and missed on all accounts. If they wanted to switch things up, South Park does not lack material to take inspiration from. Although WrestleQuest did it first, a South Park attempt at a wrestling inspired turn-bases RPG would have been tons of fun and they already have an episode from the show to continue the shenanigans from. Or better yet, how about a spin on the game the kids play "Texans vs Mexicans"? An outrageous concept for a game sure but something a South Park game could getaway with and potentially pull off.
For the price of admission of $30, 5-6 hours of gameplay still feels very short, the combat is extremely repetitive, and worst of all, if you die mid level, you have to start the mission over. Maybe that isn't annoying to some but when the game is obnoxiously difficult on medium and hard but too simple on easy difficulty, finding the right balance for you can be a struggle to enjoy when trying to play the game.
I'm sure this game will tickle the fancy of some players and maybe my expectations for Snow Day are skewed coming off the success of two solid, well-made games that I enjoyed very much but this even as a standalone game would not appeal to me. It's a quick cash grab off a popular IP that is wonky and passionless. Not even multiplayer can save this mess of a game since there are so many better options out right now that you could be playing with your friends instead. South Park: Snow Day! is just another thing to blame Canada for.
This game is a tired, lazy, unimaginative, poor attempt at the continuation of the recent South Park games that feature you as the "New Kid" who moved into the neighborhood during The Stick of Truth, which was the first entry into these line of games.
I wanted to give this game the benefit of the doubt upon seeing the initial trailer for the game but Snow Day, which was developed by Question LLC and published by THQ Nordic, decided to rip away the charm and magic from the third installment of the New Kid Trilogy; all of which were reasons why the first two games were so special.
The immersion of being in an extended episode of the South Park animated series is is completely gone, therefore, the dialogue and humor you experienced in the first two games are now watered down and essentially non-existent. The change from 2D to 3D made the environment and all the characters in it appear lifeless (Let's just admit that outside the self-titled South Park game for N64/PS1, South Park 3D games do not work). But the greatest sin of them all was the attempt to change the combat and playstyle of a traditional turn-based RPG into a low effort live service, hack 'n slash, adventure game. The formula for success was right there and they squandered it.
I understand the need to try something different, they even addressed it in the game that "New Kid" has become too OP so they had to change the rules but they swung and missed on all accounts. If they wanted to switch things up, South Park does not lack material to take inspiration from. Although WrestleQuest did it first, a South Park attempt at a wrestling inspired turn-bases RPG would have been tons of fun and they already have an episode from the show to continue the shenanigans from. Or better yet, how about a spin on the game the kids play "Texans vs Mexicans"? An outrageous concept for a game sure but something a South Park game could getaway with and potentially pull off.
For the price of admission of $30, 5-6 hours of gameplay still feels very short, the combat is extremely repetitive, and worst of all, if you die mid level, you have to start the mission over. Maybe that isn't annoying to some but when the game is obnoxiously difficult on medium and hard but too simple on easy difficulty, finding the right balance for you can be a struggle to enjoy when trying to play the game.
I'm sure this game will tickle the fancy of some players and maybe my expectations for Snow Day are skewed coming off the success of two solid, well-made games that I enjoyed very much but this even as a standalone game would not appeal to me. It's a quick cash grab off a popular IP that is wonky and passionless. Not even multiplayer can save this mess of a game since there are so many better options out right now that you could be playing with your friends instead. South Park: Snow Day! is just another thing to blame Canada for.
Princess Peach can serve c**t in a variety of ways. Not only as a swordfighter, a detective, a cowgirl or one of the many other outfit transformations available in 'Showtime!' but also as a lead protagonist in her own solo, platform, adventure game.
PP:S! provides a unique, imaginative, and fun experience that is enjoyable for gamers of all ages. Set in the Sparkle Theater, we're introduced to several new characters: The Theets (the Toads of Sparkle Theater), Grape (the villain) and her group of dastardly minions, the Sour Bunch, but most importantly Stella, the guardian of the theater (who also happens to be Peach's companion throughout the game).
As you traverse through the different stages/plays, you get to experience each outfit transformation several times, each progressively getting a bit more challenging but not too difficult as you collect sparkle gems, ribbons, and rescue the Sparklas (Theets who have the abilities of the outfits that Peach can transform into).
Although PP:S! is not a complicated game, it can come across a bit mind-numbingly basic. The greatest strength of the game is its simplicity but also its biggest fault, as its 2-button reliant control scheme carries all the way through to the final boss; where the battle feels underwhelming when visually it is so full of charm and character.
However, this game really expands on the badassery that Peach exhibited in the Super Mario Bros movie by allowing her to showoff a new side of all her skills with all the various transformations. From kicking ass and demonstrating her stealth abilities as a ninja or controlling fish through the power of song as a mermaid, and so much more; this game proves that Peach can be more than just a damsel in distress.
PP:S! provides a unique, imaginative, and fun experience that is enjoyable for gamers of all ages. Set in the Sparkle Theater, we're introduced to several new characters: The Theets (the Toads of Sparkle Theater), Grape (the villain) and her group of dastardly minions, the Sour Bunch, but most importantly Stella, the guardian of the theater (who also happens to be Peach's companion throughout the game).
As you traverse through the different stages/plays, you get to experience each outfit transformation several times, each progressively getting a bit more challenging but not too difficult as you collect sparkle gems, ribbons, and rescue the Sparklas (Theets who have the abilities of the outfits that Peach can transform into).
Although PP:S! is not a complicated game, it can come across a bit mind-numbingly basic. The greatest strength of the game is its simplicity but also its biggest fault, as its 2-button reliant control scheme carries all the way through to the final boss; where the battle feels underwhelming when visually it is so full of charm and character.
However, this game really expands on the badassery that Peach exhibited in the Super Mario Bros movie by allowing her to showoff a new side of all her skills with all the various transformations. From kicking ass and demonstrating her stealth abilities as a ninja or controlling fish through the power of song as a mermaid, and so much more; this game proves that Peach can be more than just a damsel in distress.
2017
As an introductory game to the Fire Emblem franchise, I was left underwhelmed but for a Musou game, this was one of the most polished experiences I've had for this genre of video games.
2006
I understand this will be an unpopular onion but I'm very disappointed to say that I did not enjoy this game. Generally, I am a big fan of anything Rockstar but Bully feels like a product of its time that is remembered fondly of due to nostalgia. It has that classic Rockstar feel to it but the game is still very wonky and the dialogue/story is cringe to the point that I could no longer continue with the game. Maybe I will revisit Bully because there are some promising aspects to it but this will not be anytime soon.
2023
Have you ever wanted to play a game that takes rhythm aspects of Rockband and adds them to a game like Ratchet & Clank (minus all the crazy guns)? No? Well, me either but Hi-Fi Rush is that game and I'm glad that Bethesda and Tango Gameworks came up with this creative and unique idea.
This hack and slash combo game focuses on making sure the player stays on beat as they progress through the story and rewards them for doing so while implementing both 2d and 3d platforming. If you're not the best at timing in games, do not expect to be able to button mash your way through this game easily as every aspect of Hi-FI Rush requires you to listen to cues in the music so that you can effectively time your inputs for combat, jumping, parrying, dashing, etc. to make the most of your abilities.
Visually nothing compares to Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 as it has the feel of an anime with comic book elements. Sure, are there games that are graphically superior and more realistic? Yes but HFR is original and that goes for the music too. Although the story may be basic (bad guy bad, must stop) the cast was brought to life by the voice over crew led by Robbie Daymond (who portrays Chai the protagonist) and any simplicity in story is forgotten by the charm, wit, and himboness of the main character.
The game does a great job of guiding you, teaching you how to play, and introducing new features or enemies as you progress but it becomes repetitive by the end of the 2nd act as it feels like the developers forgot that they have all these cool features in the game and just prefer to have you beat up mobs of enemies. Thankfully each boss battle is unique enough to ignore all of that. End game is a different story though. The last few missions (tracks) are paced really well and every aspect of the game is utilized to its fullest.
Xbox doesn't have a lot of quality and original exclusives these days but they have themselves a gem in Hi-Fi Rush. There's also a lot of post game content that players could consume. I enjoyed myself with this game and I wouldn't mind a sequel if they ever decided to make one but it's fine as is as a standalone title. However, I very much would like to see this game get an animated show adaptation. Each time a cutscene occurred, it felt like I was watching a show and sometimes I forgot I was playing a game. That's the direction I would like to see Hi-Fi Rush go.
This hack and slash combo game focuses on making sure the player stays on beat as they progress through the story and rewards them for doing so while implementing both 2d and 3d platforming. If you're not the best at timing in games, do not expect to be able to button mash your way through this game easily as every aspect of Hi-FI Rush requires you to listen to cues in the music so that you can effectively time your inputs for combat, jumping, parrying, dashing, etc. to make the most of your abilities.
Visually nothing compares to Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 as it has the feel of an anime with comic book elements. Sure, are there games that are graphically superior and more realistic? Yes but HFR is original and that goes for the music too. Although the story may be basic (bad guy bad, must stop) the cast was brought to life by the voice over crew led by Robbie Daymond (who portrays Chai the protagonist) and any simplicity in story is forgotten by the charm, wit, and himboness of the main character.
The game does a great job of guiding you, teaching you how to play, and introducing new features or enemies as you progress but it becomes repetitive by the end of the 2nd act as it feels like the developers forgot that they have all these cool features in the game and just prefer to have you beat up mobs of enemies. Thankfully each boss battle is unique enough to ignore all of that. End game is a different story though. The last few missions (tracks) are paced really well and every aspect of the game is utilized to its fullest.
Xbox doesn't have a lot of quality and original exclusives these days but they have themselves a gem in Hi-Fi Rush. There's also a lot of post game content that players could consume. I enjoyed myself with this game and I wouldn't mind a sequel if they ever decided to make one but it's fine as is as a standalone title. However, I very much would like to see this game get an animated show adaptation. Each time a cutscene occurred, it felt like I was watching a show and sometimes I forgot I was playing a game. That's the direction I would like to see Hi-Fi Rush go.
2020
Tell Me Why follows twins Alyson and Tyler who have telepathic-esque powers as they investigate their complicated childhood, including the tragic night of their mother's death. This game is very similar to the Life is Strange series but falls short of the magic that makes LiS great. However, if you just want familiar aesthetic and game mechanics, TMW will scratch that itch. The game does a good job of representation, bringing characters to life with queer/trans and/or Alaska Native backgrounds. It may or may not be directly influenced or inspired by LiS but it does come across as a poor attempt of being a love letter to the Square Enix franchise. The story is compelling enough to overlook the lackluster voice acting and the rest of the game's flaws but this is still going to be an average episodic, choose your own adventure game.