samallen42
2021
Great action platformer with tons of replayability. Aside from lots of skill diversity, constantly fresh combat, amazing boss battles, and cool development of Samus's story, Metroid Dread is truly a horror game disguised as a Metroid game. Your heart begins to race the second that you enter an EMMI room, and you are never truly at ease exploring the various areas throughout the map. You're constantly being stalked, and escaping from an EMMI is only a temporary relief. You know that you will eventually have to go back in there and face it, and that never gets easier. Raven Beak is also a dope nasty character and I would love to see it in more media. Solid stuff Nintendo.
Definitely a step up from its predecessor. The racing feels a little better, but still doesn't have the goofy fluidity of a good Mario Kart game. The transformation mechanic is actually pretty interesting, and provides a lot of variety for level design. Planes are super fun and really open up the racetracks. Boats are cars but weirder. A better game than the original, but still not as good as any modern Mario Kart.
Another Mario Kart ripoff. It feels faster, but doesn't control nearly as well. The items are also unoriginal, and clearly the selling point was having SEGA IP's rather than a decent game. Not really worth the play.
1996
Now look, I understand that this is one of the greatest and most influential games of all time. It helped pioneer 3D gaming and the industry would be significantly different without it. But, I really don’t enjoy playing it. Having played modern installments like Galaxy or Odyssey really shows its age; the camera is super clunky and Mario just straight up doesn’t do what you want sometimes. The worlds are great, though, and there’s generally very good level design. I’m giving it 3 stars for its legacy but I did not enjoy completing the game.
2017
Pavlov is easily the best multiplayer shooter available on Oculus, but isn't without its flaws. Its benefits include a great engine, gun variety, a multitude of game modes, and approachable but deep gameplay. What it lacks, however, is freshness. You only play on the same three or four maps, in the same three or four game modes. The guns are fun, but even in Gun Game it begins to feel stale as you cycle through the exact same order and weapons over and over again. Pavlov has tons of potential and is a blast to play, but could really use some added content. Also, it's practically impossible to invite your friends on Oculus.
2016
See my Persona 5: Royal review. The same things apply minus the Royal bonus content. This is a 5/5, Royal just happens to be a 6/5.
2017
A fantastic entry in the Mario series, and easily one of the greatest platformers there ever has been. The story is somewhat fresh and interesting, but the gameplay is really where Odyssey shines.
This game never gets old to move around in. With smooth, intuitive motion and a plethora of options at Mario's disposal, you never take the same approach to something twice. Honestly, there doesn't even need to be objectives in the bigger kingdoms, it really is just fun to run around and get creative with movement.
The Capture mechanic is pretty fun, too, even if each capture serves exactly one specific purpose and there isn't much diversity to problem-solving or combat.
The music and settings are beautiful. I constantly found myself smiling at how visually interesting each kingdom was, with sublevels and unique worlds built into each one. Tostarena and Bowser's Kingdom are two personal favorites.
I really think this is the quintessential Switch game and you can't own the console without playing it.
This game never gets old to move around in. With smooth, intuitive motion and a plethora of options at Mario's disposal, you never take the same approach to something twice. Honestly, there doesn't even need to be objectives in the bigger kingdoms, it really is just fun to run around and get creative with movement.
The Capture mechanic is pretty fun, too, even if each capture serves exactly one specific purpose and there isn't much diversity to problem-solving or combat.
The music and settings are beautiful. I constantly found myself smiling at how visually interesting each kingdom was, with sublevels and unique worlds built into each one. Tostarena and Bowser's Kingdom are two personal favorites.
I really think this is the quintessential Switch game and you can't own the console without playing it.
2019
This review contains spoilers
Hands-down, the greatest video game I have ever played in my life. Also my favorite. A simple backloggd review cannot do it justice, but I'll try to express how I feel about this game. (Btw this is mainly my review for Persona 5 but with Royal content as a footnote)
For starters, let me say that I despise RPG's. I've always thought they were boring, repetitive, and take away so much of what makes video games what they are. So I really wasn't expecting much from this, but it was on sale and I liked Joker in Smash.
Persona 5, more than anything I've ever seen, has STYLE in SPADES. Everybody knows how cool this game is, but it cannot be stated enough. From the UI, to character designs, to animations, it's all so sick and fluid. Everything moves with an air of coolness about it, and it has such a unique visual identity that every frame is its own work of art. The soundtrack (11/10 in its own right) adds a whole new layer of pizzazz; dungeon crawling to low bass jams or fighting demons to the beautiful symphony that is Last Surprise is just on its own level in the gaming landscape.
The gameplay is honestly super compelling, too. I don't like RPGs because they feel like "choose your strongest spell until they die," but P5R and the entire Persona series shakes that up. Choosing elemental counters, in addition to ridiculously cool melee and gun attacks, makes each battle feel like outsmarting your enemies with an air of artistry. Being able to change Joker's Personas, All-Out Attacks, Baton Passes, and the brand-new Showtimes also give a lot of flavor to fights and keep the low-level grinding from getting repetitive. God bless your combat system, Persona 5.
The bestiary is super cool, giving Pokemon a run for its money throughout the entire game. Seeing all these reinterpretations of fictional characters, gods, and legends available to use in combat is such a crazy feature that it's hard to believe it's like the sixth coolest aspect of the game. The boss fights are huge and always a treat to get through, and it's awesome to see how they spin off from the humans that they spawn from.
Next is the real meat of the game, and I can't gush about this enough. Persona 5 Royal tells one of the greatest stories I've ever experienced in any form of media. I can't explain it; everyone has to try it. But starting as an outcast high schooler with no friends, one who has to develop himself and form relationships to gain new strength...then ending as humanity's silent savior with a team of your closest allies wielding godly power...it's an incredible transformation.
I want to say it like this: I cried when I finished this game. My parents saw me and asked why I was crying over a video game. I told them that they've cried over movies, where they follow a character's journey for about two hours. I followed the journey of these characters for ONE HUNDRED HOURS. I grew with the cast and followed their progress throughout a semester of high school. It really makes you feel like the silent member of a group that's been through it all together. The story is beautiful, and shocking. The very first boss of the game being a sexually and physically abusive gym coach who has a clear impact on the students around you (Ryuji, Ann, Shiho, Mishima) is a horrifying and bold move. It's the craziest first chapter of a game I can think of. I can't get enough of this story and I desperately crave more content.
My last point is the characters. Persona 5 Royal could have all other aspects fall apart, and its characters would still hold up. The music could be garbage, the story could be wack, the gameplay could be terrible, but it would still hold up simply thanks to its cast of characters. It's almost impossible to pick a favorite, and I could write out my love for each one of them in a separate essay. It also dodges the usual RPG trope where the characters only really have relationships with you; they all interact with each other and have clear roles within the friend group. You can see how Ryuji likes Ann, but won't admit it because he thinks she's too good for him. At the same time, Ann struggles with self-doubt and confides in you about her own weaknesses. Yusuke and Haru have a mutual respect for the finer things in culture, even though Yusuke doesn't have two pennies to rub together and Haru is the sole inheritor of a global empire. It always feels fresh and there's no amount of character interaction that would satisfy me because this is probably my favorite team of characters in fiction. I have bought every spinoff and consumed all the media just to see them again.
Persona 5 Royal itself is a welcome addition to the original story of Persona 5, and was easily worth another 80-hour playthrough for its content. Maruki and Sumi were amazing additions to the cast of characters, the new songs and animations were fantastic, the gameplay got even better, QOL tweaks were great to have, and the existing 10/10 content was brought to an 11.
I cannot stress enough how great this game is. My life would not be the same without it, and I can firmly say it is my favorite game of all time.
For starters, let me say that I despise RPG's. I've always thought they were boring, repetitive, and take away so much of what makes video games what they are. So I really wasn't expecting much from this, but it was on sale and I liked Joker in Smash.
Persona 5, more than anything I've ever seen, has STYLE in SPADES. Everybody knows how cool this game is, but it cannot be stated enough. From the UI, to character designs, to animations, it's all so sick and fluid. Everything moves with an air of coolness about it, and it has such a unique visual identity that every frame is its own work of art. The soundtrack (11/10 in its own right) adds a whole new layer of pizzazz; dungeon crawling to low bass jams or fighting demons to the beautiful symphony that is Last Surprise is just on its own level in the gaming landscape.
The gameplay is honestly super compelling, too. I don't like RPGs because they feel like "choose your strongest spell until they die," but P5R and the entire Persona series shakes that up. Choosing elemental counters, in addition to ridiculously cool melee and gun attacks, makes each battle feel like outsmarting your enemies with an air of artistry. Being able to change Joker's Personas, All-Out Attacks, Baton Passes, and the brand-new Showtimes also give a lot of flavor to fights and keep the low-level grinding from getting repetitive. God bless your combat system, Persona 5.
The bestiary is super cool, giving Pokemon a run for its money throughout the entire game. Seeing all these reinterpretations of fictional characters, gods, and legends available to use in combat is such a crazy feature that it's hard to believe it's like the sixth coolest aspect of the game. The boss fights are huge and always a treat to get through, and it's awesome to see how they spin off from the humans that they spawn from.
Next is the real meat of the game, and I can't gush about this enough. Persona 5 Royal tells one of the greatest stories I've ever experienced in any form of media. I can't explain it; everyone has to try it. But starting as an outcast high schooler with no friends, one who has to develop himself and form relationships to gain new strength...then ending as humanity's silent savior with a team of your closest allies wielding godly power...it's an incredible transformation.
I want to say it like this: I cried when I finished this game. My parents saw me and asked why I was crying over a video game. I told them that they've cried over movies, where they follow a character's journey for about two hours. I followed the journey of these characters for ONE HUNDRED HOURS. I grew with the cast and followed their progress throughout a semester of high school. It really makes you feel like the silent member of a group that's been through it all together. The story is beautiful, and shocking. The very first boss of the game being a sexually and physically abusive gym coach who has a clear impact on the students around you (Ryuji, Ann, Shiho, Mishima) is a horrifying and bold move. It's the craziest first chapter of a game I can think of. I can't get enough of this story and I desperately crave more content.
My last point is the characters. Persona 5 Royal could have all other aspects fall apart, and its characters would still hold up. The music could be garbage, the story could be wack, the gameplay could be terrible, but it would still hold up simply thanks to its cast of characters. It's almost impossible to pick a favorite, and I could write out my love for each one of them in a separate essay. It also dodges the usual RPG trope where the characters only really have relationships with you; they all interact with each other and have clear roles within the friend group. You can see how Ryuji likes Ann, but won't admit it because he thinks she's too good for him. At the same time, Ann struggles with self-doubt and confides in you about her own weaknesses. Yusuke and Haru have a mutual respect for the finer things in culture, even though Yusuke doesn't have two pennies to rub together and Haru is the sole inheritor of a global empire. It always feels fresh and there's no amount of character interaction that would satisfy me because this is probably my favorite team of characters in fiction. I have bought every spinoff and consumed all the media just to see them again.
Persona 5 Royal itself is a welcome addition to the original story of Persona 5, and was easily worth another 80-hour playthrough for its content. Maruki and Sumi were amazing additions to the cast of characters, the new songs and animations were fantastic, the gameplay got even better, QOL tweaks were great to have, and the existing 10/10 content was brought to an 11.
I cannot stress enough how great this game is. My life would not be the same without it, and I can firmly say it is my favorite game of all time.