shaniji93
Marked it a little lower due to the literal PS1-ripped voices for Door to Phantomile.
But you can't skip this remaster bundle, recommended for fans of platformers.
But you can't skip this remaster bundle, recommended for fans of platformers.
This review contains spoilers
The first three notes of the Resurrection song literally brought me to tears...
Oh my poor Klonoa...
Oh my poor Klonoa...
1994
Why the heck does the Donkey Kong Country trilogy has such traumatising Game Over screens for a young inpressionable 5 year old kid like I was lmao.
Either way, I guess in a sense, it's very weird way for me to get good at playing/finishing the DKC games lol.
On that little side note of a tangent, this game still looks gorgeous to this day, I'm surprised that I haven't seen Nintendo ( and who ever made the DKC tropical duology) done a proper sequel to the DK franchise besides cameos or NSO classic ports.
Gameplay is fantastic as every level plays out differently and their level design is top notch with the example of the use of the collectable bananas as clues to secrets and bonus stages, to name a few.
Music is absolute god-tier, there's nothing I could add to the conversation really.
It shouldn't be skipped for DKC2, it's a must play!
Either way, I guess in a sense, it's very weird way for me to get good at playing/finishing the DKC games lol.
On that little side note of a tangent, this game still looks gorgeous to this day, I'm surprised that I haven't seen Nintendo ( and who ever made the DKC tropical duology) done a proper sequel to the DK franchise besides cameos or NSO classic ports.
Gameplay is fantastic as every level plays out differently and their level design is top notch with the example of the use of the collectable bananas as clues to secrets and bonus stages, to name a few.
Music is absolute god-tier, there's nothing I could add to the conversation really.
It shouldn't be skipped for DKC2, it's a must play!
2021
Boy I thought this is going to be somekind of Elden Ring like game, but I get a hecking by-the-numbers Open World experience (ie: generic Ubisoft adventure games) that I dreaded to experience again.
Much like Tactics Advance, Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls are my real first entries to the FF franchise, and what a way to begin the franchise!
The Dawn of Souls collection port builds off the overlooked Wonderswan color version of both games. For example, it changes FF I's Advance Dungeon & Dragons style of spell charges in the original NES/Famicom port, to having a more traditional FF MP pool system, and also fixes the known auto fight failure after attacking an already perished enemy. But in turn, enhances it with brand new optional dungeons FF I, and a new "inter-quel" scenario for FF II.
Final Fantasy I is (very appropriately) an excellent starting point for the Franchise, as many main-stay elements are present in this very first game: the job systems with the ability to level them up with a side-quest item, four elemental crystals as plot points, and the use of an airship as the ultimate form of transportation, to count a few.
FF I's replayability is immense as you can choose your starting job/class of your four party members which ever you please, an OP party of 4 Warriors? Sure! A class of 2 white mages and 2 black mages, if you have an appetite for destruction and manage to buff and debuff enemies (with the funds for ethers), go for it! The choice is yours to make.
While it's story albeit simple, with a prophecy of 4 warriors of light destined to restore the dying the elemental crystals, it's the journey that counts, with an interesting ending, that I won't spoil it for you.
FF I is made even better with the introduction of the optional Elemental Shrine Dungeons, opened after restoring each four elemental crystal. If you think FF I is on the easier side, try completing these Dungeons after restoring their respected crystals. What's great it that you can visit them anytime you want even after completing them, all treasures will be reseted after teleporting/exiting/finishing these dungeons, a very good way to farm many uncommon or even rare items!
Final Fantasy II is a recommended try. The story is a more poignant here than in FF I, with a more focused story of Orphaned Rebels against an ever so powerful Empire.
The game mechanics draws inspiration to the Wizardy series of games where all the party's stat are determined from gameplay, ie: max HP is boosted when the party member in question tanks a lot of hits, same goes for MP when casting spells, or the proficiency of weapons increases with every successful hits it has been made. This stats levelling mechanic can however be easily exploited by just attacking/healing the party itself. Never the less, FF II express player liberty by not subjugating the party members into their archetypes, much like later FF games or any other JRPGs that has a near limitless party customisation.
The game also has a lexicon game mechanic, where highlighted words can learned and asked to a majority of NPCs, it's intended so that you can get info into progressing the story or learn some tidbits, a clear inspiration from text-based/point-and-click adventure games.
Upon completing the main games of FF II, you'll be rewarded with a second scenario, Soul of Rebirth, the hardest optional content in Dawn of Souls, if you didn't do any proper stat levelling with those specific party members at the very least...
Dawn of Souls' music is a port of the PS1 Origins version, an excellent remix of the 8-bit original to a CD-based midi soundtrack with some new additions to make it more a Final Fantasy experience, such as a proper final boss music for FF I. There weren't any major compromises when converting it to the GBA, no ear-grating and awful mixes that GBA's soundchip is known to do.
Dawn of Souls contains also bestiaries for both games, which can help players in knowing the monsters' immunities, weaknesses, item/exp/gil drops.
In essence Dawn of Souls is build from the ground up as a better port version of FF I & II Orgins, sans opening FMVs or difficulty settings.
Really recommend it!
Note: I haven't played the recent console ports of the Pixel Remaster Collection of I - VI, I most likley may not test those out, safe for FF III, V, & VI.
The Dawn of Souls collection port builds off the overlooked Wonderswan color version of both games. For example, it changes FF I's Advance Dungeon & Dragons style of spell charges in the original NES/Famicom port, to having a more traditional FF MP pool system, and also fixes the known auto fight failure after attacking an already perished enemy. But in turn, enhances it with brand new optional dungeons FF I, and a new "inter-quel" scenario for FF II.
Final Fantasy I is (very appropriately) an excellent starting point for the Franchise, as many main-stay elements are present in this very first game: the job systems with the ability to level them up with a side-quest item, four elemental crystals as plot points, and the use of an airship as the ultimate form of transportation, to count a few.
FF I's replayability is immense as you can choose your starting job/class of your four party members which ever you please, an OP party of 4 Warriors? Sure! A class of 2 white mages and 2 black mages, if you have an appetite for destruction and manage to buff and debuff enemies (with the funds for ethers), go for it! The choice is yours to make.
While it's story albeit simple, with a prophecy of 4 warriors of light destined to restore the dying the elemental crystals, it's the journey that counts, with an interesting ending, that I won't spoil it for you.
FF I is made even better with the introduction of the optional Elemental Shrine Dungeons, opened after restoring each four elemental crystal. If you think FF I is on the easier side, try completing these Dungeons after restoring their respected crystals. What's great it that you can visit them anytime you want even after completing them, all treasures will be reseted after teleporting/exiting/finishing these dungeons, a very good way to farm many uncommon or even rare items!
Final Fantasy II is a recommended try. The story is a more poignant here than in FF I, with a more focused story of Orphaned Rebels against an ever so powerful Empire.
The game mechanics draws inspiration to the Wizardy series of games where all the party's stat are determined from gameplay, ie: max HP is boosted when the party member in question tanks a lot of hits, same goes for MP when casting spells, or the proficiency of weapons increases with every successful hits it has been made. This stats levelling mechanic can however be easily exploited by just attacking/healing the party itself. Never the less, FF II express player liberty by not subjugating the party members into their archetypes, much like later FF games or any other JRPGs that has a near limitless party customisation.
The game also has a lexicon game mechanic, where highlighted words can learned and asked to a majority of NPCs, it's intended so that you can get info into progressing the story or learn some tidbits, a clear inspiration from text-based/point-and-click adventure games.
Upon completing the main games of FF II, you'll be rewarded with a second scenario, Soul of Rebirth, the hardest optional content in Dawn of Souls, if you didn't do any proper stat levelling with those specific party members at the very least...
Dawn of Souls' music is a port of the PS1 Origins version, an excellent remix of the 8-bit original to a CD-based midi soundtrack with some new additions to make it more a Final Fantasy experience, such as a proper final boss music for FF I. There weren't any major compromises when converting it to the GBA, no ear-grating and awful mixes that GBA's soundchip is known to do.
Dawn of Souls contains also bestiaries for both games, which can help players in knowing the monsters' immunities, weaknesses, item/exp/gil drops.
In essence Dawn of Souls is build from the ground up as a better port version of FF I & II Orgins, sans opening FMVs or difficulty settings.
Really recommend it!
Note: I haven't played the recent console ports of the Pixel Remaster Collection of I - VI, I most likley may not test those out, safe for FF III, V, & VI.
Bundled with Final Fantasy I & II Dawn of Souls as a birthday gift, these were my official first entries to the Final Fantasy franchise (unless I count Chocobo Racing too which played a little earlier).
Be warned however, this isn't the Final Fantasy Tactics on the go people wanted, that would be War of the Lions released years later for the PSP, with some minor (or major, depends on who you ask) changes.
The story plays that Hero's Journey archetype with a flavour of "Isekai", and a dash of escapism philosophy.
The gameplay is great and quite addictif with the missions, and the race/job systems, much like Tactics, without however the Zodiac stats, and much more forgiving in general, it was meant to be play in short sections after all.
I recommended it wholeheartedly.
Be warned however, this isn't the Final Fantasy Tactics on the go people wanted, that would be War of the Lions released years later for the PSP, with some minor (or major, depends on who you ask) changes.
The story plays that Hero's Journey archetype with a flavour of "Isekai", and a dash of escapism philosophy.
The gameplay is great and quite addictif with the missions, and the race/job systems, much like Tactics, without however the Zodiac stats, and much more forgiving in general, it was meant to be play in short sections after all.
I recommended it wholeheartedly.
Very overlooked gem in the gloomy early years of the 3DS, I wished Capcom made a port of this little fun game on current gen consoles and PC, oh well. At least RE: Revelations got updated and ported on 7th gen consoles and PC.
2012
No one, not even a british youtuber with a hours-length youtube vid, can convince me that RE6 is actually good, it's very mid at best.
Hell at least mercs is still wack, especially in PC with the L4D2 characters as exclusives.
Hell at least mercs is still wack, especially in PC with the L4D2 characters as exclusives.
1991
One of those games where you thought you suck at playing the game as a kid, but in reality, the game is actually controlled awful.
Ok gameplay.
Jamming soundtrack, holy moly.
Jamming soundtrack, holy moly.
2019
I might need to reconfigure my PS5 setup so I can play it with m/kb, but I digress. Or just get it on PC lmao.
If Post Scriptum is just Squad in a WW2 skin, HLL is just a level under PS with Red Orchestra 2 right under HLL in the Mil-Sim scale.
Recommended.
If Post Scriptum is just Squad in a WW2 skin, HLL is just a level under PS with Red Orchestra 2 right under HLL in the Mil-Sim scale.
Recommended.
Both Rising Storm 2 and Red Orchestra 2 spoiled my former love for the Battlefield franchise (unless we count Forgotten Hope 2).
Rising Storm 2 really stroke a good balance between Mil-Sim and arcadey style team-based FPS.
The asymmetry between the US/ANZAC/ARVN forces and the NLF/PAVN is fun as heck and pretty balanced imo, except, of course pre-1975 Battle of Saigon in campaign mode, iykyk.
Rising Storm 2 really stroke a good balance between Mil-Sim and arcadey style team-based FPS.
The asymmetry between the US/ANZAC/ARVN forces and the NLF/PAVN is fun as heck and pretty balanced imo, except, of course pre-1975 Battle of Saigon in campaign mode, iykyk.
2004
Just be sure you got CS:S installed
2005
GOAT MK
2015
Absolute state of Bethesda WRPGs.....
I refuse to play it after completing it.
Oh well, at least I have itsJabo's content for me enjoy FO4.
I refuse to play it after completing it.
Oh well, at least I have itsJabo's content for me enjoy FO4.