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Legacy User 7395's Reviews

54 public reviews

The views here are this user’s only and are not representative of Giant Bomb's thoughts and opinions on the discussed video game. GB's official reviews reside at giantbomb.com/reviews.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots2008

3 out of 5 stars

From its beginnings in 1987, the Metal Gear series has always had a notable presence in the video game community. This holds especially true for Guns of the Patriots, as it seeks to wrap up the Metal Gear storyline with one last hurrah. In this light, the Metal Gear saga ends on a rather conflicted note. After all, Guns of the Patriots is not without its flaws. The story is needlessly drawn out and has a penchant…

Read the full review Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Project X Zone2012

3 out of 5 stars

Video games are a special medium. They offer unique types of experiences that other media have far more trouble encapsulating. However, the road goes both ways. Because of how video games operate, something that might work in another medium may not work in video games. Take Project X Zone, for instance. Its pixel art aesthetic looks amazing, and the high number of colorful characters should, in theory, form an…

Read the full review Project X Zone

Fire Emblem: Awakening2012

4 out of 5 stars

Fire Emblem has never been a popular series outside Japan. In fact, the previous game in the series never even saw an international release. Part of this may be because the series as a whole was never given high amounts of publicity; another reason could be that the slow, strategic gameplay simply does not appeal to the casual audience that Nintendo has always pursued. Yet the quality of the games themselves has…

Read the full review Fire Emblem: Awakening

Pandora's Tower2011

4 out of 5 stars

In most games, violence is considered a source of enjoyment and entertainment. Pandora’s Tower is not most games. Instead, it heavily condemns violence as a necessary evil at best and as a senseless evil at worst. This message is juxtaposed alongside a carefully wrought and beautifully executed relationship with one of the main characters, resulting in a fitting closer to the Nintendo Wii’s library. There is also an…

Read the full review Pandora's Tower

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty2001

4 out of 5 stars

A good rule of storytelling is to keep things simple. This way, the story can explore a few concepts in great depth without confusing the audience or weakening the plot. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty flagrantly breaks this rule, telling one of the most complex stories in any video game. Despite this, the game still succeeds. True, the plot isn't completely tight, but it somehow manages to tell a cohesive story…

Read the full review Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES2007

5 out of 5 stars

It was during the mid 1990s that most video game franchises made the leap to the third dimension. Persona, though, is not most franchises; it took the series six years to fully enter the third dimension in the form of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3.However, such a long wait was entirely worth it. Boasting both an intricately thought out story, memorable characters, and a very strong battle system, Persona 3 is a…

Read the full review Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES

Liberation Maiden2012

5 out of 5 stars

If any one trait were to define the modern era, it would have to be speed. With YouTube videos and fast Internet journalism (among other things) promising instant gratification on a whim, quickness is often more valued than patience. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, a statement that 3DS shooter Liberation Maiden proves this quite well. The game is only about an hour long across five stages, yet somehow…

Read the full review Liberation Maiden

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D2012

3 out of 5 stars

A very controversial topic in video games is that of interactivity versus cinematics. While many believe them to be necessary tools in telling a video game story, many others feel that their overuse detracts from the interactivity that makes video games unique. Understandably, a narrative-focused game has to find a delicate balance between gameplay and cutscene to address both concerns. Oddly enough, though, the…

Read the full review Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D

Alone in the Dark2008

1 out of 5 stars

Even among the worst video games imaginable, it is still possible to take away something positive from the experience. After all, not everything about a video game can be terrible, right? Alone in the Dark manages to break this storied tradition, as there is nothing redeemable to be found in this game. From concept to execution, absolutely nothing was done right. This even extends to the core philosophies driving…

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Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance2005

5 out of 5 stars

To fans of the series, Fire Emblem is primarily known for a handful of strengths, such as its complex political narratives, the depth of its strategic gameplay, the well written characters, etc. Path of Radiance, the first 3D entry in the series, changes absolutely none of this. In fact, it refines these traits quite noticeably. Although Path of Radiance asks for a high investment, especially at the outset, the…

Read the full review Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

BioShock2007

5 out of 5 stars

Politics are old hat for video games, and have been for quite some time. Ever since Big Boss contemplated the soldier’s place in the world , games have worked meaningful political messages into their narratives. So it should not be surprising that BioShock, released in 2007, was able to achieve this task, and indeed, that alone is not very noteworthy. What is noteworthy, however, is how well the game does it. Not…

Read the full review BioShock

Persona 2: Innocent Sin1999

4 out of 5 stars

In 1997, Atlus released its first serious stateside Shin Megami Tensei game in the form of Revelations: Persona . (Technically, Jack Bros. preceded Persona by two years, yet it was a light-hearted dungeon crawler released for the doomed Virtual Boy, explaining its lesser significance to the series.) Unfortunately, this was not the best way to introduce non-Japanese audiences to the series. Ignoring the problems…

Read the full review Persona 2: Innocent Sin

Tear Ring Saga2001

5 out of 5 stars

To most Fire Emblem fans, Tear Ring Saga is nothing more than a Playstation game that heavily borrows from Fire Emblem games before it. To be fair, there is reason why this attitude still persists: partly, it is because the game has yet to be translated, leaving players with little incentive to pick it up, yet a larger part is because this is completely true. Tear Ring Saga borrows a lot from Fire Emblem, from story…

Read the full review Tear Ring Saga

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 42008

5 out of 5 stars

Often times, the end of a console’s life cycle is when some of its best games are made. After all, it is at this point when developers are most comfortable with how consoles work, allowing them to do more with what the system can put out than at any other point in a console’s run. A cursory glance at video game history bears this out: Panzer Dragoon Saga is both one of the best Sega Saturn games and one of its last;…

Read the full review Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4

Katawa Shoujo2012

4 out of 5 stars

Sex and video games rarely mix, at least in a meaningful way. Although many video games feature sex as some aspect of their narrative, these scenes rarely contribute much to the overall story; instead, they are often times given out as a juvenile award, of sorts. However, recent visual novel Katawa Shoujo (Japanese for “Disability Girls”) manages to avoid this. Although rough along the edges, Katawa Shoujo manages…

Read the full review Katawa Shoujo

Resident Evil - Code: Veronica2000

3 out of 5 stars

Xbox Live Arcade has proved an excellent platform for the release of older games. Because these older games are simple to grasp and to emulate on other systems, the platform has become a new opportunity for newer gamers to experience old classics. Yet this certainly does not mean that every game is deserving of rerelease. No game demonstrates this more efficiently than Resident Evil: Code Veronica: X HD. Just about…

Read the full review Resident Evil - Code: Veronica

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron2011

5 out of 5 stars

It is very difficult to find the proper words to describe El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron in an accurate manner. The game could best be described as a Devil May Cry-esque action game, but that is only part of what makes the game so unique (at least given its competition). What makes the game truly memorable is the various types of insanity on display. There is little to no cohesion between scenarios, and the…

Read the full review El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

4 out of 5 stars

The jump to the third dimension is always a risky move for a traditionally 2D series. Obviously, the addition of another dimension will drastically change how a series operates, sometimes changing it entirely. In fact, many series received heavy criticisms for their first attempts at 3D ( Sonic , Castlevania , Mega Man, etc.). The Legend of Zelda, fortunately, has avoided this fate with Ocarina of Time, its first…

Read the full review The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Costume Quest2010

2 out of 5 stars

While there are several Christmas games available to gamers ( Daze Before Christmas , Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams , etc.), very few Halloween-themed games exist outside licensed games based on Halloween-themed material. Double Fine intended to rectify this when they released Costume Quest, a Halloween RPG available for the Xbox 360 and PS3. With this game, they have proved that it is possible to create a good game…

Read the full review Costume Quest

Bahamut Lagoon1996

5 out of 5 stars

While many people first experienced Square’s foray into the strategy RPG genre through Final Fantasy Tactics, that game was not their first attempt at making a strategy RPG. Just two years prior, the company released Bahamut Lagoon for the SNES. Doing what few, if any other games did before it, Bahamut Lagoon heavily mixed elements from both Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy into an incredibly gratifying package.…

Read the full review Bahamut Lagoon

Braid2008

4 out of 5 stars

In recent years, people have been debating whether or not games are art. Although some examples are older games ( Panzer Dragoon , Earthbound , Out of This World , etc.), most gamers cite modern games made after 2000. One of the most common examples is Braid, an independently developed platformer released in 2008. Part of the reason is its striking watercolor art style and calming soundtrack; a larger reason is its…

Read the full review Braid

Super Mario Galaxy 22010

5 out of 5 stars

At first glance, Super Mario Galaxy 2, the latest Mario game, seems to resemble the original Galaxy a lot. In fact, not much has changed between the two games; you will still jump from planet to planet, collecting stars to rescue a princess from Bowser. In fact, the game starts off in almost the same way, recycling the introduction nearly verbatim. However, while Super Mario Galaxy 2 borrows a lot from its…

Read the full review Super Mario Galaxy 2

Revelations: Persona1996

3 out of 5 stars

Despite the title, Revelations: Persona is not part of the Revelations series, but of the long-running Shin Megami Tensei series of JRPGs. In fact, Persona was actually the first major Shin Megami Tensei game to be released outside Japan, meaning that it was the first experience many gamers had with the series. Knowing this, it would make sense for Atlus to use this as an opportunity to polish any flaws in the…

Read the full review Revelations: Persona

Final Fantasy XIII2010

4 out of 5 stars

The Final Fantasy series has experimented with its gameplay since the beginning, explaining why the quality from title to title has varied considerably. Final Fantasy XIII, the latest game in the series, sums up that spirit as perfectly as it can: certain parts come across as well written, highly involved fun, yet other moments are hackneyed portions that demonstrate what not to do in a game. However, in the end,…

Read the full review Final Fantasy XIII

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle2010

4 out of 5 stars

The beginning of 2010 is proving to be an odd time for video games. On one end of the spectrum is the group of new IPs with no ties to other series, like Darksiders, Bayonetta, MAG, and Dante's Inferno. On the other side is the collection of sequels to major releases of the past few years, like BioShock 2, Mass Effect 2, Mega Man 10 and Final Fantasy XIII. However, the truly weird part is that both sides lack…

Read the full review No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle

Assassin's Creed II2009

5 out of 5 stars

Currently, the video game industry is driven by sequels; rather than risk a lot of money on a new series, game companies would rather stick to a franchise that has previously proven itself. Unfortunately, developers do not show any signs of relenting any time soon, so if they are going to maintain an entire medium mostly through sequels, they should at least know how to do it. Assassin’s Creed II is a prime example…

Read the full review Assassin's Creed II

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn2007

4 out of 5 stars

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn is the third America-released game in the Fire Emblem series, and the first sequel to a previous Fire Emblem game that American audiences have seen. Normally, sequels are an opportunity for developers to try something new or fix any flaws in the first game. While Radiant Dawn certainly refines many of the features from Path of Radiance, it also mucks up several features that previous games…

Read the full review Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

Breath of Fire III1997

3 out of 5 stars

If Sony’s first console were known for two things, those things would be JRPGs and trying new things. Obviously, Breath of Fire III serves as a great example of both these attributes in action. However, many of the ideas it tries to implement either are of little consequence or flawed in some way, shape, or form. Breath of Fire III starts with the protagonist caught in a magic crystal, confused, not sure of what is…

Read the full review Breath of Fire III

A somewhat good idea that ends up destroying itself.

2 out of 5 stars

One concept that many game companies still have trouble grasping is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." For some reason, they see it fit to take a good game, add some unnecessary features, and totally ruin anything people liked about in the first place. A perfect example of this is Paladin's Quest, its major "fix" being the removal of MP for casting spells. While it sounds good in theory, this, and many other…

Read the full review A somewhat good idea that ends up destroying itself.

Cyborg Justice1993

1 out of 5 stars

When talking about old school games, a combination of robots and beat 'em up gameplay would be like a match made in heaven. Something just feels natural about beating the bolts out of robots with your iron fist. Throw in the ability to create your own custom robot, and unique, randomly generated enemies, and a great game is born, right? Then how did Cyborg Justice, a game featuring all three of these elements, end…

Read the full review Cyborg Justice

Silent Hill1999

5 out of 5 stars

During the Playstation era of video games, Konami created an array of classic titles for just about every gamer. For the person who loved complex plots and Hollywood production values, there was Metal Gear Solid; for the RPG gamer, there was Suikoden; for the gamer who wanted a good story and fun non-linear gameplay, there was Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Silent Hill is no exception; by improving the…

Read the full review Silent Hill

Prince of Persia2008

4 out of 5 stars

In the gaming world, many games earn the status of ALMOST perfect. Often, a game will have several great factors that could add up to perfection if not for a few minor flaws. No game demonstrates this better than the latest Prince of Persia. The cheesy story and minor platforming issues keep the new Prince of Persia from being an otherwise perfect game. The game’s first flaw comes up even before buying the game: the…

Read the full review Prince of Persia

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts2008

4 out of 5 stars

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is the latest entry in the Banjo Kazooie series, a series that dates back to the N64. Although it started as a platformer in the vein of Super Mario 64, the latest entry is more of a kart building game than a 3D platformer. And while the new gameplay mechanics do not make Nuts & Bolts any less a Banjo Kazooie game, they certainly do not make it a good one. In the eight years since their…

Read the full review Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

Ninja Gaiden II2008

4 out of 5 stars

Many gamers complain that games today are too easy. They feel that a game should last longer and be more of a challenge, especially for $60. Team Ninja must have heard this, since Ninja Gaiden II, their latest game, is the hardest action game made since Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening. However, the game’s frustratingly hard difficulty has roots in both legitimately demanding situations and cheap technicalities…

Read the full review Ninja Gaiden II

Mother 32006

4 out of 5 stars

Of the three video game factions, Nintendo fanboys seem to be the most vocal about what they want. Once a Nintendo fan starts complaining about the lack of an English release of Mother 3 or the absence of a Kid Icarus sequel, it is hard to get them to stop. However, what many fans seem to forget is the quality of the games in question to begin with. In the case of Mother 3, the Japan only release seems reasonable,…

Read the full review Mother 3

Final Fantasy IX2000

5 out of 5 stars

It seems that the more Final Fantasy progresses, the further it gets from its roots. As time passes, each game loses more of what made many fans fall in love with the series in the first place. Square made Final Fantasy IX in order to ensure that nobody forgets the traditions and origins of the series. The result is an enjoyable RPG that combines the old school feel of the NES games with the cinematic presentation…

Read the full review Final Fantasy IX

Metal Gear Solid1998

4 out of 5 stars

Most video games have the character generally killing any enemy that comes in your way, and find ways to support the weakness of the enemy. First person shooters give you a continuous flow of ammo to shoot at any enemy in view; platformers generally have enemies die within one to two jumps on the head; even RPGs, which are not known to show an outward preference to violence (compared to games like Duke Nukem and…

Read the full review Metal Gear Solid

Final Fantasy X2001

4 out of 5 stars

Modern day Square seems to have lost their ability to make good RPGs, as of late. Final Fantasy XII was a pretentious, narcissist game that was in love with itself to the point where it did not want any gameplay mucking up its story. Final Fantasy XIII does not seem to be making matters better, as it is so egomaniacal that it is already having a few sequels developed, even though it has yet to be finished, let alone…

Read the full review Final Fantasy X

Final Fantasy VIII1999

3 out of 5 stars

The second installment in any Final Fantasy “trilogy” always happens to be the odd one out. Often times, it will try to do something completely different from its predecessors, expand on a concept previously touched upon in earlier installments, or both. However, the tragedy is that in doing so, the game ends up average; not quite as good as the first in the trifecta, and definitely below the standards of the Final…

Read the full review Final Fantasy VIII

Final Fantasy II1988

3 out of 5 stars

Every gamer knows of Squaresoft’s (now Square Enix) famous series, Final Fantasy. It was made as a going out gift, but ironically, it was so much of a success that it allowed Square to avoid falling from the gaming world. As with all successful video games, a follow up was started soon after. However, as does happen with many sequels, it just didn’t live up to the hype and expectations set forth by the original.…

Read the full review Final Fantasy II

Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening2005

4 out of 5 stars

Some gamers today will tell you that games are easier than their older counterparts, that the translation into the third dimension sacrificed difficulty for new gameplay possibilities. I have written this review to tell you that is incorrect, and one of the best examples is this game, which will challenge you throughout. The gameplay experienced here is pure action, nothing less. You take the roll of Dante, a half…

Read the full review Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles2003

4 out of 5 stars

On February 9th, 2004, Square Enix released a Final Fantasy game on the Gamecube, making it the first time a Final Fantasy game has been released on a Nintendo console in about a decade. However, it's not really what fans have been hoping for. Despite this minor falter, this game is definitely worth a purchase. Read on to find out why. However, I will only be reviewing the single player campaign because I couldn't…

Read the full review Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

Mega Man X31995

2 out of 5 stars

Thirteen years ago, Mega Man was in quite a dilemma. But fortunately, he got right out of it with Mega Man X, a fresh platformer that did away with the cutesy look and gave him an gruff, techno feel. It was a nice change from the 8 bit escapades of his youth. Two years later, he has a sequel TO a sequel, and he’s gotten so very stale so very quickly. Seeing as how this game has almost nothing to give over it's…

Read the full review Mega Man X3

Kingdom Hearts II2005

5 out of 5 stars

If you haven't gotten this game, get it. Many of the flaws of the old game were fixed and what wasn't broken got a cementing and some new features to further richen the experience. It just feels like this generation's Final Fantasy VII in every way, save graphics and gameplay, the latter being better than the Playstation RPG. One of the most noticeable parts of the game is the gameplay. Like most Square Enix games,…

Read the full review Kingdom Hearts II

Sonic Rush2005

4 out of 5 stars

It seems that with every major Sonic game of this generation, the quality declines a bit. The 3D games are broken and just plain too easy and seem to be rehashes while the 2D ones are great but almost always overlooked. But finally, one Sonic game combines the great gameplay of the 2D's with the notoriety of the 3D games. That game is Sonic Rush. Where to begin, where to begin. The gameplay is a blast from the past.…

Read the full review Sonic Rush

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones2004

3 out of 5 stars

If you're new to the series of Fire Emblem, let me educate you before you read any further. This series started off in Japan as a strategy RPG, with the first installment following Marth on his quest to destroy the Dark Dragon Medeus. Since this game was succesful, Nintendo made a sequel. Sort of. Fire Emblem Gaiden was more RPG-y. After an SNES remake, the series got it's LTTP in Seisen no Keifu. Due to this one's…

Read the full review Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

Super Paper Mario2007

5 out of 5 stars

Mario, of Nintendo fame, has become the Renaissance man of video games. He has appeared in almost every genre from platformers to sports games and even RPG’s. His latest game, Super Paper Mario, blends the plumber’s platforming roots and RPG-style gameplay in such a way that no game before it can claim to have done. The game starts with Mario and Luigi starting a journey to rescue Peach from Bowser. However, Bowser…

Read the full review Super Paper Mario

Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo1994

4 out of 5 stars

Many games in the era before 3D remained region exclusive. This is a real tragedy, as the entire world would have to wait until the advent of emulation and ROMs before they could experience true classics like the NES RPG Final Fantasy III, the SNES tactical-RPG Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War and perhaps the most famous example, the job-system-centric RPG Final Fantasy V. However, not every title to stay…

Read the full review Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo