12 public reviews
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The Castlevania legacy can be split into two schools. There’s the classic formula, action platformers where you fight through linear stages against an onslaught of Halloween monsters. The only things you can rely on are your own ability and whatever sub-weapons you can find. On the other end is the Metroidvania style, where character progression is emphasized, stats supersede skill, and randomly dropping equipment…
Until the final episode of Kentucky Route Zero released last month, I had no concept of what it was. It was just one of those phrases that floated around the cosmic microwave background, like “accent wall” and “fatty lipids.” They mean something to someone, but not to me. Even when the thing finally came out to cries of celebration and finality, I couldn’t really grasp it. The only snippets of information I could…
I made a conscious effort to avoid spoilers in this review, but I think you should experience as much as possible for yourself. If anything you have seen interests you, I fully recommend you play the game. Video games, like all forms of media, are a language. Their words are written with extra lives and spinning coins and red barrels. One's preferred genres become dialects in conversation with other enthusiasts. The…
January is now becoming a month where increasingly “big” games come out. This year, those big games were not so much my thing. Good news is, there are always plenty of “little” games ready for your attention. So it happened that the first 2019 game I played was Pikuniku , an off-the-wall adventure game that left me smiling the whole time. This might have been the quickest turnaround from me hearing about a game to…
This review was originally published in my blog on July 15, 2018. I used my time away to get every last stinking moon in Super Mario Odyssey . This was one of the "big two" for the Switch last year along with Breath of the Wild, and the only one exclusive to it. Despite this being the first time I've owned the game, it's far from the first time I've experienced it. For starters, Mario Odyssey enjoyed monolithic…
This review was originally published in my blog on July 19, 2018. I never really cared for the Metroid genre. It's not like I didn't try; I went through Super and Zero Mission, I tried Prime, I played a number of indie games in that style... but it never really clicked. There were too many issues and annoyances that I assumed were just inherent to the genre. Plus, I kind of hate the term "Metroidvania." For one, the…
This review can also be found in my blog . Mega Man has to gear up to take on these bosses. Man is BACK! (again). Everyone's favorite blue robot had a hibernation period, then there were some games imitating the classic NES style, then there was another stretch of time where nothing happened, a sad, sad game called Mighty No. 9 , and finally here we are. When playing Mega Man 11's demo, I thought this game might not…
Playing Donut County is just like eating a donut: It's sweet, cathartic, and when you finish you wish you had more. For those uninitiated, in Donut County you play as a hole in the ground with the goal of swallowing everything in sight. As you gobble more items, the size of your hole increases, to the point where you can swallow entire buildings, mountains, and unsuspecting local folk. It's a cute concept, one…
Yoshi's Island was an influential game to the greater Mario world. It refined Yoshi 's design and abilities from that... creature in Super Mario World . It brought those lovable Shy Guys to the front lines. Most importantly, it heavily emphasized exploration to a degree not seen in the typical platformer of the day. That exploration, unfortunately, is a double-edged sword. I really did not intend to use this image…
On paper, Tearaway Unfolded seems like - oh god is that how I'm starting this? No, I'm not - just no. I always love when games focus on being creative. Anyone could make another boring old shooter, but making something stand out takes talent. When done well, this approach can show just how clever developers and even players can be. I think some creativity-focused games are among the best for showing what this medium…
Boring s egment about the wacky history of Sonic the Hedgehog . ...now, SEGA has handed the reigns to the fans, and I've gotta say, this might be the most fun game I've played all year. The silky-smooth animation on the title screen is one of the first indications of the developers' passion and skill. When Sonic 4 came out, everyone hated it because it looked awful and played nothing like the classic games it was…
Since Star Fox 64 released on the Nintendo 64 in 1997, many fans have been disappointed with the subsequent offerings the franchise has presented. Multiple new playstyles like on-foot missions and strategy elements have caused the series to drift from its on-rails space shooter roots that hold up to this day. Star Fox Zero, the latest entry, is a reboot of the franchise that claims to reset the story and gameplay to…
