Kyle Hilliard's Reviews
Frustrations related to random abilities and level layout can be annoying, but the overall aesthetic is inviting. Successfully completing a run is always an exciting achievement
Going on vacation is an expectedly relaxing experience that doesn't demand much from the player, which makes Vacation Simulator play like an introductory VR experience
Knocking over buildings in a virtual 3D environment is surprisingly satisfying and moving around the structures in a 3D space to pinpoint the best spot for potential collapse is a fun, puzzle-solving exercise
Rigs has motion-sickness issues (which may not be the case for all players) but the core arena game is a lot of fun, which makes this one of PlayStation VR’s strong early experiences
It never settles into the replayable gameplay loop it clearly aspires to, but Tri Force Heroes offers some decent Zelda action
Some technical limitations hold Lifeless Planet back from being a completely immersive adventure, but ultimately the experience is memorable
Princess Peach: Showtime could be a decent first game for young Peach fans, but longtime Nintendo players looking for the Princess’ equivalent of a quality Kirby platformer will likely be underwhelmed. Stylistically, however, the game is a success and, in typical Nintendo fashion, features an exciting finale. I just wish the difficulty had been more balanced in one direction or the other.
Forspoken's story and combat fail to reach the heights of its movement and exploration, but thankfully those two latter elements make up most of the experience.
For the ongoing Final Fantasy VII re-examination, which Square Enix has officially dubbed the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core feels like required reading. Its place in the larger story is important and will likely grow in significance moving forward, but making your way through those story moments sometimes feels like a school assignment. Reunion is a well-executed remake of the 2007 game that delivers fun combat alongside a stilted story with an interesting and narratively important final act. If you plan on starting or continuing the Final Fantasy VII Remake journey, make sure to do your homework.
Having even a little bit of story context for why you're solving picross puzzles is nice, but the main draw here is more picross puzzles, Color Picross puzzles, and some added control options
Dragon Quest Heroes II is a step backwards from the first Heroes, but represents a solid Dynasty Warriors-style action game. It gets repetitive, but taking on a massive army single-handedly is fun
The racing is fast and exciting, but a lack of activities beyond simply nabbing first place pulls the game back
Donut County is as simple as it is charming, and the story conceit pulling you along is light and enjoyable
Pleasure from the single-player is derived entirely from your appreciation of time-based speed running. Multiplayer is where the game fulfills its potential
Project Spark is whatever you want it be, but realizing your dream project can be difficult to pull off
Lumino City is a gorgeous enough to grab anyone's attention, but stays within the boundaries of its genre conventions
The story is silly, but I enjoyed the excuse to revisit memorable moments from the show with a new, sometimes ridiculous lens
Sand Land has its shortcomings and feels a little overlong despite seeing credits around the reasonable 20-hour mark, but it maintains a charm throughout. Toriyama’s fun sense of humor is front and center with Beelzebub taking on the adventure primarily so his dad will give him an extra hour of video game time every day. I may not have had strong connections with most of the cast and was annoyed with a number of specific sections, but I liked spending time in Sand Land (and beyond) and seeing my garage upgrade and grow.
Remnant II is most successful as a tour through a series of disparate dimensions, each contending with their own battles against the villainous Root plaguing their world. The gunplay is solid, the co-op with up to two other players works great, and the lore is fascinating (if you want to dig deep). Remnant II’s plot, characters, and progression are where it falls short, but I like its third-person shooter take on mechanics and ideas borrowed from the Souls games.
One of the best things going for Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is its length. Making your way to the last level and defeating the final boss only takes a few hours. In this way, it knows exactly what it is: a brief but enjoyable nostalgic experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome. By the time you start feeling like you’ve completed a full retro meal, credits are right around the corner and I appreciate it for that. Moonrider’s adventure likely won’t linger with you, but I don’t regret playing the short, familiar, and satisfying experience.