Mike Splechta


172 games reviewed
81.9 average score
85 median score
76.9% of games recommended
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Unscored - Nioh
Feb 2, 2017

There are clear inspirations taken from various games, and yet Nioh manages to do things a bit differently, and because of that, is able to stand on its own as a fun action game.

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Oct 18, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders is an incredibly strong title, both in gameplay and presentation. It might not be pushing the PS4 hardware to its limits by any means, especially since this is also available on the Vita, but its gorgeous color palette and cute character designs make it very pleasing to look at for extended periods of time. For those that like that typical DQ soundtrack, will find a lot to like here as well.

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Jul 12, 2016

The Monster Hunter franchise never had a meteoric rise in the United States. Of course, there certainly exists a hardcore and dedicated user base that's been there ever since the PSP titles forced gamers to use the "claw" grip style to play the game effectively, but the series never really took off until quite recently. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate was a great first step, and even though it limited its players strictly to the 3DS and Wii U, it didn't seem to matter. It's follow-up, which I still regard as one of the best Monster Hunter games to date introduced a bunch of new improvements, broadened its appeal, and once again the numbers proved that there is indeed a thriving MonHun community in the States.

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Jul 8, 2015

At times I wonder whether the folks over at Atlus ever predicted the popularity of Persona 4. While Persona 3 did have its following, as well as a few updated releases with Persona 3 FES and Persona 3 Portable, it simply can't match Persona 4's popularity, though it did ride its coat tails. Persona 4 astounded us as an amazing JRPG that we could eventually take on the go, a fighting game, a dungeon crawler and now, a dancing game. Yep, you read that right. Persona 4: Dancing All Night is a rhythm game akin to games like Hatsune Miku, though in true Persona fashion, sports a narrative tying it all together.

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As I've stated before, those looking to get their farming fix will most likely be disappointed with this odd crossover. The PopoloCrois parts certainly outweigh the Story of Seasons ones. And even then the farming is a lot more simplified in this.

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Two years ago, Final Fantasy fans were treated to a musical celebration with Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy. A rhythm game first and foremost, it tasked players to relive past Final Fantasy moments through key songs found in core titles, ranging from Final Fantasy I, all the way to Final Fantasy XIII. Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Curtain Call is a more updated version of the first game, rebalancing the gameplay, adding new modes, and most importantly, giving players over 200 songs to play. Let's just say, if you've enjoyed the first, you're in for quite a treat with Curtain Call.

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Sep 26, 2014

It's been an agonizing wait, but it was worth it. When Nintendo announced a new Super Smash Bros. for not only the Wii U, but also the 3DS, it was almost inconceivable that the handheld version would be anything but a mere gap filler until its older and prettier sibling would release later that year. Rest easy knowing that's not the case at all. Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS packs a punch with the full character roster, diverse stages and various modes to keep you smashing all day.

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Jan 7, 2015

I often find that replaying certaing games from my childhood such as Super Mario Bros., DuckTales, Mega Man and The Legend of Zelda, don't just provide me with a fantastic feeling of nostalgia, but also remind me of my roots. They help me keep perspective of where I started as a gamer, and retain the appreciation for those games. Last year, Nintendo took that amazing classic library I fell in love with as a kid, and turned it into a gauntlet of challenges they called NES Remix. Then last month, Nintendo compiled the best games from both NES Remix 1 and 2, and made it into a portable package on the 3DS with Ultimate NES Remix, providing bite sized challenges through a collection of classic games that might make you look at them just a bit different than before.

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Feb 17, 2016

Fire Emblem Fates is a fantastic followup to Awakening, introducing some slight new gameplay elements as well as gorgeous new graphical options.

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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time defied everyone's expectations when it released on the N64 in late 1998. Not only did it successfuly bring a Zelda game into the realm of 3D, it also managed to weave together an intricate storyline of time travel, allowing you to switch back and forth between a thriving Hyrule in Link's present childhood, or the despair filled future where Ganon ruled over the land. It was a rather emotion filled journey that concluded with Link returning to his childhood timeline in order to fully live out his life. Surprisingly, Nintendo released a direct follow-up to this timeline with Majora's Mask. This was atypical for the series that was never built on direct sequels aside from the original two games for the NES.

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Unscored - Boxboy
Apr 12, 2015

My BoxBoy review code sat in my inbox for about a week. It's not that I didn't want to play it, but the end of March and even the beginning of April was filled with a ton of games that demanded more of my attention. Not knowing what BoxBoy was, I looked up some gameplay videos, and wasn't taken by what I saw. Something about a boy that looks like a box and there are a lot of puzzles involved. I figured, passing on the review at that time was OK in lieu of bigger, more time consuming titles. Now that the storm has calmed, I was ready to finally dive into BoxBoy. After just beating the first world, which took me all of probably 5 minutes, I saw the immense potential. This was a game that isn't gaining any favors through gameplay videos. It's a game you have to play to "get." And it's oh so delightful.

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Mar 25, 2015

Xenoblade Chronicles belongs to one of three titles that gamers have fought to bring over to the US, and feels like a crowning achievement to have actually succeeded. When it debuted on the Wii on 2012, it surprised a lot of gamers with its forward thinking mechanics, a relatively fun combat system, some extremely deep gameplay systems, and its sense of scale. This was easily one of the biggest JRPGs on a console that was an entire generation behind, and it delivered on nearly all fronts. Fast forward to 2015, with the release of an updated 3DS model which adds some extra processing power and Xenoblade Chronicles 3D being the system's first exclusive game, utilizing that power, and you have the perfect reason to either dive back into this fantastic game, or perhaps experience for the first time.

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If you ever felt intrigued by the Animal Crossing games, but found their open-ended nature to be more daunting than relaxing, then Happy Home Designer might just be the answer. It seems like this game was also made to satisfy Sims players, who did nothing more but customize and furnished various homes to no end.

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Feb 17, 2016

Fire Emblem Fates is a fantastic followup to Awakening, introducing some slight new gameplay elements as well as gorgeous new graphical options.

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Unscored - Yo-Kai Watch
Nov 4, 2015

I know I came in saying that Yo-kai Watch doesn't play like Pokemon, and yet I spent a few points comparing the two. It's impossible to draw comparisons in games that both center around catching monsters and using them for battle.

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Feb 10, 2015

When Capcom's not hard at work at the next Resident Evil experience, of which the latest one was pretty fantastic, they're continually reworking and upgrading their Monster Hunter formula. And while we don't necessarily get every single Monster Hunter release here in the West, we do tend to get the better, Director's Cut versions of it. The latest entry is no different, with the small exception that it is no longer gracing Nintendo's HD hardware, the Wii U, but rather only appearing on the Nintendo 3DS. So it it worth taking the plunge once more, even if you've already invested hundreds of hours into the previous game?

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Jan 26, 2016

I had a really rough time with Final Fantasy Explorers. Comparing it to Capcom's already established series was always on my mind, and honestly, it's unavoidable when you're familiar with it and a big fan of the franchise.

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Jun 2, 2016

The 1-on-1 battles are intense, and the ability to call in other characters to help you out when you're in need, or simply to hop in to interrupt an opponents combo not only feels fantastic but looks stellar as well.

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Jan 14, 2016

As I've already mentioned, Capcom did an absolutely stellar job at bringing this title to PC. Unlike games such as Final Fantasy Type-0 HD which came with some graphical upgrades, still suffered from a capped framerate at 30fps. Thanks Square Enix! So the fact that the game is so good along with it being a great port should solidify this purchase for those who might have missed out on this game during the last generation of consoles, like myself.

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Unscored - Firewatch
Feb 8, 2016

Firewatch is truly more about the journey, than it is the destination. In the end, I didn't care all that much about the mystery being solved, however, I did care about Henry's overall progression. You not only feel for this character, but you more or less are this character.

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