Az Elias's Reviews
Naughty Dog spoiled us with The Last of Us. As such, it was always going to be a difficult task for Uncharted 4 to meet those standards, let alone exceed them. The unfortunate thing is that whilst it has improved on certain aspects over the previous Uncharted entries - namely stealth, a little more freedom, and a real sense of discovery in hunting down a long lost treasure - there are a few too many slip-ups with regards to plot and characters, with lacking combat and set pieces also contributing to the pitfalls. It is undeniably gorgeous to look at, and the fun is definitely there on multiple occasions, but it is missing that Uncharted charm that made the series so great in the first place.
Taking the smooth and free-flowing gameplay of Muramasa and Dragon's Crown, Vanillaware has reinvigorated one of the PS2's late and great RPG-brawlers into something even more spectacular for modern systems. Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is more than just a pretty picture; it has some of the finest, fluid and rewarding beat 'em up gameplay of any game, spread amongst five delightfully varying characters that tell a thoroughly engaging story. The challenge has definitely been lowered, but the unlockable difficulties and new Boss Rush mode are punishing and more than make up for it. With the original version included, this is the best of both worlds of Odin Sphere, and is absolutely worth the asking price.
Final Fantasy IX can best be described as the most "complete" entry in the series to date; it is as whimsical as it is dark, and as nostalgic as it is its own identity, telling many individual stories that create laughs and pull on the heartstrings. Previous criticisms in the slow battle system and inability to reduce or disable random encounters are now accounted for with optional additions to gameplay, but the port does suffer in other departments - namely blurry backgrounds and slight lag in menus. The sheer love that has been poured into FFIX as a whole is on show for all to see, though, and is still evident to this very day. It is no wonder fans have been calling for Hiroyuki Ito to craft another entry in the series again, but whatever the future holds, there may never be a Final Fantasy title that will ever match up to the greatness of Final Fantasy IX.
Unique in more ways than one, Valkyria Chronicles Remastered should not be missed by any strategy fan, although is perhaps geared more towards those less experienced in the genre. The dark themes are contrasted through a slight anime-styled and humorous set of characters and gorgeous visuals that give off a comic book impression. It needs sticking with in order to reach the meat of the plot, because there is a decent story in there, even if a little predictable. An overreliance on luck and a gameplay design that goes against the nature of skilful strategy in order to achieve A ranks lets it down, but it is a title that is worth experiencing for its clever take on the SRPG formula.
This is a fun, but relatively simple, Metroidvania - beginner-friendly, but a title that can easily satisfy a craving, especially if eager for a solid 2D platformer.
It's great to see Zen branch out into such an iconic and timeless movie franchise for Zen Pinball 2: Aliens vs. Pinball, while staying completely faithful to the source material at the same time. These tables look and feel like the respective Alien titles each one is based on, all helped along by scenarios and sound clips right out of the movies and game. Of course, there are difficulties in trying to get the ball where you want, when you want on each table, but that is the nature of pinball, anyway. Needless to say, this well-designed package, offering a lot of variety, is more than worth the admission fee for tables that will entertain fans of the Alien legacy.
Don't overlook The Witch and the Hundred Knight. For a break from the norm of what it means to be the main characters in a video game; for a dark, apathetic and unapologetic protagonist, and, indeed, script as a whole; for a decent loot-based, role-playing hack-and-slash adventure that is far more accessible and improved with the changes made in this Revival Edition; and for fans of Nippon Ichi Software's previous works, this is a game that shouldn't be dismissed based on mere looks and strong language alone. It's crude, but it's humorous, and there is a deeper and more emotional plot under Metallia's swamp than is given credit for.
What Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 boils down to is a mixed set of feelings, but one of mostly dissatisfaction. It is undeniably sexy eye candy, with a decent volleyball game thrown in, but it is essentially a collection of basic mini-games, of which many modes and characters have been removed or replaced, and quickly becomes a grind-heavy chore of replaying vacations and poker in order to unlock absolutely everything… at which point it seems mostly pointless. This is the type of game that warrants being supported, but it is extremely difficult to do so when it is so sorely lacking in features and suffers from cut content. The potential is there to turn this into a far more engaging and all around better series, but, sadly, Team Ninja squandered this chance. There is brief fun to be had in paradise, but the holiday may end up being cut short. Consider it, but make sure you know exactly what to expect before splashing out.
It is a really slow one to get going, but no argument can be made against how much care Falcom has put into building and developing the world and characters throughout the opening stages of Trails of Cold Steel. It very much hits the typical JRPG checkboxes, but with solid and safe customisation, and a great tactical turn-based battle system that adds a little something extra to the standard formula, this is a title that JRPG fans cannot afford to pass on - especially PS Vita owners - and will most definitely last right up until the sequel hits Western shores.
If it weren't for the utterly brilliant turn-based battle system, freely customisable characters through new and old job types, and the breadth of accessible options that enhance the RPG experience tenfold, Bravely Second would be held in lower esteem, since the narrative that tries too much to hit comical notes and lacks a core that sets itself apart from other role-playing storylines is disappointing. There are some clever ideas thrown in that try to improve on the original game's plot, along with a handful of entertaining characters in amongst the obnoxious ones, as well as great use of 3D, but End Layer should be played for its battle and job systems first and foremost, provided the original title was enjoyed.
A delicious helping of fan service and cracking character diversity and interactions between one another is the reason to own Project X Zone 2. As anyone that has played the previous entry or Namco × Capcom will be fully aware, the appeal is in so many beloved characters, new and old, from up and down the industry coming together in an ultimate all-star SRPG, with references fans of the represented series will appreciate. The repetitious and overdrawn nature of PXZ has carried over here, and it rarely feels like much strategy is involved, but even with these issues and its naturally nonsensical plot, it would be remiss to overlook PXZ2; the very fact it exists is reason enough alone to pick this dream collaboration up, if not as a decent backup to the latest Fire Emblem entries.
Gravity Rush may have been the must-play game on PS Vita but, in coming to PS4 it is now one of the top titles on that system, as well. Each platform has its selection of games everyone needs to experience, and Gravity Rush Remastered is one of those. It doesn't last too long, but from start to finish this is a joyous romp, featuring a charming set of characters in a fascinating world, with fluid, mesmerising gravity-based gameplay that controls that much better on PS4. Packed-in DLC content and fun side missions with online leader boards add to the already excellent value, so make no mistake in picking this one up and preparing for Gravity Rush 2.
Unlike a number of remastered games that somehow tend to fall way off the mark, Bluepoint Games has crafted the optimum versions of each of the three titles in The Nathan Drake Collection, with Drake's Fortune, in particular, benefitting greatly from the work that has been put in in terms of visuals and gameplay. This is hardly a quick and dirty cash-grab; it is evidently a package that has seen a talented studio put effort into delivering the ultimate Uncharted trilogy experience, and the results are there for all to see, especially when going back to compare to the PS3 versions. There has been no better time to join Drake on his past expeditions and to prepare for his final adventure in A Thief's End.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a forgettable and shallow Metal Gear experience, and fans expecting this to be on par with any of the previous mainline releases will be disappointed, and, quite possibly, drop the game altogether before the lacklustre story decides to show up. It looks and plays fantastic, and the freedom to apply weapons and items to effective strategic use is second to none, but after hours of similar, tiring missions, with no incentive to drive forward or even return to once it's all done and dusted, it can't help but be wondered how on earth this turned out the way it did. This is no phantom pain, it's a physical one.
It's mindless and corny hack 'n' slash fun. It doesn't try to be much more, nor does it need to.
Like it or not, Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls is an essential part of the series canon, despite the vastly different take on the previous visual novel format. Whilst far from perfect gameplay-wise, and dragging on too much for its own good, many of the positive attributes Danganronpa is known for successfully transfer across to this entry, filling in the gaps left between the previous two releases. It is the plot that carries Ultra Despair Girls along, but had it not been for the entries before it, this may not have been received as favourably. Either way, this is still a must-play for Danganronpa fans.
The first entry on PlayStation 4, and the largest in the series yet, BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Extend may not warrant purchasing for anyone that picked up the original edition last year, but it is easily the go-to 2D anime fighter on home consoles right now, packed with fan service and enough crazy Japanese over-the-top plot to keep entertainment going for weeks outside of all of the challenges and network play on offer.
Scram Kitty DX's twist on the shooter-platformer is one that requires perseverance. Its unconventional method of manoeuvrability has the power to turn away most people that pick up a pad to give it a go, but it makes the case for the perfect example of a game that allows the rewards to be reaped if taken the time to be mastered.
The small line-up of vehicles and non-existent unlockables really hurt the lasting appeal, though, and although newcomers can certainly get into it, there is the feeling that more could have been done to offer extra help for novices that aren't quite sure how to approach the game or what certain functions mean.
What should be the core appeal in Nihilumbra is less than three hours of extremely simple platforming, with an admittedly rather predictable storyline that tries too hard, presented through what might best be described as a fad in its invisible narrator. Some tough and frustrating platforming can be found if prepared to hammer through the initial easy-peasy main mode, but it never finds that middle ground of fun and balanced gameplay.