It may not offer the twitchest of gameplay, but getting past some antiquated aspects will yield an enjoyable time.
Despite that, the gameplay here is solid, despite its expected aim at casual audiences. None of this is especially deep, but I can say with some confidence that there is some fun to be had in firing this up and playing with a group of friends.
Regardless, Banana Blitz HD is the definitive version of an era of Monkey Ball that desperately needs to make a comeback by either remaking the original two games or a creating new entry altogether. This is one of those instances where the quality of life improvements are noticeable, and it's worth your money being able to play it on the go at all.
Part of this game shows its age in a number of ways, but this is not a quick and dirty port by any stretch of the imagination.
The biggest sin that this game commits is that it is bland in nearly every aspect of the word. It’s like Kirby but “totally not Kirby guys,” takes game mechanics from older titles and doesn’t do anything creative with them, and just doesn’t leave any sort of lasting impression in any way.
If you’re looking for a more accessible bar of entry to the Yakuza franchise, this is a strong entry with the studio stepping outside of its comfort zone a little bit. Thankfully, their experiment is a success.
I think that longtime fans will enjoy this one, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this could also serve as a starting point for newcomers as well. Atelier games are remarkably consistent in quality. Even though Lulua may not blow the doors off in a number of ways, it’s a nice little game that knows how to show you a good time.
Sukeban did a fantastic job with building a cyberpunk world that feels organic, writing characters that are believable and (mostly) easy to love, and giving us a gameplay experience that would give those who are reluctant to the simple flow of visual novels a legitimate shot. I really enjoyed my time in Glitch City, and I think you will too.
Considering that I’m limited in my exposure to this franchise as a whole, I found myself engrossed in what this game has to offer. This is a decently crafted side game with enough heart to make it competent enough to play, but a tasty side of fanservice for those who’ve been really digging alchemists and absurdly long game titles for 20 years.
The plot is fun and engaging, the multitude of distractions are a step up from its release predecessor, and Kazuma Kiryu’s steel resolve and Steve Rodgers-esque disposition makes for yet another fun romp through the seedy underworld we’ve come to know and love yet again.