Joe Gribble's Reviews
[The Crash N. Sane Trilogy is] ...the perfect sendoff to a lovingly crafted collection, which I hope introduces a whole new generation of gamers to the orange marsupial! Now…Let’s await a Spyro remaster…Or Jak and Daxter….Please…?
All I have to say now is, well done Falcom. Well done. You've got a new Ys fan, and made a certified masterpiece. I haven't played a game that's captivated me this much since Rogue Galaxy, back in 2007, so keep it up. Not just for us, but for the betterment of the JRPG genre.
Persona 5 is a masterful game, which has breathed new life into the JRPG genre; it has injected a flair of style that hasn't quite been matched before, and as such, has become a new standard for JRPGs to match. Despite this though, the game is far from perfect, but is most definitely the most powerful evolution of Persona to date. Here's hoping we don't get 20 Persona 5 spinoffs and Persona 6 will be able to finally encrust this franchise in the annals of history forever.
Co-Op too is a treat to play, with each warrior having specific attacks and specials that benefit other warriors in very different ways (I.E. my Sword & Shield warrior can freeze enemies, allowing Luke, who was playing a Ranger, to easily snipe enemies with a charged attack); whilst there isn't friendly fire, there is environmental damage, so you have to be careful where you're throwing those bombs! The game also supports local 3-player co-op, however one minor issue I had was that you can't do this AND play online, which was a little depressing since a game like this shouldn't have these sorts of limitations. All in all, Viking Squad is an exciting, engaging and often challenging romp through viking mythos, that looks, sounds and plays the part. Definitely one I'm going to be replaying over and over again!
So, on a closing note, what do I think of Pokemon Sun and Moon, having played every single entry in the main franchise? All I have to say is that I love Pokemon Sun and Moon, and has now wormed it's way as one of my favourite generations of Pokemon; I look forward to the innovations Game Freak will eventually bring with Generation 8, or even with the Diamond and Pearl remakes that everyone basically know are already confirmed at this point.
All in all, Killing Floor 2 is an exciting, enjoyable romp that you can pick up for around 30 minutes a time, either alone or with friends, and either feel like an absolute badass, or be challenged out of your wits - The port itself is brilliantly stable, functions extremely well, and feels like a native PS4 game. I just wished that there was only more content baked in to enjoy. For these reasons, I am rating Killing Floor 2 (PS4 Edition) an 9 / 10.
verall, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a rare instance of a Kickstarter game gone right. It absolutely delivers a worthwhile and truly engaging experience to it’s backers, and does so whilst being not just a fantastic video game, but also a fantastic educational tool as well. Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a very welcome fusion of classic and modern open-world RPGs, and it plays mostly to it’s strengths; it’s the 1400’s time capsule I’ll happily spend 60+ hours immersed in. Yes, there are a number of technical issues still prevalent within the game, however I’m hoping that these will be patched quickly and fully – The tale of Henry is a heartfelt one, and the world of Bohemia certainly feels alive – More-so than many open world RPG’s recently released.
Overwatch is still an extremely fun, enjoyable package regardless, with regular events, a deep competitive scene, and fun, addicting gameplay, I'm sure that Overwatch is bound to stick around for years to come...Possibly as long as Team Fortress 2, infact.
All in all, Enter the Gungeon is an enjoyable little indie game in a similar vein to The Binding of Issac, yet is different enough to be set apart from it's counterpart in many ways - The difficulty, the variety, and the god-damn puns are more than enough to satiate any Binding of Issac naysayers, and will keep you challenged for over 30 hours or more! I would rate Enter the Gungeon an 8.5 / 10.
The game, however, doesn't come without detriments - As a rougelike, you can expect the game to kick your arse, over, and over, and over again, especially when first starting out; learning different attack patterns and clearing hectic rooms can be a pain, and can easily harm your enjoyment when you get owned by an inescapable attack in some later instances - Another issue is the lack of proper stat tracking and item explanation; whilst on PC this can be remedied by using Missing HUD 2, console and portable players are stuck up creek without a paddle, sadly. This can be annoying when you need to quit out and check exactly what an item does, only to be confused and have it ruin an amazing run. However, once you learn more of the game, overcome the difficulty, and start to experience some of the wacky and crazy combos you can execute, I'm sure that no matter what kind of gamer you are, you'll be hooked!
7th Dragon III: Code VFD proves to be yet another star-studded JRPG to add to your 3DS collection - Filled to the brim with a lengthy 50-70 hour Story Mode, varied and interesting dungeons and locales, and more compelling characters than you can shake a stick at, 7th Dragon III: Code VFD certainly delivers.
Overall, Rive is a riveting romp throughout, and continues to impress, challenge and entertain even a few hours in; the world and challenge keep puling me back, and I believe that you'll find the same sense of daring danger infect you too.
Personally, as this was my introduction into the Hitman franchise, I love the attention to detail, and the depth of some of the actions you can perform - It felt, however, that Hitman 2016 was being a little bit more lenient than it should've with some of the points of suspicion, but overall the gameplay is addicting, deep and methodical, with plenty of room for experimentation and freedom, to allow you to do things your way rather than adhering to a set number of steps in most instances. I've never played or even seen a Hitman game before, and Hitman 2016 really does make me regret that. I would personally rate Hitman 2016 an 8.5 / 10.
So, what’s my final verdict on Monster Hunter: World? All in all, Monster Hunter: World is a beautiful, terrifyingly primal experience that sits among the best… Whilst also being somewhat of a regression for this beloved franchise – Beginners are both wholeheartedly accepted, yet left adrift by a lack of guidance or assistance, and the smaller pool of monsters leaves a lot of room to be filled (Possibly through DLC or expansions); Monster Hunter: World throws players, new and old, into a brand new world, with brand new experiences lying in wait around every corner… It just needed that little bit more polish to make the deal even sweeter.
Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth wants to kick your arse. It wants to beat you down. It wants to be ruthless. However that feeling when you finally nail that strategy; when you overcome a floor that was kicking you down for weeks; when you beat that FOE or that boss that stopped you dead in your tracks… …Well, there’s no better feeling, really.
When returning to Resident Evil 1, some obvious flaws are apparent given the title’s age, such as the game’s tank-like controls, often awkward camera and downright cheesy dialogue… But in a bizarre way that adds to the charm of the title – The thematic tension you feel when exploring the manor… The fear you feel around every corner… The tension of solving a puzzle in the nick of time or making that narrow escape… Well, there’s nothing quite like it nowadays.
Overall, Berserk: Band of the Hawk is probably the best adaptation of the manga's story to date, and lives up to the chaos, havoc and authentic visual style of Berserk - Where it falls short, however, is when you start to compare it to other Musou titles, or if you try to jump in without ever seeing a single speck of the original story - My recommendation? Read the first 16-or-so chapters of the Berserk manga, to learn the underlying characters, story and premise, then move onto playing Band of the Hawk; that way the movie cutscenes and dialogue will fill in all blanks up until the end of the game, which stops short around an arc or two where the manga currently rests. If you've played Musou games in the past, this title may seem extremely simplistic and a bit watered down, but for newcomers to this subgenre of war game, there really isn't a better introduction, or a better time to get into them than right now.
Overall, there's not too much more to say on Rise & Shine - Some characters are likeable, some just disappear, and some are just killed off outright for irony's sake - The gameplay is difficult, and doesn't hold your hand too much, and the references to gaming culture are up there in the hundreds. If you're looking for a good-looking and challenging game that may make you chuckle here and there and go "Oh that's from xxxxx game!", then Rise and Shine is certainly for you. If you were coming into this expecting all laughs and something a bit more casual, then I'm afraid you may be disappointed...
For launch though, Siegecraft Commander rushes out the gates with a healthy amount of content that should satisfy you strategy and Worms-loving junkies for months to come, especially with that glorious Cross-Platform multiplayer! I can't wait to see what Siegecraft Commander has in store for the near future, and will be monitoring it's progress closely.
Asides from confusion, one thing that Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is good at is providing interesting, well written character dialogues and interactions between it’s varied and colourful cast of 16 school students – From Akane, the Gymnast with the heart of a tiger, to the eccentric and folklore-spewing Ghundam, to the calm, quiet and reference-spewing Chiaki, each character has their own unique charm, quirk, and memorable piece of backstory that’ll stick with you throughout even the final moments of the game.