Josh Speer's Reviews
Overall, I was pretty pleased with my time in Yatagarasu. Though it is easy to see what games influenced it, I felt it was different enough to feel like it’s own game. The art and music were great, and though the roster isn’t huge, it’s big enough to spend a good chunk of time with. I spent a couple hours playing through Arcade and Training Mode to write this review, and could easily spend much more time mastering each of the 11 playable characters. Though the dialogue and plot weren’t the highlight, the fighting engine is solid, and with the promise of more potential updates in the future, there’s a lot of reasons to try the game out. For $14.99, Yatagarasu: Attack on Cataclysm is a great addition to the library of any fighting fan. It will keep you hungry for battle, which any good fighting game should aspire to.
Overall, I was mostly pleased with my time with NekoBuro CatsBlock. It was a short game, as I beat Adventure Mode in just about 3 hours, but it was fun while it lasted. Though there is replay value in the games you can play with the cats or in decorating your room, those features just weren’t complex or fulfilling enough for me to do more than tinker with them. Most of the replay value can be found in the endless Survival Mode where you keep playing and the difficulty ramps up the longer you play. For $7.99, I feel you are getting your money’s worth with this game. I can highly recommend it for Vita owners looking for their next puzzle game fix, or simply for those who like quirky, adorable games.
In the end result, I was very pleased with Adventures of Pip. It wasn’t a perfect experience, mostly due to the boss fights and recurring glitch, but it was a hell of a lot of fun. The puzzle platforming was a delight, and the hidden villagers add much-appreciated replay value to the relatively short experience. The art and music come together to make a very vibrant and enjoyable experience, and one that shouldn’t be missed for fans of Wii U at a mere $14.99. Whether you get this on Wii U or Steam, Pip is a hero for all resolutions!
Overall, I was very pleased with Nihilumbra. Though it does run a bit on the short side, the replay value to be found in Void Mode certainly improves matters. The visual and audio side of things was competent, serving to fit the story and gameplay well, but weren’t exactly mind blowing. Luckily, the gameplay itself was enjoyable and constantly challenging, but without ever making me want to smash my head against a wall. I would recommend this to any fan of puzzle games who hasn’t played it yet, or to hardcore Nintendo enthusiasts. Born’s journey is one worth experiencing.
I honestly have no real complaints about BOXBOY! It kept me playing practically non-stop, and I loved every minute of it. The only aspects of it I didn’t experience were the Demos and Hints. The Demos let you send a free taste of the game to those you StreetPass with. The Hint system lets you spend Play Coins to help you get past levels if you’re stuck. I’m too much of an stubborn old school gamer to ever give up and use a hint. Overall, I was very, very pleased with BOXBOY! For $4.99, it offered over seven hours of gameplay, and that’s not even counting the Challenge Stages or the Bonus Worlds that opened up after I beat the Story Mode. BOXBOY! is not only one the best new IPs HAL Laboratory has come out with in years, it’s my favorite new 3DS eShop game. If you like puzzles or old school video games, go buy it.
Overall, I was really pleased and surprised by GravBlocks+. It helped scratch that puzzle game itch in a serious way, keeping me entertained and challenged the entire time I played. Even better, it went the extra mile and offered Off-TV play and an extensive digital manual, which most indie games don’t bother with. Though both it and From Nothing Game Studios are relative newcomers to me, I’ll be watching for further projects they put out. I put in about three hours to try out every mode in the game, and I still have lots more to do in Story Mode. I venture I’ll be coming back to GravBlocks+ again and again in the months to come. It’s a lot of fun, and a bargain for $4.99. If you own a Wii U, you owe it to yourself to try this one out.
Though the game is pretty linear, I was well pleased with the amount of content in Moon Chronicles. Though it’s not perfect, it does most everything right. It took me approximately 11 hours to beat the game on Normal, and that was without playing all the Virtual Missions unlocked in the game, which serve mostly to offer some replay value. The experience was just as tight now as six years ago, but with an extra dollop of polish. Plus, it cost less, as the entire season is less than $20. Serving as the first true FPS experience on the 3DS, Moon Chronicles will hopefully usher in more Episodes in the future. I can only hope so, as Season 1 ends on a cliffhanger. Seeing as how I’ve been waiting for resolution to that cliffhanger for several years, I can only hope others enjoy Moon Chronicles and give Renegade Kid the attention they deserve.
All in all, I was more pleased than displeased with Xeodrifter. As a fan of Renegade Kid, it takes a lot for me to hate anything they make. I found Xeodrifter was quite fun and pretty much unputdownable. My biggest complaints were the lack of unique boss fights and the short time it took to finish it. However, for the price tag of $9.99, I feel I got my money’s worth. I hope to see more such games from Renegade Kid in the future, as they have certainly proven they can do retro right and can handle Metroidvania pretty darn well.
Overall, I was well-pleased with Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX. Having never played the original, I thought the 3DS version was a lot of fun. With great visuals, tight, hard-as-nails gameplay and fitting tunes, it was a great investment for only $6. Though I beat the Story mode in about 4 hours, I still have more to unlock, and enjoy replaying it for the hell of it. I would recommend it for anyone that’s a fan of old-school games, zombies or just looking for a new eShop title. These rotting menaces provide a great time in Wonderland!
So, in summary, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse was a fantastic game. It was a streamlined, beautiful and entertaining experience held back only slightly by some minor quibbles. It made me care about the world of Shantae much more than I thought possible, and managed to close the series on a decidedly high note. That’s a long way of me saying this — Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is the best game of the series. For $19.99, it’s a steal, and a game that belongs in any 3DS or Wii U owner’s library. So stop reading and go buy it! It will help pass the time until Half-Genie Hero finally releases, and gets me hooked on genie magic once more.
In my final estimation, Azure Striker Gunvolt is a great game, and not just for Mega Man fans. It is a unique adventure with colorful characters, interesting battle mechanics and great music and art. Though some features feel poorly implemented, many more feel just right. Though the game might seem pricey at $14.99, I know of many other eShop games that cost far more for far less. Besides, if you purchase Azure Striker Gunvolt before November 28, you’ll also get Mighty Gunvolt for free, which is a great little extra. Casual gamers can technically beat the game in about three to four hours, but to get the good ending, and find all the hidden items, it should take significantly more time. I spent almost eight hours doing just that, and, given my desire to get S+ scores and beat all the challenges, I will easily be playing for at least another eight hours. I would highly recommend this game to fans of platformers, Japanese style games or just for somebody looking for a great eShop game. It’s not perfect, but it does a lot of things right. Now I will just have to patiently await Inti Creates to give us a release date on Azure Striker Gunvolt 2…
Overall, BattleBlock Theater was a hell of a lot of fun. It more than satisfied my retro yearning and kept challenging me as I played. It was honestly hard to put the game down as I played through Story mode, approximately a 10-hour process, and with the user-generated levels I might be playing for a very long time. I would recommend it to any fan of old school gaming done right. I cheer The Behemoth on for such a mighty game, and not-so-patiently wait for their next creation.
All in all, I was quite pleased with Cthulhu Saves the World. It adapted the classic Lovecraftian beast in a modern, entertaining way and gave me a quest just as fun as any Final Fantasy classic. The humor throughout kept things fresh and upbeat, and it provided just enough challenge to keep me playing even as I got beaten by foes. I would highly recommend it to any fan of classic RPGs, indie games or parody. Now I just have to play through the other great offerings from Zeboyd Games, and see how they stack up!
So, in closing, I would simply say — if you have a Wii U and like fun, retro-styled games, pick Armillo up now. For the next week or so, I believe it stays at the introductory price of $6, and then kicks up to $8. At either price, this is an indie game that belongs in any Wii U library. It was well worth finding a second time!
So, the question remains – was Shovel Knight worth the time and the hype? The answer is a resounding yes! The game not only lived up to my expectations, it exceeded them in many respects. From my experience with it at PAX Prime last year, I had no inkling of how challenging the final version would be. That said, it is not the longest experience. I managed to beat the story mode in a little less than four hours. I still have more items to find, since I beat it with only 66% item completion, and only achieved some 24% of the various Feats. They are accomplishments awarded for various actions, and can be checked from the start screen. I’m sure they will also lend some replay value as I come back to it. Overall, though, I was well pleased with Shovel Knight. Not only was it worth my wait, I venture many who didn’t back it would do well to buy themselves a copy now. It’s only $15, and for that price is much better than the drivel put out by many larger studios. I only hope Yacht Club Games doesn’t sit on their laurels, and I anxiously anticipate a new game in the near future. Until then, I’ll be shoveling my way through New Game +. For Shovelry!
Overall, I found the game to be very entertaining. I was pretty much constantly charmed during the entirety of my 20-hour playthrough. The universe of Chibi-Robo was unique, pretty and fun. If the camera wasn’t so difficult to use, and, if a couple of features had been better explained and implemented, it would have been a much better experience. That said, I would venture Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder is a game that anyone with a 3DS should look into. For only $9.99, you get a great portable experience. It’s not perfect, but it does most things right. I can only hope Nintendo comes out with more portable gems in the future.
I also spent far too much time with character customization after I beat the game, pouring thousands of dollars into a better wardrobe. Overall, though, this generation didn’t quite live up to my, perhaps high, expectations. Yes it was very fun and enjoyable, and will undoubtedly be a great time sink as I strive to complete my Pokédex. But it also had its share of small problems that could have been fixed. If nothing else, however, Pokémon Y should serve as a wonderful new starting point for the series. It may not have been the definitive experience I was hoping for, but it did a lot of work modernizing the series for future generations. That makes Pokémon Y a must-buy game for any Pokémon fan. Now, to finish Super Training my Gourgeist!
I was very pleased with Rage of the Gladiator. For $6.99, it offers a fun, surprisingly cinematic handheld experience that offers hours of entertainment. It effectively scales the difficulty so that each mode has something new to offer, and is much harder than the one that came before it. Though the plot is a bit bare bones, it was acceptable given the fact that the whole game is based around fighting monsters in an arena. Ghostfire Games and Gamelion Studios have given us a worthy handheld experience that I would heartily recommend to anyone with a 3DS. However, if you’re still not convinced, we could always throw you into the arena for a bit. A couple rounds with Ixthid are sure to change anyone’s opinion.
Overall, I found Legends to be much easier than Origins. Maybe it’s because I’m an old school platforming nut, and my opinions should be taken with a grain of salt. But I was anticipating Legends being more difficult than Origins, not easier and shorter. Which isn’t to say Rayman Legends is a cakewalk, just that it was noticeably easier. However, I don’t want to give everyone the impression that the game was horrible. That’s simply not the case. In fact, I rather enjoyed my time with the game, and have yet to unlock some 200 or so Teensies. It is possible, though unlikely, that my opinion will change after I have had a chance to fight the hidden boss, and beaten all the stages fully. Until then, though, I can only base my review on my experience prior to playing the game. For those who enjoy platforming, Rayman Legends is a great choice. Especially since it is easier than it’s brother, Rayman Origins. But for those who like their platformers to be tough as nails and brutal, perhaps hold off on your legendary expectations until Ubisoft announces another game.
Chain Blaster was a good attempt by G-Style at a portable SHMUP experience. If anything, I hope this isn’t their last foray into the genre, because a larger, more comprehensive and varied experience would be outstanding. If they decided to publish a game for more money with a larger experience, I would be all over it. Ultimately, the game doesn’t quite merit the $6.99 asking price. If they ever decide to discount this game, however, I would highly recommend that any SHMUP fan with an itchy trigger finger pick Chain Blaster up.