It keeps calling me back and and I keep going, so something is going right in the design. While I personally feel there’s a lack of long term game investment, not every title needs to consume your waking existence: sometimes a game can just be fun and done.
You won’t end up ripping out your hair with Super Meat Boy-style anguish or develop blisters from Super Mario Wonder moments of precision, but you will have a long-form romp of fun with Crossy Road Castle. If you have family and friends locally or afar, you can all don your favorite silly accessory and head out for some superb platforming that asks you not to be the best, but simply try your best: this game’s got your back, your fellow players do, too, and it’s just so nice to feel like a game is happy you’re there. In truth, it makes me very, very happy as well.
I never quite got over busting myself down to the very easy difficulty, though it actually made the game both fun and attainable while still being shockingly hard. BZZZT takes no prisoners and you shouldn’t expect mercy if you plan to spend any time with this game whatsoever. If you like to bleed, strap in. If you don’t, you might want to find another robot with whom to party.
The presentation, the pixel art, the purposely sparse soundtrack and the compelling tale makes this a game that’s a step above the pulp nature of Bahnsen Knights, but certainly not the caliber of any Phoenix Wright adjacent games. You will be able to enjoy No Case Should Remain Unsolved and move on in a satisfied state of mind. You will not turn this into your new weekend obsession. But, like returning to The Devil in the White City, sometimes you’ll come back to see this tale through once more. After all, the details keep you locked in, and, at the end of the day, it’s always nice to see justice being served.
The tonality and presentation of some subjects – abandonment, insecurity, bullying and anxiety – are not doled out in a balanced manner and hurt the vibe of the game. The constant presence of hurt and self-loathing really make it difficult to enjoy the game outside of combat. While the subject matter may be important, I don’t feel it was delivered in the right way.
There are so many shortcomings in terms of single-player mode, lack of online, and low incentive for replay outside of the fun, but I really had a great time with this and my family. We still load it up daily for a match or two before school, and I hope that more comes to make the game have better longevity for everyone.
Fans of the franchise will get a good session from WHAT THE CAR?, and I can see that it’ll do well in the streaming category as well, especially with the fan-made levels already reaching ridiculous proportions. If you don’t gel within the first ten minutes, there’s a good chance this isn’t the game for you, and that’s alright. But if you have a little spark of joy after your first gold crown, follow that vibe and keep on driving. Your tires – or feet, or bears, or roller skates – are taking you on a journey of a lifetime.
Once again, I’m in awe that Aero the Acro-Bat 2 was crafted, and I think I’m grateful for the ideology. Clearly, the devs saw something in the game that players did not, and they were able to craft a second one. Sure, Aero may have been “best new character” of 1993, but they were also giving away the game to anyone who sent them a postcard, so it’s a tossup as to what the success level truly was.
All in all, these artifacts that date back almost forty years are something really special, and this is the only way to play the official English versions. Sunsoft is Back! feels worthwhile for gaming historians and curious spelunkers like myself, and I hope that Red Art considers a physical version at some point in the future for even stronger preservation. Still, as it is, the price tag is right for a time machine to let you see all that was in the world of Sunsoft.
I can’t believe how nostalgic I felt for a game I’ve never played before. Engrossing, engaging and constantly evolving, players can expect to squeeze every bit of fun out of every second that they’re in the world of Bakeru. I’ll understand not loving it to the degree I do, but I’d be shocked to find someone who didn’t at least have a good time.
If you’ve wanted something more involved than Two Kingdoms, but not as complex as Nobunaga’s Ambition, My Lovely Empress is a wonderfully ranged title that asks players to divide their hearts and their heads to the extreme. To rule but also to seek out your own happiness, however twisted it may be. It may not be perfect, but it’s memorable in a big way. There’s no easy or clean solution to this game, but, for players willing to go on a dark journey, the way ahead is certainly interesting, and the greatest curse of all may be for an emperor – and his unfortunate people – to live in interesting times.
Tomba! Special Edition is a really cool title to lift from the annals of history, and I think that it deserves both recognition and appreciation for what it does. While the series never quite took off in a longform way, I think Fujiwara-san should be proud of his creation and all that went into Tomba! and its sequel. Moreover, I just love that fans get a chance to play something that isn’t a go-to PS1 title when talking about this generation.
Being able to have fun and deliver joke after joke while still taking itself seriously is no small feat, and The Devil’s Playhouse is witty, charming, and rakish in delivery and execution. While I didn’t always love how the controls made me feel, once I was in the pocket I had a grand time conversing, experimenting, and just loving the universe overall.
Though the tale of Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is easily contained to a single game, I can already feel myself wanting to return again, to see how much better I can ferret out secrets, collect all the things I missed, and see if there’s even more to the deeper tale of the tentaihana. Don’t sell yourself short just because it reminds you of another game: Bō proudly stands on his own two, adorable, little feet.
It’s the summer that never was in a town I’ve never been for a childhood that was never my own. Yet, in spite of all these nevers, it caught my attention and helped the old feel young again by capturing the beautiful notion of an exciting, unpredictable summer.
I’m really glad Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition exists in the condition it’s arrived in, and I hope that players also enjoy it to the same degree I did. Tight, senseless and fun, you do the thing and do it again, and keep doing it until you’re satisfied. Be the best even if the best is only in your own heart. Get hyped for seeing how well you can slay Moblins, grab Morph Balls or just land on the Goal Pole. This is a time for champions and hopefuls, and you, my friend, you have the real making of a champion. Good talk, now let’s get out there and inhale those enemies.
Princess Maker 2 is such a fantastic game, and this incarnation is just not the best version of itself. Poorly optimized, glitchy and very pricy, it’s hard to justify its existence when a better release already exists on PC. But, as a console only take, it’s a fine title indeed.
Sunlight Scream is a boring, flat and almost criminally protracted title with multiple endings that all feel the same. The art is alright but nothing special, the soundtrack is dull and the entire thing is cast with rejects from Pretty Little Liars. I didn’t enjoy playing it, but there’s probably a market out there for people who love to be disappointed and frustrated, so I’m sure it’ll sell alright. Don’t take my word for it if you feel doubt, but remember this: there’s so much good food out there. Why in hell would you choose the potato salad?
This is not the end of my time with this game. I have gotten the True Ending, but I’ll be returning. God willing, there’s a Switch port in the future so that I can bring this title around and take it apart from moment to moment. If they ever want to do a voiced version, I’ll be auditioning for Mark’s teacher. If a limited edition is announced, I’ll be saving my pennies. There is a world where this game doesn’t leave a mark on my being, but I’m not there. This world hasn’t ended yet. Take your time, come in with an open mind, and engage in a life not your own. The joy and sorrow of Until Then leaves an indelible mark on your soul, and I am better for it.
It’s a good little way to kill time, much like the original intent. Not too expensive, no massive frills, but a good piece overall. It’s for the right audience, and I could see this being gifted to random people for fun and sharing of the experience.