Allisa James's Reviews
Zero Time Dilemma is an excellent follow-up and sequel/prequel, making great strides in widening the appeal of the game by overhauling the story progression with its inventive and effective “fragments systems,” while avoiding the pitfall of alienating the loyal fanbase that supported Dilemma‘s development. Despite its tricky position as an in between of two other well established titles, it neatly fills in the gaps and serves as a great lead in for Virtue’s Last Reward, which ended on a cliffhanger. Fans who have long-awaited the return of the series will not be disappointed in this swan’s song.
Admittedly I went into Bravely Second: End Layer expecting to be let down, especially after how much I had enjoyed the first game. Despite the issue of sameness mentioned previously, my misgivings for the sequel have mostly been proven misplaced and I'm more than happy to eat crow as I continue to enjoy experiencing the trials and tribulations of this new generation of heroes as they find their place in the world, rescuing it along the way.
Despite Star Fox Zero's relatively brief story mode (around 4-5 hours, absent the branching paths), the game remains a great value, with Guard's inclusion giving even more incentive to pick up this title.
From the humble beginnings of the simple, singular image above to the fully fleshed out title we have now, it's been quite the journey. And considering the high quality product we've gotten for our patience, Pokkén Tournament has been worth the wait.
For those who have already played the previous versions, the idea of double-dipping is a harder pill to swallow. But consider this: if you had any qualms concerning the original title that have since been addressed and corrected in the HD version, Twilight Princess HD may be worth the retread again — especially if you happen to own any amiibo.
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival is a fun and entertaining party game featuring cute little animal people (or people-people) you can play with your family. And it doesn't hurt that the title itself is free to download, although you need at least one amiibo to play the game. If you have needs that lie outside of those above listed properties you may be better off searching for another title altogether.
While the title does hit rough patches here and there (expected of a series hitting uncharted waters), players can expect to experience a decently polished third-person shooter that extrapolates well on the mythos of Danganronpa, particularly the on-goings between the first and second title, and is well worth the price of admission for fans of the series.
Other than those minor issues, Super Mario Maker remains an excellent value for gamers: a deep and satisfying creation mode for level building wrapped in a relaxing and non-stressful package that those of any age could enjoy — maybe even multiple generations together.
Despite the aesthetic and DLC complaints, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker is an all-around solid JRPG, with great gameplay and an equally great story. Not to mention that the oodles of extra content and updates to this version would be worth a second buy for fans who purchased the original, let alone any newcomers to the series.
If you haven't played a dungeon-crawler title yet, start with this one. It never abates on the difficulty but simultaneously introduces mechanics and items that still make the title — and genre — accessible to first-time players. Plenty of love and care between the two development teams has been put into this title and, despite the smaller setbacks, it truly shines in the end product.
However, the only way to truly experience this breathtaking title is to experience it for yourself. And now with this New 3DS version, said experience has gotten a whole lot easier.
In the end, if you have siblings or friends who you could play against, Mario Party 10 can end up being a roaring good time for a while. By yourself, however, I would recommend either skipping it altogether or at least know you are dipping into a more minimal title.
While some gamers might be put off by the relatively low amount of content and all-around simplicity, for its price, including the aforementioned cross-buy, the title is worth its value in stars.
And even though its gameplay is still a bit dense and sometimes overwhelming for first-timers, the new mechanics and improvements make Ultimate the ultimate way to enter the franchise to date. Players new and old, dive into the hunt without hesitation.
Despite the short list of shortcomings, however, Majora's Mask 3D remains an excellent title with great controls, a unique and involving plot, interesting characters, and a masterfully woven atmosphere. For new and old fans alike, this is a great addition for your library.
Tales of Hearts R doesn’t have the most original story and the characters are mostly well-meaning but occasionally stereotypical. The game’s localization feels a bit lacking without an English dub as well, considering the amount of work that was clearly poured into the translation. However, the beautifully remade visuals, stellar combat and development system and on-point voice acting more than compensate for the admittedly superficial shortcomings. If you own a PS Vita and are on the lookout for a great new game to add to your library, Bandai Namco has a lovely polished gem for you to purchase.
This is one of the rare games that balances appeal to both genre newcomers and hardcore action game heads, without sacrificing anything for it. Bayonetta 2 proves to be one of the — if not the — greatest action games and should not be missed under any circumstances, despite any reservations on the titular character's design choice.
Natural Doctrine is not meant for the faint of heart. You must be prepared for unyielding and at times near hellish combat that only rewards careful planning and the use of intelligent strategy over brute strength. For those who enjoy these elements in their strategy RPG, however, this title will not disappoint.
Two worlds collide in Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and they collide quite well. Great pains have been taken to ensure that the combination works as a cohesive unit, and for the most part it succeeds (with some minor hiccups along the way). There’s more than enough content for old fans of either franchise and new players will find this game as a more than welcoming entry point to both games. Those that enter the world of Labrynthia will thoroughly enjoy their foray — just mind the witch trials.
Despite a few hiccups here and there, Deconstructeam has weaved together a solid title that will resonate with players long after the experience is over. As long as you're willing to put in the substantial effort, of course.