Allisa James
- Ace Attorney series
- Final Fantasy VIII
- Soul Calibur II
Allisa James's Reviews
Child of Light portrays this through polish, style and grace And for its troubles, a perfect score
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.
While I do wish certain mechanics such as two-racer teams and character exclusive specials would have made the list, and many gamers might be disappointed with the partial voice chat, 8 is still an excellent entry that should not be missed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ring Fit Adventure, the latest fitness outing for Nintendo, packs a full-fledged workout for all ages in a colorful children's RPG package.
Divinity: Original Sin is a western RPG that dives head first into the nostalgia pool; while it doesn't exactly reinvent the contents, it manages to make its own ripples.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a well-made platformer that adds more than enough level variety, graphical upgrades, new characters and new mechanics to keep the long-used formula from getting stale. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it certainly molds and polishes that wheel to near perfection.
Pushmo World is an excellent mini-title for your Wii U library and is well suited for nearly any age group. The puzzles can get very challenging later on but that Eureka moment when you finally created a solution from nothing is incomparable. And for just $10, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by missing out.
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.
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 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.
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.
Mario Golf: World Tour is an excellent golfing title that combines the strategy and depth of golf with the personality and fun of the Super Mario series. Whether you're a beginner or advanced player, child or adult, there's something for everyone here.
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered finally gives Squall the good looking face he deserves.
The long-awaited Persona 5 Royal is finally upon us, with tons of new content and gameplay overhauls to create a more robust experience.