GameZone's Reviews
It's been an agonizing wait, but it was worth it. When Nintendo announced a new Super Smash Bros. for not only the Wii U, but also the 3DS, it was almost inconceivable that the handheld version would be anything but a mere gap filler until its older and prettier sibling would release later that year. Rest easy knowing that's not the case at all. Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS packs a punch with the full character roster, diverse stages and various modes to keep you smashing all day.
I often find that replaying certaing games from my childhood such as Super Mario Bros., DuckTales, Mega Man and The Legend of Zelda, don't just provide me with a fantastic feeling of nostalgia, but also remind me of my roots. They help me keep perspective of where I started as a gamer, and retain the appreciation for those games. Last year, Nintendo took that amazing classic library I fell in love with as a kid, and turned it into a gauntlet of challenges they called NES Remix. Then last month, Nintendo compiled the best games from both NES Remix 1 and 2, and made it into a portable package on the 3DS with Ultimate NES Remix, providing bite sized challenges through a collection of classic games that might make you look at them just a bit different than before.
Stella Glow is a good Strategy-RPG that doesn't do anything to push the genre forward, partially because the genre is already so forward to begin with. For fans of anime, J-Pop or Strategy role-playing in general, the game is definitely worth checking out. The game packs plenty of content as it can take you between 30-50 hours to finish, depending on how much you like to grind.
Fire Emblem Fates is a fantastic followup to Awakening, introducing some slight new gameplay elements as well as gorgeous new graphical options.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time defied everyone's expectations when it released on the N64 in late 1998. Not only did it successfuly bring a Zelda game into the realm of 3D, it also managed to weave together an intricate storyline of time travel, allowing you to switch back and forth between a thriving Hyrule in Link's present childhood, or the despair filled future where Ganon ruled over the land. It was a rather emotion filled journey that concluded with Link returning to his childhood timeline in order to fully live out his life. Surprisingly, Nintendo released a direct follow-up to this timeline with Majora's Mask. This was atypical for the series that was never built on direct sequels aside from the original two games for the NES.
As a fan of all that is steampunk, and as a fan of the Emancipation Proclamation (because who doesn't enjoy the abolishment of slavery, outside of a certain University of Oklahoma fraternity), I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Code Name S.T.E.A.M. since it was announced by Nintendo. Developed by Intelligent Systems, Code Name S.T.E.A.M. is a turn-based, third-person strategy game that has you play as some old school American heroes, as well as some famous fictional characters in a steam punk world where President Abe Lincoln never had a mishap at the theatre.
My BoxBoy review code sat in my inbox for about a week. It's not that I didn't want to play it, but the end of March and even the beginning of April was filled with a ton of games that demanded more of my attention. Not knowing what BoxBoy was, I looked up some gameplay videos, and wasn't taken by what I saw. Something about a boy that looks like a box and there are a lot of puzzles involved. I figured, passing on the review at that time was OK in lieu of bigger, more time consuming titles. Now that the storm has calmed, I was ready to finally dive into BoxBoy. After just beating the first world, which took me all of probably 5 minutes, I saw the immense potential. This was a game that isn't gaining any favors through gameplay videos. It's a game you have to play to "get." And it's oh so delightful.
Xenoblade Chronicles belongs to one of three titles that gamers have fought to bring over to the US, and feels like a crowning achievement to have actually succeeded. When it debuted on the Wii on 2012, it surprised a lot of gamers with its forward thinking mechanics, a relatively fun combat system, some extremely deep gameplay systems, and its sense of scale. This was easily one of the biggest JRPGs on a console that was an entire generation behind, and it delivered on nearly all fronts. Fast forward to 2015, with the release of an updated 3DS model which adds some extra processing power and Xenoblade Chronicles 3D being the system's first exclusive game, utilizing that power, and you have the perfect reason to either dive back into this fantastic game, or perhaps experience for the first time.
If you ever felt intrigued by the Animal Crossing games, but found their open-ended nature to be more daunting than relaxing, then Happy Home Designer might just be the answer. It seems like this game was also made to satisfy Sims players, who did nothing more but customize and furnished various homes to no end.
Fire Emblem Fates is a fantastic followup to Awakening, introducing some slight new gameplay elements as well as gorgeous new graphical options.
Tri Force Heroes is the breath of fresh air in a series that's somewhat stale. It's funny, it's fun, and it's not the same story of another Zelda cycle. You can play Zelda with friends near or far, what's not to love about that? If you have friends nearby or with strong internet connections, Tri Force Heroes may be the multiplayer Zelda experience you've always wanted.
I know I came in saying that Yo-kai Watch doesn't play like Pokemon, and yet I spent a few points comparing the two. It's impossible to draw comparisons in games that both center around catching monsters and using them for battle.
At its core, Pokémon Picross is a clever execution that injects the Picross formula with touches that make puzzle-solving more directed and ultimately more alluring. The Pokémon IP has not been used superficially, which in itself is commendable. But most surprising is that even with the suspect microtransactions, it's not as bad of a money trap as it could have been. What's more, the standard established at the outset is great for its transparency, which, when coupled with measures to ease the player in without feelings of obligation, make for a relatively comfortable entry point. At the same time, it's sad to see that the support systems are so restrained that it dulls a sense of reward, causing microtransactions to overpower the further you get into the experience. Ultimately, reflecting on the game's defined variables and fun, experimental mechanics will work to disarm the future battle against microtransactions, should you decide to continue with it.
The bar has been set high for 2016: The wonderful meshing of twitch and RPG based combat, constantly growing list of abilities, ever changing enemy types, and all around charm sets Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam apart from other RPGs. Almost every aspect of Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam coalesces into a near perfect game. That's quite the feat considering how many different things are jammed into this little package. There's almost always something new to do after every notable encounter, which is important in a genre that is flooded with games that become exercises in rote repetition long before they end. Paper Jam is roughly 30 hours of portable gaming joy, and a great start to a year that should be loaded with JRPG styled goodness.
When Capcom's not hard at work at the next Resident Evil experience, of which the latest one was pretty fantastic, they're continually reworking and upgrading their Monster Hunter formula. And while we don't necessarily get every single Monster Hunter release here in the West, we do tend to get the better, Director's Cut versions of it. The latest entry is no different, with the small exception that it is no longer gracing Nintendo's HD hardware, the Wii U, but rather only appearing on the Nintendo 3DS. So it it worth taking the plunge once more, even if you've already invested hundreds of hours into the previous game?
I had a really rough time with Final Fantasy Explorers. Comparing it to Capcom's already established series was always on my mind, and honestly, it's unavoidable when you're familiar with it and a big fan of the franchise.
The 1-on-1 battles are intense, and the ability to call in other characters to help you out when you're in need, or simply to hop in to interrupt an opponents combo not only feels fantastic but looks stellar as well.
In the end, Punch Club looked like a fun, light-hearted sim game that ended up being a way better game than anticipated. It could do with a bit more in the way of interactivity, but it does present itself as a fighting simulator and not a straight forward fighting game. It delivers a lot more than it advertises, so these gripes are only so big.
As I've already mentioned, Capcom did an absolutely stellar job at bringing this title to PC. Unlike games such as Final Fantasy Type-0 HD which came with some graphical upgrades, still suffered from a capped framerate at 30fps. Thanks Square Enix! So the fact that the game is so good along with it being a great port should solidify this purchase for those who might have missed out on this game during the last generation of consoles, like myself.
Not all of its design choices may be consistently tasteful, but Aviary Attorney tells a good story to the end, paying attention to a lot of the finer details for a cohesive and entertaining whole. Where it does not succeed is in its courtroom happenings. While the game can hold its own, they're not the standout moments they could have been. Further, its narrative could definitely have benefited from further development for a fuller experience. These characters do grow on you and it's clear that much care went into creating a regal-yet-lighthearted atmosphere that players would grow accustomed to. Because of that, it's dissatisfying to have things end sooner than they need to. Its humour and storytelling will be appreciated for their value as individual elements, but these touches don't bring the overall experience to the highs it was creatively meant to achieve with greater support, ultimately making Aviary Attorney a pleasant mystery but a restrained one.