GBAtemp's Reviews
What could have been a decent visual novel was marred by unnecessary walking, dungeon repetition, and a dull combat engine. Unless you are really dedicated to your purchase, trudging through to the end of this game doesn't seem like something that most people will do.
NieR: Automata is not a perfect game, but it's damn near close to perfection. I've enjoyed every moment of it, and although the post-apocalyptic Earth felt a little synthetic, perhaps that was the point. Missing out on NieR: Automata would be missing out on one of the better JRPG's I've played in a long time. The game explored interesting themes through the means of multiple genres, all executed to the highest of standards, and it deserves credit for that. If you're a fan of "the PlatinumGames touch", be sure to grab NieR: Automata - you won't regret it.
Playgrounds sure isn't an NBA Jam, but it feels okay for a return to arcade style basketball. I'd like to see EA try again in the future, hopefully taking some of the bare minima they've learned from Playgrounds to make a more enticing experience.
I'll always love Parappa. It's due to this love that I have to be harsh here because I expect better from the origin of rhythm games. We'll just have to believe if he ever comes back he makes a debut that feels like a modern rhythm game should.
Nearly impossible to put down, chock full of content yet hindered by an archaic online system. Mario kart 8 Deluxe is another phenomenal game in the growing switch library, yet an ominous precedent for the future of Switch online games.
Overall, Birthday the Beginnings is ok. The number of species you can create and manage promises a lot of gameplay, if you can get passed the poor pacing and intermittent gameplay. The cute animals (like that fish <3) makes the game pretty worthwhile, too.
Syberia 3 is a game that looks and feels old, and not in a good way. The game is infested with technical issues like clunky controls, poor animation and mediocre voice acting that take away any amount of fun that could have been present. It is only barely recommended for those die-hard fans of Kate Walker too eager to keep up to date with her latest adventure; and I'm not sure how much of a fandom will be left after this title...
I like Telltale games for the most part. I loved The Wolf Among Us and Tales From The Borderlands. Those were also games that I played years ago. As of now, the engine feels the same if not slowly getting worse. It could also be that I was more forgiving in the past when I was playing those games on older hardware. Now it is 2017, and I'm all out of patience. Guardians is hindered by its engine and will continue to be if Telltale does not change, which is a true shame.
Fate/Extella is clearly made for hardcore fans of the series. It's a hard sell to anyone that's not well-versed in the Fate franchise, and even then, the repetitive, clunky combat system and overly wordy story sections will likely drive off those that have any interest in the game.
A game about sniping, does what it sets out to and was fun along the way. I don't feel quite like investing lots of time in this a la some open world games but it has a future as a just for fun game.
Mr. Shifty is a fantastic debut title from Team Shifty and a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch. I look forward to seeing what the developers come up with next.
It is a very easy to pick up fighting game with a high skill ceiling and lots of replay value.
Sometimes captivatng, other times frustrating, the puzzles in A Rose in the Twilight uses an interesting but flawed mechanic and delivers a touching story that you have to piece together.
Overall, Has Been Heroes is...ok. If the RNG was fixed up a bit and the difficulty curve was altered so you're gradually introduced to the game, it would be a pretty good rogue-like. As it is now, it's simply too frustrated and luck-based to be up there with other great rogue-likes like Rogue Legacy or Darkest Dungeon.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In Andromeda, I was beholden to beautiful environments and robust gameplay, yet marred by inhuman animations and a story more loose than spare change in a long woolen sock. Andromeda is a galaxy of empty promises and one I could not find enjoyment in.
FlatOut 4 Total Insanity is possibly the best game in the series to date. Some of the characters and tracks may feel a bit generic, but that doesn't detract from it being a more than competent racer that is seriously fun with a lot of unique features exclusive to the series.
Apart from a few flaws, VOEZ is a solid rhythm game with pretty graphics, well thought out gampelay content and a huge selection of songs. Easily one of the Switch launch's hidden gems, if you like rhythm games.
Night in the Woods is about growing up in a world that doesn’t seem to give a damn about you, something so many of us can almost relate to today. It’s about growing up when you thought you were already grown up. It’s about embracing your emotions and coming to terms with your failures. It’s about cherishing the past but also learning to let it go. And it’s one of the nicest indie games I’ve had the pleasure of playing in recent memory.
Lego Worlds is what I have always wanted from a Lego title. It's allowed my son and I to create builds we couldn't ever envision in the real world, let alone afford to buy all the bricks for!
World of Final Fantasy certainly did not scratch any itches for me, but I can't truly lambast it for what it is. I mean look at those faces! In terms of its gameplay and story, while repetitive and not entirely engrossing, there is charm and care put into this world that truer fans than I can appreciate. There's a good game here, but it certainly isn't for everyone.