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I very much enjoyed Sword Art Online: Lost Song. The combat in the game is fast paced, the controls are easy to get used to and Multiplayer is very fun and will drain almost all your time in the game. Those sub events are also extremely fun to watch. The only problems I really had with it were the recycled dungeon and enemy designs, and how easy and repetitive the combat could get. Also the story was pretty underwhelming. Those issues aside, if you’re a fan of ARPGs or Sword Art Online in general you should definitely give this game a shot.
All in all, I was very pleased with Dementium Remastered. For $14.99, you get a fantastic horror title worthy of any console. I’m still shocked it made its way to Nintendo again, especially given how prone the company is to sticking with more well known properties lately. While the game isn’t perfect (and I am still irritated by some features), it is a great game, and one that aptly shows what the 3DS is capable of. If you want a real freaky treat, turn on that 3D slider and play the game. Now, I just have to wait patiently for Dementium III to answer all my burning unanswered questions…
PONCHO isn’t a huge game, as I found myself able to beat it in a couple hours, but it does offer replay value if you want to spend more time in this world. Without spoilers, I will say that a decision you make at the end of the game will give one of two possible endings, and there are also achievements for collecting every single collectible. While I’m not sure if accomplishing this task gets you anything other than a sense of pride, it is a nice bonus. I wouldn’t say PONCHO is for everybody, as some of the platforming, especially later in the game, can get quite frustrating, but for those stubborn enough to buckle down, you’ll get your value. Priced at $14.99 on Steam, PONCHO may be a bit pricey, but I feel it’s worth it, especially if you find it on sale. Overall, I was quite pleased with PONCHO, and would recommend it to any fans of touching, mysterious indie games. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go back and find the rest of those collectibles…
While I mostly enjoyed my time with Mondrian, I left a bit underwhelmed by the whole experience. I spent a couple hours unlocking a bunch of content — approximately 60% — but didn’t feel that accomplished when I unlocked features. That could be because of the lack of progressive difficulty, or it could be due to the casual aspect of the game. I also wish I had found more video game styles to unlock in my time with the game. More than anything, I suppose I just wanted more — more features, more challenge, a more frantic sense of urgency. That said, there is nothing technically wrong with the game, and for $6.99, it’s a pretty good bargain. If you can’t get enough of puzzle games or just want a fun Steam game for a bargain price, you might consider giving Mondrian a chance.
Overall, I was very pleased with Yoshi’s Woolly World. My playthrough took around 13 hours, and that’s without finding all the hidden goodies. When you factor that in, you probably have 15-20 hours of fun, more if you decided to take things slow and play on Mellow Mode, or try out co-op with a buddy. It took 20 years, but I feel Woolly World is the successor that Yoshi’s Island has always deserved. I’m really happy with it, and it truly shows how talented Good-Feel is at treating a beloved franchise with care and respect. I highly recommend this to fans of Yoshi, young and old, and hope this isn’t the last adventure for Mario’s plucky dinosaur steed.
In the end, I was very pleased with Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash. It took me about 9 hours to beat it, and that’s without having found all the Badges and Alien Babies. The replay value will mostly depend on your willingness to find a bunch of things that have no bearing on the completion of the game. I wasn’t sure how it would translate to a platformer, but I feel Chibi did so successfully, albeit with a couple of missteps. Most importantly, I find most if not all of the complaints I saw leveled at the game without merit. It is a fun, challenging and occasionally frustrating game. Considering it’s a totally new genre for this environment friendly robot, I was really impressed with the whole thing. It’s not the best platformer I’ve ever played, but it is by far my favorite game in the Chibi-Robo series. Here’s hoping it did well enough to keep seeing Chibi in strange adventures far into the future.
Much as I enjoyed Assault Android Cactus, I can’t help but lower the score a bit for the boss difficulty. That said, there is still a lot to enjoy about the game. If twin-stick shooters are your thing, and you don’t mind a bit of masochism, I highly recommend it. This is especially true if you have some friends to tackle it with locally, up to 4 at a time. However, if you are thrown by steep challenge and can’t stand bullet hell, this might not be for you. You can normally purchase the game for $14.99 for PC, Mac and Linux, though it is 20% off until this Wednesday. It is also slated to release for PS4, Wii U and Vita at a later date. Overall, I was pretty happy with Assault Android Cactus, and I look forward to what Witch Beam cooks up for their next game.
For a mere $9.99, I think Shutshimi is a great bargain. It offers a game so strange that it stands out from the pack, and it’s simple nature keeps me replaying it just for kicks. Though the version I reviewed was on my Vita, the game is also available on PS4 and Steam, and will eventually make its way to other consoles. If you like crazy games or SHMUPs, or just want to take your anger out on some laser-spewing sharks, you won’t go wrong with Shutshimi. Well done, Neon Deity Games and Choice Provisions. This fish is worth keeping!
As far as replay value, Tachyon Project is pretty standard. You can get through the entire Story Mode in two to three hours, but there is also a Challenge Mode to keep you playing. Here you can find several different options, such as Endless Challenge. Your progress here can be shared to leaderboards, for the more competitively-minded gamer. You can also go back an play levels in Story Mode to unlock Weapons and Perks, if you’re so inclined. But, unless you’re truly obsessed, you probably won’t spend more than five hours on the game. That said, I was very satisfied with my time with Tachyon Project. It was different enough to hook me, drew me in with the story, and left me desperately wanting a sequel. I can’t think of higher praise for a game than that. If you have $9.99 to spend, Tachyon Project is a great game for both Steam and XBox One.
If it sounds like I’ve mostly been gushing about Odallus, that’s probably because I was utterly transfixed by the game. I could barely put it down, and whenever I got stuck, I just got more compelled to keep playing and playing til I found what I needed to progress. Odallus: The Dark Call is a fantastic game for any retro fans. It has great style, compelling and challenging combat and a dark and mysterious plot. The highest praise I can give it is that it takes inspiration from many classics, and yet remains true to its own vision. I clocked in at a little over six hours in my playthrough, and still need to find that last 4% to get the true ending. For $14.99, Odallus is a fantastic bargain. If you are a fan of Metroidvanias, retro games or just challenging yet fun experiences, then go buy it now! Just don’t stare too deeply into the fire…
Overall, I was pretty pleased with my time in Yatagarasu. Though it is easy to see what games influenced it, I felt it was different enough to feel like it’s own game. The art and music were great, and though the roster isn’t huge, it’s big enough to spend a good chunk of time with. I spent a couple hours playing through Arcade and Training Mode to write this review, and could easily spend much more time mastering each of the 11 playable characters. Though the dialogue and plot weren’t the highlight, the fighting engine is solid, and with the promise of more potential updates in the future, there’s a lot of reasons to try the game out. For $14.99, Yatagarasu: Attack on Cataclysm is a great addition to the library of any fighting fan. It will keep you hungry for battle, which any good fighting game should aspire to.
Overall, I was mostly pleased with my time with NekoBuro CatsBlock. It was a short game, as I beat Adventure Mode in just about 3 hours, but it was fun while it lasted. Though there is replay value in the games you can play with the cats or in decorating your room, those features just weren’t complex or fulfilling enough for me to do more than tinker with them. Most of the replay value can be found in the endless Survival Mode where you keep playing and the difficulty ramps up the longer you play. For $7.99, I feel you are getting your money’s worth with this game. I can highly recommend it for Vita owners looking for their next puzzle game fix, or simply for those who like quirky, adorable games.
In the end result, I was very pleased with Adventures of Pip. It wasn’t a perfect experience, mostly due to the boss fights and recurring glitch, but it was a hell of a lot of fun. The puzzle platforming was a delight, and the hidden villagers add much-appreciated replay value to the relatively short experience. The art and music come together to make a very vibrant and enjoyable experience, and one that shouldn’t be missed for fans of Wii U at a mere $14.99. Whether you get this on Wii U or Steam, Pip is a hero for all resolutions!
Overall, I was very pleased with Nihilumbra. Though it does run a bit on the short side, the replay value to be found in Void Mode certainly improves matters. The visual and audio side of things was competent, serving to fit the story and gameplay well, but weren’t exactly mind blowing. Luckily, the gameplay itself was enjoyable and constantly challenging, but without ever making me want to smash my head against a wall. I would recommend this to any fan of puzzle games who hasn’t played it yet, or to hardcore Nintendo enthusiasts. Born’s journey is one worth experiencing.
I honestly have no real complaints about BOXBOY! It kept me playing practically non-stop, and I loved every minute of it. The only aspects of it I didn’t experience were the Demos and Hints. The Demos let you send a free taste of the game to those you StreetPass with. The Hint system lets you spend Play Coins to help you get past levels if you’re stuck. I’m too much of an stubborn old school gamer to ever give up and use a hint. Overall, I was very, very pleased with BOXBOY! For $4.99, it offered over seven hours of gameplay, and that’s not even counting the Challenge Stages or the Bonus Worlds that opened up after I beat the Story Mode. BOXBOY! is not only one the best new IPs HAL Laboratory has come out with in years, it’s my favorite new 3DS eShop game. If you like puzzles or old school video games, go buy it.
Overall, I was really pleased and surprised by GravBlocks+. It helped scratch that puzzle game itch in a serious way, keeping me entertained and challenged the entire time I played. Even better, it went the extra mile and offered Off-TV play and an extensive digital manual, which most indie games don’t bother with. Though both it and From Nothing Game Studios are relative newcomers to me, I’ll be watching for further projects they put out. I put in about three hours to try out every mode in the game, and I still have lots more to do in Story Mode. I venture I’ll be coming back to GravBlocks+ again and again in the months to come. It’s a lot of fun, and a bargain for $4.99. If you own a Wii U, you owe it to yourself to try this one out.
Though the game is pretty linear, I was well pleased with the amount of content in Moon Chronicles. Though it’s not perfect, it does most everything right. It took me approximately 11 hours to beat the game on Normal, and that was without playing all the Virtual Missions unlocked in the game, which serve mostly to offer some replay value. The experience was just as tight now as six years ago, but with an extra dollop of polish. Plus, it cost less, as the entire season is less than $20. Serving as the first true FPS experience on the 3DS, Moon Chronicles will hopefully usher in more Episodes in the future. I can only hope so, as Season 1 ends on a cliffhanger. Seeing as how I’ve been waiting for resolution to that cliffhanger for several years, I can only hope others enjoy Moon Chronicles and give Renegade Kid the attention they deserve.
All in all, I was more pleased than displeased with Xeodrifter. As a fan of Renegade Kid, it takes a lot for me to hate anything they make. I found Xeodrifter was quite fun and pretty much unputdownable. My biggest complaints were the lack of unique boss fights and the short time it took to finish it. However, for the price tag of $9.99, I feel I got my money’s worth. I hope to see more such games from Renegade Kid in the future, as they have certainly proven they can do retro right and can handle Metroidvania pretty darn well.
Overall, I was well-pleased with Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX. Having never played the original, I thought the 3DS version was a lot of fun. With great visuals, tight, hard-as-nails gameplay and fitting tunes, it was a great investment for only $6. Though I beat the Story mode in about 4 hours, I still have more to unlock, and enjoy replaying it for the hell of it. I would recommend it for anyone that’s a fan of old-school games, zombies or just looking for a new eShop title. These rotting menaces provide a great time in Wonderland!
So, in summary, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse was a fantastic game. It was a streamlined, beautiful and entertaining experience held back only slightly by some minor quibbles. It made me care about the world of Shantae much more than I thought possible, and managed to close the series on a decidedly high note. That’s a long way of me saying this — Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is the best game of the series. For $19.99, it’s a steal, and a game that belongs in any 3DS or Wii U owner’s library. So stop reading and go buy it! It will help pass the time until Half-Genie Hero finally releases, and gets me hooked on genie magic once more.