ZTGD's Reviews
There is a lot to EDF 4.1, but nothing about it is going to change players' minds if they never enjoyed the series. The same rinse and repeat game play exists, the performance is still questionable, and the repetition is real. Still for those that enjoy it, this is by far the best the series has been to date.
For the board game people, they will find this to be more up their alley. People looking for a more action type experience will have to look elsewhere. If you do decide to pick it up, just keep in mind, it is brutal, unforgiving, and takes a lot of patience to get into. When you do, you may very well find some enjoyment out of it maybe two times out of ten.
Turok Remastered is exactly what I expected it to be, and I enjoyed the nostalgia trip. I hope they continue with the series, as Seeds of Evil is still my favorite in the franchise. Turok was a series that definitely had its chance, but I don't think ever got the proper game it deserved. I love revisiting these old N64 titles in a new light, and who knows, perhaps in a few years the dinosaur hunter can once again become relevant in gaming.
While not the best version of the game, the PS4 version still plays and looks great. People looking for an online experience should go to the PC version for that, but at the same time, if you have a buddy to play locally with you, you can have a really great time traversing the beautiful environments and solving the puzzles. Sure, it's a bit short, but the time I had with it was a really fun one.
I had high hopes for this entire episodic series and I still do, but let's hope chapter 2 is the worst out of them all because, it's a fall from grace in almost every way.
In the early hours of Trails of Cold Steel, I was skeptical that it could live up to the lofty standards set by Trails in the Sky. However, after my first year spent as a student of Class VII, I can confidently say that it has, and knowing that this is just the beginning of a new series fills me with great anticipation.
SteamWorld Heist is another gem. The universe and its inhabitants are joyful to play with and kept me coming back for more. Image & Form took a bold step by not opting for the easy route, instead choosing to expand on an already interesting theme. Heist is as good as any full priced 3DS game out there; and in most cases, even better. With hours and hours of gameplay, it's a steal at just $16.99.
Fun Tidbit – The music in this game is quite odd. I can swear I heard someone singing about sushi at one point.
Devils Third has some ambitious and unique online gameplay, and at its core the campaign feels like an old brawler and shooting game from years ago, but it's games like these that make me appreciate the smaller titles or the underdogs that sit next to all the big budget titles. Devils Third is the embodiment of schlocky B action movies, and if players can associate with that style or old-school games, there is something of value to be found here. If everything read up until this point has you nodding in agreement or wanting to check this out, forget the numerical score, the $60 price tag might just be worth it. Otherwise wait for a price drop…if it ever happens.
The problem I have with Holiday Star as a visual novel is the fact that the storytelling is, unfortunately, pretty weak. I did not feel remotely immersed in the stories and there was nothing to truly ingratiate me as a player – and I use that term literally in the sense of a person sitting down to play a game – in terms of my ability to interact with, influence, or even care about the narrative and its outcome. This, combined with Holiday Star's inability to even attempt to welcome new players into this zany universe, is a pretty major shortcoming. If you enjoyed the original game, this sequel will probably hold a certain amount of interest. For everyone else, I'm not sure it's worth the time.
For five bucks, you get a pretty decent fighting game on Xbox One that you and some fighting game friends can have a fun time with. It is unfortunate to see no online play as this game would greatly benefit from it, but I could see a small grassroots scene for this game at local tournaments if enough people give it a shot, and for the price and what you actually get, I think it's well worth it.
Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is not a good game. Perhaps if there was a single player campaign, some competent combat, or even some unique online modes, it might be redeeming, but as it stands it is a textbook example of how to ruin a great idea. I imagine the online community also died in the time it took me to write this review, so I guess my best advice would be to stay as far away from this game as possible.
An additional mechanic during the game is the use of boss battles. During these levels, the objective is the same. Part way through these levels though, both power cores disappear and I must work together with my opponent to defeat the boss, but once defeated, I go back to annihilating my opponent. These bosses are challenging and unique, each with their own style, attacks and fantastically themed music. Whoever deals the most damage gets a boost for when the power core reappears, usually a boost in attack and a higher core defence.
Helldivers is held back from an even higher score by the fact that it is, ultimately, fairly isolating for the solo player. However, Arrowhead Game Studios have still created a wonderfully entertaining game here; one that performs best when its brilliant cooperative elements are fully embraced.
Even for comedic value, I would still not suggest the $8 price tag. While not broken, the game is boring, uninspired, and plain ugly. Offering no co-op at all means even if you wanted to Mystery Science Theater the game, it would be a boring mess. Steer clear of Rock Zombie. It's not undead. It's just dead altogether.
Pokémon Picross is still a very competent Sudoku game and the added layer of "catching 'em all" is fun and offers a bit more to the core experience. The "free to start" angle is an interesting one and one that I really don't mind. It's all up to the player if they want to play more, and I enjoyed what I did play. It's free to try and if you enjoy what you play, there's a ton of content to be had and puzzles to be solved. You have nothing to lose to begin with and if you end up enjoying the game, I say drop the cash down on it. Just remember, you have to hit the money threshold to fully get it.
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival could have been really fun. But the lack of things to do during the main game hinder it so badly. The reason why Mario Party is so beloved is because of the crazy variety of action available on offer as you're running around the board. It's the thing that lets this game down the most. Everything else has been crafted to the standard you would expect of a game bearing the Animal Crossing name, it is a shame that the core gameplay couldn't hold up its end of the bargain. It's the perfect example of 'So close, but yet so far."
Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends was a surprise for me. I expected another quick license cash-in, and instead got a pretty solid Smash Bros. clone. The price feels a little hefty considering there is DLC also available, and let's be fair, these characters don't have the draw of Nintendo's roster, but for those without a Wii U, it is a solid substitute.
There isn't much else to say about the game, but I cannot recommend it enough. Fans of those types of racing games will be in awe of what Shin'en has accomplished here. I know it is cliché to say, but please give this team the rights to make a new F-Zero game. Fast Racing NEO is the closest and best thing to happen to the genre in years. This is one game not to sleep on.
While I feel like I would get more out of the game if I knew who any of the characters are, they do try to explain in a small introduction who everyone is, but I still missed a lot of things, and I can't help but feel like this is just a standard game. The combat is a bit boring and repetitive, the characters all share almost the same personality, and the areas and encounters are somewhat lackluster. I was never having a bad time with the game, but I wasn't having anything I could really write home about. It has some redeeming qualities, but in the grand scheme of things, it stumbles more than it flies. Fans of the anime should really be the only ones that pick this up, and even then, I would say at a discounted price.