As of writing this, I've just 100% finished Plants Vs. Zombies, aside from growing the tree as high as possible. And all I can say is... well, keep reading.
Premise
Plants Vs. Zombies is just one of those games where the premise alone gets you. Basically, your some random dude in the middle of a zombie apocalypse who's just trying to stay safe in his house. Naturally, being one of the few humans left in the world, the zombies all want to eat his brains. So what does he do? Plant vicious plants that guard your house from zombies with their life. I just love it when movies and games take the zombie route in a humorous, hysterical way. So naturally, the premise alone of Plants Vs. Zombies deserves a high score in my book.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Gameplay
The gameplay in Plants Vs. Zombies takes the Tower Defense genre to a whole new level. You see, it's not just your typical old tower defense game. Plants Vs. Zombies has a tower defense-like feel and objective, but the real time interactivity within the game add something that really spices up the genre as a whole. In a typical game, you plant your sunflowers(or other sun producing plants) as soon as possible to start building up sun power. With sun power, you can plant more seeds in turn, including more sunflowers. Eventually, you have to start growing offensive plants such as the peashooter so that approaching zombies will be killed before they reach your house. Other than that, you don't really need to use any of the other plants, though it's highly recommended and especially in the later stages of the game. Some of the other types of plants include wall-nuts, which act as a wall that the zombies have to eat through to get to your other plants/house, as well as other types of support plants such as the magnet shroom, which steals metal buckets, ladders and many other magnetically attracted objects from zombies. All in all, there is a lot of strategic complexity to this delightfully simple game. And in my eyes, it's a perfect balance that other games should strive for. And with so many different modes to keep you occupied--adventure, mini game, puzzle and survival--perfect really is the correct choice of word.
Score: Perfect 10/10
Sound & Graphics
Plants Vs. Zombies utilizes very two dimensional looking graphics, though it can still pass as looking like a modern game. It's not as if the graphics are pixelated or anything horrible. In fact, they look quite nice if you ask me and are absolutely fitting to the game. The music is also nice and fitting, though all in all neither of these categories are very special in this game. Not that it matters much, of course.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
So maybe there is a lot I can say about this game. Hell, I could talk about it for hours. If you haven't played Plants Vs. Zombies yet then what are you waiting for? Definitely one of the best games of 2009, and it's very cheap. Seriously, I don't care what kind of games you normally play or enjoy. Plants Vs. Zombies might be a chance of pace from the usual, but it's a nice one. I can't remember the last time I played a game from start to finish in 100% completion. BUY THIS GAME NOW!
My overall score is: 9.0/10.0
Showing posts with label Game Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Game Review. Show all posts
Saturday, January 2, 2010
[Game Review] Torchlight (PC)
Wow. I can't believe 2010 is already here. And with the first day almost over, I guess I better get this review out to you guys. BTW, tomorrow I'm reviewing Plants Vs. Zombies. Enjoy!
Environment & Atmosphere
Torchlight doesn't really make much of an attempt at having a story. Instead, they spent their time developing a little bit of lore that creates a rich environment and atmosphere to the game. As a result, that's what I'm going to be reviewing rather than it's "story". Though to be honest, with that said, even the lore seems to be lacking a bit in this game. But the aesthetics of the mines as you get deeper down, and their ability to really make you feel like your in an entirely different world each time you get to a new area is just flat out impressive. In that regard, they did a very good job. But in terms of anything that involved writing... I'll just let the numbers speak for them self.
Score: Average 6/10
Gameplay
The gameplay is definitely the strong point in Torchlight, especially since everything else seems to be pretty low budget. Though, most people value a game having better gameplay than anything else anyway, with myself included for the most part(I've played games where story took some precedence over gameplay but the gameplay was still very good.)
First off, you should know that this game is essentially Diablo 2.5. In fact, some of the people who made it used to work for Blizzard and ended up working on Diablo 2. The only catch is that the game has no multiplayer. *waits a few seconds* Yeah, I know I just lost a bunch of you right there. We've essentially got Diablo 2+ and they forgot multiplayer! Okay, okay, I get what you're saying, just here me out. They haven't "forgotten" multiplayer. They're actually working on a free mmo of Torchlight that is going to use a lot of the stuff that's in the game but is going to actually be multiplayer like Diablo. As for the Torchlight we've got now, it has something HUGE on Diablo games. Two words: Player mods! For a single player game, Torchlight seems to be pretty community based, and I would guess that's because of the mod communities that have developed. In fact, well over 100 mods have been made and 100s are in the process of being made as I write this.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Sound & Graphics
The music and art styles used in this game are just absolutely stunning if you ask me. A lot of people claim that some of the music was taken directly from Diablo 2 but honestly, even if it's true I really don't care. They really do a good job using the WOW like graphical style to create visually stunning environments and they pair it with music that is both moving and fitting. At least in this aspect, they really capture the essence of gaming and what it's like to feel immsersed in a game.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
This one is simple. If you're considering buying this game you've only got a few things to consider. One, do you like Diablo or similar dungeon raiding, isometricly viewed action rpg games? Two, would you play a game like this despite there being no multiplayer? If you answered yes, then go buy this game now! It's only $20! Actually, $10 on steam if you buy it before Jan. 3rd. So hurry!
My overall score is: 7.6/10.0
Environment & Atmosphere
Torchlight doesn't really make much of an attempt at having a story. Instead, they spent their time developing a little bit of lore that creates a rich environment and atmosphere to the game. As a result, that's what I'm going to be reviewing rather than it's "story". Though to be honest, with that said, even the lore seems to be lacking a bit in this game. But the aesthetics of the mines as you get deeper down, and their ability to really make you feel like your in an entirely different world each time you get to a new area is just flat out impressive. In that regard, they did a very good job. But in terms of anything that involved writing... I'll just let the numbers speak for them self.
Score: Average 6/10
Gameplay
The gameplay is definitely the strong point in Torchlight, especially since everything else seems to be pretty low budget. Though, most people value a game having better gameplay than anything else anyway, with myself included for the most part(I've played games where story took some precedence over gameplay but the gameplay was still very good.)
First off, you should know that this game is essentially Diablo 2.5. In fact, some of the people who made it used to work for Blizzard and ended up working on Diablo 2. The only catch is that the game has no multiplayer. *waits a few seconds* Yeah, I know I just lost a bunch of you right there. We've essentially got Diablo 2+ and they forgot multiplayer! Okay, okay, I get what you're saying, just here me out. They haven't "forgotten" multiplayer. They're actually working on a free mmo of Torchlight that is going to use a lot of the stuff that's in the game but is going to actually be multiplayer like Diablo. As for the Torchlight we've got now, it has something HUGE on Diablo games. Two words: Player mods! For a single player game, Torchlight seems to be pretty community based, and I would guess that's because of the mod communities that have developed. In fact, well over 100 mods have been made and 100s are in the process of being made as I write this.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Sound & Graphics
The music and art styles used in this game are just absolutely stunning if you ask me. A lot of people claim that some of the music was taken directly from Diablo 2 but honestly, even if it's true I really don't care. They really do a good job using the WOW like graphical style to create visually stunning environments and they pair it with music that is both moving and fitting. At least in this aspect, they really capture the essence of gaming and what it's like to feel immsersed in a game.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
This one is simple. If you're considering buying this game you've only got a few things to consider. One, do you like Diablo or similar dungeon raiding, isometricly viewed action rpg games? Two, would you play a game like this despite there being no multiplayer? If you answered yes, then go buy this game now! It's only $20! Actually, $10 on steam if you buy it before Jan. 3rd. So hurry!
My overall score is: 7.6/10.0
Saturday, October 24, 2009
[Game Review] Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (DS)
Wow. I can't believe it's been so long since I've done one of these. It feels really awkward writing this seeing as it's been well over a month since the last. And when you take into consideration that I never did finish The Diabolical Box. . . Ah, well. No one's perfect. Not even this game. But it sure puts in a good effort. Now without any further ado(and by ado, I mean rekindling the awkwardness between me and those reading this), let us continue on to my psuedo-formal review I've got prepared for you guys!
Storyline
AHHH! IT'S THE BLORBS! Hah, so much for not being awkward. But I suppose if you haven't played this game yet you don't know why I'm laughing right now. I really don't want to say much about the story for a couple of reasons though, to be honest. One reason being that there really isn't a lot there to talk about without spoiling something and another being the little that is there can be pretty genius. It's not that Bowser's Inside Story has a strong plot, rather it has a neat premise with fun dialogue. But of course, being that it's a Mario game there are glaring plot holes(like the lack of an explanation for traveling between bowser and the world via pipes!) Not that it really matters. But you can't really be surprised by my score for this section.
Score: Slightly Above Average 7/10
Gameplay
Perhaps the best thing the Mario & Luigi has to offer is it's constant ability to combine refined, interactive gameplay whilst incorporating new mechanics throughout the series to keep things interesting. I find it increasingly impressive that Mario & Luigi have made it through three games without feeling the slightest bit redundant. Similar to its predecessors, Bowser's Inside Story is an adventure RPG game starring the dynamic duo of plumbers known as Mario and Luigi. The adventure aspect of the game includes two large, explorable worlds with enemies, items and hidden areas to discover, while incorporating many platforming elements such as timed jumps and other moves the bros learn throughout their adventure. However, the combat system of the game maintains being turn based but incorporates timing into both attacking and defending or avoiding the enemies attacks. It is almost like an action RPG, only with turns. Sounds weird? Well, probably not if you've already played a previous game in the series.
One thing that is different in this game as opposed to the rest of the series though is your control of Bowser. While this technically isn't the first time Bowser has starred as a playable character in a Mario game, I'm fairly certain it's the first time Bowser stars as a world for Mario & Luigi to explore. And it's not just that you explore the insides of Bowser but you actually end up playing a lot of little minigames inside of him, such as tapping bits of food as Bowser swallows it to digest it. And despite Bowser's unawareness, you actually work together a lot to fight a common enemy in the end. As for controlling Bowser himself, only one thing really stood out to me as awesome, but I don't want to spoil it(you'll know what I'm talking about the first time it happens.) Other than that, Bowser just punches, breathes fire and performs other moves that overall feel a bit uninspired, yet not too disappointing. One last thing I want to mention that I almost forgot is that if you enter a battle as Bowser, some enemies can actually be swallowed for Mario and Luigi to fight. I thought this was actually pretty innovative, but like I said, it's not the most impressive thing you'll see Bowser do in this game.
To be honest, I could spend a whole lot more time talking about the gameplay of this game, but instead I'm not going to spoil every little detail. I want you to explore this game and all of its little surprises as I did. Because they developers of Bowser's Inside Story did a really good job on innovating a lot of classic aspects of both Mario games in general and the Mario & Luigi series as a whole.
Score: Almost Perfect 9/10
Sound & Graphics
When it comes to the sound and graphics for Bowser's Inside Story, I almost feel like sound should just have its own section. The graphics for the game a pretty average and for the most part what you would expect from a Mario & Luigi game on the DS. The sound on the other hand, well exceeds expectations. It's not enough that they put in the effort to make a diverse soundtrack for the game but they actually made remixes of songs that they played while you were inside Bowser. I truly feel like they outdid themselves with the music this time around, and for that reason alone I'm giving a pretty good score.
Score: Almost Perfect 9/10
Final Thoughts
There truly is a lot to say about Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, but you have to realize that the only reason that's true is because this game is packed full of surprises. With over 30 hours of exciting and innovative gameplay(if you do the extra stuff) I would recommend this game to just about anyone. Whether your a Mario junkie who isn't real into RPGs or longer games in general, or you are that hardcore gamer that wants to feel immersed. This game has enough appeal for both sides of the gaming spectrum. So if you have a DS and haven't played this game yet, my only question is, "What are you waiting for?!"
My overall score is: 8.4/10.0
Storyline
AHHH! IT'S THE BLORBS! Hah, so much for not being awkward. But I suppose if you haven't played this game yet you don't know why I'm laughing right now. I really don't want to say much about the story for a couple of reasons though, to be honest. One reason being that there really isn't a lot there to talk about without spoiling something and another being the little that is there can be pretty genius. It's not that Bowser's Inside Story has a strong plot, rather it has a neat premise with fun dialogue. But of course, being that it's a Mario game there are glaring plot holes(like the lack of an explanation for traveling between bowser and the world via pipes!) Not that it really matters. But you can't really be surprised by my score for this section.
Score: Slightly Above Average 7/10
Gameplay
Perhaps the best thing the Mario & Luigi has to offer is it's constant ability to combine refined, interactive gameplay whilst incorporating new mechanics throughout the series to keep things interesting. I find it increasingly impressive that Mario & Luigi have made it through three games without feeling the slightest bit redundant. Similar to its predecessors, Bowser's Inside Story is an adventure RPG game starring the dynamic duo of plumbers known as Mario and Luigi. The adventure aspect of the game includes two large, explorable worlds with enemies, items and hidden areas to discover, while incorporating many platforming elements such as timed jumps and other moves the bros learn throughout their adventure. However, the combat system of the game maintains being turn based but incorporates timing into both attacking and defending or avoiding the enemies attacks. It is almost like an action RPG, only with turns. Sounds weird? Well, probably not if you've already played a previous game in the series.
One thing that is different in this game as opposed to the rest of the series though is your control of Bowser. While this technically isn't the first time Bowser has starred as a playable character in a Mario game, I'm fairly certain it's the first time Bowser stars as a world for Mario & Luigi to explore. And it's not just that you explore the insides of Bowser but you actually end up playing a lot of little minigames inside of him, such as tapping bits of food as Bowser swallows it to digest it. And despite Bowser's unawareness, you actually work together a lot to fight a common enemy in the end. As for controlling Bowser himself, only one thing really stood out to me as awesome, but I don't want to spoil it(you'll know what I'm talking about the first time it happens.) Other than that, Bowser just punches, breathes fire and performs other moves that overall feel a bit uninspired, yet not too disappointing. One last thing I want to mention that I almost forgot is that if you enter a battle as Bowser, some enemies can actually be swallowed for Mario and Luigi to fight. I thought this was actually pretty innovative, but like I said, it's not the most impressive thing you'll see Bowser do in this game.
To be honest, I could spend a whole lot more time talking about the gameplay of this game, but instead I'm not going to spoil every little detail. I want you to explore this game and all of its little surprises as I did. Because they developers of Bowser's Inside Story did a really good job on innovating a lot of classic aspects of both Mario games in general and the Mario & Luigi series as a whole.
Score: Almost Perfect 9/10
Sound & Graphics
When it comes to the sound and graphics for Bowser's Inside Story, I almost feel like sound should just have its own section. The graphics for the game a pretty average and for the most part what you would expect from a Mario & Luigi game on the DS. The sound on the other hand, well exceeds expectations. It's not enough that they put in the effort to make a diverse soundtrack for the game but they actually made remixes of songs that they played while you were inside Bowser. I truly feel like they outdid themselves with the music this time around, and for that reason alone I'm giving a pretty good score.
Score: Almost Perfect 9/10
Final Thoughts
There truly is a lot to say about Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, but you have to realize that the only reason that's true is because this game is packed full of surprises. With over 30 hours of exciting and innovative gameplay(if you do the extra stuff) I would recommend this game to just about anyone. Whether your a Mario junkie who isn't real into RPGs or longer games in general, or you are that hardcore gamer that wants to feel immersed. This game has enough appeal for both sides of the gaming spectrum. So if you have a DS and haven't played this game yet, my only question is, "What are you waiting for?!"
My overall score is: 8.4/10.0
Thursday, August 20, 2009
[Game Review] Mega Man X (SNES)
If you haven't figured this out already, I've been doing a lot of retro gaming as of late, reliving some of my old favorite childhood games. And man, do I have some great memories playing this game(and probably a few busted SNES controllers.)
Storyline
I honestly have no clue what the story is. For all I know, this is just a hobby for Megaman. And can you blame him? Just look at all the cool weapons he gets every time he's in one of these games! But really, if you want to know the full story you have to have the instruction booklet that came with the game. And that's a real letdown.
Score: Average 6/10
Gameplay
Megaman X is very similar to its predecessors, only being the start of a new series in itself you can expect it to introduce new features, such as the dash boots. But other than that, you're still that little blue man going around killing robots with your buster in order to gain new abilities. The only other thing I need to say is that THIS GAME IS HARD. Really fucking hard. Unless you're some sort of Megaman expert, which I know there are a lot of you out there, you're probably going to spend a lot of time repeating the same levels. Especially if you want to get all the upgrades. Then you have to repeat some of the levels. And good luck beating the final boss without save states. You're going to need it.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Sound & Graphics
The sound and graphics for this game are pretty good for the most part. Each level has its own theme with its own song and graphics style, and for the most part the artistic quality of this game is pretty good. In fact, much better than its predecessors. Though, I still have problems enjoying music on the SNES. It just always sounds artificial. A little too artificial. Even for a Megaman game.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
If you do decide to play this game, don't come into it with very high expectations. A lot of people overhype this game(and Megaman games in general), and I have to admit I am one of those people at times, but it's still a great game nonetheless. Especially if you just want a few hours of platforming goodness and you're getting sick of Mario.
My overall score is: 7.8/10.0
Storyline
I honestly have no clue what the story is. For all I know, this is just a hobby for Megaman. And can you blame him? Just look at all the cool weapons he gets every time he's in one of these games! But really, if you want to know the full story you have to have the instruction booklet that came with the game. And that's a real letdown.
Score: Average 6/10
Gameplay
Megaman X is very similar to its predecessors, only being the start of a new series in itself you can expect it to introduce new features, such as the dash boots. But other than that, you're still that little blue man going around killing robots with your buster in order to gain new abilities. The only other thing I need to say is that THIS GAME IS HARD. Really fucking hard. Unless you're some sort of Megaman expert, which I know there are a lot of you out there, you're probably going to spend a lot of time repeating the same levels. Especially if you want to get all the upgrades. Then you have to repeat some of the levels. And good luck beating the final boss without save states. You're going to need it.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Sound & Graphics
The sound and graphics for this game are pretty good for the most part. Each level has its own theme with its own song and graphics style, and for the most part the artistic quality of this game is pretty good. In fact, much better than its predecessors. Though, I still have problems enjoying music on the SNES. It just always sounds artificial. A little too artificial. Even for a Megaman game.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
If you do decide to play this game, don't come into it with very high expectations. A lot of people overhype this game(and Megaman games in general), and I have to admit I am one of those people at times, but it's still a great game nonetheless. Especially if you just want a few hours of platforming goodness and you're getting sick of Mario.
My overall score is: 7.8/10.0
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
[Game Review] Metroid Fusion (GBA)
I remember playing this game when I was younger and having trouble with it. It always seemed so hard at the time. After replaying it a couple weeks ago, I guess you could say my opinion has changed a bit. Regardless, I still love the game.
Storyline
While on her way to planet SR388, Samus is attacked by the parasitic life form X. As she returns to the station, she becomes unconscious due to the effects of X and her ship drifts into an asteroid belt. She is then rescued by Biologic's team and transported back to Galactic Federation HQ. After receiving a vaccine created from a metroid, Samus learns of an explosion on Biologic's ship, and rushes to the scene. And thus the adventure begins. Throughout the game Samus uncovers more of the mystery behind Biologic characters and certain plot elements are introduced through Samus's thoughts. The story definitely isn't the greatest, but it's the best I've seen from a Metroid game yet.
Score: Slightly Above Average 7/10
Gameplay
The gameplay of Metroid Fusion is very reminiscent of Super Metroid, although there are very distinguishable differences. The most important of these differences probably being the tremendously crippled exploration in comparison to Super Metroid. Aside from the fact that there are far less bugs and glitches that allow you to sequence break in Metroid Fusion, there are 4 colored lock doors that must be opened in order to advance in the game. This essentially makes it impossible to go somewhere you're not supposed to be. In my opinion, the exploration element isn't missing in this game. I just feel that the developers implemented a little more control over the sequence of events throughout the game. The only other thing I want to mention about gameplay are the SA-X events. Throughout the game there are a few rooms that when you enter, a clone of Samus Aran formed by the X parasite, known as SA-X, will be looking for you. This clone has all of your old equipment from Super Metroid and will demolish you(especially in the earlier parts of the game) if it sees you. In most of these instances you can actually avoid SA-X if you are careful, and this adds a sort of stealth element to the game that's worth appreciating. But if SA-X sees you, you'd better run like hell.
Score: Almost Perfect 9/10
Sound & Graphics
For a Gameboy Advance game, I feel Metroid Fusion excelled in both of these departments. Particularly graphics, with it's vibrant colors and detailed environments. Aside from the main area in the game, there are 6 themed areas which you explore. While playing this game I got a sense that each area had it's own identity. Not only were the backgrounds and sprites different, but certain gameplay elements were also incorporated to achieve this sense of identity(underwater areas, lava, etc.) And the music truly represented these areas as well. My only complaint was that some areas you can easily spend over an hour in, and the music doesn't change very often aside from boss battles and occurrences with SA-X.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
Metroid Fusion is a pretty good game. It has it's flaws and is very short(my completion time was like 5 hours, though, I was missing many of the upgrades when I beat the game). If you were one of those people who played Super Metroid and loved it, then you should probably give this game a try. I don't know for sure if you're going to like it as much, but chances are you'll get something out of it. Even if only a few hours of exciting 2D Metroid action.
My overall score is: 8.1/10.0
Storyline
While on her way to planet SR388, Samus is attacked by the parasitic life form X. As she returns to the station, she becomes unconscious due to the effects of X and her ship drifts into an asteroid belt. She is then rescued by Biologic's team and transported back to Galactic Federation HQ. After receiving a vaccine created from a metroid, Samus learns of an explosion on Biologic's ship, and rushes to the scene. And thus the adventure begins. Throughout the game Samus uncovers more of the mystery behind Biologic characters and certain plot elements are introduced through Samus's thoughts. The story definitely isn't the greatest, but it's the best I've seen from a Metroid game yet.
Score: Slightly Above Average 7/10
Gameplay
The gameplay of Metroid Fusion is very reminiscent of Super Metroid, although there are very distinguishable differences. The most important of these differences probably being the tremendously crippled exploration in comparison to Super Metroid. Aside from the fact that there are far less bugs and glitches that allow you to sequence break in Metroid Fusion, there are 4 colored lock doors that must be opened in order to advance in the game. This essentially makes it impossible to go somewhere you're not supposed to be. In my opinion, the exploration element isn't missing in this game. I just feel that the developers implemented a little more control over the sequence of events throughout the game. The only other thing I want to mention about gameplay are the SA-X events. Throughout the game there are a few rooms that when you enter, a clone of Samus Aran formed by the X parasite, known as SA-X, will be looking for you. This clone has all of your old equipment from Super Metroid and will demolish you(especially in the earlier parts of the game) if it sees you. In most of these instances you can actually avoid SA-X if you are careful, and this adds a sort of stealth element to the game that's worth appreciating. But if SA-X sees you, you'd better run like hell.
Score: Almost Perfect 9/10
Sound & Graphics
For a Gameboy Advance game, I feel Metroid Fusion excelled in both of these departments. Particularly graphics, with it's vibrant colors and detailed environments. Aside from the main area in the game, there are 6 themed areas which you explore. While playing this game I got a sense that each area had it's own identity. Not only were the backgrounds and sprites different, but certain gameplay elements were also incorporated to achieve this sense of identity(underwater areas, lava, etc.) And the music truly represented these areas as well. My only complaint was that some areas you can easily spend over an hour in, and the music doesn't change very often aside from boss battles and occurrences with SA-X.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
Metroid Fusion is a pretty good game. It has it's flaws and is very short(my completion time was like 5 hours, though, I was missing many of the upgrades when I beat the game). If you were one of those people who played Super Metroid and loved it, then you should probably give this game a try. I don't know for sure if you're going to like it as much, but chances are you'll get something out of it. Even if only a few hours of exciting 2D Metroid action.
My overall score is: 8.1/10.0
Monday, July 27, 2009
[Game Review] Star Ocean: The Last Hope (360)
So, it has come to my attention that I haven't done a video game review since June. I didn't even realize I've had this blog for that long. Wow, time in the Summer really goes by quick. And I know that my last review was of another Star Ocean game, but don't think I'm doing these because I'm some huge fanboy of the series. I'm fairly new to the series as a whole, actually, and gave the last one a 7.3. Star Ocean: The Last Hope, however, I was tempted to give two different scores to. By the end of this review you might understand why.
Storyline
This isn't intentional, but I'm starting out with the bad. There is really nothing good to say here, unless your definition of good expands to mediocrity. The plot isn't bad but it is poorly presented and at times is nonexistent. The game starts you off as up and coming officer, Edge Maverick, and only five minutes into the game you're already left wondering who was in charge of the character design. In fact, the characters in this game are so bad that they shut out any hope that this game's mediocre story could ever have. I could write about 10 paragraphs nitpicking little annoying things that they did with this games script and voice acting, but instead I'll just talk about Lymle. If you've already played this game then you don't even need to read the rest of this paragraph to know what I'm going to say. Actually, words cannot even begin to describe how much of an utter gutwrenching abomination Lymle is. I don't know who thought it was a good idea to take a 6 year old character, call her 15 and put her in situations that many adults wouldn't be able to handle. And as if that's not enough, in her world every fucking sentence has to end with the word 'kay. It might not seem bad, but when you have a game with hours and hours of cutscenes, bad cutscenes, 'kay 'kay 'kay is the icing on the fucking cake. I've never hated a set of characters in anything as much as I hate the playable characters in Star Ocean: The Last Hope. That is saying a lot people.
Score: Below Average 3/10
Gameplay
Gameplay in The Last Hope is a mixed issue for me. Unlike the game's storyline, the gameplay has some goods to go with its bads. Some of the goods include its real time action based combat system that plays like a fighting game in ways, as well as the fact that many of the dungeons and areas in this game are designed to be long, challenging and consistently entertaining. So what are the bads? Well, there's a lot of them, but most are just minor issues. Almost every quest is collect a bunch of some obscure item that involves tons of backtracking for an irrelevant reward or "Hey! I'm lazy as shit. Can you find this person for me?". And it wouldn't be so bad if every city didn't have 50 NPC's, or if there were a more convenient method of travel before disc 3. Also, the customization is both promising and a let down. When I first discovered the item synthesis in this game allows you to combine any two items in the game I was really excited. The only problem is that it is incredibly tedious and it often isn't worth upgrading equipment until the end of the game, otherwise it just gets outranked by the next best thing you pick up in a dungeon. And as for the actual item creation, this game creates the illusion that you're going to have a lot to look forward to. Especially later in the game. The only problem is that you keep playing and playing and playing and then you realize you've beaten the game and you still don't have any of the materials required to make the good stuff. In fact, the only way to get most of the best items is to do tons and tons of sidequests that the game doesn't even hint to you exist. You have to just spend about 20 hours guessing, talking to random NPCs or look it up online. And even most online guides don't know about a lot of the secrets. Overall, the gameplay offers a lot but it isn't offered in a very convenient or accessible way. In fact, by the end of the game if you want to revisit older areas in the game you actually have to take out disc 3 and put one of the old discs in. This can get very repetitive if you are gathering an item that is only on disc 2, because you can only do item creation/customization on disc 3. Usually, I like to mess around near the end game and see the extra content these games offer but it's so poorly presented in this game that for the most part I just said "Fuck it!"
Score: Above Average 8/10
Sound & Graphics
At least there's one area of this game to be appreciated. In terms of sound and graphics, this game excels beyond most other games of the genre. The environments in this game have tremendous amounts of detail put into them and the music is almost always perfectly fitting throughout the game. My only complaint here, yet again stems from whoever's job it was to work on the characters. I got this impression that some of the characters, notably Reimi, felt inhuman by their lack of expression. For the most part they didn't even bother to program the character's mouths moving during dialogue. That seems like a pretty big detail to leave out to me.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
Although certain aspects of this game are atrocious *cough*LYMLE*cough*, I still don't regret playing it. With over 60 hours of immersive gameplay and a genuinely fun combat system, for the most part I enjoyed it. If you happen to have a 360 and you like longer RPGs then maybe you should check this game out, but it's definitely not worth going out of your way for.
My overall score is: 7.0/10.0
Storyline
This isn't intentional, but I'm starting out with the bad. There is really nothing good to say here, unless your definition of good expands to mediocrity. The plot isn't bad but it is poorly presented and at times is nonexistent. The game starts you off as up and coming officer, Edge Maverick, and only five minutes into the game you're already left wondering who was in charge of the character design. In fact, the characters in this game are so bad that they shut out any hope that this game's mediocre story could ever have. I could write about 10 paragraphs nitpicking little annoying things that they did with this games script and voice acting, but instead I'll just talk about Lymle. If you've already played this game then you don't even need to read the rest of this paragraph to know what I'm going to say. Actually, words cannot even begin to describe how much of an utter gutwrenching abomination Lymle is. I don't know who thought it was a good idea to take a 6 year old character, call her 15 and put her in situations that many adults wouldn't be able to handle. And as if that's not enough, in her world every fucking sentence has to end with the word 'kay. It might not seem bad, but when you have a game with hours and hours of cutscenes, bad cutscenes, 'kay 'kay 'kay is the icing on the fucking cake. I've never hated a set of characters in anything as much as I hate the playable characters in Star Ocean: The Last Hope. That is saying a lot people.
Score: Below Average 3/10
Gameplay
Gameplay in The Last Hope is a mixed issue for me. Unlike the game's storyline, the gameplay has some goods to go with its bads. Some of the goods include its real time action based combat system that plays like a fighting game in ways, as well as the fact that many of the dungeons and areas in this game are designed to be long, challenging and consistently entertaining. So what are the bads? Well, there's a lot of them, but most are just minor issues. Almost every quest is collect a bunch of some obscure item that involves tons of backtracking for an irrelevant reward or "Hey! I'm lazy as shit. Can you find this person for me?". And it wouldn't be so bad if every city didn't have 50 NPC's, or if there were a more convenient method of travel before disc 3. Also, the customization is both promising and a let down. When I first discovered the item synthesis in this game allows you to combine any two items in the game I was really excited. The only problem is that it is incredibly tedious and it often isn't worth upgrading equipment until the end of the game, otherwise it just gets outranked by the next best thing you pick up in a dungeon. And as for the actual item creation, this game creates the illusion that you're going to have a lot to look forward to. Especially later in the game. The only problem is that you keep playing and playing and playing and then you realize you've beaten the game and you still don't have any of the materials required to make the good stuff. In fact, the only way to get most of the best items is to do tons and tons of sidequests that the game doesn't even hint to you exist. You have to just spend about 20 hours guessing, talking to random NPCs or look it up online. And even most online guides don't know about a lot of the secrets. Overall, the gameplay offers a lot but it isn't offered in a very convenient or accessible way. In fact, by the end of the game if you want to revisit older areas in the game you actually have to take out disc 3 and put one of the old discs in. This can get very repetitive if you are gathering an item that is only on disc 2, because you can only do item creation/customization on disc 3. Usually, I like to mess around near the end game and see the extra content these games offer but it's so poorly presented in this game that for the most part I just said "Fuck it!"
Score: Above Average 8/10
Sound & Graphics
At least there's one area of this game to be appreciated. In terms of sound and graphics, this game excels beyond most other games of the genre. The environments in this game have tremendous amounts of detail put into them and the music is almost always perfectly fitting throughout the game. My only complaint here, yet again stems from whoever's job it was to work on the characters. I got this impression that some of the characters, notably Reimi, felt inhuman by their lack of expression. For the most part they didn't even bother to program the character's mouths moving during dialogue. That seems like a pretty big detail to leave out to me.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
Although certain aspects of this game are atrocious *cough*LYMLE*cough*, I still don't regret playing it. With over 60 hours of immersive gameplay and a genuinely fun combat system, for the most part I enjoyed it. If you happen to have a 360 and you like longer RPGs then maybe you should check this game out, but it's definitely not worth going out of your way for.
My overall score is: 7.0/10.0
Monday, June 29, 2009
[Game Review] Star Ocean: First Departure (PSP)
Star Ocean: First Departure is a remake of the SNES game Star Ocean, released in 1996 Japan only, for the PSP. And while the new game has added more items, new features and an extra dungeon, the heart of the game is still there.
Storyline
The story of Star Ocean: First Departure is one which takes place primarily on a planet named Roak. Without getting into details or spoilers, I'd like to say a few things. The first of which being that for an RPG originally made in 1996, Star Ocean makes a valiant attempt at originality. And while the story is cliche at times, it almost feels appropriate. The framework of the story and the objective of the protagonist, Ronyx, slips your mind as you venture into this game. And while this framework itself is unique, the vast majority of the game takes place in the typical, medieval-like setting most RPG fans are sick and tired of by now. I only wish that more time would have been spent in the more unique settings used in the game.
The second thing there is to say about the storyline of Star Ocean is that it does a very good job at making you forget it is just a story. Perhaps this can be explained by the layered storylines within the game, though. It's just a shame I can't further explain what I mean without giving away key plot points of the game.
What I can talk about though are the characters. The interesting thing about Star Ocean: First Departure is that it features 14 different playable characters, although you can only have 8 over the course of the game. As a result of this, some proper character development is sacrificed in place of the possibility of alternate cutscenes and endings as well as a case for replayability. Though, I can't really comment too much on that because I've only beaten the game once.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Gameplay
Star Ocean: First Departure plays in a limited but three-dimensional world with towns and dungeons laid out on the world map of Roak. The extent of the exploration and problem solving is fairly typical compared to other RPGs. Not too much to say here as I find it one of the weakest points of the game.
The combat system used in Star Ocean uses is action based in real-time. Most battles are random and occur on the world map or in a dungeon-like area, and when triggered you enter the battle screen. The exception to this obviously are bosses. While this combat system may have been innovative when it was originally released in 1996, now it just doesn't cut it for me. The beginning of the game is fairly enjoyable, but at around the middle of the game combat already feels tired and uninteresting. Although, this can mostly be attributed to two things: The first is that when a spell is cast in combat the entire fight stops and you have to wait 3-10 seconds for the spells animation to finish itself. At first it seems cool and cinematic and what not, but not after long you feel the urge to remove the casters from your party. If only they weren't so much more overpowered than your non spellcasters. The second problem is that halfway through the game you have access to ways of making infinite money, obtaining every useful item, obtaining (almost)all the best equipment, and it becomes very easy to accidentally over level your party. By the time I got to the end of the game my main character was level 101, and the guide I was using said it could easily be done with a party below level 70, just to give you an idea incredibly easy and unbalanced this game can become.
Score: Average 6/10
Sound & Graphics
The sound department of Star Ocean is fairly impressive considering it is a PSP game. A lot of the songs fit their respective areas very nicely and not too many songs are reused throughout the game. More importantly, however, is the fact that most important characters in the game has voice acted lines. But what is most impressive about this is that the dialogues can change completely depending on which combinations of characters are in your party. Meaning lots and lots of voice acting was put into this game. I was impressed.
Graphics on the other hand... Well, let's just say I wasn't impressed. But that's not to say they weren't good. They were pretty average, but I don't feel they completely utilized the PSP in terms of what it's graphically capable of. The one good thing I do have to say about this games visuals is that of the few cutscenes that are in the game(including the intro), none of them were bad. Some of them were long and they were made in the anime style of art, so I can understand why some people wouldn't be too fond of them. But I thought they were nicely done.
Score: Slightly Above Average 7/10
Final Thoughts
This review ended up being a little shorter than I'd expected, but when there is so much cliche about a game there isn't a whole lot to say. Some parts did end up being unique enough to stretch the imagination, but for the most part the events of the game were unexciting and the gameplay felt repetitive at times. I would only recommend this to someone who really likes RPGs or real-time action based combat systems. If that's you, then you might enjoy this game enough for it to be worth it. Otherwise, don't even bother.
My overall score is: 7.3/10.0
Storyline
The story of Star Ocean: First Departure is one which takes place primarily on a planet named Roak. Without getting into details or spoilers, I'd like to say a few things. The first of which being that for an RPG originally made in 1996, Star Ocean makes a valiant attempt at originality. And while the story is cliche at times, it almost feels appropriate. The framework of the story and the objective of the protagonist, Ronyx, slips your mind as you venture into this game. And while this framework itself is unique, the vast majority of the game takes place in the typical, medieval-like setting most RPG fans are sick and tired of by now. I only wish that more time would have been spent in the more unique settings used in the game.
The second thing there is to say about the storyline of Star Ocean is that it does a very good job at making you forget it is just a story. Perhaps this can be explained by the layered storylines within the game, though. It's just a shame I can't further explain what I mean without giving away key plot points of the game.
What I can talk about though are the characters. The interesting thing about Star Ocean: First Departure is that it features 14 different playable characters, although you can only have 8 over the course of the game. As a result of this, some proper character development is sacrificed in place of the possibility of alternate cutscenes and endings as well as a case for replayability. Though, I can't really comment too much on that because I've only beaten the game once.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Gameplay
Star Ocean: First Departure plays in a limited but three-dimensional world with towns and dungeons laid out on the world map of Roak. The extent of the exploration and problem solving is fairly typical compared to other RPGs. Not too much to say here as I find it one of the weakest points of the game.
The combat system used in Star Ocean uses is action based in real-time. Most battles are random and occur on the world map or in a dungeon-like area, and when triggered you enter the battle screen. The exception to this obviously are bosses. While this combat system may have been innovative when it was originally released in 1996, now it just doesn't cut it for me. The beginning of the game is fairly enjoyable, but at around the middle of the game combat already feels tired and uninteresting. Although, this can mostly be attributed to two things: The first is that when a spell is cast in combat the entire fight stops and you have to wait 3-10 seconds for the spells animation to finish itself. At first it seems cool and cinematic and what not, but not after long you feel the urge to remove the casters from your party. If only they weren't so much more overpowered than your non spellcasters. The second problem is that halfway through the game you have access to ways of making infinite money, obtaining every useful item, obtaining (almost)all the best equipment, and it becomes very easy to accidentally over level your party. By the time I got to the end of the game my main character was level 101, and the guide I was using said it could easily be done with a party below level 70, just to give you an idea incredibly easy and unbalanced this game can become.
Score: Average 6/10
Sound & Graphics
The sound department of Star Ocean is fairly impressive considering it is a PSP game. A lot of the songs fit their respective areas very nicely and not too many songs are reused throughout the game. More importantly, however, is the fact that most important characters in the game has voice acted lines. But what is most impressive about this is that the dialogues can change completely depending on which combinations of characters are in your party. Meaning lots and lots of voice acting was put into this game. I was impressed.
Graphics on the other hand... Well, let's just say I wasn't impressed. But that's not to say they weren't good. They were pretty average, but I don't feel they completely utilized the PSP in terms of what it's graphically capable of. The one good thing I do have to say about this games visuals is that of the few cutscenes that are in the game(including the intro), none of them were bad. Some of them were long and they were made in the anime style of art, so I can understand why some people wouldn't be too fond of them. But I thought they were nicely done.
Score: Slightly Above Average 7/10
Final Thoughts
This review ended up being a little shorter than I'd expected, but when there is so much cliche about a game there isn't a whole lot to say. Some parts did end up being unique enough to stretch the imagination, but for the most part the events of the game were unexciting and the gameplay felt repetitive at times. I would only recommend this to someone who really likes RPGs or real-time action based combat systems. If that's you, then you might enjoy this game enough for it to be worth it. Otherwise, don't even bother.
My overall score is: 7.3/10.0
Thursday, June 11, 2009
[Game Review] Geometry Wars Galaxies (DS)
Geometry Wars Galaxies is an asteroid-like game for the DS, in which you are in a ship with a little helper ship that is under constant attack from geometrically based enemies. While simple, this game can be addictive. Very addictive.
Storyline
There is literally no storyline. However, I think that's justified being that this game is modeled after an old arcade game.
Score: N/A
Gameplay
Geometry Wars Galaxies has some of the best gameplay I've ever seen in a game. And that's coming from someone who has played probably near 1000 different video games. When playing Geometry Wars, you'll find yourself enjoying classic gaming aspects similar to those of asteroids, combined with new age technologies that support an easier, more natural control of your ship. You even have a choice between using buttons or the style to aim your shots. Despite being a game with some of the best gameplay elements I've experienced, there really isn't a whole lot to say about it. It's simplicity speaks for itself.
Score: Perfect 10/10
Sound & Graphics
For a simple game such as Geometry Wars, you would expect simple graphics. You would also probably expect an average to low score in this department. But that's where you would be wrong. Granted, Geometry Wars does have very basic graphics, but what you have to note is that they are utilized in an almost perfect way. With bullets flying across the screen and infinitely spawning enemies, more detailed graphics would just complicate the game and make it unplayable. Geometry Wars is laid out with a black background representing outer space, with the enemies and your ship outlined in a neon color. This in itself makes it easier to comprehend what is happening in this incredibly fast paced game. And as for sound? While the game does have a very catchy tune played to it, it only has that one looping track. The first few times you play this game you might get real into it, but eventually it might cause you to lose your sanity. I usual play the game with the sound off these days.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
I can't really stress this enough, but this really is a game you need to try to get the feel of it. You can probably find it cheap for like $15 at a used games store. And if you do, then congratulations. Now you've got a reason to spend an hour taking a shit.
My overall score is: 8.5/10.0
Storyline
There is literally no storyline. However, I think that's justified being that this game is modeled after an old arcade game.
Score: N/A
Gameplay
Geometry Wars Galaxies has some of the best gameplay I've ever seen in a game. And that's coming from someone who has played probably near 1000 different video games. When playing Geometry Wars, you'll find yourself enjoying classic gaming aspects similar to those of asteroids, combined with new age technologies that support an easier, more natural control of your ship. You even have a choice between using buttons or the style to aim your shots. Despite being a game with some of the best gameplay elements I've experienced, there really isn't a whole lot to say about it. It's simplicity speaks for itself.
Score: Perfect 10/10
Sound & Graphics
For a simple game such as Geometry Wars, you would expect simple graphics. You would also probably expect an average to low score in this department. But that's where you would be wrong. Granted, Geometry Wars does have very basic graphics, but what you have to note is that they are utilized in an almost perfect way. With bullets flying across the screen and infinitely spawning enemies, more detailed graphics would just complicate the game and make it unplayable. Geometry Wars is laid out with a black background representing outer space, with the enemies and your ship outlined in a neon color. This in itself makes it easier to comprehend what is happening in this incredibly fast paced game. And as for sound? While the game does have a very catchy tune played to it, it only has that one looping track. The first few times you play this game you might get real into it, but eventually it might cause you to lose your sanity. I usual play the game with the sound off these days.
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
I can't really stress this enough, but this really is a game you need to try to get the feel of it. You can probably find it cheap for like $15 at a used games store. And if you do, then congratulations. Now you've got a reason to spend an hour taking a shit.
My overall score is: 8.5/10.0
Saturday, June 6, 2009
[Game Review] Super Mario RPG - Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)
For my first review, I'd like to start with an old game that was very ahead of its time. This game is one of my favorite games from my early childhood, and still remains one today. It's just unfortunate the game never got the true sequel it deserved.
Storyline
The game starts you off as Mario is put into a situation where the princess has been kidnapped by Bowser. Once again, you will have to go Bowser's castle and save the princess. Although Bowser's plot is short lived, you now have to worry about Smithy and his giant sword that has taken over Bowser's castle, as they begin to wreak havoc in the Mushroom Kingdom. Personally, I think this game has one of the most unique storylines among any in the Mario series, whilst retaining the charming light-hearted characteristics you would expect in any Mario game.
Score: Almost Perfect 9/10
Gameplay
We all know that when it comes to Mario games, great gameplay is key. Fortunately, Super Mario RPG doesn't fall in this area. The best way to describe the way the game plays to anyone who hasn't played, is that it combines Mario-like platforming elements with a traditional turn-based combat system. With the exception of finicky controls in platforming sections of the game - which are very apparent in later areas of the game like Bean Valley and Barrel Volcano - the gameplay overall is excellent.
Score: Almost Perfect 9/10
Sound & Graphics
There really isn't much to say here, but I'll do my best anyway. I think given the fact that this game was released in 1996 on the SNES, it's not fair to have high expectations in this department, nor is it fair to compare this game to more modernized games. With that said though, the majority of the music in the game is very enjoyable and the graphics were pretty good for its time. Perhaps the most impressive thing this game has to offer in the graphics department is its revolutionary isometric "3D" point of view. Technically, you could argue this game was really the first 3D Mario platformer(and there aren't even any camera problems to worry about! :]).
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
Like I said, this game was very ahead of its time. It was the first Mario game to offer some sort of three dimensional platforming, and it was also the first Mario game to have an original storyline that didn't suck - and possibly the last. This game is just packed with secrets, cameos, mini-games and lots of fun, and if you haven't played it yet then do so. It's even available on the Wii virtual console. So go. Do yourself a favor!
My overall score is: 9.2/10.0
Storyline
The game starts you off as Mario is put into a situation where the princess has been kidnapped by Bowser. Once again, you will have to go Bowser's castle and save the princess. Although Bowser's plot is short lived, you now have to worry about Smithy and his giant sword that has taken over Bowser's castle, as they begin to wreak havoc in the Mushroom Kingdom. Personally, I think this game has one of the most unique storylines among any in the Mario series, whilst retaining the charming light-hearted characteristics you would expect in any Mario game.
Score: Almost Perfect 9/10
Gameplay
We all know that when it comes to Mario games, great gameplay is key. Fortunately, Super Mario RPG doesn't fall in this area. The best way to describe the way the game plays to anyone who hasn't played, is that it combines Mario-like platforming elements with a traditional turn-based combat system. With the exception of finicky controls in platforming sections of the game - which are very apparent in later areas of the game like Bean Valley and Barrel Volcano - the gameplay overall is excellent.
Score: Almost Perfect 9/10
Sound & Graphics
There really isn't much to say here, but I'll do my best anyway. I think given the fact that this game was released in 1996 on the SNES, it's not fair to have high expectations in this department, nor is it fair to compare this game to more modernized games. With that said though, the majority of the music in the game is very enjoyable and the graphics were pretty good for its time. Perhaps the most impressive thing this game has to offer in the graphics department is its revolutionary isometric "3D" point of view. Technically, you could argue this game was really the first 3D Mario platformer(and there aren't even any camera problems to worry about! :]).
Score: Above Average 8/10
Final Thoughts
Like I said, this game was very ahead of its time. It was the first Mario game to offer some sort of three dimensional platforming, and it was also the first Mario game to have an original storyline that didn't suck - and possibly the last. This game is just packed with secrets, cameos, mini-games and lots of fun, and if you haven't played it yet then do so. It's even available on the Wii virtual console. So go. Do yourself a favor!
My overall score is: 9.2/10.0
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