One of the first Gameboy games I ever owned. Mario's journey through Sarasaland is interesting. There are lots of enemies here that players wouldn't see again until the most recent Mario adventure in Super Mario Odyssey.
The premise is simple, the evil alien Tatanga has kidnapped Princess Daisy. Mario has to traverse various lands to save Daisy and set things right. Just like Super Mario Bros, this game is all about killing enemies, grabbing coins, and making it to the end of the stages. Each area has a different motif, based off ancient Egypt or the Easter Isles. There is a new power-up, the Super Ball, similar to the fire flowers from the first game but it can bounce around the screen and collect coins.
While challenging, this game is a good place to get started with the series. Nothing is super difficult and the game can be beaten in a reasonable amount of time. There are many differences from Super Mario Bros. Some enemies don't behave, like turtles don't have shells but rather turn into bombs in Super Mario Land.
If you enjoy Mario games and haven't played Super Mario Land, you really are missing out. This portable game was every bit a Mario game as the original. The music is catchy, there are some interesting segments, and it feels like a fun little adventure. Sure the graphics haven't aged well but for the time, it was great to play Mario on the go.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Sunday, September 22, 2019
ClaDun X2 (PSP)
ClaDun was one of my favorite games on the PSP. It was a simple dungeon crawler with sprites and randomized floors/weapons/etc. ClaDun X2 goes even further with the new types of random dungeons and the new classes. It keeps the same great pacing from the first game and adds some additional features.
If the player has never played a rogue-lite dungeon crawler, this is a good series to start with. Basically, each dungeon is a series of randomly generated floors. The story sections aren't random but the ran-geons are. There are random enemies and item drops. If the player dies, they lose all the stuff they collected and portions of the EXP and money they gained. It is a very simple concept but it can be addictive.
The biggest draw here is that the player can design their own character, down to the pixel art. There is a character editor that is a working sprite builder. If so desired, the game can be played as a favorite character from another series. Even weapons can be drawn and designed. The customization is 100% up to the player.
There is some frustration to this game though. It can be a little daunting to go through similar dungeons over and over to try to get a random piece of loot that is only slightly better than what is already equipped. It seems tedious but sometimes addictive. I often would trek through dungeons, just thinking about one more run. Just one more time to get a better artifact to complete my circle or that weapon with the better ability attached.
I would recommend this game to anybody that needs just a simple dungeon crawler. The level of customization isn't seen in any other series and the story isn't half bad. Some of the bosses get a little annoying and sometimes some of the enemies are really broken. I don't typically like games like this but this was a really fun game and continuation to the series.
If the player has never played a rogue-lite dungeon crawler, this is a good series to start with. Basically, each dungeon is a series of randomly generated floors. The story sections aren't random but the ran-geons are. There are random enemies and item drops. If the player dies, they lose all the stuff they collected and portions of the EXP and money they gained. It is a very simple concept but it can be addictive.
The biggest draw here is that the player can design their own character, down to the pixel art. There is a character editor that is a working sprite builder. If so desired, the game can be played as a favorite character from another series. Even weapons can be drawn and designed. The customization is 100% up to the player.
There is some frustration to this game though. It can be a little daunting to go through similar dungeons over and over to try to get a random piece of loot that is only slightly better than what is already equipped. It seems tedious but sometimes addictive. I often would trek through dungeons, just thinking about one more run. Just one more time to get a better artifact to complete my circle or that weapon with the better ability attached.
I would recommend this game to anybody that needs just a simple dungeon crawler. The level of customization isn't seen in any other series and the story isn't half bad. Some of the bosses get a little annoying and sometimes some of the enemies are really broken. I don't typically like games like this but this was a really fun game and continuation to the series.
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Terraria (PSN)
I never really got into Minecraft when it first came out. It was an interesting concept but this was the first open world, craft/build game I played. I have to say, I sunk many many hours into this.
If you have played Minecraft, imagine a game that is similar except it is more combat focused and set as a 2D sidescroller. Then you pretty much have this game. Sure it doesn't feel like Minecraft and they are generally very different but the concepts are similar.
As mentioned before, there is much more focus on combat in this game. Exploration is easy since the world is 2D, it is easier to see things underground than in 3D where your view is hindered but what is in front of you. There are also lots more monsters and bosses to fight.
There is also a ton to craft. Different weapon types, blocks, decorations, exploration gear, etc. There is always something to work toward. The biggest drawback is the fact that to get the really neat stuff, you either have to get really lucky with drops or chests or you have to grind bosses for the materials. Some of the bosses are fun and others are just a nightmare.
There are also some issues with monster spawns. Often times I would just finish a long trek and on the way back get invaded by goblins immediately after having a boss encounter. It may have been poor planning on my part but still, it felt a little annoying.
Whether you like Minecraft or not, this is a fun 2D exploration game. There is a lot to explore, lots of diverse biomes, and if you play on a better supported platform (I played on PS3 and Vita) more updates and mods. If you like grinding for materials and getting super cool equipment or even just designing your own village with the various art pieces, this is a must have.
If you have played Minecraft, imagine a game that is similar except it is more combat focused and set as a 2D sidescroller. Then you pretty much have this game. Sure it doesn't feel like Minecraft and they are generally very different but the concepts are similar.
As mentioned before, there is much more focus on combat in this game. Exploration is easy since the world is 2D, it is easier to see things underground than in 3D where your view is hindered but what is in front of you. There are also lots more monsters and bosses to fight.
There is also a ton to craft. Different weapon types, blocks, decorations, exploration gear, etc. There is always something to work toward. The biggest drawback is the fact that to get the really neat stuff, you either have to get really lucky with drops or chests or you have to grind bosses for the materials. Some of the bosses are fun and others are just a nightmare.
There are also some issues with monster spawns. Often times I would just finish a long trek and on the way back get invaded by goblins immediately after having a boss encounter. It may have been poor planning on my part but still, it felt a little annoying.
Whether you like Minecraft or not, this is a fun 2D exploration game. There is a lot to explore, lots of diverse biomes, and if you play on a better supported platform (I played on PS3 and Vita) more updates and mods. If you like grinding for materials and getting super cool equipment or even just designing your own village with the various art pieces, this is a must have.
Sunday, April 7, 2019
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (PS3)
When the first Borderlands came out, I had never played a game with a loot system like it. Then the sequel came out and I loved the series even more than ever. This game was just as good.
Now I'll preface this by saying, I'm not the best at shooting games. I am a decent sniper and in all the Borderlands games I have played I typically stick with sniper rifles as my main weapons. In this game, I decided to be stupid and play only as Claptrap. Which wasn't a mistake.
In this entry, they introduce the oxygen system (because it takes place on the moon) and lower gravity. I negated the oxygen thing by playing as Claptrap, who doesn't need air. It does kind of take a little of the challenge out of the game but not so much because Claptrap is such a terrible character.
The story is between Borderlands 1 and 2, so if you have played both of those this will seem pretty similar. It is a good setup to the second game and you see references to both games in it. All the fan favorite characters are there and there are some good moments throughout. It isn't as memorable as the second game in terms of events but still a decent story for the series.
There are ton of new guns in this one with a new gun type, Lasers, and a new equipment item, O2 tanks. Lasers were okay. I don't recall them being spectacular but the reason behind them not being in Borderlands 2 is pretty funny. Being Claptrap, I didn't have to deal too much with the O2 tanks. They do give some decent bonuses and using them for the special ground pound attacks adds just one more tool to the vault hunters arsenal.
My biggest gripe with this game or rather with the series in general, is that some of the challenges are impossible to do solo. I usually play solo because I screw around too much to keep teammates. There are times in this game that I have to use really cheesy tactics to get by. Yes, it was designed as a co-op loot shooter but don't penalize me by making it stupidly hard or have to grind for legendary equipment just to maybe get a chance to win. Some of the optional missions and bosses are just outright unfair but this is something the whole series does. At least the main story missions are all doable solo without much cheesing or grinding.
As a whole, I love the Borderlands series. This was a fun addition and I am definitely looking forward to the third entry. I didn't play the DLC like I did for 1 and 2 but maybe someday. It is out on PS4 and PC now under the Handsome Collection, so there is really no reason not to get into the game. Catch a ride!
Now I'll preface this by saying, I'm not the best at shooting games. I am a decent sniper and in all the Borderlands games I have played I typically stick with sniper rifles as my main weapons. In this game, I decided to be stupid and play only as Claptrap. Which wasn't a mistake.
In this entry, they introduce the oxygen system (because it takes place on the moon) and lower gravity. I negated the oxygen thing by playing as Claptrap, who doesn't need air. It does kind of take a little of the challenge out of the game but not so much because Claptrap is such a terrible character.
The story is between Borderlands 1 and 2, so if you have played both of those this will seem pretty similar. It is a good setup to the second game and you see references to both games in it. All the fan favorite characters are there and there are some good moments throughout. It isn't as memorable as the second game in terms of events but still a decent story for the series.
There are ton of new guns in this one with a new gun type, Lasers, and a new equipment item, O2 tanks. Lasers were okay. I don't recall them being spectacular but the reason behind them not being in Borderlands 2 is pretty funny. Being Claptrap, I didn't have to deal too much with the O2 tanks. They do give some decent bonuses and using them for the special ground pound attacks adds just one more tool to the vault hunters arsenal.
My biggest gripe with this game or rather with the series in general, is that some of the challenges are impossible to do solo. I usually play solo because I screw around too much to keep teammates. There are times in this game that I have to use really cheesy tactics to get by. Yes, it was designed as a co-op loot shooter but don't penalize me by making it stupidly hard or have to grind for legendary equipment just to maybe get a chance to win. Some of the optional missions and bosses are just outright unfair but this is something the whole series does. At least the main story missions are all doable solo without much cheesing or grinding.
As a whole, I love the Borderlands series. This was a fun addition and I am definitely looking forward to the third entry. I didn't play the DLC like I did for 1 and 2 but maybe someday. It is out on PS4 and PC now under the Handsome Collection, so there is really no reason not to get into the game. Catch a ride!
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Dead Space 2 (PS3)
Dead Space was a rare gem for me. I'm not a huge fan of the survival horror genre but something in Dead Space really stuck with me. Going into the sequel, I was hopeful. I wasn't disappointed.
Dead Space 2 is a good sequel to the first game. Not just set on a single ship but a whole great big area this time. While the story does get a little odd, especially towards the end. It is definitely a good ride.
The weapons and crafting system are back. Getting power nodes to get better and have an easier time. Each weapon has its use and some are better at fighting certain enemies. Some are better than others but the player is never really forced to use a weapon.
As a sequel to a good game, this was a fun experience. It wasn't as good as the first game but there are moments in it that do really bring back the fear from the first game. Although Isaac no longer feels like a simple space engineer anymore.
Dead Space 2 is a good sequel to the first game. Not just set on a single ship but a whole great big area this time. While the story does get a little odd, especially towards the end. It is definitely a good ride.
The weapons and crafting system are back. Getting power nodes to get better and have an easier time. Each weapon has its use and some are better at fighting certain enemies. Some are better than others but the player is never really forced to use a weapon.
As a sequel to a good game, this was a fun experience. It wasn't as good as the first game but there are moments in it that do really bring back the fear from the first game. Although Isaac no longer feels like a simple space engineer anymore.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Final Fantasy Type-0 (PS4)
I've always been a huge Final Fantasy fan. It was the RPG series, along with Chrono Cross and Secret of Mana that got me into RPGs. This game was originally a PSP game but was ported to the PS4 when it finally came to the US. I remember watching trailers for this game when it was first announced for PSP.
When I finally got to play this when the PS4 remake came out it was alright. Nowhere near as much fun as it looked but still a solid title in the series. It definitely felt like playing a PSP title though. Very little was done with the port and to call it a remake is definitely a misuse of the term.
The story is key here. It is about a class of military students that you grow to know and learn more about as they learn about the terrors of war and just what it means. Each character feels unique and has their own personality, abilities, and skills. It delves a bit into the crystal stuff that Final Fantasy XIII had and there is mention of several terms across both games. Which makes sense since this game and Final Fantasy XIII were released as part of a set, kind of.
The combat is fun at times and learning how to dodge is really the best way to win. Once you learn to trigger deathstrikes, that is all you go for because fighting normally quickly leads to death. In fact, some enemies are only killable with these special strikes. Luckily, it isn't super difficult to trigger them and the player learns very quickly how to perform them.
The biggest drawback is the heavy reliance on a special minigame that takes place on the world map. I can't recall the name of them but they were so boring and I was very happy that you can in fact skip all of them past the first one. They do add a lot to the experience but I found them to be so tedious it was sucking the fun out of the game. They are a kind of RTS aspect that I just couldn't get into.
The wait for this game to be released in the US was definitely long. It was worth it though for the story alone. Learning more about your fellow classmates and the ending of the game make it worth playing. Sure there were some aspects of the game that were rough and having to redo the whole ending section because of a non-clear choice at the end is a big slap to the face of the player but if you enjoy Final Fantasy. Give this a go. It is quite fun.
When I finally got to play this when the PS4 remake came out it was alright. Nowhere near as much fun as it looked but still a solid title in the series. It definitely felt like playing a PSP title though. Very little was done with the port and to call it a remake is definitely a misuse of the term.
The story is key here. It is about a class of military students that you grow to know and learn more about as they learn about the terrors of war and just what it means. Each character feels unique and has their own personality, abilities, and skills. It delves a bit into the crystal stuff that Final Fantasy XIII had and there is mention of several terms across both games. Which makes sense since this game and Final Fantasy XIII were released as part of a set, kind of.
The combat is fun at times and learning how to dodge is really the best way to win. Once you learn to trigger deathstrikes, that is all you go for because fighting normally quickly leads to death. In fact, some enemies are only killable with these special strikes. Luckily, it isn't super difficult to trigger them and the player learns very quickly how to perform them.
The biggest drawback is the heavy reliance on a special minigame that takes place on the world map. I can't recall the name of them but they were so boring and I was very happy that you can in fact skip all of them past the first one. They do add a lot to the experience but I found them to be so tedious it was sucking the fun out of the game. They are a kind of RTS aspect that I just couldn't get into.
The wait for this game to be released in the US was definitely long. It was worth it though for the story alone. Learning more about your fellow classmates and the ending of the game make it worth playing. Sure there were some aspects of the game that were rough and having to redo the whole ending section because of a non-clear choice at the end is a big slap to the face of the player but if you enjoy Final Fantasy. Give this a go. It is quite fun.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Injustice: Gods Among Us (PS3)
Growing up as a kid, I never really got into comic books and didn't really know much about the DC characters. Sure I watched the Batman and Superman cartoons from the '90s but that was about it. I stopped really caring about the DC heroes around the time the Justice League cartoon was towards the end of its run. I bought this game on a whim and it was fun.
The story behind this game is similar to the Injustice comics from what I've been told. Having never read them, I didn't know what to expect. All in all, it was a pretty typical comic fair with certain characters acting like they should and some characters that I don't like just being there. I'll say this now, I have never been a fan of The Flash. Learning that he is now one of the most important heroes in the DC pantheon kind of makes me sad but whatever. I'll live.
The gameplay is the best thing about this game for me. It is a solid fighting game similar to the recent outings of the Mortal Kombat series. It is a 1-on-1 fight to the end with some stage hazards. The difference is how the life meters work. Essentially each player has two life bars. If one player does well, they could win without losing a bar. Bars really are just a way to split the bouts into different rounds with a round ending when a player loses a life bar.
This was a pretty fun game and I definitely felt a little nostalgia playing as some of my old favorites like Batman. If you are a comic fan, this is definitely worth picking up. Sure it isn't as fluid as some of the anime fighters I have played but it is a solid experience. I do want to play the second one but I have been waiting for a version with all the DLC. Maybe someday I will pick it up.
The story behind this game is similar to the Injustice comics from what I've been told. Having never read them, I didn't know what to expect. All in all, it was a pretty typical comic fair with certain characters acting like they should and some characters that I don't like just being there. I'll say this now, I have never been a fan of The Flash. Learning that he is now one of the most important heroes in the DC pantheon kind of makes me sad but whatever. I'll live.
The gameplay is the best thing about this game for me. It is a solid fighting game similar to the recent outings of the Mortal Kombat series. It is a 1-on-1 fight to the end with some stage hazards. The difference is how the life meters work. Essentially each player has two life bars. If one player does well, they could win without losing a bar. Bars really are just a way to split the bouts into different rounds with a round ending when a player loses a life bar.
This was a pretty fun game and I definitely felt a little nostalgia playing as some of my old favorites like Batman. If you are a comic fan, this is definitely worth picking up. Sure it isn't as fluid as some of the anime fighters I have played but it is a solid experience. I do want to play the second one but I have been waiting for a version with all the DLC. Maybe someday I will pick it up.
Friday, May 18, 2018
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)
A new Nintendo console and a new Legend of Zelda. I'm not saying I specifically purchased a Switch for this game but it was the first game I had purchased for said console. I've always been a huge fan of the series and I do enjoy running around the world of Hyrule. This game was different in a lot of good ways and there were some things in it that I definitely did not like.
To start off, this is the first truly open world Zelda game. From the time you leave the first little area that serves as a basic training ground, you can pretty much go anywhere and do anything you want. See an interesting tree up on a mountain? Go up there and see what is up there. Find a shrine hidden in a canyon? There is nothing stopping the player from getting to it.
There is a lot of freedom in this game and at times it is great. But sometimes it can be really daunting. There is a basic guidance through the story but sometimes the game can feel unstructured. This isn't a terrible thing, too many games hold the player's hand and this game does not.
With all that said, I did have some minor complaints. Climbing and stamina were often times a hindrance. I do understand that having stamina is a necessary thing but when they add in things like rain, it is more frustrating than fun. Often times I would be trekking somewhere and simply have to stop because the random weather effect had changed to rain making it impossible to climb what I needed to. Just simply stop and wait out the rain.
Also, this brings up the other weather effects. I know they were used to make each area feel unique and having to switch armor was a nice idea but often times the armor you needed to wear just to survive was terrible and would leave the player incredibly weak in areas with some very dangerous foes. This often lead me to just run away from things instead of killing them. I will simply just keep a Lionel at the spawn distance away from me because these foes were often just too hardy and not worth the effort to kill.
I also did not really like the weapon degradation mechanic. I understand it is necessary because having a weapon that is too good would have broken the game but it also makes any rewards you get feel really worthless. Make it through a difficult shrine and get a neat weapon, ultimately to never use it because it will break sooner than expected. Weapons just break way too easily.
Even with these minor things, the game is fantastic. It is a wonderful adventure and just so beautiful that wandering around was a favorite past-time of mine. Sure, I didn't do everything and I was definitely missing quite a few shrines but I enjoyed what I played. It was my journey and that is why I liked it. Nobody else played the game like I did. Nobody made the same choices and did things the same way I did. Even some of the puzzles have multiple solutions, which definitely is one the best things they have done in a long time. Sure the story was really fragmented and kind of weak compared to past titles. The fun is there and this is definitely an entry into this series that just can't be missed.
To start off, this is the first truly open world Zelda game. From the time you leave the first little area that serves as a basic training ground, you can pretty much go anywhere and do anything you want. See an interesting tree up on a mountain? Go up there and see what is up there. Find a shrine hidden in a canyon? There is nothing stopping the player from getting to it.
There is a lot of freedom in this game and at times it is great. But sometimes it can be really daunting. There is a basic guidance through the story but sometimes the game can feel unstructured. This isn't a terrible thing, too many games hold the player's hand and this game does not.
With all that said, I did have some minor complaints. Climbing and stamina were often times a hindrance. I do understand that having stamina is a necessary thing but when they add in things like rain, it is more frustrating than fun. Often times I would be trekking somewhere and simply have to stop because the random weather effect had changed to rain making it impossible to climb what I needed to. Just simply stop and wait out the rain.
Also, this brings up the other weather effects. I know they were used to make each area feel unique and having to switch armor was a nice idea but often times the armor you needed to wear just to survive was terrible and would leave the player incredibly weak in areas with some very dangerous foes. This often lead me to just run away from things instead of killing them. I will simply just keep a Lionel at the spawn distance away from me because these foes were often just too hardy and not worth the effort to kill.
I also did not really like the weapon degradation mechanic. I understand it is necessary because having a weapon that is too good would have broken the game but it also makes any rewards you get feel really worthless. Make it through a difficult shrine and get a neat weapon, ultimately to never use it because it will break sooner than expected. Weapons just break way too easily.
Even with these minor things, the game is fantastic. It is a wonderful adventure and just so beautiful that wandering around was a favorite past-time of mine. Sure, I didn't do everything and I was definitely missing quite a few shrines but I enjoyed what I played. It was my journey and that is why I liked it. Nobody else played the game like I did. Nobody made the same choices and did things the same way I did. Even some of the puzzles have multiple solutions, which definitely is one the best things they have done in a long time. Sure the story was really fragmented and kind of weak compared to past titles. The fun is there and this is definitely an entry into this series that just can't be missed.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Doom 3 BFG Edition (PS3)
Doom is one of those games that I always forget that I played. Doom 3 is probably the most forgettable of the games I have played. I haven't played the most recent release in the series. I'm not a huge fan of them because I'm not the best at shooters.
As far as story goes, the game follows the same concept of the previous games. Demons have invaded a space station because humans are stupid and they unleashed them. It is the players job to put an end to it before all of humanity is threatened. This sounds familiar and honestly, it is if you played the first two. There is nothing wrong with this though because each game builds on the previous game.
The combat here is very similar. With health packs, armor, and varying levels of increased weaponry. Some weapons are obviously better than others and will be mainstays. Mainly the shotgun and rocket launcher. Everything else felt weak. Even the BFG didn't feel satisfying to fire in this game but that was just me.
I will say they did try out some interesting concepts. The lighting was huge in this game, a little annoying at times but it does help the game feel. They did a good job of setting up the story but it kind of gets jumbled and I honestly can't even remember how this game ends. A fun distraction if you ever want to run around and kill demons. Not the best game in the series though. There are problems with it but not enough to warrant avoiding the game.
As far as story goes, the game follows the same concept of the previous games. Demons have invaded a space station because humans are stupid and they unleashed them. It is the players job to put an end to it before all of humanity is threatened. This sounds familiar and honestly, it is if you played the first two. There is nothing wrong with this though because each game builds on the previous game.
The combat here is very similar. With health packs, armor, and varying levels of increased weaponry. Some weapons are obviously better than others and will be mainstays. Mainly the shotgun and rocket launcher. Everything else felt weak. Even the BFG didn't feel satisfying to fire in this game but that was just me.
I will say they did try out some interesting concepts. The lighting was huge in this game, a little annoying at times but it does help the game feel. They did a good job of setting up the story but it kind of gets jumbled and I honestly can't even remember how this game ends. A fun distraction if you ever want to run around and kill demons. Not the best game in the series though. There are problems with it but not enough to warrant avoiding the game.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Puchi Puchi Virus (NDS)
I've never been big on puzzle games. I mean yeah, I have played the classics like Tetris. But that is about it. I gave this a try since it was brought to the US by one of my favorite publishers, Nippon Ichi Software.
The game is pretty simple. Each puzzle is about destroying viruses in a patient. The patience are all anthropomorphized animals or something else silly. They usually have a funny name or something about them. The game is quite simple at the beginning but quickly ramps up.
To this day, I still don't know how to beat the later levels. There are levels of chaining and the speed you have to move at, I just don't have the skill. It is a very basic game but if you really like puzzle games, give it a go. I certainly got into it until I hit the challenging final levels. Seriously, I don't know how anybody can move their hand fast enough to beat them.
The game is pretty simple. Each puzzle is about destroying viruses in a patient. The patience are all anthropomorphized animals or something else silly. They usually have a funny name or something about them. The game is quite simple at the beginning but quickly ramps up.
To this day, I still don't know how to beat the later levels. There are levels of chaining and the speed you have to move at, I just don't have the skill. It is a very basic game but if you really like puzzle games, give it a go. I certainly got into it until I hit the challenging final levels. Seriously, I don't know how anybody can move their hand fast enough to beat them.
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