16bitvirtual

I am an enjoyer of single player experiences, and saw this on Game Pass. I thought it'd be fun to see how Call Of Duty has evolved since I last checked it out.After a very lengthy install, I was greeted with a Marvel-esq into screen boasting about all the talented studios forced into the grind. And when the cooperate pandering was done I was shown 3 legal documents, and a login screen.I simply exited out of that, with a warning saying I will stay offline. Perfect since I wanted to play the single player campaign. But no, the game will not let you play unless you make an activision **** there I was, with a 100GB+ game, which all it can do is a single cut scene, and legal documents. If I had spent $80 on this game I'd demand a refund, thank you Game Pass

Quick Review of Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection for switch. TL:DR DO NOT GET THIS GAME. So I got the switch port of Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection, and honestly I was looking forward to it. It's been too long since I had a chance to play these games, and the only Battlefront that's controller friendly is the first game. So this was suppose to be a breath of fresh air the games needed... But NOPE. LOL, how anyone greenlit this to production is beyond me and should be fired. In the 2 hours I had with the game before I got a refund, I experience Tecture and shadow flickering (as I demonatraited in today's short), lighting issues on Naboo, floating textures on Utapau, zoomed in cross hairs with textures that don't fill the screen, blocky and poorly compressed video files in a game which takes up 34GB (3x the original game's size), with unfixed flight controls in Battlefront 1, and distorted audio. Let alone the switch specific issues of flipped A & B Buttons on the controller (try jumping by pressing the O button on PlayStation), and the game not launching into the games until the player presses up or Down on the D-Pad then pressing left or right to select a game. What's sad is that this is a decade+ old port of the PC games, so underneath the AI upscaled assets and "updated" lighting, there is a good game here, this is Star Wars Battlefront. So when they polish this turd and give it a physical release I will take another look at it again. But for now avoid this game like the plague, or if you are that desperate, get the PC port of the original Battlefront's 1 & 2 on Steam or GOG, they are fun, they have online servers, they work, and they are $10 cheaper.

Spoiler Free TL:DR is I like it, but I feel it's **** you want my full thoughts they are below but be warned. Side Order, or as Nintendo creatively calls it in their credits "Expansion Pass" , is a first in the Splatoon series, a Rouge Like DLC, with a tower that is 30 levels deep. Where as are you climb, you'll get random power ups and buffs, upgrading yourself and the Pearl Drone (best feature in the whole DLC) as you climb. The way the game is laid out is exactly like Octo Expansion, but gone are the tailored made levels. And in are a gauntlet of battle arena's and challenge missions, usually culminating in a handful of repeating mission types of your choice. As a game mode it's a perfect mix of challenge and randomness that makes each climb fun. It fits perfectly into Splatoon's post-apocalyptic and dystopian aesthetic. And with the weapon variety and unlocks, there's a lot of replay value. A Lot more than Octo Expansion. But if I am perfectly honest, while I do like Side Order and the content it has on offer. And I personally feel it's well worth the price. For some reason it feel unfinished. I don't know if it's how often the same 2 or 3 levels get repeated. The fact that there is only a handful of game modes. Or the lack of enemy and boss variety. It just feels like the devs made a good first part ****, and said that's good enough, and shipped it. After my 3rd or 5th run on the tower I was actively looking for the ??? levels since it was something new. But even then what I did was the same across the board. And it made me think back to Octo Expansion, from the creative level designs, grind rail challenges, 3D Picross levels, that made me yearn for something a little more. I don't think it's fair to judge Side Order to Octo Expansion, they are two completely different beast. And with Splatoon 3's signal player campaign I can see why Nintendo felt they needed to do something different. I just feel that this game at a bare minimum needs some extra enemies, bosses and floors, especially on the lower levels, to make it feel a little more complete. As it is I feel it's like 85% done, and it needs a little more to go from being a fun experience to an excellent one. This is defiantly worth getting if you already have Splatoon 3, but unlike Octo, I don't think it's worth getting Splatoon 3 for this expansion.

I was in a weird mood this week and wanted to re-play a PS2 game. I haven't felt in the mood to replay Breaking Da Rules since I made a video about it 9ish years ago (according to **** those of you who either weren't born yet when this came out, or were too old to play these kinds of license games. This is your generic Platformer with [INSERT FRANCHISE HERE] slapped on it. Akin to a Spongebob Squarepants, or DuckTales. This time it was The Fairly OddParents, based on their first Season of episodes. Where the levels are based off of various settings shown in the episodes or at times, ripping of the plot completely. While at times the story is a bit weak, I feel most of my complaints are nick picking compared to the quality which other license games had at the time. Especially since the graphics are, at time, some of the better ages graphics I can remember from the time. It's nothing remarkable, but aesthetically the game feels like it was ripped right from the episode. Or at least it is for small characters, larger models are PS1 Hargrid levels of bad and funny. The gameplay has also held up well. It's not anything special, nor anything I haven't seen before. Outside of Vertical Camera controls there's a good variety and no two levels feel the same. Now it's defiantly not worth going out to get a PS2 or a GameCube out to play this game. It's good but not that Good. However it's a fun game to emulate, especially the PS2 port in PCSX2. Wide screen is fantastic, increase in the resolution makes the games aesthetics looks even better... and the jank even more noticeable. For a game over 20 years old, it's held up well all things considered.

This year I was recommended Terra Nil, a "reverse city builder" as the developer Free Lives call it in the store page. From screenshots and what gameplay I did see of it, my mind raced to games like SimCity 3000 and the potential of destroying a run down, or decaying city and returning it to nature. What I played wasn't really that. While yes, the last level involves cleaning up a Radioactive city that is flooded. This is less of a reverse SimCity, and more Zoo Tycoon or Jurassic World Evolution, where I am trying to get pens to fit an animal's preferred habitat. The scale is just a lot greater. What would be a medium size SimCity 3000 map, is now a desolate waste land, where futuristic instant machines and tools clean up the land. Then give the habitat life. There is also a bit of a Puzzle game element to it too, where you have "optional" objectives that involve changing the environment. Making it more, or less suitable for specific animals, and cataloguing them. I feel that this is the main crux of the game, and it's fun. With gorgeous visuals, beautiful music, and a fun gameplay loop. I was left wishing there was more. With 4 unique maps, that have a alternative location, there is lots to do here. I picked this up during a Winter Sale, and while it's main asking price of $33 CAD is a bit for how short the game is, the ~$25 CAD I paid for it on sale is perfect for this bite sized adventure.

When I saw a new game release called Turnip Boy Robs a Bank, it piqued my curiosity. Such a contrasting tone in both the gameplay visuals and setting that I wanted to know more. Then I saw that this isn't Turnip Boy's first outing, when he committed another crime in his first debut game, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. For $5 on Steam and GOG it was tempting, but when I saw I already owned it on Epic Games, which I got during one of those Free Promotions. It's hard not to give it a try. So what is this wholesome game? Well it's a top down action game, and I'm tempted to call it a Zelda Title. Mostly due to the various puzzles including moving blocks, bomb-able walls and a portal... planter. But it feels and controls more like a twin stick shooter, especially since there is no dungeons to explore. The gameplay is fun, but a bit too fetch questy which usually ends with you getting, or finding a document. Like a bill, a wanted poster, or a tax document, where you will proceed to rip it up. Turnip Boy is hysterical in just how much of a jerk he can be. He doesn't want to pay his taxes and he will do everything to avoid it. I love a game were the protagonist has a personality that isn't just a blank slate. But while there is a lot I like about this game. I will be echoing a common criticism of this game, it's length. For a byte size adventure it's fine, especially for a "free" game or a $5 game. But for the price it's asking ~$15 I would've love to see a extra "boss"/"dungeon". The post game endless train combat arena is nice, but needs more enemies and variety to not feel like the repetitive slog it turns into after the second round of fighting the same 4 bosses. But when it's on sale, which it often is, it's definitely a fun adventure that's worth getting. And from what it sounds like when Turnip Boy robs that bank, it should be a better experience.

Recently I got myself a new game bundle, and in amongst the games that I actually wanted to play, was one called Tinykin. For me a game like Tinykin would just get added to my library and languish for years until I decide to play it, or remember I even had it. See my Turnip Boy Review for a case in point. But I want to start doing better and give all the games in bundle I get at least a few minutes in the spotlight. So when I installed and tried out Tinykin, I wasn’t very impressed, and yet I found myself unable to put it down. Which made me want to take a closer look at it. I feel that my intrigue with this game, comes primarily from it’s gameplay. At it’s core, Tinykin is a collect-a-thon platformer akin to Banjo Kazooie, or a Spyro the Dragon. Where you are given a giant level to explore with various paths, hubs and areas. With lots of things to do, things to collect, and activities to complete for more rewards. But unlike other platformers, where you unlock new moves as you play, slowly expanding both your abilities and the world, in Tinykin you get Pikm… cough cough. I mean Tinykin of various colours and abilities that will expand your abilities and things you can do. From interacting with object in the world, to destroying obstacles, getting to new areas that you couldn’t before and solving various puzzles. Movement is where this game truly shines. While these worlds feel gigantic, exploring them never felt tiring. There’s this methodical rhythm that guides you through the entire game making platforming never dull. I fell this is part due to the game excellent aesthetics and music, but also because the game is jammed packed with something for you to do and to interact with. And it’s in the interaction with this game, which initially tripped me up and made it seem a whole lot less impressive then it actually is. The game heavily relies on narrative to push you along and gets you started. But the walls of text the game expects you to read and go through, just put me off. I think there is a good narrative here, but I wasn’t able to pay attention to it. At least not until the end, when there is finally a character that is voiced. Thankfully I was able to play the game, without deliberately talking to a single NPC, objectives can be found, and completed at my discretion and on my own time. Tinykin is an oddly relaxing and wholesome game, where there are no villains, no enemies to fight, no bosses to beat, and no twist villains. Tinykin is just a simple, plane Jane platformer, with a simple gimmick, and unique aesthetic that give this game a unique identity. While for me I probably won’t be replaying it. I have a feeling trying to collect everything would be a chore, and the lack of voice acting doesn’t help. I do feel this is a game I can recommend. It’s not the most impressive platformer I’ve played, but it has this calm and simple enjoyability that I don’t think I’ve seen in another platformer.