As a completionist, Wind Waker HD addressed every major complaint I had with the original game. Take the Nintendo Gallery for example: There are nearly 150 figurines to collect and Carlov will make a figurine for every monster/character you photograph. It’s a lot of work but it can also feel rewarding to complete (in the HD version) and makes the camera feel useful. Unfortunately I didn’t feel the same sense of satisfaction towards this quest in the GameCube version. Only tedium. For starters, the original pictbox on GameCube could only hold 3 photos and Carlov would only sculpt one figurine per day based on the photo you gave him. Plus (and this is the most egregious part), you had to visit Carlov each time to know if the photo was up to his standards! So if you took a picture during a hectic boss fight for example, Carlov could reject the photo and you’ll have to reload your file and re-fight the boss all over again. The HD version removes all that guesswork with a “good” label printed on the photo. And now Link can carry 12 photos at a time and Carlov will sculpt 12 figurines per day which feels like the perfect amount. You can also combine these photos in Hero mode in case you missed anything. Hero mode feels necessary in Wind Waker since the standard game is so easy. The Swift Sail was a great addition as well. Totally optional, but it will increase your boat speed AND the wind will adapt to your direction making the open seas feel more “open”. No more pulling out your Wind Waker every 2 seconds. The Wii U GamePad was incredibly useful for things like swapping items on the fly, showing you exactly where a treasure was located on the map or displaying which notes needed to be played for a particular song. There are 49 quadrants in the game and each quadrant has a fish to feed that gives you clues about the nearby islands. On the GameCube version you had to remember what every fish said. But on Wii U, each fish you’ve fed will show up on your GamePad with the clues they gave in their respective quadrants. It really feels like this game was made for the Wii U GamePad. The addition of first person and Gyro controls makes aiming feel more precise. Now you can change the momentum of your direction while swinging from your grappling hook, and the boat canon also shows where your canon shots will land. Changing wind direction is also easier on land with the GamePad showing you where Link is facing and eliminating the need for watching the song animation every time. There has never been a Zelda remake with this many Qol changes. The original game was a gem buried beneath a layer of frustration, but this version is truly the best way to experience Wind Waker. It’s just a shame that most people with an NSO expansion will experience the GameCube version with all its flaws. Say what you will about the bloom lighting, but the vibrant colours suit the world imo and made the islands feel more hot during daytime. The shadows and draw distance were also improved. This is the best version of the game hands down and if you own a Wii U, play this version instead.
Metroid Prime 2 is a slog. The backtracking is ridiculous and the map is deceptive too. Many times I didn’t know where to go or what to do, so I would consult my useless map only to be led astray. Oh look there’s a coloured door that I haven’t been through which requires super missiles. I just acquired super missiles. Let’s go! (A few moments later) Looks like I also need the spider ball to access that unreachable door. Thanks for nothing map! But don’t worry folks, this is part of the Metroid process. You would’ve never found those hidden missiles without backtracking to the same room 5 times right? Don’t question it. Hey it looks like I’m missing a translation. Let’s head over there! Yeah sorry there is ANOTHER unforeseen barrier in the hallway that your map didn't warn you about. You’ll need the grapple hook this time. Don’t worry, this is all part of the process. Are you enjoying the dull environments? It was a design choice! You can’t criticize the dark world because it fits the theme of the game! Spider Guardian was a fun boss fight too, wasn’t it? 30 minutes of starring at the screen while trying to find the proper timing. Amazing fight! And the best part is you can brag to your friends about how you beat it on your first try in 30 seconds. 4/10. That’s what this game deserves.
Definitive edition manages to do something I didn’t think was possible; it changed my opinion of the characters. I found myself liking Fiora a lot more than I did in previous versions due to her new facial expressions. The updated visuals convey a sense of child-like innocence that was lacking in previous versions. This makes it easier to relate with the characters on a human level and thus, sympathize with their struggles and hardships a little bit more. Beyond the visuals, there are some great quality of life changes here, too. My personal favourite is the new ‘expert mode’ that allows players to collect reserve exp which they can use at any time to level up OR down. This allows a completionist to discover landmarks and complete side quests without turning the boss fights into a joke. I also love that we have 3 save files plus an auto save. Why X, 2 and Torna have only 1 save slot is beyond me. If I had one complaint, though, it would be related to the unintelligible art use of the AI. Don’t expect consistent topples from Reyn if you are playing as Shulk. Likewise, go ahead and remove battle soul from Shulk’s art palette as the AI will abuse this art, even if it is being aggro’d by a swarm of enemies. The AI’s incompetence could have been mitigated to some degree by giving the player more control. For example, commanding the AI to save their talent arts for a chain attack to string together colour combos and maximize damage. Alas, these are relatively minor complaints in the grand scheme of things. Xenoblade Definitive Edition is a fantastic game that is well worth your money. Think of the beautiful landscapes in Breath of the Wild, and keep in mind that the studio which helped build that overworld are the ones who made this game. Whether you are traversing the Gaur Plains, Satorl Marsh or Makna Forest, the locations and theme songs will take your breath away. It has a great story, charming characters and enough side content to keep you busy for hundreds of hours. For these reasons, Definitive Edition is my definition of a 10/10 game.
If you are feeling apprehensive about the amount of content in Astral Chain, allow me to ease your mind. This game can be as long or as short as you want it to be. There are approximately 130 red cases and 90 blue cases to solve over the course of 12 chapters, and some cases (like the heavy traffic puzzles) can take upwards of 20+ minutes to solve. Plus, you have to keep your eye-ris peeled for cats, chests, digging spots, arrow rewards and red matter in every area you go. Between upgrading your weapons and legions and completing the appropriate orders to acquire the necessary premium material codes needed for upgrade, you can easily spend 40-50 hours. It took me 60 hours to fully upgrade my x-baton, Legatus and Sword legion and I have not even s-ranked everything yet. My biggest regret is not taking a picture of every enemy right away because now I don’t know what photos I’m missing which makes it difficult to 100%. As stated above, there is a ton of depth to this game. Everything from puzzles to riddles to platforming to stealth and escort missions can be found in this platinum title, so if you were expecting a simple hack & slash, think again. The game isn’t perfect though. The motion controls function poorly in tv mode (even if it is hardly used), the camera can be a little funky when you are trying to fight multiple enemies and the FPS will go bonkers at certain junctures. The biggest problem, however, is the fall damage incurred in the astral plane. That sense of satisfaction you get from dodging attacks is quickly gone the moment you get close to the edge, and I suspect the developers knew this was cheap because the game allows you to survive with 1 hp. Also, your fall damage INCREASES relative to your hp. How stupid is that? The game provides abilities that grant immunities to just about everything except fall damage. I would honestly deduct 2 points off the final score if it were not for the fact that this is mostly a post-game issue than a main game issue. All these things prevent Astral Chain from getting a perfect score in my view, but Astral Chain is the best game I have played in 2019 and that’s gotta count for something. Thanks for reading.
*Long review* Breath of the Wild is a breath of fresh air for the Legend of Zelda series. From the moment Link departs the shrine of resurrection and steps onto the vast plains of Hyrule, it becomes immediately clear just how many things there are to see and do in this world. Let’s start with the most visible things first, the Towers. Sheikah Towers have been erected throughout the land that act as vantage points for Link to assess his current location. By climbing these towers, Link can scan his Sheikah slate into the tower’s central computer to open the regional map and plan the safest route of travel over the horizon. Combined with the paraglider, Link can mark a beacon on his map, jump from these towers and glide a fair distance towards his target. This is the best implementation of travel in a modern Zelda yet and for that reason it would not be a stretch to say the paraglider is the most useful item in the entire series. Speaking of the paraglider, it is needed early in Link’s adventure since he does not have the stamina to reach the lower levels of Hyrule by climbing down. To complete this objective, Link must undergo a trial given to him by the old man in the demo. This is as close as the game comes to linearity and it all happens within the opening minutes of the game. Breath of the wild simply gives you the essential tools upfront and everything thereafter is up to you. If Breath of the Wild has a weak point it would have to be the design of the dungeons. The dungeons this time around take place on the backs of divine beasts which were originally created to defend Hyrule but have fallen into Ganon’s control. These dungeons offer clever puzzles and boss fights that compliment their environments, but the interior walls of the dungeons all look the same. Still, it is a breath taking sight to be riding these beasts and looking out over the horizon. The game also features a series of mini-dungeons called shrines that double as warp points when you open them. These shrines range from tiny to medium in size and can be found scattered throughout the land, usually a fair distance apart from one another. Most shrines contain puzzles with treasure chests, but some shrines offer free treasure or a boss fight. Each shrine completed nets you a spirit orb which can be used to upgrade your hearts or stamina. These challenges are both enjoyable and necessary since weapons in your inventory will frequently break. In addition to shrines and towers, the game features a plethora of towns and horse stables in each region. These towns are home to some pretty interesting characters and the stables are a great place to refresh your hearts or to get helpful tips about the local region. I spent well over 300 hours trying to complete every side quest in Breath of the Wild but ultimately fell short of the required 900 Korok seeds needed to 100% the game. So with all that being said, Breath of the Wild is an easy 10 out of 10 and a worthy recipient for 2017 game of the year. What it lacks in dungeon design it makes up for with fresh gameplay mechanics in a living breathing world that feels more alive than it’s predecessors. Is it my favourite Zelda game? That’s hard to say. My tastes are constantly evolving but what I can say is that Breath of the Wild lived up to my expectations and I cannot wait to play the next instalment in this franchise.
I enjoyed this game but it has several minor issues. For one, I’m not entirely sure why they decided to interrupt gameplay everytime you collect a power up. Mario doesn’t halt his momentum whenever he grabs a mushroom or star power. I like the idea behind the power ups but I found myself avoiding them most of the time for this reason. Another problem was the jumping felt very clunky. There was a point in the game after acquiring the Pegasus boots where I jumped onto an island and couldn’t get back! Thankfully I found a YouTube video to get me back on land but that is not something I ever experienced in a Zelda game before. I also noticed the frame rate would dip whenever I left a house. On a positive note, I really enjoyed the game’s dungeons. Eagles tower in particular was a really fun dungeon to solve and the puzzles in Turtle Rock left me scratching my head a few times as well. The game looks and feels very charming just like the Zelda franchise is known for. The dungeon creation tool was a neat concept that added an extra layer of gameplay to an otherwise pretty short game. So in conclusion, I would suggest waiting a few months for the game to come on sale before buying it and perhaps Nintendo will fix some of the issues between now and then. Thanks for reading.
There’s 3 things you should do before starting this game: One is invest in a large tv to compensate for the tiny text. Two is purchase a pro controller or a fresh new battery for your Wii U gamepad as the game is quite long. And 3, you will want to read the electronic manual. I cannot stress this point enough. After so many chapters you will eventually receive a powerful ability known as Overdrive. This mechanic replaces chain attacks and is essential for ground combat. The great thing about Overdrive is that you can defeat practically any monster on foot with the proper setup. Understanding Overdrive and mastering it is the key to having fun in Xenoblade X. Things I like: Overdrive Tension Points (far superior to the 3 bar affinity system) Soul Voices No fall damage Auto-Run Art/Class customization Free Online Challenging Skells Things I didn’t like: Useless AI Music drowning out voices in cutscenes Tiny text No towns outside of New LA Cannot abort affinity missions Targeting system Grinding for augments and Holofigures Seriously, I love this game but the post-game grind can lead to burnout. This is because most of the good XX augments require 32 or 48 specific materials from 3 different enemies (so between 96 and 144 materials total) just to craft one augment and in some cases the materials will only drop if you target a specific appendage and they do not drop 100% of the time even with max treasure sensor augments equipped. Also, grinding for Holofigures felt unnecessary. Once you defeat a super boss and the segment recon is complete, you should automatically receive the Holofigure as a symbol of your victory. Apart from those gripes it’s a pretty fun and addictive game. The combat system is amazing; easily the best in the series. I just wish it was better explained with tutorials so that newcomers wouldn’t have been put off from trying it. Many inexperienced players would rather save 3000 tp to revive their allies. (bad move) If they understood the power of overdrive they would enjoy X a lot more.
Apart from Hangman’s gambit, everything about DR2 is an improvement over it’s predecessor. The story, setting, difficulty and gameplay in particular have been improved, while the cast of characters this time around appear to have formed stronger bonds with each other, which becomes evident as the victims are not forgotten about after their deaths. Keep an open mind as some of the characters you dislike in the beginning may turn out to be your favourites in the end. Just make sure to keep a box of tissues nearby as some of the executions can be pretty sad/cruel. Darn you Monokuma! To quote a certain song “I hate everything about you. Why do I love you?”
What would you do if you were locked in a school and told that the only way to graduate was to kill one of your classmates? Welcome to Hope’s Peak Academy! A prestigious school that recruits teenage prodigies for the purpose of creating a better future. It is your job to uncover the mysteries of the school and find out what turned this school of hope into a school of despair. Who can you trust? Who can’t you trust? That is the Danganronpa formula in a nutshell. If you like murder mysteries with interesting characters and backstories then you will love this game!
I spent more time updating the game than I did playing it. Between the clunky controls, the messy HUD, the barren overworld and the lack of stimulation, it’s a wonder how this game got to be so popular in the first place. I genuinely don’t get it.
When Nintendo first unveiled Super Mario Odyssey, it was clear they were attempting to recapture the audience that grew up on old school 3D Mario’s. Visually at least, Super Mario Odyssey was the game we all wanted, but does it deliver? Mario is joined this time on his adventure by Cappy, a sentient hat-being that lives on Mario’s head. He can throw Cappy like a boomerang to retrieve coins, or use Cappy as a platform to jump higher and further than ever before. Plus, a second player can join in the fun by controlling Mario’s hat similar to the Lumas in Super Mario Galaxy. In single player mode, Cappy feels like F.L.U.D.D. from Super Mario Sunshine with an upgraded personality. This becomes apparent when trying to defeat levels without your trusty companion as playing without cappy can feel like a handicap. The level design in Super Mario Odyssey is incredible and the music provides plenty of goosebumps with a sense of nostalgia. I nearly had tears in my eyes listening to a certain song in New Donk City. The game feels somewhat easy and on the short side, but there are enough power moons and costumes to collect that provide just the right amount of content for a completionist. All in all, Super Mario Odyssey was the game I wanted so I can say with full confidence that Nintendo delivered. Final verdict: 9/10.
My first impression of Minish Cap is that it looks like the Windwaker but plays like a 2d version of Skyward Sword. You can unlock heart pieces by fusing kinstones in much the same way as striking goddess cubes unlocks treasure in SS. Like SS, there is a lot of backtracking and a somewhat annoying companion to deal with. These shortcomings aside, Minish Cap also boasts some of the best dungeons in the series much like Skyward Sword. I do think Minish Cap is a fun game and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t one of my favourite games in the 2d series. The Minish ability presents a clever twist on the world within’ a world concept inspired by a Link to the Past. So to break it down: Pros: Art style Minish ability Dungeons Cons: Short Easy Backtracking Final verdict: a solid 8/10.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a satisfying sequel to a great series. The deep story, immersive combat and charming characters make this franchise stand out like no other. Between the Empire of Mor Ardain and the Kingdom of Tantal, I found myself rocking out to one amazing theme song after another. A quick warning, this game is more like the original Xenoblade Chronicles than it’s predecessor Xenoblade Chronicles X, which is to say it is more linear and story focused. That could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preference. Like the first game, the rich landscapes offered in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 take place on the backs of giant Titans. The combat is also similar to the first game with break-topple abilities but improves upon it by adding a status bar that runs down so you can time your attacks with more efficiency, and the combos are just so satisfying to pull off between your teammates. Expect to put anywhere from 100 to 200 hours into this game. Bottom line: In a year where Nintendo released Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the final piece of the triforce that capped **** 2017 for the Switch. If you enjoyed the previous entries in this series, you owe it to yourself to play this wonderful game.
Skyward Sword offers some of the best and worst aspects of modern 3D Zeldas. If you value story telling above gameplay, then Skyward Sword will be one of your favourite games in the Zelda franchise. The story was compelling and the characters had that unique Zelda charm that we’ve come to know and love about the series. The combat (which utilizes the Wii’s motion+ technology) can take some getting used to, but I found myself having fun once I took the time to perform the correct motions. I should add that not all actions felt as natural as others. For example, rolling bombs seemed to require a great deal more precision than pulling back the string on your bow and arrows. Motion controls worked well all things considered, just so long as you remember to recalibrate the controller by swinging your sword vertically with large motions or by entering the menu screen and pressing down. Speaking of the menu, the new item wheel was the most convenient way to swap out weapons on the fly, even better than using a touch screen because once you get accustomed to where your items are located on the wheel, muscle memory naturally guides your motions to the proper selection. I should also add that swimming in Skyward Sword feels great too. After spending roughly 400+ hours playing Breath of the Wild over 2 full playthroughs, it felt nice to go back and revisit Skyward Sword’s more traditional looking dungeons. The sandship was a personal favourite of mine and the lead up to it was just as fun as the dungeon itself. And of course, Nintendo nailed the music in this game as they always do for their AAA titles. With these positives out of the way, it’s time to discuss the negatives. Link is accompanied by a companion whose very existence can annoy even the most patient of gamers. I’m talking of course about Fi, Link’s spirit companion that resides within his sword. At first, Fi seems just like any other companion until you take your first steps towards **** by freedom I mean when the game actually begins, approximately 2 hours after introduction. Fi is not a “bad” companion per se. She’s actually very sweet and she does grow on the player towards the end of the game, if her warning alerts could be disabled that would make it so much easier to appreciate her character. Then we have the collection screen which mysteriously pops up each time Link collects new treasure and if you reset the system, all items collected are treated as “new items“ so the player is once again greeted with a 10 second pause to revisit the collection screen just to remind you that you have 60 amber relics. The good news is that most of these issues can be fixed with a remake. One issue that may be harder to fix is the overworld itself. The sky is barren and there are only 3 areas below the clouds (Forrest, Desert, Volcano) and each of these areas has a sub-area which can only be reached by backtracking. This feels relatively small for a Zelda game even if the areas themselves are quite large. Some of the bosses, like Ghirahim and the Imprisoned, were recycled 3 times over and that does not include the times you’ll spend fighting them in boss rush mode. A completionist will have fought them both 5 times over the course of 1 playthrough. This isn’t a little excessive, this is padding pure and simple. So in conclusion, if you had the patience to read my full review then you will probably enjoy Skyward Sword. It is a great game buried beneath a layer of frustrating decisions that can be easily rectified by an HD remake.
When I saw the title screen with the monado sticking out of the ground along the plains of the Bionis and the beautiful music that accompanied it in the background, something told me that I should savour the moment because I knew at that point I was about to embark on an unforgettable journey. Over the course of the next several months, I wound up putting over 230+ hours into Xenoblade Chronicles. This game is, quite simply, a masterpiece. The story kicks off with the main character narrating an epic flashback of a battle that happened a year earlier and this cinematic sets the tone for the rest of the game. Friendship, loyalty, jealousy and betrayal, are all present in the game’s opening minutes. Nothing feels wasted. Everything is told with purpose to give the player a sense of the world he inhabits along with the war that is being waged. The war is hard to understand for the Homs who inhabit Bionis, and that sense of loss/devastation leads to feelings of animosity which ultimately culminates in the main protagonists quest to put a stop to the war and avenge those they have lost along the way. The characters are relatable yet interesting and the British voice actors did a splendid job conveying their emotions through the characters despite the lips being a tad out of sync. Xenoblade Chronicles takes the jrpg formula into the 21st century with beautiful environments, deep storytelling, huge worlds to explore, a fully orchestrated soundtrack and a fun combat system. Whether you are progressing the main story or rebuilding a fallen colony, there is always something to do or people to help in Xenoblade Chronicles. For these reasons and a host of others, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Xenoblade was my favourite game of all-time. If you are a fan of jrpgs and you are still reading this review...stop whatever you’re doing and go play this game right now!
On the surface, the cast of Danganronpa V3 feels just like any other. The characters range from loveable to obnoxious and the trials themselves function in much the same way as previous games, where the goal is to uncover the killer by collecting and presenting evidence at trial. The problem with V3 stems from the story itself. In previous iterations, the game slowly immersed you into the killing school life as though you were living it side-by-side with the characters, but Spike Chunsoft decided to double down on despair this time by attempting to blend fiction with reality and the end result left me feeling detached from everything I thought I knew and loved about this franchise. I understand what they were going for, and if Danganronpa was a movie perhaps it’s plot wouldn’t be so maligned, but when the objective of advancing a trial involves physically putting the controller down for story progression, that is a line no game should cross. At times it felt, for lack of a better expression, like a massive troll job. Don’t get me wrong, V3 is still a good game worth picking up for any Danganronpa fan. Ultimately, though, I’m not sure it’s worth the emotional investment of the previous games. To each his own.
