Madbeast8

This game at least enters the conversation of greatest of the Metroidvania genre! Gameplay is crisp and precise and makes exploration as smooth as it could be. The upgrades that exlporation/leveling affords are fun and offer interesting ways to access previously inaccessible areas. The graphics are simply stunning, adopting a 2.5D environment that makes this side-scroller feel as though it is a bit more. Boss battles are fun and engaging, and each require a new set of tactics to master. As you build your character's arsenal (especially his armored suit), your character exhibits a level of progression that even Super Metroid did not quite reach. This game is a must-play even if you are not a fan of the genre, but if you are a fan of the genre and you have yet to play this game then your life is about to change...permanently.

This game is the definition of a hidden gem. The Hellenistic art-style is beautifully drawn and makes for excellent immersion into this world of Greek mythology. The combat mechanics can be a bit tough to grasp at first given its unique nature, but the learning curve really is not that steep (although it may seem as such at first). The inventory could be a bit better handled, but it is not unworkable nor does it drastically take away from the experience. The story is both engaging and fitting for the time period, and serves to pull you through the traditional settings of that era (Hades, Athens, Mt. Olympus, etc.). Fighting against the Gods and their twisted creations is as fun as it is gripping. Having gotten platinum on this game, I can tell you that I have seen virtually all that it has to offer and yet I still find myself looking forward to jumping back into this one again at some point in the future. Great side-scrolling platformer!

This is essentially Tomb Raider meets Indiana Jones. Where Tomb Raider has a slightly heavier emphasis on platforming, this would have a heavier emphasis on combat. The cinematics in this game are superb, and there is a cliffhanging moment waiting almost around every turn. High action, high energy, and high levels of fun are the names of this game...a must play for ANY playstation owner with even a passing interest in action/adventure/platformers!

This is a tough nut to crack, initially. Having played both Saints Row 2 and The Third, I went into this one expecting more over the top GTA type affair. So, initially, I didn't know how I felt about my main character essentially being a super hero trapped in the matrix. But then I thought about it...given the way that The Third ends, there really was no other way to go from there but just this sort of lunacy. As an owner of both a 360 and a PS3, I have often said that this game feels like the sequel that Crackdown (a highly underrated release title for the 360) should have had. If you can let go of your expectations and lose yourself in the insanity (which, let's be honest, is at the heart of any Saints Row experience), then what you have is a solid, fun game from start to finish! The leveling elements and power progression really does ramp up in a big way if you do your due diligence and max out your character. You will go from a slightly overpowered Neo-type to a God-like mashup of multiple super heroes. The controls are solid, the open world environment is rich and unique with the new matrix setting, and the bevy of super-powered villains that you must face all make for a fun world to romp through. And nothing beats the first time that you face a Warden... Take this game for what it is, and it is an excellently unique open-world experience that takes an already ridiculous Saints world to a whole new level. However, if you are simply looking for another installment of GTA-gone-wacky, then you will be disappointed.

Having grown up playing fighting games in arcades (Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat II, etc.), this was a gem when first I played it. The balance in this game is what really sets it apart. The characters really do provide a whole spectrum of fighting styles to where there is a character for virtually every play style. Where the combat itself shines is in how this game integrates combos, throws, and reversals to ensure that every usable character has their respective place in the match. The tag aspect adds the potential element of co-op or 4-player vs. mode that only increases the already excellent experience that the base fighting game offers. Simply put, this is fighting game perfection, and for its time I would be hard pressed to find any that could do it all even as well as this game...there is a reason that its impact is enough to warrant me writing this review some 16 years after its release!

The graphics, relatively speaking, were excellent upon its release. The combat in this game was fun and the rewards for exploration and clearing levels appropriately were well worth the effort. It must be said, however, that this game can be simultaneously punishing and **** you die, you start over, and you will die a lot! However, the accomplishment you feel for pushing through yet another level stands a bit taller than most other games, with completing the game (minus cheats, of course) standing high on my list. Definitely worth a look from the bargain bin!

As a long-time fan of RPGs of all sorts, this one turned out to be a hidden gem in the turn-based realm (well, I think round-based would be more accurate...every step/action advances the world around you). This game is certainly a homage to the classics with nods of nostalgia. Moreover, this game does what it attempts to do really well, and provides you with a deep experience with plenty of open-ended decisions to make and careful balancing of levels and skills. There is a general feeling of individuality that grips you as you step through this world with little more than a simple soundtrack and sound effects, but that becomes its charm and helps to establish this lonely journey of discovery that your character is forced to traverse.

Wow, I cannot believe that I am reviewing a game that has now hit the 2-decade mark in age! I suppose I could not let this one go without having anything said about it. Yes, this game is dated. Yes, the graphics were about as simple as a game could be for its time. But I would go as far as to call this game a hidden gem, in that it really placed a unique twist on planetary conquest, settlement management, and battle simulation. Make no mistake, this is a sim game at every level. If management is your thing, there are plenty in terms of scientific development, settlement creation, population management, and military positioning for you to enjoy. For sim fans with an appreciation for nostalgia, this one is definitely worth a look in the bargain bin (I picked my copy up from ****).

With crisp, tight controls and a bevy of upgrades and secrets to find, this game perfectly grasps the nostalgia it reached to obtain. The story line, while simple, is comical and entertaining and yet still provides a solid framework for this fantasy world in a clever and unique way (if the title alone does not tease this element). As a long-time gamer (my first system was the Intellivision), 2D side-scrolling platformers are a large part of my gaming base, and this excellent jaunt down memory lane satisfies that itch from yesteryear while also breathing new life into a genre with strong roots! If you enjoy 2D side-scrolling platformers, this game is a MUST PLAY!

This game is odd in that is does some things incredibly well, and others quite poorly. The combat is smooth and fun, making combos and reversals seamless as long as you are observant and careful. However, after you have made it through a few of the stories it becomes incredibly repetitive as there is little variation of enemies and tactics. The development of the story is also pleasantly **** continuously traverse through a relatively short story (roughly 30 minutes per story) while altering your major decisions to find truth and a happy ending. However, there are 26 variations of those stories set in only 8-10 different areas. So, if you are either a completionist or guess poorly trying to get to the right ending, you will find yourself treading over the same ground repeatedly. Once again, repetition is the downfall here. And finally, while your character can level something like 45 times in the game, you only obtain 4 different swords (one almost immediately), and they only level twice. So your weapons are essentially maxed out long before you come close to maxing your character level, making what little RPG elements (in terms of leveling and character progression) feel quite barren. When it works, it can be a fun little distraction resting between larger more immersive gaming experiences. However, with some more depth and variation across the board, this game could easily be a standout and a must play for fans of that Zelda-style action/adventure game.

A solid argument could be made for this being the greatest game in the Metroidvania genre, depending of course on your personal tastes. All of the necessary elements exist for this to fit the mold: procedural advancement via upgrades/abilities, immersive side-scrolling experience, and rewarding exploration. What sets this game apart from its predecessors, however, is how well it improved upon some key elements of the experience. The in-game map might be the best that I have ever seen in a game of this genre, being detailed enough to be usable without spoiling the "right answer" when searching for those hard-to-reach secrets. The environment is not only gorgeous, but also immersive in what could really be termed 2.5D. And finally, the added abilities (especially the foam) bring to bear interesting and unique ways to access previously inaccessible areas of the game. With all of the right notes struck on this one and a fun combat system based on precision with solid controls, this is a MUST PLAY game if you have any love for the Metroidvania genre!