ND-Bringer

I think Jak and Daxter is a remarkable platformer. I’ll admit, while Naughty Dog is mostly well known for making Crash Bandicoot and the Last of Us, I think Jak and Daxter is their magnum opus. I've never been drawn to a game this quickly before, but Jak and Daxter has that secret sauce. It has everything I love about great platformers. It’s got likable characters, engaging lore, a catchy soundtrack, but most importantly a thematically rich environment. If you were to ask me who my favorite character in the game was, I’d say it was the island itself. I absolute adore how every single level in this game connects in a natural and organic way. With most platformers at the time, you would have to go through a loading screen. But here, you can just walk into them. It might not seem like much, but little touches like these make Jak and Daxter feel less like a video game, and more like a living and breathing environment. This game is also packed with great visual storytelling. From broken robots to corrupted animals, you can learn a lot about this world just by admiring all the set pieces. I remember when I started playing the game, I didn’t find the villains too threatening. But once I got to the Spider Caves and noticed all of the Lurkers mining for Dark Eco, I started to get really nervous. Gol and Maia were dead set on harvesting all of this ancient technology and were on the verge of conquering the world. It’s not that the game is super difficult or anything. It’s just that, because everything has so much personality, it makes me feel like Daxter is sitting on my shoulder. I’ll admit, I don’t think Jak is a super interesting character in this game. But I get why he was designed to be a mute in the first game. He has the same reactions most people have playing this game for the first time. Making it a lot easier to put yourself in his shoes. It’s a great start to a great trilogy, what else can I say? I enjoyed this game so much, I ended up earning one hundred completion on my profile. It’s a dynamic platformer and it’s easily one of the greatest games I’ve ever played.

You like Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee? Well, here’s another pair of Kanto games. I’ll admit, while I was happy to see Pokemon FRLG on the eShop, the timing was a little odd. We haven’t had a mainline series game release on the eShop since 2018. Most would assume Nintendo would release all of the Gameboy titles on the Switch, seeing how Pokemon has had such a huge influence on the world. And you’d be mistaken. GameFreak has an unhealthy obsession with the past, so it looks like we won’t be seeing Pokemon Emerald anytime soon. Setting aside my gripes with Nintendo, this is pretty solid port. It runs really well, you can save the progress in milliseconds, the colors look fantastic. I’ve haven’t seen a Pokemon game look this good since Mystery Dungeon DX. It may be an odd release, but it’s also the best way to experience Pokemon FRLG right now.

I think most people can agree that Sonic Colors was one of the biggest turning points in the franchise. Like most platformer mascots, Sonic has had a lot of jarring transformations over the years. But what kept him intact was the impact he left in the 90’s and early 2000’s never truly faded away. Even with a string of failed games, people couldn’t get of his charm. The speed, the snarky attitude, the rebellious demeanor. A lot of that charm still resonates with people to this day. It’s amazing to see how much of an impact he has on the world today. Which brings up arguably, the biggest issue I have with Sonic Colors, a lot of that charm isn’t represented here. While the game itself is really fun, the cutscenes are littered with some of the worst writing in the entire franchise. Actively working against the story, rather than supporting it. While I’m not against the idea of having a more laid back story for a Sonic game, I found a lot of the dialogue in this game to be pretty flat. Barely adding any real tension or comedy to the story. I really like the entire concept of Sonic saving aliens from an interstellar amusement park. But because the characters kept cracking bad jokes every ten seconds, I didn’t really feel satisfied after beating the game. Other than that though. The controls are alright, the visuals are amazing, the music is spectacular, it has everything you would want to see in a Sonic game. It may not be an amazing platformer, but it’s a pretty good platformer.

I think it’s safe to say that if Super Mario Galaxy is a staple of the Nintendo Wii, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the underrated gem lost within the sand of time. Make no mistake, I think this game is really well designed. The controls are tighter, the new levels are super creative, the new power-ups are fun, the pacing is tighter, it’s not just a copy paste job. This feels like a proper expansion of Super Mario Galaxy. It may be the same engine, but it’s definitely not the same game. With that being said, I’m not a huge fan of the story. Unlike the last game, their’s no super dramatic cutscene showing off how terrifying Bowser has become. Meteors crashing, Mario rushing to save Peach, castles being ripped out of the Earth, it was one coolest intros I had ever seen. Here though, Bowser just gets big, rampages for a minute, and then just runs away with Peach. Not even swinging a punch at Mario, that’s pretty lame. It doesn’t ruin the game or anything like that. I personally just don’t find Giant Bowser to be that intimidating. After seeing him get really big in a dozen other Mario games, it’s practically become a cliche at this point. And dampens the whole experience for me. Why are your son’s boss fights better than yours? With that being said, I really like the new hub area. The Comet Observatory will always be iconic, I won’t deny that. But Starship Mario is one of the best set pieces of the game. Not only does it have great design, but I really like that all of the aliens you meet on your journey eventually end up joining your crew. It adds a really nice sense of progression. Personally, I think Super Mario Galaxy 1 is a thematically more interesting game. While Super Mario Galaxy 2 has the better level design. I know most people claim this game is just “more of the same”. But in actuality, it’s just more Super Galaxy. Brand new worlds to explore, brand new aliens, brand new bosses, it’s what a proper sequel does. It takes what worked in the last installment and expands upon it. Check it out when you got a chance, it’s a great time.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

During the early to late 2000’s, Pokemon fans were graced with the Nintendo DS. An amazing console that would eventually house some of the greatest Pokemon games of all time. Pokemon Platinum, Pokemon HGSS, Pokemon Black and White, these were easily some of the biggest hits in the franchise. However, before the golden age of Pokemon got started, the franchise was stuck in a really awkward phase. Nintendo was teasing Diamond and Pearl for what felt like eons. Releasing odd spinoff after odd spinoff, until the production was complete. Pokemon Dash, Pokemon Channel, Pokemon Trozei, sweet Arceus stop. Are we going to get any real Pokemon games for once? And then like magic, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon was born. Admittedly, while this isn’t my favorite game in the franchise, it did the lay the groundwork for what would become one of my all time favorite games, Explorers of Time and Darkness. And to be fair, for a first time entry, this game is really well designed. Having a concept as cool as turning into a Pokemon is one thing, but having up to 16 different Pokemon to select as your avatar adds a ton of replayability. Making what is essentially a Pokemon themed dungeon crawler, into a super thrilling isekai. Well, for the most part. Mechanically, this game is fine, but the main story does not take very long to complete. So unless you have a pair of nostalgia goggles, it’s tricky to form a huge attachment with this game, because frankly, it feels more like a video game than a living, breathing environment. Almost every dungeon in the game follows a repetitive gimmick, where upon reaching the end of the stage, you’ll face a Legendary Pokemon in a glorified boss fight. Which sounds cool at first, but because they’re used so frequently, they start to come across as regular Pokemon that just happen to be in a bad mood. Even when this game shows its age with the more restrictive commands, I think its real issues stem from the lack of interesting set pieces. The Sky Tower is pretty cool, but it’s mostly due to having the most visually interesting design in the game. Everything else seems to run on the New Super Mario Brothers formula. Personally, I think this game is good. But because the sequel is great, I only really revisit this game for Generation 3 Nostalgia.

Well, that was terrible. While I’ve definitely played worse platformers in my day, the failure that this Ghostly Adventures reboot spawned should be jotted down in history books. It’s a perfect example of what not to do when designing a reboot. From the character design, to the world building, it’s almost impressive how much these developers misunderstood the point of Pac-Man’s character In this brand new adventure, the evil Lord Betrayus, (yes that’s his actual name) is causing havoc in Pac-World. And it’s up to Pac-Man to stop him. And if you weren’t sold on that weak as hell premise, this game is going to put you to sleep. Because my God, I think New Super Mario Brothers had a more interesting plot. It’s strange, for a game that was designed to tie-in with a TV show, there are barely any nods or references to said show. Aside from the enemies and the power-ups, a lot of the elements from the animated series are rarely used here. Even Pac-Man’s friends, despite having a lot of screen time in the show, only exist here to deliver exposition and say bad one liners. Which is shame, because I usually really like video games that have a TV show tie-in. It’s not like the show was amazing, but if the game was at least designed in a way to feel like a special episode from the show, I would enjoy it a heck of a lot more. As is, it feels more like a Super Mario Galaxy knockoff, than a Pac-Man game. I’m not against the idea of Pac-Man having his own power-up system. But Christ, these design choices are shameless. Fire-Pac, Ice-Pac, Granite Ball-Pac, these are just copied elements from Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2. This big revival is nothing more than a sham to copy Mario’s success. I personally wouldn’t mind if these elements were copied well, but despite taking a lot of mechanics from Super Mario Galaxy, the developers didn’t copy the polish from Super Mario Galaxy. The controls aren’t terrible, but they're pretty flat. It feels more like I'm controlling a puppet that’s pretending to be Pac-Man, rather than Pac-Man himself. And with his new design consisting of creepy teeth and uncanny mouth movements, he looks a lot more like Toc-Man than Pac-Man. I hated watching him belch out all of the ghost eye balls after completing each level. And don’t know who this yellow gremlin is, but he’s definitely not Pac-Man. Okay, so this game is really bad. But are there any positives I can take way from it? Well, I will say as uncanny as Pac-Man’s design is, I think the enemy design is pretty solid. I really like the jellyfish-like designs the ghosts have. The glowing eyes, the body language, it all feels right. Ironically, I found the ghosts to be far more interesting than Pac-Man in the TV show. And while their is a multiplayer mode that let’s you play as Blinky, Inky, Pinky, and Clyde. It’s pretty cheaply designed and it feels like something that was added at the last minute just so the developers could sell a multiplayer on the back of the box. It’s not the worst game in the world, but it’s a really mediocre reboot.

Kirby has certainly had a wild career over the years. When his likeness isn’t being used to promote Nintendo’s more random game concepts, we get these certified bangers that in my opinion, are definitely among the greatest platformers you can find on the console. He’s more than you think, he’s got maximum pink, and frankly, I had a blast playing through this game. The story centers around Kirby going about his normal business. Until suddenly, a mysterious vortex appears in the sky, transporting him and all of his friends into another world. A planet devoid of human life, that was now ruled by beasts, the forgotten land. Working together with his new friend Elfilin, he vows to find all of his missing friends, and figure out who was responsible for sending him and Dreamland’s residents to this mysterious planet. What I like about this new adventure is that it doesn’t feel like a rehashing of past Kirby games like Star Allies. A game that wasn’t bad, but wasn’t groundbreaking either. I personally wanted to see more of that ingenious creativity the developers has with Triple Deluxe and Planet Robobot. And that’s definitely what I got here. Not only is the first 3-D Kirby platformer, but we also get a fresh set-up with Kirby exploring a post-apocalyptic environment. And even though their are plenty of returning mechanics, like Kirby’s classic copy abilities, their are plenty of new mechanics like Mouth-Full Mode, that keeps the adventure fresh returning players. It’s essentially this game’s equivalent of Ultra Sword Kirby. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t completely sold on the new mechanics at first. But after seeing all the creativity that went into the Mouth-Full Mode puzzles and the awesome dodge mechanics, I pretty much having the time of my life. And what makes it even better is that the levels are designed in a way to make the entire world feel like a living and breathing environment. The camera is always positioned in way that lets you take in the entire view of the city. Adding a real sense of scale to the journey and making everything look and feel gigantic. I especially love how the camera is used during boss fights. Giving players plenty of room to see, but also never working against them. Kirby will only take damage if the camera is seen taking touching hazardous attacks. So it is virtually impossible for Kirby to take damage from any off screen attacks. Brilliant, simply brilliant. I was already a big fan of the Beast Pack boss fights, but that’s just the cherry on top. You couldn’t how happy I was to discover this detail. I played way too many 3-D platformers that skip out design choices like this. So I’m really happy to discover that HAL Laboratory makes it their personal business to erase insecurities like that. How great is this game exactly? This is one of the few Kirby games to have a hub area that grows bigger the more Waddle Dees you rescue. And one of the additions you can unlock is a Waddle Dee rock band acting as the sound test. Oh my god, this game is too adorable. Well at least it would be, if not for the climax. I still really appreciate that these games have a perfect balance of cute and creepy moments. I won’t go into spoilers, but the final level is terrifying. If I hadn’t made it abundantly clear. This game is awesome. Check it out if you have the chance. I highly recommend it.

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally arrived. Inazuma Eleven Victory Road, the fourth generation of Inazuma Eleven. It's big, it's bold, it's beautiful. But it's not without its shortcomings. Much like Mario and Luigi Brothership, it's a game that’s designed to revive a thought to be dead franchise. And while I personally think it succeeds in that regard, I don’t think it's the best game in the franchise. Content wise, it’s incredible. The new battle mechanics are amazing. It’s like the developers combined the best elements from the DS games with the best elements from the Wii games. Even when I’m playing a casual match against Royal Academy, I’m having the time of my life. Whether you're dribbling, stealing, taking a shot, or saving it always feels like you have million different options to find success. Whether it be an emergency pass or surprise attack volley shot, this game gives you a ton of freedom whenever you need to dictate the pace of the match. But pacing wise, I feel like the game could’ve used a bit more foresight. It took me about 30 hours to beat the story mode. And weirdly enough, it wasn’t the story itself that hurt the pacing. I found a lot of the new characters to be super likable. Destin Billows entire journey to reclaim his passion for soccer is simply sensational. A soccer genius who can’t play soccer thanks to his heart condition. Leading him to becoming the secret weapon of South Cirrus Middle School. It’s an extremely engaging narrative. Only problem is, the game is plagued with an abundance of bland mini games, that ultimately add a lot of unnecessary fluff to the experience. Unlike the other games, you can’t participate in any random encounters in order to gain experience points. Those awesome soccer battles that allowed you to practice your new techniques and level up your players pre-match, completely gone. You now have to earn experience by playing rock-paper-scissors with a bunch of sketchy adults. Joy to the world, this new battle mode is so boring. Technically you can still participate in 5-on-5 matches, but there are no missions to complete this time around. So instead of ending the battle in a few seconds with a perfectly timed goal, you have to wait for the entire battle to end. The story may be great, but it moves at a snail’s pace. Look up any playthroughs of this game and you’ll spot a million fans playing Chronicle Mode. I really hope the sequel cuts out these mini games entirely. Because between the annoying final battle and Addison Norris being the lamest villain in the series, these pointless additions bogged down the entire experience for me. At the end of the day, I did really enjoy this game, but I think these weaker elements were holding Victory Road back from being a masterpiece.

If I'm being completely honest, I forgot this game even existed. I mean, it's been almost sixteen years and we still haven't gotten a new Pokemon Ranger game. Though I guess I'm not surprised seeing how both sequels made less money than the original. I'll admit, as charming as the game is, the majority of the adventure just feels like another Pokemon game. The villains are wacky, the environments are colorful, and the lore is interesting, but for the most part, it's stuff I've already seen in other Pokemon games. The only real difference is that I'm capturing Pokemon with rings instead of balls. Unlike Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, which expressed a lot of creativity through its world building and storytelling, Pokémon Ranger has really predictable story that could've used a few rewrites. I liked a lot of the characters, but the twist villains were way too obvious. I really wish the climax had a bit more oomph to it. I'll be honest though, when I discovered that one of the missions in this game was teaching at the school I graduated from, it was really heartwarming. I really like the sense of progression you get after the early game is finished. Any levels that involve rescuing Pokemon or people in danger, I usually really enjoy. I don't think this game is amazing or anything, especially with how repetitive the post game gets, but their's definitely a lot of charm here. I found most of the puzzles and challenges to be really fun. That is until I unlocked Poke Assist Steel, which essentially removed almost all of the challenge from the main story. The final boss was a complete pushover I'm sad to say. Didn't stop me from enjoying the game though. Honestly, I much rather play cute games like this, than spend my life savings on overpriced Switch 2 games.

Pokemon Legends Z-A is easily one of the most divisive games of the season. Overpriced DLC, a surprising lack of extra content, repetitive gameplay, it's a game that can easily rub people the wrong way. I will admit though, I actually had a really good time playing this game. For the most part, it felt like Pokemon's take on Battle City from the Yu-Gi-Oh anime. And being the Yu-Gi-Oh fan I am, I had a blast crushing all the Pokemon trainers in the tournament. I love that you can ambush trainers at night. I love the trash talk between your avatar and the boss trainers. And best of all, I'm really happy that all of the strongest trainers in Lumiose use Mega Evolution. One of my biggest issues with Pokemon X and Y is that only a handful of trainers would use Mega Evolution. The biggest selling point of Generation 6, always felt underutilized. Well I'm happy to say, that's not issue here. Not only is there a ton of new and returning Mega Pokemon, but now they actually serve a purpose. For better or worse. I'm not a huge fan of the Rogue Mega Pokemon fights. If you ask me, they're the only real repetitive thing about this game. The story is fun, the Z-A Royale is fun, catching Pokemon is fun, but the Rogue Pokemon fights, are the bane of my existence. Much like the night stages of Sonic Unleashed, they drag on for way too long, they all feel the same, their are way too many of them, and they feel like filler design to pad out the length of the game. But once those are out of the way, it feels really good to just wander around Lumiose City. I mean, the fact you can just catch wild bird Pokemon sitting on rooftops gives me one of the most realistic depictions of the Pokemon world. I may not be able to explore outside of the city, but thanks to the wild zones, and added element of having rare Pokemon live in hidden parts of the city, it makes me feel like I'm exploring the Kalos region, while competing in the tournament. Ultimately, I don't think it's worth buying the Switch 2 version of this game. The story is good, but it's not breathtaking, especially when you get to the underwhelming climax, which I won't spoil. The gameplay isn't consistently great thanks to the repetitive Mega Pokemon fights. And the fact that Game Freak had announced pricey DLC before this game even released, just goes to show how greedy Nintendo has become nowadays. This ain't no Donkey Kong Bananza, I don't think this game is really pushing the power of the Switch 2, or even the Switch 1 for that matter. Though as someone who was never a big fan of Gen 6 or the Kalos region for that matter, I definitely prefer to play this game over the boring, unfinished mess that was X and Y.

I feel like most people going into this expect this to be the jack of all trades of Dragon Ball games. With the open world setting, all of the unique combat mechanics, and seemingly endless extra content, you'd think this game would be the talk of the town, at least with anime fans. But behind all of that flash, lies an unpolished and sometimes boring action RPG. Despite a lot of thought being put into the battle system, I never felt a sense of dread during any of the boss fights. Because it's so easy to buy healing items in bulk, I was basically guaranteed to win every encounter, as long as avoided taking too much damage, and I was playing this game on hard difficulty for my entire play through. Seriously, by the time I unlocked Vegeta's "Big Bang Attack", even the secret boss fights proved to be pushovers. I can't believe this game was teen rated. This game makes PokePark look challenging. On top of that, despite this game covering the events of the legendary Dragon Ball Z manga, a story famous for it's dramatic and engaging fight scenes, I found the build up to the boss fights to be pretty weak. While the cutscenes within the boss fights look pretty awesome, the cutscenes leading up to the encounters are really weak. Consisting mostly of static 3D models barely showing any body language or unique expressions. I'm a big fan of the original story, so I was disappointed to discover that about seventy percent of this game was littered with these ugly transitions. And to make matters worse, all of the blood and gore from the original story, had been censored. Really dampening the drama in the more intense portions of the adventure. Xenoverse 2 came out four years prior and had far more engaging cutscenes utilizing blood and big expressions, so what's going on here? Why does it look like this game is half asleep? I think the most enjoyment players will get out of this, will be from freely exploring the open world and just goofing off. Because is no Kingdom Hearts. Not an awful game by any means, but I definitely had a lot more fun playing Xenoverse 2.

Mario Kart World is one of the first games to be added into the Switch 2's library, following the massive success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. And I got to say, for a game designed to be a successor, it's pretty undercooked. The game isn't bad, but it doesn't feel big. And for one of the most expensive games in the franchise, that's a bit of a disappointment. I am expecting DLC to arrive in the future, but going from a game that had up to 96 tracks to a game that only has 30 tracks is a massive downgrade. And it stings even more when you realize 8 Deluxe combined with Booster Pass DLC is the same price as World. While I like a lot of the new tracks, I never fell in love with any of them. Mainly because they weren't relatable. One of my favorite aspects of Mario Kart DS is that most of the levels were heavily inspired by Super Mario 64 DS, like Tick Tock Clock. Giving me an entirely new way to explore them. I didn't really care about exploring these new tracks because they didn't resemble any of the worlds I explored in Odyssey or Super Mario Brothers Wonder. An original idea doesn't automatically make it a good idea. Much like Boo Cinema. Sure the idea of a Boo Movie Theater sounds cool, but couldn't you do more than just have a creepy film reel to race on? Can't it be more like Studiopolis Zone and have popcorn fly all over the place? It feels like I'm forced to eat a steak without a glass of wine. It doesn't matter how great one element of the game feels, you need to balance it out with a lot of other great things to generate organic satisfaction. I like the new karts, I like the new characters, the new driving mechanics are fun, but whenever it feels like I'm about to get into the zone, something always seems to be holding back my satisfaction. Rainbow Road is back you say? When did it leave?

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

While this game has gotten a lot of praise over the years, it's received just as much backlash. And after playing the game for almost thirty hours it's not hard to see why. Thematically, the game has a ton of charm, with well animated cutscenes, great sound design, sprite work, and plenty of ambitious game design. Even with its flaws, DK 64 had so much personality that many of its iconic elements would be carried on to future Donkey Kong games. Like Diddy Kong's Jet Pack and Donkey Kong's Bongos. Is it enough to excuse the poor level design? No, but it was interesting to learn about the positive impact this game had on people, despite at times being very frustrating. As a collectathon, the game can be pretty enjoyable with plenty of secret areas to explore and puzzles to solve. Most of the time, feeling like a slower paced Super Mario 64. It's very satisfying to collect Golden Bananas and explore every nook and cranny of the world. Unfortunately, most of these Golden Bananas are hidden behind bland mini games that really hurt the pacing of the main adventure. Slot machines, tricky vehicle sections, stealth, the list goes on. I don't mind variety, but platforming should be the main focus. This Donkey Kong not Raving Rabbids, why can't I just run around and explore the world? I gave the game a chance and I kept playing up until Level 8, Hideout Helm. Easily the worst level in the game. I figured that if the majority of the game was mini games, maybe finally, I'd get to play a level that was nothing but raw platforming. But no, their's more mini games to complete. With a stressful time limit to boot. If you can't beat all of the mini games in time, it's an automatic game over. And even if you manage to win, you have to complete both the original Donkey Kong arcade game and the Jetpac Arcade game in order to press on. It's not fun, the Jetpac game isn't too tricky but the classic Donkey Kong game requires to beat all of the levels on a single life. I wouldn't mind if these mini games were quick distractions, but requirements to beat the game? This is unacceptable. It's a shame, because the final boss fight is really well designed. I won't go into spoilers, but out of all the King Kong. Rool fights, it's easily the best one. If you can find the game for a cheap on virtual console, you might have a good time playing through Jungle Japes, since it has a large focus on platforming. But as for the rest of the game, it's got way more negatives than positives. I'm still a huge Donkey Kong Country fan, but when it comes to designing 3-D platformers, I think Rareware did a far better job designing Banjo-Kazooie. If you're a big Rareware fan, I suggest seeking out that game instead.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

WarioWare Get it Together is honestly just another WarioWare game. It's not bad game by any means, but it's a bit of a downgrade compared to WarioWare Gold. With a pretty basic story and gameplay that solely focuses on button-mashing micro games, it's like a pizza without any toppings. On its own, it's still good, but because it's following a great game that just released two years prior, I was expecting a little more personality. Nitpicking aside though, WarioWare is still really fun, and I had a blast soaking up the insanity. I won't reveal what the true ending is, but fans are in for a really heartwarming surprise. The final character to unlock is a face I was really glad to see. I may not be the best game in the series, but it's still a really fun time.

So while most of the Yu-Gi-Oh games I own range from trash to somewhat tolerable, Duel Links is definitely among the upper crust. I can't go as far and say everything works, but as free to play card games go, Duel Links is definitely among the best. With high quality animations, over a thousand cards to collect, and plenty of unique events to shake up the gameplay. You will never get bored when playing this game. It's the ideal Yu-Gi-Oh experience, until you begin online play that is. Whenever I start to turn away from this game for a while it's usually because of an unfair tournament. I put in a lot of time and effort into perfecting my strategies and somehow I'm never allowed to move past the first stage. Despite defeating over a hundred duelists in the September 2024 KC Cup, the game declared me to be "not good enough" to enter the next stage. And I swear I did not use any broken skills or overpowered cards to earn my victories, I was winning with a War Rock Deck mixed in with Gouki Warriors. I wanted to winning using my own unique style of dueling using my Earth Warriors. But compared to the invincible Lyrilusc Winged Beast Deck, I didn't stand a chance most of the time. With almost every single player utilizing the same broken strategies and relying on powerful skills to earn their victories, it was the first time I felt boredom playing this game. Fighting computer opponents and playing as your favorite characters from the anime is a lot of fun. But online play has sadly lost its charm over the years due to power creep. Nowadays I only participate in tournaments a few times a day to collect participation gems, because they no longer bring me joy. And it gets worse if your opponent decides to spend an hour figuring out their next turn or a bad signal starts jamming up the game. Which is a real shame, because I think the developers did a fantastic job designing the battle mechanics. Personally, I don't think the online play warrants all the hate going towards this game. More recently Yu-Gi-Oh has gone through a bit of an embarrassing phase ever since the Sevens anime was released. At a time where everyone was expecting to see a remake of the original anime. So most of the time it feels like the fanbase is stuck in the past when trying to search for quality from this franchise. But not in the sense where they're not willing to try new things, but rather because the new Rush Duel battle isn't as interesting as the original battle system. I've actually watched the Sevens anime and enjoyed most of the story, but the battle system it's attached to needed way more bells and whistles to compete with its predecessor. I like the option to Rush Duel, but I'm not exactly keen to play most of the events. I'm not sure if this game will get better or worse over time, but if it's still around I will keep returning to it. I like playing as my favorite characters from the show and beating up the characters I don't like. I'm a terrible person. But if Konami wants to reel in new players, I suggest releasing a new Yu-Gi-Oh anime that introduces a new summoning method or maybe adds a new spin on field spells to shake up the gameplay. Freedom is an essential element of game design. And by encouraging players to experiment with new strategies, it adds way more flavor to the gameplay. Heck, my favorite way to play is to build decks that have access to every summoning method similar decks from Yu-Gi-Oh Arc-V and Vrains. Yes, good things came from those shows aside from the boring villains and the endless recap episodes. So I recommend you play this game casually, because competitively this game is a train wreck. Much like the Superdreadnought Rail Cannon that keeps wrecking me during online play.

I found this game to be pretty boring compared to Dragon Quest 8. Without any interesting characters to interact or travel with, I stopped playing after defeating Robbin' 'Ood. I really wish the remake added some more personality to the story. Granted, this was my first time playing an RPG like this, so if I return to the game someday and up really enjoying the rest of the adventure, I'll give this game a much higher score.

With the series getting more attention recently, I decided to take a look back at the Inazuma Eleven trilogy. A trilogy that still to this day, holds a special place in my heart. I didn't think it was possible for anyone to take a Football RPG so seriously, but these games proved me wrong in every possible avenue. It's got engaging gameplay, great storytelling, and a ton of adrenaline fueled action. See this isn't your typical RPG where everything is determined with turn-based battles or quick sword strikes. This is a touch screen based sports game where command players using the stylus. Drawing lines to organize attacks and tapping teammates to pass the ball. But it's no barebones system mind you. Mere touch screen doodling alone will not win the day. For players can still move automatically in preparation for the next attack. So while you're controlling individual players, the rest of team will move alongside you, just in case you need backup. And the better their stats are, the more freedom you'll have controlling the match. Kick will increase shot power, Body will increase dribbling power, Control will prevent you from losing the ball, Guard helps you steal, Speed helps you move faster, Stamina will prevent you from losing too much energy, and Guts helps you intercept passes. And some even have multiple uses. Like the Guard Stat allowing goalkeepers to save shots easier and the Control Stat allowing players to use powerful Control Shots that act as nice alternative to basic shots. And by regularly raising all of these stats and collecting powerful equipment, you can easily tip the scales and easily topple the strongest opponents in tournament. The growth rate may be slow at first, but the payoff is more than worth it. It's a nice running theme within the story. Special Moves like Fire Tornado are fun to use, but planning powerful formations and tactics will offer you far more freedom than fancy strikes. Don't just think about using one special move to win the day. Even if the keeper saves the ball, you can command your players to steal from the nearby defenders, and keep striking until they run out of energy. Placing players with matching elements to increase your power in command duels for the ball. And hitting the elemental weakness of a player can allow even the smallest warriors to topple the giants. This is something I really enjoy about these games. The story regularly encourages players to break limits and find new ways to improve themselves. So even if you're struggling with the game at first, by simply taking the time to experiment with the touch screen commands and covering your players weaknesses by teaching them both dribbling and blocking special moves, you make any impossible fight more than possible to win. I'm not lying when I say this game gets better every time I play it. Especially with the engaging and thrilling story centered around a football obsessed captain learning how to turn his team of underdogs into national champions. However, as much as I love the gameplay, I do have some issues with the level design. While the matches that take place at the end of each chapter are really fun, the levels leading up to them are way too short. There's much to explore in this game aside from the school, the town, and the Flash Training Facility. And while overtime, treasure chests will appear in old areas the further you get into the game. The exploration overall can get really boring during the late game. Mr. Raimon is telling me to defeat Zeus using the power of the town, but the town itself hasn't left much of an impact on me. The post game content is also severely lacking quality. Or "quantity" so to speak. In the Europe ports of this game there are multiple teams to take on in the Extra Competition Route. But in the American port I own, all you can do is challenge Fallen Zeus. And while they may appear invincible, I actually managed to find a loophole that allows you to defat them without having to spend hours grinding. Just keep raising your stats in moderation in the Flash Training Facility and equip your strikers with the the best boots in the game, so that their Kick and Control stats are strong enough to pierce Poseidon's Guard Stat. It took me seventeen hours to beat this game and defeat the true final boss. And I would be upset for the game ending so soon, but with the sequels fixing all of the problems I mentioned earlier, it just makes me excited to revisit the other games. This game may have some obvious flaws, but it's still a really good time.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Growing up with the show, I decided to try out the video game tie-in for the Nintendo Wii. And as Batman games go, this one ain't half bad. It's a 2-D beat 'em up that combines minor platforming with energetic combat to create a fast paced and thrilling experience. That is, if you treat the game more like a relaxing romp rather than an ultimate challenge. Because while there is ton of polish put into the theming and the combat system, the overall adventure is pretty easy. There are little to no consequences for dying, as you'll simply lose cash for upgrades after respawning. Though it doesn't get any better during the boss fights, because you can't even collect money in those levels. There is not a smidge of difficulty to be found. You can be as reckless as you want and still win the day. Despite the Batman possessing a solid move set and plenty of powerful weapons to unlock, the game is ridiculously forgiving, to the point that it makes PokePark look like Dark Souls. But you set those disappointments aside, you'll begin to notice how relaxing it is to play this game. Their's full voice acting and smooth animation, to make you feel like you're watching an episode from the show. You can summon other DC heroes to tear up the battlefield when you're swarmed by enemies. The level design has plenty of variety from big cities to alien planets. And plenty of secret treasure vaults to unlock by returning to previous levels with new gadgets. It may not be grand adventure, but it's a pretty good time. It feels good to crush hundreds of enemies after a stressful day. I recommend this game to those who are looking for a nice, feel good superhero adventure.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Don't adjust your mirrors, this is really happening guys. The Paper Mario series is finally getting the respect it deserves with a fully fleshed out Nintendo Switch Remake of the Thousand Year Door. It's not Sticker Star and it's beautiful. I'll be honest when Origami King was first released, I was delighted but concerned for the future of this series. The game itself was fun, but its creativity was held back by its limited world building consisting of a legitimate paper universe. I personally didn't enjoy Sticker Star or Color Splash due to its frustrating game design, but because those adventures also lacked engaging stories, it was like the heart of the series was removed. So I'm hoping that following the release of this game, there is a brighter future for the Super Mario Role Playing Game series. Because if there is a better reminder of how awesome these games can be, it's definitely the Thousand Year Door. It's the perfect treasure hunt adventure where Mario and his new friends have to race across the land to gather the mythical Crystal Stars, while butting heads with the sinister forces of Bowser and Sir Grodus. Well at least narratively, because in the original version you were forced to backtrack through multiple levels in order to progress, that personally stopped me from seeing the game as a masterpiece. But with additions such a pipe in Creepy Steeple that can warp you back to Twilight Town and an upgraded sewer fast travel system, annoying backtracking is no longer an issue in this game. And with new sprites to make the cutscenes more engaging and two brand new bosses to fight, this remake is more than worth your time.

Believe it or not, there was a time where Kirby was close to fading into obscurity. While spin off games and handheld adventures were released every once in a while, for about eleven years, a traditional Kirby adventure was no where to be found on the GameCube or the Wii. So when Return to Dreamland released, the fanbase not only responded with a sigh of relief, but also a roar of applause. For this game not only put Kirby back into the spotlight, but it also helped the series evolve to even greater heights. Out of all the 2-D platformers I've played on this system, I think Return to the Dream Land is the cream of the crop. Not that the other games are bad, but throughout the whole adventure, I never felt frustrated. Whenever I lost a life or had to retry a challenge, it never felt unfair. The world itself was so engaging and satisfying to explore, that all I could do was laugh. I never thought that as simple adventure about helping an alien repair a spaceship could be so enjoyable. The opening of this game, while short, is narrated without words. Relying on the orchestra and the body language of the characters to tell you everything you need to know, before throwing you straight into the adventure. It gets straight to the point and sets up the ideal tone to pair with the adventure. Starting off relaxing and carefree, while also creating an interesting mystery about could have possibly damaged the Starship so severely. And while I won't go into the spoilers, it should be easy to figure out if you notice all the returning elements from Kirby Superstar. Though detailed lore was provided by the developers, if you're interested in learning more. Speaking of Superstar, this game feels like a proper sequel to that game's strengths. Giving Kirby's copy abilities larger move sets, bringing back the Arena Mode to add extra challenge to the post game, some secret bosses, and plenty of hidden objects to find. But at the same time, there are plenty of new mechanics and designs keep things feeling fresh throughout the whole adventure. I especially love the Ultra abilities that are used to tear up the remaining rooms of some of the levels. Except for Flare Beam. I really hope that the controls for that ability are fixed in the Switch remake. Their not awful, its just that everything else in the game feels so smooth that they stand out like a weed in a bed of flowers. Overall, I highly recommend you check out this game. Though I think you should seek out the Switch version if you have the option. That version has even more extra content and better looking graphics. And while this game does look really good too, I would say the only real advantage is has is that shaking the Wii remote to deal damage to enemies and bosses with some of the Ultra abilities gives you a huge boost of adrenaline. And it's a really satisfying way to wrap up levels. Whatever happens in this cream puff in the future, it makes me happy to know that he was able to make his grand return to the spotlight not just in style, but also with prowess.

During my nostalgia trip to the classic age of SpongeBob, I was trying to remember what the series meant to me personally. Was it a hilarious show? Was it a cash grab that had long passed its prime? Or was it a distraction for young children? These were questions that I assume cycled through the developers' minds on a daily basis. Adapting a family friendly into a platformer is an easy feet. But creating an incredibly enjoyable platformer that manages to capture the atmosphere and overall tone of the show, requires true dedication. While I wouldn't go as far and say it's a masterpiece. It did set a good example for future license game developers to put more effort into there craft. Not only did this game sell over a million copies, but it also received a remake years later on all modern consoles. Boasting countless, well researched references from the show and surprisingly intelligent game design, it became a force to reckoned with among the ranks of giants like Mario and Sonic. Though looking back, I'm surprised Nickelodeon never made a special to tie in with one of there most well known games. When you think of all the comedic possibilities that could come from an episode where SpongeBob and his friends have to fight armies of goofy robot clones attacking Bikini Bottom, its makes question the importance of that lackluster Truth of Square special. Because in this adventure, you get to swing around and make crazy long jumps using Sandy's lasso. Demolish waves robots using SpongeBob's bubble themed attacks. Toss ice fruit as Patrick to freeze entire lakes in order to find secret collectibles. The creativity is spread like fine jam over sourdough. And with full voice acting from all your perfectly rated and underrated characters, it feels ands sounds like a regular SpongeBob adventure. It took me back to popping in my favorite disks and watching marathons of episodes with my sisters on Friday nights. Seeing insanity unfold with an underwater theme brought a great deal of joy in my childhood. And counting all those Easter Eggs helped me recapture all of those great memories. Having said that, the game has a few glaring issues. The ball rolling puzzle in Mermaid Man's lair is incredibly annoying. It's an annoying game of chess where you have to predict everyone single position in order to succeed. And the Kelp Forest level was so confusing that I ended up skipping it entirely. I may be a skilled gamer, but I am not a fan of looking up guides every second to avoid total frustration. I'd rather complete the level using my own power. And while I won't give the final battle away, I will say that the second stage of the final fight was incredibly annoying. With a lack of checkpoints and health power ups, the final gauntlet feel more like a puzzle than an exciting final clash. It made the already barebones ending feel a bit on the underwhelming side. All the other boss fights in this game are crazy fun, but thanks to the lack of support in the final stage, it just put me in a bad mood. From my experience, it's a game that I would prefer to play from start to finish. Because while the completion awards in this game are cute, they're not immensely satisfying to obtain. Overall, if you're a SpongeBob fan or a comedic platformer fan I highly recommend this game. Soak up the good times.

Super Mario Galaxy, it's practically a staple of the Nintendo Wii. While the system is home to several fantastic platformers. It's safe to say that Mario was the king of the third dimension during the early two thousands. Everyone was talking about this game and its beloved sequel. While I really enjoyed playing New Super Mario Brothers during my childhood, that enjoyment was mainly fueled by my first interactions with the Super Mario franchise. Super Mario Galaxy on the other hand, was thematically rich game in comparison. I adored the "cinematic space exploration" theme paired with all the levels. The designs of Bowser's galactic forces, the adorable alien races, the colorful design of each galaxy, it's a near masterpiece of game design. Now don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy this game. But much Donkey Kong Country Returns, I've never found myself dedicated to reaching one hundred percent completion. While I throughly enjoyed playing this game from start the finish, I was against the idea of unlocking everything this game had to offer after experiencing the annoying motion control stages. While they may be few and far between and they're not required to beat the main game, they are required for unlocking the secret final level. And the more I played them, the more I realized I was going to start hating this game if I spent too much time trying to complete the worst levels. With that being said, everything else is utterly remarkable. Freezing waterfalls as Ice Mario in order to perform a wall jump combo, switching between different types of gravity to reach hidden areas, launching out of spaceships like a rocket as they explode in the distance, its some of Nintendo's most inventive level design. The adrenaline you get from dashing from planet to planet will leave you with goosebumps. I'm also personally impressed with how the designers made each level feel so big. These may be semi-linear stages, but the way the camera is positioned makes me feel like a kid in a sports stadium. It really feels like I'm exploring a living, breathing world. It's not just another "save the princess adventure", like New Super Mario Brothers. It's also a "save the universe adventure". Every time I interact with the peaceful creatures from other galaxies, a part of me feels more determined to defeat Bowser. It's not just about saving old friends, their's an entire universe being threatened by Bowser's forces of darkness that needs defending. It helps him come across as a more threatening villain compared to the previous games. In fact, while I personally believe that Super Mario Odyssey is the superior game, it felt like there were more stakes involved in Super Mario Galaxy. Because Bowser wasn't just attempting to take over the world while kidnapping Peach, he was attempting everything in existence. Overall, I highly recommend this game. It's packed with personality and platforming bliss. You're practically guaranteed to find something really enjoyable in this game. Seek it out, when you get the chance.

If you're looking for a fun Super Hero Simulator to take on the go, than I highly recommend this game. Not only is it a cute crossover that pays homage to DC Comics' entire legacy, but it's also a very relaxing puzzle game. This version of the game does tend to lag here and there however, when their are too many characters on screen.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

The ultimate Super Mario Bros level maker is now available on the go! I swear the only reason I didn't play it at first was because I lacked the inspiration to create new levels. Back on the Wii U, players weren't allowed to simply have all the building items in arms reach. Players had to wait nine real life days in order to unlock these items. So if you wanted to build the level of your dreams, you would have to play a game of back and forth with the date and time settings. But now, ultimate power is now at your fingertips! Though I personally prefer not to use the touch screen on my Switch. I'd say the best addition of this game is the world map maker, currently it's only limited to having Super Mario World theming. But the fact that I have the ability to place alive icons, alternate routes, toad houses to go with my stages it takes me back to the days of my childhood, drawing my own Mario levels for fun. Their's even a solo mode if you want to search for inspiration and challenge Nintendo staff levels. Life is good! One of the most important elements of video game design is freedom. The more options you give your players, the more enjoyable the game becomes. So this sequel is a big step in the right direction. However I will say the best way to enjoy this game, is to have other people try out your levels. Whether they be local or online, the true joy that comes from creating levels is seeing the people enjoy themselves while playing them.

New Super Mario Bros Wii, the lukewarm cocoa of Mario games. I'll admit I have a soft spot for this game, since it was one of the first games I had ever owned, but calling this game one of the greatest platformers on the system is a bit of a stretch. To a console that is home to Super Mario Galaxy, Wario Land Shake It, Raving Rabbids Go Home, and Donkey Kong Country Returns...this game is certainly, the least interesting of the bunch. The story, Peach is kidnapped on her birthday. Go save her. This game may have stellar controls, colorful graphics, and decent level variety. But ambition? Not a trace. Once you've seen one New Super Mario Bros game, you've essentially seen the rest. Because most of the level themes and enemies are practically identical compared to the previous entries, it's hard to find a reason to replay this one unless you have family multiplayer nostalgia like me. This game may be responsible for introducing me to the Super Mario franchise, but without any thematically impressive cutscenes like in those other platformers I mentioned, its hard to get a feel for what this series is all about besides good level design. I want something to think about during the journey. Bowser's new secret weapon, hints about returning bosses, some new villains...a title like New Super Mario Bros feels very deciding when barely anything about the game feels new. I will say the most stand out features about this game include the chase with Giant Bowser, the King Bills that appear in the final stage in World Nine, and the boss fights. But other than that, it's more a Mario game to just play to win. The only reward for one hundred percent completion is endless item mini games, it's a bit lame. Unless you have some friends to join you for the ride, you're better off just sticking with New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe. Its all you need.

Neopets Puzzle Adventure is one of the most mediocre spin off games I have every played on the system. Whether you're an experienced fan or an interested newcomer to the series, this is the wrong place to start. With a lack of sprite animations, repetitive puzzle battle gameplay, the inability to freely explore the world of Neopia or even replay previous levels. This game feels like nothing but a cheap and unmemorable experience that will leave you with dissatisfaction.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Disney Frozen: Olaf's Quest is a platformer game where you collect **** that's all there is to it. Even as little kids games go this is an incredibly mediocre adventure. The controls feel fine and the graphics are colorful enough, but almost every level in the game takes less than a minute to complete. Nothing will stop Olaf from collecting random objects for Anna, because nothing is putting any effort into stopping him. Deadly wolves? Spikes? Don't sweat it, Olaf is immortal. He'll just lose a couple valuable after taking damage that can easily be reclaimed. But unlike Wario Land 2, who Olaf rips off along with New Super Mario Bros, the puzzles aren't interesting or challenging enough to feel satisfying with completion. The only things I found entertaining in this game include decapitating Olaf as a means to collect nearby items easier and the chase levels with Marshmallow that are paired with the laid back Sven chase music. Funny thing is that this game released in America before the movie reached theaters, so its most likely no one bought this game if they wanted to avoid possible spoilers of the movie. This game only took me an hour to **** I was taking my time. The collectibles are just generic outfits that don't do anything to add to gameplay. It's not even enjoyable as a time waster. Give this game a skip.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

When I was younger I was obsessed with studying Super Mario 3D Land. Back when I had Nintendo Channel on the Wii, I used to watch trailers, tips and trick videos, the works. But I never actually had the desire to play the physical game. And now after finally sitting down and playing it from start to finish, I began to see why. With its sequel Super Mario 3D World now available on the Nintendo Switch, there isn't any reason to play this game anymore. Of course being on more powerful hardware, 3D World has the obvious advantage in graphics, extra content, and overall freedom. But at the time, 3D Land was the only method of experiencing this type of Super Mario gameplay style on the go. And now that we have the deluxe version of 3D world, I don't have much reason to play this game. And that wouldn't be a problem if the game had a stand out theme, but the only stand set pieces are already present in other core series Mario games. The advertising hypes it up as a recreation of Super Mario Bros 3, but it's lot closer to the original Super Mario Bros. Each world is a linear path of at least four levels, all the castle levels contain a clash with either Fake Bowser or regular Bowser where you have to destroy the bridge to win, and Luigi is the only extra playable character. Sure, about everything has a tail in this game to reference the original game, but it's more of a topping than a batch of ingredients. The adventure theme is also quite generic. Peach is **** everything has a tail to give Mario trouble. It's not Peach is kidnapped and Bowser has turned her castle into a world of portals, polluting an archipelago, or taking over an entire galaxy. It's something we've all seen done to death in the New Super Mario Bros series. No added flavor no new **** level designs are quite imaginative and there are a few fun new obstacles here and there. But the motivation for going on this quest feels lost due to the uninteresting adventure format. And it doesn't help that many of the bosses are reused. And I know they did this 3D World too, but the difference here is that it's nine different types of bosses compared to a measly four. Two of which are just Bowser and the bridge and final boss Bowser. And even if you're still enjoying yourself despite these issues, the annoying motion controls linked with the cannon can really kill your adrenaline especially if you're playing this game in a moving vehicle. This not a bad or broken game by any means, but more so a pointless adventure. A prototype with little to no substance to entertain future players, thanks to a much more powerful sequel overshadowing its once acclaimed success.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Having never experienced the original trilogy before, I was intrigued to learn where the dragon got his wings before lending his support to the Skylanders franchise. I'll admit after playing this remake, while I still have a soft spot for Spyro's Adventure, I enjoy this edition of Spyro loads more. The original series wasn't just game breaking for the platforming genre, but it was also responsible for crafting gameplay styles that appealed to all ages. This is a cartoon, fantasy adventure at its finest. It's got gorgeous colors, a good sense of visual humor, and it's inhabited by both adorable and terrifying creatures. It's a great way to release stress by exploring a big open world full of personality and pizazz...though if you're not careful, you may gain stress if you get stuck on an annoying mini game or two. Yeah, this trilogy may not be perfect whether you play the original or the remake. But having access to a three in one game with refined controls, legendary graphics, catchy music, and availability on multiple consoles gives the entire world a chance to experience what made the purple dragon so magical to begin with. Back when I played Skylanders Trap Team in middle school, I used to take my mini Spyro figure, and try to recreate the enjoyment of the original game. Breaking every object in sight pretending to one hundred percent the level. Of course it was Trap Team, so that would always remain an impossible dream thanks to the expensive requirements. I've experienced three games that capture audiences in three unique ways. Spyro One is one hundred percent platforming for classic gamers. Spyro Two is seventy percent platforming and thirty percent mini games, for gamers that like to mix it up here and there. And Spyro Three is sixty percent platforming and forty percent mini games. Whenever one game feels lacking, you can switch to the next for a change of pace. It's like Skylanders...only you don't have to spend your life savings buying to access the entire game. Around here, we have Moneybags for that role. This game is a reminder of what made Spyro good to begin with. In the beginning of Skylanders they tried to make him appealing to the teen demographic in the beginning, but that was a huge mistake looking back. Spyro the Dragon wasn't just entertaining kids, Insomniac wanted to make a game that would entertain everyone who owned a Playstation, young and experienced. Skylanders will have its fans, but Spyro will remain to be a gaming legend with this remake acting as support.

Having never experienced the original trilogy before, I was intrigued to learn where the dragon got his wings before lending his support to the Skylanders franchise. I'll admit after playing this remake, while I still have a soft spot for Spyro's Adventure, I enjoy this edition of Spyro loads more. The original series wasn't just game breaking for the platforming genre, but it was also responsible for crafting gameplay styles that appealed to all ages. This is a cartoon, fantasy adventure at its finest. It's got gorgeous colors, a good sense of visual humor, and it's inhabited by both adorable and terrifying creatures. It's a great way to release stress by exploring a big open world full of personality and pizazz...though if you're not careful, you may gain stress if you get stuck on an annoying mini game or two. Yeah, this trilogy may not be perfect whether you play the original or the remake. But having access to a three in one game with refined controls, legendary graphics, and catchy music can make your heart soar in the long run.

Fossil Fighters Champions is a Pokemon recreation sequel that is average at best. While I absolutely adore the first Fossil Fighters game, I find this one to be a bit bland. And that's mainly due to how short the main game is. While the battle and cleaning mechanics have improved drastically, the level design feels repetitive despite each dig site having its own distinct theme like the last adventure. You now have access to even more new Vivosaurs, strategies, cleaning techniques, and even ultimate evolutions based on what scientists originally thought some dinosaurs looked like. Those mechanics are more polished than ever before. But at the same time, you'll be spending time in each level fighting nothing but mini bosses, if you don't stop every now and then to gather new fossils. The dig sites this time around feel more like stages for boss fights rather than dungeons. There are no puzzles or obstacles standing in your way to reach from point A to point B. And I would spend more time in these areas, but after building a capable team, I have little reason to seek out new Vivosaurs to raise from scratch. Of course I could seek out all four body parts to make it grow faster, but with a fully upgraded sonar, I am constantly interrupted by other Fossil Fighters challenging me for my rare rocks. This wasn't much of a problem in the first game. But it happens way more frequently around here, making collecting a struggle. The best example of this annoyance is in the stage, "Dusty Dunes". All you do in this level is help out the professor dig up a single item, and nothing else. Wanting to spend more time in this new dig site, I decided to seek out the rare Vivosaur Argento. It took so long constantly being interrupted by random fighters, even with a Yellow Mask increasing my chances of finding earth Vivosaurs. And on top of that, Argento fossil only appeared in the middle area of the desert, so I had to keep playing this game of forward and back for a few hours. By the time I finally uncovered a head, my tools were fully upgraded after having collecting and selling countless jewels from dark fossil rocks. The Caliosteo Islands looks interesting but feel really empty. You have cool locations like the Stone Pyramid, with eerie music and candles with skull white flames, that take only take approximately eight minutes to complete, due to lack of challenges. The boss fights are challenging and have fun music. But its makes the entire adventure feel more like a boss rush, rather than a compelling RPG. Even the hub areas feel lacking. Each island just feels like a copy and paste job, with only a few unique decorations to match the island's theme. We've gone from Vivosaur Town, a giant town with cute buildings, catchy music, the sound of the ocean at your feet, to a barebones trio of locations that lack personality. The story, is fine. Average plot twists for an average adventure. Though the cutscenes could really used some voice acting. I wish I could more time with characters like Pauline and Rupert though. There character arcs are really brief due to the short level design. Overall, without spoiling anything, I say you should try the game out if you can find it for a cheap price. If you enjoyed the first game, you'll probably like the sequel fine. I'd take it any day over the abysmal Fossil Fighters Frontier.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]