where is the game? I can even feel a bit sorry for Phil Spencer in times like these. It seems that despite having put together a good plan and invested heavily in the success of the Xbox, everything goes wrong.
If the plan in buying Double Fine was to have an "out of the box" studio led by Tim Schafer, it seemed like a great idea to diversify Xbox's portfolio of games, but you can't avoid the feeling of having been played for a fool by the devs. After the moderate success of Psychonauts 2 (to be generous), M$ apparently gave Double Fine a free pass to make a game with no demands, to express themselves artistically. But where is the game? Salaries were paid over 4 years to deliver a walking simulator with graphics from 2 generations ago. If there was one thing I could expect from Double Fine, it was intelligent puzzles, moments of discovery, and challenging the player's though. But how is it possible that in 2025 it's acceptable for "press X" and "press A" to be a viable level design option? The worst part is, throughout the walk of this ambulatory lighthouse, there were several opportunities to build interesting puzzles, but the devs just gave up—why create something interesting if my salary is already paid? It's the logic of the public sector worker who makes the minimum possible effort. Neither the graphics, nor the music, nor the story, nor the gameplay are interesting... About what?
I finally started Silksong this week (was waiting for the patch), and wow... there are very few games I can think of that make such a deliberate and unnecessary effort to waste your time. So many of the level and game design decisions seem to exist solely to make you lose time, walk in circles, and repeat tedious tasks. If this game had a "quality-of-life" patch, it would go from 30 hours long to just 10. You spend two-thirds of your playtime doing absolutely nothing.
Taking the addicting formula from the original game (on a mountainbike) and brining a multiplayer experience to make everything even more engaging. The single player experience is still intact, but nothing beats the fun of going downhill against other 7 people.
To get a ""rally'' experience with big ford trucks and open wide tracks that only run for 3 minutes, instead of actual rally cars and dangerous narrow stages is very disappointing. Again, in true Forza style, driving to get the races takes more time than the actual races. And each run time don't add up as it should in rally style. It just doesn't feel like a proper expansion because it doesn't change any rule from the core game. The pace notes implementation is silly and useless, people quickly favor the race lines over it.
So if you know anything at all from rally or played even the likes of Dirt before, avoid.
Never been surprised so much by a game release as in with HI-FI Rush. The shadow drop release was a total novelty, specially considering the high profile names involved in it's development. The game itself is just a total blast and thrill, it brings you back to times were games were all about pure FUN, the aesthetics and vibe brings to memory the best of the Dreamcast era, where we saw the last dying breed of arcade-games-for-single-players in the forefront. Game design here is simply impeccable, everything fits like a glove and the intense action is quite a chalange to master, in a good way! The story is light and simple, not interfering with the gameplay too much. This one goes highly recomended..
Love this game. The stages design are frankly superior than any other rally game and simply FUN to play. Some people expects this to behave like a more hardcore sim racer, but it sits in-between - which is totally fine! Some of the game design choices could be better presented but when it comes to TRACKS its a 10/10
Sequel to a mid-budget game, it raises the bar in every way and brings a next gen experience to ps5 xbox and pc owners. Its impressive technical resources makes the player's jaw drop with each bombastic setpiece and throughout an exciting and thought-provoking story, which symbolizes the destruction caused by the Black Death in the European continent. There are 17 chapters, 20+ hours of gameplay, where the player constantly learns new gameplay mechanics that don't let the game get boring. Locations are varied and very well designed. The game just lacks better developed boss battles and the little need to manage items, as they are always available in the scenario, and for not bringing anything really original in terms of gameplay. Extras appear in the form of secrets, collectibles and a very good photo mode, which gives the player even more freedom to appreciate the design of levels and characters.
Fans of classic point & click games have plenty to be excited about in 2022 with the return of Monkey Island in style and an unexpected novelty from studio Obsidian, responsible for hardcore rpgs like Fallout, Outer Worlds and Pillars of Eternity. In Pentiment the player finds an adventure of mystery in the middle of the Catholic medieval Germany. The game does not fall into easy traps of criticizing the church and its script, on the contrary, shows deep knowledge in the matter and it can teach a lot of real theology for those interested. The translation into different languages was done with care, all the liturgical references I found are accurate and the text flows very clearly. In the game, you are forced to make several decisions that define your character's behaviour, from a skill tree to choosing which npc to talk to, which can open up different paths through the game. All this looks excellent, and the execution of the ideas leaves nothing to be desired, so it's difficult to point out faults with the game. The only problem here is trying to find the player profile that is willing and interested in wading through a lot of text, a lot of Christian imagery, and very little action. Despite all the qualities, the too slow pace and total dependence on unfriendly reading makes Pentiment a niche game difficult to recommend for your friend who enjoys competitive games or those with high production value.
The game is fabulous but the endgame has some problems. After the main campaign is complete, you have the task to collect some key objects, but the game iventory does not keep track of them, you also need to plant all seeds in the game, which was a big chore without QoL tools other than the glowing object in the menu (which could be brought to the HUD instead). Lastly, one of the achievements is pure stupidity and requires to do an entire game-run, using just the weakest weapon.
The game is enjoyable but soooo time consuming. If you're looking to waste a couple hours with something to do while you listen to a podcast or music, this can be a nice companion. Its well made and it has a good variety of options.
Artwork and map manipulation concepts are beautiful but by chapter 3 characters start talking way too much and not being much interesting, my kids lost interest at that point, as to make things worse the puzzles become too complex for their age. The game needed a better director to meet it's target audience.
Superb game design. The island are enjoyable to walk around, as there are many interactive objects. It also has a few completionist tasks which are fun to complete, and not a chore. Lovely in every detail. Highly reccomended.
Levels are a bit too long and drag, but worst is being constantly interrupted with the bônus stages. You can do 5 or more of those on a single stage. Too much of a remake and too little of a new game.
Lovely. A real time-sink that will be at the same time relaxing and highly additive. Só much stuff to do on every level, very high replay value, great collectibles and the challange mode is really thrilling. The art style is pure Bliss.
This is generic as it gets. It's basically Shovel Knight with Ninja Gaiden as playable character. The game is super easy so it may be fun for someone unacquainted with (real) nes games. Some backgrounds are pretty.
I really can't understand this point of the gaming culture where unoriginality, copycats, faux-sequels, and simply poor design gets praised so much. Enough with the nostalgia hype bubble. This game, again, is generic as 100 other games on steam, do programmers make this the sane game-maker tool or something? pfff
I find the gameplay of Ori extremely boring, the mechanic is overused and gets old fast and it uses too many buttons... graphics are gorgeous but soon you realise everything looks the same and the shade is a tiresome effect. The floaty platafforming is something I cannot stand even on SNES Donkey Kong. And you reccomend it just for the first level... talk about low standards
very disappointed, worts shantae game to date. Its clear thatthe transiction to 3d build lacked the polish of the 2d titles and it feels like a totally different team was in charge of it. It looks like those poor infie titles so badly put toguether that even simple things as screen changing feels disconected. The save system is a joke. The standing animation kf the main character is totally overdone and level design is a huge letdown...
While the game design, polish and fun are really good on this game. It feels like youre playing a high end MOD from Triple Deluxe at all times. I wish there were some changes more than the robot theme.
Game is gorgeous but after one our playing I feel this isone of the most pointless games I've ever played, no sense of direction, flow, purpose, gameplay is more complicated than fun. The question before shutting down this game for forever was "why am I playing this game ?"
This game NAILS everything. Art, characters, gameplay, story, variety, fun powerups, bosses, etc... get it! Forget Guacamelee, this is this best game on this genre.
Really impressive game, if you want to go for high scores be prepared for a challenge. Starfox is really hardcore. Beware this is a arcade game on it's core. The new gameplay is interesting and shakes things up, although not as intuitive as some people might expect.
Damm, I'm playing this again after 8 years and the game is even better than I remember, the pacing ,the sense of character development, how you learn new skills, new gameplay dynamics non-stop. On a point most games already feel stale and repetitive, Twilight Princess is yet changing gears. This HD release is not groundbreaking but I'm actually glad they didn't touch it too much... its pure bliss.
As much as this game seems tailor made for my personal tastes, it just feels unpolished, badly connected and with a very loose art direction. Simple things remind you all the time this was made by a small team with a small budget; such thing as such as menus, transitions screens, sound effetcs and colisions... I can´t play a 2d game on 2016 that plays worse than games 20~30 years older. If you're interested on this genre do look for Odallus The Dark Call, at least Odallus made his homework before releasing the game.
Fates is the New Fire Emblem game that come to us as the accomplishment of everything this franchise fought to be; a big, epic game, on the path of Shinning Force III it also offers 3 full-blow scenarios, that might seem like milking too much, but's actually a game with so much beef that can last you a whole year. On Birthright you play as the "goodies" on an traditional japanese landscape. The new classes, maps and gimmicks will keep your FE heart beating fast.
Fates is the New Fire Emblem game that come to us as the accomplishment of everything this franchise fought to be; a big, epic game, on the path of Shinning Force III it also offers 3 full-blow scenarios, that might seem like milking too much, but's actually a game with so much beef that can last you a whole year. In Conquest you play as the "villains" on a harder path. The new classes, maps and gimmicks will keep your FE heart beating fast.
the art of doing the same thing over and over and over again; a pluzze game with only one kind of pluzze, you really must have so much free time to enjoy this....works wonders as sleep inducer
The game has excellent controls and ninja moves, but is plaged by over-long levels, very dark graphics and poor transition between scenes. Nevertheless, it's the most hardcore 3DS game to date.
I played 3d Land on a 2DS I've bough really cheap; I liked it so much, I was so excited it was like playing Mario Galaxy all over again - but it wasnt a copy, same formula, it was a new expecience. The game was so good I couldnt resist and got a WiiU to play 3D World (remember when people bought a console to PLAY a game that is already avaliable), and it was amazing because 3D world made the style of 3D Land even bigger, with NEW creative levels (no rehash in level design!). It's as great sequel as Mario Galaxy 2 was - considered by many even better than the original. Of course the Wii-U was not short of great games and after 3D world I also got Tropical Freeze, Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, MK8, and so many others....
At only $15 this premium e-shop exclusive it's a must own for every wii-u gamer, the game is fast (duh) beautiful and above all it peform flawless at 60fps. Its rare seeing big budget games polished as this, comming from an small studio is even more surprising. Great track design and soundtrack will keep you pumping
I loved the story, pacing, music an puzzles of this game. A great experience for youngster. It's like a magical childs book you can read even if you're old. Lot's of contents and unlockables. Nothing bad here, really. I just miss some hardcore puzzles as seeing in the DS's games.
This is the perfect puzzle-adventure game, crafted by the talented hands of HAL Laboratory. The price is right, the amount of extra content will surprise will and the game is always clever - no long introductory levels like Pushmo. In my oppinion is a MUST HAVE on the 3DS. Don't Miss it!
Nice game with charming cartoon look, but one great flaw in my oppinion ; one hit kill. This is a pointless feature in a game like this. It's not hard, but because of this the final boss battle is broken an NOT fun. Get it only on a sale.
Impressions from 5 hours gamelay, this is the new RPG standard. It is better in EVERY aspect from Xenoblade Wii; specially story wise wich is now more mature and better laid down - no crazy japanese nonsense. Your role on this planet is clear and you start the adventure wanting to know more! Technical aspects is beyond praide, artistic aspect is surprising as well.
The Wii version bundled with this is the real deal; a Nights-style game with open stages and really challanging score challanges. Not free of problems sure, but a nice game.
Awesome showcase of classic games, in a modern - mobile like - fashion. Not only this version have 'better' material to work with, they upgraded the engine and miiverse integration, I wish they could update NesRemix 1 like this. DONT MISS this gem if you got an Wii-U.
I have played every sonic game ever; from Genesis to GBA, DS and Wii-U, including thad abomination of Sonic 4 episodes 1&2. But Freedom Planet is the real follow up to Sonic & Knucles. It not only follows the classic formula and gameplay - it understands Sonic is not just about speed but it's about speed, great plataforming and multiple paths - and expands on it. My first playtrogh cloks over 20 minutes for each level, that's bigger than Sonic ever was. And it has lot's of exploration, unlockables and style. 2 diferente playable characters, lot's to do and see. The 16-bit art style is perfect. If this game were on Sega Saturn, it would be a generation classic. Somehow this game doesn't get the same marketing budget as, say, Shovel Knight, but don't don't think twice; get it!!
I have played every sonic game ever; from Genesis to GBA, DS and Wii-U, including thad abomination of Sonic 4 episodes 1&2. But Freedom Planet is the real follow up to Sonic & Knucles. It not only follows the classic formula and gameplay - it understands Sonic is not just about speed but it's about speed, great plataforming and multiple paths - and expands on it. My first playtrogh cloks over 20 minutes for each level, that's bigger than Sonic ever was. And it has lot's of exploration, unlockables and style. 2 diferente playable characters, lot's to do and see. The 16-bit art style is perfect. If this game were on Sega Saturn, it would be a generation classic. Somehow this game doesn't get the same marketing budget as, say, Shovel Knight, but don't don't think twice; get it!!
Why play a game that is "like metroid" when there are actual Metroid games that are the 'real deal' ? It's sad to see a game with so little personality, even sprites and enemies movement are a direct copy, getting such a praise. Really guys; Ig you like this, get na Wii-U, all Metroid the great games are avaliable there.
Altought it was never on my priority list, I got the chance to buy Triple Deluxe and WOW, it was much better than I expected. But the main reason why I'm post this is to discuss how the game FEELS and PLAYS tailor-made for the 3DS. It's the game was developed for the ground-up to the 3DS (unlike Kid Icarus, Luigi's Mansion...) since the 3D is na active element for the level design, I would never play it with 3D turned off, i'ts THAT good - I'm playing on the N3DS. The gyro, the minigames, it all blends wonderfully with the hardware. his is a game that would suffer if ported to anothe system (wii-u for exemple) another quick impressions: -Game's not super easy, It sits at the same level of Dream Land and Dream Land 2 - with much improved gameplay. -Better than Return to Dream Land on the Wii, better level design and transformations. -Sound track is amazing with good headphones, lots of bass that doesn't appear on the tiny speakers If you have a 3DS, I think you should give it a try, it feels very unique on the console... a must-own!
This is a MUST BUY to every Wii-U gamer! Not a 10 because the shortage of content, but that's ok being a price tag of 1/3 game. An unique, smart and exclusive experience, don't miss it!
There are people on the world who believes Guacamelee is a great metroid/castlevania game. I guess they haven't play Shantae yet. This game NAILS everything. Art, characters, gameplay, story, variety, fun powerups, bosses, etc... get it!
There are people on the world who believes Guacamelee is a great metroid/castlevania game. I guess they haven't play Shantae yet. This game NAILS everything. Art, characters, gameplay, story, variety, fun powerups, bosses, etc... get it!
outstanding level design with so much room for player improvement and replayability, extra modes are very fun, a game polished to the bone, perfect presentation and progression.
At first this can seem like an easy cash-in for Nintendo, but it is acctually a blast to play. If you ever consider presenting the history of videogames to someone who has never played 8bit games this is the very best way to introduce them, it challanges the player to do every little blueprint from games of old while offering a modern, fast, and engaging presentation. Totally worth the prince. I rather unlock everything on this game than re-play the original games, it is that good. A nostalgia bomb for some, a videogame school for others.
How strange, everything on this game feels AVERAGE to me, animations are too simple, everything floats on a weird way and the story is nothing interesting. It pluzzes me how the latest Shantae, a fully fleshed 2D metroid-esque game with so much care and polishing put into and actually good level design has worst review than this glitchy mess. I guess people got over-excited with the "original" graphics, but the recticule all over the game gets annoying fast. It's like a mobile game with a few more content than expected from a free-to-play game.
A visual experience that will last for 15... 20 minutes. After that there's nothing to see, unless you're on some psychology test. It's interesting, but it's only value is FREE.
