WhyYouWahYoo

I will NEVER turn down a game with a grid checklist and a bunch of different modes to keep it fresh. It's not the kind of game to plow through in a weekend, rather, to chip away at for years to come. This game does have a weird dichotomy to it. The amount of content is overwhelming, yet the story mode can be done in a few hours. The customization is freeing and fun, yet in the best mode, City Trial, you dont get to pick your vehicles. The characters are plenty, and theres many references and deep cuts that should please fans, but it also, in general, feels strikingly un-kirby in tone and atmosphere. None of those "buts" undermine the positives all that much, but it does signal an identity crisis of sorts that I think might be the product of Sakurai having been off the series for a while now. I like it, a lot. But after a weekend of playing it non-stop, I'm content with stepping away and playing online on-and-off for a bit. Its fun, but hardly enthralling to the point where you NEED more. Of the trifecta of racing games this year, its definatly my least favorite. And as someone who was a huge fan of the GC original, that is slightly disapointing. But being 3rd place in a competition with THOSE two games isn't bad, to be fair. I cant say it isnt worth the price, IF youre up for a Sakurai-style checklist being your main method of progression. I know that's not for everyone.

8.5. I came into this game kinda mellow, I loved Arceus and felt like this game’s limited scope and setting would be a big, big detriment. And it does have a lot of disadvantages, but it also has so many new, really cool things it brings to the table that make me love it in a different way. Still not as much as Arceus; at the end of the day that game is still the most I’ve ever felt like I’m actually in the Pokémon world and interacting with them. But… this game does still feel like a legitimate Pokemon adventure, even if the setting and scope are much less grand. Lumiose doesn’t feel like a real city, but it does feel like a real place, if that makes sense. I don’t believe it’s really this mega city the size of Paris and huge population like they probably want me to, but I do believe this place really is lived-in and cozy to everyone. And that goes a long way, even if the windows are literally painted textures. But I digress. The real time battle system is basically baby’s first Xenoblade, and that’s fine. It’s certainly fresher than the old style of battling. Where it really ramps up for me, though, is the battle ZONE stuff. The loop of getting cards and completing the tasks on them, carefully navigating the zone to sneak up on opponents, and timing your moves right to get in position for the KO with the move you need… that kind of thing is what I wish Pokemon did more with it’s existing battle system. I ended up a big big fan of the nighttime segments thanks to that stuff, racking up wins for money (and to get the shiny charm) had been and will keep being a treat, and certainly much less of a slog than if it were 1000 of the previous style of battles. Stuff like Pokemon behavior and danger were things I loved about Arceus that do return here, albeit mostly confined to Wild Zones that let you run to the gate and escape danger. Some of these wild zones really do feel shoehorned in and silly, and I 10000% prefer Arcues’ approach: it was just more fun and immersive and interesting to always be on your toes in the wild. But while the places where you do the wild battling and catching he’s been shrunk, the actual legends gameplay that makes it an action RPG rather than a turn based one remains. And it’s fun and fulfilling as ever. The story is whatever. I like some of the characters but the plot itself is just… not really anything major. It’s cool, but Scarlet and Violet raised the bar and this does not reach it. Also, the online mode is so unfun. No matter what your rank you just get pummeled by alpha Metagross after alpha Dragonite in one hit. I endured it for Mega Greninja but I don’t see the long term value here. I’d prefer if they leaned more into the puzzle-y aspect of the new system I mentioned earlier rather than try and make it symmetrical and competitive. But I’m not a huge online Pokemon player in the first place. Not a big deal though. Top the package off with a joyous and nostalgic soundtrack, the most in depth character customization we’ve ever had in the series, a constantly updating set of achievements and constant rewards for them, and the return of megas including some new forms that are genuinely UNBELIEVABLY cool, and yeah. It’s a good game. Not a jaw-dropping dream come true like Arceus, but certainly right there with Scarlet and Violet in the “flawed but still incredibly fun” camp of modern Pokemon titles. And no, nobody’s a shill or a slip eater for liking it. God I hate to e internet.

My favorite games in history are tight. They make even just moving around feel amazing, but then add on new abilities and challenges that test your skill. My problem with Super Metroid was that it lacked that first part. It was a bit floaty and finicky and slow paced for me. I love Zero Mission a lot, and I knew just based on footage I’d adore Dread based on how it looked to control. And… yep. It’s good. It delivers exactly the tight movement and skill-testing bosses I wanted. But added onto that, was UNBELIEVABLE presentation. This game is so atmospheric, so lonely, so scary, so engrossing. And a massive part of it is just the visual design of each area. The EMMI zones do a great job of instilling terror even without you actually bumping into one. And each major area of ZDR is distinct and its own unique flavor of isolation. They overuse the teleports a little bit too much in the late game. It feels so well designed that I never got lost, but it comes at the expense of it feeling a little bit TOO game-y. I started to lose the e feeling to at I was actually exploring a planet. That’s just a nitpick though. This game is Peak Metroid and one of the best games I’ve played this year.

If you told me that a Sonic Raving game would come out in the same year as a Mario Kart, and somehow be more fun… I’d laugh at you. But man… it’s just better. I hate “gamer narratives” and stuff, and I thought all the talk about it outshining Mario Kart was just that. And then I played it. It’s more fun moment to moment, it’s got better unlocks, better customization, the track variety is insane thanks to portals but manages not to feel too chaotic, the item balance feels really nice, it’s genuinely pretty, the character interactions and voice acting adds a layer of fan service not present in any other mascot racer, the controls are smooth, the gadgets and load-outs are genius, the tracks feel so faithful to the games they represent, the online is smooth, the ticket system makes winning Grand Prix was more forgiving, the rival system adds a bit of spice… like my GOD. Sonic Team is capable of so much great stuff when they’re actually given the time. Between this and Shadow Generations they are really proving themselves.

I miss NFL Blitz so much man. **** could come along one day which blends the quick and dirty gameplay of Blitz with the vast options and season simulation of Madden, it would be genuinely perfect. Unfortunately, what we have at the moment is a game that’s just too slow and weirdly technical on the gameplay side, and way too menu heavy on the option side. Not to mention it REALLY wants me to make an EA account even though I just want to play a season as the Lions and eventually trade for Joe Burrow. This game is mindless fun, not much else. It runs pretty badly on Switch 2 to boot. I miss NFL Blitz so much man…

As a kid I loved the DS version of this game, and I also adored Unleashed. I was constantly told it was one of the few “good modern games.” I played Generations and loved it (though unlike most Sonic fans I find I like it less and less as time goes by), so when Colors Ultimate finally launched, I was ecstatic to finally be able to play it. And even barring the disaster that that port job was, I found it GROSSLY underwhelming. This game is like 60% 2D, which btw the 2D movement ****. The few 3D segments are split among like 6 total stages per world and don’t feel cohesive AT ALL. And the bosses are MONDO ASS. I love Reach for the Stars, but pretty much everything else about this game **** ****. Including the writing which took a massive childish turn starting in this game and stayed that way for about a decade.

Turns out all it takes for Game Freak to be able to make a polished game is for them to make something with absolutely no ambition. This game is a square for square remake of the game boy originals, which in itself is kind of a frustrating premise. Like I said, no ambition. However, there still so much heart here. For starters, this is by far the most visually appealing Pokemon game on modern consoles, and it’s because the art style, Pokemon models, character designs, and animation work here are genuinely fantastic. The redone music adds to the pleasant vibes, too. And then there’s the little details. The fact following Pokemon are back, and that some even let you ride their backs or surf on their shells, is such a simple yet effective way of increasing the attachment I have to my team. Being able to mount Arcanine, zoom around on Persian, and tower over bodies of water with Gyarados is such a treat. The new capture mechanics and modern overworld encounter system only help each creature feel like a real wild thing that you’re happening upon and capturing. The animations and different behavior on display in each species helps spice it up despite the simplicity. As for the actual adventure, though, it’s… fun. It’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had in Kanto. But as someone who doesn’t really love the GBA remakes all too much, that’s not saying a ton. I just have fundamental problems with the way the region and story are structured that go unfixed here, as you’d expect. And while the visuals help keep it from ever getting TOO dull, Kanto remains a region where difficulty is basically nonexistent in the second half of the journey. This isn’t helped by a blatantly overpowered Partner Pikachu, candies making it incredibly easy to make them even more strong, and modern types and moves turning what used to be somewhat difficult fights into jokes. Having a single Alolan Dark Pokemon turns Sabrina into a joke. Lance’s Dragonites are nothing to a Mr. Mime. I initially skipped this game because I felt it looked too simple and child-oriented, and while I regret having held off for the visual pleasantries and nostalgic feel alone, in the difficulty department, I was pretty much exactly correct. When everything’s said and done, this is a remarkably polished entry in Modern Pokemon that I do appreciate, but its refusal to take any real steps beyond being a nice looking remake with some visual flare here and there really does get under my skin. Kanto really does deserve a full-on reimagining one of these days.

The current wave of turning other games into rogue likes has been fun for sure, but also a little bit excessive. Peglin, on the tin, looked like another game stepping up to that plate, this time turning Peggle into one. And… yeah. That’s exactly what this is. And as a Peggle aficionado, it was so much fun! That said… it is EXACTLY what’s on the tin. There’s pretty much nothing here that will surprise you or make you feel particularly accomplished. I really like it, but I do feel obligated to inject just a little bit of objectivity into the equation because of its lack of true pizzaz, so 7 it is.

I’d give it a 7.5 if possible. UFO 50 is so cool, but a little bit too artsy for its own good. I have such little desire to dive any deeper than surface level into either the games or the overarching story that I’m left without enough patience to withstand the slow and frustrating stuff in the package. As a 2000’s kid, the nostalgic angle of “this is how games used to be” does nothing for me. That said, the good stuff is so good, that I don’t really care if some of the games aren’t. I’d pay the price of admission JUST for Bushido Ball. Or Party House. Or Rail Hiest. Or Velgress. These are just plain fun, if not a little simple, games that are full of indie charm. If you’re under 30 years old, it’s a pretty big toss up if you’ll enjoy this, I think. But if you have nostalgia or major appreciation for the 8 and 16 bit eras, this is the game for you.

If Super Mario Odyssey was an unforgettable, decadent, incredibly memorable dessert, then Donkey Kong Bananza is like a dessert that uses roughly the same recipe, but covers it with sprinkles and whipped cream and chocolate syrup. It’s still fantastic, and an experience I will surely cherish as a fan of Nintendo and the DK franchise, but compared to other games made by this Nintendo A-team, it’s just a little bit too sweet. All the flavorful and memorable parts of Odyssey’s intricately crafted dish are still present, just a lot harder to notice because it’s covered in the sugary slop that is the ability to press Y and destroy everything. Don’t think for second I found this game underwhelming, though. This is one of Nintendo’s patented game design handshakes. A game where it’s on the player to find the fun instead of the game showing you where it is. And that’s been getting more and more divisive as a design approach and Nintendo adopts it into more and more franchises, but for me personally, it’s just so much fun. Easily made my Switch 2 purchase worth it. It’s another Nintendo classic that will likely only be more beloved with age. Play it if you can, please.

I would give it a 9.5 if possible. Playing this game 10 years late was quite interesting. So many things have been derived from this work that I had to remind myself that THIS game isn't being derivative or referential. It's being Undertale. This game is one of those experiences that isn't all that enticing gameplay wise, but the story, music... pretty much everything presentation wise, pushes you forward so hard that you can't help but stay invested. This game is funny, atmospheric, powerful, and just plain cool. The soundtrack is lone of the best I've ever heard, and I know that's such a normie take but It's just TRUE. Play this if you haven't. It's a defining video game for our current era of the industry.

I would give this a 7.5 if I could. It is good, but there is SO MUCH room to improve here. My main issues are with the lack of options and quality of life considerations. There should really be a separate mode online that allows for normal, 3-lap track selection. I also wish the "random" option in Vs. mode had a "3-lap track" variation. On top of this, the free roam is hard to invest too much into because of the lack of collectible tracking, inability to mark the map, and the map being pretty bad in general. Despite this, the actual racing, tracks, music, and visuals are typical Mario Kart. Which is to say: Tremendous. It's all incredibly fun. I think 8 is still the better overall package at the moment. Granted its hard to compete with 96 tracks. The world is neat and fun to explore for sure, but nowhere near as rewarding or immersive as something like Breath of the Wild. If you own MK8DX, I would say wait a while to buy this if you're not a die-hard Nintendo nerd. I think they'll be updating this with more options, costumes and tracks. Check back in a year or so and see if it's worth your $80 then.

Sonic Generations: I loved this game the first time I played it, but unlike most Sonic fans, the more I play it, the less fun I seem to have. The graphical updates are serviceable, though. I just wish they took the opportunity to fix the particularly egregious stuff like the final boss. It’s a fun Sonic game for sure, but Unleashed’s day levels are just way better and it took me until this re release to see that. The missions are stinky though. Shadow Generations: This game takes everything Frontiers did right and compresses it into a short yet incredibly fun campaign that perfectly represents Shadow’s character and history in a way Sonic has never done before. The writers actually understand what drives Shadow and made him a believable character for the first time since Adventure 2. But beyond writing, this ability set is not only incredibly fun, but so “Shadow The Hedgehog” as well. It blends speed and badass-ery so perfectly and it makes this game so fun to replay over and over in a way Sonic games are supposed to but haven’t been in a while. And the ending rules too. The one weak area is the boss fights. They are truly spectacle over substance. But that’s okay. This game is more celebratory than anything.