jiorl

Pros: A fresh take on the Souls series, fantastic and satisfying combat, well-developed Gothic aesthetic, cool take/direction on weapons, DLC Cons: Vial/Bullet system (farming), chalice dungeons, low frame rates, long loading times (fixed for the most part) Thoughts: As someone who has played all of the Dark Souls series, I was eager to play Bloodborne - a Souls-like game (created by From software) with a twist. For the most part I wasn't disappointed. Bloodborne felt fresh without really changing up the Souls formula too much. However what It did change worked really well mostly. The setting of the game - Yharnam - is fantastic, dark, and Gothic Victorian-era like, and the enemies fit that theme very well. Everything still has that dark, dreaded felling like the Souls series, but Bloodborne really indulges in this more so. The combat is the star of the show. Everything is faster, parrying is now more important that ever and the health system where you can get back lost health by attacking really changes the style of combat from the Souls series in a good, fresh way. The weapons with their two mode play style (default - less damage, faster and mode 2 - more damage, slower) also adds an element of thought and tactics to each encounter as well. The DLC like all fromsoft titles builds upon the game and adds new bosses, enemies, weapons that improve on the base game's foundations. Whilst I did enjoy the changes there were some things/experiences that brought the game down a bit in my opinion. For one, while the vial/bullet system works well and plays in to the game's fast nature, the having to farm these items when they've run out to continue the game - especially when stuck on a boss - is very time-consuming, boring and annoying. It also wrecks the flow of the gameplay; one minute you are fighting a boss and getting to know it's moves, the next you're forced to go and farm for vials/bullets which really ruins the experience. The game itself can also affect the quality of gameplay. Long loading times on menu screens after you've died (thankfully fixed in updates) as well as stuttering framerates when much is going on (which happens quite a bit) are a problem sometimes but overall don't really inhibit the players experience. The worst part of the game are the chalice dungeons. Chalice dungeons are separate to the main game, and are this Zelda-like areas which players battle through. These chalice dungeons are soul crushing. They are so boring, mainly due to the same environments/level design elements popping up again and again and agains. The only thing worth punishing yourself for is that fact that there are chalice dungeon bosses which aren't in the main game/story mode, and getting easy money. Otherwise these dungeons are terrible. Overall Bloodborne is a good game. Do I prefer it over any of the souls games? No, however it appears to be just a matter of opinion and preference, as I can see why most people who play this game give it rave reviews, but the negatives of the game really affected my time in the game more than I though they would.

Pros: The idea of playing on a wipeout course is great fun, courses/challenges are different enough to stand out, unique take on the Battle Royale genre, mix of team/solo challenges works well Cons: Game does wear out quite quickly mainly due to there not being that many courses, connection issues, art design lacks any real substance, isn't as engaging as other games of the genre Other thoughts: Fall Guys is a new take on the Battle Royale genre, and definitely has the potential to be a great game. With a new season just around the corner, hopefully it builds on the platform that season one has laid. If I were them aside from fixing the connection issues, I would add more courses/challenges (and not remove any) while creating a second 'team only' variant of the solo mode to be on the sea team as friends.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

A really enjoyable game. I'm a Mario Kart veteran, and when i decided to get this game i was unsure if this would be as good. Luckly it is, and honestly it is a nice change of pace from Mariokart. I think this game is more of a technical karting game, and requires more thought and skill than Mario Kart; the drifting in this especially takes time to catch on to. The tracks are sublime, and are also really engaging. I still prefer Mario Kart, but this game is fantastic. And it has an adventure mode. Worth every cent.

I felt that this game was lacking something as soon as i created my character. It just wasn't impressive to me. The pokemon just looked really average and un-outstanding, and this is probably a polarising opinion, but i didn't like the new visuals of this game compared to previous generations. But it still is a pokemon game, and it still has good qualities about it which makes it a game worth playing . Personally i prefer pokemon platnium and the games before.

The Good: The juxtaposed beautiful-ugly dystopian aesthetic is fantastic, a good variety of weapons and enemies, the boss battles are generally good (especially the final boss), a neat checkpoint system, music is great The Bad: Using the joy cons can be annoying as buttons are close together, while the heavy metal music is great it can get grating when you are stuck in a rut Other Notes: Valfaris really nails the hardcore dystopian vibe that it strives for. The mood it creates really gets you in the mood to slay whatever the game throws at you. The weapons all really feel good to use, especially the shotgun, and the checkpoint system is neat as well - you pick up green things called resurrection idols and use them to create checkpoints, but if you don't you have a larger health pool creating a nice risk/reward system to think about when playing. However, the default controls are a bit fiddly, and that is amplified when using the switch's joy cons. The X/A/B/Y buttons are all needed and are all close together and when you are in a full on situation, there is a good chance you will mash a button you didn't mean too. That said, Valfaris is still a fun game, and hopefully if a sequel is made it will build on what on this game delivered

The Good: A fast paced party game, some depth in characters/stage to choose The Bad: Limited game modes even though this is an updated version of Astro Bears Party, soundtrack is way to repetitive, eventually playing the game can be tiresome. Other Notes: This is really just a cheap (and I mean really cheap, especially when there is a sale) quick Party game to play with friends/family. It is engaging, but it tires quite quickly. There is a single mode, but I doubt you'd be playing it, as it gets boring without others. The game is good for what it is.

The Good: New IP's from Nintendo are always good, fresh take on the fighting genre, a wide range of interesting fighters and stages, a large array of arms to unlock, combat is easy to learn/hard to master - lots of depth in combat, online connection solid - have never been disconnected from a game. The Bad: Motion controls are a hit or a miss, lack of variety in game modes - can get boring after a while Other Notes: The series ARMS has a lot of things going for it. A great cast of fighters, an interesting twist on the fighting genre, good depth with the combat. However, there isn't that much you can do with it. Single play mode has you fight against CPU's in the same style you would when online, and there aren't much online modes, and the ones which are there don't feel engaging enough. Hopefully they continue the series, and build on what they have done in the next game, because there is so much potential to be found.

The Good: Portable Rocket League, Graphics are impressive for a portable game, frame rate is surprisingly consistent, a massive online community, gameplay feels fresh - something different from the usual online sports games/FPS', soundtrack is great and captures the games atmosphere really well The Bad: Switch Version sometimes can dip in and out of good connection, for a pro the switch port isn't the best, prices of in game items (wheels, decals ect.) are way too expensive, online communication tedious Other notes: The Switch version of Rocket League is a great port, and for more casual players is a great way to play the game. For someone really interested in accessing all of the games features and potential in a serious manner, the switch version isn't the definitive version. Personally, I don't really care about online communication or if the switch isn't the 'best' way to play the game, so I'd give it a 9/10, however the score drops 1-2 points if you are looking for the best way to play.

The Good: Great story (better than most Zelda games) and dungeons, interesting characters and a wide variety of enemies and obstacles, sublime aesthetic, some nice quality of life features added, nice detours from the main plot such as fishing, rapid riding and the claw machine. The Bad: Performance when moving into new areas frames drop significantly, the create your own dungeons feature is lacklustre and clunky, basically nothing at all differs from the original game (nothing new added), price should be lower. Other notes: This is probably one of the more 'out-there' 2D Zelda's that you can play, whether you play this version or the previous versions on the Game Boy. I had a blast playing this game, The plot twist about half way into the game is also quite unexpected. I'd say the real gripe I have with this game is the price: $69 AUD was the least expensive I found and for essentially an old game, that is way too much. The new Resident Evil 2 game at least justified the price by adding more content to the game, and providing a new over the shoulder take on the old game. Links Awakening is the exact same game, with basically nothing new added apart from the dungeon maker and quality of life elements. Still - especially if you have never played the game - it is still is so much fun, and I couldn't stop smiling as I played it.

I finally got around to completing the game, never having played this before, and I think this game still holds up alone of the best action games ever made. While it has some minor faults due to it's old age, it still shines bright, and is a must play if you haven't owned it before. There is a surprising amount of diversity in the game with its environments, enemies and weapons, and the length of the game was longer than I expected (I finished it in about 15hrs). Even though this is the game which changed the style in which the series was to go in (and not for the better) this game i think mixes in the old elements of the previous 3 games well, such as the atmosphere, tension and horror elements, as well as the puzzle elements. Another thing I like about the series, the puzzles are like mini breaks from all the shooting, and help give the game breaths of fresh air as you progress. The games visuals aren't half bad even in 2019. Don't get me wrong, they still have that 2004 feel to them, but it probably helps the game more, as the grungy visuals help create this dark, parasite-ridden hellhole. Now to the controls: I did't complain that there was no gyroscopic controls to make shooting easier. I always thought that the stiffness/clunkiness of the controls ultimately benefitted the game, as it added to the tension as you tried desperately to shoot each person moving closer and closer to you. However, I think at the very least they could have updated the controls to a more updated format (while still keeping the stiffness), as opposed to the tank controls of generations long ago, as those controls are rarely in modern games. For $30+ Aud, that should have been done. I will say though that it doesn't take away anything at all from the experience, but it would be nice if Capcom made the effort. The story is easy to follow: "Players control U.S. government special agent Leon S. Kennedy, who is sent on a mission to rescue the U.S. president's daughter Ashley Graham, who has been kidnapped by a cult" (wikipedia). The story is a typical, run of the mill action plot, but the game keeps you engaged with its gameplay, environments and characters (such as Salazar). I will say though the dialogue hasn't aged very well at all e.g: Ramon Salazar: So maybe you have nine lives. But it doesn't matter now, Mr. Kennedy! I've sent my right hand to dispose of you. Leon S. Kennedy: Your right hand comes off? but as a fan of bad films it made everything even better, as I just laughed at it, and didn't take it too seriously, which improved my experience with the game. There is some story handed out in documents which you can pick up in the game which give you mainly backstory and further outline elements of the game, which was a nice touch. As a side note the price of this game should not be upwards of $30 AUD. It is kind of ridiculous in charging that amount for an old game. Luckily I got it on sale though. If you do get it though, you are really paying for a portable experience (as this remaster is just taken from the ps4/XBOX One versions), and I think this game is the perfect fit for that. The typewriter saving system is seamless for this style of play. I really enjoyed being able to pick up my switch, play a section of the game on the train, or even on the couch at home, and put the switch down after saving at the next typewriter. There are also a few technical kinks such as some stuttering, but for the most part it is a smooth experience. Resident Evil 4 is a fantastic game. Bar a few problems - problems that really tiny in comparison to the positives - this game is fun, loose and engaging, and especially due to the new dimension the switch gives it, I'm glad I gave it a go all these years later

Super Mario Odyssey is a game which made by the end of it left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. When i first bought it and played it, i felt this great feeling wash over me, realising that i can play a mario game which look as fantasic as this on the go. It still amazes me. The mechanics feel great, the controls and levels are very intuitive and i much enjoyed collecting the moons. However, i felt underwhelmed by this games storymode. Sure, many could argue that the story in a mario game is really not important in the grand scheme of things. I mean, look at Super Mario 3, or 64. However, compare this to Super Mario Galaxy, a game with a great story. In Galaxy, there was more to that game than great game mechanics. And the great story tied in with the difficulty of that game, which felt very appropriate. However, mario odyssey's game difficulty in relation to story progression felt very unsatisfyingly easy, and was very bland for a 3d mario game. I could skip parts of the story just by collecting moons. And the boss battles, an exception being the last bowser battle/sequence, were lacklustre as hell. I know Mario games usually have a young fan base, but still i wish there was more challenge in relation to the story. I'd trade a good story for a higher difficulty anyday. However, i have learned that the best way to play this game - for me - is just to treat it as a scavenger hunt/puzzle game. Collecting all the moons is a challenge in itself, and because of the switch's nature, i can pick up and play for 10 miniutes intervals and collect moons in that time, slowly collecting all of them. And that is when Mario Odyssey shines, when you don't focus on the story, and explore the worlds around you, and their puzzles buried in them.

Its a great game, and an underrated gem. I can recall so many times in my youth playing this game. It is a simple yet tactical game which kept me hooked for ages. Hopefully one day it gets the credit it deserves and will be considered one of the best. mobile games ever

I really games like this on the app store. Too many games are adopting the free to play style with ads, micro transactions, and a quick hook which fades away after a week. Plants verse zombies is a simple game of tactics, which is paced very well and has aged very well aesthetically and even gameplay wise.

Tetris battle Royale at first seems like a weird, trying-to-be-hip concept where it is Tetris against 99 in a battle Royale format. First off, with the bad. There is no tutorial, which was annoying for me to start, as I had never played Tetris before. Second off, the introduction of paid dlc was mildly annoying, as I think they should of just included it in the exclusive package for free. That being said, Tetris Royale is a fun - and for many fresh - take on the timeless puzzler. I have had many hours of fun trying to beat my personal highest finish (currently 4th place), improving my stats and unlocking the themes in this game. The music for each theme is great as well, and the classic Tetris gameplay is great. I still am a bit unsure with how the 'killing off enemies' works (that's why a tutorial would be nice) but I keep coming back to play it even with the one battle royal in the hope to one day come first. A must have for anyone with a switch, and easily one of the biggest suprises of the year.

I bought this game on the PS3 back in the day and I had a whole lot of fun with it. The story is great and different, and the gameplay reflects this and uses these story elements in fun ways. The characters, both important and non important really feel like real people, the driving feels right for the detective/car genre this is, and the graphics look pretty good for a PS3 game. Disclaimer I haven't played online multiplayer, but I have played split screen and while it isn't as wholesome as it could have been, it is still fun to play, and free mode just lets you drive around with a mate doing anything you want. This game is severely underrated, and I really don't hear much people talk about it. If you have the chance, you should try this game, to sum it up it is just very fun

The return of the 2d mario platformers is a very underrated game. I think this is due to the overload of 'New' Super Mario Bros games in recent years. If you (somehow) forget all of those and the legacy they created, this games is really enjoyable. I think the artisic choice works, especially for this game being a handheld platformer. The level design could provide a bit more challenge, but in saying that there are some tough levels as the game goes on. The soundtrack is the best in the 'new' series and had an original feel before the other 'new' games came out - the bowsers castle/boss theme song is an underrated gem. It also had some fantastic, memorable minigames and multiplayer modes which really gave this game some more life and worth. So, even though this game isn't as good as past 2d Mario platformers such as Mario bros 3 and Mario world, it still holds up today and is a great purchase for the DS system

i have always been on team mario, and had only recently entered the world of Zelda through Breath of the Wild. I loved that game, so when the SNES game application made its way to the switch, i immediately started to play A Link to the Past. I wasn't disappointed. Everything about this games feels just right. The amount of dungeons will keep you satisfied, the gameplay is tight. The puzzles which come out of the gameplay and the world keep you engaged, and forces you to use your intuition and curiosity in using newly aquired items and obstacles in your way. The bosses also are good for what they are, and Gannon is a fantasic ending boss. The world is a great, interesting place with unique areas, and the characters and enemies have lots of charm. This game hasn't aged one bit, and visually the game looks stellar. Fantastic, and i recommend it fully

A great send of for ds3, and definentely worth the money. Bosses are great, level design/environment is some of the best, new enemies are a challenge and the lore is as interesting as it has ever been. The dlc has some of the best parts of the souls series, and this is no exception for the ringed city dlc

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

This is still a great game, and is a must play in general, let alone if you are a soulsborne fan. However, i just felt that while i certainly liked this game, it felt a bit too samey to the original. I think more new gameplay ideas could have been added/explored, as well as new storytelling ideas. The areas too are quite similar i.e. swamps, decrepid towns, archives. I will say though the game aesthetically looks really good, and really helps shape the world. The bosses are really cool, however their difficulty is a little bit too easy overall. Don't get me wrong - nameless king, prince lothric, champion gundyr, the pontiff are all challenging bosses but the rest of them are fairly straightforward (maybe its just cause i have played other souls games). The difficulty arc though is better than ds1, progressing very well. DS2 while it certainly had its faults - as you can see in my review of it - made me feel a big sense of adventure, traversing through its many landscapes and killing its many bosses (while DS3 hasn't given me that same feeling) , and in general is an underrated game. Overall DS3 is a great game, but just lacks the originality of the first game, and isn't as grand of an adventure as ds2 for mine.

I have never been a zelda fan, but this game made me one. And i suspect that it made a lot of people who never took an interest in zelda at least appreciate the series more. Due to it's openworld nature, which is a mainstream idea found in games such as GTA, and it's easy controls, this for many would be the best way to try and get into the series. Anyway, pushing that to the side, i really enjoyed this game. It was an experience. The visuals are beautiful, the story is excellent, the controls are great, the difficulty is challenging and rewarding. And there is so much more. Lots of puzzles in the form of shrines are great ways to take a break from the fighting and the travelling, while also going towards making link stronger in your quest to beat Gannon. The paraglider is fantasic, and is a joy to use. I like the weapon system as well. This is contentious, considering the weapons you pick up and find are very easy to break. But i am fine with that, because it adds a new dimension to fighting enemies, in that if your weapon breaks, it now a puzzle on how to take on the enemy. There are some drawbacks such as tedious, time consuming traveling and some fps dips, but i can accept those because this **** a masterpiece. And the dlc has fixed the long travels. I can't wait to explore the zelda series further.

My favourite Mario Kart game. Sure, it is very easy when playing against the cpu's. Sure, some of the tracks feel very empty. Sure, especially in 2019 the graphics barely hold up. And sure, there are now newer mario karts to play. But honestly, i think this is one of the best, most progressive Mario Karts in the series. Mission mode, first inclusion of the bullet bill, great tracks such as waluigi's pinball and tick tock clock, and the first in the series to be able to connect online to race. I wish maybe the game felt a bit faster like my second favourite mario kart, Mario kart double dash, but it is my favourite mario kart and i love it to pieces.

This game is near flawless. The story is great and rewarding. The quests, while mainly just a repeat of quests from previous games, still feel satisfying. The driving took me some time to get used to, but now i really like it. Things i am not happy about: how this game can't keep the 30 fps target on occasions is annoying and very noticeable, and the controls for controling the characters when running, walking, fighting are clunky. However these problems don't take away from the game, and the endless amount of fun you can reap from it.

Despite the negative reception and reputation this game has garnered, it is a severely underrated Dark Souls game, and game in general (That said, DS1 is better in my opinion). Admittedly, it did take some time for the game to grow on me, as at the start i just felt that the environment. (forest of the fallen giants) was a bit bland and The Last Giant was an easy boss, but after the Pursuer boss i really started to like the game. For one, i really liked the gem system which went hand in hand with the flask system. I enjoyed the length of the game, and made the game feel like a massive adventure-more of an adventure than DS1 (sorry for the unpopular opinion), the DLC was superb, and the difficulty of the levels and the enemies in general was really challenging without being gamebreaking. There are some negatives though which irritated my though. One was the difficulty of the bosses. Most of the bosses in the base game were far too easy-in fact most of them were. The smelter demon, the darklurker, the pursuer and the ancient dragon are an exception to this rule. The enemy cpu's at times were sometimes broken, and didn't act how they should. There wasn't any memorable npc characters like the first game, and the level design at times wasn't very intuitive, and sometimes i got lost. Those faults still don't ruin the game for me in my eyes. and i think this game is definetly worth playing.

One of my favourite games and series'of all time. The switch really made this game feel a lot more. intimate and personal through it's handheld capabilities. The game ran smoothly most of the time, and framerate drops were hardly noticable. A very underrated way to play the game. Not as graphically capable as the ps4, but looks good nonetheless.