Tag: Game Review

Suikoden HD Remaster: The Allure of Nostalgia

Robin VanGilder4 Comments

It’s been a while, but I’ve really been mulling this one over.

This is a review, specifically of the version of Suikoden included in the package called Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars, available on all modern platforms for fifty big ones. I may review the other half, Suikoden 2, at some point, but I kinda stalled out in it. That one doesn’t have as much juice for me, though it is generally superior in every way. And that’s honestly part of what I wanted to talk about, so perhaps this will serve as a reflection on both.

Continue reading “Suikoden HD Remaster: The Allure of Nostalgia” →

Romacing SaGa 2: Personified Empire

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Alright, let’s try something else. Again!

Wagnas, one of the eponymous Seven

Those weekly blog posts weren’t really working for me. I don’t like the pressure of having something to talk about, and then they always felt too big and unwieldy and unfocused. Not the kind of work I can look back on with pride, just kind of filling time, y’know? I don’t like to post just to post. Brings back bad memories of trying to unlock privileges on message boards as a middle schooler by making enough posts, haha.

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Final Fantasy XVI Review: Towards a Better Tomorrow

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Hey, remember when I used to review video games?

Well, I never did it very much, since I do not finish video games very often, and even less often do I feel strongly enough about them to sit down and write something. Also, whenever I have the energy to return to this blog, I usually continue on my sisyphean quest to finish the Moby Dick project. But no longer! It’s time for another one!

Continue reading “Final Fantasy XVI Review: Towards a Better Tomorrow” →

Cyberpunk 2077 Review: It’s Mostly Fine

Robin VanGilder3 Comments

I am sitting on a motorcycle parked behind a cab that is being controlled by a sentient AI run amok. It is one of many such AI that I have tracked down as part of a long term sidequest involving a sentient AI cab company trying to bring its “children” back into the fold.

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The Delamain AI is subjecting me to an endless litany of warmed-over Portal jokes, using the same kind of voice modulation that GladOS did in that game, over a decade ago. There’s a line about cake, references to testing, it is absolutely awful and I sigh out loud while I wait for it to finally be over. Continue reading “Cyberpunk 2077 Review: It’s Mostly Fine” →

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Review: A Fine Return to Form

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Hey! Game reviews are a thing I do sometimes, when the stars align just right.

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So, after many years of development, another big Kickstarter success has finally been released. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is directed by Koji Igarashi, affectionately referred to by fans as IGA. It is, essentially, a new Castlevania game, in the style of those that were directed by IGA back at Konami, when they were interested in making video games. Continue reading “Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Review: A Fine Return to Form” →

Yakuza Kiwami: A Strong Foundation

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I have kind of a strange history with the Yakuza series.

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Back in the PS2 days, it was just sort of another game on the shelves among hundreds. I had no idea what it was about, other than Japanese organize crime, or even what kind of game it was. As a Nintendo fan going way back, the fact that it was made by SEGA was meaningless to me, and if anything made me less inclined to give it a shot. Continue reading “Yakuza Kiwami: A Strong Foundation” →

NIOH: Brought Down by Minutia

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It’s been a while, but I feel like writing another game review.

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I’m a big fan of the Souls series of video games, from From Software, going way back. Not quite back to the beginning, I played Demon’s Souls when it was released by Atlus and not the Asian version that was available in English before then. And, I must admit, I have never dared to try the old, impossibly archaic King’s Field series on the Playstation 1 and 2. But, going back reasonably far, shall we say. Continue reading “NIOH: Brought Down by Minutia” →

Octopath Traveler: An Odd Duck

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I’m gonna try writing some reviews!

So, Octopath Traveler is basically the reason I got a switch. The very first previews of it instantly captured my attention. It was such an amazing combination of SNES-style 16 bit sprite work and modern graphical effects. Finally, Square was going to pay tribute to their legacy of classic JRPGs without some sort of awful compromise on the art style. Continue reading “Octopath Traveler: An Odd Duck” →

Assassin’s Creed Origins: It’s Fine

Robin VanGilder3 Comments

Hey! Another sorta game review-ish thing.

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Assassin’s Creed Origins is a perfectly fine game. It’s got some incredible scenery, some decent writing here and there, but the core gameplay is a bit lacking. It’s a problem with AAA games in general, and more specifically the type of open-world games that Ubisoft develops. Continue reading “Assassin’s Creed Origins: It’s Fine” →