Reviews on Other Sites

 Note: This a short opinion piece about my thoughts on reviews.

            I was browsing various games sites to read their reviews and I noticed that mostly big name games get 2-3 page reviews. If it wasn't a big name release then it typically got only a page. Even for RPG's like the Tales series, they would be just 1 page long compared to big name RPG's like Fallout 4. Even NBA 2016 would get a 3 page review. It's not really fair that only certain games get a full length review, while others are merely summarized. I understand that paid reviewers have many games to review, but they do deserve better. They don't all have to be 3 pages long, but at least long enough to do a game justice. It doesn't do many games justice to merely summarize them as it will eventually make them sound all the same. There is more to gaming then the big name titles that are out there.

3D Dot Game Heroes Review

3D Dot Game Heroes

Developer: Silicon Studios

Publisher: From Software (JPN), Atlus (NA)

Platforms: PS3

Release: 5/11/2010 (NA)

Genre: Action-Adventure

Modes: Single-Player

Availability: Online Stores like Amazon ($30 New)

Disclaimer:

- I'm not a professional reviewer.

- A Link to the Past was my first Zelda game.

- I enjoy classic style games like this.

Info:

“3D Dot Game Heroes” is made by Silicon Studios who have developed; Operation: Darkness, Bravery Default 1 and 2, FANTASICA, and other games.

Story:

          The plot involves the player character being a descendent of the legendary hero that stop evil from taking over Dotinia Kingdom. Years latter the popularity of the kingdom wanes so the king decides to make the world 3D in order to make the world more appealing. Unfortunately, this strengthened evil and put the kingdom into peril again. So it's up to you to save the Kingdom.

          The writing is light hearted and silly with many tributes to classic games like Dragon's Quest, Final Fantasy, and of course, Zelda. There is plenty of 4^th wall breaking references that acknowledged the silly game-play and story tropes that appear in many games. It's nether obnoxious or in your face, but subtle humor.

Graphics:

          The game is rendered as millions of tiny cubed pixels known as voxels. From the game world to the characters, it helps give it a retro NES/SNES feeling to it. Looking at the character from a flat perspective or from far away on an overhead view, they can almost be mistaken for sprites. When you play for the first time, the colors may look flat and muted. You will need to adjust the brightness and color setting, in-game, to make it look it's best. Too much color and brightness will hide the outlines of the voxels and blend some colors together. You may also have to adjust it in the volcano and wind valley sections where the HDR can make things hard to see. It's a minor issue, but it's something that can be easily fixed.

Katamari Forever Review

Katamari Forever

Developer/Publisher: Namco Bandai Games

Release: September 22 2009 (NA)

Platform: PS3

Genre: Rolling game

Modes: Single Player, Offline VS mode, Offline Co-operative

Availability: Online stores (Amazon for $20)

Disclaimer:

- I have completed all levels in all modes with mostly

100 and 120 points for them.

-I have collected 97% of objects and almost

all the cousins and presents found in the levels.

-I don't have a second controller so I couldn't play multi-player

-I'm new to the series

-I got it for $20

-"Katamari Forever" is  primarily a best of collection of levels

Story:

          The story begins with the prince show the King of the Cosmos how high he can jump. Eager to show the prince what he can do, the king leaps into space, but a space object knocks him in the head and gives him amnesia. So the prince and his cousins decide to make Robo King to temporary replace the King of the cosmos, but Robo King goes out of control and destroys the cosmos. So it is up to the prince and his friends to fix the cosmos and cure the King's amnesia.

          It's a silly and charming story that you don't take seriously. The rest of the story is filler of what the queen does in the mean time, and the jumbo man team's antics. These story movies can be re-watched in the movie theater option. Quirky dialogue is what makes up the rest of the game and adds to the charm of the game. You have characters like the Robo King is a sympathetic character who's self depreciating dialogue is charming and silly. It's not grating or obnoxious so it can be appreciated by anyone. The writing adds plenty to the quality of the product that would not be the same without it.

Super Stardust HD Review

Super Stardust HD

Developer: Housemarque

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Genre: Twin-stick shooter

Release: 6/28/07 (PS3), 12/8/08 (PSP)

Platforms: PS3, PSP

Modes: Single-player, Co-operative Multi-player

Availability: PlayStation Network Store

Disclaimer:

-I'm not that great at arcade shooters.

-I only played on easy mode, which

was hard enough for me.

- Completed arcade mode, but still

have two planets to go on planetary conquest mode.

-I don't have a second controller so I couldn't play co-op.

-I didn't purchase the dlc for the game,

though they are variations of arcade mode.

Graphics:

          Super Stardust HD is visual treat with plenty of shiny and glowing effects that give it a visual vibrancy that most games don't have. The style of vibrant lighting helps with the alien sci-fi visual theme. Texture wise, they are simple and nothing to write home about, but the intense visual effects compensate for it.

Game-play:

          Super Stardust HD is a twin stick arcade shooter where you guide a small ship around a 3 dimensional sphere and destroy as many enemies and rocks as possible in each wave. Each wave has a certain amount of rocks and enemies that need to be destroyed before you can advance, but new ones will drop in on you as you play. Surviving 4 waves on a planet will trigger the boss fight that can only be hurt from his weak point. Once you beat a planet, you will unlock it in it's respective mode and will have to beat 4 more planets.

          As it is an arcade shooter, there are plenty of power-ups to utilize in your survival. There are extra lives, shields that let you take a free hit, points, and ammo powers. You have access to three weapons for the three types of rocks you encounter. It is possible to destroy rocks with other weapons, but they are not as effective as their color coded counterpart. The green rock cutter, the red gold cutter, and the blue ice cutter. The rock cutter shoots thin beams that go fast but has a moderate effective range. Gold cutter is like a flamethrower that has shorter range, but can lock onto multiple enemies without aiming. Ice beam shoots thicker projectiles that travel far, but are slower then the other two. Bombs are limited, but can destroy everything on screen. Enemies don't have any weapons they are weak to so you are free to use any beam that is strong enough and effective.

Armored Core: For Answer Review

Armored Core: For Answer

Developer: From Software

Publisher: Ubisoft

Release: 9/26/08 NA

Genre: Mech Combat

Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360

Availability: Can be found used for decent prices

Modes: Single-player, Multi-player

Disclaimer:

• This is my first Armored Core game
• I reviewed the Xbox 360 version
• I bought this game used at a cheap price
• I like blowing stuff up
• I completed 2 endings, 75% of normal S-ranks
  and 50% of Hard mode S-ranks.

Story:

          Armored Core: For Answer is the sequel to Armored Core 4. It takes place 10 years after the AC4, where you play as a new Lynx, who performs mission for the various corporations that fight among each other. Depending on which missions you chose the course of the story changes.

          My synopses of the story is brief due to most of it being spoilers and that it's not a big story. You could describe the entire story, with spoilers, in a single paragraph. The plot is confusing at first, until you get two of the endings and beat the Orca arena, where it all makes sense. It is an interesting story, but it fails being a compelling factor to playing the campaign. While there is more back-story to the Armored Core 4 universe, it too is sparse. Both the back-story and the main plot waste potential to become more then what they are. You don't get to know the characters or there motivations in what they do. They come and go like cannon fodder. You're not going to buy this game for it's story.

About This Site

      I made this blog to post various game reviews I felt like writing. At first the were quick bullet point outlines, but I didn't feel satisfied, and I wondered if I could write a review well. Hence why reviews from Thief 2 and on-wards are fully written.

Generally speaking, I've never been satisfied with game reviews as they lack details or don't paint a picture in my head of what a game is. I'll read a review and latter see a video of the game which ends up being quite different then what I imagine it to be. Also, I always find myself think about how a game works while playing and how other regard it. I know it's not easy thing to convey and our feelings about a game will not be the same, but I feel like trying to at least convey as accurately as I can what a game is. I'm not perfect and I might miss details that I didn't think of writing or not do as good of a job as I would hope in convey what the game is.

      Always feel free to point out mistakes, inaccuracies, ways I could convey a detail better, etc. You can criticize me.

      I post game reviews once a month due to life, game length, difficulty witting a review, and trying to not have a review drought.

Fallout Shelter Review

Fallout Shelter

Developer: Besthesda Game Studio's

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Genre: Management Simulation

Release: IOS- 6/14/15, Android- 8/13/15

Modes: Single-player

Platforms: Android and IOS

Price: Free

Disclaimer:

-I like management simulations

-I'm harsh and picky.

-I'm not a professional journalist.

-I try to 100% games unless it's pointless or tediously stupid.

-Todd Howard did not bribe me with his body.

-I'm not big into mobile games.

Graphics:

       Technically, the 3D visuals are low resolution, blurry crap that you would see if you play a game at the lowest visual setting. It sticks out like a sore thumb despite not being needed. They are not detailed or use lots of colors so there is no need for them to be blurry. You will notice this when you zoom into a room. As for the 2D visuals, they are fine at any screen size due to there paper look. They are nothing to write home about, but are okay. Characters are based on a modified version pip boy character.