Tag: games

Ninja Gaiden

Saying that Ninja Gaiden is not enjoyable would be a lie. As far as action-platformers go, it presents one of the most original set of gameplay mechanics of the era thanks to how it matches Ryu’s wall-climbing ninja abilities with basic but satisfying combat. Additionally, the way it balances good storytelling with action is a very rare sight for the genre, especially when the library of the NES is considered. Yet, it has to mentioned that the amount of satisfaction one will be able to get out of the game is strongly related to their tolerance for irregular enemy-spawning, which often threatens to undermine the great work that was done in terms of level design and vaporize it into sheer frustration. If players are able to look at that problem as a rough edge of the era, they are sure in for a treat. If that is not the case, Ninja Gaiden is still worth a look for its originality, but the journey may not last long on account of perceived unfairness.

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by Matt

Inscryption

Inscryption may have its flaws, but none of them come close to erasing the fact this is one of the best indie titles ever made. More significantly, the product manages to achieve great uniqueness in the crowded field of rogue-like gameplay, and it does so by imbuing that abundantly explored loop in a brilliant card game that is straightforward, addictive, and deeply strategic. Part horror movie, part interactive storytelling, and part deck-building goodness, Inscryption is mysteriously engaging from the start, and it ought to make players feel a whole lot like the protagonist into whose shoes they will step: desperate to finally succeed in getting out of a cabin inhabited by a hypnotizing threatening monster, but at the same time curious to stay around for a little longer to further get to the bottom of what is happening and, of course, play some cards.

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by Matt

The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

By finally being freed from the tiny screen to which it was confined for more than two decades, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening reveals to the world that it has always been a far bigger game than its appearance let on. In a way, some may rightfully claim they were already aware of that fact. After all, back on the days of the Game Boy, it was clear that this was a title that broke the pattern exhibited by franchises that were transported to a handheld setting: where most of them visibly shrunk to unsatisfying sizes, this was an adventure that felt almost as big as its already ambitious console sibling. Yet, on the Switch, that reality becomes more blatant than ever, and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening uses an exquisitely colorful visual, a basic – to modern standards – but engaging approach to dungeon design, and a whimsical tropical world with a simple touching story embedded in mystery to prove its worth as a major quest of both the past and the present.

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by Matt

Mark Of The Ninja

Within the framework of a sidescrolling platformer, Mark of the Ninja unearths stealth gameplay that is layered, varied, engaging, and thrilling. Carried by the flexibility of its protagonist, the natural behavior of its enemies, and the intricacy of its levels, it dares players to think strategically and act swiftly. Boosted by its detailed mechanics involving noise and lines of sight, it uses a simple format to create complex situations that reveal a very high degree of care. At last, augmented by satisfying optional content that challenges without ever generating frustration, it allows anyone to take a shot at mastering the art of being a ninja. The result is a stealth experience of rare quality that ought to deeply please fans of the genre and that might even be able to pull some nonbelievers into its grasp.

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by Matt

Contra

One could say that eight stages are not enough; that its high difficulty, which surpasses the already elevated standards of the time, makes it nearly unpalatable for a modern audience; or that its gameplay is too simple compared to what some classics of the console pulled off. These are all valid arguments, but they simply highlight Contra’s nature as an arcade title that was ported to a home console; as such, those are not necessarily flaws, but features that were planned from the start. And the fact they exist as part and parcel of the package leads to the only verdict that could be reached given the game’s numerous qualities: Contra is not universally appealing, but to those who love products of its kind, it is hard to find a better experience on the NES as far as its niche is concerned.

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by Matt

Sports Story

As such, Sports Story is not disappointing simply due to how it is marred by multiple technical problems; the game fails to live up to what was expected of it because in bugs as well as in gameplay it comes off as an unfinished sequel to one of the Nintendo Switch’s best indie titles. If on one hand it provides an adventure that mixes questing with sports in clever engaging ways that top what its fantastic predecessor had achieved, on the other hand it massively fails in using the multiple activities it embraces to create exciting competitions that match those offered by Golf Story, hence essentially not properly exploring the mechanics it built. It is a weird duality whose causes are tough to explain, as they could have originated from a lack of manpower to materialize a bold concept, the failure to understand what made the prequel so incredible, or overblown expectations. Regardless of the reason, however, Sports Story is a very mixed bag that will remain a decent but very flawed product even after most of its bugs have been sorted out.

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by Matt

Faxanadu

The fact the NES’ library was not rich with adventure games means there is not much weight in saying Faxanadu is one of the system’s best examples of the genre. However, that somewhat lonesome position in that niche makes the title much more special, because not only was it among the few courageous enough to navigate the console’s limitations to aim for a gameplay style that thrives on a large scope, but it also succeeded in its goal with flying colors. Even if it exhibits a few rough edges of the era, Faxanadu is an elegant and carefully designed journey that perfectly balances openness and focus. Therefore, when it comes to grand quests, a player could hardly do better as far as the NES is concerned.

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by Matt

Pokémon Scarlet And Violet

Nevertheless, even if Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are enticing in their open-world format, alluring in how they boast the always addictive formula of the franchise, and significant in the load of content they carry, the overall feeling these games produce is mixed. Because while it may be true that their free-roaming nature is something fans of the franchise had been craving for since the handheld era, the state in which that concept materializes here is not ideal, and it is bound to remain as such. After all, although patches might fix some of the more flagrant technical problems, many of them are likely to remain; additionally, more gravely, the design issues that hold Pokémon Scarlet and Violet back from greatness are definitive, because the shallowness of Paldea, the dullness of some specific activities, and the lack of challenge that plagues the main quest are not going away. As such, these are games that definitely check the box of bringing the Pokémon franchise to the open-world realm, but they fail to take advantage of that opportunity to truly transform the property.

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by Matt

Bayonetta 3

Therefore, while it contains a good number of gimmicks that hold it back from being as good as it could have been, Bayonetta 3 is not only incredibly satisfying, but also a wild ride that feels like the franchise’s boldest and biggest entry yet. After all, in this installment, the property is neither debuting nor being rescued from the brink of nothingness: it is firing on all cylinders as well as receiving the financial and creative backing that a series of its caliber deserves. With those parameters in place, Bayonetta 3 occasionally stumbles on its ambitions; however, when it hits the mark, which fortunately happens very often, it generates uncanny doses of amusement and ridiculousness. Consequently, even if its flaws may stop one from dubbing it the best Bayonetta game, this third chapter is still one of the best and most stylish examples of the hack and slash genre.

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by Matt

Mario + Rabbids: Sparks Of Hope

Still, even if it falters in tone, suffers in plot, and punctually loses itself in putting quantity above quality in battles, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is a worthy sequel to one of the Nintendo Switch’s most unexpectedly engaging titles. And it would not be exaggerated to claim it surpasses the original in pretty much every regard. The exploration that felt tacked on is now complete as well as fulfilling; the world is a sight to behold; the music is lushly enchanting; the scope of the quest feels absolutely huge, with a meaty critical path of epic proportions and optional content that occasionally falters but that ultimately delivers more often than it does not; the role-playing elements power an incredible degree of customization; and its battle system remains an interesting mixture of strategic thinking and movement-based antics that are extremely satisfying to pull off. Given all of that, this crazy pet project of Davide Soliani once again proves again that courage and absurd ideas have a place in mainstream gaming; and though projects of the kind may be doubted or mocked at first, if love and competence join forces to make them materialize in style, audiences are sure to give in and happily flock to these games.

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by Matt