GIPL 4

With the release of Pokemon Sun and Moon last fall, I tried to finish several games that I had previously started but left hanging. Combine that with the extra free time I had over my holiday break, and we have a lot of micro reviews to go through. Let's not waste any more time.

Super Mario RPG (Wii Virtual Console)

After finishing EarthBound, I still had a craving for a non-traditional RPG. Super Mario RPG has a lot of hype on the internet, so I gave it a shot. While I enjoyed the combination of turn-based and real time combat and the quirky characters and environments, the lack of challenge or any real depth/difficulty made this game fall a bit short for me. Of course, it did follow EarthBound, so maybe it never really had a chance for greatness in my book. 

My GIPL Rating: B-

Outland (PC)

I'm always looking for new indie Metroidvania games to try, and this one is the latest one that I took a crack at. While I was initially drawn to the art style, I found that the meat of this game was lacking a bit, especially as a Metroidvania. The red/blue mechanic was nice, but some of the puzzles that resulted from this mechanic didn't seem like they were very well thought out. The combat was lackluster, and many of the abilities were pretty useless in the long run. Finally, it was more linear than I prefer my Metroidvania games. It wasn't a bad game by any stretch, but compared to Guacamelee! or the other indie Metroidvania further down on this list, this one can't quite compete.

My GIPL Rating: C+

Injustice: Gods Among US (PC)

I was in a crazy DC phase a few weeks ago while watching Justice League Unlimited. I had a hankerin' for a video game with these characters, so I picked up this fighting game. It scratched the itch, but I haven't really picked it up since. The story was interesting, but the nature of fighting games makes the delivery lackluster. I had fun while I played it, but spent more time with another similar game that will appear below. 

My GIPL Rating: C

Wario Land 4 (GBA)

Below Pokemon and Metroid, Wario (particularly the Wario Land series) is my favorite gaming franchise. They have always been a playground for Nintendo to try stuff too offbeat for a Mario game, and almost everything they try is gold. Wario Land 4 may be the pinnacle of this. I don't think I've ever played a platformer where every single level, every single mechanic, and every single aesthetic design is so unique and varied. At least once per level I chuckled out loud with glee over some feature or moment, garnering some weird looks when I stood in line to vote. People complain that this game is too short, but I don't care if a game is 5 hours if all 5 hours provide an original and innovative gaming experience. Try this one if you haven't yet.

My GIPL Rating: A+

Pazuru (3DS)

If you're confused by what you see above, the ball (left of screen) travels on its own in the direction opposite its tail (so down, in the above case). The A button makes blocks appear or disappear, or rotates certain blocks, etc. You basically want the ball to collect all of the stars in a few turns as possible. Still confused? Just look it up on the eshop. I had a lot of fun with this simple puzzle game, even taking the time to 100% it. I got it for super cheap during a sale, but if it interests you, it's worth picking up at regular price.
My GIPL Rating: B

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PlayStation...I totally didn't emulate it)

I finally reached the point where I couldn't continue to call myself a Metroidvania fan without playing the other half of the namesake. If you're one of the rare people who doesn't own a PlayStation console or Xbox 360 (like I don't), it can be hard to find a legit copy of this game, which is what held me back. I eventually...solved that problem and gave it a go. I'll save the meat of my thoughts on this game for it's upcoming face-off with Super Metroid, but I enjoyed it decently. Kind of like Super Mario RPG, didn't quite live up to internet hype.

My GIPL Rating: A-

Mortal Kombat (2011) (PC)

So I got this one during the same sale as Injustice, and as soon as I finished Injustice I played through the MK remake. I had dabbled with this game before in college, but I enjoyed having some time to explore the game myself. There are so many cool characters that I want to master, and doing all of the fatalities is so much fun. I put a lot more hours into this game than Injustice, and definitely consider it the better fighting game. 

My GIPL Rating: B+

Donkey Kong Country (3DS Virtual Console)

So for some reason when this game came to the New 3DS eshop, I got really excited and bought it. I have no idea why, just like I have no idea why this game is so popular. I get that the graphics were somewhat revolutionary, but a 3D model in 2D space just makes for a really imprecise platformer. There are several cheap shots, and I can't hardly stand playing a game with finite lives anymore. I powered through this one just to say I finished it. Doubt I'll ever touch it or any of its sequels again. 

My GIPL Rating: D

Axiom Verge (PC)

By far the best of the indie Metroidvania titles on this list. I initially was kind of turned off by how identical the game looks to the original Metroid on the surface. However, the repeating tiles and an open-ended 2D world with hidden items and backtracking are really where the similarities of the two games end. Axiom Verge has enterprisingly original items, abilities, and setting. It tells an ambiguous story that has sparked a lot of fan theories and has a feel that's completely unique and alien, but not in the same way Metroid games are. The world is absolutely huge, but is well-compartmentalized and easy to navigate. It's an instant hit for me, and one of the most highly recommended games on this version of GIPL.

My GIPL Rating: A+

Kirby's Adventure (3DS Virtual Console)

This game is incredibly impressive for an NES title. As far as content and aesthetic, this game could almost pass as a SNES game. Yeah, it's a little easy, but that's kind of what you get when you play a Kirby game. It's more about relaxing and trying out new abilities that you've absorbed from enemies than intense challenge. Kirby's Adventure is the perfect lighthearted romp at the end of a stressful day.

My GIPL Rating: B

BoxBoy (3DS)

From one HAL Laboratory game to another, BoxBoy is a relatively new IP from the minds that came up with Kirby. BoxBoy is more puzzle and less platformer. I imagine that this game would best be played in pieces, like one of the 22 worlds in every sitting. Toward the end of my time with this game, I was really pushing to get it done, and lost some enjoyment as a result. 100% completing the game didn't help. This game is just fine as a puzzle game, but it doesn't hold up to Portal, a game it's often compared to, for some reason. 

My GIPL Rating: B-

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (GBA)

My quest to play all of the western-released Fire Emblem games continues with Sacred Stones. Compared to Blazing Sword (see GIPL 3.0), I appreciate the overworld map to get my bearings and organize my inventory. I didn't particularly find the optional skirmishes useful or necessary, but they're there to take advantage of if the player so desires. The story was solid, but many of the characters were lackluster. Since characterization is so central to a Fire Emblem game, this unfortunately drags the game down to my least favorite one that I've played so far. 

My GIPL Rating: B+

Dr. Mario (3DS Virtual Console)

I just realized that I've Played a lot of puzzle Games Lately. I had a few extra bucks lying around, and I've never actually played this Tetris rip-off. If you're in a Tetris mood but don't want to play actual Tetris, Dr. Mario is a perfectly acceptable substitute. It has a bit of a steeper learning curve than the insanely intuitive Tetris, but once you get the idea, it can be an addictive challenge. Perfect poop game. 

My GIPL Rating: B

Pokemon Moon (3DS)

After an unusually long time without a main-series release, Pokemon finally has its official Seventh (!) generation. Here's the dealio: The reports of S&M (heh) "changing up the formula" were waaaay overblown. After crawling through an agonizing two hour tutorial, you still:
1) Go to place
2) Catch Pokemon
3) Fight somewhat strong person
4) Repeat 1-3 a few times
5) Acknowledge the existence of ineffective Pokemon gang
6) Befriend a deity Pokemon for some reason
7) Become the champion of not only Pokemon battling, but also friendship and hugging
Some of the new designs are really good (I'm actually a pretty huge fan of Mimikyu, this gen's Espurr), but that's really the only reason to keep coming back for more. It may not be enough by the time we get to Gen VIII.
My GIPL Rating: C

Guacamelee! STCE 100% Hard Mode Co-Op (PC)

I've raved about this game on multiple occasions, so I'm not gonna continue to bore you with the same old stuff. Over the course of two long yet fun gaming sessions, me and Mickey did a co-op 100% hard mode run. We Plat'd this one to boot. Don't believe me? Check my Steam. 

My GIPL Rating: M for strong chicken violence

Severed (3DS)

Speaking of Guacamelee, Severed is a completely different outing by the same devs, DrinkBox Studios. It's a first-person action/adventure game with some light RPG elements. It takes place in a Aztec-looking underworld filled with gross-looking monsters. The game goes between dungeon crawling with some Zelda/Metroid Prime-esque environmental puzzles, and combat sequences that are basically a more complex version of Fruit Ninja. The art direction will be familiar to Guacamelee fans, and the darker mood is a lot of fun. I even enjoyed the combat more than I thought I would. I did a 100% run of this game, but admittedly this was a much smaller task than a Guacamelee 100%. The game length was just about right for what it was (6-7 hours), but the price point may be a bit too steep for how much game you're getting ($15). Pick it up if it's ever on sale. 

My GIPL Rating: A-

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS)

A few GIPLs back, I talked about playing Aria of Sorrow, Dawn's prequel. I loved that game, and I love Dawn for all of the same reasons. It's basically just a better-looking version of Aria, complete with a new castle and a few new faces. The pacing and level design of this game are pristine, among the best Metroidvania games I've ever played. The game never tells you where to go, but you'll find your way there without needing any help. The soul absorption system of secondary items/magic abilities is also so much fun. There are hundreds of abilities that the various enemies may drop, leading to endless combat styles. Even the story isn't half bad. Soma Cruz is becoming more comfortable with his role as a soul-absorbing reincarnation of Dracula who fights for good. Handily defeating pretenders is very satisfying under this context. I'd say this one is tied with Aria as my favorite Castlevania to date, and that includes being preferred over Symphony.

My GIPL Rating: A+

Super Castlevania IV (Wii Virtual Console)

Speaking of Castlevania games I've previously reviewed in GIPL, for some reason I had a weird urge to replay this infuriating SNES game. I cheated this time around and used save states to help me navigate this unfairly difficult platformer. I don't mind hard games. I've beaten Super Meat Boy, as I tend to mention too often. But this game is hard for all the wrong reasons. It has an unforgiving autosave system that determines where you return after a death, the controls are clunky, and Simon Belmont moves like he has Guillain-Barre syndrome. Luckily it's a short game, and after agonizingly fighting Dracula like 50 times, I finally beat him and this stupid game. I'm not revisiting it again, FYI.

My GIPL Rating: D+

Shantae: Risky's Revenge (PC)

So as I mentioned earlier I try to play any halfway decent Metroidvania game that I catch wind of. One that I consistently hear is really good is Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. I've also heard that Risky's Revenge, Curse's predecessor, is also pretty good, so I wanted to try it before I dove into Curse. Well consider me unimpressed with this indie icon's second outing. The game was originally DSi Ware, and some of the controls don't translate well to PC. The map is minimally helpful, and there are a handful of essential items that you only use once or twice that were really hard to find. I prefer essential items to be well-placed with level design that silently guides the player to find them naturally but relatively easily (like basically everything in Super Metroid). If that can't be done, I suppose it's okay to explicitly tell me where the item is. Risky's Revenge does neither. You'll find these essential items in the same, ordinary caves that house extra cash or a life upgrade. Ain't nobody got time for that. Aside from that, the game was fine. Nothing about it really blew my mind. We'll see how Pirate's Curse goes. 

My GIPL Rating: C

Undertale (PC)

Per usual, I'm a few years late to the trendy games. You probably already know about Undertale, so I'll try to limit this to my experience with it. I'm a huge EarthBound fan, and its influence in Undertale is obvious and the two are often compared. EarthBound is a game that tells a great story. Undertale is a great story told through a game. That may be a bit confusing, but the difference is in the focus. EarthBound has a larger and more consistent game world and mechanics throughout. Undertale is more flexible with its gameplay and world based on the needs of the story, and is therefore much more linear as a result. They both have cheeky and wall-breaking humor that I enjoyed, and they both do a great job of incorporating the player into the narrative without making them the in-game character. While I love both of them, Undertale falls a bit short of EarthBound in my book, mostly because gameplay is too-often sacrificed for the story. There's a lot more I can write about this, but someone else probably has already done it better. So go search the internet, friend. I got a little sidetracked there, but yeah. Undertale. Good game. Great story/message.

My GIPL Rating: A

That. Is. It. Love you all -\m/ (that's the love sign thing that people make with their hands. Not to be confused with Spider-Man web thwip thwip)