I agree with you on all of your points Dave. It's about as close as Nintendo has been to their 8/16 bit games of the past. I felt like we finally had a nonlinear over world that was more about exploration. That was sorely missing in Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess. I loved virtually every aspect of it, even the weapon breaking was fine because I hardly was without a weapon as the game went on.
Bring on the DLC!
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Blu - Next-Gen
- Posts: 2719
- Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:09 pm
- Location: Dallas, Texas
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ElkinFencer10 - Next-Gen
- Posts: 7591
- Joined: Fri Aug 13, 2010 8:34 pm
- Location: Henderson, North Carolina
Re: Games Beaten 2017
I actually finished this game Friday, but it took me until today to get the review written and my screenshots uploaded.
Games Beaten in 2017 So Far - 28
January (10 Games Beaten)
February (12 Games Beaten)
March (6 Games Beaten)
28. I Am Setsuna - Switch - March 24
I Am Setsuna is the first game made by Tokyo RPG Factory, a development team created by Square Enix to focus solely on producing role playing games. For a first effort, I Am Setsuna is an extremely impressive experience. What first drew me to the game was the art style; the game has an almost watercolor aesthetic that's absolutely beautiful and the type of artistic flair that I rarely see in video games.
At the core of the gameplay is your standard JRPG. There's not much in the way of frills or groundbreaking new innovations. It uses an active battle system, so it plays a lot like a modern Chrono Trigger, and as anyone who's played that game knows, anything that makes you feel like Chrono Trigger is a good thing. You assemble a party of seven characters over the course of your journey - mine were named Bhutseks, Samus Aran, Zelda, Cronoxilla, Mr. Popo, KeyGlyph, and Buttz - each of whom have their own focus and uses, leading to some diverse strategic options.
The story is a mostly generic JRPG narrative with a slight variation. You, of course, are accompanying a "chosen one" - Setsuna (or, in my game, Samus Aran) - on a quest to quell a surge in monster attacks and save the world. Your main player character is from a tribe of mercenaries who always wear masks. I guess they're from Halloween Town or something, I don't know. It never explains why they always wear masks (or, if they did, I wasn't paying attention). Anyway, story elements happen, and you're part of Setsuna's guard to protect her on her journey to the Lost Lands to offer herself as sacrifice to appease the monster gods or whatever. I don't want to explain much more than that because, while not the most original thing in the world, the story is very well told, and it would be doing a disservice to spoil any of it.
The art directions really steals the show here, though. The whole world is covered in snow, and that snow-covered landscape gives the game a fairly unique feel as far as 2D JRPGs go. You keep expecting the environment to change - we've become accustomed to a variety of biomes in games - but start to finish, the world is a winter painting. The visuals have an almost watercolor quality that make the game really stand out. I cannot stress how beautiful this game is. Playing on Switch, I was playing at 720p30 instead of 1080p60 on PC and PS4, but the game's art style isn't so realistic that the drop in resolution makes a huge difference (especially when that 720p is on a small handheld screen). A 60 FPS frame rate, I must admit, would have been nice, but the 30 FPS on Switch is consistent with no dips that I saw, and as we all know, a consistent frame rate is always better than one that fluctuates.
I Am Setsuna is a fantastic RPG experience. For Tokyo RPG Factory's first product as a new team, it's fantastic, and it has me eagerly awaiting their next project. It doesn't break new ground for the genre, but what it does, it does very well. It has the feel of an indie game (a good one, not that dime-a-dozen pixelated shit) despite being published by a huge company and developed by a team owned and created by a JRPG juggernaut. In addition to Switch, it's available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC, so most folks have a platform on which they can play it. It's not a "masterpiece," but it's an amazing experience nonetheless that I absolutely recommend to all JRPG fans.
Games Beaten in 2017 So Far - 28
January (10 Games Beaten)
February (12 Games Beaten)
March (6 Games Beaten)
28. I Am Setsuna - Switch - March 24
I Am Setsuna is the first game made by Tokyo RPG Factory, a development team created by Square Enix to focus solely on producing role playing games. For a first effort, I Am Setsuna is an extremely impressive experience. What first drew me to the game was the art style; the game has an almost watercolor aesthetic that's absolutely beautiful and the type of artistic flair that I rarely see in video games.
At the core of the gameplay is your standard JRPG. There's not much in the way of frills or groundbreaking new innovations. It uses an active battle system, so it plays a lot like a modern Chrono Trigger, and as anyone who's played that game knows, anything that makes you feel like Chrono Trigger is a good thing. You assemble a party of seven characters over the course of your journey - mine were named Bhutseks, Samus Aran, Zelda, Cronoxilla, Mr. Popo, KeyGlyph, and Buttz - each of whom have their own focus and uses, leading to some diverse strategic options.
The story is a mostly generic JRPG narrative with a slight variation. You, of course, are accompanying a "chosen one" - Setsuna (or, in my game, Samus Aran) - on a quest to quell a surge in monster attacks and save the world. Your main player character is from a tribe of mercenaries who always wear masks. I guess they're from Halloween Town or something, I don't know. It never explains why they always wear masks (or, if they did, I wasn't paying attention). Anyway, story elements happen, and you're part of Setsuna's guard to protect her on her journey to the Lost Lands to offer herself as sacrifice to appease the monster gods or whatever. I don't want to explain much more than that because, while not the most original thing in the world, the story is very well told, and it would be doing a disservice to spoil any of it.
The art directions really steals the show here, though. The whole world is covered in snow, and that snow-covered landscape gives the game a fairly unique feel as far as 2D JRPGs go. You keep expecting the environment to change - we've become accustomed to a variety of biomes in games - but start to finish, the world is a winter painting. The visuals have an almost watercolor quality that make the game really stand out. I cannot stress how beautiful this game is. Playing on Switch, I was playing at 720p30 instead of 1080p60 on PC and PS4, but the game's art style isn't so realistic that the drop in resolution makes a huge difference (especially when that 720p is on a small handheld screen). A 60 FPS frame rate, I must admit, would have been nice, but the 30 FPS on Switch is consistent with no dips that I saw, and as we all know, a consistent frame rate is always better than one that fluctuates.
I Am Setsuna is a fantastic RPG experience. For Tokyo RPG Factory's first product as a new team, it's fantastic, and it has me eagerly awaiting their next project. It doesn't break new ground for the genre, but what it does, it does very well. It has the feel of an indie game (a good one, not that dime-a-dozen pixelated shit) despite being published by a huge company and developed by a team owned and created by a JRPG juggernaut. In addition to Switch, it's available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC, so most folks have a platform on which they can play it. It's not a "masterpiece," but it's an amazing experience nonetheless that I absolutely recommend to all JRPG fans.
Exhuminator wrote:Ecchi lords must unite for great justice.
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alienjesus - Next-Gen
- Posts: 8358
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:10 pm
- Location: London, UK.
Re: Games Beaten 2017
1. 3D Power Drift 3DS
2. Maze Hunter 3-D 3DS
3. Hyrule Warriors Legends 3DS
4. Icarus Proudbottom's World of Typing Weekly PC
5. Paper Mario N64
6. Catherine PS3
7. Glover N64
8. Blast Corps N64
9. Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together! Switch eShop
10. Pullblox 3DS eShop *NEW*
Pullblox
Pullblox (known as Pushmo stateside) is an puzzle platformer game for 3DS. It was developed by Intelligent Systems (of Fire Emblem, Advance Wars and Paper Mario fame) and is the first in a series which includes Fallblox and Fullblox on 3DS (Crashmo and Stretchmo in the US) and Pullblox World on Wii U (Pushmo World in the US).
The game features your rotund sumo-like character pulling...'blox' (who'd have thought it !?) to create a path up to the goal, where a child needs to be rescued. Blocks are fixed in place on both the X and Y axis, but can be pulled forwards towards the screen up to 3 squares in order to create steps. You can only pull a block as far as you have footing, although if you can grab them from the side you can pull them out that way too to extend them further. Blocks are made up of colours, so any connected colours will form one shape which can be pulled.
In addition to the basic blocks there are some 'devices' which can be used to navigate the puzzle. Manholes are basically teleporters which you can use to go between two points on a puzzle, but certain blocks will need to be moved and pulled out first to make sure the manhole is uncovered and not blocked. Pullout switches are arrows which when jumped on, will make all blocks of the same colour as the arrow move out the full 3 steps. Sometimes these are tricks, which is just mean. You can rewind quite a while in time though to undo moves you've made in error, and there's a reset button for puzzles if you really screw up.
Pushmo is quite a fun romp early on when the going is easy, and it makes you feel pretty clever as you solve increasingly hard puzzles. Many of the levels are just made up of abstract shapes, although the most fun levels are typically the ones which make up pixel sprite work of an object. These are strangely underrepresented though, which is a shame. The game features a full level editor where you can create your own puzzles, and then share them in the form of a QR code to another player.
Unfortunately, the joy of Pullblox eluded me as I progressed further and further, and some of the puzzles got exceedingly complicated and frustrating to solve. There are over 200 stages in the main game here, and I was sick of them by the time I finished them all. There is an option to skip a stage, although I never used it, so I don't know how often it can be used or if the ending is gated in some way.
Pullblox is an interesting, well executed and nicely presented idea, but I feel that really, your mileage will vary on this one. Anyone can get some satisfaction out of the first half of the game or so, but beyond that you need to have a certain type of mindset (which I lack) or a masochistic streak (which I apparently don't lack...) to find enjoyment in the harder stages. If you love stuff like the Adventures of Lolo series, you'll probably like this. It's good, but it's an acquired taste.
2. Maze Hunter 3-D 3DS
3. Hyrule Warriors Legends 3DS
4. Icarus Proudbottom's World of Typing Weekly PC
5. Paper Mario N64
6. Catherine PS3
7. Glover N64
8. Blast Corps N64
9. Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together! Switch eShop
10. Pullblox 3DS eShop *NEW*
Pullblox
Pullblox (known as Pushmo stateside) is an puzzle platformer game for 3DS. It was developed by Intelligent Systems (of Fire Emblem, Advance Wars and Paper Mario fame) and is the first in a series which includes Fallblox and Fullblox on 3DS (Crashmo and Stretchmo in the US) and Pullblox World on Wii U (Pushmo World in the US).
The game features your rotund sumo-like character pulling...'blox' (who'd have thought it !?) to create a path up to the goal, where a child needs to be rescued. Blocks are fixed in place on both the X and Y axis, but can be pulled forwards towards the screen up to 3 squares in order to create steps. You can only pull a block as far as you have footing, although if you can grab them from the side you can pull them out that way too to extend them further. Blocks are made up of colours, so any connected colours will form one shape which can be pulled.
In addition to the basic blocks there are some 'devices' which can be used to navigate the puzzle. Manholes are basically teleporters which you can use to go between two points on a puzzle, but certain blocks will need to be moved and pulled out first to make sure the manhole is uncovered and not blocked. Pullout switches are arrows which when jumped on, will make all blocks of the same colour as the arrow move out the full 3 steps. Sometimes these are tricks, which is just mean. You can rewind quite a while in time though to undo moves you've made in error, and there's a reset button for puzzles if you really screw up.
Pushmo is quite a fun romp early on when the going is easy, and it makes you feel pretty clever as you solve increasingly hard puzzles. Many of the levels are just made up of abstract shapes, although the most fun levels are typically the ones which make up pixel sprite work of an object. These are strangely underrepresented though, which is a shame. The game features a full level editor where you can create your own puzzles, and then share them in the form of a QR code to another player.
Unfortunately, the joy of Pullblox eluded me as I progressed further and further, and some of the puzzles got exceedingly complicated and frustrating to solve. There are over 200 stages in the main game here, and I was sick of them by the time I finished them all. There is an option to skip a stage, although I never used it, so I don't know how often it can be used or if the ending is gated in some way.
Pullblox is an interesting, well executed and nicely presented idea, but I feel that really, your mileage will vary on this one. Anyone can get some satisfaction out of the first half of the game or so, but beyond that you need to have a certain type of mindset (which I lack) or a masochistic streak (which I apparently don't lack...) to find enjoyment in the harder stages. If you love stuff like the Adventures of Lolo series, you'll probably like this. It's good, but it's an acquired taste.
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prfsnl_gmr - Next-Gen
- Posts: 10913
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:26 pm
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Re: Games Beaten 2017
I really like Pullblox/Pushmo, and I very much enjoyed the heightened difficulty in the last few sections. IMO, it is one of Nintendo's best new IPs, and although I haven't caught up with all of the sequels yet, I am anxious to see what else they do with it.
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BogusMeatFactory - Next-Gen
- Posts: 6770
- Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:16 pm
- Location: Farmington Hills, MI
Re: Games Beaten 2017
prfsnl_gmr wrote:I really like Pullblox/Pushmo, and I very much enjoyed the heightened difficulty in the last few sections. IMO, it is one of Nintendo's best new IPs, and although I haven't caught up with all of the sequels yet, I am anxious to see what else they do with it.
I am always boggled when people say Nintendo has no new IPs when they have tons of little stuff like this and blockboy and splatoon. Sure they aren't always huge scale aaa style games....but the most important thing to ask is, "Is this fun?" And almost always it is.
Ack wrote:I don't know, chief, the haunting feeling of lust I feel whenever I look at your avatar makes me think it's real.
-I am the idiot that likes to have fun and be happy.
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alienjesus - Next-Gen
- Posts: 8358
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:10 pm
- Location: London, UK.
Re: Games Beaten 2017
prfsnl_gmr wrote:I really like Pullblox/Pushmo, and I very much enjoyed the heightened difficulty in the last few sections. IMO, it is one of Nintendo's best new IPs, and although I haven't caught up with all of the sequels yet, I am anxious to see what else they do with it.
Well, we all know you're a masochist too
I was OK up to about stage 150 or so, but those last few worlds just beat me down. Glad it's done to be honest.
Stretchmo/Fullblox seems fun, outside of the weird freemium pricing, but Crashmo/Fallblox looks sadistic imo. I won't be rushing into either of the sequels too soon
Last edited by alienjesus on Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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prfsnl_gmr - Next-Gen
- Posts: 10913
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:26 pm
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Re: Games Beaten 2017
alienjesus wrote:Stretchmo/Fullblox seems fun, outside of the weird freemium pricing, but Crashmo/Fallblox looks sadistic imo. I won't be rushing into either of the sequels too soon
The freemium pricing on that one is weird. I downloaded it and then just purchased all of the levels. Once you have everything, it costs the same as all of the other entries in the series. It is really hard, however, and the slightly altered mechanics really change the game significantly.
I do enjoy sadistic puzzle games...Right now - and when I'm not playing BOTW - I am working my way through Warlock's Tower. It is great, and it should be coming to the 3DS at some point.
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Exhuminator - Next-Gen
- Posts: 11573
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 8:24 am
Re: Games Beaten 2017
BogusMeatFactory wrote:I am always boggled when people say Nintendo has no new IPs when they have tons of little stuff like this and blockboy and splatoon. Sure they aren't always huge scale aaa style games....but the most important thing to ask is, "Is this fun?" And almost always it is.
It's true. New Nintendo classics like Tomodachi Life, Style Savvy: Trendsetters, Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition, Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone, and Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever & New Friends really take the sting out of not getting a new Metroid or F-Zero.
PLAY KING'S FIELD.
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alienjesus - Next-Gen
- Posts: 8358
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:10 pm
- Location: London, UK.
Re: Games Beaten 2017
Exhuminator wrote:BogusMeatFactory wrote:I am always boggled when people say Nintendo has no new IPs when they have tons of little stuff like this and blockboy and splatoon. Sure they aren't always huge scale aaa style games....but the most important thing to ask is, "Is this fun?" And almost always it is.
It's true. New Nintendo classics like Tomodachi Life, Style Savvy: Trendsetters, Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition, Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone, and Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever & New Friends really take the sting out of not getting a new Metroid or F-Zero.
And BOXBOY, Splatoon, Codename S.T.E.A.M, Pushmo, Dillon's Rolling Western, plus publishing stuff like The Wonderful 101.
Let's not forget that they've released and or funded games comebacks or new entries in other series like Bayonetta, Chibi-Robo, Pilotwings, Rhythm Paradise, Kid Icarus Uprising, Fatal Frame, Starfox, Luigi's Mansion, Pikmin, Xenoblade, plus successfully pulled Fire Emblem from the brink of death to become a top seller in it's genre and still kept many other franchises running alongside it all. Depending how far back you want to go, we also got stuff like Sin & Punishment 2 on Wii, who would ever have expected that to happen?
Don't get me wrong, I'd like another Metroid and I'd fucking love a new F-Zero, but this idea that Nintendo ignores all of it's IPs just rubs me the wrong way because they've been putting out tons of games for tons of IPs over that last few gens, many of which had been considered long dead or dormant up to that point themselves.
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prfsnl_gmr - Next-Gen
- Posts: 10913
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:26 pm
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Re: Games Beaten 2017
Also, we got a new Metroid last year. Everyone hated it, though, and two commercial failure in a row means no more Metroid for a while... 
Finally...and I'll just come out and say it...
Fast Racing Neo is better than every game in the F-Zero franchise.
Finally...and I'll just come out and say it...
Fast Racing Neo is better than every game in the F-Zero franchise.
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