Joseph Willis

Reviews and other content aren't verified by Google

A most rewarding and artful experience! Gameplay-wise, your reward is the freedom to explore the world in different directions soon after starting, and a storyline of high fantasy adventure and intrigue with decisions that change future character scenes. The gameplay of building units toward a strategy and exploring the maps with them to capture terrain and find treasure, similar to the Ogre Battle video game series, sates something within me. Also decorating my own coats of arms was amusing. Presentationally, your reward is some of the most beautiful sprite art in the industry, and lush sound effects and soundtrack; the hoofbeats on the earth are absolutely visceral, the lightning and rain on the character sprite work is crisp and atmospheric, and the choral pieces in particular whisk me away. This is the reason Vanillaware is so highly regarded in video game circles.

This anime combines shounen and shoujo sensibilities to present a web of character drama, political intrigue, and swashbuckling adventure in a world where magic and technology interweave. The story of love, war, and fate sets a good pace, avoiding stagnating filler; while one subplot winds down, another develops. The large cast is fairly memorable and full of secrets and twists. If you like InuYasha, Record of Lodoss War, Neon Genesis Evangelion, The Twelve Kingdoms, or Fushigi Yuugi, you may find a new friend in this series.

This exploration and action game is beautiful, but not just visually. Yes, the art style brings to mind traditional paintings, prints, old chanbara films, and even possible references to Ninja Turtles and the video game Ninja Princess in the costumes of two of its characters...but I also want to mention the soundscape: menus unfold with the pluck of a shamisen or the beat of a taiko, and the soundtrack features many traditional Japanese instruments. The gameplay consists of exploration, running, jumping, and fast-paced chanbara-style sword fights! Then there's a delightfully atmospheric story that is a pastiche of various Japanese plays, ghost stories, folktales, and legends that even slips in some jokes for those who recognize the references. Then there's the deliciously animated cuisine...This game is a wonderland for anyone interested in ninja, samurai, Japanese fantasy, yōkai, or just a fast-paced sword-swinging adventure with a beautiful presentation.

Your route progression is more guided than in Super Metroid & of course the original NES Metroid (which doesn't have an in-game map): this game often sets a beacon on your map, but doesn't tell you how to get there, or fill in everything. It still feels like exploration however, and more areas (such as the Chozo Ruins), new encounters and room changes, and new abilities (like ledge grabbing) give you more to do while wandering the otherworldly strata of Planet Zebes. A friendlier interface (map marks change if you've collected the secret) is welcome, and encounters such as with the Mother Brain have been made more dynamic and challenging. It also includes an unlockable port of the original game. This is comfort food for those who like exploring alien environments, encountering bizarre creatures, and jumping and zapping.