@Pastellioli I agree completely with everything that you wrote. Relaxed is a very good definition of how things were not long ago. Of course, only hateful things should be censored. I also remember the last scene of Conker's Bad Fur Day! Not just Conker but Banjo, Kazooie, Cranky Kong... They all are awesome and stay in my heart unlike most video game characters. The music, the graphics, the characters and the fun are things that make Rare's games special. If you haven't, you're going to have to add Viva Piñata to your play list!
@Banjo- Agreed, I also cannot stop thinking about Conker or a lot of Rare’s games! I think it’s pretty rare for a game to stick with me after playing it. I think another thing that made Conker so memorable to me was the message it had at the end in spite of how lighthearted and raunchy it made itself to be for the entire game besides the characters, story, and gameplay. I won’t go into it, but I have issues related to materialism, and the message basically being “appreciate the people around you and the stuff you already have instead of wanting more of it” and how some things may not be like what they seem made me connect with it and even the main character somewhat, since the way he acts with money and getting easily distracted by it is something I similarly do, though it’s more with items than money.
I played the first Viva Piñata and some of its sequel and did make some progress with the first one, but I sort of screwed up while playing it, since I forgot to put fences around the garden and about two of my piñatas got destroyed, and it’s a bit difficult right now to make money to buy more fences. On top of that, I’m trying to get a Doenut as a resident piñata and even have the stuff for it, but it always isn’t attracted and keeps leaving! I don’t know if I should revisit my garden or start a new playthrough because of the mistakes I’ve made, but I think that would be pointless and undo a lot of my progress.
@Yousef- I would love if they did that. I already do play a Hatsune Miku rhythm game on my phone, but haven’t played the Project DIVA games and have been wanting to, but they never ported them to Xbox and I don’t have a Switch or PlayStation right now…There was a spin-off on the 3DS that I did want for a while, but I never got to buy it off the eShop before they closed it. I really don’t like how in the game I play the virtual singer characters are basically side characters, since the Vocaloid songs and characters are the only reason why I downloaded the game, plus the version I play is slow with updates and take a while to add songs I really want to play. It’s significantly behind the Japanese version.
I remember that and the message about war. The most important things in life are experiences and feelings. The proof is that richer people aren't happier. Now I remember that we have talked about Viva Piñata before. It's been a long time since I played it but, like Nuts and Bolts, it's a game that gets easier and more fun the more you play it because it becomes much easier to protect your garden. One thing I do recommend is focusing on breeding one species at a time, because when you have seven of each, you unlock an achievement. Then you can use them for other purposes and even summon them later if you need or want them. You don't need to start a new file at all, you can modify and improve your garden anytime. Whenever you decide to play Viva Piñata, take your time. There are some stressful moments if you try to do things quickly, but as you progress everything becomes doable, charming, fun and rewarding. The soundtrack is beautiful.
@Banjo- It is really surprising that a game that is supposed to be super raunchy had a very important message. I didn’t think about it much when I finished the game and sort of wrote it off, but when I started to realize how materialistic I was a few months ago this year, I started thinking about the game’s final scene more and how Conker acts throughout the game, since I feel the way he acts is similar to how I act with items and money; he initially makes it his goal to get back home as soon as possible to rest and to see his girlfriend but after he is given money by the queen bee, he gets distracted by it and only helps people for cash because he wants to be a millionaire, which he realizes isn’t worth it in the end. I just think the game is amazing with its writing, and it’s definitely a message I needed to hear and will definitely remember.
Ok, I’ll remember your advice when I play it again. I actually have a four member family of Squazzils and Whirlms are very easy to grow and breed, so I probably need to do that for the rest of the piñatas I have. I do tend to forget that some games like that are supposed to be slower paced and relaxed.
@Pastellioli It is. Some messages have stayed with me after playing certain games, mostly things about childhood and family. I'm glad that this message got through to you! Are you playing Perfect Dark Zero?
@Banjo- I am playing Zero, but I haven’t touched it in maybe two days and I’m still on the second mission, though I’ll probably play it later today. Still like it, and I am pretty fond of the aesthetic the game is giving off. Don’t mind how much more cheesier the game is, since I actually like it! I am hoping I can finish it faster than the first Perfect Dark, but I don’t think I should rush it.
What did I think about the game? Well to be honest I was mostly disappointed.. Why? Because I did think that the game was quite repetitive and the game play a little boring tho. While wanted to really like the game, it did felt to me like it took several steps backwards compared to the first game in the series, which I of course did find very unfortunate.
At least the nice graphics and environments was left intact from the first game. Also the game had just as first one some nice puzzles which did make it feel a little bit like Tomb Raider. Would state this aspect of the game as Hellblade 2 strongest merits.
I hope that Ninja theory get another chance to develop a new game. Hopefully something more ambitious and a little longer then Hellbalde 2. Not sure if can except some DLC for this title soon? Is it possible that Ninja Theory got something in store for us? I mean the studio was generous to include a NG+ mode this time (have have not had time played it yet though). Also the Photo Mode was very nice this time, to.. Just as in the first game you can spend some time taking very nice pictures if you like. Would be to have a place to share it. But yeah as usual the companies dont want you to do that hehe (guess it would take up much storage space for them to host the pictures)..
Dont understand how it took a Microsoft owned studio like Ninja Theory so long to develop this title given how short the game was. Partly because of the long development time I had expected a longer game then first one but yeah it was shorter for some reason.. So maybe not the best game around. But it had some merits (even though I would say that it did not make up for the shortcomings).
@Pastellioli I see you're having a good time with Perfect Dark Zero already 😁.
I just remembered Jet Force Gemini. Once I got used to the controls and aiming, that are better on Xbox than on Nintendo, it's one of the best gaming times I've ever had. Another one I would recommend!
@oliverp I wrote on this thread about Hellblade I and II. I also liked the first one more, especially because of the better combat, but I hated one section in the first game. The sequel is very impressive and a bit shorter, so I'd still recommend it. They took a long time because they were getting used to Unreal Engine 5. Hellblade II is considered the first game to make the most of it. I've never seen a more realistic torch. Since Hellblade II is relatively short and linear, they got a game earlier. Unlike Epic, The Coalition and Id, they are not experts in Unreal Engine. I expect great things from The Coalition and Id and I bet that Ninja Theory's next game will be better, because they already know how to use the new engine. It's called Project: Mara, for now.
Just finished the game right now, and holy moly that was fun and so ridiculous. After finishing the first Perfect Dark, I had initially decided to play through Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, but I was recommended to play the prequel to Perfect Dark instead since I was used to the gameplay after finishing the first, plus some of the people on here were curious to know how I would feel about Zero. Before I played both Perfect Dark games, I knew the general consensus on them: the first game was the good game and Zero was the bad game. I didn’t exactly know why Zero got the mixed to negative reception it did (since at the time I had no interest in playing it) but despite the reception it got, I played it and absolutely loved it.
The game still retained its signature gunplay and gadgetry in its gameplay, but I’d say it is better than the first game. The aiming is more precise, which allowed for me to shoot accurately compared to the first game, where I found the gun aiming to be off and sometimes go off-center when I tried to get precise shots.
I love the new mechanics it introduced, including the ability to take cover and shoot, which was super helpful and something I would have liked in the first game. There was also the ability to dodge and roll, which helped when I was in close combat with an enemy and needed to stall time to reload my guns or regain health. The biggest improvement by far has got to be the objectives; they are more clearer, and they tell you when to use a gadget to accomplish a certain task, whereas the original didn’t have any indications on what tools to use and I had to heavily rely on YouTube videos and even random comments on the internet.
The level layouts are better, but some did get a little confusing by the end by how bigger they got, so I spent extra time on them. I can recall getting super confused in missions 9 and 10 from how big they were, not to mention some of the lush scenery and plants covered up a bunch of areas I needed to get to. However, the game combats the confusion by placing these tracker marks you can follow if you are stuck for too long, which was helpful for newcomers like me and a welcome addition. I think Zero is an improvement over the first with its gameplay, alongside some new additions that I would consider to be QoL improvements.
And, probably my most favorite part not related to the gameplay, would be how freaking cheesy they made Zero. The most common criticism I saw for Zero was the fact that it did not look or feel like a prequel to Perfect Dark, as Zero did not have the same serious tone or spy aesthetic, as well as lacking extraterrestrial life and aliens that the original had later on, with the obvious changes being seen in the visuals and art style change in Zero. I do agree that Zero doesn’t look or feel like it’s related to Perfect Dark, but the tonal change didn’t really make me disappointed and it actually made me laugh from how absurd it was, and it even enhanced my experience with the game.
The character designs are sometimes ridiculous, like Carrington and Mai Hem (the former who wears a kilt the entire time and the latter looking like she came from a fantasy manga or comic), Joanna looks like she walked out of a 2000s Disney Channel sitcom, the voice acting is so campy and full of one-liners (especially with scenes featuring Mai Hem or Joanna’s dad), and has a couple of moments that are so weird and made me burst out laughing, like how mission 7 opens up with a one-note duo of goofy-looking cowboys with sci-fi firearms getting into a gunfight with Joanna in a futuristic facility and there being no description for that part of the mission and it not being questioned afterward or the final battle where the antagonist bears a slight resemblance to a Titan from Attack on Titan and him repeatedly jumping and walking on pieces of a broken coliseum floating in a starry-looking space background and randomly summoning corpses that ragdoll when he throws them at you. Mai Hem’s reaction after you defeat her in a simulation was somewhat goofy with how exaggerated her lines were and how the cutscene was done, not to mention what she says to Joanna when they face off in Africa was so funny because of how hard she attempts to sound dramatic and serious. Those parts made me laugh a lot, and a lot of these are not what you’d expect to see in a Perfect Dark game, but the execution of these all just made for a more memorable experience and provided a LOT of comedy for me from how exaggerated, unfitting, and so campy it was and how the game tried to take itself seriously with its story all the while having stuff like that. I wouldn’t say the story or characters are deep like with the previous entry, but I don’t mind it!
I would say I had a good time with it. It was such an improvement on the first game with its gameplay and mechanics, and I loved the cheesiness it brought while attempting to tell a serious story, and it is a little sad that a lot of people weren’t fans of it, but that’s fine and understandable. Now having played all of the current Perfect Dark games, I am looking forward to seeing what the reboot does and if it will be close to the first game somewhat. I’m now a bit nervous to move onto Nuts and Bolts now that I’m getting so used to playing shooter games haha.
@Yousef- Zero did seem a bit shorter than the first Perfect Dark, but I think that could have also been due to how long I played it and how easier Zero was compared to the first one. It maybe took me 2-3 days to finish Zero, and it took about 2 weeks for me to finish the first one. I started Zero on a Thursday, and played a few missions of the game at midnight earlier today. I am a bit sad I finished the games since I loved their vibes and they were so fun. Now I just need to wait for the reboot!
Since I have the Switch with my account back, I’ll probably be playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. I was intending to play it today but I wanted to finish Zero. @Banjo- was also saying that I should give Jet Force Gemini another go since I dropped it fairly fast, but so far I don’t have any other games in mind if I don’t feel like playing Nuts and Bolts. There was also Blast Corps, which I did nearly finish, but that made me a little upset and frustrated with its final set of levels.
@Pastellioli that’s actually really sick! Glad your switch is back!!
I am somewhat back and forth on my switch, especially since my hospital job doesn’t allow me much gaming time anymore but once I have my NSO subscription back, I believe it’d possible to arrange online sessions much easier, well assuming it’s possible for 2-players rather than strictly 4 xD.
If you caught me in the other threads, I’ve successfully snagged another low-stock switch game. It’s a Koei JRPG (owners of the musou devs and games). I love their IPs! Now important question… thoughts on her face?
@Yousef- I do also tend to swap back and forth with some games I play. I think the original Perfect Dark took me two weeks mostly because I would play Conker’s Bad Fur Day in short sessions on Rare Replay, and I would also play some games on my phone too, so I did somewhat swap a lot with the games I played at the time. I think there is a chance I’ll likely do the same with Nuts and Bolts now that I have the Switch back.
Also, regarding your question, I have never seen characters with stickers for faces lol. The person who was in charge of putting the sticker on the case knew what they were doing haha. I hope you’ve been having a good time with the games you are playing!
@Pastellioli You are a seriously good reviewer! Although Perfect Dark Zero was criticised a lot, its reception was generally positive. I completely agree with what you wrote. The uniqueness of the characters are deliberate, I would say. Jet Force Gemini, like Viva Piñata and Nuts and Bolts, take some time to become familiar with, but I had so much fun playing all those games.
@Banjo- Thank you haha! Sorry I am writing a few minutes late, had other stuff to do. Whenever I finish a game, I always look forward to sharing my thoughts on it.
I absolutely loved Zero despite the general disappointment that surrounded the game and I loved the gunplay a whole lot but the goofiness with some of the characters was just perfect. Mai Hem was so funny though moreso with how exaggerated and cheesy her acting was and how she tried to be serious all the time. I think it was a good idea that you recommended that I play Zero after completing the first Perfect Dark since it was something I was already familiar with, and I am now definitely looking forward to the reboot that should be released either next year or two years time. I wonder what other games I should play alongside Nuts and Bolts and Smash…maybe another Rare game I dropped and haven’t played in a while.
I really do love the improved gameplay with Zero and I am sad a lot of people don’t acknowledge it. The dodge and roll really did help with retaining health and stalling time, since in the first one I always had to run away and kept getting shot at whenever I needed to reload my gun, and the cover mechanic was so fun. The cameras, although somewhat annoying and a bit hard to spot, sort of brings out more of the spy elements in Perfect Dark, even though Zero had a different aesthetic than the previous game. Zero is probably the most cheesiest Rare game I’ve played and I loved it from start to finish!
If you are one to always complain about linear games, this is for you! Final Fantasy XIII-2 has a complicated and very interesting story that involves time travelling and alternative timelines. The writing is once again excellent, this time focusing on two fantastic characters. I liked the story more, perhaps because I was aware of the previous events and terminology. The gameplay is a slightly remixed version of the first title and the lower difficulty -than can be furtherly lowered- grants the player precious extra seconds during the creative real-time strategies. What these developers do best is how they introduce the solid game mechanics. The sequel adds the only quick time events I have really enjoyed in a game, as they act as an easy conclusion for the important battles' finale and perfectly blend with the essential cutscenes. There is a difficulty spike near the end that will force you to level up if you have not, but the flexible and deep gameplay is as fun as before, from start to end. Comparing Final Fantasy X-2 and XIII-2, the former can be skipped with no regrets, while the latter is a full game that deserves as much attention as the primary game. The fact that the three games are enhanced on Xbox, makes them even more enjoyable and come highly recommended.
For completionists, the game is more entertaining than XIII, although some quests are difficult to follow and certain scenarios are hard to navigate. The ideas are not executed perfectly, but at least the NPCs act naturally and the collectables are shown in the main menu. The graphics and visual art are once again excellent, with Series X showing all their beauty in 4K and 60fps. The soundtrack is more modern this time, with the typical female Japanese vocals riding on cheesy pop tracks, that makes harder to concentrate on understanding the complicated story files. There are no sound options. All in all, an excellent game with a few rough edges and, just like Final Fantasy XIII, full of Far Eastern ethereal allegories and philosophies that I love so much.
I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed it and that my tips were helpful!
After Final Fantasy XIII-2, I beat Kao the Kangaroo. I had started it months ago but I fully completed it yesterday, 100%, excluding DLC.
As positives, the graphics and performance come first. The soundtrack, story, characters and voice acting are decent. The controls are smooth although not perfect because of the occasional rough interaction with the environment. However, in a world where even Mario's odysseys are no longer a real 3D platform ride but bland and sterile exploration, I enjoyed how old-school and how focused on platforming Kao the Kangaroo is.
As negatives, a variety of glitches, finicky physics and collision detection and the idle camera. With long levels and no clues at all, I resorted to a guide to find some collectibles. It took me over 13 hours to complete the game without DLC having a look at the guide. The production level of the game is impressive and they made the right choice to not make it bigger without a bigger budget, but there is a wrong combination of platformer staples, like long levels that are difficult to navigate and also have easily missable collectibles. Maybe they made the levels longer because they couldn't include more, but the other sliders were not adjusted accordingly. The continuous skip warning on every cutscene doesn't look good either. All in all, a dense and beautiful 3D platformer.
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