Davestator

So I played this game last night. It is a lot of fun. The controls are snappy and responsive. The game is really, really fast. Not quite F-Zero levels of fast, but close.

And it is just dripping with style and 90's arcade cheese.

The game reeks of 90's in the best way, and I think it's specifically tailored to those who grew up playing 80's and 90's racers - not Mario Kart, but the games more focused on racing over combat.

I think the review is mostly fair, but with that said, I find the gameplay to be very enjoyable. It does get a little repetitive over time, but I think that can be said about even the most revered racing games out there. I've rarely played F-Zero or Wipeout for more than an hour at a time, whereas I can play a nice RPG for hours at a time. VHR also has a lot of different modes that keep it from being monotonous.

Personally, I give it an 8/10. It's the most racing fun I've had since Horizon Chase Turbo. Also, running into cars really fast to launch them into the distance - only to them explode into pieces, is infinitely satisfying.

The lack of variety between character move-sets is the main reason I will wait for this one to go on sell. It certainly looks fun.

@AJB83

I remember quite a few 2D games getting knocked for not "getting with the times" during the early 3D polygonal era.

Reviews are very subjective anyway, and a game is usually more than the sum of its parts. I've enjoyed quite a few games that aggregate in the 60's and 70's, often much more so than games rated in the 80's and 90's.

I am going to take a gamble on VHR. I've waited a long time for this one, and I played the demo several times on steam, and I loved it. So, I'm going to give it a try. After that, I will reread this review and see how much or little I agree with it.

I'm still playing through Shining Force: Resurrection of Dark Dragon on GBA. I also tried the 3ds remake of Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga. It plays really well, so I think I will keep playing that if it keeps my interest.

@FIS-PODCAST

I agree. I've put in about thirty hours with that game, just trying to unlock everything. I pick it up every month or so for another go.

Pretty much what I thought of the game as well. I played the PS5 version, and beat the game with all trophies in under three hours. It was a very fun experience. The mech battles are really intense and gratifying, and the mechanics feel good everywhere.

A more fleshed out sequel would be amazing - If they introduced optional permanent upgrades, more levels, maybe like a level-select with different bosses displayed, and upgrades through those bosses, things like that. So hopefully there will be a sequel.

It was a short but sweet ride.

Divine Dynamo Flamefrit and Shining Force: Resurrection of Dark Dragon. Flamefrit has the best mech battles I've ever experienced. It's a bit like Punch-Out. It gets rather difficult in the second half.

@Vyacheslav333

I'm with you. So many people are a-ok with rights that others care about being stripped away, but when someone comes for their rights, it's a big deal.

Back in the 80's and 90's, there were countless rock and metal acts that had to go to D.C. and fight battles for their right to expression.

Censorship back then was also something that was embraced by hokey "squares" and puritanical people, and it's quite odd that so many younger people these days are embracing their same attitudes.

Also, the disdain for sexuality while embracing over-the-top violence is incredibly selective and hypocritical.

I eschewed buying Dragon Quest 3 HD because of the censorship. And no, I'm not some right-wing incel. Left-wing guy, married for over two decades, voted against Trump three times, so don't put us all in the same boat just because we disagree.

Also, there's nothing wrong with enjoying seeing a pair of animated boobs.

Edit:

I'd also like to add that a logical solution would be to release a separate version of the game for young eyes rather than just patch it out for all buyers. Part of the alure of these games is the sexuality. If they want to patch things out of the game, then the developers shouldn't be using skin as a selling point in the first place. There are simple technical solutions to keep things out the wrong hands without ruining it for everyone else. As to those who are 18 and up and have an aversion to jiggly woman parts, simply don't play that game or use that feature. "Things that don't directly affect me suddenly don't make sense".

I played an hour of Divine Dynamo Flamefrit last night. So far, it's good, simple fun. It feels like a bit like an oddball game from the late SNES or early Playstation era. And you really can't mess around too much because you will die. The mechanics are simple and fun, and I'm hoping to play straight through this weekend before I get back into Shining Force.

I'm not a big fan of these lists, but I have to agree with number 1. It's just that good. I will never sell my switch copy if I can handle it, and I'm tempted to play through on ps5 for my second run.

Shining Force: Resurrection of Dark Dragon (gameboy advance version) and random Neo Geo fighters like World Heroes 2: Jet.

I am tempted to try Mario and Luigi: Brothership soon.

Between this and the censorship, my little sixty dollars of monthly video game budget is going to Ys X.

Good game. I bought the Switch and PS versions on sale, but I am most proud of having Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, which has an even greater selection, with Master System, Arcade games, and more......I need to get my PS3 fixed.

IGN is like a frat-boy drunk on Monster energy and vodka, just trolling around seeing who he can piss off the most.

Super Mario Maker was what really justified buying a Wii U for me. Like, any buyer's remorse I had for that console went out the window after I put about an hour in to that game. That game made that big, goofy controller worth the weight.

Ys VIII. Rarely have I ever felt so enamored and engulfed in a video game world and its characters. I beat it on switch, and went back through it on ps5. It was just a blast.

Memories of Celceta was pretty fun. I'm also tempted to try the DS version of 1&2, but I never want to play through the pc-engine version again (final boss is a nightmare).

@1UP_MARIO

I'm almost through with the game. It has been a fun ride. I'm kinda craving Minish Cap, A Link Between Worlds, or maybe even another romp through Link's Awakening. I am curious to see how it stacks up for me personally.

Getting good enough to beat Zelda 2 without continues is one of my proudest personal gaming achievements. I grew up playing the game at my cousin's house, and have always enjoyed it. It has a dark and spooky vibe that many of the other games lack to a varying degree, and I enjoyed the combat and progression.

By the way, if you really like Zelda 2, I can't recommend Infernax enough. It really carries the torch and then some.

I passed on Thousand Year Door HD, because I still have the gamecube game, and I played it too many times to really want to go through it for another ten years or so. This one looks like a lot of fun, and the battle system looks very involving and rewarding like the Paper Mario games.

@shiftbarackyeaugh

Okay, my bad.

@shiftbarackyeaugh

It would be the case if video game reviews weren't extremely subjective, even from many quality review sites - yet they are.

I've played many a game with a 70-ish review score that I enjoyed immensely more than games with 90-ish scores (Friday the 13th: The Game, and Visions of Mana come to mind).

I am 45 hours in to Visions of Mana on PS5. I just reached chapter 8, which is closer to the end.

I have played LoZ: Echoes of Wisdom for about two hours, but will not fully get into it until I finish Visions. So far, I really like it.

Also, I played a little bit of Onion Assault on switch, which I had forgotten to finish. It's a blatant rip-off of Super Mario Bros. 2, which imo is a good thing.

I really want to play Victory Heat Rally, which just released on Steam, but I'm going to wait for Switch or PS5 version. There's too much to play right now anyway.

Dragon Quest games are about the last type of game I would play to see skin....Then again, there have been allusions to sex in much of the games.

I am on the fence about cancelling my preorder of the game. It looks great, but I don't want to support censorship.

And no, I'm not some right-wing Trumper. I vote democrat straight up and down the ballot. Regarding the removal of gender terminology - I'm a gender-bender myself who still doesn't fit in on either binary. There's nothing wrong with using words like "male" and "female" since those are the two main genders that the vast majority of humans identify with. I also don't like this weird disdain of anything remotely sexy.

So yeah, not all of us "lefties" support this PC censorship stuff. A LOT of us don't. Perhaps a "safe" mode for kids would've made more sense.

And the "walking on eggshells" attitude that some on the left have is doing us NO favors whatsoever. It makes us look weak and petty. That said, let's not pretend that right-wing folk don't do this, because a lot of those people also get upset seeing a gay person or brown person in a show or game.

My copy is supposed to arrive today. I have to finish Visions of Mana first. I'm not quite sure how I feel about having to create monsters so often, but maybe it will grow on me. I'm all about some traditional dungeons though. Give me a handful of traditional dungeons over mini-temples. I'm not hating on 3d Zelda. I love that too, I just prefer traditional dungeons and the game flow that comes with that. Rising up after completing a difficult dungeons and spending some time in the overworld is that much more rewarding.

I sold my physical copy of this game. I think I will wait a few years and buy the new "ultimate" edition when it comes out. Same strategy that I'm holding on for with Mortal Kombat 1. I ending up buying MK11 Ultimate with all the content for like 10 or 15 bucks.

New characters look nice though. I had forgotten about these, but I think my little brother had Mondo Gecko and some stingray guy too.

Crosses fingers for Armaggon in the sequel (I like sharks)

Visions of Mana and Shadow of The Ninja Reborn. I'm eating good right now.

I will just stick with my "1st-gen" PS5 with disc. At least they are offering an external drive for it though. They really are trying hard to phase out physical.

@Grail_Quest

Thanks. I got really lucky with the hand-me-down consoles.

I've been playing Shining Force CD on Sega CD. I've played through 1 and 2 so many times, but figured I would give CD a try before I went to 3 on Saturn.

Also, Visions of Mana, which is gorgeous, and relaxing and engaging all at the same time.

I just finished Dark Deity on switch, and I'm going to fire it back up for Echoes of Wisdom in late September or early October.

Too many good games out right now. I'm just staring Visions of Mana, plus I have Shadow of The Ninja and LOZ: Echoes of Wisdom arriving soon.

I have this one on order too, and well...I don't know if I will get to it this year, but it looks so good. DQ games always deliver. DQ 11 on switch was the last one I played. I grew up with the early NES games, so I'm really stoked for this one. I never actually finished III, and had to return it to the video store - so this should be a nice trip down memory lane. The character models are dope.

I tried the Gori: Cuddly Carnage demo on PS5, and it was surprisingly fun. A bit too edgelord-ish, but fun and goofy. I don't know if switch has a demo, but I may end up picking it up at some point.

I enjoyed the demo. I'm waiting on my physical copy from playasia. No idea how long it will take, but when it arrives, it should be a good time.

Falcom games have graphically been behind the competition for a long time, making up with fun story and good gameplay. But, I think, they are starting to look really good in the graphical department. Of course, I'm aware this video isn't running on switch, but it's a definite leap in overall visual quality. I have loved the Ys series for a long time, so I might have to get it on this.

I just completed the demo last night. They have really nailed it with this one. I still have the original NES game, and it just feels like an upgrade in every way, while still being faithful to the original. I am getting the physical version. Also, I have to say that I like Kaede's design a lot. Brick house.

This here is my BOOMstick!

Anything Evil Dead is insta-buy for me. Looks like it should at least be cromulent platforming fare. (edit: Wayforward is developing, I'm not worried about lack of quality with their name on it).

I'm glad they are doing this. I feel stupid for buying all six of them, though they were "on sale" (priced somewhat reasonably for a short time). But yeah, good news. Going to pass, but if I didn't already own digital I would jump for this in a heartbeat.

I'm not reading this article, as I don't want to no any more than I've already seen. I cannot wait for this game though. love the graphic style and vibe I'm getting from it. Nothing like a nice 2d Zelda in the autumn. Yass.

Preordered on PS5. Cannot wait for this game. I loved VIII on Switch, and IX was a lot of fun despite running poorly on Switch console. I am looking forward to this one, though it will probably take me a while to adjust to less party members.

Great - Now I'm going to have to wait another 3 to 6 years to buy the "complete" edition with all the dlc for twenty dollars

(mild sarcasm, because I'm serious about how I plan to purchase though not perturbed by how they want to approach their game)

Engage is my least-favorite Fire Emblem game. I recently went back for another try, and I still wasn't feeling it. I played through it one time, never finished the DLC.

I can go through Radiant, Radiance, Awakening and the GBA games over and over and over again. Engage felt like a chore that I finished out of some unspoken obligation. There's just too much in the mix for my liking. If others enjoy it, that's fine. Purely speaking for myself here.

I love inti creates games. This looks fantastic.

@Joshie0234

Heard that. It's "free" on PS plus, and runs pretty well on other platforms. But if you're sticking to switch, that makes sense. Hopefully YsX will be properly optimized for switch.

@Joshie0234

There was at least one patch, but I've heard the game is still way too choppy. Playing IX on switch was a chore. It's sad, because otherwise, it's a pretty good game, even if it doesn't stack up to VIII.

I will definitely support this. I played through this about six years ago. It has a love triangle type thing. The story was surprisingly good, one of those questioning-motives-of-evil-and-sacrifice plots along with making a hard choice over which girl you like more.

It reminds me a bit of Blaster Master with traveling to planets and getting upgrades, with some schmup sections. It's a unique stew of a game, and I think a little ahead of its time. I'm glad that wayforward is unearthing so many of its hidden treasures.

@Spider-Kev

IX ran really poorly on Switch. It was much worse in comparison to VIII, which was already choppy. A lot of fans didn't like the setting in 9 as much as 8, going from a colorful and lush world to a rather drab and stark grey one. I personally enjoyed the game, but it didn't feel on par with 8. But that part is very subjective to the individual.

@Erigen

It really does look good. I'm used to playing on a PS5, and the difference is pretty notable, but this game looks very good.

@NinChocolate

I love me some Opa-Opa and Fantasy Zone.

I played the demo on steam a good ways back. The mechanics are super-satisfying, and I love the graphic style. It's so pretty. I will be picking this up day one.

Rhythm Heaven would be really nice. Not that I'm in need of more games. Rhythm Heaven Fever on Wii was a blast, and the music was infectious.

I played this game on ps5 with the plus subscription. It's really good. I agree with others that there are too many Metroidvanias, but the game is very sharp, good-looking, good-controlling game. The protagonist does cry a bit too much, and introduces most concepts right at the beginning, which is questionable game design - Overall, the game is quite good.

I know that many people are quick to cry racism over anything, but in this case, I think the director is on point. So many folks are just writing off a game because they think it's "forcing DEI" upon them. Like, bro, literally nobody is making you buy or play this game if you don't want it.