@DashKappei Mucho thanks for that, my dude. I'll have the editor make a rocking revision, like, pronto.
@MirrorFate2 Didn't encounter any issues that stood out, performance seemed ok! However, disclaimer here: It's possible that something was overlooked that I just assumed were part of the way the game was originally. I didn't notice any sound cutting out probs and I'm pretty good at flagging bugs or glitches in my reviews. That said, were there audio issues I misunderstood as PlayStation era quirks or 90s wacky sound theatrics, then I suppose it may be possible there's something off there - just nothing that stood out to me while playing.
@arekdougy Like a fair few of you commenters I wasn't the biggest Gex fan when it debuted, and I was especially put off by the original back then. But credit where it's due, it's not that bad actually. Crystal Dynamics were a fairly competent developer and revisiting this trilogy, it's clear they knew what they were doing. Nothing was really a Mario 64 contender back then (and different hardware, anyway) but the two sequels don't really try to go toe-to-toe with Nintendo's finest and instead work well within the parameters of what they can achieve. I think the score given is as fair as can be, despite scores being highly subjective anyway.
You certainly won't be banned for anything, you've said nothing wrong. I appreciate the discussion. Would love a Switch 2, but boy, it's really too pricey for me atm! I'm going to wait for the inevitable drop, which may come sooner if the uptake is slower than the sale projections.
"what is "intersex"?" That's definitely covered in the replies above. Just read up!
@spottedleaf
There was no doubling. I'm just answering your queries, elaborating on my reasoning and offering some transparency.
"I am intersex so I think I would know that"
Right, so you're aware then that the term "Hermaphrodite" doesn't apply to you (or anyone else) in any possible realm.
Keep in mind, Falla's genitalia is only there for purposes of flagrant fetishism so that the creators could have two females copulate at various points in the game. For the sake of, let's leave intersex people out of the association. The more we discuss it, the more I think it would have actually been offensive to class her as intersex, and I'm relieved I didn't.
I understand your note regarding optionally omitting all reference of the character's original condition, but I feel like that doesn't make for the best historical journalism. With a game like Steam Heart's - one that's not particularly great in its own right - the legacy details are probably the most interesting thing about it.
No offence intended; accuracy is the primary goal for the article.
As a non-Japanese speaker (and therefore I can't assess discrepancies in the cutscenes across versions) it's all speculation to a degree - but I believe City Connection's press release about adapting the material to respect the heroines' privacy is more about censoring the entire theme in general, rather than the usage of specific terminologies. I didn't see that they mentioned anything about themes being outdated, as such.
I didn't reference a creature, only a mythological entity or subject.
"The term "hermaphrodite" refers to something which does not exist but nonetheless has been used as a slur toward intersex people."
Yes, understood. There are no slurs here toward intersex people, it's just a definitional and historical accuracy to refer to a character, who, as you pointed out, does not and could never possibly exist. I actually think referring to this character as "intersex" would be both incorrect and disingenuous toward people who have genuine intersex characteristics (which are very different).
Appreciate your input regarding the term. Please be aware that Falla in all historical documentation relating to the game, was always referred to as a "hermaphrodite", a term which denotes a largely mythological entity that is both fully female and fully male.
'Intersex' refers to an individual who is born with anatomy that doesn't strictly fit as either male or female, or presents an anatomic aberration that surgeons may try to address at birth by using surgery to lean toward either male or female genitalia.
From The Intersex Sociey of North America:
"The mythological term “hermaphrodite” implies that a person is both fully male and fully female."
From literature of the Cleveland Clinic:
"Hermaphrodites don't exist. That is an outdated term implying that a person is both fully male and fully female, which isn't biologically possible."
Which is the accurate description of Falla, who is a fictional fantasy character with cat ears, rather than a human with intersex characteristics.
After weighing up the above information, "hermaphrodite" was considered the appropriate description of the character, and remains a constant and active term in all dictionary references.
@Satan I agree, it could have used more 'new' additions, but as it stands it's still the most comprehensive package of the game, with one new soundtrack arrangement, current online features and all the DLC unlocked.
As mentioned in the review, it's sadly not there, and @LadyCharlie I think we have sort of gotten used to the fact that Crossplay is usually cut out of the Switch version. It's so often the case.
@Vivianeat
It can be viewed as a reboot of sorts, but I'd say more of a retooling that simplifies things and slightly lowers the entry barrier.
Thank you @Glasso for that source. Yes, he’s legit and trustworthy, I’ve seen his STG coverage before. 1 frame isn’t enough to be perceptible tbh, but the fact it’s in addition at all surprises me. I ran the 360 version side by side to test this and could have sworn its response time was poorer. The Switch seems genuinely cursed with this particular affliction.
I’ll have to make an amendment to the coverage here and try to work that out with the editors. Appreciate the help, happy 2025 to you!
@Rentaro You are very welcome. Thanks for reading.
@Tron81
Do you have sources for this? The 360 port had lag so chronic as part of the programming (exacerbated by poor quality flatscreens) whereby if you strafed horizontally and paused the game, released the d-pad and unpaused, the ship would continue to move for the frames it was behind.
We ran these tests and others on the Switch port, and while (as the review states) lag can’t be eradicated entirely, it was certainly no carbon copy of the 360 version in that respect. As I’ve specified so many times in the past, for STGs the right setup is essential. If it’s not CRT, at least have a flat screen with a game mode that works to reduce lag to get the most from It.
“ The absence of wieldable weaponry, too, is always a missed trick where variety is concerned.”
@-wc-
The level of detail and variety is quite impressive. In a sense, it’s not dissimilar from the original Turtles arcade game - the rangers differ in things like speed, strength, and the moves have varying animations. It’s just the routines that are essentially the same.
But the game plays well and the super scaler stages are quite something, and that elevates it considerably. I’ve noticed several people here complain that the Zord (super scaler) stages are too tough, but I didn’t have a problem on them at all on defaults. There’s a functional jump/dodge for all of these sequences except maybe the rollercoaster, and careful reflex will get you through them well enough.
EDIT:
I should add that while I agree with comments saying the difficulty is a little uneven, I honestly didn’t see a game over screen until toward the end of the game. Chunky Chicken is a **** of a fight, but you just need to be dodging all the time until he stops the portal antics. Remember to use your super attacks when charged!
I felt for a default, normal, middle of the road, totally average difficulty setting that’s neither too easy nor too hard, it wasn’t badly pitched or frustrating. But I do agree having experience with the genre and various arcade archetypes is going to help a lot.
@Vyacheslav333 Yes, I didn't see any alternative to English voice overs.
@IceClimbersMain But fair.
@Mrkittyhead It's overwritten and boring, so I didn't care for it. If you like the idea of lengthy but not particularly interesting JRPG-style text exchanges between your matches then it might suit you.
It's a great question, although I can assure you we asked a ton of similarly great questions, and yours, like those, would have definitely come back blank.
@Truegamer79 They’re not complaints, they’re criticisms of features that could have been implemented/improved to enhance the overall. Not mentioning these things would be antithetical to the purpose of a review.
@AG_Awesome 4:3 adds bezels with artwork to the screen edges. The aesthetic isn't affected because the game is entirely redrawn from the ground up in an 8-bit style, but of course the landscape reduces (rather than squashes) to fit the new ratio.
4:3 introduces bezels on either side of the screen to fill the unused space. They're muted and don't overpower the central action. In a nice touch, when you ground pound in 4:3 format those bezels do a little shake.
@PurpulTyeDye It's not a real con, it's a joke. Pros and cons have no relationship whatsoever to scoring, they're simply a bullet point overview.
@DashKappei Thank you for your kind words, it's really nice to hear you liked it. Yes, you can consider the practice modes tutorials. Since these are arcade games the practice modes have been added for player convenience, and feature full move lists for all the characters. If you're looking for a step-by-step how-to-play guide, just Google Capcom's "magic sequence" or "magic series" and you can see how the combos function. They're pretty simple, and revolve around inputting either kicks or punches in a basic string. An easy one would be either punches or kicks in a Light > Medium > Hard sequence, and this can also be done in the air.
@Warioware Difficulty can be adjusted and special attacks mapped to single button presses. Ranked matches online also mean you can play people of similar skill levels.
@-wc- That's a really good question! I miss the days of console ports that had bells and whistles attached that made them desirable. But with the demise of the arcade it just isn't really possible in the same way. Getting an arcade port at home used to be a huge thing. But at least with collections like this it's still really full of bonuses in there, and we're at the point now where these kind of packages offer the very best in terms of features.
Edit: As an aside, the PS1 ports of Capcom's Marvel fighting games were famously bad owing to 2D hardware limitations, so we're definitely doing better on that front today.
@TrevorMcD Yep, I have my own rationale behind 10s. I think a 9 illustrates the absolute necessity of a game purchase well enough, but I feel like 10s are handed out far too freely overall. For me a 10 needs to not just be near perfection, but needs to change the course of gaming to a degree, or be the outright best of its genre, influencing developers going forward for years to come. I don't have many games I'd give that score to.
But for its time, the original Street Fighter II is a perfect example of a game that hits all those key points.
@SurprisedRobinChu There is no point deducted for Norimaro, which is why it says it's a joke. The pros and cons don't directly affect scoring, they're purely a quick look overview, which I'll assume is all you've seen.
@bobby_steurer I actually should have mentioned, but the review went over my intended word count already, that you can map specials to single button presses which is useful for beginners.
@Warioware It's only a 10 if I give it one good sir, and that is a hallowed score reserved for games that reinvent the wheel, and not to be banded about lightly (in my opinion!) For the intended audience, perhaps it is, but the review is written for a broader audience and the entry level for these games is far beyond your basic SFII or KOF, and some may find the initial complexity daunting.
@mikegamer Appreciate that Mike, I'll ask the editors to add a note for that.
@NinChocolate Perhaps I should have chosen a different word, this one obviously hasn't landed the way I intended. I think it deserved to reach the highs of Sonic, for example, which is exactly what Konami were intending for Sparkster, and the reason they ploughed so many resources into it, and created such a stellar piece of work. Konami were a huge force in gaming at the time and had pegged him as a future mascot in pre-production. He didn't last long in that position because the sales figures were below expectation.
@TotalHenshin If this were only Rocket Knight Adventures and neither of the sequels, I'd feel I'd have to castigate myself if I scored it lower than a 9, because that's the level of its standalone quality (versus other titles released in the era).
@-wc- I understand what you're saying, I suppose "overlooked" in my mind just means it didn't make it to the big leagues when it deserved to. It wasn't overlooked by you or I, but perhaps among the larger majority where the likes of NBA Jam and Desert Strike were king.
@NinChocolate I clarified it in comment #26
@Lofoten Oh, I really hate scoring to be honest, so you're putting me on the spot with this!
Rocket Knight is an easy 9, while RKA2 and Sparkster are sort of on a similar platform hovering around a 7, and some of it is down to taste. RKA2 is clunky and oddly formed, but the endless boosting is fun. Sparkster looks great and feels right, but it can be frustrating in places.
Only the first game is cut from real arcade cloth - with extraordinary control and pacing - whereas the sequels rely on classic console platform assemblies and different development teams.
@mikegamer I thought it was a little fuzzy to the point of actually firing up the original cart. Upon doing that it became difficult to distinguish. Hopefully a patch will resolve it.
@-wc- Never forget that Edge Magazine scored Gunstar a 5/10. “Overlooked” speaks more to their widespread success or lack thereof. What got me playing Gunstar and RKA as a kid was mostly sheer luck - neither were games volunteered amongst peers in the same breath as Sonic, Donkey Kong Country or Streets of Rage. They became cult fixtures later, at best, and didn’t reap a great deal of success for their publishers.
@ShinG67 @-wc- A rail shooter simply describes a game where the action moves on rails and is fixed and can not be altered from its path. Rez also qualifies for this. The player-character doesn't necessarily need to be fixed as well (and is rarely the case) as long as their journey is at the whim of the game itself.
Corridor shooter is a defunct term that was once used for the era of FPS characterised by DOOM and Wolfenstein.
I also noticed a lot of criticism in the comments thread aimed at the Story Mode. Honestly, I'm not sure what the worries are with this. Arcade Mode, as stated, is preferable, and exists as the pure option. There's no real incentive as far as I could tell to have to play through Story Mode, but it being there at the least is a welcome alternative. I don't think any resources were wasted due to its assembly.
The way I'd play it would be to master the game in Arcade and then take those skills to Story just to experience the narrative.
That's never happened to me. I've had consultations about scores before (one or twice, tops) based on criticism given in reviews, but not for this.
Please remember, scoring is a very arbitrary metric. One person's five is another person's seven, if that makes sense. The score for this particular game was based on several factors: an incredibly solid new Contra which is brilliantly concocted and captures the right feel, coupled with technical deficiencies that take work to look past.
It's a 6. It's unacceptable versus what the Switch is capable of, but it can still be played and enjoyed with some dedication. All of this is outlined in the body of the review.
The major issue is, if you're only planning to buy this once (and why would you buy any game twice), there are far superior options.
@Ferchokyzer I had to read your sentence a few times there! At first I thought you were suggesting I created an account to wax lyrical about the achievements of my prose!
Thank you so much for your kind words, I really find motivation from comments like this. You'll find much of my historic work dotted on the internet, mostly between here and Eurogamer.
@jbrodack
Well, I do believe it's an accurate appraisal of the Ikaruga situation as it was, and how it came to be a mainstream darling, mostly heralded by reviewers who had barely touched the genre. That said, it's still a pretty masterful piece of work.
Just a quick thank you to all of you for your kind comments regarding the review. Several 1CCs were achieved in the process of its writing, so effort was most certainly applied. I greatly appreciate your reading of it!
@Warioware Start on Very Easy Mode, 1CC that easy. Then move onto Shotia Arrange (Type A) and then Leinyan Arrange (Type B) when you feel like you have it down. After that I'd then have a stab at the original Black Label arcade game and see how you get on. Stay away from EXY Arrange for a while. Incredible as it is, the loop 2 bullets might put you off.
@kuponick It was a great number of people's entry point into shmups, and that's part of the problem. Because Treasure had finally and deservedly built themselves up a name by the time it was being developed, the mainstream media hyped it, which was uncommon for the genre and something I appreciated at the time.
Was the hype deserved? Yes, but I wish it wasn't so brief. After Ikaruga came and went, focus on the genre in the mainstream media died off as quickly as it arrived. All the shmup releases thereafter got little to no attention in Western publications, including that of CAVE's emerging talent.
Ikaruga is really the only shmup that enjoyed that kind of limelight, and because of that it tends to be the standard reference point for everyone, whether they know anything about the genre or not. It's absolutely a superb game, but tends to dodge criticism a little too easily for my liking.
The Ikeda interview is here. The formatting is a little messed up for some reason:
@StrangerSun I'd respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree. Ikaruga is a brilliant but clinical exercise in hybrid game design. It's beautiful and unique, but inflexible, which is often a hallmark of Treasure's work. While you can work out your own scoring routes, I don't think it matches the highs of something like DaiOuJou when you're in the thick of it.
@kuponick Because, as mentioned, Ikeda was interviewed for a French magazine where he cited Ikaruga as a form of inspiration in the sense he was so awed by it, he didn't think he could create anything its equal. I'd argue all day long that he did! I'm certainly not that reviewer that thinks Ikaruga is the only shmup ever to exist because of the mainstream press it enjoyed on release.
Hope that helps!
@gcunit
No offence taken whatsoever. I don't expect most people to immediately understand these types of game or the scoreline, no matter how valid I know it is in this instance. I'm happy to read all the comments for different perspectives.
FOOTNOTE FAQ : 90% of the menus are in English and easily navigated. There are some second layer options for things like screen adjustments in Japanese, but they're easily deciphered by scrolling the options. It's no dealbreaker, and if you're desperate, nothing a translated phone photo won't quickly solve.
For those asking, it's Japan only for now.
M2 have the Switch version at 3 frames of lag, which is frankly imperceptible on a TV with a good game mode (or better yet, a CRT monitor).
I must say, I’m always very pleased, for obvious reasons, to know people read the review in full. It happens far less often than I’d like, so I appreciate that, and your kind words.
@Warioware If you're playing purely for survival, it's just as simplistic as Mushihimesama, but harder on its default arcade modes. If you're playing for score, well, it's a CAVE game, none are straightforward, and Mushi is no exception.
@FishyS @gcunit I assure you folks - and this as someone recognised for scoring harshly - the scoreline for this isn't handed out lightly, and comes from years of experience with this particular game and the genre as a whole. If it helps, I can't think of any other legacy shmup, CAVE or otherwise, I'd score equally. Like Dark Souls, as a more modern example, it's not easy to understand how remarkable it is until you really have a handle on it. But when you do, it makes absolute sense. I hope some new players will reach that point!
@Vyacheslav333 Not sure why it's important to mention the mobile version of the game. You'd need to enlighten me there.
@StarryCiel @Warioware M2 have considered everything here. It's really one of the most comprehensive packages they've ever released, with modes to get everyone started and help them move up.
Comments 321
Re: Review: Gex Trilogy (Switch) - A Happy Throwback That Couldn't Be Any More '90s
@LikelySatan Nothing like that.
Re: Review: Gex Trilogy (Switch) - A Happy Throwback That Couldn't Be Any More '90s
@DashKappei Mucho thanks for that, my dude. I'll have the editor make a rocking revision, like, pronto.
@MirrorFate2 Didn't encounter any issues that stood out, performance seemed ok! However, disclaimer here: It's possible that something was overlooked that I just assumed were part of the way the game was originally. I didn't notice any sound cutting out probs and I'm pretty good at flagging bugs or glitches in my reviews. That said, were there audio issues I misunderstood as PlayStation era quirks or 90s wacky sound theatrics, then I suppose it may be possible there's something off there - just nothing that stood out to me while playing.
@arekdougy Like a fair few of you commenters I wasn't the biggest Gex fan when it debuted, and I was especially put off by the original back then. But credit where it's due, it's not that bad actually. Crystal Dynamics were a fairly competent developer and revisiting this trilogy, it's clear they knew what they were doing. Nothing was really a Mario 64 contender back then (and different hardware, anyway) but the two sequels don't really try to go toe-to-toe with Nintendo's finest and instead work well within the parameters of what they can achieve. I think the score given is as fair as can be, despite scores being highly subjective anyway.
Re: Review: STEAM-HEART'S Saturn Tribute (Switch) - A Disappointing Return For A Notoriously Saucy Shooter
@spottedleaf
You certainly won't be banned for anything, you've said nothing wrong. I appreciate the discussion. Would love a Switch 2, but boy, it's really too pricey for me atm! I'm going to wait for the inevitable drop, which may come sooner if the uptake is slower than the sale projections.
Re: Review: STEAM-HEART'S Saturn Tribute (Switch) - A Disappointing Return For A Notoriously Saucy Shooter
@Oppyz666
"what is "intersex"?"
That's definitely covered in the replies above. Just read up!
@spottedleaf
There was no doubling. I'm just answering your queries, elaborating on my reasoning and offering some transparency.
"I am intersex so I think I would know that"
Right, so you're aware then that the term "Hermaphrodite" doesn't apply to you (or anyone else) in any possible realm.
Keep in mind, Falla's genitalia is only there for purposes of flagrant fetishism so that the creators could have two females copulate at various points in the game. For the sake of, let's leave intersex people out of the association. The more we discuss it, the more I think it would have actually been offensive to class her as intersex, and I'm relieved I didn't.
I understand your note regarding optionally omitting all reference of the character's original condition, but I feel like that doesn't make for the best historical journalism. With a game like Steam Heart's - one that's not particularly great in its own right - the legacy details are probably the most interesting thing about it.
Re: Review: STEAM-HEART'S Saturn Tribute (Switch) - A Disappointing Return For A Notoriously Saucy Shooter
@spottedleaf
No offence intended; accuracy is the primary goal for the article.
As a non-Japanese speaker (and therefore I can't assess discrepancies in the cutscenes across versions) it's all speculation to a degree - but I believe City Connection's press release about adapting the material to respect the heroines' privacy is more about censoring the entire theme in general, rather than the usage of specific terminologies. I didn't see that they mentioned anything about themes being outdated, as such.
I didn't reference a creature, only a mythological entity or subject.
"The term "hermaphrodite" refers to something which does not exist but nonetheless has been used as a slur toward intersex people."
Yes, understood. There are no slurs here toward intersex people, it's just a definitional and historical accuracy to refer to a character, who, as you pointed out, does not and could never possibly exist. I actually think referring to this character as "intersex" would be both incorrect and disingenuous toward people who have genuine intersex characteristics (which are very different).
Re: Review: STEAM-HEART'S Saturn Tribute (Switch) - A Disappointing Return For A Notoriously Saucy Shooter
@spottedleaf @AussieMcBucket
Appreciate your input regarding the term. Please be aware that Falla in all historical documentation relating to the game, was always referred to as a "hermaphrodite", a term which denotes a largely mythological entity that is both fully female and fully male.
'Intersex' refers to an individual who is born with anatomy that doesn't strictly fit as either male or female, or presents an anatomic aberration that surgeons may try to address at birth by using surgery to lean toward either male or female genitalia.
From The Intersex Sociey of North America:
"The mythological term “hermaphrodite” implies that a person is both fully male and fully female."
From literature of the Cleveland Clinic:
"Hermaphrodites don't exist. That is an outdated term implying that a person is both fully male and fully female, which isn't biologically possible."
Which is the accurate description of Falla, who is a fictional fantasy character with cat ears, rather than a human with intersex characteristics.
After weighing up the above information, "hermaphrodite" was considered the appropriate description of the character, and remains a constant and active term in all dictionary references.
Re: Review: Under Defeat (Switch) - A Boldly Hardcore, Cult-Classic Shoot 'Em Up
@Satan
I agree, it could have used more 'new' additions, but as it stands it's still the most comprehensive package of the game, with one new soundtrack arrangement, current online features and all the DLC unlocked.
Thanks so much for reading!
Re: Review: Under Defeat (Switch) - A Boldly Hardcore, Cult-Classic Shoot 'Em Up
@Teksette
Thank you for that, really appreciate it.
@Rentaro
I'm sure you'll love it!
@Falange
Yes, you can rotate the screen in arcade mode for Tate play.
Re: Review: Guilty Gear -Strive- Nintendo Switch Edition (Switch) - A Fine Port & A Bold New Step
@Senjutsu77
As mentioned in the review, it's sadly not there, and @LadyCharlie I think we have sort of gotten used to the fact that Crossplay is usually cut out of the Switch version. It's so often the case.
@Vivianeat
It can be viewed as a reboot of sorts, but I'd say more of a retooling that simplifies things and slightly lowers the entry barrier.
Re: Mini Review: Taito Milestones 3 (Switch) - Third Time's A Charm
Warrior Blade is literally the coolest Conan movie that never was.
Re: Review: DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou (Switch) - Cave's Vicious Shooter Is Close To The Series' Best
Thank you @Glasso for that source. Yes, he’s legit and trustworthy, I’ve seen his STG coverage before. 1 frame isn’t enough to be perceptible tbh, but the fact it’s in addition at all surprises me. I ran the 360 version side by side to test this and could have sworn its response time was poorer. The Switch seems genuinely cursed with this particular affliction.
I’ll have to make an amendment to the coverage here and try to work that out with the editors. Appreciate the help, happy 2025 to you!
Re: Review: DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou (Switch) - Cave's Vicious Shooter Is Close To The Series' Best
@Edd-O You are most welcome, thanks so much for reading!
Re: Review: DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou (Switch) - Cave's Vicious Shooter Is Close To The Series' Best
@Rentaro You are very welcome. Thanks for reading.
@Tron81
Do you have sources for this? The 360 port had lag so chronic as part of the programming (exacerbated by poor quality flatscreens) whereby if you strafed horizontally and paused the game, released the d-pad and unpaused, the ship would continue to move for the frames it was behind.
We ran these tests and others on the Switch port, and while (as the review states) lag can’t be eradicated entirely, it was certainly no carbon copy of the 360 version in that respect. As I’ve specified so many times in the past, for STGs the right setup is essential. If it’s not CRT, at least have a flat screen with a game mode that works to reduce lag to get the most from
It.
Re: Review: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind (Switch) - The Mightiest Morphin Ever
@Expa0
Yes it’s in the review:
“ The absence of wieldable weaponry, too, is always a missed trick where variety is concerned.”
@-wc-
The level of detail and variety is quite impressive. In a sense, it’s not dissimilar from the original Turtles arcade game - the rangers differ in things like speed, strength, and the moves have varying animations. It’s just the routines that are essentially the same.
But the game plays well and the super scaler stages are quite something, and that elevates it considerably. I’ve noticed several people here complain that the Zord (super scaler) stages are too tough, but I didn’t have a problem on them at all on defaults. There’s a functional jump/dodge for all of these sequences except maybe the rollercoaster, and careful reflex will get you through them well enough.
EDIT:
I should add that while I agree with comments saying the difficulty is a little uneven, I honestly didn’t see a game over screen until toward the end of the game. Chunky Chicken is a **** of a fight, but you just need to be dodging all the time until he stops the portal antics. Remember to use your super attacks when charged!
I felt for a default, normal, middle of the road, totally average difficulty setting that’s neither too easy nor too hard, it wasn’t badly pitched or frustrating. But I do agree having experience with the genre and various arcade archetypes is going to help a lot.
Re: Review: Rage Of The Dragons NEO (Switch) - A Fabulous Version Of A Fantastic Fighter
@Vyacheslav333
"FGs reviews on NL usually not the ones worth believing, so, I'll take that con about AI with a grain of salt."
Can you elaborate?
Re: Review: Raiden Nova (Switch) - A Fun But Limited Twin-Stick Twist On A Shooter Favourite
@iamthesunset
I'm happy you appreciated my little anecdote.
@axelhander
I'm sorry you didn't appreciate my little anecdote.
Re: Review: Blazing Strike (Switch) - A Beautiful Love Letter To The Fighting Game Hardcore
@Vyacheslav333
Yes, I didn't see any alternative to English voice overs.
@IceClimbersMain
But fair.
@Mrkittyhead
It's overwritten and boring, so I didn't care for it. If you like the idea of lengthy but not particularly interesting JRPG-style text exchanges between your matches then it might suit you.
Re: Feature: "Venom, Dr. Doom, And Whoever I’m In The Mood For That Day" - Shuhei Matsumoto Talks Marvel vs. Capcom
@Serpenterror
It's a great question, although I can assure you we asked a ton of similarly great questions, and yours, like those, would have definitely come back blank.
Re: Review: Night Slashers: Remake (Switch) - Some Nice, Gory Ideas, But The Visuals Are The Real Horror Story
@Vyacheslav333 Oh damn, really? Well you educated me today on a piece of retro trivia I wasn't aware of. Much appreciated buddy!
@SilentBluntman I'm not allowed to do that. It would be the editor's call.
@Fallingshadow Took one for the team. Respect, and thanks for the corroboration.
Re: Review: The Karate Kid: Street Rumble (Switch) - A Great-Looking, Offline-Only, Co-op Brawler
@Truegamer79 They’re not complaints, they’re criticisms of features that could have been implemented/improved to enhance the overall. Not mentioning these things would be antithetical to the purpose of a review.
Re: Review: Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons (Switch) - Likeable, But Lacks Its Peers' Punch
@jbrodack Revisiting this, a 7 is a good score, above lukewarm, but this game certainly doesn't deserve higher than that.
Re: Review: Rugrats: Adventures In Gameland (Switch) - Captures The Show's Spirit With Affectionate 8-Bit Homage
@AG_Awesome 4:3 adds bezels with artwork to the screen edges. The aesthetic isn't affected because the game is entirely redrawn from the ground up in an 8-bit style, but of course the landscape reduces (rather than squashes) to fit the new ratio.
4:3 introduces bezels on either side of the screen to fill the unused space. They're muted and don't overpower the central action. In a nice touch, when you ground pound in 4:3 format those bezels do a little shake.
Re: Review: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Switch) - A Stunning Showcase Of '90s Fighter Evolution
@MirrorFate2 I agree with you on this. I criticised the Capcom Fighting Collection for lack of a complete translation for Vampire Savior 1 & 2.
Re: Review: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Switch) - A Stunning Showcase Of '90s Fighter Evolution
@PurpulTyeDye It's not a real con, it's a joke. Pros and cons have no relationship whatsoever to scoring, they're simply a bullet point overview.
@DashKappei Thank you for your kind words, it's really nice to hear you liked it. Yes, you can consider the practice modes tutorials. Since these are arcade games the practice modes have been added for player convenience, and feature full move lists for all the characters. If you're looking for a step-by-step how-to-play guide, just Google Capcom's "magic sequence" or "magic series" and you can see how the combos function. They're pretty simple, and revolve around inputting either kicks or punches in a basic string. An easy one would be either punches or kicks in a Light > Medium > Hard sequence, and this can also be done in the air.
Re: Review: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Switch) - A Stunning Showcase Of '90s Fighter Evolution
@Warioware Difficulty can be adjusted and special attacks mapped to single button presses. Ranked matches online also mean you can play people of similar skill levels.
Re: Review: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Switch) - A Stunning Showcase Of '90s Fighter Evolution
@-wc- That's a really good question! I miss the days of console ports that had bells and whistles attached that made them desirable. But with the demise of the arcade it just isn't really possible in the same way. Getting an arcade port at home used to be a huge thing. But at least with collections like this it's still really full of bonuses in there, and we're at the point now where these kind of packages offer the very best in terms of features.
Edit: As an aside, the PS1 ports of Capcom's Marvel fighting games were famously bad owing to 2D hardware limitations, so we're definitely doing better on that front today.
@TrevorMcD Yep, I have my own rationale behind 10s. I think a 9 illustrates the absolute necessity of a game purchase well enough, but I feel like 10s are handed out far too freely overall. For me a 10 needs to not just be near perfection, but needs to change the course of gaming to a degree, or be the outright best of its genre, influencing developers going forward for years to come. I don't have many games I'd give that score to.
But for its time, the original Street Fighter II is a perfect example of a game that hits all those key points.
@SurprisedRobinChu There is no point deducted for Norimaro, which is why it says it's a joke. The pros and cons don't directly affect scoring, they're purely a quick look overview, which I'll assume is all you've seen.
Re: Review: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Switch) - A Stunning Showcase Of '90s Fighter Evolution
@-wc- It's mentioned they're arcade ports in the first line of paragraph 2. Rationale for the score is just above this message!
Re: Review: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Switch) - A Stunning Showcase Of '90s Fighter Evolution
@bobby_steurer I actually should have mentioned, but the review went over my intended word count already, that you can map specials to single button presses which is useful for beginners.
@Warioware It's only a 10 if I give it one good sir, and that is a hallowed score reserved for games that reinvent the wheel, and not to be banded about lightly (in my opinion!) For the intended audience, perhaps it is, but the review is written for a broader audience and the entry level for these games is far beyond your basic SFII or KOF, and some may find the initial complexity daunting.
Re: Review: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Switch) - A Stunning Showcase Of '90s Fighter Evolution
@anoyonmus Not that I could tell. Seemed smooth. If anything like that comes up expect Capcom to patch it quick.
@World Thanks for reading! The Punisher is indeed fantastic.
Re: Review: Fading Afternoon (Switch) - An Ambitious, Absorbing 'Yakuza' In Kunio-kun's Clothing
@Bizzyb @LXP8
This one is extremely polished.
Re: Review: Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked (Switch) - A Sparkling Return For One Of The 1990s' Best Platformers
@mikegamer
Appreciate that Mike, I'll ask the editors to add a note for that.
@NinChocolate Perhaps I should have chosen a different word, this one obviously hasn't landed the way I intended. I think it deserved to reach the highs of Sonic, for example, which is exactly what Konami were intending for Sparkster, and the reason they ploughed so many resources into it, and created such a stellar piece of work. Konami were a huge force in gaming at the time and had pegged him as a future mascot in pre-production. He didn't last long in that position because the sales figures were below expectation.
@TotalHenshin
If this were only Rocket Knight Adventures and neither of the sequels, I'd feel I'd have to castigate myself if I scored it lower than a 9, because that's the level of its standalone quality (versus other titles released in the era).
Re: Review: Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked (Switch) - A Sparkling Return For One Of The 1990s' Best Platformers
@-wc-
I understand what you're saying, I suppose "overlooked" in my mind just means it didn't make it to the big leagues when it deserved to. It wasn't overlooked by you or I, but perhaps among the larger majority where the likes of NBA Jam and Desert Strike were king.
@NinChocolate
I clarified it in comment #26
@Lofoten
Oh, I really hate scoring to be honest, so you're putting me on the spot with this!
Rocket Knight is an easy 9, while RKA2 and Sparkster are sort of on a similar platform hovering around a 7, and some of it is down to taste. RKA2 is clunky and oddly formed, but the endless boosting is fun. Sparkster looks great and feels right, but it can be frustrating in places.
Only the first game is cut from real arcade cloth - with extraordinary control and pacing - whereas the sequels rely on classic console platform assemblies and different development teams.
Re: Review: Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked (Switch) - A Sparkling Return For One Of The 1990s' Best Platformers
@LadyCharlie
That really is a hot take! 😂
@mikegamer
I thought it was a little fuzzy to the point of actually firing up the original cart. Upon doing that it became difficult to distinguish. Hopefully a patch will resolve it.
@-wc-
Never forget that Edge Magazine scored Gunstar a 5/10.
“Overlooked” speaks more to their widespread success or lack thereof. What got me playing Gunstar and RKA as a kid was mostly sheer luck - neither were games volunteered amongst peers in the same breath as Sonic, Donkey Kong Country or Streets of Rage. They became cult fixtures later, at best, and didn’t reap a great deal of success for their publishers.
Re: Review: Rainbow Cotton (Switch) - The Definitive Version Of This Dreamcast Shooter
@-wc- ha ha, I can live with that.
Re: Review: Rainbow Cotton (Switch) - The Definitive Version Of This Dreamcast Shooter
@Vyacheslav333
No word because english audio doesn't exist. You get subtitled cutscenes but no translation for the extensive in-game fairy chatter.
Re: Review: Rainbow Cotton (Switch) - The Definitive Version Of This Dreamcast Shooter
@ShinG67 @-wc- A rail shooter simply describes a game where the action moves on rails and is fixed and can not be altered from its path. Rez also qualifies for this. The player-character doesn't necessarily need to be fixed as well (and is rarely the case) as long as their journey is at the whim of the game itself.
Corridor shooter is a defunct term that was once used for the era of FPS characterised by DOOM and Wolfenstein.
Re: Review: Contra: Operation Galuga (Switch) - Does The Series Proud, But Best Played Elsewhere
I also noticed a lot of criticism in the comments thread aimed at the Story Mode. Honestly, I'm not sure what the worries are with this. Arcade Mode, as stated, is preferable, and exists as the pure option. There's no real incentive as far as I could tell to have to play through Story Mode, but it being there at the least is a welcome alternative. I don't think any resources were wasted due to its assembly.
The way I'd play it would be to master the game in Arcade and then take those skills to Story just to experience the narrative.
Re: Review: Contra: Operation Galuga (Switch) - Does The Series Proud, But Best Played Elsewhere
@jake1421
That's never happened to me. I've had consultations about scores before (one or twice, tops) based on criticism given in reviews, but not for this.
Please remember, scoring is a very arbitrary metric. One person's five is another person's seven, if that makes sense. The score for this particular game was based on several factors: an incredibly solid new Contra which is brilliantly concocted and captures the right feel, coupled with technical deficiencies that take work to look past.
Re: Review: Contra: Operation Galuga (Switch) - Does The Series Proud, But Best Played Elsewhere
@jake1421
It's a 6. It's unacceptable versus what the Switch is capable of, but it can still be played and enjoyed with some dedication. All of this is outlined in the body of the review.
The major issue is, if you're only planning to buy this once (and why would you buy any game twice), there are far superior options.
Re: Review: Contra: Operation Galuga (Switch) - Does The Series Proud, But Best Played Elsewhere
@Psycho-Werekitsune They're totally different. The PC version runs at a solid 60fps with no drops.
Re: Review: Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation (Switch) - Poetic Bullet-Hell Perfection
@Ferchokyzer I had to read your sentence a few times there! At first I thought you were suggesting I created an account to wax lyrical about the achievements of my prose!
Thank you so much for your kind words, I really find motivation from comments like this. You'll find much of my historic work dotted on the internet, mostly between here and Eurogamer.
@jbrodack
Well, I do believe it's an accurate appraisal of the Ikaruga situation as it was, and how it came to be a mainstream darling, mostly heralded by reviewers who had barely touched the genre. That said, it's still a pretty masterful piece of work.
Re: Review: Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation (Switch) - Poetic Bullet-Hell Perfection
@FishyS @Ishmokin @miwa @Satan
Just a quick thank you to all of you for your kind comments regarding the review. Several 1CCs were achieved in the process of its writing, so effort was most certainly applied. I greatly appreciate your reading of it!
@Warioware
Start on Very Easy Mode, 1CC that easy. Then move onto Shotia Arrange (Type A) and then Leinyan Arrange (Type B) when you feel like you have it down. After that I'd then have a stab at the original Black Label arcade game and see how you get on. Stay away from EXY Arrange for a while. Incredible as it is, the loop 2 bullets might put you off.
Re: Review: Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation (Switch) - Poetic Bullet-Hell Perfection
@kuponick
It was a great number of people's entry point into shmups, and that's part of the problem. Because Treasure had finally and deservedly built themselves up a name by the time it was being developed, the mainstream media hyped it, which was uncommon for the genre and something I appreciated at the time.
Was the hype deserved? Yes, but I wish it wasn't so brief. After Ikaruga came and went, focus on the genre in the mainstream media died off as quickly as it arrived. All the shmup releases thereafter got little to no attention in Western publications, including that of CAVE's emerging talent.
Ikaruga is really the only shmup that enjoyed that kind of limelight, and because of that it tends to be the standard reference point for everyone, whether they know anything about the genre or not. It's absolutely a superb game, but tends to dodge criticism a little too easily for my liking.
The Ikeda interview is here. The formatting is a little messed up for some reason:
https://cave-stg.com/forum/index.php?topic=398.0
Re: Review: Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation (Switch) - Poetic Bullet-Hell Perfection
@StrangerSun I'd respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree. Ikaruga is a brilliant but clinical exercise in hybrid game design. It's beautiful and unique, but inflexible, which is often a hallmark of Treasure's work. While you can work out your own scoring routes, I don't think it matches the highs of something like DaiOuJou when you're in the thick of it.
Re: Review: Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation (Switch) - Poetic Bullet-Hell Perfection
@kuponick Because, as mentioned, Ikeda was interviewed for a French magazine where he cited Ikaruga as a form of inspiration in the sense he was so awed by it, he didn't think he could create anything its equal. I'd argue all day long that he did! I'm certainly not that reviewer that thinks Ikaruga is the only shmup ever to exist because of the mainstream press it enjoyed on release.
Hope that helps!
@gcunit
No offence taken whatsoever. I don't expect most people to immediately understand these types of game or the scoreline, no matter how valid I know it is in this instance. I'm happy to read all the comments for different perspectives.
Re: Review: Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation (Switch) - Poetic Bullet-Hell Perfection
Re: Review: Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation (Switch) - Poetic Bullet-Hell Perfection
@Solomon_Rambling @Ryu_Niiyama @dmcc0
I must say, I’m always very pleased, for obvious reasons, to know people read the review in full. It happens far less often than I’d like, so I appreciate that, and your kind words.
Re: Review: Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation (Switch) - Poetic Bullet-Hell Perfection
@Warioware If you're playing purely for survival, it's just as simplistic as Mushihimesama, but harder on its default arcade modes. If you're playing for score, well, it's a CAVE game, none are straightforward, and Mushi is no exception.
@FishyS @gcunit
I assure you folks - and this as someone recognised for scoring harshly - the scoreline for this isn't handed out lightly, and comes from years of experience with this particular game and the genre as a whole. If it helps, I can't think of any other legacy shmup, CAVE or otherwise, I'd score equally. Like Dark Souls, as a more modern example, it's not easy to understand how remarkable it is until you really have a handle on it. But when you do, it makes absolute sense. I hope some new players will reach that point!
Re: Review: Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation (Switch) - Poetic Bullet-Hell Perfection
@Vyacheslav333 Not sure why it's important to mention the mobile version of the game. You'd need to enlighten me there.
@StarryCiel @Warioware
M2 have considered everything here. It's really one of the most comprehensive packages they've ever released, with modes to get everyone started and help them move up.
Re: Review: Turok 3: Shadow Of Oblivion (Switch) - A Quality Restoration Missing Its Multiplayer
@ObamaCare We know it's late, apologies for that. Had some trouble getting the game organised for review.
@Hank_Scorpio Caught! Thanks for that.