Posted on Dec 30, 2010 under Wii |
The Good:
Charming visuals
Superb level design that always offers something new
Tons of hidden extras to discover
Innovative controls
Satisfying puzzles.
The Bad:
Frustrating final level.
Basing a 2D platforming puzzle game on a substance as familiar as water might not seem like the most inspired of ideas, but the more time you spend with Hydroventure–known as Fluidity in the US–the more you realise how great it is. Like the water you control, the puzzles you solve have a flow, effortlessly merging into each other to create an experience that always challenges you yet never makes you feel stupid. These are brilliantly designed, each of them guided by the real-world physics of water, making them immensely satisfying to solve. While the difficultly does take a sudden, and frustrating, spike upward toward the end, it’s not enough to detract from this intelligently designed and beautiful-looking game. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Nov 30, 2010 under Wii |
The Good:
Fantastic level design
Hidden collectibles give a substantial reason to replay levels
Vehicle sequences are loads of fun
Strong artistic design
Catchy soundtrack.
The Bad:
Occasionally clumsy controls
There’s a time and place for innovation, but you certainly can’t expect a tie-wearing gorilla to lead the charge into unexplored territory. As the name suggests, Donkey Kong Country Returns is a trip down memory lane, and this tightly crafted collection of classic platforming tropes shows that clever level design can be just as engaging as brand-spanking-new ideas. Even without cutting-edge features to distinguish it from other 2D platformers, Donkey Kong’s latest adventure is exciting because it constantly messes with your expectations. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Oct 02, 2010 under Nintendo DS |
The Good:
Wide, wide world filled with scores of nifty monsters
Lengthy main narrative
Lots of quests, optional dungeons, crafting, and more to keep fans busy.
The Bad:
Clunky menu system
Requires some grinding.
The Dragon Quest series is one of the true old souls within the realm of role-playing games, with its standard features lovingly reiterated in each release. There is always the signature art style of Dragonball creator Akira Toriyama, an expansive world with many continents to visit, and hidden treasures to unearth. There are always slimes. While the series holds firmly to its roots, down to the user interface and battle sound effects, Dragon Quest: Sentinels of the Starry Skies introduces some new twists like multiplayer and nonrandom encounters that build on those old formulas. Read the rest of this entry »