amphibious_ReViews

I have recently been screwing around a bit with the "twin-stick shooter" genre, and then realized one of my childhood favorites was not only part of the genre, but also an amazing addition to it. I was always familiar with the classic arcade version (thanks to Midway Arcade Treasures Vol. 1 ), but I decided to try out the SNES  version just before this review, and it was quite the joyride. As a little bit of background, Smash TV  is a twin-stick shooter, meaning the character is controlled with one joystick, and shooting is controlled with the other. You play as a competitor in a deadly game-show in which you move from room to room defeating waves of enemies, powering up, collecting loot, and hopefully make it out alive. The game can be played alone, but the difficulty suggests that a second player might be helpful, as well as adding to the fun of the competition. Trying to out-score your partner can add an extra challenge that is worth every life. Besides the fact that

I have played a lot of mobile games in the trademark mobile format, too many micro-transactions, pay to win, ridiculous restrictions (like a pain-in-the-butt energy system)... and I played the crap out of them. For a week. Then realized how bad the game I was playing actually was. Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ  was the first mobile game that I have played using that format, that truly did it right. It has restrictions, but those restrictions are more like areas to grow as you play, rather than money-wasters that hold you back. I feel like I'm truly making progress every time I upgrade one of my medals (the "characters" of the game), or pump up my equipment. For those not familiar with  Kingdom Hearts , it is a series put out by Square Enix , the developing powerhouse behind Final Fantasy , Hitman , Deus Ex,  and much much more. In the simplest sense, the series is an action RPG crossover between Final Fantasy  and Disney , with as convoluted of a story line as they could

After just reviewing Mario Kart 64 , this review may seem a bit redundant, but I feel like this game definitely deserves to be reviewed anyways because it is too under-recognized. Jumping right in, I found that it takes a second to get used to the controls, due to the GBA having less buttons than either of the preceding systems with an MK  title, but after a slightly-confusing minute of button fumbling, the game is surprisingly well built for a portable platform! Mario Kart: Super Circuit  blends together the feel of both of its predecessors (being Super Mario Kart  and Mario Kart 64 ), as well as blending the technology of SMK  with the interface and track style of MK64 , making it into an exciting racing endeavor for one player, or four if you can find the Gameboys . The racing action is smooth, the menus aren't confusing, and the game is of the utmost quality. If you can get your hands on it, I recommend playing a few cups! The first mobile Mario Kart game is sure to please!

I find that Mario Kart is always a top contender for playing with a group of friends, and Mario Kart 64 is where that really started. Sure, Super Mario Kart  was amazing, and it was definitely a pioneer for the racing genre, but it was only for 2 players tops, compared to MK64 's 4 player races and more exciting maps. But enough comparing; MK64  is an amazing experience, both with friends, and alone. The tracks are intelligently designed, and the game is simple enough that anybody can jump in and enjoy the ride (or battle, if that is what you are into). Although some courses can feel a bit redundant , they still manage to be a good time, and worth the 6 minutes of flattening your thumb on the A Button. It should come as a surprise to nobody that this game is fantastic. Although it may be a bit harder to come by than most of the other titles in the series, I believe that it still stands as one of the best. My final words here probably aren't surprising either, but I feel

Donkey Kong, and his nemesis Jumpman (soon to be the legendary Mario) are featured in a very short (in a modern perspective), but extremely addicting game. The platforming is simple and the concept is easy to grasp, but just as you think you have mastered it, the game ups the difficulty and takes you down (at least it did for me). But that just opens the door for you to try again! and again. and again... The success of this game is exemplified even further by the fact that its two most prominent characters have spawned countless other games and have become some of the most iconic characters of all time . Keep in mind when playing the different versions of this game that each have their own quirks and differences, but they are all enjoyable and are worth the couple minutes they take to play. A flash version of the game can be found here (as of 8/17/2016):  http://www.donkey-kong.org/ The game can be purchased for Wii U here (as of 8/17/16):  http://www.nintendo.com/games/detai

Final Fantasy was a fun little game that I started playing for a while on bus rides, but that was all. It wasn't until recently that I decided I should truly delve into the game and see what it had to offer, and I was not disappointed. The first game plays in the traditional RPG style (although it set most of the precedents now known as "traditional"). There is a large overworld and many sub-locations for the player's party to travel to in order to find key items, defeat bosses, and trigger events that will allow for progression through the story. The game revolves around four heroes restoring light to the four elemental crystals/orbs in order to revive the crumbling world in which they live, and such a quest will not be short of challenges! I played the GBA version over the original  NES  version because I would have easier access to the sequel that way (same cart and all), and I am glad I did. The interface was gorgeous and everything fit together so nicely,