amphibious_ReViews

Thanks to wonderfully constructed mechanics and an engaging story, Xenoblade Chronicles 2  is probably the best RPG that I have ever played. I was intrigued enough by the trailers and announcements for this game that I broke my usual rule to play games in order of release, and I am so glad that I did! This game is so well crafted, with beautiful worlds, lively characters, deep growth systems and a ridiculous amount of content. I played this game more than I played Breath of the Wild  and I still have so much more to do! As an entry in the Xenoblade Chronicles  series, veterans will be quick to pick up the combat and exploration that this game offers, but it is introduced in such a way that even newcomers shouldn't have a hard time getting acquainted with the mechanics. However, the story was definitely my favorite part, with engaging and humorous characters, exciting twists and turns, and a world full of impactful side-quests. The only part of the game that really bothered me

With the release of Unova Pokémon imminent and the upcoming Sword and Shield on the horizon, I have realized that Pokémon Go is probably my definitive Pokémon experience. Although it isn't very good at following the well-established traditions of the series, Pokemon Go absolutely has the necessities of collecting and battling, with the added bonus of an amazing community that is hard not to spot tapping their phones in the streets. I started playing this game when it originally released in 2016, but I dropped off quickly due to incompatibility with my old phone (and playing on an iPad  is super lame). Upon the announcement that the Let's Go  games would be compatible with their cousin on mobile phones, I decided to try again and was immediately hooked. The ability to play a meaningful game of Pokémon absolutely anywhere you go is a lot more valuable than it would initially seem. However, I think my biggest draw is that the developers are dedicated to releasing every Poké

Although I wouldn't consider it my favorite Final Fantasy  title (that place is held by FFII ,) it isn't hard to see how Final Fantasy III  was a game-changer for its series. Although it is quite similar in structure to the original , FFIII  is the originator of the job system, allowing (and requiring) the characters in the party to change roles throughout the game in order to perform different attacks, use different weapons, have different magical capabilities, and more! Although the interactivity between characters and the depth of the story suffered in this entry compared to its immediate predecessor, the world was opened up so much more. New magic and new jobs meant new opportunities for players to explore both the overworld and dungeons in ways unprecedented for the series. Unfortunately, save for the final tower, I feel as though the dungeons were still far more linear than in FFII , removing a lot of challenge and excitement from each of those sections. I also

This was the first Cube Escape  game that I played, as it was recommended to me by the Google Play Store  when I was looking for something to pass my time. It only took about 15 minutes to beat, but I was immediately enthralled in the world of Rusty Lake, and I began to nosedive into the depths of the series. There are over a dozen games taking place in the Rusty Lake universe now, most following the same hand-drawn-horror-room-escape-puzzler genre established by the first game. The formula works fabulously, but just like the TV show Lost , I find myself asking more questions than I had answered by each entry. I believe that The Lake  is the perfect starting point for anybody looking to delve into the creative and exciting world being created here, as it isn't afraid to throw you into the deep end. The connection that this game holds with Cube Escape: Seasons  was perfect for helping me to understand the unification of the games in the series, while also introducing me to most

Playing Q*Bert is definitely a unique experience. Although it looks a little bit like Pac-Man and Dig Dug had a weird soul-baby, the gameplay is a very fresh experience. My introduction to this gibberish-spewing, orange bouncy-ball was actually Disney 's Wreck it Ralph , in which Q*Bert was an adorable supporting character easing his way back into the limelight he held back in 1982. Unfortunately, his appearance in Pixels  was a little bit bigger, and a whole lot worse. However, it was enough to get me intrigued. I took on the arcade classic version of this game through the Internet Archive 's "Internet Arcade," which took a little getting used as I was forced to use arrow keys on an isometric field. However, once I understood the controls, I had a pretty good time hopping on color changing cubes and avoiding springy snakes! As the game progressed, the difficulty followed suit, and I had a little bit of trouble keeping up with all the additional enemies, but

Alter Ego  is a game that wasn't originally even in my line of sight. I have a lot of games waiting to be played, so a DOS game about living a whole new life didn't even cross my mind. However, I was browsing through the Internet Archive 's collection of saved DOS games and I thought this one might be worth a go. I anticipated it to be a short little choose-your-own-adventure style game, and in a way I was right. However, this game isn't short, and the choices I made mattered more than I thought they would. Alter Ego  is a hard-hitting life simulator that pits you with nearly everything life has to offer, even the bits you would have never thought about. You are tasked with balancing your health, reputation, relationships, finances, education, and more while being given very little direction. Every choice and decision impacts your personal "stats," which in turn alter what choices you can make in the future and the consequences of those choices. What I rea