2023 Review Roundup
Migrated from X
X (formerly Twitter) has been making it difficult to post lately. I may/not lose my account so I am migrating my older mini reviews to Substack to be safe. Here, they will be posted as yearly blocks in their near entirety (apart from most photos & videos) as presented on X.
1-30-23
Eternal Sonata review:
This is my second playthrough. This time on the Xbox 360.
GOOD:
+ Beautiful vistas, locals
+ Wonderful characters, VOs
+ Far easier than the PS3 version (review below)
+ Battle system, abilities
+ Music
SO-SO:
+/- Simple story
BAD:
- Battle camera (vomit)
Score: 9/10
2-1-23
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga review:
GOOD:
+ Fun story, good humor, vibrantly-packed worlds
+ Lots of things to do.
SO-SO:
+/- Simplied stories
BAD:
- Some objectives are confusing even w/ hints
- HUD is overwhelming
Score: 8/10
2-5-23
Hi-Fi Rush review:
GOOD:
+Graphic style, art, attention to detail
+ Story, VO, humor
+ Battles, rhythmic-controls, bosses
+ Music
BAD:
- Too many enemies tends to cause the rhythm to get lost
- Some levels are too long
This is one of the best games I've ever played! #Xbox #HiFiRush
Score: 9/10
2-6-23
Pokemon Violet review:
GOOD:
+ Cool new Pokés
+ Vast, open world
+ Music
+ Superior Handheld Performance over TV
+ Lots to do/catch
BAD:
- Graphics, pop-in, frame rate
- TV performance is abysmal -Nothing to do in Cities
- Virtually no enterable buildings outside gyms
- Story
Score: 7.9/10
3-3-23
Hogwarts Legacy review:
GOOD:
+Graphics, wizarding world, characters, set pieces
+Hogwarts Castle feels alive and lived-in
+Wand battles are spectacular
SO-SO:
+/-Not enough emphasis on the castle itself
BAD:
-No photo mode
-Selecting a power is tedious, slow menu
-Pop-in rate
Score: 9/10
3-17-23
Persona 4 Golden review:
Same JRPG ideas & concepts as P5R but w/ a better, well-rounded story in half the time.
GOOD:
+Characters, relationships, social links, bosses, 65+hours
SO-SO:
+/-Iniba is too small
BAD:
-Ending drags, downtime between dungeons, some confusing Social Links
Score: 9/10
3-19-23
Teacup review:
A narrative adventure about a frog named Teacup who adventures out to restock tea for her upcoming house party, after an extended period in self-isolation.
GOOD:
+ Beautiful graphics, cute story
SO-SO:
+/- Very simple minigames
BAD:
- Short (45 mins), zero replay value
Score: 6.5/10
4-12-23
Resident Evil 4 Remake review:
A stellar remake of a classic. A masterclass of art, gameplay and performance.
GOOD:
+Graphics, frame rate, game mechanics
+Story, improved VO and story elements
+Guns, collectibles, side quests
BAD:
-Rocket launcher is a 1-hit boss killer
Score: 10/10
4-16-23
Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins review:
Played this back on GB in the day. The Switch version holds up well!
GOOD:
+ Classic Mario handheld platforming, wonderful graphics, lots of retro nostalgia!
+ Wario’s first game!
BAD:
- Game Boy hardware limitations remain in the Switch Online version, 2 enemies on screen at a time max, very easy game
Score: 8/10
4-26-23
Gotham Knights review:
GOOD:
+ Gotham is brilliant, atmosphere is authentic, world feels deadly-alive
+ Characters, VO, powers
+ Great villains & story arcs
BAD:
- Enemy hordes
- Uneven boss difficulty infers design was for co-op & not single player
- Most puzzles
- Hard
Score: 7.5/10
5-2-23
Yakuza 5 review:
In my opinion, the Yakuza franchise fell off at Yakuza 3.
GOOD:
+ Main story (when the game gets to it), voice acting
+ Mini games
SO-SO:
+/- Uneven graphics
BAD:
- Tons of story filler nonsense
- 5 characters
- Dance Story
- Way too long
- Bland maps
- Power ups
- Invincible boss blocks
Score: 6/10
5-10-23
Jedi Survivor review:
A stellar follow up to a larger story.
GOOD:
+ Story, characters, VOs, set pieces
+ Gameplay, mechanics, fighting
+ Worlds, lore, side missions, level design
BAD:
- Some missions are too long, many minor glitches, some areas are way confusing to maneuver
Score: 9/10
6-14-23
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review:
GOOD:
+ Three beautiful world maps
+ New abilities make everything feel limitless
+ Story & wow-factor at every turn
+ Fuse ability
+ The Depths is terrifying!
- Camera speed is gruelingly sluggish
- Breakable items
- Uneven difficulty
Score: 10/10
7-7-23
We Love Katamari review:
This sequel brings back all the same elements w/ minor changes for a fun time!
GOOD:
+ Unchanged low-poly graphics just feels right; bright colors, simple controls
+ Hilarious & endearing story
+ Great levels
SO-SO:
+/- Short
+/- Reverey levels
BAD:
- Fussy camera
Score: 9/10
7-9-23
Sonic the Hedgehog (via Sonic Origins) review:
GOOD:
+Crips 16:9 full screen, Graphics hold up, mostly Great level design, Added Spin Dash
+ Additional Origins mini bookend story anime
+ Music
BAD:
- Labyrinth Zone is s#!t
Score: 9/10
7-9-23
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (via Sonic Origins) review:
GOOD:
+ Stellar graphics, level design, vivid colors and details, enemy AI & enemy designs, bosses, speed, anime opening/end
+ Admittedly my favorite 2D Sonic game
BAD:
+ Best music in the series!
Score: 10/10
7-12-23
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (via Sonic Origins) review:
GOOD:
+ Epic final chapter, amazing zones, brightly colored, and full of attitude!
+ Execution of new ideas, plentiful boss fights, sprawling backdrop that tells a story
SO-SO:
+/- Some levels are a bit too long
BAD:
- Replaced Music tracks due to expired licensing
Score: 9/10
7-16-23
In Sound Mind review:
A psychological horror/puzzler filled with spooks & poignancy!
GOOD:
+ Fantastic horror elements, jump scares, eerie moments aplenty
+ Meaty, well-thought-out level design
+ Characters, stories, puzzles
SO-SO:
+/- Mid graphics
- Item select needs improvement
Score: 8/10
7-18-23
Ravenlok review:
A wonderful ARPG filled w/ tons of intertwined mini-quests.
GOOD:
+ Beautiful world, graphics, color palette, characters
+ Multiple mini quests that fill in the story
+ Simple combat & not grindy
SO-SO:
+/- Very short but tight
BAD:
- Camera is abysmal
- Light story
Score: 8/10
7-21-23
Binary Domain review:
A linear, cover-based shooter with tight controls & an exhilarating campaign!
GOOD:
+ Story, missions
+ Enemies, weapons
+ Graphics, set pieces, and arcady feel
SO-SO:
+/- few collectibles
BAD:
- Not much to do outside of the 9-hour story
Score: 8.5/10
7-23-23
Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight review:
A shining remake of the original Etrian Odyssey 2. Takes advantage of 3DS touch screen!
GOOD:
+Main story, characters, voice-overs, wonderful enemies
+Most floors and mazes are fun
BAD:
-Very long & repetitive
-Uneven &unfair difficulty
-Later floors are hell!
Score: 7/10
7-25-23
Lost Planet: Extreme Conditions review:
This action game was why I initially chose Xbox 360 over PS3. However, I never ended up getting the game at the time, and just now got around to playing it.
GOOD:
+Graphics (for its time 2006), sound, simple story, weapons
SO-SO:
+/-stagnant environments, controls
BAD:
-Short campaign (~4 hours), brain dead AI
Score: 8/10
7-26-23
Lost Planet 2 review:
A spectacular sequel!
GOOD:
+ Amazing single player/co-op campaign
+ Team-based missions
+ Highly detailed levels, set pieces, enemies, brutally awesome boss fights
+ An adrenaline rush from start to finish
BAD:
- Frame rates suffers throughout & often laggy
Score: 9/10
7-27-23
When the Past was Around review:
A somewhat poignant hidden-object game that’s a little too bland.
GOOD:
+ Simple art style that works
+ Most puzzles
BAD:
- Repetitive music
- Some arbitrary puzzles
- Boring but luckily short (1 hour)
- Story doesn’t hit hard enough
Score: 4/10
7-29-23
Lost Planet 3 review:
A MUST PLAY wrap to an excellent trilogy! Can’t believe I slept on Lost Planet for so long!
GOOD:
+ Story, characters
+ Atmosphere, graphics, beautifully realized world
+ Combat, AI, boss fights, traversal mechanics
+ Mech (Rig)
+ Adventure & minor horror elements
Score: 9.5/10
8-22-23
Bramble: The Mountain King review
A wonderfully-intense adventure focused on fairytales, folklore & legends.
GOOD:
+Beautifully told story, entrapping atmosphere, intoxicating environments
+Challenges, bosses are wonderful
SO-SO:
+/- Some challenges are slightly confusing
Score: 9/10
8-30-23
Octopath Traveler II review:
A mostly average sequel that doesn't quite hit the mark.
GOOD:
+ Set pieces, pixel graphics, world
+ Characters, abilities
+ 5/8 of the character stories
SO-SO:
+/- Not much new
BAD:
- Way too long
- Too many mediocre character stories
- Crazy difficulty spikes
Score: 7.5/10
9-24-23
Starfield review:
This Western RPG can be thrilling, isolating, and sometimes boring.
GOOD:
+Vast, endless exploring of 1000s of worlds, most graphics, voice actors, set pieces, ships, side quests
SO-SO:
+/-End story, weapons
BAD:
-Bugs, crashes, too many empty/uninteresting worlds, abilities, digipicks
Score: 7/10
9-25-23
Dordogne review:
A spirited adventure about a butch woman’s memories spent at her grandma’s one summer in the 1980s.
GOOD:
+ Watercolor art style, simple yet lively world, voice cast
+ Point-and-click mini games, journal
BAD:
- Not much to do really
Score: 7/10
10-23-23
Sonic Superstars review:
A modern take on Sonic's 2D platforming roots! And one of the best Sonic games EVER!
GOOD:
+ Graphics, level design, the return of physics & momentum
+ Bosses, Chaos Emerald challenges, new powers
+ Trip the Sungazer (& her new game+ level design difficulty)
Score: 10/10
11-7-23
Jusant review:
This indie action-puzzle climbing game is a finger-ache!
GOOD:
+ Clean aesthetics & unique art style
+ Short but to the point
+ Collectibles
GOOD:
- Climbing mechanics hurt my finger
- Journals/Letters are too wordy to want to read
- Character got stuck a few times
Score: 6/10
11-11-23
Dead Space Remake review:
A faithful remake of the spectacular original sci-if horror classic!
GOOD:
+ Story, atmosphere, graphics, attention to detail, set pieces
+ Controls, abilities, weapons & upgrades
+ Enemies, new challenges
BAD:
- Randomized loot, ultra-minor bugs
Score: 9.5/10
11-18-23
RoboCop: Rogue City review:
A somewhat engaging movie-like experience.
GOOD:
+ Graphics, Voice Overs, weapons, side quests
+ A sequel that does the films justice
SO-SO:
+/- Story, ability system
BAD:
- Scrambled cut scene graphics, no crouch or cover assist, ambush battles, stiff controls, uneven difficulty spikes, boring
Score: 6/10
11-23-23
Super Mario RPG Remake review:
Charming yet way-too-easy compared to the original’s perfect difficulty!
GOOD:
+ Wonderful new graphics, faithful design, beautifully-told story, magical music
+ World design, characters both good & bad, attacks/abilities/weapons, 3D cut scenes
BAD:
- Far less difficult than original
Score: 9/10
11-24-23
Thirsty Suitors review:
A unique adventure of returning home, and mending broken relationships by battling, skateboarding, cooking or talking them out.
GOOD:
+Unique emotions-based/turn-based battles, writing, food & skateboard challenges
BAD:
- Desperate to be as “woke” as possible
Score: 8/10
11-25-23
Stray review:
This puzzle/platformer may seem relaxing but piles on intense moments.
GOOD:
+ Cute protagonists
+ Interesting story, immersive world
+ Eerie music & sound effects, graphics & set pieces
SO-SO:
+/- No photo mode
BAD:
- Most puzzles & platforming are very easy
Score: 8/10
12-8-23
Sonic Dream Team review:
Surprisingly ONE of the BEST full-3D Sonic experiences ever! Held back only by being an Apple Arcade exclusive.
GOOD:
+ Controls (when using a physical controller), level design, bosses
+ Fun story, instant-switch characters, Tails challenges
SO-SO:
+/-Shortish
BAD:
-Frame rate/loading issues, lag, minor bugs
- Apple Arcade exclusive
Score: 8.5/10
12-14-23
A Short Hike review:
An Animal Crossing-spirited tale of a bird thirsting to hike a mountain top & discovers new friends along the way.
GOOD:
+ Interchangeable graphics styles: retro to modern
+ Cute, relaxing story, missions
+ Fun to fly, climb, race, boat & fish!
SO-SO:
+/- Only 1 hour long
Score: 8/10
12-17-23
Final Fantasy XVI review:
This JRPG is unlike any previous Final Fantasy title in all the best ways.
GOOD:
+Simple story, graphics, set pieces, music, bosses
+Time Lore is genius!
+Side Quests that amount to something!
BAD:
-Less of an RPG and more of a hack’n slash
-Too easy, no dungeon maps, not many exotic locals
Score: 8/10
12-28-23
Venba review:
This narrative, point-n-click game expresses the importance of culture, love of food, family, & self.
GOOD:
+A short & sweet story of love, loss, & acceptance
+Cooking real recipes
+Soothing music
BAD:
-An all-too-simple premise
-Little to do in its 1-hour total of gameplay
Score: 5/10
12-28-23
Sea of Stars review:
A nostalgic 16-bit-style RPG that hits all the feels.
GOOD:
+ Lighthearted yet deep story, humor, relatable side characters (Garl), thrilling adventure & journey, fun battle system, epic music
BAD:
- Oddly boring protagonists, puzzles have no challenge
Score: 8.5/10