Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS Review

The only reason I decided to do the 3DS version is because of the multiple features Nintendo decided to add on.
I swear if not for that, I am a N64 girl ‘til the day I die.

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System Played On: 3DS

Age Rating: E10+ for Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood, and Suggestive Themes

My Age Rating:E

Because Suggestive Themes? Really Nintendo? E is more appropriate personally, there’s nothing scary or bad about this game. Majora’s Mask is a different story, though.

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Graphics: 7/10

Definitely clearer and crisper than the Nintendo 64 version, but let’s be honest, we all assumed that was the intention when Ocarina of Time was announced for 3DS centuries ago.  

Plotline: 6/10

Although I do love Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time isn’t much for plotline. Sure, good intentions, cool ideas, and great puzzles can make a legacy of a game, but it’s another “Save the Princess” style game. Mario got his fame for it too; I’m not that bitter.

Playability: 9/10

As much as I know I will be a stickler for N64 controllers, the 3DS just runs smoother. ALTHOUGH, I did not like the gyro sensor that they added in. Read more on that in the overall review.

Overall: 7/10

Replay Value:8/10

The only reason this is getting such a high replay value is because they added in additional options, like Master Quest and Boss Challenges: Both only being available after beating the game.

Master Quest wasn’t bad, but I don’t think they tried too hard. Also, Boss Challenges only seem like something speedrunners or perfectionists would enjoy--neither of which I am.

Synopsis:

Young Link is sent off to make sure the villain, Ganondorf, does not do what Princess Zelda’s vision foretold-- Stealing Hyrule’s precious Triforce, the item that holds the utmost powerful magic. (See why I said it was a “Save the Princess” style game?)

Overall Review:

I don’t think it’s in my nature to bash a Legend of Zelda game- but I do need to get a little angry at Nintendo.

Maybe it’s because I don’t like 3DS’s.

Maybe it’s because I don’t like change.

Maybe it’s because I just need to rant about something.

Whatever it is, I need to straighten this out. I’m in no way angered at the original game, or the remastered version, simply the added features on the 3DS version.

I’ve already stated my opinion on Master Quest and Boss challenge, but there are 3 more fun bonus features!

Motion control, which means you can use the gyro in the 3DS for a full 360 first person perspective view, Touch screen menu, which is having access to maps and items on the bottom screen at all times, and “hints”, which are added checkpoints where you will be “told a vision” of how to get past a puzzle.

Motion control was a cool concept, except for its completely irrelevant to a game like Ocarina of Time, since it’s a puzzle game, not a shooter.

Touch screen menu just gets me slightly butt hurt, because there’s something terrifying about opening your map right before getting shot by a skeleton that children will never experience these days; But this last one really boils my blood.

Kids are literally given cheats IN GAME now. No more sitting for 2 hours pissing off at the game for not getting a puzzle. Now all you have to do it go to a local “vision statue”, which tells you a vision of how to get past a certain part of a dungeon or map location. SO not about that.

With all that aside though, they still did a really good job with graphic improvements, and that’s enough incentive for me to go out and buy the game.

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(GameFAQs) Walkthrough Link:

http://www.ign.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3d/3ds-77881

Bioshock Review

This has always been one of my favourite games. EVER.

So here’s this little gem for you guys.

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System Played On: PS3/Xbox360

Age Rating: M
For blood, gore, strong language, sexual references, intense violence, and drug references.

My Age Rating: 13+

Personally, this game can be a bit too dark and dreary for someone who hasn’t at least reached middle school age.

Graphics: 9/10

There was always something charming about the graphics. Something that was simple, but not too simple. Obviously they spent a lot of time perfecting the little things, like how the blood pools shimmer, and how every mutation seems to be different.

Though it's not the most realistic I’ve seen, it was great for 2007.

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Plotline: 9.5/10

This is the reason why people play this game. Just when you thought you could catch your footing on the story, they would throw another plot twist.

Overall, really intriguing and the main reason why I stayed with the series; I was excited for more.

Playability: 9.7/10

Bioshock is super easy to pick up, nothing is really glitchy, and controls are simple. It’s like picking up another Black ops game in aspects of control.

Replay Value:9/10

Multiple endings on games have always been my favourite, as technology gets more and more advanced, bigger companies are finally picking up that making an “open ended” story mode, where you can pick your ending, are good ideas.

Ib was the other game that I reviewed that executed this idea, with a whopping 9 different endings.  

Though Bioshock only has 3, it was a great way to make the game value higher.

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Overall: 9/10

Synopsis:

You start the game in the middle of what seems to be an ocean, with a plane on fire, sinking deep into the sea right next to you.

After finding shore, you go to a lighthouse, where an odd elevator takes you down to “Rapture”, a new “utopia” that was created underwater and supposedly the place to be.

Unfortunately, Rapture seems to have gone into mass chaos, with mutated civilians, giant bot busting robots, and little girls that seem to be sucking the life out of dead bodies. Not only is the object of the game to get out of Rapture, but find out why Rapture went into civil war in the first place.

Overall Review:

I don’t even know where to start.

Bioshock was first shown to me as a kid, me hitting the age of 12 when I picked it up. What a time, I will tell you. A long time friend of mine tried playing it, but with no avail, we both got too spooked to continue.

Years later, going through her video games at her house, I picked it back up and decided to adventure on my own to play it.

Within probably two weeks of sporadic playing, and I beat the game with the “Good Ending”, which was lucky on my part. The best part is I’m still playing it now to get the “Sad Ending”, so the game hasn’t really gotten boring since I first picked it up.

The whole idea behind foreshadowing the entire game just adds to the replay value even more, since you have those “Aha” moments quite often during the games, realising that you really must have been that stupid if you missed it the first play through.

As I said, one of my favourite games of all time, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving it.

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(GameFAQs) Walkthrough Link: www.gamefaqs.com/xbox360/931329-bioshock/faqs

Ib Reivew

You wanted a totally rad indie horror game to play?! What a coincidence! I got an amazing pixel horror game for you--and it’s free!

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System Played On: PC

Age Rating: Not Rated

My Age Rating: 10

I really think an “ideal age range” all has to do with your ability to puzzle and how scared you can get. You could be an 8 year old and still enjoy this game if you don’t get the living wits scared out of you.

Graphics: 7/10

I mean, it’s suppose to be all pixely...right?

The game does occasionally glitch out since it is a very simplistic system that the creators used to make the game itself, but I’m finding it hard to demote the integrity of the game because of it.

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Plotline: 9/10

This plotline is surprisingly original, considering horror games are normally some of the most cliche games I’ve ever laid my hands on.

It was a breath of fresh air, even though it felt like I couldn’t breathe sometimes because of the jumpscares.

Playability: 8/10

Since it is pixel, each move needs a sprite, and glitching spots during animation is minimal.

Replay Value:9/10

Replaying is one of the best parts of this game--because there’s more than one ending!

That’s right, you can replay the game and get a different ending almost every time, since the variables that change the ending are very little things that most people don’t even notice.

It’s one of the greatest aspects of this game.

Overall: 8/10

Synopsis:

Ib and her family decided to go to an art museum to go look at a new spotlight artist, but when Ib wanders off the power goes out and she gets lost the paintings--literally. Ib now is in an alternate dimension of the museum, one where the artists paintings come to life, and we find nine year old Ib having to fight the paintings herself.

Though Ib finds some friends, she also finds enemies, and it’s up to the player to decide her fate.

Overall Review:

Ib was one of the most delightfully cynical games I’ve ever played.

The creator, Kouri, is not only innovative in ideas and storyline, but also pays attention to the little details, to make every playthrough and unique and enlightening experience.

I immediately fell in love with this game the minute I picked it up, between the enchanting soundtrack and the eerie paintings, so much time and effort went into this game I couldn’t not appreciate it.

I don’t want to spoil too much, but I can conclude that this is in fact one of the most charming games I’ve ever picked up, and if you’re looking for something that will knock you off your feet when it comes to being not only scared, but confused, you need to pick up this game immediately.

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Download here!

Sly Cooper Review

Hello Interwebs.

Today I have for you… The original Sly Cooper! Finishing up the 3rd and 4th now, so stay tuned for those!

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System Played On: PS2

Age Rating: E

My Age Rating: E

It’s really a simple bash people's faces in kind of game, nothing to it. Easy controls, simplistic plot.

Graphics: 5/10

Even though I know that the game came out in 2002, the graphics were lacking for three dimensional technology at that time, not to mention the awkward glitches with the software (come on, this isn’t Goat Simulator).

Plotline: 7/10

Simplicity does this game good, and who doesn’t love a sassy raccoon? (That’s why everyone loves Guardians of the Galaxy, right?)

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Playability: 7/10

The controls were pretty simple and straightforward. Sometimes it was hard to catch on to sneaking around, and the gadgets were at first confusing, but overall it was easy to pick up.

Replayability: 5/10

I'm sorry to say, but there's not much to do after you finish the main plot. It was a similar problem with most games pre- PS3 that Playstation made, there wasn't much to do besides collect all of the little trinkets that unlocked useless things that you didn't need anymore to complete the game.

No matter the how good a plot is, that can only keep you for so long.

Overall: 7/10

Synopsis:

Sly Cooper comes from a long line of thieves. After his parents were killed, he was sent to orphanage and found his two friends, Murray (the Hippo) and Bentley (the Turtle).

Years go by, and the group decides to try to get back Sly’s family book of thieving trick, the Thievius Raccoonus. The Fiendish Five, those who killed off Sly’s parents, have stolen this book, and it is your job as Sly to defeat all 5 and get back your ancestors’ book.

Overall Review:

Sad story time, I started Sly 2 before hand, but stopped and took the time to scour out a copy of the original. Though the graphics are lacking for the time, and the glitching is almost as bad as Goat Simulator, the simplistic approach to the plot line and humour made this a really enjoyable game.

Unfortunately, it was extremely short.

This game only took 4 hours to complete, though I didn’t get 100%, the plot line was minimal. Battles were basic, missions were straightforward, but what really kept you reeled in was the odd humour and unique point of view.

The “Robin Hood” viewpoint, one I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed, keeps the player going, and the icing on the cake is definitely the enemy of Sly’s, Carmelita. Her voice actor, though extremely spotty (switching from about 5 accents total--I counted), brought an added layer of depth to Sly as a developing character. The constant Love hate relationship is really fun to follow, and *spoiler*, it gets complicated in Sly 2, which is really fun to see.

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You feel an attachment to Sly, almost as if you have a bit of him inside all of us, and let’s admit it, who hasn’t dreamt of being a super sneaky ninja parkouring around town.

The main goal of an artist or writer is for your audience to feel empathy or similarity, and this game hit home. Fun, cute game to play in between those rage quit games that take 20 some odd hours to finish, though don’t get your hopes up for too complicated of a plot.

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(GameFAQs) Walkthrough Link:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/561378-sly-cooper-and-the-thievius-raccoonus/faqs/20877

ICO review

Shadow of Colossus is one of my all time favourite games, and ICO being the self proclaimed sequel, I had to try it out for myself.

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System Played On: PS3

Age Rating: T (for Blood and Violence)

My Age Rating: 12

There’s so many puzzles you have to have a lot of patience. Violence and blood aren’t really a big deal, for more than half the game you're hitting shadows with a stick.

Graphics: 6/10

There was nothing really great about them. It made me a little sad, since they did such a magnificent job remaking Shadow of Colossus for PS3, the graphics in ICO were just flat. Personally, I’m almost scared to play this on PS2 if this is what it looked like remastered.

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Plotline: 7/10

Was there really a plot line? It was almost similar to Legend of Zelda, where you just assume you’re out to get Princess Zelda, but were never told what to do. Hey, have a ghost child, and drag her around. Make sure she doesn’t die.

You never really knew what the point was until the end, and even then it was unclear.

Playability: 5/10

Uncoordinated hero number two, thanks a lot Team ICO. It feels almost as if Sony and the creators tried to make the character extremely hard to control just to add another level of frustration to the endless puzzle.

Also, there was never a walkthrough on how to jump, move items, pull levers, or any clue as to what the controls were. You kind of just mashed every button until you figured it out.

Replay Value: 6/10
Maybe if you're in to speed running like me, but there's really only one way to fight every boss. Not really worth playing multiple times besides to see if they have anymore information about the plot SOMEWHERE in the video game.

Overall: 6.5/10

Synopsis:

Ico is a young boy that was born with horns, which is considered cursed and unholy in the land. He is taken to a castle and held there to be sacrificed. Naturally, Ico escapes and meets a girl named Yorda.

Yorda seems to have the enemies, which take the form of shadow beasts, chasing after her and is in need of a guardian to protect her. Ico decides he’s perfect for the job, and so the rest of the game focuses on him protecting Yorda as they explore the castle and try to escape from the evil queen who seems to have previous relations with Yorda.

Overall Review:

After playing the game, all I could really think is meh. It was pretty disappointing to play in comparison to Shadow of Colossus.

Not only was the player given another uncoordinated hero, they weren’t even given guidance as to how to play the game. I didn’t think they’d lay out a perfect walkthrough for the player, but I assumed they’d at least inform me as to why Ico is trying to save Yorda and how exactly to climb the freaking wall.

Along with that, it’s known this was made earlier than Colossus, but the graphics were so different between the two, even in this HD remake, that it seemed like ICO was neglected from the beginning.

They had the opportunity to make beautiful scenery and a detailed creepy old queen, but instead the player was left with shoddy graphics that didn’t do justice to the game. Even HD couldn’t save it.

Since players  were given almost no instructions on what they were to do, it was almost impossible to figure out what you needed to do and even harder to convince yourself to keep playing.

(GameFAQs) Walkthrough Link:

http://www.ign.com/wikis/the-ico-shadow-of-the-colossus-collection/Ico_Walkthrough