Category Archives: Reviews

So who’s ready to take some samurai swords and drench them in demon blood? I’m trying to catch up on my current crop of gaming before even dreaming of moving onto Muramasa. Judging from these reviews though it looks like a solid game is waiting on me…

1Up – (A-): “Like the legendary sword the game’s named after, Muramasa easily cuts through all the unnecessary fluff and gives you just what you want: tons and tons of flashy sword action. The game’s versatile in that you can take from it what you wish — two relatively short storylines for those who want to blaze through the game, or hours of leveling, forging, and boss-battling for the dedicated adventurer. Muramasa may not be a trail-blazing genre-defining title, but it’s definitely a “must have” for your Wii library.”

IGN – 8.9/10: “Muramasa: The Demon Blade is as much a piece of art as it is a game, and it’s that true cohesive nature that will keep players pushing further and further along. The gameplay isn’t always the deepest experience in either the action or RPG genres – two buttons, blades, and a whole lot of killing –but the game’s inherent action mechanic is fun, fast, and addicting, and there always seems to be something new around the next corner; visually, gameplay, or otherwise. The first playthroughs will last most hardcore gamers well over 20 hours, players that dive into the game’s harder difficulty are rewarded with new bosses and better blades, and the experience is polished and captivating from the first second to the last. Bottom line though is that it’s just fun to play. Action is fierce, and while battles are repetitive if you look at them, they never seem to get stale either. There may be areas where Demon Blade could have been improved upon, but when it comes to the seamless blending of visuals, audio, and downright fun, Muramasa is a true classic, and shouldn’t be missed. If this sounds like your type of experience, do yourself a favor and pick it up. Games like this don’t come around every day.”

Gamespot – 7.5/10: “It’s a shame the other elements of Muramasa do not reach the level of its amazing art, but the breathtaking visuals are reason enough to play through this adventure. The stylish combat lacks depth, which makes repetition sink in after just a few hours, but it is still fun to fly across the screen to strike down enemies with flair and test your new blades on your weary foes. And even though the normal battles lack diversity, the boss encounters are unique and memorable, pushing players to learn intricate patterns while honing their skills. Muramasa has its share of problems, but the meticulously crafted 2D art makes it possible to overlook them for long enough to enjoy this engaging experience. “

Gametrailers:

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On October 10th of last year, I made a list of the Top 5 2009 game releases to look out for. Barring the questionable pick of The Conduit I like to believe I did a pretty good job. One of the games I had listed was Little King’s Story. Now that it’s out, how has the game faired?

If you’re to believe these review, then it’s doing pretty well. From a quality standpoint at least, it will be awhile before we know if it’s a seller.

Gameplanet: 9.5/10 – “Little King’s Story is a little beauty; fans of Nintendo’s classic ‘cutesy’ titles such as Animal Crossing and Pikmin will truly love it. We may be finished with the reviewing side of things but are still playing Little King’s Story… which is probably the best endorsement we can give any game.”

Edge-Online: 9/10 – “Perhaps the game’s greatest achievement, however, is a constant focus on you, the player, delicately changing the world as your kingdom expands. Every moment feels like it’s been lavished with attention; Little King’s Story is as rich as it is long, and it’s a very lengthy game indeed. Its central mechanic is unique, its world unlike any other, and its completion a Herculean task. It’s a game of rare quality, and exactly what the Wii deserves. It’s a true original.”

Gamepro: 4.5/5 – “Adorable, charming, and an absolute blast, Little King’s Story is more than worth your time – and weighing in at about 30 hours, it deserves every minute it can get! A surprising and enchanting experience, I think it’s safe to say that Little King’s Story is a must-own title that I certainly couldn’t have expected, which only makes this hybrid RPG’s success all the sweeter. “

IGN: 8.5/10 – “Little King’s Story misses the boat in a few key areas for me personally – the largest of which is the lack of IR pointing in a game specifically based around real-time strategy elements – but at the end of the day there’s no denying that this title has serious staying power, an immense amount of charm, and is downright fun despite its faults. Yasuhira Wada of Harvest Moon fame is back with a series that – while still very early – has the makings of being just as big, if not even bigger, than his most well-known franchise. There are a few quirks I don’t personally dig, such as the use of public domain music when the amazingly talented Yoko Shimomura is on the project, and I’ve made my gripes with a Wii-exclusive game not using Wii-exclusive tech, but at the end of the day it comes down to whether or not this is an entertaining game despite any of its faults, and it absolutely is. If you – like I – have been waiting for this game for over two and a half years now, the wait is over, and the final package is one developer Cing should be proud of. This is a game with impressive humor and style, a beautiful design, and a world I can’t wait to play though again and again in a hopefully very successful franchise. On the control front though, more could be done, and Little King’s Story leaves me wanting in ways that are both good and bad. Hopefully this is just the beginning for our newfound king.”

Gamespot: 8.5/10 – “Little King’s Story is one of those rare games that manages to keep on surprising and pleasing you as you play it. In addition to featuring amusing characters, gorgeous visuals, and challenging boss fights, it also raises interesting points about religion, the nature of leadership, the rights of monarchy, and a whole host of other things. It is not without its foibles, but Little King’s Story is still a great game for any Wii-owning RPG or RTS fan.”

Do I know how to call em’ or do I know how to call em ….

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The regular non-corporate owned people/sites still have ten days before Wii Sports Resort releases. That doesn’t mean that reviews haven’t started pouring in for the game by the sites with connections. How do things look from a review standpoint thus far? I’ve got to say for the most part — so far so good.

1UP.com: A-

“But despite it flaws, and its disconnectedness, Wii Sports Resort is filled with genuinely fun moments. For the “casual” Wii owner, the minigame collection provides immediate access, and quick thrills, that can be enjoyed for a few minutes, and then put away and forgotten until they next time the Wii comes out for family game night. But even hardcore gamers can appreciate Resort’s upgrade of the Wii’s motion controls. Like Wii Sports, Wii Play, and Wii Music, this is a game made to be played with friends, and your enjoyment with the title will directly relate to how much time you’re able to spend playing it with other people.”

IGN UK: 8.9

“While the usual group of miserable Wii owners will blithely dismiss Wii Sports Resort as ‘just another mini-game’ collection’, the rest of us can rejoice in a game that delivers entertainment in massive, unbridled waves. It’s true that Resort doesn’t quite strike the balance between single-player and party appeal, but its compulsive score-based structure is a significant step up from its predecessor. Soloists mightn’t be captivated by Resort’s slightly uneven game line-up for hours at a time but multiplayer is a different story entirely. Yes, control issues mar some activities but most offer a ridiculous amount of finely-honed, uncomplicated fun. Wii Sports Resort might lack the kind of revelatory innovative oomph that accompanied its forebear’s debut but it’s still a thoroughly charmingly masterclass in entertaining, accessible game design. It not quite a five star retreat but that doesn’t mean we won’t be perfectly happy on Wahu Island this summer.”

IGN: 7.7

“Wii Sports Resort is a really good follow-up to the game that started Nintendo’s industry shift. It’s absolutely a better design than the original pack-in with a much larger stack of sports-inspired Wii games. Not every game is a winner, however, and a few games that hold promise don’t quite meet their potential.

At the very least it’s a wonderful demonstration of the capabilities of the Wii Motion Plus peripheral, and shows just how much it changes Wii motion sensing for the better. The device is incredibly accurate and Wii Sports Resort shows this extremely well in several games that are really fun – if just slightly shallow – sports-based diversions. “

Eurogamer: 7/10

“With two or more players, the sequel is, once again, a compulsive riot. Played alone, however, some of its pieces seem sweet, but a little empty. It’s important to remember that, like the first game, Resort has a lot to accomplish, and for the most part does it effortlessly, but while its scattershot approach means you’ll always have something to show off when the neighbours come around – apologies, I appear to be channelling The Good Life – Resort struggles to offer something you’ll want to then sit down and play for any real length of time, except golf and bowling which, chances are, you already have done. Despite a lot more polish, a little of original game’s sketchiness has returned too: you’re left with the feeling that a gratuitously talented company has thrown together some casual brilliance, but stopped shy of expending too much real effort.”

So are you picking up Wii Sports Resort on release day? If not, have the reviews swayed your opinion at all? Feel free to let loose, it is Friday after all. read more »