Pumpkin's Video Game Diary!

[Vermachtnis]

That IS a prett game! :O Reminds me of Odin Sphere!

They're both made by VanillaWare.

[Pumpkin]

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)
http://i.imgur.com/ie3EN7c.jpg


A Link Between Worlds is a spiritual successor of sorts to A Link to the Past, and takes place further in to the timeline. As I have not played ALttP (YET), I won't be able to comment much on what the similarities and differences are.


In this game, you take control of a young hero named Link (please, try to contain your shock), as he essentially tries to save Hyrule and Princess Zelda. You see, there's this fellow named Yuga who is going around sealing the seven sages in to paintings. While trying to stop him, Zelda also suffers the same fate, and Link... well, instead of being stuck, he can now merge in to walls and shimmy around on them unless there's an obstruction.


http://i.imgur.com/1PNoh46.png


Using his newfound powers, Link is able to go through cracks (teehee) that he finds throughout Hyrule in order to enter the mirror kingdom of Lorule. Unlike Hyrule, Lorule is not doing so great and is overcome with darkness. This is where Yagu resides and where he's hidden the seven sages that need to be freed.


http://i.imgur.com/qdftwpz.jpg


If you've played a Zelda game, you'll probably be pretty familiar with the gameplay in this one. You go around attacking things with your sword, finding rupees, breaking people's jars and cutting grass, etc. You can find heart pieces, four of which make a heart, and full heart containers to up your life. Your equipment can also be upgraded, and you can play a few mini games and look for some cute little critters in exchange for item upgrades.


http://i.imgur.com/AwbLMlP.jpg


There are some differences from the average Zelda game. The first was mentioned in that you can now merge with walls. This is integral to a lot of the puzzle solving that you'll need to do throughout the maps and dungeons. Secondly, items are rented from a dude who takes over your home to open up shop. If you die, he takes the items back and you'll need to go rent them again. Later on, you can also outright buy them for a higher cost.

http://i.imgur.com/T4vb7It.jpg


As usual, dungeons are a large part of the game. You'll enter quite a few in your journey, each of which requires specific items. ALBW goes back to the Zelda routes by being an overhead view without the ability to jump, and also in allowing more freedom of progression. You can tackle most of the dungeons in any order you want to, and the game doesn't really hold your hand as far as telling you where to go or what to do. It just gives you a list of destinations and lets you figure out the rest. Whether that's a positive or a negative is up to you.


http://i.imgur.com/D5gXSD2.jpg


Overall I really liked this game, more than I was expecting to. I actually prefer more direction in my games, and this one kind of leaves you on your own past the beginning sections. This did lead to some frustrating moments where I got stuck, but I actually found myself liking the freedom of deciding what I was going to do when, and at what pace I was going to progress the game. While some of the puzzles were frustrating, they were pretty fair and did a good job at making sure you thought things through and became familiar with your various gadgets. I also enjoyed the story, especially at the end, and it was a very nice game to look at. The item rentals made me nervous at first, but it wasn't unmanageable by any means, and the dual worlds to explore was a neat idea. So yeah, if you enjoy Zelda games, definitely give this one a try!

Verdict:
LIKED IT A LOT


http://i.imgur.com/3TVZLDj.jpg?1

[Pumpkin]

Read Only Memories (Steam)
http://i.imgur.com/jpL2GFL.jpg


Read Only Memories is a cyberpunk point and click adventure game. It takes place in San Francisco (Neo-SF) in 2064, where robot companions and devices are common place. Neo-SF is a bit on edge, however, because of all of the technology present in their lives. Some people, called "Hybrids", have augmented themselves with technology. Others view this as wrong and demeaning to humans, and go by the name of the Human Revolution to stop them.


http://i.imgur.com/1T81mGS.png

You play a journalist (name and gender up to you) who is approached by a small bot named Turing. Turing claims to be the first sentient ROM, and he's in trouble. His creator, and your friend, Hayden has gone missing. Our little blue friend suspects foul play and needs your help in finding him and figuring out who kidnapped him and why. Along the way, you'll be encountering a coulourful bunch who may also help you find what you need if you play your cards right.


http://i.imgur.com/frlGWMR.png


Since this is a point-and-click game, most of what you'll be doing is... pointing at things and clicking options. You can observe things, talk, use items, and touch, depending on what it is you point and click. You'll be given items and find some along the way to help you on your adventure, and you can interact with other things using certain items. There is of course puzzle solving, and it comes in a few different forms. There's also a mini-shooting game as well.


http://i.imgur.com/U9Kc4Nt.png


Talking is another big aspect of the game. Choosing to say or not say certain things can affect your story and who helps you or not. Choosing the order to do things in and who to place your trust in can also affect some of the story. This is a mystery, after all. The game is pretty easy to progress as most of the time you'll have your next destination marked on your map. You can also save or load at any time unless talking or in a scene. There are a few other quirky things to do here and there as well when you want a bit of a break from the story.


http://i.imgur.com/pCgDhoo.png


Overall this was an excellent game, and I liked it much more than I expected to. It starts off a bit slow, but it becomes very engaging and touching and does a good job of mood setting. I haven't played many point-and-click adventures and this one was pretty forgiving if you're new to the genre like me. There's a really good cast of characters and the game also has a pretty good sense of humour. It's good to play in small bursts or for a while if you're itching to see what happens next. Also, if you're looking for and want to support games with more gender and sexual diversity, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try if you want something story heavy. I was pleasantly surprised and very much enjoyed my time with it.

Verdict:
LOVED IT


http://i.imgur.com/ewtXjgH.jpg

[Bubba]

I'm glad you liked A Link Between Worlds! I thought it was a fantastic entry. I actually completed it three times straight when I first got it. It was probably overkill as I've not had the urge to go back to it. Now I have a New 3DS I may fire it back up again!

[Fynn]

Well this looks really interesting!

[Pumpkin]

Man am I grateful for short games during school time!


Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (PlayStation 4)
http://i.imgur.com/fSgMVDy.jpg


Brothers is a story about... brothers. End review~! No, but really, these two brothers lost their mother, and now their father is ill. It's up to our two heroes to embark on a dangerous journey to reach the tree of life and return with his cure. This game has minimal dialogue, and what it does have is a made up language based on Arabic. This means that a lot of your journey will require you to question and use your imagination to understand the story fully.


http://i.imgur.com/Wcf1HsG.jpg


In Brothers, you will control both brothers, usually simultaneously, using the left and right analogue sticks, and the L2 and R2 buttons. You can also usually rotate the camera with the L1 and R1 buttons. It is very linear and you will be guiding the boys down a set path with a few side paths here and there to explore. By pressing the left analogue stick, you'll move the older brother, and pressing L2 will allow him to "interact" or "act" depending on what's near him. The little brother controls the same but by using the right analogue stick and the R2 buttons.


http://i.imgur.com/zZV5Pj0.png


You'll encounter a few minor puzzles that need solving here and there by learning how to use the brothers in tandem or playing to the strengths of one or the other. Little brother, for example, can fit in smaller spaces, whereas older brother has more strength for moving things. It is a bit awkward to control them both at once at first, but you'll definitely get used to it and it will feel more natural as you progress. You'll learn who to use and when and begin to pick up on the cues around you as to what to do next. And if you don't quite get used to it? No worries. Most of the time you can just try again at the exact spot you weren't successful.


http://i.imgur.com/SLr31Op.jpg


That's pretty much the gist of the game. It's mostly about exploring the world with the brothers as they try to save their father. Their struggles and victories, the people they meet and the obstacles they face. There's not much combat per se, although you will encounter some not friendlies and need to defend yourself. A few of the puzzles might stump you for a bit, but it shouldn't take long to overcome them, and all in all, it's a relaxing, interactive experience instead of a more action-packed type of game.


http://i.imgur.com/Ju6aHto.jpg


Overall I loved this game. As I mentioned, it's very short and low stress, so it's nice to play when you just want to decompress with something touching and yet engaging. It's also short enough that replaying it will probably feel like going back to a movie you enjoy, rather than feeling like you have to commit a long period of time to replaying a very linear experience. The environments and sounds are gorgeous and it all fits together cohesively to tell a story and build a world without needing to rely on dialogue. Also, get ready for some feels because there will be much feels of both the good and bad kind. So if you want to try playing a touching little adventure game about the bond between two brothers, absolutely give this a try.

Verdict:
LOVED IT


http://i.imgur.com/0IfAlvd.jpg

[Pumpkin]

Eternal Senia (Steam)
http://i.imgur.com/YcwWC6Q.jpg


Eternal Senia is a short, free-to-play ARPG. In it, you play as the protagonist, Senia, who has entered the Tower of Eternity. She is looking for her 'sis' Magaleta, a sister of the Church. The Tower of Eternity provides the power of Eternity, a power that can grant any wish. However, in exchange for using this power, one can never leave the tower. Will Senia find Magaleta in time, or will she succumb to the curse herself?


http://i.imgur.com/LGqkz05.png


If you've played an old school Ys game, the gameplay in this might feel rather familiar. You attack by simply "bumping" or walking in to enemies. It will do damage to them and they will do damage to you in the process. HP and MP restore over time, so sometimes you just need to watch where and what you're bumping in to. There are also abilities that can be used with the Q, W, E, and R buttons as you unlock them during the story. These use MP and generally provide benefits such as group attacks, or a stronger attack while avoiding damage. Two of these skills can also be used to great effect outside of battle.


http://i.imgur.com/vFIeNAY.png


In addition to combat, which is a major part of the game, you can also craft and upgrade your equipment and level up your abilities. When an enemy is defeated, they will generally drop a crafting resource. Each area of the tower offers new lines of equipment and weapons to be crafted using the item drops. Certain mini-boss type enemies will drop special items for the higher levels of equipment. The highest level items of that area require just enough special gems that you'll only be able to craft exactly one of each by defeating mini-bosses, so spend your resources wisely. You'll also find books which will up your stats permanently (you can use up to 4 of each type), and pages. When you find 4 of the same pages, you'll make a book. You upgrade your abilities by simply spending the points gained from defeating enemies.


http://i.imgur.com/y5pOEAH.png


The game isn't very long, and there are only three major dungeon areas to go through, plus a beginning tutorial section. At the end of each section, before the boss fight, you'll find three quest givers. By defeating a certain number of each type of monster, getting the best equipment for the area, and finding all of the chests, these three will give you additional rewards. Be aware that fighting and beating the boss will move you on to the next level with no way to return, so make sure you do all of this while you can (if you care).


http://i.imgur.com/1fHi1pP.png


Likewise, each area has a "bonus" dungeon area that will help you find some higher level crafting resources and ends with a mini-boss section. The rooms before the boss section in these are randomized but can also give special treasure chests and are a great way to grind. The monster count in here doesn't seem to count for the quest, however, so you'll need to fight the enemies outside of this to complete those quests. These bonus dungeons can be done as many times as you want before leaving the area. Save points in this game also act as transport markers so you can quick travel to other areas of the level.


http://i.imgur.com/nrJtu48.png


There are a total of three endings, all of which are pretty bittersweet. The way to determine which ending you get is decided very close to the end of the game, so you can just make some extra saves and not have to worry about restarting the whole thing to get the other endings. Which one is the "best one" is probably pretty subjective. In addition, by completing a small survey linked at the end of the third ending, you'll unlock a code to do some bonus dungeons, but I haven't done that myself yet. Eternal Senia also has difficulty settings for those who want a challenge or a more easy going time of it.


http://i.imgur.com/jleT0Qr.png


I'm consistently impressed with free-to-play titles on Steam, and this one is no different. It's pretty short, not the most complex, and the translation is... well, awful. But it has a lot of heart, a sweet story, and is very fun to play. If you want a touching little story with some fun, old school Ys style of gameplay, absolutely you should check it out. And I mean, hey, it's free. I would easily have payed money for this game so it's very easily worth the price of free. It's not the best game you'll ever play but it'll be worth the five-ish hours of your time, and I would love to see a more fleshed out and better translated version come out in the future.


Verdict:
LIKED IT


http://i.imgur.com/UBLZSAM.png

[Pumpkin]

Golden Sun (GBA)
http://i.imgur.com/9D82AWu.png


Story:
Golden Sun follows the story of a young adept (essentially a magic user) named Isaac. His peaceful village living is interrupted immediately as the story begins with the sacred mountain going a bit crazy. A while after this, Isaac and his friends Garet and Jenna head on up the mountain to investigate with their scholarly old friend. There, they find Jenna's brother who seems to be working for the "badguys". The badguys are using the four elemental stones to light the matching lighthouses and presumably bring about bad things. Also, they kidnap Jenna. Isaac and Garet then set out on a journey across the country to stop the baddies and find out why their old friend has turned to the dark side.


http://i.imgur.com/aCayrKR.png


Gameplay:
Golden Sun is a JRPG. You walk around dungeons, towns, and the overworld map. Dungeons and the overworld will lead to random battles. Here, you can attack, use items, defend, and all of that normal JRPG good stuff. The magic in this game is referred to as "Psynergy" and it works in a bit of a unique way. As you travel, you'll be able to collect "Djinn", which represent one of the four elements (Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter). From there, you can assign these Djinn (up to 7 of each flavour) to your characters and "set" them. Doing so will change the character's stats, available psynergy, and job class. Mix and match to find out what works best for your team, or just keep everyone with their natural elements, it's up to you!


http://i.imgur.com/TOKc6RC.png


The Djinn also serve another purpose in battle. You can use your Djinn to perform additional attack and support skills. However, doing so "un-sets" them from your character. This will add a little elemental notch to the battle, depending on what kind of Djinn you used. These little elemental notches can be used to "summon" for a very strong ability. The more Djinn you use, the stronger the summon options available to you will become. However, when you un-set your Djinn by using them in battle, all of the skills and stat bonuses they gave your character will be removed. They'll also need a cool-off period after being summoned before they can be set again.


http://i.imgur.com/ewuPzIZ.png


Outside of battles you can socialize, shop, do some bonus dungeons later on, and a few other things. At one point there will be a carnival/casino where you can gamble and play mini-games. Certain Psynergy can also be used outside of battle to help you find hidden places and secrets, and you'll even gain the ability to read mind if you choose to.


http://i.imgur.com/9UXZmfm.png


World:
The world is, overall, rather small since you're only exploring one country. It doesn't really feel small though and you'll have a variety of places to visit over a decent period of time. It's also pretty open at certain times in terms of where you can explore and in what order, and it rewards exploration by giving you hidden stuff like Djinn to find. Most of the game also allows you to backtrack and go back and visit previously visited places when you have new Psynergy to try out or new things to report.


http://i.imgur.com/kc4Ady1.png


Characters:
(In no particular order)
http://i.imgur.com/8kkQAzm.pngIsaac: Our mostly silent protagonist, Isaac is a Venus Adept on a mission to save the world and find his friends.
http://i.imgur.com/1SXy38F.pngGaret: Isaac's BFF, Garet is a Mars Adept who is usually rather rash, although he means well. He also really wants to rescue his friends.
http://i.imgur.com/xNU3Z3R.pngIvan: A young Jupiter Adept on a rescue mission of his own. He can read minds and is a very smart and level-headed young man.
http://i.imgur.com/PETT2az.pngMia: A Mercury Adept, Mia is very sweet and kind-hearted and comes on your journey to help save the world.

Overall:
I really enjoyed Golden Sun. It was rough around the edges in a lot of ways and was pretty short for an RPG, but it was cute and very fun. I really liked the Psynergy system and experimenting with it to see what I would get out of my characters. The summon system was a neat double-edged sword that made me think through my boss plans beyond just spamming my best moves. The battles, while not the most engaging, were fairly entertaining. I loved how the magic system is integrated so well in to the story and the game. Instead of just having people who can use magic and never mentioning it, it plays heavily in to the narrative, and you even get to use it outside of battle for extra function. The story was interesting and makes me excited to play the second part, and I liked the characters pretty well, even if it was a small cast. It was also just super adorable. Overall I had a lot of fun with it and would recommend JRPG fans give it a try.

Verdict:
LIKED IT A LOT


http://i.imgur.com/Jpj0fPs.png

[Pumpkin]

I have decided that for now I will not be updating this thread for a good while. I'm actually working on some top games lists in different genres and would like to take a break between writing reviews for this and writing reviews for that. Thanks for reading :D

[Karifean]

Alrighty, looking forward to it~ :)