Cameron Hawkins
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DualShockers Latest Reviews
I had high expectations for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition and, even with my grievances, I can see why it is so beloved all these years later. It imbues the heart and character of the Scott Pilgrim IP with plenty of content for both new and returning players to enjoy. The big difference this time is that Scott Pilgrim is here to stay thanks to the "Power of Love."
Overall, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is great for looking at the past and reminiscing at the whimsical times with all the impactful music that came along with it. It's a solid rhythm game that blends the gameplay that fans of the series know and love. However, for those new to the franchise, it would be better to play through the games and get maybe too much information that you might be wanting than not getting enough. Kingdom Hearts has a great story, but it is the characters that define it and have made early fans stick around for this long. Melody of Memory only has one piece of what makes the series special, and it isn't what it needs to be for newcomers to feel that same love for the series moving forward.
Life is fragile and people are flawed. We don't get to choose our position in life from beginning to end, but we have the choice to get ourselves to where we want to be. We will make mistakes and I'm sure at the end of our lives we will have things we will cherish, regret, and resent, but that is all the part of being human. Spiritfarer tells that message in a way that I found to be a cathartic experience that I will forever hold dear to me.
While it doesn't revolutionize the genre, Panzer Paladin has some great features and mechanics. The story is left to be desired and there isn't as much depth in the weapon breaking system than I wish it had, but it checks all the boxes and goes the extra mile without ever really needing to. Whether you're a casual player or a speedrunner, there is plenty of content here to keep you busy.
Putting my feelings of the campaign aside, Disintegration has such a fun multiplayer experience that I see myself returning to it and making it one of the few multiplayer games that I will have in my rotation. It has huge potential to grow and expand with new maps, crews, and modes to play. Disintegration had a big opportunity to bring something new and fresh, and at least for the gameplay, I think it did. While the campaign isn't terrible, it was the major aspect I was hoping that would deliver. Instead, it disappointed in a lot of critical points that I hope V1 Interactive learns from if or when they begin working on a sequel.
Despite being a mere two-hour experience, If Found... has a lot of depth by portraying real-life issues that anyone can draw comparisons to within their own life, even if it may not be a direct contrast. While the main preface of what begins the story feels out of place, If Found... features some of the most realistic, human characters, that I’ve experienced in recent memory. Dreamfeel is an Irish studio that identifies itself as a developer that "centers queer experiences," and If Found... is a great creation of what they want to represent.
Even with its faults, Kentucky Route Zero is well-written and contains wonderful art and sound design. I heard great things about Kentucky Route Zero before the release of its final act and I do see a special game inside, but there are too many noticeable issues for me to praise it on the same epitaph that others do. I hope that someday I might give it another shot and it will finally click.
Overall, Mario & Sonic is a welcoming surprise that I can see myself playing with friends regularly. Even with such a diverse option of events and mini-games, in reality, I will likely be returning to play soccer more than anything else. The game is wonderfully polished with a triumphant soundtrack that I always took notice of. Learning more about Tokyo and its timeline with the past and present is an unnecessary addition, but it solidifies the amount of care that went into the development of the game. Twelve years later, I can confidently say that the Mario & Sonic franchise has evolved into a series that I think is worth the time of every Switch owner.
Crystar will likely not receive as much attention from a wide western audience, which is unfortunate. Even though it might just look like another game featuring teenage anime girls, that didn't make the narrative any less compelling. What made Crystar's story so impressive was how it always kept me on my toes. Always introducing new plot points when I kept thinking I had everything figured out. While there was a lot to keep in mind, everything that happened in the story made sense. The narrative of Crystar is worth experiencing because of how real and relatable it is. It's just a shame that the rest of the game couldn't have been on the same level.
Darkwood is a game that more people should know about because there is so much here to be loved for those who like this genre. With a $14.99 price tag, it has a fair amount of replayability. For such a small price, I think this makes it worth it. Even though this was not a game for me specifically, I know others looking for an experience like this won't be disappointed.