User Reviews

All Reviews by YhodaPlayingGame

Rogue Galaxy - PS2

A great Level 5 Game

Many may look at this game and say, just another average RPG. However, this is much better than average. It's a game made by level 5, and well much of it has been edited for the US version, so we're in luck. The fighting is sort of like Kingdom Hearts. You fight in real time, and the encounters are random. Like Kingdom Hearts the battles appear in the actual location you're standing in, rather than loading up a new battle screen. And speaking of loading, there really are no loading times in this game, every area is just connected to the next, you keep walking and it will simply just say the name of the area you entered while you're walking. No loading. The graphics in this game are quite impressive. Everything is well detailed, and the characters are cel shaded. The other thing I've noticed is that you can see faraway objects, in other words the graphics don't load up while you're walking, only things such as npcs or chests. Making you feel a bit more emersed as you play the game. The story is quite good. Basically the game starts off with Jaster (the main character) saving his town from monsters, and he has a desire. He wants to explore the galaxy. So this is where the game comes in. Once you become a space pirate you go from world to world and explore. I really am not going to say much more than that, because of course I don't want to spoil the game. But I must say that it's story is good, but i found it to be a bit predictable. Nevertheless, the cutscenes are done well, with swifting camera angles and top notch voice acting. The Battle system is based off of what's called a Revelation Flow Chart. It's basically a chart you use to unlock abilities for each character. Most are skills to use in battle, and a few are for adding HP and elemental resistances. And one thing that I must say, is that the enemies are quite difficult. There is no magic that can restore HP, so it's all relying on items. However, as nasty as this sounds, it's not so bad. By the time you reach a certain point in the game, you practically have an infinite amount of money where buying items is nothing, so you can just buy max of every item. And, save points restore your HP, which there is an extremely high number of those in each dungeon. an estimate would be about 7. Plus, there is usually 1 or 2 shop npcs in each dungeon, so items are easily accessible. Plus, with each save point you can teleport to any other save point within that world, and quite often shops are near save points. Making it even easier to access items. So what do I have to complain about? Well, I think that the battle system isn't all that addicting. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about it, but the Revelation Flow Chart doesn't make me think much, and I wasn't really interested in it's Weapon synthesis and all that other stuff. But Rogue Galaxy certainly is a great game for any RPG lover.

Final Fantasy VI Advance - GBA

The Remake of Final Fantasy VI/III

If you happen to be a Final Fantasy Fan, and haven't played this one, do it now, before I tell you, you should be ashamed of yourself. Why is this game so good, well I'll tell you why. This game, as almost every Final Fantasy game does, has a great story. Very interesting, and many interesting characters as well. If theres one Final Fantasy game that has a lot of party members, it's certainly this one. In total, there are 14 party members. 2 of them, being optional. And I must say, they've done a good job at making each party member have very unique abilities. The reason for so many party members in this game, is because Square wanted you to experience something a little bit different than most games that come before this. This is the first of many RPG's that allow you to change party members yourself. And many occasions in this game force you to make 2 or 3 different parties to solve puzzles in dungeons or use your 3 different parties to fight off imperial soldiers. You can even customize your characters by equipping them with espers (summons). Once you reach a certain point in the game, you gain espers. Each character can only equip one esper at a time. The reason for equipping them, is so that you can learn magic spells from them. By having them equipped you can learn their magic spells by gaining AP from battle. And some Espers may even add bonuses to your stats. So what's been added in this version of Final Fantasy VI? Well, they have added character profiles next to dialogue text, as was done for IV and V Advance. The music has been remixed a little. Some of the songs worse, some better. Some of the dialogue has been rewritten a little bit, and after beating it, you unlock a music player. And probably over 50% of the names for equipment, spells, place names, etc. have been changed. So why haven't I given this game a perfect score? Well, if I'm being honest, I can't say that all of the added features make this version that much better than the original. Sure, many of the names have been changed, but... that doesn't really make this game more fun. If you already own this game, and it still works, its probably not worth paying $30 for it, if you don't own it get it! If you sold it before, nows your chance to buy it back!

Diddy Kong Racing DS - DS

Remake of Diddy Kong Racing for the DS!

A Remake of Diddy Kong Racing for the DS. Who would have guessed? It's still hard to believe that the original game is actually about 10 years old already. But, is this game better than the original? The game follows in almost the same pattern as the original. You race levels in each of the 5 lobbys, and obtain balloons. Each race has a set number of balloons in order to get in though, so you can't just skip around everywhere. Once you've raced and won all the races in that particular level, you move on to the boss. You race him, and once you've beat him you move on to the Balloon Touch Challenge. This is what's different from the original. Instead of this Balloon Touch Challenge, it used to be a silver coin challenge. However, you can still unlock the silver coin challenge, but you don't need to beat it, to move on in your adventure. I'm not too impressed with this balloon challenge. You basically ride on a magic carpet and pop balloons, and occasionally you might pick up some coins. Then, after you've completed the Balloon Touch Challenge, you race the boss again, which this time he'll be harder. Then you beat him, and then it's your choice to do the trophy challenge, which is when you do all the races back to back in that particular level. And you can also open up a secret door to create your own level. Or you can race the boss again, doing a particular Touch challenge. Sounds pretty fun? Well, one thing is fun. Upgrading your vehicles. In this racing game, you use a car, hovercraft, and plane. However, theres only one downfall: the controls for plane and hovercraft. Sometimes when you're driving in plane, you move the control pad a tad, and you don't turn much, then you move it all the way, and you crash into the wall. Hovercraft on the other hand.... is just too hard to explain, let's just say, that it's bad. But, the good news is that it is possible to get used to them, it takes time, but after a while, you get used to them. And, besides, who said the computers are geniuses at them anyways? The games online system is very fun, mostly because it makes you want to upgrade your vehicle. Seeing other players speed across your face, tells you, that you need to do better. So, that's when the game becomes addicting. So, should you buy this game? Well, if you enjoy the original, then it is worth getting this version for various updates, but if you usually don't like games, such as mario kart, then this game probably isn't for you.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance - GameCube

Great SRPG

If you've ever played any strategy RPG, and liked it, this is one game you should buy. What this game attempts to do is get you enthralled in a fantasy war, which it definetly succeeds at doing. Some SRPG's are just basically RPG's where it feels as if the battle system has just been tweaked. This game, it's been chosen this way, so that it gives the game a better feel for war. One thing that helps you get the feel for war, is the weapon triangle. Swords are strong vs. axes, axes are strong vs. spears, but spears are strong vs. swords. Not only does this allow for much strategy, but it kinda gives you a feel for war. Also, each weapon that you obtain has a set number of times it can be used. Once you've used up all of its uses, it breaks. But, if there's one thing that happens in war, is people die. And in Fire Emblem, when your character dies in battle, he's dead for the rest of the game. You could always reset it, but sometimes it's just not worth it. It's perfectly alright to let some people die, because you get so many characters to make up for it, that if you've been keeping enough people alive, it's extremely difficult who to choose for each battle. There's a limit as to how many people you can use in each battle. But, in the end, it makes you think about how honorably some of your characters died, and how lucky some were to live. Then you feel like an idiot for....honoring video game characters... But, as for the story, this game definetly has a great story, and intersting dialogue. But, what it's missing are actual cutscenes. They just throw pictures onscreen for visuals, and a bunch of text. which many could care less, but for some, it may feel like reading a book for school. The game does offer some cutscenes, but there's only about four or five in the whole game. And, sometimes they'll throw in some lamo pictures to try and make up for it. But overall, this is defenitely a great game to buy for any SRPG fan.

Final Fantasy V Advance - GBA

The remake of Final Fantasy V

Final Fantasy V Advance is the remake of Final Fantasy V. Which America has only seen this game once before, on Final Fantasy Anthology. Final Fantasy Anthology was a PS1 game that came with two discs, Final Fantasy V and VI. And as of now, they've remade all Final Fantasy games 1-5 on a handheld system. Final Fantasy V Advance has made many improvements over the original. One, is they added character portraits next to dialogue text. Another is updated music. They updated the battle graphics. They've added a new bonus dungeon. And they added 4 new jobs. gladiator, Canoneer, and Oracle, and Necromancer. As you probably already know, this game allows you to change your job whenever you would like. However, you must find the ability to use these jobs, which are hidden inside crystal shards. After each battle you earn ability points for your job, which can increase your job level, and gain an ability for that job. Once you've learned an ability for that job, you can use it on another job you may change to. But, you'll only be able to suffice one ability. One thing that makes FFV Advance great, is not just it's job system, but it's story. Many of the characters in this game, could be some of your favorite final fantasy characters, such as Gilgamesh, Galuf, Cid and Mid, or others. All of the characters contribute to much of the game's storyline and are easily liked. I won't really say anything about it's story if you haven't played the original, but i should say that you can't judge this game until you've reached halfway. Overall, there really isn't that much to complain about in this game. Final Fantasy V Advance could easily get you to pick up your dusty GBA, and put it to some use. Or, it could toughen up that DS of yours.