Multi-Platform Game Review: Bugsnax

 Bugsnax is a multi-platform game that takes the character on a trip to Snaktooth Island to talk to Grumpuses as we try to figure out the noted mystery of the island.  What happens takes the player on a trip through many parts of the island, aided along with the help of Filbo. What does this game do well? What needed to be improved? All that and more below.

Positives:

1. The graphics in this game are absolutely spot on.  They left no stone untouched in this game.  I thoroughly enjoyed how well this game looked with the characters, the snax, and much more.  Even the levels we had to go through to progress the story looked remarkable.

2. The gameplay is very fluid and very well done.  Almost everything has a purpose and it's extremely user friendly to new players and players who have played the game over and over. I was quite impressed with this and found the game to be very good at gameplay. 

3. All the controls made for something and when they were able to do something with the controls, it made the game super playable.  I found this refreshing when every object meant something and you can do something with really any item you had.  

4. The Story itself is quite good, if albeit short. The people you meet along the way and the quest that you undertake is really well done. It is also enjoyable and fun.  The developers really did a fantastic job making gameplay and story a major focus on this game and they deserve a lot of credit overall!

5. The ending is frantic, but this is a survival mission. It's really incredible how they made survival fun, but also frantic and enjoyable at the same time to make you have to think fast but also try to save as many of the grumpuses as possible.

Negatives:

1. If there is really any critique of this game, it is that this game doesn't feel responsive with the controls as much as it should.  As good as the controls can be, and incredibly useful, it just feels a bit lacking on the responsive nature of them.  That's pretty much all there is that I could critique on this game.

Overall Rating:

Honestly, Bugsnax is a very enjoyable indie game that deserves a lot of credit for how well it is done.  They do a lot of great things with the game overall with gameplay, it's layout, and story.  While not a perfect game, it's pretty darn close.  It's DLC is also good, so do check it out.  Overall, this is a 9.5 out of 10.

SNES Game Review: Cool Spot

 Cool Spot is a licensed game that features the 7-Up mascot from the 1990's. It is a platforming, puzzle type game that features 11 levels where the character, Spot, can go through all the stages and pick up 'spots' which were the 7-Up staple look at the time for levels to progress on to the next stage.  So what does this game do well on the SNES, what needed improving? All that and more below!

Positives:

1. Graphics in this game is important and they do very well with this game.  Virgin Games was the publisher and creator of this game, and it was very well done overall.  The same company who helped with The Lion King really deserve great credit for the way this game looks.

2. It's a quick game play, meaning you can play this for a couple of hours and be done with it overall.  It's good for a one stream or just one day game and you can move on.  It's a nice change of pace, but that was a normal game back at that time frame.  

3. The levels are honestly creative overall.  They make platforming, time, and puzzle discovery part of the process and overall they do a good job of this making sure they utilize all of these skills for the levels after the first couple.  Solid job on the devs part to incorporate what they need.

4. The game is great at times at just being a vibe but also presenting a challenge.  Dependent on the level, it does super well incorporating both things and making them a major part of the game itself.

Negatives:

1. The jumping to be honest left a lot to be desired in my opinion in this game.  I feel that for as well as sliding, surfing, grappling and such can be, the jump left something to be desired in this game.  Just didn't do as well as the other features.

2. The product placement is to be expected but it feels they way overdo it here.  It's extremely blatant how much is there and it just feels too much overall.  Again, to be expected but thought they could have toned down on the product placement.

Overall Rating:

Cool Spot is definitely a top 100 SNES game overall.  It does do a lot well, despite some flaws.  It's layout, it's platforming, and puzzle type figuring out processes do well overall for it.  If I had to rate it, I would say it is a solid 8 out of 10. 

PS2 Game Review: Madden NFL 2003

 The Madden NFL series dates back to early consoles, but it wasn't until it came to the PlayStation and Playstation 2 that it found the success that laid the foundation for the empire that it came to today. The groundbreaking game that made it's big mark may very well have been Madden NFL 2003.  It features a very deep franchise mode, mini-camp mini-game mode, and a major uplift to what realistic graphics would be on a football team and field.  So, I said everything that is part to being great with Madden, what else went well? What should they have improved on? All that and more below!

Positives:

1. Facial features are very prominent in this game.  They did VERY well getting the look of a Peyton Manning, Ray Lewis, Brett Favre, Tom Brady and more in this game.  The facial features offer the look of what the players looked like back in 2002.  It was a serious step up from past Maddens on the PS2, and really propelled the game into the future.

2. Stadiums are very well done as well.  From Lambeau Field's finished renovations to the two new stadiums at that time (Ford Field and Gillette Stadium) all of the stadiums don't really miss the mark at the time.  It was a really well done job.  The only major issue, which is fixed by the next year anyway, is the astroturf in Ford Field.  Otherwise, brilliant job overall.

3. Team realism is mainly all there for the most part.  Most teams really struggled with their backup quarterbacks in this time, so that is noticeable when they come in to play the game.  It's something as well that is shored up in a couple of games with the struggles of developing a backup QB but overall the teams overalls and their players were pretty in line with what was expected from 2001 to the 2002 regular seasons.

4. Music was great in this game.  Not a large selection of songs but they did amazing to get what they could on the game (Yes, they have a much larger selection of songs in the following games.)

5. This is probably the most realistic simulation Madden at the time, as it makes the routes looks like its in an actual real game, the turning of the WR's, TE's, DB's getting back in coverage and much more.  It feels like they went with a simulation type style and it worked well.

Negatives:

1. I feel this game is just too slow in a lot of the plays.  They just take too long to develop.  This is especially present in the passing game, as it just takes a long time for the play to develop.  Hopefully you have the receiver in a good spot or can lead him to the spot well, otherwise it is hit and miss.  Running the ball is honestly effective.

2. I feel the game lacks a bit of luster especially when going to the playoffs.  It's almost treated like another game rather than a big matchup in the playoffs or the Super Bowl.  Same with the presentation.  As great as Al Michaels and John Madden were, the game kinda just.. tones it down in a way.

3. I did say team realism is good, but some teams were.. just way too overrated in this game.  For instance, San Diego was in the Super Bowl.. but they were 8-8 In real life 2002.  It just is what is I suppose but it's one of those wild instances where while the team realism is good, the overalls were hit and miss.

Overall Reaction:

Madden 2003 really takes a massive step forward to being more simulation football than what it was in the previous Maddens on the PS2. It is a really good game overall, though there are some flaws.  I do appreciate how good they did make the game and is a must-play for all retro football fans.

SNES Game Review: Secret of Mana

 Secret of Mana is the first true Mana game to go under the title of the Mana series, the first was labeled Final Fantasy Adventure for the Game Boy.  This was an ambitious title by Squaresoft (Now Square Enix) that focused on a set of characters in a quest to reclaim mana seeds to overcome evil that wanted to re-create the Mana Fortress for world domination. This game was also one of the first to initiate more active combat/real time combat using a power system rather than turn based which was the more popular combat in the early to mid-90's. So what does Secret of Mana do for its time? What needed improving for its time as well? All that and more below

Positives:

1. This game is legitimately one of the most beautiful games on the Super Nintendo. The architecture designs are absolutely incredible, the colors are beautiful, and everything is so graphically sound it is warranted to give a massive 10 for this.  Squaresoft developed this game graphically to one of the best looking pieces on the SNES. 

2. With that, the soundtrack also is terrific.  Secret of Mana is highly regarded for its soundtrack and it does not disappoint at all.  From its overworld, to towns, dungeons and boss fights, every song in this game is exquisite and warrants its place on one of the best SNES soundtracks in the game.

3. Real time combat actually does pretty well here.  It is a bit nuanced with the attack bar/power bar style here but it does work well with the active combat style they were going for with this game. Secret of Mana is one of the first games with active combat and Squaresoft utilized this quite well overall for an early 90's video game.

4. The bosses take strategy for the most part to beat. There were times I had to look up a guide early on to figure out what to do but then one of the characters abilities did help to where I did not have to rely on that anymore.  However, the bosses for the most part are worthy of the fights you do to get there and also they are rewarding to the player as well when you finish a key battle.

5. The story as well deserves some high remarks.  I thought the story was done very well and it was laid out from start to finish quite exquisitely. The mission is clear to the gamer, collect mana seeds to stop evil but all while that is going on, work with your allies and others to rid evil in many dungeons and castles and focus on getting ultimate powers to take on the final areas.

Negatives:

1. Yes there are some negatives to this game. One is the rather irritating pause menu that works in a circular pattern for each of the characters so it is quite easy to get lost in doing this. It's a rather irritating system to deal with that they could have done better with in my opening.

2. The other main negative here has to be flying the dragon towards the end of the game.  While the directions were nice to have in terms of north, south, east, west, and so on it was honestly rough to make it work with the Mode 7 ability that they had.  Landing from the top on down was a tough endeavor due to the landscape.  I felt that Squaresoft did too much here and it could have been simplified.

Overall Rating:

Overall, Secret of Mana is a great game that borders on excellent for most of it.  It's main negatives do detract it from excellence, but make no mistake about it this is a fantastically great game.  Overall, I would rate this game an 8.5 out of 10.  Without a question this is a likely top 20 SNES game but easily should be in everyone's top 30 at the worst 

SNES Game Review: Lemmings

 Lemmings is a game that started on Amiga in 1991 and quickly went to other consoles, including the SNES.  It's a fascinating game that focuses on many puzzles in ways to obtain a goal overall.  I was able to play this game on my birthday last year, and there were many things that I thought about this game.  They are here below!

Positive:

1. Easy to play- For those that don't know puzzle type games like this, it's pretty easy to pick up and play and understand. With that, Lemmings is pretty plug and play with their controls and with the objectives.

2. Scenery- For a game that is kind of job/class and puzzles and figuring it out, it's pretty easy to think it's not great but this game graphically is really pretty sound on the SNES.  Graphically the game is well done overall.

3. Levels with Difficulty- Yes there is a set directive/objective with every level but with that comes a heightened expectation of difficulty.  It goes along with what the game does. With the levels that you go through, each one gets progressively more difficult.  And when that happens, your job becomes harder but it is doable to get things done and your characters across to the finish.  Do it correctly, and you can succeed.  It's a fun challenge.

Negatives:

1. Limited in Scope- For a game like this, Lemmings was always going to be limited in what their scope is with the game.  It's a puzzle game that enables jobs so you gotta figure out the way to the end.  There isn't a ton of depth in it so if this is your style, then that is great! If not, then it's a game you may get bored with relatively quickly.

2. This game also doesn't feature a ton in a reward type system for finishing the level.  There isn't a money system that rewards you or a way to really make it where you add time, it's just get to the end of the level with the required minimum and go from there.

3. On top of that, it's also a game that kind of brings the Lemmings characters out too quick so you risk losing a lot of them at different times and it can be frustrating to the overall aspect of the game, but it's just the nature of the game.

Overall Rating:

Lemmings is honestly quite a catchy, good puzzle job game that while is limited in its scope and super straight forward in the objectives makes up for it for just being a good cozy game.  It's a game that you can understand pretty much right away and be good with after a short period of time.  Either way, puzzle gamers and job type gamers will enjoy Lemmings.  I give it a solid 7/10. 

Recapping 2024, Outlooking 2025: The folzyfantasy15 Perspective

 Hello friends, I hope you have had a good 2024.  Or if not, I hope 2025 is a good outlook for you!  Normally I don't do like a recap of a year or outlook something but I feel like this is something at this point I want to do and it goes to really just life, gaming, and likely beyond.  So what I want to do is do a life recap of 2024 then gaming recap and then outlook each for 2025.

Life Recap of 2024: Honestly, I mentioned this to other people IRL and maybe some people in different chats, but if it weren't for three conventions between 2023 (Reconnect) and 2024 (Pax East and MGC) I have probably endured the two worst and two toughest years of my adult life from a personal standpoint.  From a personal standpoint, it's been rough. There's been a lot to endure and it has not been easy.  There honestly has not been a road map for any of the trouble that has beset myself and my family, even when members of that same family have been the cause.  That is the bad.  The good? Honestly, I got my own place and I feel I have upkept it pretty well but honestly it's the conventions of MGC and Pax East this year that I really honestly keep dear to me.  I honestly was so fortunate to meet so many amazing people and meet up with so many amazing friends again. It was fantastic to go through and have that much fun and just see three fantastic states that I hope to go to again in the future. 

Life Outlook for 2025: Honestly, my immediate family has been a great structure for me.  Hopefully those relationships stay close.  I don't know what my relationship (which is strained, which is probably being kind) with my father will be, but I will just take that day by day.  In terms of work, I just take it day by day also honestly because that place is either really good or terrible with no major in-between (My job itself is fantastic.)  So that's the other thing.  Living situation: Probably the same, as I plan to renew my lease as long as my rent doesn't go outrageously up in 2025. Just letting you all know as friends, I cherish my friendships with you and I hope that continues to be steadfast next year.

Conventions in 2025: So this is probably a thing eh? After Reconnect 2023, MGC and Pax East this year, I plan on going back to MGC in 2025 (it's near me so it's literally fine for me, and it's cheap) and I am going to Reconnect in Denver in 2025 as well.  With that, I likely will not be able to go to Pax East.  There is an outside shot of me going to Twitchcon in 2025, but I'll make a final determination on that in the spring most likely.  If you are at MGC (which is Midwest Gaming Classic) and/or Reconnect, can't wait to see you!

Gaming Recap of 2024: Honestly, this is one thing that I enjoyed getting back to, both on Twitch and YouTube.  To reach over 500 followers on Twitch has been just fantastic beyond belief, to know that I started 2024 just over 400 and to get a lot more means the world.  I don't game for money or fame or notoriety, but just to have fun.  To know that I have a crowd who openly is rooting for great things is fantastic too! You are as much of this ride as can be.  For YouTube, to be at 200 subs is fantastic.  I came back past the midway point of the year, but to put out the games I did and feel they were successful is fantastic.  Anytime I hit 10 views, I feel it's been a success.  If I somehow get 100, I feel like that's great.  If we did a comparison to 2023 to 2024, by years end I should be more on views, which is good.  I will likely be right around the amount of subs gained between 2023 and 2024, which is also good. 

Gaming Outlook for 2025: Honestly with Twitch, it's just continue to stream and do my best.  I don't have a goal like "Hit 600, hit 700 followers" because I just feel that if I stream and enjoy the game, I will have fun streaming still.  For YouTube, kinda the same deal. PS: I'll link both my Twitch and YouTube below. I just want to grow the following as I can.  To grow over double as I had from 2022 to now is just fantastic.  I just hope I can keep growing.  In terms of the games I will play, for the Twitch, expect a lot of variety of games.  I will start with Final Fantasy and expand with some Kingdom Hearts but mix in Mario, Pokemon, Kirby, and so much more.  I would expect Zelda, Tales, Luigi as well, and getting some other games like Star Fox, Legend of the Mystical Ninja, Bubsy, and so much more.  I plan to do a birthday streamathon again, though in a different way than I did this year.  I honestly learned a lot over those long type of weekends so while likely doing a 40 hour weekend isn't likely in the realm, I may make it something like 4-8 hour days or something like that (It also depends on my time off at work.) For YouTube, expect also some Mario, but also Donkey Kong Country and it's trilogy of games, and a lot of sports games ranging in sports.  I feel that has been a good market as well for me to hit in addition to the Mario games.  

With that, I hope you enjoyed reading this friends, and just know as much as I hope for my successes I hope for yours as well!

SNES Game Review: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

 Nintendo and Square Enix (Then Squaresoft) made a commitment to one of Nintendo's and gaming's biggest characters in the mid 1990's.  What came of it was Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.  A game that brought so much for so many people that to this day is beloved.  It inspired the remake in 2023 that also came to much acclaim and universal love.  So what does this game from 1996 do well? Was there anything they could improve on? All that and more below!

Positives:

1. I don't think I need to say graphics are a huge plus here do I when it is Nintendo and Square?

2. I also don't think I need to say soundtrack is also a huge plus when it is Square and Nintendo, do I?

3. Now to the actual analysis, the story is fantastic. The fact that you can get so many new characters involved in one way or another, whether good or evil, through this game is fantastic.  The story is deep enough to be grabbing but light enough to motor through the game easily with enough twists and turns to it to last a lifetime honestly.  It's all around just a job very well done.

4. The new characters are to be highlighted, Geno and Mallow.  They both have a skill set that can do well when needed, or they can just hang out when needed too.  Overall, Geno is the better character but Mallow can be clutch when needed and put into the spotlight with his abilities.  They were terrific additions to the game.  For the opposite side, the Smithy Gang are great villains that provide the evil for the game.  Whether its the bosses or just Smithy himself, it's a good addition to the game that otherwise may have just been another Mario v. Bowser clone.  Speaking of Bowser..

5. How cool is it that he goes from villain to comedic relief to playing hero here? It's an arc that very few characters could lay claim to, and to be honest it was one that I thought wouldn't work but Bowser makes it work here.  The guy is a tank of a character as well, so he really helps get it done for Mario and company.  But what about the Princess?

6. Also another fantastic addition to the party.  Peach's skill set really is as a healer, but she can be a good force when needed to attack as well.  She is a better healer than Mallow, but comes up clutch with her Group Hug attack that also heals the party of status ailments.  She also provides great dialogue between bosses, or Mario/Bowser or with Smithy.

Negatives:

1. Unfortunately there are a couple.  The first is the main one I had with this game.  The isometric platforming in this game left a LOT to be desired. It is the one main game problem that I have with it.  The platforming was a struggle really with most levels and areas overall.  

2. The only other issue I would say is the game played far too easy at times.  Overall, though not a terrible issue. Most other people may or may not say the same.  To me, it's a minor negative but one I thought should be noted.

Rating:

Overall, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars deserves a 9 out of 10.  I would warrant it a 10 even with the difficulty if they figured out the platforming, which is the only major negative of the game.  Definitely play this game if you can get the chance on the SNES, but with the new Switch version doing a lot of great things too, definitely play that game too!