I played some amazing and highly entertaining games this year. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the Destiny franchise and I follow Destiny 2 very closely on this site. However, I wanted to put together a list of games that I thoroughly enjoyed in addition to my main game.
The following list contains games that I completed full reviews on. In case you missed them, give the links included in the post a click and take a look. I have reviewed more games than this on the site, but not all of them made the list.
I didn’t play the first Luigi’s Mansion or the second one, but I heard many good things about the most recent game, most specifically on Twitter, so I decided not to pass up the opportunity to try it out. This post is my first impression of Luigi’s Mansion 3. Keep in mind there are minor spoilers below.
River City Girls is reminiscent of games like Fighting Force and Streets of Rage and firmly finds its place in the River City world. It’s a beat-em-up video game where you fight through levels completing mini objectives while pursuing the main objective.
In this case, your main objective is to recover your boyfriend who is presumed to be kidnapped from school. During your hang out session with your friend in detention, you get word that both of your boyfriends were taken. The plan is to break out of detention, punch your way out of the school and embark on an adventure to save your boyfriend’s lives.
You play as either Kyoko or Misako. I chose to play as Kyoko (she doesn’t even go to the school she is trying to escape from). As you’re breaking out of detention the principle puts out an APB out for you and makes all the high school students (excepts the ones who are just standing around for some reason) attack you to stop you from leaving.
I won’t spoil the full story of the game, but you eventually get out of the school and make it to the place where your clues lead you only to find out it’s a dead-end. Plus, your relationship with those boys is not what it seems. Which is hilarious because there is a foreshadowing of that at the beginning of the game.
Cool features:
This video game plays like earlier games where you have to constantly pick up items to heal yourself. For instance, an apple or a salad replenishes your health. Leveling up also gives you a full health bar.
You can also recruit NPC’s to briefly help you while you are engaged in a fight. They complete one attack and then go back into your pocket dimension until they are needed again. If they get knocked down more than 3 times they are no longer available to help and you have to find someone else. You can only recruit the NPC if they beg you to. This sometimes happens if they are the last man standing during your fight.
This is a two-player game, but I played solo. The narrative still moves forward as though two people are playing though. Your partner goes through dialogue and drops hints or blatant direction to help you progress in the game.
Combat/ Boss Fight:
You can pretty much get through the levels without knowing many combos, so feel free to button mash. Knowing the combos, of course, will help defeat easy mobs quicker. Plus, my favorite heavy move in this game is Kyoko’s dab. It’s cheaky, but I loved it. You play about 5 1/2 hours to find a dead-end, but the end boss fight is the most challenging part of the game with multiple layers. The boss has sword attacks, clone decoys of herself, and fire cyclones attacks that take down your health very fast. This fight is all about patience and combos. It was my favorite fight in the game.
Bonus:
Once you beat the game, you unlock your boyfriends as playable characters to rerun the story.
I enjoyed this game a lot. Although I didn’t take part in the co-op feature, I don’t feel like I missed out on anything. I played on PS4, but this game is available on Steam, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The soundtrack is fun and honestly, I like these types of games so I went through it again. I think you’ll have a good time with this game if you give it a try.
As announced during the Nintendo Direct stream earlier today, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games will be available starting September 5th on Nintendo Switch Online. Plus, there will be a SNES controller available as well for $29.99 for Nintendo Switch Online users.
Here are the Super Nintendo Entertainment System games coming to Nintendo Switch Online tomorrow:
I mentioned this game earlier this month in my blog about games that should pique your interest from E3. My Friend Pedro looked so fun during the Devolver Digital showcase. In my brief overview, I mentioned that the game reminded me of Super Hot because of the slow-motion mechanic. And since I really enjoyed Super Hot, I figured I’d enjoy My Friend Pedro as well.
It released on PC and Nintendo Switch on June 20, 2019. I finally had a chance to experience it this weekend and I was not disappointed.
Game Play
My Friend Pedro
It’s a side scroll format and it has a few cool mechanics. We knew about the slow-motion mechanic, but you can also split your bullet directions while you’re full hardcore parkour! You end up hanging upside down from zip lines, balancing on barrels, and shooting while skateboarding. Plus, you run up your damage output the faster you put down enemies.
On normal difficulty, the game is forgiving to an extent. If you get sloppy, the game will call you out for it at the end of the level. At the end of the level you are shown your best moment, so that will make you feel good.
The most difficult level is called Bananas. I may not be able to survive on the hardest level, but I’m sure eventually someone will be able to. I can’t wait for speed runs of the highest level to pop-up on YouTube. I really hope they do.
The talking banana does throw me off sometimes. There’s one point where the banana is talking about how he used to go to parties and how wild it was. In my mind I’m thinking, this character has to be hallucinating. How else would a talking banana make sense?
But seriously, My Friend Pedro is a chill game to play through. It’s like you are in the world of the Matrix or John Wick, but you’re a random street runner. It’s fun to play, it has manageable controls and it has a great soundtrack.
Usually, I’ll mute the game soundtrack and play my own music. But, the soundtrack in My Friend Pedro has a great mood that adds to the enjoyment of the game too.
You could lose track of time while playing this game.
The only thing that would make it better is a competition mode. Maybe players could go head to head to see who can clear the level the fastest and get the best score.
Overall, I’m really glad this game is as entertaining as it seemed to be at E3 and I’m going to keep playing!
A lot of anticipated games were shown at E3. And it’s expected for people to be excited about them. But, beyond the critically acclaimed franchises, there were some gems announced as well. I’ve listed a few games that have piqued my interest beyond the main titles that have been showcased.
Twelve Minutes:
Twelve Minutes was shown off at the Microsoft Xbox E3 conference. It has such an intriguing concept. You have 12 minutes to figure out how to not die while you’re stuck in a time loop. The trailer gives off this psycho-thriller vibe. While trying to figure out how to change the events predetermined in the game, I expect to have an intense experience filled with absolute concentration and frustration.
Another exciting thought about Twelve Minutes surrounds the distractions and roadblocks in the game. How will the game respond when the player almost figures out a way out of the loop?
Developer: Luis Antonio /Publisher: Annapurna Interactive / Platforms: Xbox One, PC
GhostWire: Tokyo
The GhostWire: Tokyo trailer debuted at the Bethesda E3 Conference. It was actually one of the most interesting upcoming games mentioned during the conference. It had a brand new feel without any preconceived hype. Planting its feet firmly in the horror genre, GhostWire: Tokyo looks like it will rival The Evil Within which was created by the same developer.
Players will roam a ghostly version of Tokyo after mysterious happenings force you to uncover the reason and purge the city of evil. This sounds like a great opportunity for those of us who faithful play Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and even Parasite Eve.
Developer: Tango Gameworks /Publisher: Bethesda
Wolfenstein: Youngblood
Wolfenstein: Youngblood has the potential to be the best Wolfenstein of the franchise. Why? Because you are able to play in online co-op with a partner. It’s the first Wolfenstein with co-op. If this set up works well, I can’t see co-op not being an option in future Wolfenstein titles.
Another reason why this game is on the list is due to the release date. It comes out on July 26, so it’s an option for some summertime entertainment.
Developer: Arkane Studios, MachineGames /Publisher: Bethesda / Platform: Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation
Death Loop
Death Loop seems cool. It’s two assassins going head to head to see who can get the kill first. The premise of the game is that you are at a constant loop to kill the other assassins while evading other enemies as well. I may have missed this in the presentation, but the trailer does not mention if this is a co-op experience. If it had a co-op mode, that would most likely be the highlight of the game.
My Friend Pedro is the most unorthodox game that I’ve seen so far in E3. Not only did Devolver Digital have the most memorable showcase, but this game developed by DeadToast Entertainment also stood out among everything else. It reminded me of Super Hot. If you recall Super Hot, you’ll remember its a game where you can slow down time to shoot your enemies. Well, this game reminded me of that, but on a train with parkour.
Developer: DeadToast Entertainment / Publisher: Devolver Digital / Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows
I finally had the chance to play Tetris 99 on Nintendo Switch and I am exhausted. I also think that my brain may have almost exploded once or twice.
In a good way.
If you are not familar with Tetris 99 you should give it a try. This latest iteration of Tetris combines puzzles with the battle royale culture. So if you are a fan of Tetris in previous versions, this game type will add an extra layer for you.
It may also make you cry a little.
Tetris 99 is so unpredictable! It takes a massive amount of concentration, hand eye coordination, and fast fingers. My cousin was able to win! However, I was so stimulated that I couldn’t get past the group of 10 for a few reasons.
First, the soundtrack gets me hype every time. And when I managed a good run, the remix of Flight of the Bumblebee made me so excited that I may have made a few mistakes.
Second, whenever I would get a good combo going and make some back to back Tetris’, I would immediately get an onslaught of attacks from other player. Unfortunately when that happens, you get overwhelmed and lose.
I’m an excitable person, okay.
No, I may not have tasted victory for myself, but I was just as excited when my cousin won.
Seeing the pace that he matched up against with the other players in the lobby was insane. Again, I commend the concentration that anyone playing must have. They are seemingly unfazed by the ever rising bar on the screen that shows you are about to be attacked.
I plan on playing more and working on not getting flustered and perhaps I will win!
It was a great game and it still is. In my opinion, Saints Row the Third had a fun story line, immersive sound track, ease of game controls, the best customization, and a really well rounded player character.
Saints Row: The Third had and still has a magic to it. Volition, the developer, found that special spot of not taking itself to seriously, but still providing a compelling story for fans of the franchise. Plus, the side missions didn’t feel completely forced on you as a player. Genki Bowl was one of the best activities and sometimes the most frustrating things to do in the game.
Giving Saints Row an identity change up was the best thing they could have done. Especially since they were being compared directly to Grand Theft Auto. I personally thought Saints Row: The Third was nothing like it. Unless you want to harp on the gang turf fights, third person POV, and open-world shenanigans.
Every wheel doesn’t need to be reinvented, and Saints Row: The Third was altered enough that it felt like something new.
In my opinion, Saints Row the Third gave the player more control. I personally didn’t walk around looking like a banana, but I spent hours customizing my character. I still remember her. She had short silver hair, coco skin, and looked amazing in black! I believe I played the campaign at least 10 times just because it was so enjoyable to me.
My favorite mission involved the Third Street Saints parachuting down on to a penthouse and taking it over to make it the first main headquarters you get in Steelport! It was such a good time.
I would be happy to see a reprise of the franchise. Sure Grand Theft Auto V is still going strong, and the online allows for a lot of customization, teaming with friends, and doing missions. But, why not give Saints Row another chance?
Saints Row: The Third was my favorite game of the franchise and Nintendo is releasing it on the Nintendo Switch in May 2019. But, we’re six years removed from the last game, Saints Row: IV and I’d love to see what Johnny Gat and the crew are doing since going to space. Plus, I’m ready for a game I can just have fun with again.
