Forums > Contributor Zone > RotW: Sept. 10-16, 2018 -- It has arrived.

School, work and stress continue to kick my butt, especially this past week, which is my boring excuse for being late with this topic even though there were fewer reviews to look over than there have been during a lot of recent weeks. There was no shortage of quality, though. Immediately below are three reviews that didn't place, followed by the three that did. Thanks for your contributions, everyone, and sorry about the delay in getting this topic done!

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Dragon Age 2 (PS3) by JoeTheDestroyer

The problem that sticks with me the most when I think about Final Fantasy VII is the opening act, which spends far too long in Midgar--an environment I didn't particularly care for--before it lets the epic adventure really get going. So I understand how a single town serving as the almost exclusive setting in an RPG would be a problem, but I felt like that got a little buried in the review because you started by describing a combat system that didn't make much sense to me. I haven't played the Dragon Age games yet. This review reads like it is written for people who have extensive experience with BioWare's stuff, and I really don't, so I was a little lost and the discussion felt less focused in this piece than it did in your other submission for the week.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP) by JoeTheDestroyer

Your intro works well, because it recounts your state of mind after finishing up Final Fantasy VII and suggests that such an experience--broadly shared across the game's entire fanbase--might have justified the newer game you are actually reviewing. I myself have virtually no memory of Zack. I never wondered about him at all. But luckily, your review provides more than just a bunch of references to characters and places I only just barely remember from Final Fantasy VII. And of course, I think it will be some very welcome analysis to people who loved that game more than I did and wonder how this sort-of-a-sequel fared.

Destiny 2: Forsaken (PS4) by Roto13

A lot of the reviews this week seemed to approach their subject matter from the perspective of someone who was already familiar with the overall intellectual property, and that proved the case here. A lot of what you wrote flew over my head, because I haven't played Destiny games nearly as much as you have, but even so, it was evident from reading that you were covering important ground and unafraid to delve into greater detail when needed (as when you discussed the Gambit mode and players rage quitting). I would classify this as no-frills reviewing, which sometimes is just what the doctor ordered. People who go into a review for an expansion will be looking for exactly the sort of info you provided, and that definitely works in the review's favor.

Third Place: Yakuza 0 (PC) by EmP

It's good to see you finally having fun with the Yakuza series, EmP. It has become one of my own favorite franchises in gaming after what felt (back in the PlayStation 2 days) like a bit of a rough start. I thought your intro to this review was beautiful, laying out the plot in an engaging style and pulling me into a generally strong review. There was some grammatical roughness throughout, but you still did a great job of capturing some of the crazy content that makes the more recent Yakuza games such a delight to play. I hope a lot of people read this review and that it talks a few newcomers into diving into one of the industry's most delightful experiences. I still haven't played Yakuza 0, but I keep thinking I should and your review did nothing to dissuade me.

Runner Up: Castlevania: The LeCarde Chronicles 2 (PC) by Follow_Freeman

Though I felt like your review might have been slightly more helpful if it didn't reference--especially at the beginning--other games players may never have touched to explain menus and such, your points throughout the text came across quite well and helped to describe what sounds like an excellent fan game. I'm not big on those, so it's a testament to your mostly evocative and focused writing that you made me think I might like to play this particular one at some point. Good stuff!

Review of the Week: Kingdom Hearts (PS2) by overdrive

This review is a timely takedown of a beloved game that I never felt quite lived up to its potential. I too saw the appeal it offered, and I was ready to defend it like crazy when it first came out and I hadn't played it for myself. But spending time with the game makes it obvious the end experience doesn't live up to its full potential, for precisely the reasons you detailed in your review. I think as Kingdom Hearts III arrives and inevitably prompts more people to return to the roots of the series, they're in for similar disappointment. Good job with this one!

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Thanks again for your contributions, everyone, and apologies for the topic's late date of arrival. Have a good day!

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - John F. Kennedy on reality

"What if everything you see is more than what you see--the person next to you is a warrior and the space that appears empty is a secret door to another world? What if something appears that shouldn't? You either dismiss it, or you accept that there is much more to the world than you think. Perhaps it really is a doorway, and if you choose to go inside, you'll find many unexpected things." - Shigeru Miyamoto on secret doors to another world2

No problem, you've got a lot on your plate even on an easy week, but we had lots to read this time. Thank you very much for the placement and moreso the advice; I wrote the review with mainly Castlevania fans in mind, but I think I see how I can make some tinkering in order to widen the appeal. Do try out the two games if they interest you; the second one is more newcomer-friendly, but both have their strengths.

A song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RqzFkV2K4g
Film reviews: https://letterboxd.com/Follow_Freeman/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVo7uK3vlYw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aToOckImfM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVpJTLpPLD0

Hey Venter, any time you need a break I can probably step in and do a relief week.

Rob: this is what happens when you break up with Kemco.

Freeman: nice review, I may try one of those games based on your recommendation. How are they getting away with these titles though?

Gary: you already know I liked your review a lot. It ain’t easy to work that wonderful chaos angle, but you did.

I don't have to prove I'm refined - that's what makes me refined!

Thanks for the win! That's two in a pretty brief time, so that's a nice change of pace!

Marc, still got one more of those things to crank out that I'm hoping to finalize today. It might not be better than the rest, but it is more bitter and sarcastic, so there's that.

I'm not afraid to die because I am invincible
Viva la muerte, that's my goddamn principle

To give Konami some credit (and god knows they need some), they've been actively green lighting these fan games. Which is kind of refreshing in the Nintendo era of scorched earth policy.

Congrats to Rob and Freeman on two very good reviews. You should really consider taking Marc up on his offer, Jason. If only because he'll be more fun to bully when he's inevitably late on his first week.

For us. For them. For you.