Forums > Contributor Zone > RotW: Dec. 24-30, 2018 -- The Hangover Is Gone! edition

FIrst one up for the new year, covering the final full week of the old year. I'm sure everyone was waiting for it with baited breath, looking to see how this affects the final standings for Site King, but this was also New Year's Eve week, so delays were bound to happen because hangovers. As Marc told me yesterday when I was half-assedly asking what I had in store for me, it's a fairly light holiday week unless you're CRB (3 reviews) or Jason (2). Overall, the number is 7. So, to get on with it:

I know I've mentioned with RetroBlue that I'd like to see reviews a bit more fleshed out and that's what I saw with at least 2 of his 3 this week. Coming close to placing was Phantasy Star Gaiden. A bit of the wording was awkward, but you more than adequately expressed how this game is a flawed PS game that is worth playing, but doesn't reach the level of the Genesis games. In particular, the part where you discussed where virtually all of its difficulty comes from countless battles, worked for me as a way to get into the inner workings of the game and realize why it never really became a name title, while its console brethren are considered some of the bigger names in 16-bit RPG-ing.


THIRD PLACE

Pickhut's PlayStation VR Worlds (PlayStation 4)

We've had a bit of talking about how to handle a review of a compilation recently. Whether it be to talk about each game, talk about the overarching experience or, if you're me, talk about myself and how I relate to the games! This is definitely a case of where talking about each game individually was the right choice, as they are all wildly different in appearance, style and how well the VR experience works. For me, this is one of those really good reviews that might not have overly clicked with me. Possibly because of subject matter, as VR gaming isn't something my old-school ass is interested in. But I did appreciate the work you did to play all of these titles, some of which seem cool and others of which seem thrown in to give it more value, and give educated opinions on each of them, as to why they work or don't work to be a fun experience. I especially liked your description of the London Heist game, as you really seemed to have a great time with it. If anything, I think that might have been a great opener instead of the luge game because it both shows it at its best, but also illustrates one aspect of this being a bit disappointing overall, as the story is very brief.

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SECOND PLACE

Marc's Castle in the Darkness (PC)

This review has a rare instance of a very abrupt ending that actually works. The way you just rip through the games flaws one by one and then end the review there with a throwback to the "having fun?" question you opened with was very nice. Really, the whole review had some nice work with pacing, as you mention how asking if you're having fun means that you aren't, then talk about how this game had the elements to be fun, then mention that there's no map (not good in a Metroidvania) and if there was, it would show a world thrown together completely randomly and then mention how having one would really be nice for those occasions where you get stuck and need to go back somewhere to get something you missed earlier because you didn't have the abilities to get to it. For the want of a map, the game was lost! And the last sentence was great. Good stuff.

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REVIEW OF THE WEEK (aka: Overdrive Place)

Jason's Marenian Tavern Story: Patty and the Hungry God (Switch)

It is SO nice to see someone else dive into a Kemco title and have to put forth the "damning with faint praise", the "praising with faint damnation" and whatever other stuff goes into writing a Kemco review. SO NICE! Funny thing, for a bit, I had to check to see if Ride On was really Hit-Point, as you do have some of the same mechanics of mindless plot (you knock over statue and now have to feed hungry god FOREVER!!!!) combined with a quick, easy game in theory that gets bloated by busywork that progresses slowly, while also regularly harvesting materials (for food instead of equipment here). Guh…Hit-Point…how I hate thee. But at least this game has some saving graces and you did a good job of pointing those out as well as the bad ones. You made this look at a 2.5/5 at best for a while, which made the talk about the customization options work really well and added to the overall vibe that this is a good time-waster that can be picked up for a little while here and there, but probably doesn't hold up as that thing you play 6 hours straight.
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Now that this and the holiday partying is out of the way, hopefully I can set aside some time to get caught up on my review-writing; starting to fall behind again, with two games ready and only one half-done review!

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

Thanks for the topic, Overdrive, which I feel obliged to say (as the victor) was worth the wait. :-D

Also, congrats to everyone else who participated. As always, there were some great reviews!

"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

Rob's Kemco-induced Stockholm Syndrome kicks in at the last minute!

Congrats Jason on your victory, and to Marc and Pick for filling out the podium. No congrats for Rob, king of the tardy topics and forgetter of holdovers.

For us. For them. For you.

Thanks for the topic Rob, even though you mistakenly placed Jason ahead of me. It's okay, because I like seeing Jason's reviews get some shine, as they are often criminally overlooked.

Another year of this thing behind us, then.

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

Thanks for third place and glad you enjoyed the review in spite of the VR angle!

Yeah, compilation titles are always tricky to do, but I do like tackling them from time to time. Though, this one specifically caught me off guard with how much was required to mention in review format. Each title is mostly unique from one another, concept-wise, so I figured dividing them up between control schemes (headset for luge, water, and pong, and multiple controls for space and heist) would have been an interesting angle. I do like your angle of mentioning London Heist first, considering it did several things right and wrong; would've made Scavengers' closer a nice bookend to the review.

Congrats to Masters on the second placement (and overall site win of 2018) and venter for grabbing RotW! A good job to Cpt as well for the ample submissions at the end of the year.

I head spaceshit noises.