Forums > Contributor Zone > RotW: Sept. 2-8 -- Look, sometimes I forget things. DON'T JUDGE ME!!!

Well, looks like SOMEONE forgot it was his turn to do this thing this week. There I was, wondering why it was taking so long for whomever's turn it was to get the topic up, since it was Thursday afternoon. And then I realized that EmP did last week's, which meant it was my turn, so the reason it still wasn't up was because my brain doesn't work so well from time to time.

So, we have five reviews by five different people. And one review by me that get's held over for Jason to read through next week. Fun for everyone!

For the honorable mentions (or non-placers, depending on how charitable or jerk-ish you want to be in describing these works), CptRetroBlue has a short, concise review for a Pac-Man game I'd never heard of before. Brian has a long, detailed review for a game based on a board game I'd never heard of before. Both are quality efforts, although I could have gone for a bit more description of CRB's title and maybe a bit of condensing for Brian's, as I found myself getting a bit bogged down while trying to comprehend things.

THIRD PLACE

Jason's Pacific Wings (Switch)

Man, this one just sounds like a "phoned-in" title from your descriptions. Much like Joe's review (to be discussed later), you did a good job of taking apart a game that isn't as good as it could have been, but doing so in a professional, non-bashing manner that does a good job of delivering that "I really wanted to like this game, but here's why I didn't" vibe. By the end of it, I could see why you felt its replay value was lacking due to the combination of so, so many factors. I mean, no bosses, so you are just doing a lengthy array of similar levels? No thanks! And the description of your firepower didn't exactly impress me either. A good look at a blah game.

SECOND PLACE

mariner's Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (Switch)

Huh, I might have to pick this one up, as I also loved Symphony of the Night and would be very interested in playing a "heir apparent" title. Really, my only issue with this review comes in the beginning, where you mention that Symphony is one of the three titles you "fan-boy" over, but you bought your Switch because of another of those titles…without ever actually mentioning said title by name. Felt a bit distracting to me -- like, either name all three games you "fan-boy" over and then segue into how this game was made to remind people of Symphony OR just scrap the part where you mention you got the Switch due to another one of those titles. However, when you get into the actual game, this is really good. You enthusiasm for Symphony and this game really come through and you do a great job of describing just how things work and why they work for you throughout.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK (aka: Overdrive Place)

Joe's Phantasy Star III (Genesis)

I really dug this review. You show just why PS III is kind of considered the weak link in this series and do so in a detailed manner. From eliminating a lot of the sci-fi themes that set the games apart from the typical medieval questing TO the amount of backtracking TO how the generations system was ambitious, but not necessarily implemented properly, you really do a good job of detailing your issues with this game and doing so in a way that shows off a lot of knowledge about the series, allowing you to come off as a voice of authority. A lot to like here.

And that's another week in the books. Time to go back to working through the second Trials Rising DLC (up to Top 5% in the global leaderboards, bay-bee!!!!) or working through Dark Souls II, gradually eradicating all hostile life from, uh, wherever it is that I'm at…uh, Dranglic or something like that?

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

Thanks for the topic, even if it was a bit on the late side because you forgot it was your week. We've all been there! Thanks also for your comments, which affirmed that I accomplished what I meant to with my review, even if that wasn't terribly exciting to judge. Onto next week!

"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

I've been a bastard of late, not commenting here and thanking you for getting this topic out, plus giving me the win. I'm glad that review went over well! That now means I've won ROTW with three Phantasy Star games. Woo!

The only thing my milkshake brings to the yard is a subpoena.