Forums > Contributor Zone > Review of the Week November 11-17

I'm going to keep this very brief because I have a lot to do and I've already wasted enough time tonight (my fault - I couldn't stop gawking at my phone).

Honestgamer - Mario & Sonic at the Olympics: Tokyo 2020
You know what this game reminds me of? Rhythm Heaven Fever. It sounds like it's all over the place in terms of quality, and you make that clear in this review. You ave a lot of good examples to support that, while also describing the experience appropriately. I haven't touched one of these titles, but it doesn't sound like something I'd be interested in.


Nightfire - Warsaw
There's a lot of great detail here that helped me arrive at the conclusion that this game isn't for me. The body is very well organized, and it gives terrific examples to support your points. The best part about this, though, is that you referenced Darkest Dungeon without assuming the reader has played it, but also described that game without going into needless detail.


Jerec - Twilight Princess Picross
You did it! You put together a full length Picross review! That's something I've toyed with, but will probably never do. Sorry, Picross Survival, but no one will ever know how I feel about you. Yeah, there was some filler here, but it was funny filler, so it was mostly worth it. Everything here is in order, except I'm not clear on what kind of extra rules the game adds during Mega Picross mode. Otherwise, good work on this one.


Overdrive - Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
This review will resonate with older readers, and inform younger ones. Yeah, game magazines were handy before high speed internet became the norm. Hell, I remember buying a mag as late as 1997 because it told me how to recruit all 108 characters in Suikoden (and it worked). Anyway, this review is nicely structured and talks about what worked and didn't work for Simon's Quest in depth while maintaining a solid flow. I think the best part is that you summed up the experience in one small paragraph, which is better than most do in regards to describing this game.


Honestgamer - Raining Blobs
You managed to write a review of a standard puzzle game that's got some fun little quirks to it, and it a pleasure to read. Plus, there are some food metaphors in there that'll bug EmP, so even better. I don't really have any complaints with this one. It goes over all the modes properly and gives good support for its points--especially noting that the game is pretty mediocre, but multiplayer gives it a little bump. I think I liked it a little better than the Mario/Sonic piece.


THIRD PLACE
Jason - Raining Blogs
SECOND PLACE
Nightfire - Warsaw
ROTW
Rob - Castlevania II
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I leave you only with this. Jim's "Ohhhh god" at the beginning is priceless.

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

Thanks! Yeah, I'm not too clear on the Mega Picross rules either. I did a couple, realised they were the same pictures again, and lost interest.

I can avoid death by not having a life.

Thanks for the placement. :) I don't get a lot of time to write reviews these days, but it's fun to contribute once in a while. Rob's Castlevania II review was a great read, so it makes sense that it was the winner.

placid like acid

Thanks for the topic and placement, Joe! Congrats to overdrive and Nightfire for finishing ahead of me with terrific reviews, and to Jerec for a capable review of a game probably not a lot of people will ever bother writing about. I continue to love seeing that sort of coverage on the site, because it helps us fill a niche and give people a broader idea where they maybe should--and shouldn't--spend their precious time and money. This was one of those weeks where there weren't any weak reviews that I could see. First-rate stuff all around!

"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

Thanks for the win! I liked how that review turned out, so to see that others have shared that opinion is pretty awesome. Now I just have to find time at some point to get back to writing, as I have another game ready to review, but haven't been able to find time to even get started.

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