Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to the countdown.
Last year, i did the "Top 10 movies of 2017", which some say it was a good year for movies, but others claimed it was opposite. Well, its more like an average year for movies.
As for the video games, it was rather pretty good time as well, as well some controversies that we had for video games, some are cause backlash or others are ridiculous.
But instead of doing a top list of best and worst games, i decided pick a random games for giving my thoughts for either good or bad. Because i never have a chance to do a top list games either i was lazy or perhaps i was easily being poor for wasting my money. Also, re-released/remastered games like "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" and sadly "Metroid: Samus Returns" (Which is a shocking return) do not count. And il give a rating with some games that i played, but some games that i haven't play, il never give a rating, just my honest opinion that i wish il buy the game.
Lets dive in, shall we?
Lets dive in, shall we?
Injustice 2
After NetherRealm made "Mortal Kombat X" which i considered it as "A bit more above average", they made a sequel of "Injustice", which is a fighting game with DC superheroes, which i liked the first one.
When they released the sequel that i bought to give a shot, it was surprisingly pretty good. The gameplay is pretty good for fighting game, the graphic looks nice as they're trying to look realistic of characters's looks and a cool outfit appearance and the story is rather interesting that it picked up after the first one where Batman and his hero partners plan to restore society after Superman's Regime, but the villains arrive for grouping as "The society" and Brainiac arrives to manipulating Batman to freeing Superman for helping a combat threat.
Despite i haven't doing the story campaign, but i heard it has two versions of the ending, but i don't want to spoil it. Though the gameplay is fun and nicely done graphic, but it has some flaws.
First (Even though i may not a pro-fighter of this game), some characters i played while training can be useless because of its move like Black Canary and some others that i haven't play for a while.
And second, the game his microtransaction with loot-boxes that you'll get a random gears to gain more points of attack, defense and others for your characters. Its not just for your skills, but also getting a new suit to make your favorite character to be much stronger. I like that idea, but did you really think you include microtransaction for the gears?
For that, for the excellent gameplay, nice work of graphic and an interesting story, this is a game that you can gear up for your skills of fighting game.
Il give it 9/10.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
After five years of waiting that Nintendo bring back Zelda for not only Wii U (Which i think it could be the last game of it), but also our current console Switch, they finally released the game is it was so damn good. Even though i haven't play it.
Foe the story, after thousands of years of war in Hyrule, you play is Link who wakes up that he has an amnesia. However he heard the voice that guide him to deal with Calamity Ganon's return, its up to him save the world one again. Though the story didn't matter, it sorta goes to an adventure RPG game where you doing a side-quests, grinding to kill monsters and other stuff you can do.
The gameplay is simple but i think they've done interesting, since its a big open-world game that you can explore anywhere you like to. I think they did a great job for the concepts, the quality the gameplay and more when it comes to an open-world adventure.
Not only that, this game made Nintendo Switch to a huge success with millions of copies and a lot of good moneys to make more Switch consoles.
Again, i haven't play it, but hopefully that il give a try if i haven enough money to buy it.
Splatoon 2
I love Splatoon, i remembered playing the first one on Wii U that it was addicting, initiative gameplay, colorful graphic and probably likable NPCs like "Squid Sisters".
So two years later, they released Splatoon 2 and boy i find it to be more fun than the first one. While the gameplay is still the same, you start to customize your character to gear up with shirts, hats and shoes, but before you gear up, you can pick your hairstyle and new bottom outfit. Once you're prepared you start to go in "Regular match" of "Turf War", your goal with your partners is to spray more ink than your opponents in the arena, the more ink you spray in the location, you win the match and you'll do it over and over again.
Like before, they're other matches like "Tower Control", "Rainmaker", "Splat Zones" and a new one called "Clam Blitz", where you and your partners collecting ten pieces to destroying opponents's basket. I find it an interesting idea, but i haven't try it. Speaking of new game, the game also include a new content called "Salmon Run", where you and your other players pick a random weapons against the evil creatures called "Salmonids" and collecting eggs more then 10, 12 or 14. Which i like that idea, recommend to try it.
As for the hero mode like before? Well, this one got interesting. It picks up two years after the first game, right after the final "Splatfest" (And yes, Splatfest is back.), Marie became popular star over her cousin Callie (Which i do like Callie, but i love Marie. Which i guess its my fault to overshadowing Callie), while they're carry on for the solo careers, despite they're inseparable, which Marie was concerned about Callie that whether she was angered for her lost in Splatfest. But several days later, when she going back, she notice that everything going down, the Great Zapfish and her cousin was missing, believing that the Octorians return for their revenge. Once you arrive in the Hero mode, you meet her in Kimono and tells that once again Octorians came back for more Zapfish, its up to you to not only save Zapfish, but also finding Callie.
For me, i find it to be superior than the first one with not only the same gameplay, but something new like the weapons, the new content and interesting story, i recommend to try it if you're a fan of Splatoon.
Il give it 9/10.
Gran Turismo Sports
Let me start off by saying that although i like Karting race like "Mario Kart", but i like racing with real life cars like Gran Turismo and maybe some racing games on XBOX exclusive like Forza series.
Before Gran Turismo Sport came out, i first playing "Gran Turismo 6" on PS3 that i love it so much with thousand cars and hundreds of tracks (Especially it has an editor tracks.) and i wanted to see Gran Turismo 7 (Though its probably weird that i never play the previous installments of GT games).
When the game came out, i was highly exciting to buy the game, popping in and... Something that got a problem. Which unlike the previous games that it has thousand cars, like in GT6, it has 1226 cars and 100 tracks, here they started with less with 160 cars (Or 163 in current time with patches) and 28. The campaign race like the rank career that i like (Especially with specific type of cars like GT6) is gone, it focused on school, challenge and racing against the clock. While the rest of gameplay is "Arcade Mode" which is a single player racing and "Sport mode" is online multiplayer racing for your rank of winning race and sportsmanship. What i know, is that they focus on online game and perhaps trying to be realism for how to be professional racer to win the race and follow the rule politely. Despite some of them included for the gameplay, there's even "Scapes", where you bring your car in your collection into a various landscapes to take a picture, which it looks good, but i find it to be rather cheap, its like you put a sticker of your car and then slap it on the landscape to sharing it in GTS social media. Speaking of it, you can going to the social to see user's statuses and pictures of the liveries of cars and gears, replay, scapes and few others.
Right now this game was patched up for more cars, more tracks and of course, adding a Rank campaign which i was happy. Though the launch had a disappointed start, but it went good.
Il give it 7/10.
Destiny 2
Poor Bungie, ever since after they've done a successful franchise for XBOX exclusive like Halo, they left Microsoft to let 343 industries making their own Halo games and they focus to making their new series called "Destiny". The first one had a disappointed start with despite of average gameplay, but its the story that is just nothing but a big fat disappointment with no answering questions.
When they announced the sequel, we've been praying to hope it will be good to giving us the answers about the world of "Destiny" and perhaps improved the game right? Well, 50% "yes". First, i like the new story, where you as "The Guardian" tried to save the Traveler from Cabal's Red Legion lead by Dominus Ghaul where his goal is the stealing the energy of The Lights from the Traveler. Its up to you to fight back the evil force to bring your energy back and find other guardians to bring back in business.
But sadly, it didn't last very long, because when i played it, its the same thing from before same gameplay, same enemies, almost everything is the same. Although they have some new things like new planets, new weapons and perhaps new characters. Like the hub takes place on "The Farm", which i kinda like the new hub, but not my kind. But the worst of all, they not only announced another expansion pack, but also including Microtransaction, like good lord, this is another big budget game where you have to buy something make you feel stronger.
Though many people like it to considering its better than before, i understand that, but for me, this is a game that i felt bored couldn't bother to finish it for how disappointed it is.
Sorry everyone, il give it 6/10.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
This is a game that i never bought it for disappointed reasons.
But, there might be a good things. Like im surprised that they brought some characters that we want in our wish like Megaman (This time its X) and some characters that i like, such as "Captain Marvel" (Not Shazaam), Black Widow, Jedah and perhaps some returns like Thanos, Venom and Ghost Rider.
When it came out, it became nothing but sadness for MvC fans like me, which despite the gameplay done well and having a new storyline of the franchise, but it flopped badly for Art direction, the lack of presentation which it felt the same way from Street Fighter V and the worst of all, the roster is the biggest reason why it failed. The only thing that i know, is that some characters that we like to see return like X-men and Fantastic 4, they're all gone. Instead, they used the some characters that belongs to "Marvel Cinematic Universe", which is because of the rights from Disney, while X-Men series and Fantastic 4 belongs to 20th century Fox.
Although right now, Disney bought 20th century Fox for another gambling idea, but the damage was already done when this game came out by Capcom. I mean, i'd rather stay with "Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3". If you liked it, good for you. But for others like me, we rather stay away focus with previous MvC series.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Mega Battle
Well, that was unexpected...
At first, since Power Rangers the movie was promoted, i was expecting to be promising, right before a big fat disappointment hit me. But before the movie came out, someone out there thought be a good idea to make a brand new Power Rangers game on Downloadable games like XBOX Market and Playstation store.
At the first look, the game art style looks.... Ok that i can tell, but i've seen better flash animation artwork from Newgrounds.com or DeviantArt (No offense.), the gameplay is a big joke, because it goes to a typical beat'em up game that its been done before from the 90's. But its gonna be a lot worse that the game mechanic is unfinished that you can attack the enemies, but sometimes, your attack didn't make a contact, as if you're fighting at nothing. And other times the game gets randomly crashed for no reason what so ever. But if you though the broken beat'em part was bad, but get a load of "MegaZord section" that instead of controlling Rangers's giant robot against a big monsters, you have two versions, pointing shooting and a stupid quicktime event.
Talk about the most stupidest and laziest game ever made in 2017 with $20. I mean im glad i never touch this one, but it doesn't work to promoting the movie, considering how unexpectedly bad it is. Don't even bother it...
Friday the 13th video game
Let me start off by saying that, i love "Friday the 13th", its one of the Slasher series back in the 80's that we're familiar with like "Halloween", "Nightmare on Elm Street" and perhaps "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". However in the 80's of video game crash to revival, many developers though it will be a good idea to making a game based on four horror films, Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre to Atari 2600 are rare and didn't make it due to the marketing failure of video game industries and Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street are easily an embarrassment by LJN.
Long years later, two companies Gun Media and IllFonic made a Kickstarter and BackerKit campaign for making a Friday the 13th game in modern consoles like PS4, Xbox One and PC and it succeed with 1.095 billion US dollars, which we're highly anticipated for this game.
When the game came out, it was an above average game. Seven players take control as the camp counselors to survive and one player take control as Jason Voorhees. For the goal, players has to survive themselves from Jason before the time running out. Or if they're lucky that one has to call with radio with a help of a man name "Tommy Jarvis" in order to defeat Jason.
If you're asking how its average? Well, the game was not much special that we have to play over and over again. Like its fun at first, but it got old quickly after about like 5 days. Not to mention, when it first came out, it got buggy, its as if they forgot to finalize the game before releasing it. Its a shame since it was successful for the campaign and award of indie game. Aw well, better luck next time...
Star Wars Battlefront 2 EA
I really don't wanna talk about, since when i notice that EA made a sequel of the previous game, i was very pissed that they don't let it go, instead they create another one that easily pinches me.
"But Anthony, it has a new content with story campaign, and adding two eras like Prequel and Sequel, its all nice" But im sorry, its already done for the damage that its the same thing.
But the biggest final nail of the coffin that before the release, it cause an outcry where EA include Microtransaction with loot boxes in the game, not only it cause a meltdown from gamers, but so does the Government in Europe, which they're plan that every video games in the future should not include those diseases idea that the kids and older gamers get scammed by the companies for a "gambling reason". Although EA removed the microtransaction to make an apology, but its too late, because they lost $3 billion in stock value, which im very happy they deserve it.
So no thank you and F*** you EA for your cancerous game that cause a media backlash.
Super Mario Odyssey
Although Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Splatoon 2 are not the only one to make Nintendo Switch success, but so does Mario, twice.
As a pre-teen, i always love playing Super Mario, which makes me wish if Mario travels in real world, but after several years that i grew to adult, i was surprised and love it for how not only introducing Switch, but also new games like Mario Odyssey.
While we have Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle that it came out, but it was Mario Odyssey that got more attention for gamers than before. Like many Mario games, you're playing as a titular plumber to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. But unlike many games that you live in Mushroom Kingdom, you live around the world with cities, desert, beach and many more locations that you can travel. I mean, i like that idea, its almost like the fans's dream come true that we can going all over the world as Mario, even though it feels almost like Open World.
Even though i haven't buy the game, but hope il give a shot to see how great it is.
NieR: Automata
This might be surprising to me, that this is the first time that i play a game that was from "Square Enix". For those you don't know (unless you already know if you're a fan of RPG), Square Enix is the most famous Japanese company with Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and a crossover series, Kingdom Hearts.
Though i never play some of Square Enix games, but NieR Automata got my attention to play it. What im trying to describe, this is a sequel from "NieR" and a spin-off from a series called "Drakengard". Though i never heard of these, but maybe il look it up for research if it my appeal or not.
The story takes place in post-apocalyptic future where the evil machines is taking over the city against the humanity (kinda like Terminator, but without time travelling element), however, the humanity inventing the android called "YoRHa" to fight the invaders for Proxy War. You play as "2B" along with her sidekick "9S" going to the local Resistance in order to fight the evil machines.
I find the story is kinda typical, but it got more interesting for a plot element about the other characters and avoiding the logic virus. But i won't going more detail of story, cause i haven't play a while. For the gameplay, its a typical hack and slash, but with RPG content, you can change your weapons based on types for more or less damages. However, it has an innovation that you can add/switch the chips on your character for the abilities of speed, defense and few others. But you have to grind a lot to leveling up for more space to add more chips.
It had a great review for mixing gameplay, narrative, how it looks and the characters. Even though it had a rough release for a technical issues and leveled at the game's visual.
For me, its nice to give my first attempt to play a game from Square Enix and i find the game itself is pretty good, even if i want to play little more for how it goes and probably busy for multiple of side quests.
Il give it 8/10.
And finally...
Cuphead
After NetherRealm made "Mortal Kombat X" which i considered it as "A bit more above average", they made a sequel of "Injustice", which is a fighting game with DC superheroes, which i liked the first one.
When they released the sequel that i bought to give a shot, it was surprisingly pretty good. The gameplay is pretty good for fighting game, the graphic looks nice as they're trying to look realistic of characters's looks and a cool outfit appearance and the story is rather interesting that it picked up after the first one where Batman and his hero partners plan to restore society after Superman's Regime, but the villains arrive for grouping as "The society" and Brainiac arrives to manipulating Batman to freeing Superman for helping a combat threat.
Despite i haven't doing the story campaign, but i heard it has two versions of the ending, but i don't want to spoil it. Though the gameplay is fun and nicely done graphic, but it has some flaws.
First (Even though i may not a pro-fighter of this game), some characters i played while training can be useless because of its move like Black Canary and some others that i haven't play for a while.
And second, the game his microtransaction with loot-boxes that you'll get a random gears to gain more points of attack, defense and others for your characters. Its not just for your skills, but also getting a new suit to make your favorite character to be much stronger. I like that idea, but did you really think you include microtransaction for the gears?
For that, for the excellent gameplay, nice work of graphic and an interesting story, this is a game that you can gear up for your skills of fighting game.
Il give it 9/10.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
After five years of waiting that Nintendo bring back Zelda for not only Wii U (Which i think it could be the last game of it), but also our current console Switch, they finally released the game is it was so damn good. Even though i haven't play it.
Foe the story, after thousands of years of war in Hyrule, you play is Link who wakes up that he has an amnesia. However he heard the voice that guide him to deal with Calamity Ganon's return, its up to him save the world one again. Though the story didn't matter, it sorta goes to an adventure RPG game where you doing a side-quests, grinding to kill monsters and other stuff you can do.
The gameplay is simple but i think they've done interesting, since its a big open-world game that you can explore anywhere you like to. I think they did a great job for the concepts, the quality the gameplay and more when it comes to an open-world adventure.
Not only that, this game made Nintendo Switch to a huge success with millions of copies and a lot of good moneys to make more Switch consoles.
Again, i haven't play it, but hopefully that il give a try if i haven enough money to buy it.
Splatoon 2
I love Splatoon, i remembered playing the first one on Wii U that it was addicting, initiative gameplay, colorful graphic and probably likable NPCs like "Squid Sisters".
So two years later, they released Splatoon 2 and boy i find it to be more fun than the first one. While the gameplay is still the same, you start to customize your character to gear up with shirts, hats and shoes, but before you gear up, you can pick your hairstyle and new bottom outfit. Once you're prepared you start to go in "Regular match" of "Turf War", your goal with your partners is to spray more ink than your opponents in the arena, the more ink you spray in the location, you win the match and you'll do it over and over again.
Like before, they're other matches like "Tower Control", "Rainmaker", "Splat Zones" and a new one called "Clam Blitz", where you and your partners collecting ten pieces to destroying opponents's basket. I find it an interesting idea, but i haven't try it. Speaking of new game, the game also include a new content called "Salmon Run", where you and your other players pick a random weapons against the evil creatures called "Salmonids" and collecting eggs more then 10, 12 or 14. Which i like that idea, recommend to try it.
As for the hero mode like before? Well, this one got interesting. It picks up two years after the first game, right after the final "Splatfest" (And yes, Splatfest is back.), Marie became popular star over her cousin Callie (Which i do like Callie, but i love Marie. Which i guess its my fault to overshadowing Callie), while they're carry on for the solo careers, despite they're inseparable, which Marie was concerned about Callie that whether she was angered for her lost in Splatfest. But several days later, when she going back, she notice that everything going down, the Great Zapfish and her cousin was missing, believing that the Octorians return for their revenge. Once you arrive in the Hero mode, you meet her in Kimono and tells that once again Octorians came back for more Zapfish, its up to you to not only save Zapfish, but also finding Callie.
For me, i find it to be superior than the first one with not only the same gameplay, but something new like the weapons, the new content and interesting story, i recommend to try it if you're a fan of Splatoon.
Il give it 9/10.
Gran Turismo Sports
Let me start off by saying that although i like Karting race like "Mario Kart", but i like racing with real life cars like Gran Turismo and maybe some racing games on XBOX exclusive like Forza series.
Before Gran Turismo Sport came out, i first playing "Gran Turismo 6" on PS3 that i love it so much with thousand cars and hundreds of tracks (Especially it has an editor tracks.) and i wanted to see Gran Turismo 7 (Though its probably weird that i never play the previous installments of GT games).
When the game came out, i was highly exciting to buy the game, popping in and... Something that got a problem. Which unlike the previous games that it has thousand cars, like in GT6, it has 1226 cars and 100 tracks, here they started with less with 160 cars (Or 163 in current time with patches) and 28. The campaign race like the rank career that i like (Especially with specific type of cars like GT6) is gone, it focused on school, challenge and racing against the clock. While the rest of gameplay is "Arcade Mode" which is a single player racing and "Sport mode" is online multiplayer racing for your rank of winning race and sportsmanship. What i know, is that they focus on online game and perhaps trying to be realism for how to be professional racer to win the race and follow the rule politely. Despite some of them included for the gameplay, there's even "Scapes", where you bring your car in your collection into a various landscapes to take a picture, which it looks good, but i find it to be rather cheap, its like you put a sticker of your car and then slap it on the landscape to sharing it in GTS social media. Speaking of it, you can going to the social to see user's statuses and pictures of the liveries of cars and gears, replay, scapes and few others.
Right now this game was patched up for more cars, more tracks and of course, adding a Rank campaign which i was happy. Though the launch had a disappointed start, but it went good.
Il give it 7/10.
Destiny 2
Poor Bungie, ever since after they've done a successful franchise for XBOX exclusive like Halo, they left Microsoft to let 343 industries making their own Halo games and they focus to making their new series called "Destiny". The first one had a disappointed start with despite of average gameplay, but its the story that is just nothing but a big fat disappointment with no answering questions.
When they announced the sequel, we've been praying to hope it will be good to giving us the answers about the world of "Destiny" and perhaps improved the game right? Well, 50% "yes". First, i like the new story, where you as "The Guardian" tried to save the Traveler from Cabal's Red Legion lead by Dominus Ghaul where his goal is the stealing the energy of The Lights from the Traveler. Its up to you to fight back the evil force to bring your energy back and find other guardians to bring back in business.
But sadly, it didn't last very long, because when i played it, its the same thing from before same gameplay, same enemies, almost everything is the same. Although they have some new things like new planets, new weapons and perhaps new characters. Like the hub takes place on "The Farm", which i kinda like the new hub, but not my kind. But the worst of all, they not only announced another expansion pack, but also including Microtransaction, like good lord, this is another big budget game where you have to buy something make you feel stronger.
Though many people like it to considering its better than before, i understand that, but for me, this is a game that i felt bored couldn't bother to finish it for how disappointed it is.
Sorry everyone, il give it 6/10.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
This is a game that i never bought it for disappointed reasons.
But, there might be a good things. Like im surprised that they brought some characters that we want in our wish like Megaman (This time its X) and some characters that i like, such as "Captain Marvel" (Not Shazaam), Black Widow, Jedah and perhaps some returns like Thanos, Venom and Ghost Rider.
When it came out, it became nothing but sadness for MvC fans like me, which despite the gameplay done well and having a new storyline of the franchise, but it flopped badly for Art direction, the lack of presentation which it felt the same way from Street Fighter V and the worst of all, the roster is the biggest reason why it failed. The only thing that i know, is that some characters that we like to see return like X-men and Fantastic 4, they're all gone. Instead, they used the some characters that belongs to "Marvel Cinematic Universe", which is because of the rights from Disney, while X-Men series and Fantastic 4 belongs to 20th century Fox.
Although right now, Disney bought 20th century Fox for another gambling idea, but the damage was already done when this game came out by Capcom. I mean, i'd rather stay with "Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3". If you liked it, good for you. But for others like me, we rather stay away focus with previous MvC series.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Mega Battle
Well, that was unexpected...
At first, since Power Rangers the movie was promoted, i was expecting to be promising, right before a big fat disappointment hit me. But before the movie came out, someone out there thought be a good idea to make a brand new Power Rangers game on Downloadable games like XBOX Market and Playstation store.
At the first look, the game art style looks.... Ok that i can tell, but i've seen better flash animation artwork from Newgrounds.com or DeviantArt (No offense.), the gameplay is a big joke, because it goes to a typical beat'em up game that its been done before from the 90's. But its gonna be a lot worse that the game mechanic is unfinished that you can attack the enemies, but sometimes, your attack didn't make a contact, as if you're fighting at nothing. And other times the game gets randomly crashed for no reason what so ever. But if you though the broken beat'em part was bad, but get a load of "MegaZord section" that instead of controlling Rangers's giant robot against a big monsters, you have two versions, pointing shooting and a stupid quicktime event.
Talk about the most stupidest and laziest game ever made in 2017 with $20. I mean im glad i never touch this one, but it doesn't work to promoting the movie, considering how unexpectedly bad it is. Don't even bother it...
Friday the 13th video game
Let me start off by saying that, i love "Friday the 13th", its one of the Slasher series back in the 80's that we're familiar with like "Halloween", "Nightmare on Elm Street" and perhaps "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". However in the 80's of video game crash to revival, many developers though it will be a good idea to making a game based on four horror films, Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre to Atari 2600 are rare and didn't make it due to the marketing failure of video game industries and Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street are easily an embarrassment by LJN.
Long years later, two companies Gun Media and IllFonic made a Kickstarter and BackerKit campaign for making a Friday the 13th game in modern consoles like PS4, Xbox One and PC and it succeed with 1.095 billion US dollars, which we're highly anticipated for this game.
When the game came out, it was an above average game. Seven players take control as the camp counselors to survive and one player take control as Jason Voorhees. For the goal, players has to survive themselves from Jason before the time running out. Or if they're lucky that one has to call with radio with a help of a man name "Tommy Jarvis" in order to defeat Jason.
If you're asking how its average? Well, the game was not much special that we have to play over and over again. Like its fun at first, but it got old quickly after about like 5 days. Not to mention, when it first came out, it got buggy, its as if they forgot to finalize the game before releasing it. Its a shame since it was successful for the campaign and award of indie game. Aw well, better luck next time...
Star Wars Battlefront 2 EA
I really don't wanna talk about, since when i notice that EA made a sequel of the previous game, i was very pissed that they don't let it go, instead they create another one that easily pinches me.
"But Anthony, it has a new content with story campaign, and adding two eras like Prequel and Sequel, its all nice" But im sorry, its already done for the damage that its the same thing.
But the biggest final nail of the coffin that before the release, it cause an outcry where EA include Microtransaction with loot boxes in the game, not only it cause a meltdown from gamers, but so does the Government in Europe, which they're plan that every video games in the future should not include those diseases idea that the kids and older gamers get scammed by the companies for a "gambling reason". Although EA removed the microtransaction to make an apology, but its too late, because they lost $3 billion in stock value, which im very happy they deserve it.
So no thank you and F*** you EA for your cancerous game that cause a media backlash.
Super Mario Odyssey
Although Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Splatoon 2 are not the only one to make Nintendo Switch success, but so does Mario, twice.
As a pre-teen, i always love playing Super Mario, which makes me wish if Mario travels in real world, but after several years that i grew to adult, i was surprised and love it for how not only introducing Switch, but also new games like Mario Odyssey.
While we have Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle that it came out, but it was Mario Odyssey that got more attention for gamers than before. Like many Mario games, you're playing as a titular plumber to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. But unlike many games that you live in Mushroom Kingdom, you live around the world with cities, desert, beach and many more locations that you can travel. I mean, i like that idea, its almost like the fans's dream come true that we can going all over the world as Mario, even though it feels almost like Open World.
Even though i haven't buy the game, but hope il give a shot to see how great it is.
NieR: Automata
This might be surprising to me, that this is the first time that i play a game that was from "Square Enix". For those you don't know (unless you already know if you're a fan of RPG), Square Enix is the most famous Japanese company with Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and a crossover series, Kingdom Hearts.
Though i never play some of Square Enix games, but NieR Automata got my attention to play it. What im trying to describe, this is a sequel from "NieR" and a spin-off from a series called "Drakengard". Though i never heard of these, but maybe il look it up for research if it my appeal or not.
The story takes place in post-apocalyptic future where the evil machines is taking over the city against the humanity (kinda like Terminator, but without time travelling element), however, the humanity inventing the android called "YoRHa" to fight the invaders for Proxy War. You play as "2B" along with her sidekick "9S" going to the local Resistance in order to fight the evil machines.
I find the story is kinda typical, but it got more interesting for a plot element about the other characters and avoiding the logic virus. But i won't going more detail of story, cause i haven't play a while. For the gameplay, its a typical hack and slash, but with RPG content, you can change your weapons based on types for more or less damages. However, it has an innovation that you can add/switch the chips on your character for the abilities of speed, defense and few others. But you have to grind a lot to leveling up for more space to add more chips.
It had a great review for mixing gameplay, narrative, how it looks and the characters. Even though it had a rough release for a technical issues and leveled at the game's visual.
For me, its nice to give my first attempt to play a game from Square Enix and i find the game itself is pretty good, even if i want to play little more for how it goes and probably busy for multiple of side quests.
Il give it 8/10.
And finally...
Cuphead
Oh man... This one is easily my favorite indie game of 2017.
This game was first introduced in 2014 for the promotion, since it started developing in 2010. When it showed, it had a lot of promises that it was originally to be released somewhere in 2015 or 2016, but it got delayed for the change and probably some fixes. And when it finally came out in 2017, it was sooo damn good. But holy Balls, this game is hard!
Even though its understandable that its all about challenging for a lot of practice and following the patterns. Especially you really need to get more coins to buy some power ups and special weapons. As you know, it has two type of gameplay, the boss fights and run'n gun. The boss fight is pretty simple, you have to beat the boss as possible to the next one, it has a difficulty choice, Simple and Regular. But, you better go with "Regular", because if you beat the boss, you'll earn a contract, and if you play Simple, its more like a practice that you won't get a free contract.
Speaking of contracts, what about the story? Well, it tells about our titular hero "Cuphead" and his brother "Mugman" lives together with Elder Kettle (Who's easily keep an eyes on them) in the world called "Inkwell Isles". However, without the warning, Cuphead and Mugman stumble a casino, which they visit there to playing Craps (aka dice game), but they never notice that the casino itself was run by The Devil himself, which after Cuphead failed with "Snake Eyed", he and his brother were punished for losing soul. Begging for their lives of mercy, The Devil accepts that they tell them to capturing contract souls of bosses. Its up to Cuphead and Mugman to get their potion from their Elder take the contracts from bosses. I find the story is interesting, but probably made of mistake from The Devil, for the title suggest of "Don't deal with the Devil".
Aside of challenging gameplay which it pretty good (though i recommend to play on PC, cause i heard the Xbox One version has an issues.), but what it really makes it damn good, is the graphic (Though i like to talking about how the gameplay works, not for the graphics too much.), which it has a very special one. It was all done with traditional hand-drawn animation with an inspiration art style of "rubber hose", which it was used from the 1930's like Fleischer and Walt Disney Animation, especially for emulating qualities like subversive and surreal. I mean, really love how they've done, they did a very good job for the animation and the art style, which makes us wonder how we love old fashion animation from decade ago. Its almost like we've been time travelling of "Ruber Hose" animation with famous characters like Mickey Mouse, Betty Boop, Felix the cat and more.
In fact, it was so successful that it sold 2 million copies in the end of 2017 and picked up from several awards of video games. We love it to play and perhaps getting "Red Hot" to try hard for following the patterns of challenge, this game earned the spot for the best indie game of 2017. I recommend to try it, for your own risk from difficulty as well...
Il give it a perfect 10/10.
Well, that was the end of my countdown, it was pretty busy for doing a top list of 2017.
Either way, if you have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know in the comments bellow. And make sure you help me give a donation or asking a commission for my future plans.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
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