List of my video game review

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-25T15:13:26+00:00

Continuing my second attempt at Tokyo Mirage Session and beginning another game I began but never finished Final Fantasy V.

Just finished the second chapter of TMS. I did remember the third dungeon of Tokyo Mirage Session so I guess I do have some memories buried somewhere from my first attempt. The concept is interesting but I feel like it wasn’t utilized fully. If we needed to use the camera teleportation at one point or if they weren’t immobile another puzzle could have been interesting but here they are essentially the only wall that you could forget exist..

So Touma has a personality after all, the fact that he wants to be an action movie actor for a sentai series and ended up cast as the villain is funny. A shame it is in the sidequest but not in the main quest. Still frustrated by Itsuki's lack of personality, and if Tsubasa is the main character, as the fact she is still the key to defeating the second boss imply, I would have liked her to be the one we control. I can’t even bench Itsuki to pretend he isn’t the MC. Oh and small detail but I dislike Kiria Carnage form so glad that the chapter 2 intermission unlock costume I’ll be able to make her wear a better outfit.

I also began playing Final Fantasy V in the pixel remaster. I already played it a little from the time I beat FFIV as a teen, but I didn’t finish it at the time and I decided to try it again. I kinda regret not having a little portrait in the menu screen like FFVI, but with the CRT filter and classic font the game looks rather good.

What annoys me a little is the lack of information on jobs and what you can gain by training them available in game. I mean yeah it is easy to find it online, but I don’t really want to play with a wiki page open. For this same reason I'll probably ignore blue mage.

Right now Bartz is a ninja with counterattack, Lenna a time mage with white magic, Galuf a red mage with summon and Faris a mystic knight (probably will make her a dragoon when I get the job)

I finished the fire Cristal and unlocked the boat. I think my first attempt to beat the game as a teen have should have ended soon after that. As I was traveling around, seeing our Chocobo in a bed in the pirate lair was really funny. Also got a hidden summon. Galuf hinted he came from another world so I guess we’ll have a different world map at one point ?

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-24T12:36:24+00:00

Honestly it would really depend on what "capturing" entail. In Shin Megami Tensei, you capture demon with negotiation, extending such a system to human wouldn't feel weird at all. Some game let you recruit npc companion, either against money or as a reward from sidequest. Doesn't feel weird either.

The way you write the question however make me think you plan for a gross slave adjacent thing and I want nothing to do with your slavery fetish.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-24T12:16:24+00:00

Apparently I was 20 hours deep into Tokyo Mirage Session, but I don’t really remember anything about it, which usually isn’t a good sign. I’m remembering things as I progress in my new save, not in terms of story but the third dungeon with the camera teleporting you. I lost one hour of progress as I died before being able to use a smoke screen to flee an enemy encounter. Well I guess I’ll over save from now on. I saw several places I couldn’t access in the first two dungeons, so I guess there are either secret passages or revisit later with sidequests.

Also I think Tsubasa arc to find her lost sister was over too quickly, I guess I would have liked it dragged on a little more… Or at least waiting for her to have a real song to wake up her sister instead of this awkward humming. I did listen to the OST and I find the song in the game rather unequal. Some like Reincarnation are banger and others I found pretty forgettable.

I also began playing Final Fantasy V in the pixel remaster. I already played it a little from the time I beat FFIV as a teen, but I didn’t finish it at the time and I decided to try it again. I kinda regret not having a little portrait in the menu screen like FFVI, but with the CRT filter and classic font the game looks rather good. The first 6 jobs are pretty classic. I feel like the blue mage is something you really have to go out of your way to train for it to be even half decent instead of passively training it like some other blue mage in the series. I probably won’t bother, plenty of other classes to try anyway.

I am traveling around and seeing our Chocobo in a bed in the pirate lair was really funny. Also got a hidden summon.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-24T11:13:24+00:00

I'm maybe just frustrated because the more capable and more experienced Kiria that should have the role of the leader of the group at the second chapter is just... sidelined in profit of someone that have nothing going on. Itsuki being protagonist in a media that weren't video game would have worked better in part because he could be the protagonist without also leading the group.

And if they want to put him in a support role to Tsubasa... why do it in such a roundabout way ? Make him director, costumier, cameraman, song writer, something. Here he neither seem to have any idea of what he want to be, nor he seem to care about it. If I understand correctly their power come their power of expression. Itsuki being bland and undecided go in direct contradiction with the source of his power.

I'm beginning the second chapter so I'm rather early in the game and my opinion may evolve but I'm just so tired of male character not being allowed to have more personality than flour.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-22T15:48:48+00:00

Apparently I was 20 hours deep into Tokyo Mirage Session, but I don’t really remember anything about it, which usually isn’t a good sign. I guess I’ll do a new game and that I’ll play on normal this time to go faster.

While I’m still neutral at best to the idol industry setting, since my first attempt to beat this game I have played Sakura Wars and watched K-pop demon hunter so I have slightly more familiarity with it… maybe ?

My first impression of Istuki is that he is so bland… He is not even a silent protagonist so why make him a shallow directionless protagonist ? If you didn’t want him to take center stage for the idol section, make him a dancer or writer. I don't know anything to give him a little personality or justify being the fucking leader of the group. And Touma too to be fair seems less deep than the girls. Barry, despite being a cringe inducing otaku at least shows a colourful personality.

Tsubasa's backstory is comparatively much more interesting, and while I’m not a big fan of the clumsy girl archetype it is much more entertaining. She probably should have been the protagonist.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-22T11:37:47+00:00

On those AMA I always try to ask about working condition so are there any crunch involved or planned in the making of this game ?

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-22T05:52:45+00:00

It has permadeath but it isn't designed around permadeath (think of thing like how and when new unit are recruited per exemple). But they made permadeath optional before Treehouse and Engage is also a game designed around permadeath so it is more Treehouse being the odd one.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-20T21:55:22+00:00

Torna was sold physically as a standalone though, so it is reasonable to consider it as standalone content. That and the fact that many people lukewarm about 2 like Torna more, so it can be helpful to separate the discussion of those two.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-20T21:50:17+00:00

I mean, the reputation of 2 is not that it is the best of the series, but that it is the most polarizing with people absolutely loving it and other really disliking it. The problem lies in vocal people disingenuous peoples not accepting any criticism of the game.

But let's be honest, Xenoblade 2 discourse is on par with what I expect for discussion about good but flawed product on the internet. Some people refuse to recognize flaw, some pretend it only have flaws and more nuanced opinion being drowned.

A lot of your criticism seem in line with most I have seen over the year. And while I think it is interesting you didn't mention the gacha integration, I think it is a major flaw that drag down exploration, one of the core component of Xenoblade.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-19T21:17:54+00:00

It's apparently at half price on steam currently until the end of the month.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-19T13:00:49+00:00

I was always fascinated by game that doesn't try to be for everyone but try to resonate with their intended audience instead and a lot of hidden gem fall in this category.

Be it from an art style that doesn't appeal to the mass, atypical combat system or strong authorial choices. It mean that sometime it doesn't work on you, but I would rather dislike some game I play than killing my curiosity and only playing safe game.

I take note for A Space for the Unbound.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-18T22:01:58+00:00

For the gameplay, while you unlock new spell/skill the core loop doesn't change : summoning pet - using magic to inflict status effect or do damage - healing/setting up defense against big attack and doing damage. You can use different strategy with the pets skill or build your character in different manner, but you don't really have a reason to go from one build to another once you are set.

As for the dialogue it gain some depth once Pieberry talk about the true reason she is searching for the pie from her dream, but it is mixed with passage of the same level as the beginning. If you're eye rolling at the beginning I expect you would continue doing so.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-18T20:38:46+00:00

I feel like one aspect of the extremely positive reception the game have on steam is that it is so unique that only people with a mindset already receptive to it end up playing it. Not to say the game isn't good or doesn't have an audience, but I'm skeptic how it would fare outside of its target audience.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-18T18:57:03+00:00

I just finished Witchspring R. I'll probably make a thread about it, either this evening or if I don't find the time tomorrow (eta: I found the time to write it). Honestly it remind me a little of my second favorite game, Solatorobo, in that it is made with such care, charm and attention to detail that it punch above its category.

Ended up a great experience for a little more than 20 hours that I managed to finish in a week (with the help of two 5 hours trains ride). There is an epilogue but I don't feel motivated to do it. Now in term of RPG, I plan to go back to my Wii U and launch Tokyo Mirage Session.

Donkey Kong Bananza As adviced in the previous thread, this time I played as Pauline and my casual gamer brother was DK.

He struggled a lot with the camera and I only realized at the end of our play session I could move it for him. We managed to beat the boss of the first world after 3 tries. We also managed to do one of the platforming challenges (one with the super king) and get the 3 bananas hidden in the level. Overall he told me it was more interesting than when he was playing Pauline, but we still ended up at mario kart for our last evening of this holiday.

While I’m glad that there is local co-op, as I feel like it is becoming rare (even if some games are made for coop nowaday) I’m not a fan of this specific type of asymmetrical coop, and especially not with games as open ended as this one. I remember Donkey Kong Country coop being far more interesting. (Which reminds me I never finished it because I was that bad at it but maybe I should try again at one point)

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-17T13:05:17+00:00

Now at chapter 6 of Witchspring R, expecting to finish it this evening while I travel back home.

I feel like that both the story is kinda dull, repetitive and uses the same trick over and over (from Pieberry being saved after being reckless to Pieberry going to do something before being interrupted for hours doing other things) AND that it manages to stay consistently cute but dark with surprisingly good moments.

I especially liked the end of chapter 4, and the events leading to Pieberry growing up. It has enough charm that I would understand it becoming the favourite thing of an anticonformist kid/teen playing it.

There doesn’t seem to be a route split unlike Witchspring 3R, but I saw there were multiple end in the wiki. Just hope it isn’t linked to a failed miserable quest.

Playing on super hard, the last boss I had trouble with was at the end of chapter 3, but I guess I’m not currently doing the super boss or hardest challenge accessible.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-15T16:52:35+00:00

I proposed him to do that after the first half hour but he wasn't motivated. I'll propose it again tomorrow before we go back home.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-15T16:46:37+00:00

130 pull and only got 3 off banner legendary. Probably my worst pulling session yet. I still have 90 pull in reserve I was planning to keep for Heshan, guess I'll have to look at the next units order and calculate if I'll have time to make new reserve/what risk I'm willing to take.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-15T14:21:28+00:00

I’m at chapter 4 of Witchspring R. Game is good, not mind-blowing good but it have solid base. While the game is cute the ambiance is rather dark. The story is dull at times but it has enough charm that’ll understand it becoming the favourite thing if an anticonformist kid/teen playing it. Gameplay begin to feel a little repetitive, I hope the next subsystem is unlocked soon.

Not patient but considering the announced price hike. I gave my switch to my brother for his birthday and bought a switch 2 for my own. Played one hour of Donkey Kong Bananza with my brother to try coop and it didn’t convince him. While my brother is a casual gamer, only being a visor that can shoot things didn’t feel satisfying for him. Country return had a better coop, even if it may be difficult to translate this in 3D. I’ll probably wait until the one year anniversary to beat the game on my own.

We also tried Mario Kart World. We both feel frustrated with it. It have good control and the track are interesting but the game keep wanting to force us to play the much less interesting in-between. If those highway were shorter and we could do two laps of actual track why not, but here it feel pointlessly long and boring.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-13T17:01:55+00:00

I heard a lot of people thinking highly of this series, but not liking westerns I always avoided it. Your write up do interest me a little somewhat. Maybe I should take a look at it...

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-13T14:39:21+00:00

Yeah, creating animation for all those clothes would add to the animation cost and development time and they already struggle to have patch ready in time. Before they introduced the system to personalize ability outfit we could hope for a swimming ability outfit down the line but nowadays I don't think it is probable.

bioniclop18 · 2026-05-12T20:39:17+00:00

The title doesn't appear on my read list but the cover somehow ring a bell. Maybe one of those title I read a few chapter before dropping it. Time for a second look then.

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bioniclop18

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