Hero of Time

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Minit Review

Genre: Puzzle / Adventure Game
Players: 1*
Playtime: 3 Hours (Includes beating the game at 110% completion; Played on the Nintendo Switch)

If you married the art style of a Tamagotchi with the gameplay mechanics of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, you might get something akin to what is the game that is Minit.  The hook that is unique to this game though is that your protagonist finds a cursed sword that will kill the player literally every 60 seconds, to which you then respawn at your last abode.  This small but significant mechanic turns what is a relatively small island into a captivating labyrinth where time becomes the driving force for many a humorous and thought-provoking encounter to be found.  But can a game that is in fact beatable in just 7 minutes truly hold that much depth to it?  Let us take a minute to explore just that in examining the pros and cons of this island adventure.

Throwback Thursday - Fire Emblem Awakening

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the esteemed Top 10 games I can't recommend higher.  Steeling thy blades this week: The game of tactical battles against warring empires that is Fire Emblem: Awakening.

Released in the US on February 4th, 2013, Fire Emblem Awakening was developed during a time where the series looked to be at an end, unable to make the desired worldwide sales.  So as to have no regrets, this last effort with Awakening sought to culminate the best features of the all the series into one game with a fresh new look to go with it.  It was either to be a glorious swan song or the start of something beautiful.  Turns out to be the latter as the Fire Emblem series has since exploded in popularity thanks to the tremendous success and appeal of Awakening.  I'll admit to joining that bandwagon of Fire Emblem fandom upon playing Awakening as well.  In fact, this game is one of the rare instances where a game demo actually swayed me to purchase this game I otherwise had not considered picking up.  I was blown away by the attractive art style, striking cut scenes for a handheld, the rich soundtrack that beautifully blended between tactics and battle, the fun nods to the pixel-based characters for map view, and the intriguing plot.  I knew this was a game I would need to dive deeper into, and it ended up becoming my favorite game on the Nintendo 3DS and a cherished experience in all of gaming.

Year in Review - Top 5 Games of the Year (2018)

The year 2018 is coming to a close and with it, a time to reflect back on the year of games that came along for the ride.  So if you're feeling equally nostalgic or just curious what hidden gems may have been overlooked during the hustle and bustle of the year, read on as we break down my personal Top 5 Games of 2018, among other recognition to be had.  Please note for this first category, there is only so much time and/or funds to be diverged among the slew of great games that are continually released.  As such, the games selected in this category only include games in which I've played to full / majority of completion, and saw their debut release in 2018.

Top 5 Games of the Year - 2018

-1- Celeste

Starting off the new year strong and releasing on January 25th, Celeste received an abundance of praise and high acclaim.  It wasn't until near the end of this year though that I took notice when I saw that this game was nominated for Game of the Year in the 2018 Video Game Awards, standing tall among the likes of behemoth AAA games like God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2.  So I picked it up during a Thanksgiving eShop sale for Nintendo Switch, and the game absolutely stole my heart and earned its spot as my favorite game released this year.  From the unique and tight platforming mechanics, catchy and moving musical scores, gorgeous animation to a touching and endearing story, Celeste delivers an experience that is so incredibly engaging and just so beautiful to take part in.  Look forward to more details and a full review of Celeste in the near future.

Throwback Thursday - Donkey Kong Country Returns

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the esteemed Top 10 games I can't recommend higher.  Defying the laws of gravity this week: The game of fist slamming simians and devious tiki minions that is Donkey Kong Country Returns.

Released in the US on November 21st, 2010, Donkey Kong Country Returns marked a spirited return in modern form to the beloved platforming series of the SNES era.  And who would of thought that Retro Studios, the developers whose only previous work included the esteemed first-person shooter envisioning of the Metroid Prime Trilogy, would go on to make what is one of the finest platformers to grace us in a generation.  Masterfully blending nostalgic elements with fun and creative ideas, this game takes players on a wild ride that feels right at home.  The adventure begins on an all too-familiar note, some nefarious no-doers, this time a group of hypnotically-enchanting tikis, stealing the coveted hoard of Kong bananas.  As DK happens to be immune to the tiki's hypnotic gaze, players make use of the Wii's motion controls to deliver a satisfying flurry of punches in exaggerated cartoon fashion, and burst into a journey of justice, barrel blasting and plenty of bananas.

Video Game Music for the Holidays - Volume VI

Tis the season once again for holiday hustle and shuffle, and with such, a barrage of jolly jingles.  As is a  yearly tradition among my friends and family these past 6 years now, I compile a collection of music from video games that fit the vibe of the holidays.  If you enjoy the spirit of the holidays, but would appreciate some variety to these tunes, hopefully such will fit just that bill.

An Invitation to Smash

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The holidays and life in general can feel pretty busy and overwhelming at times, but try not to stress yourself out.  Treat yourself to a well deserved break and remember the best gifts in life are often just good times among good company.  Happy smashing!

(Belated) Throwback Thursday - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday (a bit belated), our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the esteemed Top 10 games I can't recommend higher.  Sorry for the delay folks as it's been a busy week, and I didn't want to shortchange such a beloved game here.  Speaking of which, making the fold this week: The game of paper planes and luxury trains that is Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.

Released in the US on October 11th, 2004, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the second entry in the Paper Mario series and is highly regarded as the best of its peers, if not one of the greatest RPG's ever made (I'm willing to defend this bold assertion).  Taking what was a strong foundation from Paper Mario for the N64, Thousand-Year Door is a familiar sight with its unique paper aesthetics, clever turn-based battles with timed-based action inputs, and its creative world building.  However, this game takes all of these wonderful attributes and pushes the boundaries of each into a more engaging, bizarre and memorable adventure ever thought possible.  It all begins with Mario voyaging to the new horizons of Rogueport, a seedy and dicey pirate port that stands in striking contrast to the colorful and upbeat Mushroom Kingdom. With a missing princess Peach, a mysterious group of thugs known as the X-Nauts, and a magical map to an unknown treasure as their only lead, the stage is set for an adventure like none other.

A Cool Surprise

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