Splatoon 2 Review

Genre: 3rd-Person Shooter
Players: 1-8
Playtime: 25 hours (Includes clearing 103% of the single-player campaign, reaching Level 10 in online multiplayer playing various turf wars and ranked modes, reaching Go-Getter rank in Salmon Run mode, and participating in two Splatfests...curse you Mayo)

The original Splatoon for Nintendo Wii-U turned out to be a surprise hit as a new IP from the Big N, breathing new life into what was an otherwise predictable genre of shooter games.  So it's no surprise here that they quickly want to carry over this popularity to a larger audience with their new and successfully growing platform that is the Nintendo Switch.  As the name suggests, Splatoon 2 is intended to be more than just a pretty port / remake.  But does it quite deliver enough to warrant being called a sequel?  Let's ink up the turf and dive into the pros and cons to find out if this game has what it takes to stay fresh.

Throwback Thursday - Secret of Mana

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Swinging into action this week: The game of playful sprites and elemental fights that is Secret of Mana.

Released in the US on October 3rd, 1993, Secret of Mana is one of many esteemed RPG's of the SNES era.  Unlike many turn-based RPG's of its time though, this game featured very action oriented real-time battles with a stylish and unique menu system that would pause the action for critical decision making.  And if you happened to have the Super Multitap accessory for the SNES and three controllers, this epic adventure could be enjoyed as a three-player cooperative experience, of which the game centers around three main characters: A young boy who finds a mystical sword and inadvertently calls forth looming threats to the world; A young girl who defies her father's attempted arranged marriage and sets off to find / protect her love (a warrior sent on a mission by the king); And lastly a small sprite child who lost his memories and makes a living scamming travelers.  Together, these three characters' roles will intersect as they embark on a journey to protect the world's life energy / mana from an empire bent on obtaining such for themselves and resurrecting a powerful warship known as the Mana Fortress.

Tabletop Tuesday - Dixit

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, luck, cards, and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game of abstract art to guess apart that is Dixit.

Players: 3-6

Time: 20-40 minutes

Genre: Social / Casual Family Game

Danger From Above

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Throwback Thursday - Heavy Rain

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  While my blog is rated E for everyone's safe and enjoyable viewing, I should mention this week's throwback is rated M for Mature.  Parental discretion is advised for playing this game.

Speaking of which, making an appearance this week: The game of troubled pasts and a varied cast that is Heavy Rain.

Released in the US on February 23rd, 2010, Heavy Rain is an intriguing interactive drama developed by Quantic Dream that helped pioneer and further the potential of the "movie game" genre (referring to games whose focus are on story/narrative through use of scripted cinematics rather than gameplay).  The game centers around four playable characters in which players alternate controlling between different chapters in the game.  There is Ethan Mars, a father who lost a son to a tragic accident and strives to protect his only other son while fighting depression.  There is Scott Shelby, a rough and tough private investigator with asthma looking into the killings of the Origami Killer on behalf of the killers' victims.  There is Norman Jayden, an FBI agent who is tasked with finding the Origami Killer using experimental AR technology while fighting an unhealthy addiction.  And lastly there is Madison Paige, a journalist suffering from chronic insomnia trying to find the big scoop on the Origami Killer.  All these characters' stories slowly begin to intertwine as Ethan Mars is put to the test when his son is the next target of the Origami Killer.  Following a series of calling cards, Ethan must perform a series of morally questionable and brutal tasks if he is to save his son.  The overlapping theme of the whole game is how far you'd be willing to go to save someone you love.

Tabletop Tuesday - King of Tokyo

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game of monster claws and fireballs that is King of Tokyo.

Players: 2-6
Time: 30-45 minutes
Genre: Strategy / Party Game

Hey! Listen!

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