I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; fans don’t know what they want.

I don’t say this as an outsider looking in; I’ve been playing Pokemon since 1999. My journey has been Blue, Gold, Ruby, Platinum, Black, Y, Sun, and Sword, with multiple sequels and side-games thrown in for good measure. Umbreon and Espeon have been tattooed on my forearm for the better part of the last decade, and I’ve got three separate extra devices just for Pokemon GO.

I say all this not to brag (obviously, because it’s frankly kind of sad), but to establish that when it comes to Pokemon, I’ve been there since the beginning. So when I say that Pokemon Legends Arceus is one of the best things the franchise has ever graced the world with, I am able to back that up.

Because, well, it is. 

We’re entering Unown territory

Pokemon Legends Arceus begins with inexplicable time travel. No flux capacitors or TARDISes in sight, but instead a fairly literal Deus Ex Machina (or Arceus Ex Machina, I guess).

I’m not going to wax lyrical on the implications of this game to the temporal causality of the Pokemon universe. I’m just going to say that the way it’s handled is deeply refreshing. Instead of long-winded explanations and technical know-how, the rationale is basically that a wizard did it. The wizard is Arceus. Also you’ve got amnesia, like a daytime soap opera.

Look, the plot ain’t Shakespearow. 

Willing and Clefable

The Galaxy Team – definitely not Team Galactic – accept your time mishaps with the naivety and good humour of a toddler, barely questioning your story before asking you to work for them. Honestly, hiring standards in Hisui aren’t the best. As long as you can demonstrate that you’re not pants-wettingly terrified of a Starly, you’re basically their messiah.

The quests start off sort of basic; go here, catch this, come back, etc. At least there’s no escort missions, so thanks for small Blisseys.

And it gets Wyrdeer

Every new Pokemon game brings new forms, evolutions, and general design-related shenanigans. Pokemon Legends Arceus brings us the Hisuian variants, which range from the excellent (Arcanine) to the less excellent (Electrode) to the viscerally upsetting (Palkia). The new types come with some slight stat shifts which, despite the lack of a multiplayer function, lay the foundation for real paradigm shifts to competitive play in future. Dual type Samurott with added Speed? Oh, yes please.

The Pokedex is mostly the same as the standard Sinnoh dex from Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, but the Hisuian forms and new playstyle means you’ll be far from bored.

Speaking of the Pokedex, the new system of actually researching what they eat and do should be the standard. I genuinely felt like I was doing, you know, research. Science is 90% repitition, as they say, and BOY will you be doing some science.

Unforgiving and even Tentacruel

Most surprising of all, Pokemon Legends Arceus is actually kind of hard. I know, right; a challenging Pokemon game! Well it’s not that surprising; I lost many hours to the harder versions of Pokemon Conquest, and while I struggled with the Mystery Dungeon series I think that’s mostly because I had absolutely no idea what was going on. But Pokemon Legends Arceus is closer to the formula we know and love, except now it’s dangerous. 

I used to love challenge runs of classic games, but I don’t think you’ll be able to Nuzlocke this one. Your Pokemon will faint. Like, a lot. Alpha Pokemon hit like a truck on ketamine whose mother you just insulted, and the levels just keep on climbing as you traverse Hisui. You can’t be Snorlax about travelling around, and especially at night.

Gastly. Gastly everywhere.

Breath of the Weavile

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how similar in appearance Pokemon Legends Arceus is to the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild. Because does, in fact, look very similar.

That similarity, however, is only pixel deep. The movement, gameplay, and flow of the game is entirely its own Ultra Beast. I’ve not played a game quite like Pokemon Legends Arceus before. In terms of a Pokemon game, this level of departure from formula is, well, astonishing.

The game isn’t fully open world (good), but more of a heavily expanded Wild Area of Crown Tundra type deal. There’s a fair few invisible walls, and which I say purely because of habit as the walls are visible to the point of obscuring everything in a horrible pink haze when you try to fly out of bounds on a glorious psychic eagle. 

Just like real life, right?

Framerates get a bit iffy in some circumstances. Mass outbreaks of detailed Pokemon and some draw distance issues can be irksome, but bearable. Other graphical glitches like collision issues are mostly funny, like when someone’s foot kept vibrating during a cutscene like an off-brand Sonic the Hedgehog. 

But these are minor Beautiflies in the ointment, and I’m struggling to find any real complaints.

Arcanine and a half out of Ten

Some technical limitations are all that pulls Pokemon Legends Arceus down, and I’m pretty confident they could be fixed in a patch or two. 

With a wholly fresh take on the franchise formula, a super listenable soundtrack, and content for days, Pokemon Legends Arceus is always going to be a good one. But moreover, it simply works. This is the free roaming, fast paced, risky Pokemon game we’ve been saying we want for decades, and it’s right here in front of us.

I Luvdisc it.

The post Pokemon Legends Arceus review appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

Samus is back and this time it’s… personal? Was it not before? I really can’t remember.

Metroid Dread picks up after the events of Metroid Fusion investigating a mysterious from the isolated planet. Oh snap

It’s Castleroid time

I don’t know if you know this, but Metroid has a bit of a reputation. Platforming in 2D hasn’t gotten any easier, and shooting random parts of the map in the hopes of finding the way forward is still just as fun as before.

That’s not fun. It never was.

Visually the game is smooth, and not overly busy. Managing to harken back to your old style while also updating graphics isn’t that easy, so kudos where they’re due.

Music? Not so much. Repetitive is a word a lot of people repeat when they want to use a word describing something repetitive. Did that sentence get annoying? Welcome to the Metroid Dread soundtrack.

And yet I can’t stop playing.

Mestleroidia, but also sneaky

Aside from the punishing difficulty, there’s an interesting new aspect to this particular romp in the Samus suit: stealth. See, in classic sci-fi fashion, some intense robots were sent to planet ZDR before Samus picked up her contract, but they got hacked and now they don’t like our favourite bounty hunter.

It ain’t easy being Samus.

Since it’s damn near impossible to kill these things without super awesome rare Omega energy, you’re left to skulk and hide to avoid them. Which you will fail at. A lot. And then the madcap chase sequence happens, as you desperately try to get enough distance between you and the killbot who totally just wants to talk.

While it’s not an instant kill should the bot catch you, the chance to counter is so slim that it may as well be. In my playtime, I managed to pull it off maybe 15 times, after being caught… well, more than that.

Honestly, if they weren’t called E.M.M.I., these robots would be perfect nightmare.

Wish there was a better word for these games

Speaking of countering, I’m really not a fan of parrying in a primarily shooting-based game. I know it’s what all the cool kids are doing, but honestly, I don’t associate Metroid with melee at all, so shoehorning it in here is not only irritating, but fundamentally jarring.

Speaking of ludiucrous decisions, I’ve seen someone refer to the aiming system as similar to filling out a mortgage application. As someone who has done that in the past, I can safely say that this is more annoying, but with fewer life-alterting ramifications. Contorting your hands into mangled claws to hold L and R simultaneously to aim your rockets, then use both sticks to move and actually fire with Y?

Seriously, what the hell. Uncomfortable, convoluted, and just plain not fun.

Good thing the rest of the game is decent, right?

Wait, what’s a Metroidvania?

Metroid Dread is a punishing game, with a steep learning curve that may put off modern players. Back in the day, you had to stick with a challenging game because there weren’t many other options. Now we can swap to something else lickety split, and I feel like many people will.

Much of the game is irritating, frustrating, and overly reliant on past goodwill. But damn, I keep going back.

l argue that as long as you’re having fun, it’s worth sticking with. If it gets too much, take a break. If it’s still too much, well, Hollow Knight and all the other Metroidvanias are right there.

The post Metroid Dread review appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

The beautiful looking Greak: Memories of Azur has released a Demo exclusively to Switch. The demo will give a slice of what we can expect when Greak releases on consoles next month.

In Greak: Memories of Azur the player joins siblings Greak, Adara, and Raydel as they flee the deadly invasion of their home. Each sibling boasts unique abilities that will assist in their journey. For example Greak offers up agility and the ability to fit where others will not. On the other hand Adara wields arcane magic to devastating effect. Finally Raydel has skill in battle and specialised gear that makes him a formidable foe.

The player will need to move seamlessly between the three siblings to navigate the beautiful yet hostile world of Azur.

Greak: Memories of Azur Key Features:

• Hand-Drawn Art and Animation: Enjoy a captivating narrative telling a story of family, home and union, all brought to life with stunning hand-drawn art
• Specially Crafted Puzzles:  The player will solve intricate puzzles to navigate the world of Azur, using the three siblings’ unique abilities to flee the threat
• Unique Gameplay: Each sibling boasts their own powers and abilities, and the player will alternate seamlessly between the trio to best navigate the world
• Live Orchestra Soundtrack: Enjoy the expressive and atmospheric music themes specially created to enhance this unique adventure.

Greak: Memories of Azur is available to preorder on Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X, releasing 17^th August.

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Don;t worry the Switch isn’t sad. I mean how could it be without how popular the console is.

Instead the console has a beautiful new blue colour variant launching across Australia and New Zealand on 21^th May 2021.

The price for this beauty is with a suggested retail price of $399.99.

But can you put a price on beauty? Yes you can. $399.99 is that price.

All Nintendo Switch Lite models are designed specifically for handheld play.. This makes easy to bring your diverse collection of games with you wherever you go.

One of those titles is New Pokémon Snap, which lets players explore lush scenery on unknown islands to snap in-game photos of Pokémon. They can seek out Pokémon in their native environments as they venture through diverse landscapes, including dense jungles and vast deserts, to uncover the mystery behind the Illumina Phenomenon. New Pokémon Snap launches for the Nintendo Switch family of systems on 30^th April.

Another upcoming addition to Nintendo’s software library is the humorous adventure Miitopia, which launches on 21^st May. In Miitopia, players can star in a hilarious adventure alongside their family and friends. It’s easy to cast anyone you choose on a comedy-filled quest to bring down the face-stealing Dark Lord. These games are just a taste of the adventures that await players on Nintendo Switch.

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In the massive Nintendo direct yesterday three big announcements rose to the top.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD and Mario Golf: Super Rush will be hitting Switch this year.

Splatoon 3 doesn’t have a specific date but is slated for 2022.

Check out the exciting trailers below:

You can check out the whole Nintendo Direct below:

The post Splatoon 3, Mario Golf, and Skyward Sword announced for Switch appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

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If you needed something quirky to brighten your day, well maybe the demonic adventure Darkestville Castle will help you out.

It is out now on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and will land on Switch soon.

The post The demonic graphic adventure Darkestville Castle out now on PS4 and XB1 appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

The Switch has had me entering long standing game series for the first time, and I was shocked to find out this mysterious Paper Mario series had five other entries. Regardless I wanted to know if you can fold your first sheet with Paper Mario: The Origami King, and can say definitely, this game looks like a Rabbit Ear Fold but is as easy as an Inside Reverse Fold.

As deep as a Mountain Fold

The world of Paper Mario is… well made out of paper.  The Origami King Olly has invaded the  town turning things and people into Origami characters. Once Origamid, the characters become mindless drones that speak in simple words and do as the Origami King has requested.

Unsurprisingly Princess Peach has been Origamid, so Mario needs to save her.  It’s a Mario game, were you expecting anything else?

Mario finds a new ally Olivia, Olly’s sister, who joins Mario in an advisory role. They set off to destroy the streamers which surround Peach’s castle but are rooted in different parts of the world.  The story is light, and initially I was critical of this, but by the end I was enjoying it enough with some surprisingly good writing that Crimped a laugh out of me here and there.

A battle system that seems as hard as an Open sink.

Initially the battle system seems complicated.  When you encounter Origamid creatures like Goombas you go to a battle screen which has Mario in the centre of some rings.  The enemies are dotted around those rings and you get a set number of turns to rotate the rings to line them up in a row or a 2×2 square.  Then you unleash an attack using a hammer or jumping using your boots.

The idea isn’t complicated, but some of the challenges can be.  I was properly getting my rhythm with the battles when Boos joined the enemy list.  They appear at the start, get shuffled around, then disappear.  Trying to remember where the Boos were when you spin the circles wasn’t so much a challenge as a pain in the ass.

So while the battle system isn’t hard you need to pay attention, as your time to make moves runs out pretty quickly. Lining them all up in correct groups gives a healthy damage bonus so it is worth focusing.  Fortunately there is no experience system and coins in the game are liberally dolled out, so where possible it is easier to avoid battles.

Beautiful and fun as a paper crane.

The game is so beautifully built.  The paper designs bending and moving as if alive have been gorgeously animated. Massive monsters like Koopa Troopas that are built as paper around a frame are outstandingly designed.

Running around the world and collecting coins, confetti to fill holes, and finding the Toads hidden/trapped in the world is plain fun.  The first few hours while I tried to overanalyze the game was for naught because when I sat back and experienced the game I had in front of me, I was having fun.  

At times like these, can’t we have a bit of fun?

There are some gimmicks like moving around big areas in a car or boat, which honestly felt like time wasting.  And then there is the 1000-fold arms, where in certain places you initiate this technique.  It then goes to a minigame of sorts where you move the arms around using the Switch or controller and then bash or pull things off the scenery.  As soon as the game let me turn off movement controls I did.

Relaxing as a petal fold.

Not dissimilar to Mario Odyssey before it, the game isn’t complicated by any stretch of the imagination, but time can easily disappear with it. I mean it’s not as good as Super Mario Odyssey, and if you haven’t played Super Mario Odyssey you should absolutely go play it now.

Sorry I got distracted, Super Mario Odyssey is good though right?
As I was saying, Paper Mario: The Origami King is a well crafted Nintendo game. Accessible for many skill levels, but at the core a treat to look at, a bit of a laugh, and so damn fun to play.  It’s not perfect, but not every game can be Super Mario Odyssey.

The post Paper Mario: The Origami King Review appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

Need something different to fill in your winter weekends?

Look no further than the trailer below for Darkestville Castle which comes out in a couple of weekends on consoles.

Blurb:

Buka Entertainment and Epic LLama are pleased to announce that Darkestville Castle is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on 13th August.

A graphic adventure inspired by the genre’s greats, Darkestville Castle drops players into the pointed shoes of skeletal demon Cid who enjoys nothing more than sharpening his teeth and unleashing evil deeds onto the people of Darkestville. A playable demo is already available on all formats.

The post Darkestville Castle coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on 13th August appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

Ary and the Secret of Seasons has a release date of September 1.

That is news enough, but if you need more info about why I am so amped for this one, well there is a trailer below showing off the features of this charming looking game.

Blurb:

Indie publisher Modus Games and developer eXiin today share a new features trailer alongside the news that Ary and the Secret of Seasons, the captivating action-adventure following a young girl and her awakened ability to shift the seasons around her, will launch September 1 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
 
Today’s announcement joins Ary via a new trailer as she dashes, climbs, and dives through the gorgeous world of Valdi, a lush but troubled land that’s lost its once perfect balance of eternally consistent climates.

Players will use the powers of the seasons throughout their grand adventure to alter their surroundings; throwing the winter sphere, for example, will create icy stalagmites to reach new areas.

Using spring’s sphere can cause vines to grow in order to traverse up once-insurmountable cliffs, and refreshing summer pools allow Ary to swim across yawning chasms.

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