Recent reviews by 700

This game is pure nostalgia; I have vivid memories of playing Papa's Freezeria and the other Papa's games on a host of Flash game websites in school computer labs and during my precious "screen time" on my parent's computer when I was young.

This deluxe remaster maintains the simple, addicting fun of the original, but now with clean HD visuals. This is the kind of game that I can play to relax and turn off my brain for a while. While this game may seem basic, and to an extent it is, what Papa's Freezeria Deluxe offers is simple childlike fun, and a trip down memory lane for anyone like me, who spent their childhoods on sites like CoolMath or Andkon Arcade.

The Shantae franchise is a rare example of a series that, despite having a decent number of games released across several decades, there really isn't a bad game in it. The newer titles are obviously more polished and content-rich than, say, the original Game Boy Color game, but that only demonstrates the series' continuous improvement with each entry, a pedigree that Shantae and the Seven Sirens fully lives up to.

Seven Sirens, like Half-Genie Hero before it, has a colorful, cute, and expressive hand-drawn art style for all the characters, enemies, items, etc. that is really a treat to look at, a fantastic soundtrack with tunes that range from chill and relaxing to intense and rocking, all of which had me jamming along as I played, a lighthearted story with WayForward's trademark off-kilter humor that, while not breaking the fourth wall, definitely puts some cracks in it, and of course tight platforming controls with unlockable transformations and abilities that expand your moveset.

Seven Sirens brings plenty of new ideas to the series as well, such as a fully interconnected world map in true Metroidvania style, a collectible card mechanic that will give you small bonuses or minor enhancements to abilities, and a streamlined dance/transformation system, with transformations now mapped to a button or automatically triggering when usable, and gorgeous fully animated cutscenes throughout the game done by Studio Trigger.

There are really no major flaws I can see in this game, any issues I encountered on my playthrough were due to my personal lack of skill with Metroidvania style games and were easily remedied by finding a walkthrough or guide online. WayForward has once again knocked it out of the park, and I look forward to Shantae's next adventure!

A few months ago I knew practically nothing about the Mass Effect series aside from the sci-fi setting and TPS gameplay. When the Legendary Edition was announced I picked it up on a whim on another (non-Steam) platform, having nothing else to play at the moment. I wasn't sure if I'd even play the first game all the way through, let alone the entire trilogy plus the included DLC. Suffice to say I did play through the the entire trilogy and the DLC, and was absolutely floored. I quickly decided to pick up the PC version on Steam, which although being tied to Origin, isn't too much of a hassle.

As I write this I'm nearing the conclusion of ME2, and on my second playthrough, I can confirm it is just as good as the first time around. The visual and music/sound design is excellent, and the controls are tight, with superb pacing throughout the campaign of all three titles. However, the truly transcendent thing about the Mass Effect trilogy is the world, and the characters that inhabit it. Everything from the main story, sidequests, and random pieces of lore are enthralling and captivating . I've spent hours reading every codex entry, and further time spent in online discussions about the smallest story and lore tidbits. I've not been this invested in any fictional world to this degree since I was introduced to the world of Star Trek when I was a child. Not since first delving into the vast world of Trek have I found a sci-fi universe so rich in detail and texture, where nearly every aspect of the world was so fully fleshed out and explored. The entirety of the storyline draws you in for each captivating twist and turn, packed with exciting and dramatic moments big and small.

The lore-rich universe doesn't come at the expense of the characters, however, as Mass Effect's story is a story with great heart. Every Human, Turian, Asari, Elcor, and Hanar you meet feels like a proper individual. Even the smallest side characters can stick in your mind long after their one or two lines of dialogue have been spoken. The main characters, particularly the squad-mates that you're with throughout the games' duration, will feel as close as family. I was so attached to these characters that I read the entirety of the Mass Effect Complete Comics Collection, which further develops the backstories and personal lives of numerous characters big and small. The relationships you build with these characters feel so genuine, and can run the emotional gambit from sweet and wholesome to downright twisted. You come to care deeply for your allies, and despise your enemies, and feel emotionally invested in the story from start to finish.

Though I've only just recently experienced the Mass Effect trilogy for the first time, I can say without a doubt that these games hold a special place in my heart. The Mass Effect Legendary Edition is an excellent way to play three games that I dare say are as near to perfection as a video game series could be.