This year, Square Enix promises an event similar to that of Nintendo Directs for E3. Many upcoming games from the publisher are huge. Games like "Kingdom Hearts 3" and the "Final Fantasy VII" remake have been on the radar for some time and Square Enix is bound to drop a big surprise or two. I am excited to let you in on my predictions for their E3 conference and I'd love to hear your thoughts on mine, as well as your own predictions in the comments below.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
"Tomb Raider" has seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to Crystal Dynamics and their reboot series. The end of the trilogy has a release date of September 14, 2018. "Shadow of the Tomb Raider" has been shown off already but there is bound to be an extensive look at both gameplay and plot of the game at E3.
Kingdom Hearts 3
It has been a long time coming but "Kingdom Hearts 3" is being said to have a 2018 release and that is immensely exciting. I personally believe Square Enix gives us a release date of Friday, September 18, 2018. "Kingdom Hearts 3" will get a gameplay demo showing off the improvements in both combat and general gameplay as well as graphics, also boasting a reveal of a new world we have yet to see.
"Final Fantasy VII" was revealed to be getting a full-fledged remake. That was a few years ago and it still seems far off; however, this year seems imminent for a re-reveal. Seeing as the title has been said to be episodic, so be it; Square Enix will show a new trailer for "Final Fantasy VII" with a release window of Q1 2019. That will be for the first episode or part.
The continued support for 2016's "Final Fantasy XV" won't end yet. I have no doubt in my mind that Square Enix will confidently show a trailer for new content on the way to the title, content coming this December.
On the other hand, "Life is Strange 2" gets revealed at Square Enix's E3. This is a teaser with 2019 at the end.
Super Mario RPG
"Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars" is a revered classic. The Nintendo and Square role-playing game is one people would love to see make a return and I think it is time. In one of the biggest surprises in all of E3, Square Enix will reveal a remastered version of "Super Mario RPG" with improved visuals and all. The title won't be more than teased here, to be later shown off more on Nintendo's video.
Just Cause 4
After a Wal-Mart leak of E3 2018 games, "Just Cause 4" was brought into the conversation. Frankly, it'd be no surprise. "Just Cause 3" released in 2015 so it sounds about right for the return of the series. With a release window of spring 2019, "Just Cause 4" will have an explosive reveal by Square Enix.
Dragon Quest
"Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age" came out in Japan last year but has a worldwide release date of September 4, 2018. This E3, Square Enix will show a small trailer for it for the audiences yet to get their hands on it, seeing as it is a title they will have out very soon.
"Dragon Quest: Builders 2" was announced last summer to be in development for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. This summer (E3) will mark a new trailer going a bit more in depth with what makes it standout in comparison to its predecessor with a release window of Q2 2019.
The Avengers
While we know Square Enix has a large-scale video game based on Marvel's "The Avengers," we know nothing more. Marvel comics and "MCU" fans should be excited for this E3 because it is the time to see what this game actually is. A full reveal of this game with an official title will get a cinematic trailer. No release date, window or year will be given though.
Thinking back to the mind-blowing announcement of a new "Fallout" title coming the same year as its E3 reveal makes gamers all the more excited every year for what Bethesda has in store for them. I believe they have had a solid track record, specifically with single player games and I think 2018 and the future alike look bright. Here are my predictions for what Bethesda will show off at their E3 press conference. Be sure to let me know in the comments below your predictions.
Elder Scrolls: Legends The free-to-play card game from 2017 will be brought up in two forms at this E3. I believe Bethesda will reveal new content for "Elder Scrolls: Legends." This expansion or expansions will presumably begin this holiday season; I'm calling September. Seeing as it is a perfect fit for a device on the go already, the Nintendo Switch comes off as a perfect platform for this game to be ported to. I believe Bethesda's partnership with Nintendo's new platforms with titles like "Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" and "Doom" will extend this year with this card game making its way onto the Switch's e-shop. Elder Scrolls: Online "Elder Scrolls: Online" has been systematically updated since lauch with new expansions and I believe more is on the way. With a release date of some time this December, I say "Elder Scrolls: Online" will get a new expansion.
Prey "Prey" came out last year and pleasantly surprised those who played it. E3 2018 is the time to show off the length of the title's life with new DLC. I predict Bethesda will reveal story DLC for "Prey" with a release date of this December. Rage 2 Originally the result of a leak, "Rage 2" is officially on the way and is confirmed to make a presence at E3. Seeing as it is set to be released sometime in the early months of 2019, there is no doubt Bethesda will show off gameplay and explain details of what that and the story and premise as a whole entail. A release date will probably not be given however.
Fallout The aforementioned support Bethesda has for the Switch would only suggest that their other large-scale role playing series must be on the way. While "Fallout 4" may or may not seem to be too much for the platform at first glance, I truthfully think it will make its way over after all. Bethesda proved "Skyrim" and "Doom" work and the very new "Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus" will be out very soon. With that in mind, it'd be hard to believe "Fallout" isn't going to be released on the Switch as well. When? I say it's coming in October. In terms of the series' life on other platforms, there is bound to be a "New Vegas" style "Fallout" release sooner or later. Seeing as "Fallout 4" has been out for three years, it is time. I don't think this will be a 2018 title; however, I do see Bethesda giving us a reveal trailer of this spin-off of sorts for "Fallout" with 2019 at the end.
Starfield With trademark renewals surfacing the internet lately, it is all but confirmed that a title called "Starfield" will have an official reveal soon; what better time and place than E3 2018. "Starfield" is apparently a triple A title similar to that of "Elder Scrolls" and "Fallout" and is said to have a sci-fi open world. I believe Bethesda will properly introduce gamers to "Starfield" at E3.
Quake "Quake Champions" isn't over with yet. The shooter will see continued support with Bethesda revealing new content for this game as they will with a few of their other games as services.
Doom 2 2016's "Doom" brought the old-school shooter back to relevance. I believe it is more than likely that a sequel, simply titled "Doom 2" gets revealed at E3. A release date this November will conclude the trailer that will show off more frantic gunplay and heavy metal music. I want to think it is going to come to Switch; however, I don't believe it will day and date, much like "Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus."
Sony may have been ahead this generation with their abundance of exclusives; however, E3 2018 feels like the perfect time for Microsoft to show the competition what they are made of. With rumors of sequels to beloved franchises like "Halo" and "Gears of War," as well as the excitement of the unknown and third party games alike, here's to what I hope to be a big E3 for Microsoft. Let me know your thoughts on my predictions, as well as your own in the comments below.
Halo 6 I am confident that Microsoft will unveil "Halo 6" this year. 343 Games may have released "Halo Wars 2" last year but their last big "Halo" sequel was in 2015 in the form of "Halo 5: Guardians." Seeing the console generation presumably wind down in the next couple of years, I feel like they'd be smart to release the next "Halo" game in 2019 as a swansong for the series' run on the Xbox One. With the power of the Xbox One X and the amount of love for the series "Halo" fans, I'd be shocked to see no reveal of "Halo 6" at E3. I predict it will have a spring 2019 release window given. Gears of War 5 Like "Halo," Microsoft has been recognized greatly for "Gears of War." The Coalition released "Gears of War 4" two years ago and 2019 would seem perfect for the next sequel for the team. I see Microsoft showing a story trailer for "Gears of War 5" at E3, presumably following the new characters of the previous game. "Gears of War 5" will have a release window of simply the year 2019 shown at the end of the trailer. I don't see this to be eligible for a release this year and I see them releasing it in the fall next year.
Crackdown 3 Despite seeming like it should already be in our Xbox One libraries by now, "Crackdown 3," first shown at E3 2014, has yet to be released. This game has been given release windows and dates yet never met those deadlines. In the four years, people seem to have lost interest but I don't believe this is going to let Sumo Digital cancel the game. I see Microsoft's press conference providing us a firm September 2018 release date. I see them showing a trailer, depicting the gameplay in all its proclaimed glory. Perfect Dark A classic from Rare's days on the Nintendo 64, "Perfect Dark" has not been heard of in years. Despite its hiatus in modern gaming and Rare having just release "Sea of Thieves" in March, I foresee this franchise to be revived. I do however support the rumors I have stumbled upon in saying Rare won't be at the helm of this revival. With a different developer and no release date, nor even a year given, I am predicting Microsoft will drop the bomb and show a teaser trailer of the return of Joanna Dark.
Forza: Horizon 4
2017 saw the release of one of Xbox One X's most beautiful games in "Forza: Motorsport 7." 2018 is almost inevitably the year for a return to "Forza: Horizon." I don't believe this would come as much of a surprise to viewers of Microsoft's E3 press conference; however, the graphics alone are bound to get fans of the genre excited. I see Microsoft showing a full-blown trailer with many details of "Forza Horizon 4." Release date? October 30, 2018.
Fable Seemingly a thing of Xbox's past, "Fable" hasn't been in prominence in some time; this is however set to change. Much has been said of the possibility of a new "Fable" in the works, turning things around and breathing new life into the series. E3 2018 is the greatest place to show this off. "Fable 4 or IIII" could be the title; however, I believe Microsoft will show us a game simply titled "Fable." This will act as a reboot to the series and their trailer will reveal some minor story beats and cinematic concepts. There is definitely no release date, window or year provided but it will get Xbox fans on board for the near future with a lot of excitement.
Ashen When reading and listening to peoples' discussions on Xbox One exclusives on the way, "Ashen" isn't mentioned enough. This game, developed by Aurora44, is set to be released in 2018. I see Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference the home for a new trailer for this action role-playing game. A console exclusive to Xbox One, "Ashen" will show an October release date.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps "Ori and the Will of the Wisps" was shown off at last year's event and I firmly believe Microsoft will provide a new trailer this year once more. "Ori and the Will of the Wisps" may not have any release date or window as of yet; however, the Xbox One and Windows 10 metroidvania is bound to get one this year. I see E3 2018's trailer to show off more of the gameplay and visuals its predecessor is adored for and end with a January 2019 release date.
Cyberpunk 2077 While certainly not an exclusive to the Xbox One, CD Projekt Red's next game seems like it will be shown on Microsoft's floor. I truthfully could see any third party multi-platform game shown off at either Sony or Microsoft's press conference but I believe "Cyberpunk 2077" is getting shown off by Microsoft. A role-playing game with great ambition and a lot to follow up after "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," this game is in need of an actual trailer showing what the game is. 2018's E3 is being said to do just that. I believe we get a release year of 2019 at the end of an in-depth trailer of just what "Cyberpunk 2077" actually is. Metro: Exodus Having released five years ago and gone under the radar, "Metro: Last Light" receiving a sequel came as a surprise at E3 2017. "Metro: Exodus" was revealed at Microsoft's press conference last year and I believe it will do the same once more in 2018. The game is set to be released this year yet has no release date as of yet. I believe we will get a trailer showing off some solid gameplay and get a release date of August. While very close to E3, an August release date could have been in the works for a while and would be perfect to let the game shine in the clutter of everything releasing in September through December. Kingdom Hearts "Kingdom Hearts 3" will apparently be out this year; even crazier is that it is coming to Xbox One. With that in mind, it's hard to imagine Square Enix wouldn't want their highly anticipated sequel to be played by more so I believe they will let Xbox gamers in on the series prior to "Kingdom Hearts 3." "Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix," previously exclusive to PlayStation 4, will come out right at the end of June to Xbox One.
Battlefield 5 Whatever the next "Battlefield" title is, I believe it gets more shown at Microsoft's press conference, following it's presumable debut by Electronic Arts. I believe we will just receive another trailer, showing more of "Battlefield 5" or whatever it may be called.
Hitman "Hitman" came out in 2016 with a full season but there hasn't been much said in some time for season two. I believe we will see the debut trailer for "Hitman: Season 2" at Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference with a release date of the first episode of this July.
Killer Instinct I believe "Killer Instinct" for the Xbox One won't be a one-off after all. I think Microsoft will be revealing "Killer Instinct 2" with a couple familiar and new faces and a simple release window of 2019. There will also be a promise of a campaign in the game.
Despite a great deal of controversy, particularly thanks to a push in the loot box epidemic gaming has recently seen, Electronic Arts has a plethora of franchises gamers hold near and dear. This year's E3 will once again see EA hold a press conference bound to show off some predictable games but complemented a surprise or two. Here are my predictions of what EA will show at E3 2018. Let me know what you think about mine and leave your own predictions in the comments below. EA Sports While it may be painfully obvious, EA Sports will undeniably have a presence at E3. "Madden NFL 19" and "FIFA 19" will definitely see trailers with August and September release dates respectively. They will likely each boast something, or a few things if we are lucky, that make this year stand out to the rest. I actually do believe the two trailers will conclude with a Nintendo Switch logo next to the other platform logos; I see the two coming to the Switch day and date with everything else this year. For better or worse, I don't believe a new "NBA Live" will be shown off this year, particularly due to the far better received "NBA 2K" games.
Need for Speed "Need for Speed" may be in a dark place these days thanks to the less-than-stellar performances commercially and critically of the more recent entries. Despite that downside, EA is a company that seems to put their resources first and foremost into games as a service and Need for Speed is a franchise I could very well see using this model. Personally, I could very well see them name dropping the next "Need for Speed" title at this year's E3 with a brief trailer and a 2019 release window provided. Much to the dismay of single player fans like myself, I foresee EA pushing that aforementioned games as a service model with this one.
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 3 "Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare " let PopCap Games take the tower defense mobile games and transform their world into a first person shooter. Fortunately, they provided for some good entertainment; unfortunately however, these games weren't given all that much attention. With that in mind, I could see how EA wouldn't bank on another entry in this series; however, I do actually believe they're going to reveal a third "Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare" for redemption. The way I see it, "Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 3" gets released this August, a perfect time to play something fun and low key prior to the busy fall season of games. It will have a single player campaign, more content to play than its predecessors and even a Switch release alongside the others.
Anthem
"Anthem" is one of the most anticipated games to come but when will it be released? Bioware's next game is not making it on store shelves this year, we already know that. My prediction of "Anthem's" release date is March 2019. I see EA showing off a new trailer, one that explores the game deeply, this June. The "Anthem" trailer will certainly show us what the gameplay looks like, HUD, combat and all. I also believe we'll get a good look at the story of "Anthem," cinematics and all, looking presumably stunning. EA Originals With titles like "A Way Out" and "Fe," EA Originals has proven to be something special. This year, I not only want to see another one of these unique titles, but I confidently believe we will get just that. What this game will be is anyone's guess but that is certainly the best part. The trailer will stand out thanks to this EA Originals title looking like something special and it will not have any release date or window as of yet. Battlefield 5 Seeing as EA has a track record of releasing a new "Battlefield" every year or two, there is no doubt we will see the next entry in 2018. Rumors have heavily pointed towards two concepts, one of which is a World War 2 setting. Thanks to the success of "Call of Duty: World War 2," I can definitely get behind EA going for the same setting. I have heard of a battle royale mode to be included in the next "Battlefield" game and I firmly believe that will do so. The title? I'm going for "Battlefield 5," but a V or even 2 as the subtitle totally makes sense. October 19 seems eligible for a release date, despite falling in between both "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4" and "Red Dead Redemption 2." I don't believe EA will stray afar from risky release dates, seeing as they're no stranger to tight competition that time of the year.
Star Wars As a fan of both single-player games and "Star Wars," I was definitely disappointing in the cancellation of the Visceral title. Despite this, I actually believe there is another "Star Wars" game on the way. Here's why my prediction makes me less excited than I want to be: this game will probably be teased with very little to no context on what it is. It will still get the crowd going because of the name "Star Wars" alone. What I believe will be shown with confidence, release date(s) and all is more content for 2017's "Star Wars: Battlefront 2." This game was the center of controversy, sure, but it has picked itself up a bit with alterations to the leveling system and free DLC and updates post-launch. I see DICE supporting this title well into next year, especially given the fact that they promised free DLC for a while. The hype that "Star Wars" has also not settled down and likely won't. This is thanks in large part to a new film releasing annually now, each being eligible for EA to support with new content, perfect to get fans or those of interest to be excited for more "Star Wars: Battlefront 2." Mass Effect Trilogy "Mass Effect: Andromada" wasn't nearly as beloved as its predecessors. That made gamers more than ever want to play the trilogy again. I think there's so much demand for it and EA will rightfully reveal to gamers at their press conference that they have the "Mass Effect" trilogy coming beautifully remastered to current generation consoles. I think we get a release date of some time in January 2019.
ATTENTION: I will not be posting any reviews of my vast backlog of games in the coming weeks. I invite you to stay tuned for something of equal excitement, if not more. E3 2018 is around the corner and you know what that means!
In six weeks, the most anticipated time of the year will return in the form of E3 2018. Seeing as there are plenty of bold predictions, as well as plentiful hopes and dreams being presented online by video game enthusiasts, I cannot help but join in on the fun myself. In the last few weeks, I have been thinking long and hard about what we may see from the various publishers at E3, and even more so about what I am hoping for.
The tentative schedule for my E3 2018 posts is as follows: Tuesday May 8- Electronic Arts Tuesday, May 15- Microsoft Tuesday, May 22- Bethesda Tuesday, May 29- Square Enix Friday, June 1- Ubisoft Tuesday, June 5- Sony Friday, June 8 -Nintendo
The game reviews are certainly not a thing of the past. Although, writing an entire review of games, some that take a lot of thought to process my feelings on, others that I haven't played in some time, isn't a walk in the park, it is a joyous process I look forward to doing more of. Stay tuned for more game reviews this summer and prior posts regarding any other information.
I'd love to just talk games with you so please feel free to leave your contact information and we can discuss anything about gaming as a whole. I also promise some differing content alongside the traditional weekly reviews, whether it is something like my E3 predictions or deeper analysis of certain games, aspects within, genres or developers. I look forward to providing you a chance to see the world of gaming as I do and invite you to always leave your thoughts in the comments.
One of the most delightful experiences in modern gaming.
By: Ryan Ramakrishnan
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Odyssey is a masterclass in platforming, level design, and how to incorporate utter joy and charm in any video game.
Right from the start, Super Mario Odyssey genuinely impressed me for a bevy of reasons. It is designed with so much love and appreciation for video games as a whole and particularly that of the age-old Super Mario franchise. Odyssey improves on what its countless predecessors mastered and includes some of the most unforgettable music, worlds and includes near-perfect platforming gameplay, unmatched by most games of the modern era. And to top it all off, this game launched before its platform, the Nintendo Switch, even hit its first year on the market.
Story
I am always conflicted on whether or not Mario games need innovation in terms of story. Super Mario Odyssey offers a plot that basically replicates what its many predecessors used. Mario ultimately needs to save Princess Peach from Bowser. It is anything but fresh and new. The same story was used in the 1980's when Super Mario Bros. hit the Nintendo Entertainment System. The catch is that Mario has a new friend named Cappy. This hat with eyes allows him to transform into many objects and species around him and lets Mario find new ways to get to Peach. Cappy's sister, Tiara, is also kidnapped by Bowser, alongside Peach. The only other new edition to the familiar storyline is that Bowser has a group called the Broodals, who are helping him ultimately have a wedding with Princess Peach. It is simple and charming but also far too familiar. With that in mind, I truthfully don't know if it is necessary for Super Mario games to ever have compelling, three-dimensional plots. Maybe, they are best in their most welcoming, sweet, simple form.
Gameplay
3D platforming has rarely, if ever, felt so good in a video game. Nintendo's Mario games have always been solid on this but I firmly believe Super Mario Odyssey does it the best. The game feels so good when you run, jump and roll around. It is smooth and versatile. Super Mario Odyssey's biggest catch is of course not its near-perfect platforming.
Where this game succeeds at being something truly special is Cappy. He lets you use him (the hat) for the platforming and its many challenges. The game lets you toss the cap to use as a weapon. It can also be used as a tool for getting higher jumps or even collecting coins. The variety of abilities that this new tool opens up makes for some of the most fresh experiences with a Mario game I have ever had.
Cappy allows you to posses various enemies and other inanimate objects in the world. With so many different possessions, Super Mario Odyssey allows you to find Mario in some interesting forms, each with their own gimmicks. Some notably cool and fun examples include the Glydons and the T-Rex. I liked the Glydons because they are these friendly dragon-like creatures that let you glide from great heights across the kingdoms' maps. Playing as a T-Rex is insanity, something I never expected in a Mario game. This dinosaur lets you wreck everything in sight as a literal dinosaur. What can be better? Besides them, Super Mario Odyssey is packed with plenty of other things to possess. There are two notably exciting Cappy possessions available towards and after the end that I'd love to talk about but will refrain from to avoid spoiling them.
Using Cappy's many possessions, Mario can solve some unique puzzles. Some of these may be simply platforming challenges, some calling for precision, others calling for timing. Puzzles also include travelling off the beaten path for power moons or getting through sticky situations. It is welcoming to see each kingdom have a variety of things that cannot be accessed without the possession of certain creatures or objects.
There are a handful of boss fights to take on, those of which aren't incredibly challenging but do have some difficulty to them. I think these are designed well enough, usually supporting a new possession ability you have come across prior to that fight. These fights do of course go through a few predictable phases. They are still designed nicely and fun to partake in, mainly because of the new abilities you come across. There is also one boss fight in Super Mario Odyssey that sees you take on a giant dragon on a castle, looking like something straight out of Dark Souls.
Super Mario Odyssey includes stores in every single kingdom to use your coins and purple currency to buy new costumes, stickers and decorations. I liked the ability to continuously change my costume for Mario, always excited to buy new ones in each subsequent kingdom.
Super Mario Odyssey's level design is large-scale. Every kingdom has plenty to see and do. Super Mario Odyssey isn't necessarily an open world game but each kingdom does act as its own sandbox, each filled to the brim with power moons and varying paths. The levels also do, at times, come with side objectives, basically to get more moons of course. The loop of finding more and more moons in Super Mario Odyssey makes it incredibly addicting thanks to the impressive level design of all the unique kingdoms the game has to show you.
One kind of level within the kingdoms is actual 2D platforming. They are so awesome for the sake of nostalgia. These sections play just like an old-school Mario game and even let your costume be see. It is disappointing that these were brief each time. I'd like to be play through much longer sections of these. Graphics
I have been playing several games on PlayStation and Xbox that look amazing, with photo-realistic graphics and things of that nature; however, Nintendo somehow doesn't need any of that to blow me away. Games from Nintendo's first party rarely try to be what they are not. Mario doesn't need to look like a real person and Koopa don't need to look like real turtles. The 3D Mario games have always looked quite gorgeous with their own take on what defines good graphics. Super Mario Odyssey is no exception.
Having released not even a year into the Switch's life-cycle, Nintendo delivers a visually appealing game in every aspect with Super Mario Odyssey. This game looks fantastic at all times. Whether it is the shiny waters of the Lake and Seaside Kingdoms, the vivid color pallet of the Luncheon Kingdom or the noir tone of the Cap Kingdom, Super Mario Odyssey offers plenty of sights to behold, each boasting wonderful graphics. Each kingdom honestly comes with its own individuality and pure charm. They look vast and that's because they are, each designed to look stunning.
Even the 2D levels within the 3D world of Odyssey look amazing. They are inspired to be 8-bit levels from the NES-era of Mario but have a fresh coat of paint.
One of the most impressive parts of this game is without a doubt the Metro Kingdom. New Donk City, as it is called, takes inspiration from New York City and urban landscape in general. the Metro Kingdom offers some of the most bizarre but wonderful things to see. You literally look off in the distance to tons of tall buildings, people walk around in bustling crowds, billboards and glowing signs are everywhere. New Donk City is an oddly alive city that resembles the real world liie nothing in Mario's wide history of games has ever done before.
Mario himself can change costumes in this game, and there are a lot of costumes to choose from. They each have an awesome unique look to them. The same can be said for the many things you posses with Cappy.
What came off as one of my personal most appreciated features was the photo mode. With the press of a button, I was able to move the camera around in all directions, put Instagram-like filters, zoom in and out and play around to my heart's content until I got the perfect shot. Super Mario Odyssey's photo mode left me with a good 200 pictures on my Switch's library of captures. I'm still planning on sinking many hours to come and the game has, since release, gotten some updates with new filters, so I will undeniably have hundreds more.
Sound
One thing Nintendo seems to experts at, especially with Mario's games, is music. Like the level design and visuals, Super Mario Odyssey impressed me on all ends with its music. The soundtrack consists of some of the most joyous tunes you'd expect from the series. Every kingdom has their own music, some brand new, others a mix on old school music. It is, like many of the costumes, moons and locations, nostalgic to the series in many ways. Longtime fans of Mario will appreciate what Nintendo did with the music in Odyssey. The game's music is consistently fresh. Sometimes I am humming to upbeat and light tunes, other times I am feeling tense as boss fights or end-game kingdoms offer me some frightening challenges. Super Mario Odyssey appropriately uses music incredibly well. I truly never disliked the tracks that were playing in this game, in fact, I think I loved it all. Mario games just have a way with their music. There is also one song called, "Jump Up Superstar" which is used in celebration of Mario as a whole in one special scene in New Donk City but also acts as a main theme of the game. It is incredibly catchy.
Collecting the countless moons in this game offer a satisfying chime. I literally got excited with every time I got a moon and heard the sound effect. Other sound effects in Super Mario Odyssey equally succeed. Every enemy and NPC has their own voice, although voice acting is still not a thing in Mario. The grunts of Bowser, the laughs of the Broodals, the wall crumbling sounds of the Charging Chucks or various bullet bills, Cappy and his species' gibberish sounds they make when giving you dialogue and the sounds of the motorbike are just a small handful of literally dozens of unique, character-specific sounds you hear. Nintendo delivers on giving everyone and everything its own sounds and noises.
Content
Playing like a sandbox game, Super Mario Odyssey's level design allows you to go off the beaten path at any time. Fortunately, this is included in all of the kingdoms. You will have to find a certain amount of power moons to move forward in the story; however, that only lasts so long. Once you beat the game, you may revisit any of the kingdoms and find that several more moons made their way into them. With the bevy of moons you likely never found and the addition of plenty more to stumble upon, each kingdom suddenly offers its own little open world full of exploration. This game manages to include 999 moons by the end should you do everything it offers.
Super Mario Odyssey's addition of purple coins (or whatever shape they choose to take, depending on the kingdom you are in) makes for even more exploration. Hidden everywhere, just like the power moons, these coins come with up to 100 per kingdom so you will have lots to find.
I am very pleased to say that the exploration to find every single power moon alone is not always a walk in the park. Some are hidden in small crevices, many call for puzzles pr platforming challenges. Some of the moons make you complete challenges like 100 jumps in Metro Kingdom's jump rope challenge that will make you stress but feel pure satisfaction once accomplished. Each kingdom, especially the aforementioned Metro Kingdom, comes with so many paths to go on and areas to explore, all making the game expand greatly.
Completionists will be in heaven with finding several hundred moons and purple coins. It will likely be no small feat to find it all, provided no guide online is used. To top it all off, you can even challenge yourself to harvest enough coins to buy every costume and sticker for Mario and the Odyssey respectively. If you are a player who wishes to enjoy the platforming and save Peach from Bowser to put the game down after that, Super Mario Odyssey will come off as more bare-bones for you but it is still impossible to deny the amount of content that this game offers within each of its kingdoms alone.
Conclusion
Truth be told, I could go on all day about every minute aspect of what makes Super Mario Odyssey. It is a game built on absolute love for the franchise, frankly a love letter to fans of Mario and games as a whole. Even if it weren't driven on nostalgia for Nintendo's beloved platformers, Super Mario Odyssey still stands alone as a masterfully crafted platforming game. It shows what open, vast and creative level design looks like in a game of this nature. Super Mario Odyssey is packed to the brim with collectibles, each packing its own satisfaction to behold. It is truly a delightful game, one that is immensely fun to play and hard to put down. Everything from joyful, unforgettable upbeat and exciting music to the wide array of special and gorgeously designed kingdoms make Super Mario Odyssey is a system seller for the Nintendo Switch and a masterpiece altogether.
Did you collect every single power moon? What was your favorite kingdom and why? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Vivid colors and hyperactive gameplay make for quite a game
By: Ryan Ramakrishnan
Reviewed on Xbox One
Vibrant, fast-paced and a joy to play, “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” is as fun as its predecessors, despite some over-bloating in its gameplay.
The last time I played “Pac-Man,” it was the black and white Game Boy version and that, like all of the classic Namco Bandai “Pac-Man” games is pure fun, even in its simplicity. The formula was never broke but Pac-Man: Championship Edition (2007) did find a way to make it even better. Its sequel comes packed with plenty of bright colors, fast-moving, frantic gameplay and exciting challenges, making for a solid “Pac-Man” experience for old fans and newcomers alike; however, it is admittedly a bit overwhelming at times.
Story
“Pac-Man” has never needed a story and fortunately, “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” doesn’t shoehorn one in.
Gameplay
Collecting pellets, avoiding ghosts, moving on to harder mazes and aiming for top scores has always been the heart and soul of the classic “Pac-Man” games. This iteration mixes it up quite a bit. Results are generally entertaining and worthwhile but at times, I couldn’t help but miss the standard, safe formula of yesteryear’s “Pac-Man.”
Fortunately however, the many twists and turns “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” come with make for some exhilarating and smart maze design and challenge alike.
Perhaps the biggest standout to the old school “Pac-Man” games is that ghosts aren’t one hit kills on contact. “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” allows for multiple hits on the ghosts before they more or less enter a rage mode in which they can kill you and will certainly try to. As you progress, the amount of ghosts will increase, though never increasing on the traditional four.
There are also plenty of other ghosts present in the mazes. These green ghosts are asleep and will wake up and disappear when you traverse nea them. The interesting idea is how they are harmless but tag on to the lethal ghosts to give them both more of a threatening line but also a better chance of high score for you. Once you powerup, it is time to eat those ghosts, in which you hope you can consume more thanks to having woken them up in the first place.
Some ideas like an instant bomb jump to get you back to the starting location of the level shake up the formula and are fun aspects of the fast-paced gameplay. I found this move to be perfect for tactical moments like when I was about out of time or in close danger.
The score attack mode sees you going through several mazes with increasing difficulty for the sake of getting high scores, which is of course the general goal of “Pac-Man.”
“Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” has plenty of levels in the adventure mode. Each area comes with ten levels, alongside higher difficulty options, and a boss fight. The game tackled boss fights with lots of pellets and fruits to collect on a high pressuring time limit, alongside all four ghosts in full attack mode. The term “boss fight” is used loosely, as these levels just feel more like regular mazes with higher stakes and not so much an actual boss fight.
The maze design oftentimes varies from very simple, straightforward to large-scale and obstacle heavy levels. Thanks to tight corridors, ghosts galore and tons of obstacles, “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” can be blatantly stressful but ultimately with the reward of success and plenty of fun.
Graphics
Namco Bandai created a visually appealing game in “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” with bright colors and eye-popping on-screen actions. With every subsequent maze and power-up, the game features some of the most vibrant, colorful visuals the series has ever seen. I found this artistic style to be really cool and welcoming, especially in comparison to tat of the standard “Pac-Man” games. Sound Like the visuals, the music of “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” is executed very nicely. The techno-inspired, fast-paced and ultimately exhilarating tracks are ever-changing with each level. “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2's levels dynamically use the music, as each level seems to play faster music alongside the faster challenges and time limits alike. I truly found the music to be memorable and incredibly fitting for the gameplay.
Content Naturally, the endless loop of getting the best high scores is still very-much-so the incentive to keep playing “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2.” Whether you are playing adventure mode or score attack, there are plenty of levels, each with many difficulties, this is not a small package for the self-competitive. Of course, if you aren’t into getting better scores or three stars on levels, “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” will come off as a small package; however, I don’t believe this a game people would play anyway if they aren’t into such gameplay. Conclusion With consistent entertainment and challenge in the many mazes of “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2,” it was instant fun. I found myself growing more and more competitive, further justifying my purchase of the title. Unfortunately the complexity of the gameplay mechanics made it feel a bit overwhelming and less satisfying at times. Overall “Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2” is however a solid game for its vivid color palette and visuals and exhilarating soundtrack coupled with purely fun gameplay.
What are your high scores? Do you like the vibrant, neon art style? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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