Back in the day...
I would like to review some of the older classics at one point or another, so anything older than the current latest systems (Gamecube, Xbox, and PS2 or older) will be here.
Animal Crossing
I rented this game one day at Blockbuster because there was nothing else decent there. I brought it home and stuck it in my Gamecube with pretty low expectations. I am happy to say that this game flew up and beyond my expectations. I have been a fan of this series for a long time now, partly because it's a great change of pace from the more action-packed games I tend to play (Brawl, for example). Here's my review.
GAMEPLAY
To describe this game in a single sentence, I would probably say that it is like The Sims, but without the mature content. When you start up the game and get past the title screen, you are on a train heading for a new life. You speak to a cat named Rover, who wears clothes and walks on his hind legs. Not too unusual, right? Anyways, you move into a town full of animals, you being the only human there (unless friends move in, but more on that later). The game is easy to play, the tutorial is presented as part of the game (where you work part-time for the shop owner Tom Nook), and there is no end to what you can do. There are holidays spread across the months of each year, and you never know what might happen when you get on. In short, the game is relaxing and does a great job of simply being fun. I could play this game all day (and actually did, once or twice).
SCORE: 10/10
PLOT
It's hard to score this part of the game. It has a very basic plot, but there is no drama or action, really. You make the plot as you go, and there is no way to really beat this game. There's always something to do. Plot doesn't really apply, because it's just the story of your character's life. Nothing earth-shattering happens; it's just life. The preset plot only lasts for maybe the first hour or two at the most, and then... well, you get the idea.
SCORE: N/A
GRAPHICS
Not bad for a Gamecube game. Each character has different facial expressions to show their emotion, making them feel more real, and the game looks good enough to keep from distracting you. The entire town also changes with the seasons. Graphics aren't the draw of this game, but they serve their purpose. I suppose if the game looked better, it would be nice, but it's not required.
SCORE: 7/10
SOUND
The music is downright relaxing. This game has probably my favorite soundtrack next to Brawl (of course), and no music helps me more when I'm stressed out. The sound effects fit wherever they are placed, and when the villagers speak, the words are shown in a text box and they speak in "animalese," but you can still make out words in the jabber. It's comical, and it fits. They even have different pitches based on their personality.
SCORE: 10/10
CONTENT
100% clean. There is nothing dirty about this game, and it had no trouble getting an "E" for Everyone rating. The only thing that might offend someone (although it isn't really a big deal) is that a fortune teller can come to your town, and she's... a little eerie. I would advise to stay away from her tent; she's a waste of money anyways.
SCORE: 10/10
REPLAY
I don't think I have found a game with more longevity in... well, ever. When I first got this game, I played almost every day for probably at least an hour (sometimes more like six). This game is incredibly addictive, and at least for your first year with it, you will be playing quite frequently. It might get boring after a while (a long while), but you'll still get on for the events.
SCORE: 10/10
MULTIPLAYER
Just keep in mind that not all great games have a multiplayer mode in them. This game allows you to visit each other's towns if you put both your memory cards into the Gamecube/Wii. You can have up to four people living in each town. The only problem is that you can't play at the same time. The sequel (Animal Crossing: Wild World) solved this problem with wireless multiplayer and wi-fi with friends, but that doesn't change the fact that multiplayer is limited in the Gamecube version. But, although you can't play at the same time, you can influence what happens in town for the other players to see. My two siblings and me would always argue over who got to play first, because the first player got first dibs on anything in the shop and any items they might find. So yes, multiplayer is limited to one-at-a-time-style.
SCORE: 4/10
OVERALL (not an average)
I always find myself coming back to play this game, sometimes several months after I had played last. It blends great gameplay and replay with relaxing audio and video. Like I already said, It's a great change of pace from all the heart-pumping action, and remains a great game. I give Animal Crossing a...
9/10
Not a perfect score, despite near perfect scores above. I can't wait for Animal Crossing: Wii!
Coming up next...
I am having trouble deciding, so I will let you decide between these great N64 titles! Here are the choices:
And here's the poll:
Fire Emblem (GBA)
Ah, Fire Emblem... without a doubt one of my favorite games of all time. This is what really got me into turn-based strategy, and in my opinion is one of the best GBA games to date. Let's begin...
GAMEPLAY
The game starts out nice and easy, introducing one concept at a time. This means a fairly shallow learning curve, but that doesn't mean that it's easy! As you play, you continually add new members to your group (you can hardly call it an army), and each one has his/her own strengths and weaknesses. But here's the catch: if a unit dies in battle, they are gone for the rest of the game, so be careful! The combat system is well designed, so that no class in particular is the best. And to top it all off, this game hits you with challenges when you're ready for them, not too soon or too late. It takes practice and serious strategy, but it's unlike any other game I've played. I could go on about this for much longer, so let's leave it at that.
SCORE: 9.5/10
PLOT
Without a doubt, the Fire Emblem series has some of the best stories in gaming history. Especially this one. In it, the game actually integrates you as a character; a wandering tactician that helps the other characters fight effectively. And the characters actually address you directly! This makes you feel even more emotionally close to them (as much as possible in a video game), and you feel their joy and pain because you are a part of the group. I'm not saying that you should talk to them and/or stop talking to real people, but... you get the idea. And the storyline is so intense that I play the chapters to see what happens next, even if I don't really want to play it.
SCORE: 10/10
GRAPHICS
Okay, I know that this is a GBA game, and the GBA isn't known for having the best graphics. I think that the visual look of this game is great anyways. The character sprites are pretty good, the battle cutscenes are awesome, and the overworld tiles are quite impressive. Overall, pretty good for a GBA game.
SCORE: 8.5/10
SOUND
Although all the music is MIDI sequences, I still love the soundtrack. The remixes for newer games (such as Super Smash Bros: Brawl) are absolutely epic, so even though the game has simplistic tunes, it is still well-composed. The sound effects are also very well done, from sword draws and slashes to bowstrings being pulled taut. I especially like the sound effects for all the magic!
SCORE: 9/10
CONTENT
No language, no inappropriate content... this game does just fine. Any romances between characters is very simple (not even any kissing). The only thing I could come up with is that there is magic in the game. Some people might not like the idea of controlling sages, druids, and bishops. I don't think that it makes much difference, myself.
SCORE: 9.5/10
REPLAY
This game is... okay in the replay department. Once you beat the game, you can play through again on higher difficulties or on the same difficulty. Throughout the game, there is a "Link Arena," where you can build teams and fight the computer, but it's not that much. I have played this game many times through, but not all people will find it as entertaining the second or third time through.
SCORE: 7/10
MULTIPLAYER
There's not much, to be honest. The Link Arena that I mentioned earlier allows two people to link up (hence the name) and pit their teams against each other. The only problem is that both players have to have their own copy of the game. I wish that the developers had done a simple multiplayer game like in Advance Wars, but this game is made for single player. Basically, don't buy this game just for the multiplayer.
SCORE: 5.5/10
OVERALL (not an average):
This is still my favorite game in one of my favorite game series. The replay and multiplayer aren't the best (especially the multiplayer), but everything else is excellent. I would highly recommend this game to anyone, particularly fans of strategy games. I give Fire Emblem a...
10/10
Yes, it's a perfect score. It's shortcomings weren't enough to bring it down. Buy it.