Phil Villarreal's Blog, page 83
April 3, 2019
April 2, 2019
"Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid" Review
A natural fit for a "Marvel vs. Capcom" style fighter treatment, the Power Rangers face off against one another, as well as a slew of enemies, in "Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid."
Developer nWay crafts a capable 3-on-3 slugfest, which draws from the likes of "Tekken Tag Tournament" in addition to the famed Capcom brawlers. Tight controls, slick visuals and rapidfire gameplay makes each battle an entertaining romp.
At the heart of the gameplay is the rock-paper-scissors nature of attack arrays, which grants a psychological dimension to the twitch reflexes that dominate each battle. A variety of ranged, close-quarters and team-up moves lather up pyrotechnics that grant a "wow" factor to the fights.
Lacking much of an impetus for single players, much of the game's draw comes from multiplayer. Several modes let you slug it out online, and while the character roster may be on the thin side, the combinations you can stack together give the matchups plenty of variety.
Although the game feels thin, there are strong bones here that could mark a refreshing new direction for the franchise, which has been painfully bereft of many playable games over its quarter-century history. Paired with the successful 2017 movie, the new fighter game has the Power Rangers looking more formidable than ever.
Publisher provided review code.
April 1, 2019
"Stories: The Path of Destinies" Xbox One Review
In a former life, Reynardo was a swashbuckling pirate, plundering booty and making his way from port to port.
Now having reinvented himself as a hero, he makes a stand against an evil empire, using his skills in magic and combat to right past wrongs, leading a revolution.
Hacking, slashing and casting your way through gated areas, you collect and upgrade loot, expanding your offensive and defensive capabilities on the path to becoming a formidable force in this steampunk-influenced realm of airships, cannons and spells.
Three years after it released on PC, "Stories: The Path of Destinies" washes ashore on console waters.
The move from mouse and keyboard to a controller setup goes as smoothly as could be expected, with developer Spearhead Games taking cues from other successful isometric action game adaptations, including "Diablo III."
Though the combat can be rickety, and the menu system unwieldy, an earnest, well-calibrated story helps pull you through the combat and reward loop.
Satifying writing and traversal makes you feel empowered and adventurous, making the game easy to come back to session after session. Setting sail on these stranger tides is consistently engrossing.
Publisher provided review code.
5 Shows to Binge in April
It's a big month for Game of Thrones fans.
March 31, 2019
"Windscape" Review
"Windscape" takes on the Chicken Little premise. The sky in an ethereal land of floating islands is falling. As a young farm girl who decides to investigate the problem, you search out the land for clues, delving into the mystery as you evolve into a hero.
Developer Magic Sandbox goes with a visual design that echoes "Minecraft," and the lighthearted approach serves the tone well.
You interact with locals, search out hidden corners for inventory items, solve light puzzles, battle enemies and complete an array of fetch quests as you work your way through the family-friendly material.
"Windscape" sets out to echo the likes of recent "The Elder Scrolls" and "The Legend of Zelda" and overcomes a general lack of polish to keep the narrative moving with an array of engrossing quests. The sense of whimsical fun rarely fades as you work your way through the evolving storyline.
Although some gamers may long for more of a challenge, there is much to be said for the way the game refuses to get in its own way, prioritizing pace and user-friendliness above all else.
This is a game that a beginner can thrive at, and although veterans may find the hand-holding emasculating, there's enough disarming charm to break down such hangups.
"Windscape" is a fresh take on a tried and true concept, and a welcome addition to the Switch's thin RPG slate. The sky may be falling, but as far as this unique and entrancing game goes, that's cause for exhilaration rather than concern.
Publisher provided review code.
March 29, 2019
PHIL ON FILM: "Dumbo"
For my written review, click here.
March 28, 2019
Book Report: "Wuthering Heights"
Wuthering Heights by Emily BrontëMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
At its best, "Wuthering Heights" is elegant and contemplative. Grim and seductive. Brutal and casually indifferent to suffering.
At its worst, it's a tedious bore.
Emily Bronte's novel wavers from the highs to lows, occasionally lathering up enough momentum to justify its status as a beloved, relentlessly deconstructed literary classic.
Groundbreaking for its time, the prose pushed boundaries of propriety, including grotesque scenes of psychological torture and violence that paved the way for gothic novelists of the future.
Joanne Froggett's spirited reading in the Audible version adds some heft to the material, but no matter how hard she tries, there isn't much urgency to the storytelling.
Through the lens of time, "Wuthering Heights" may continue to tower over British literature as a phenomenon to be appreciated. As a modern read, though, it stumbles rather than soars.
Publisher provided review code.
View all my reviews
March 27, 2019
"MLB 19 The Show" Review
Without genuine competition to demand innovation, the "MLB The Show" franchise needs to rely on its own standards as benchmarks. Thus, SIE San Diego Studio never feels the heat of a rival chasing it in the standings and tends to stay more conservative than innovative.
"MLB The Show 19" isn't afraid to shake up the established formula, but its improvements are small and safe enough to go unnoticed by all but the most observant baseball-obsessed gamers.
Like cover star Bryce Harper, the game is flashy and packed with potential. And at times, frustratingly erratic.
Leading off is one of the most comprehensive and genuinely helpful tutorials in any recent sports title. After selecting your favorite team and choosing "experienced" or "beginner" as your difficulty level, you play through an entire World Series game between the Dodgers and Red Sox.
A flow of pop-up boxes guides you through the finer points of pitching, fielding and hitting, subtly mentioning breakthroughs in gameplay that allow you to refine your skills, taking advantage of the new systems in place to grant you more influence than ever before on gameplay mechanics.
Continuing to build on successes of the past, SIE San Diego Studio channels numerous upgrades into its single-player, franchise and season modes.
Gameplay refinements make it possible to plow through a standard game in a half hour or less, and a fascinating "Moments" mode lets you play through some of MLB's watershed scenarios. Lavish period detail goes far toward selling the authenticity of the period presentation. With the promise of new moments replicating 2019 season highlights, there is plenty to love and look forward to here.
As is the case with most sports games, there isn't much of an impetus to coax casual players to re-up year after year. Maybe a narrative-driven RPG or adventure game-style side mode like that of "Madden" or NBA 2K" would have done the trick.
What you get here, though, packs loads of mid-lineup punch and won't leave any serious baseball fans caught looking. A celebration of what makes baseball great, "MLB 19 The Show" is crafted lovingly and crammed with enough delights to keep you coming back all season. From the crack of the bat to the cut of the virtual grass and roar of the crowd, the game manages to deliver that "play ball" smile to your face.
Publisher provided review code.
March 26, 2019
"Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice" Review
Refusing to be pigeonholed after taking over the world and defining a new genre with its "Souls" series, From Software opens up a new chapter with "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice." As elegant and methodical as its previous games were rigid and urgent, "Sekiro" seems like From's attempt at a storytelling magnum opus.
Set amid the hyperviolent strife of 16th century Sengoku Japan, "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice," the game employes every bit as much devastating challenge as the likes of the "Dark Souls" franchise, but the difficulty enhances the story rather than bottlenecking.
Narrative and emotional storytelling rise to the top, with freedom of movement taking precedence over restrictive control schemes. The ways to attack, scale and traverse are open, enriched with a "Hitman"-style sandbox nature that allows you to decide how to approach each challenge.
As you advance through the game, you'll find yourself adapting to varied playstyles and rhythms depending on the demands of the area. Skills such as stealth, platforming, measured assault and defense-favoring skillsets fall in and out of favor depending on the demands of the environment and mission, as well as your chosen approach.
While standby attributes of "Souls" games remain -- including an at-time arduous checkpoint system that requires you to backtrack through some trying portions -- there is so much new here that there's no mistaking "Sekiro" with anything lurking in From's past. The signature feel and touch of the skilled developer continues to thrive, making "Sekiro" feel like a grand evolution rather than a serendipitous one-off.
"Sekiro" is not only a new direction for From Software, but a bold and adventurous new direction for the action RPG in general. Shadows of the past fall to the wayside for a thrilling new vision, basking in its opportunity int he limelight.
Publisher provided review code.
March 22, 2019
PHIL ON FILM: "Us"
For my written review, click here.
