Review #16: Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow Versions (1996 to 2000 / GB)

A Quick Look At The New Rating System (from a Numbered to a Named Review Rating System)

In this episode I take a brief look at how and why I have chosen to do away with the 10-point review score in favour of a label-based review score. Enjoy! Below is a list of my review history thus far, in chronological order, complete with their original score out of 10 and their newly updated score. -- Tomba, was a 7/10, now a good quality game -- Resident Evil 4, was a 9/10, now an excellent/masterful quality game -- Comix Zone, was a 5/10, now an average quality game -- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, was 4/10, now a poor/average quality game -- Alien Soldier, was an 8/10, now a great quality game -- Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, was a 6/10, now an average/good quality game -- Klonoa, was a 7/10, now a good quality game -- Grim Fandango, was an 8/10, now a great quality game -- Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, was an 8/10, now a great/excellent quality game -- Ufouria: The Saga, was an 8/10, now a good/great quality game -- New Super Mario Bros. 2, was a 6/10, now an average/good quality game -- Half-Life 2, was a 10/10, now a masterful quality game -- Metroid Prime, was a 9/10, now an excellent quality game -- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, was a 7/10, now a good/great quality game -- Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, was a 6/10, now an average/good quality game -- Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow Versions, was a 7/10, now a good/great quality game Thank you very much for listening! Please let me know what you think of the new review system!

Review #16: Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow Versions (1996 to 2000 / GB)

Developer: Game Freak // Publisher: Nintendo // Status: Very Well-Known // Genre: Turn-Based RPG / Shooter // Players: 1 // Difficulty: Above Average // Length: 27 - 32 hours. Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow mark the beginning of the phenomenon known as Pokemon. Known by fans simply as Generation 1, or Gen 1, these games introduce the first 150 Pokemon and establish the progression system of the mainline series games: wherein the player must choose one of three starter Pokemon, acquire 8 gym badges, challenge the Elite Four, become a Pokemon Master and, in the postgame, catch optional Legendary Pokemon. Music was sourced by: "Perspective" and 'Odyssey" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Additionally, in-game music was used during interludes. “Pokemon - Title Screen”, “The Road to Viridian City”, “Cerulean City Theme”, “Lavender Town Theme”, “Viridian Forest”, “Rival Appears”, “Pokemon Gym”, “Battle vs. Gym Leader” and “Oak’s Laboratory” were sourced from the Pokemon Series OST. I do not own the rights to any of this music. If you are or know the copyright owner please do contact me via Twitter, SoundCloud or YouTube.

Review #15: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007 / Wii)

Metroid Prime 3 is a first-person action-adventure game that rewards precise observations, combing the environment and revisiting old areas with new abilities. The game follows a simple repeating formula of (a) enter a new area, (b) come across out of access areas, (c) find a way forward, (d) be confronted by a boss encounter, (e) unlock a new weapon or ability, (f) use new ability to enter either a new area or allow access to new regions of existing areas. The Metroid franchise influenced many games including many of the post-1997 Castlevania games, Guacamelee, Tomba as well as others. Music was sourced by: “Odyssey” and “Blipstream” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Additionally, in-game music was used during interludes. “ Metroid Prime 3 - Title Screen”, “Bryyo Cliffside”, “Samus vs Rundas”, “Skytown”, “Gandrayda” and “Underwater Frigate Reactor Core” were sourced from the Metroid Prime 3 OST. I am not the rights holder for the OST music. If either you or someone you know is the rights holder and would like to contact me regarding my choice of music then please do get in touch. A Video Game Odyssey is also available on SoundCloud, Twitter and YouTube.

Review #14: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (2004 / Gamecube, later Wii / Wii U)

This is a review of the single-player game. The multiplayer aspect is completely separate to the main game, is offline-only and of a generally poor quality. Those wanting a multiplayer first-person shooter should look elsewhere. Metroid Prime 2 is a first-person action-adventure game that rewards precise observations, combing the environment and revisiting old areas with new abilities. The game follows a simple repeating formula of (a) enter a new area, (b) come across out of access areas, (c) find a way forward, (d) be confronted by a boss encounter, (e) unlock a new weapon or ability, (f) use new ability to enter either a new area or allow access to new regions of existing areas. The Metroid franchise influenced many games including many of the post-1997 Castlevania games, Guacamelee, Tomba as well as others. Music was sourced by: “Odyssey” and “Blipstream” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Additionally, in-game music was used during interludes. “ VS. Emperor ing 2”, “Submerged Temple”, “Light Temple”, “The Ing”, “Luminoth Sotyr Amos Account” and “Underwater Frigate Reactor Core” were sourced from the Metroid Prime 2 OST. I am not the rights holder for the OST music. If either you or someone you know is the rights holder and would like to contact me regarding my choice of music then please do get in touch. A Video Game Odyssey is also available on SoundCloud, Twitter and YouTube.

Review #13: Metroid Prime (2002 / Gamecube, later Wii / Wii U)

Developer: Retro Studios // Publisher: Nintendo // Status: Very Well-Known // Genre: First-Person Adventure // Players: 1 // Difficulty: Average - adjustable // Length: 12 - 16 hours. Metroid Prime is a first-person action-adventure game that rewards precise observations, combing the environment and revisiting old areas with new abilities. The game follows a simple repeating formula of (a) enter a new area, (b) come across out of access areas, (c) find a way forward, (d) be confronted by a boss encounter, (e) unlock a new weapon or ability, (f) use new ability to enter either a new area or allow access to new regions of existing areas. The Metroid franchise influenced many games including many of the post-1997 Castlevania games, Guacamelee, Tomba as well as others. Music was sourced by: “Odyssey” and “Blipstream” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Additionally, in-game music was used during interludes. “Metroid Prime - Main Menu”, “Tallon Overworld”, “Magmoor Caverns”, “Ridley’s Battle” and “Underwater Frigate Reactor Core” were sourced from the Metroid Prime OST. I am not the rights holder for the OST music. If either you or someone you know is the rights holder and would like to contact me regarding my choice of music then please do get in touch.