PixlBit

Games Beaten

-Shadow of the Ninja Reborn (Switch)

The visual upgrade to Shadow of the Ninja is impressive. There are other additions, like "ninja gear" (all kinds of weapons and items to find) and a time attack mode, but the game keeps an NES-like challenge. Thankfully, it also adds a generous checkpoint system and unlimited continues. I'm not the biggest fan of how your ninja moves but the game is designed around it and it is consistent. If you want old-school challenge with concessions to modern expectations, you can't do much better than this remake.

-Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Wii)

Zack & Wiki does a great job of setting a Saturday morning shonen anime vibe, and the game does a good job incorporating the Wii motion controls into the puzzle-solving gameplay. Sometimes there is a logical disconnect with an action you need to do or with the sequence but by and large things can be figured out. My issue with the game is when a true action/combat/timing element enters the mix. Motion controls do that no favors and having to restart a puzzle because you died is very frustrating (the scoring and revival systems are annoying too). It's a fun game but more of a historical curiosity than a must-play now.

Games Bought

After a few very quiet acquisition months, things picked up in May! First of all, do you guys know about the "lost" Shantae game? WayForward nearly finished a GBA sequel to the original Shantae but could not find a publisher for it. They shelved the project and didn't look back...UNTIL NOW! They dusted off the original code (metaphorically) and finished the game and I bought a physical GBA cartridge of it from Limited Run. After several production delays, the game finally arrived at the beginning of May. The game is officially called Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution! (GBA).

In less complicated news, while looking something up about the Shadow of the Ninja remake, I came across footage of Pocky & Rocky Reshrined (Switch), another action game remake from the same developer. I had heard of the game and I don't remember why I dismissed it but seeing the game in action made me want to play it, so I bought a copy. I also splurged a little because of a sale at Video Games Plus. The Cotton series of "cute-'em-up" shooters has seen quite a few games in the last few years, both remakes and original titles, if I'm not mistaken. I will let you guess which category Cotton Reboot! (Switch) falls into. Another old series that has gotten some recent attention is Turrican, a 2D run-'n'-gun series by Factor 5. The only Turrican game I have played is the atrocious Game Boy iteration, so I am happy to my hands on Turrican Flashback (Switch), which collects four of the best-loved entries from the series's heyday.

My other two VGP pick ups take a swerve into anime. First is Root Double: Before Crimes * After Days - Xtend Edition (Switch), which is sure a mouthful of a name, but is also supposed to be an excellent visual novel. The other one is Persona 5 Royal (Switch), which I assume needs no introduction. The most imposing thing about this game is its long length but having it portable on the Switch would be a big help. I did some research and it sounds like the textures definitely take a hit in this version but otherwise the game runs great and is feature complete. I am looking forward to playing it...eventually.

Last of all is PS+. I picked up Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (PS5), which looks like a fun pastiche of the original Doom.

Games Being Played

-Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution! (GBA)

I recently got my fourth animal transformation. Time to bust some blocks!

-Picross S Namco Legendary Edition (Switch)

I am very close to finishing this. I have a handful of regular puzzles left and then I will just need to finish the last clip picture (where a bunch of puzzles make up one big picture).

-Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak (Switch)

Continuing to delve into the Master Ranks.

-Destiny 2 (PS5)

More shootin'