Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

KalJ95 (25 KP) rated the Nintendo Switch version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in Video Games

Dec 28, 2019  
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
2017 | Action/Adventure
Exploration is epic (2 more)
Incredible open-world.
Mechanics and gameplay is Nintendo's greatest achievement.
Narrative is limited. (0 more)
Breath of fresh gaming.
On December 25th 2018, I finally got a Nintendo Switch, after years of hinting to my other half. There was only ever going to be one game to start with; Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Within the space of a week, I accounted 85 hours of gameplay and exploration around Hyrule. And I was disappointed with what I had experienced. The experience felt hollow, empty even. The story was bare boned, set amongst cut scenes of Link's memories from 100 years ago. I immediately sold the game and bought Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

I was a fool.

Zelda: BotW is a mesmerising behemoth of a game, full of so much to discover and encounter through the breathtaking world of Hyrule. My stubbornness through my first playthrough was largely down to wanting a more linear, story based experience, like past Zelda games. What Nintendo crafted is something else entirely. Rather than focus of Link defeating Ganon, and saving Princess Zelda, your focus is to explore this vast open world and traverse its landscapes through whatever means you desire. And that is why this game is so special. The serene music and light melodies that play as you circumnavigate from land to land could often be quite dull and boring with other open world games, but in BotW its absolutely the right move. It gives you time to breath absolutely everything in, and stare in awe of the beautiful world you've inhabited.

The emphasis on going your own way and exploring is simply remarkable. The world is quite literally in your hands. Then comes the 120 separate challenges called Shrines, put in place so you can gain extra Health and Stamina bars as you progress. The puzzle solving is another great addition to a game already jam packed with content. I could mention and write all day long about its weather system, various amounts of enemies which require different approaches to combat, the side missions and extra content in regards to weapons and clothing, the list could quite literally go on, but I will finish this here with a few final observations:

BotW is a stunning achievement, and I am sticking to my gripe that the game is lacking quite significantly with its narrative, but it's a game that was never built around a long linear story. The simplicity that you are Link, and the world is yours just happens to be everything Nintendo needed to create a damn near Masterpiece of gaming.
  
Kinda Funny Gamescast
Kinda Funny Gamescast
Games & Hobbies
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Podcast Rating
Two fantastic personalities passionate about what they are discussing (1 more)
Features a lot of interesting guests
Tim's bias for Nintendo (1 more)
Not as insightful since Colin left
Kinda Brilliant
I have been listening to Gamescast since day one. The podcast took a few episodes to find it's feet, but once it did, it quickly became one of the most insightful gaming discussion podcasts on the internet.
Unfortunately Colin left Kinda Funny almost a year ago and some of the show's integrity went with him. Now it is just Greg and Tim that host it, however it is still very much worth listening to, if you can ignore some of the outrageous things that Tim frequently hits out with. It has been good though, to listen to Tim grow as a prevalent voice in the video game journalism echo-chamber.
  
40x40

Andy K (10821 KP) rated Venom (2018) in Movies

Feb 16, 2019  
Venom (2018)
Venom (2018)
2018 | Action, Sci-Fi
Underwhelming
Tom Hardy is one of the only good things about this film.

The supporting cast (Michelle Williams who seemed out of place) and the generic villains were not exciting at all and made me think about the cooler comic book bad guys we've seen recently.

A couple of good action scenes were not much help to the shoddy screenplay which kept me bored most of the way.

I will admit to not knowing much about Venom going in (other than my Maximum Carnage Super Nintendo game from my youth) and this film didn't do much to explain things to me. I thought he had something to do with Spider-Man, although he was never mentioned.

If the mid credits scene is an indication of the direction of Venom 2, I am hopeful it will be an improvement.