Recent reviews by Talvos

Chrono Cross is a great game, and if this is the only way you have to play it then... it is passable. But, as both a port and a remaster, it falls quite short. The modding community has created better remasters through fan-made content. And, if you want the original graphical experience, then this era of game looks a LOT better on original hardware with a CRT TV.

This version has performance issues and poorly AI upscaled textures. It is running in an emulator and uses scripts to do some swaps on models and textures. This extra processing causes the frame-rate to drop quite significantly in some places, and does not appear to be fully overcome no matter the GPU used. Fan-made projects for the original game have produced much better visual quality and performance for the game using these same methods. The 'original' graphics mode has less issues, but still has some frame drop when compared to the PS1 release.

Additionally, this game has been hit with censorship in a few places. I am only aware of one graphical change, but there were several changes to dialog. The changes seem so unnecessary, that it appears someone was trying to justify their job. Unfortunately, that is what you get when it is someone's task to find 'problems'.

At the end of the day, the primary perk of this version is convenience. It is on Steam and current generation consoles. It is $20. That's all it really comes down to. But, here is a full break down of what this remaster has to offer over the original:

Good Updates:
-New character portraits look great
-New character models are good
-Ability to swap to old graphics
-Includes the text-based game Radical Dreamers, previously exclusive to Japan on the Super Famicom through the Satellaview.
-Some new art and music were made, which are used in the launcher.

Bad Updates:
-Inconsistent frame-rate, especially in the updated graphical mode.
-Quality of AI upscaled backgrounds is poor. Very bad in some places, with significant artifacting.
-There have been several reported stability issues. I did not run into them, but enough people have reported them that buyers should be aware.
-When swapping to 'original' graphics mode, it renders 3d at a higher resolution than the original. This results in having pixelated background, but very smooth model renders. It clashes badly, especially in combat sections.
-At least 1 instance of graphical censorship.
-Multiple instances of text/dialog censorship have been identified for both English and Japanese settings.

Even disregarding the technical issues and unnecessary censorship, this is a very lazy 'remaster'. When it comes to modern remasters, I expect at least some of the following:
-60 FPS
-Widescreen
-Menu Updates
-New end game content
-Runs in native environment. Not emulated.

Buggy and rushed. This is not the feature-rich collection old fans had been hoping for. Additionally, the numerous bugs make this a poor choice for new players looking to try out these games. This is an expensive package which lacks content and polish expected for ports/remasters.

This is a collection of four games. Sonic 1, Sonic 2, and Sonic CD are the mobile ports from about a decade ago. The mobile ports were decent, but the build up for Origins had the community expecting additional polish for the PC release, customizable functionality, and new content.

Though the other games have a few issues, where this collection really fails is with the anticipated Sonic 3 & Knuckles remaster. The game has some rather significant bugs. During my single play-through I noticed issues with checkpoints not functioning, poor collision detection when detecting crush-type deaths, poor music quality (especially in the replaced tracks), and poor quality in several area related to wide-screen changes. I have seen reports of many other bugs. Overall, it feels unfinished and is a poor imitation of the original.

Unfortunately, this collection falls short when comparing it to fan projects and previous collections released by Sega. Sonic Mega Collection Plus from 2006 has much more to offer. And, fan projects for Sonic 3 have produced better definitive editions. You have many options, don't choose Origins.

Chrono Trigger is a must play classic which stands on its own nearly 30 years later. This PC port can be rough around the edges, but is still an acceptable way to experience the game. Plus it has most of the extra content from the DS release and ultrawide screen support, which are surprising and welcome additions. The only extra content missing are the 'Arena of the Ages' monster raising/battling minigame from the DS, and, oddly, two cutscenes are absent. All other DS content is included here, so you may choose to experience new bosses, the new ending, and the terrible 'Lost Sanctum' optional content.

I strongly recommend giving this game a try, rather it be here or on SNES. The original SNES release is still the best way to experience the game. The PS1 release is the absolute worst version due to unnecessary battle load times. The DS and Steam ports are both based on the mobile port, which is where lingering issues with this port stem from. The mobile port was a very lazy, ugly, and buggy port, initially released back in 2012. A good portion of problems have been cleaned up in the years following the 2018 Steam release, but the original mobile port and initial Steam launch have left a lasting bad impression on the fanbase.

Fun metroidvania-style game. Definitely check it out.

Wonderful game. Highly addictive. Between the PC and PS4 release, I probably have 600+ hours logged. This is Capcom's best selling game ever. It outsold Resident Evil 5's lifetime sales in a matter of months.

Takes a little bit to get started, but once you understand the combat you will be fighting monsters for hundreds of hours. There is a diverse selection of weapons use and beautifully crafted armor for each monster on each difficulty. The game continues to see free patches and support with new monsters and events in its expansion.

Overcoming difficult challenges on your own is great fun. But, for maximum enjoyment, grab your friends complement each others' play styles by taking on the challenges in groups of four. Are your friends lame? Don't worry, you can just search in-game for groups to jump in with and beat up on some unsuspecting dragon.

The downside of this game? Well, the game doesn't really "start" until you finish it. That is to say, monsters are gated by your progression through the story and the real fun of this game takes place after you've cleared those gates.

Great game with plenty of content to enjoy. Rather surprising that it is only $10 and will often go on sale for 75% off.

Fun to solo, fun in groups.
Combat is fun, building is fun.
Replays are fun, mods are fun.

The only real weakness this game has, is that the game does not give good direction to new players. If you are playing this by yourself and it's your first time, I recommend looking at a quick guide for how the game progresses.

Great game. Strongly recommended.

Loved the time slowdown/stop mechanic within the metroidvania environment. The music is beautiful and exploring the world is enjoyable with all its hidden power ups. The combat is fun and really shines with the boss fights. The game will only take you 5-6 hours on a blind run, but has plenty of fun packed in.

Possible the best remake of a game ever done. It captures the soul of the original and even adds a little onto it. As good as the SNES game was, this should be considered the definitive edition. This should be an auto-buy for mana and retro fans. Other action-rpg fans should strongly consider picking it up as well.

Pros:
-Looks great. Does an excellent job of capturing the original art style.
-Combat is fun and fluid.
-Play style is customizable thanks to character selection and class options.
-Music - You even have the option of selecting the original soundtrack.
-Multiple story paths based on main character selected. (General story path is the same, but you will get a few differences at certain points in the game)
-New Features: Voice acting, language options, new game+, post-game dungeon, background party banter, new class upgrades, new items

Cons:
-Slow start - Combat will feel a little bland until you unlock the first class change a couple hours into the game.
-Low difficulty - There are a few fights that feel like difficulty spikes, but for most of the game you are just enjoying the ride.
-English voice acting is a mixed bag. Definitely done on a budget.
-No multiplayer - With how good this remake is, it's a shame this feature was dropped.

Melty Blood gave people what they wanted during an era where the other 2D fighers were stagnating. It's just fun. It's popularity allowed it to make its way into a few big tournaments. But, for the most part, this is the game you you see people playing outside large events. A game that is not tournament quality, but is still super fun.

During it's prime I would give it a 10/10, but comparing to newer fighters, I'd say it's 7.5/10. Of course one of the newer games I'm compairing it to is a game that was supposed to be the HD sequel for Melty Blood. Under Night In-Brith started as an HD Melty Blood Game, which was to be released with the re-release of Tsukihime, the story Melty Blood is based on.

If you enjoy fighting games and havn't given it a try, then you need to. This game made it's mark on 2d fighter histroy. And its fans are awaiting the possibly HD Melty Blood which may be released with the Tsukihime remake that is apparently still being made.

But yeah... give it a try. I think you'll like it.

It's really fun, though not without its faults.

Good:
The levels are great, you really get that old-sonic style feel from it. The voice acting and story are great and don't get in the way of the game. There are three characters that play different from each other, giving you a new experence for at least 3 play throughs. There is some charming humor. There are unique and interesting boss fights.

Bad:
The game is long enough to the point were I didn't really feel like going through with the other two characters. The bosses are strong and will kill you many many times. You get unlimited retries, so it's at least not as painful than it could have otherwise been. Some of the game seems to drown on and on. There are various characters that seem like they were introduced for possible a sequel. Since there is no other game out yet, their interactions do not have weight. It's basically a story plot that the player does not care about.

My score 8/10 - It's fun, but $15 of fun? Well... that opinion is most likely different from person to person. I certainly got my money's worth and would by a sequel, but I also understand this game may not be everyone's cup of tea.