Arms Review

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Nintendo is home to many franchises like Super Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc. With so many franchises, they don’t make many new ones. Enter Splatoon, a third-person shooter and a new franchise for Nintendo. The game did incredibly well despite being on the Wii U. So, a new franchise was being made.

Kosuke Yabuki, the producer of the Mario Kart series, had an idea of having a behind-the-camera perspective in a fighting game. The problem with the idea was that you can’t tell how close you are to the person you are fighting. This led to the idea of having long arms so you didn’t need to worry about whether your character would reach the opponent but rather if it would hit or miss it.

On June 16, 2017, Arms, a third-person fighting game was released on the Nintendo Switch. It was nominated as best fighting game in a few awards but also won “Game, Original Fighting” in the NAVGTR Awards. So, does the game pack a punch? Or does it more arm than good?

There are people that are gifted with a special ability where their arms are able to stretch longer than the average human can. With 20 percent of the population with this ability which is called the ARMS trait, the Arms Ministry (now known as Arms Labs) created a sport specifically for this gift. This sport is simply called Arms.

In Arms, you and your opponent duke it out in an arena where you have to deplete the other’s health

by punching or grabbing him. Thanks to the fighter’s long arms (or hair if you’re playing Twintelle), you can easily reach your opponent. There is a rock-paper-scissors system where punch can beat grab, the grab can beat shield, and shield and beat punch. You can use motion controls if you want (I honestly prefer this).

There are a few modes you can play. There is a Grand Prix mode where you fight several characters

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and claim the championship title. V-Ball where you play a game similar to volleyball by punching the ball to the opponent side of the field. Hoops which has you grab your opponent and throw them on a basketball hoop. Skillshot where you smash targets and Hedlok Scramble where you fight for a Hedlok mask that makes you very OP (Over-Powered).

As you play these gains, you will gain coins that you can use to get arms or get artwork for the gallery.

The game overall lacks a story mode. It has so many unique characters that I wish they went more into. There is also some lore in the gallery. I give the story a B-.

The gameplay is what makes this game unique from other Nintendo games. It’s overall quite fun. But honestly, it feels lacking. The Grand Prix feels repetitive to me and that’s the only single-player mode. I give the gameplay an A-.

The soundtrack is pretty good. It has some great music like “Ramen’s Bowl,” “Ribbon Ring,” “Via Dolce,” “[NAME REDACTED],” and, of course, the title theme. A bunch of the arena themes borrow from the main theme, but overall, it’s pretty good. I give it an A.

To conclude, this game has a ton of potential. I really wish it had more story and see all these characters react to each other. I give the game an 8.3/10.

At a Glance: Arms

Summary: Fight other players in an arena with stretchable arms.

Rated: E 10+ for Every 10 and Up: Cartoon Violence

Price: $59.99

Distributor: Nintendo

System: Nintendo Switch

Release Date: June 16, 2017

Rating: 8.3/10

Pokemon Snap Review

I was a stubborn young lad back in the day. When I hated something, I hated it even if I never actually watched or played it. When I saw Pokemon Snap, I didn’t want to play it because it looked boring. In fact, if you told anyone there was a game about taking pictures about Pokemon, they would probably think it’s boring and find it a bit odd you are intensely into a game like that. Once I started playing the game, however, I fell in love with the game. To this day, this game is the best N64 and Pokemon game of all time. 10/10

….Who am I kidding? Let’s start at the very beginning of the creation of this game.

Funnily enough, this game did not begin as a Pokemon game. It was first called “Jack and the

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Beanstalk.” The development team, Jack and Beans, were planning for the game to have you take normal photos. The problem however was they couldn’t find how to keep players motivated to play the game. Because of this, the game was switched to focus on taking pictures of Pokemon. The game was also meant to be for the 64DD, a Japanese exclusive accessory for the N64 that uses disks. Due to the many delays of this accessory, however, Pokemon Snap was published as an N64 cartridge on June 30, 1999. So, is the game picture-perfect? Or was it underdeveloped?

You play as Todd Snap, a Pokemon photographer, who has been called by Professor Oak to take pictures of Pokemon in Pokemon Island. To navigate through the island, you ride on a buggy that Oak

invented called the Zero-One. Explore forests, caves, and volcanos and take pictures of Pokemon. As you take more photos, the professor will give you some items that will help you progress through the game and get better pictures.

After you finish a level, Professor Oak will rank your photos depending on the size, pose, and other things. Points are doubled if the Pokemon is in the center of the image.

The story is absent in this game. However, the attention to detail with the Pokemon for their personalities and how they react to items you throw at them or other Pokemon are very well done.

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For example, you can find a Magmar and a Charmander together. If you throw an apple at them, the Magmar will be a jerk and shoot flames at the Charmander. Thanks to this, Charmander evolves to a Charmeleon and causes Magmar to faint. It’s these little touches that are very nice. I give the story a C+.

The gameplay is what makes this game stand out from the rest. It’s so fun taking pictures of the Pokemon you meet and interacting with them. My one problem is that moving the camera can be a bit so which makes it a bit difficult to get the photo just right. I give the gameplay an A.

The soundtrack is fine. I don’t really have much to say about it. It serves its purpose. I give it a B.



To conclude, this is a fine game. It is quite lacking overall. I think this game has a soft spot for me mainly because of how unique the gameplay is. I give the game a 7/10.

At a Glance: Pokemon Snap

Summary: Take pictures of Pokemon for Professor Oak on Pokemon Island.

Rated: E for Everyone

Price: N64: $19.99 (Gamestop) Wii U: $9.99

Distributor: Nintendo

System: N64 and Wii U

Release Date: N64: June 30, 1999, Wii U: January 5, 2017. 

Rating: 7/10.

Undertale Review

Y’know what RPG a ton of people loved from the SNES era? Earthbound. The game had great characters, story, and a soundtrack to boot. Toby Fox, the creator of the famous Earthbound Halloween hack, decided to create an RPG where you didn’t need to kill everyone that crosses your path. When the game’s campaign was launched on Kickstarter with a $5000 goal, the game received about $51,000. In about 32 months, Toby Fox, along with Temmie Chang as his art assistant, created Undertale. Undertale was nominated for Best Story in the BAFTA Awards. In the NAVGTR Awards, it won Original Role Playing and was nominated for Original Light Mix Score and Game Design. Since it’s release, it has been loved by many thanks to its beloved characters and story while also hated due to the memes or the “toxic” fanbase. So, is the game sweet as butterscotch cinnamon pie? Or is the game as bad as Papyrus’ spaghetti? Find out in this review.

Long ago, two races ruled over Earth: Humans and Monsters. One day, war broke out between the

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two races. After a long battle, the humans were victorious. They sealed the monsters underground with a magic spell. Many years later, in the year 201X to be precise, a young girl (Boy? The gender is up for debate but I’m gonna stick with a girl) named Chara falls into Mt. Ebott and enters the Underground, a world civilized with the monsters that were banished. In order to escape the Underground, Chara must reach the barrier on the other side of the region. As Chara, you will encounter many unique and charming characters like a motherly goat, a humerus skeleton, a fish warrior, etc. Unlike most RPG’s, while it is turn-based, there is skill in these battles. When a monster attacks, you will move your soul, which takes the form of a heart, and dodge obstacles. If you get hit by the obstacles, you will lose damage. Another thing the battle system has that most RPG’s don’t is an ACT and MERCY option. With ACT you can interact with the enemy you are facing. Like complimenting, hugging, or insulting them. The MERCY option allows you to either spare or flee. If you manage to make your opponent not want to fight you anymore, you will be able to spare it. There are three routes you may take on your adventure. The pacifist route, where you don’t kill anyone. The neutral route, where you kill some but not everyone. Finally, the genocide route, where you grind till you can’t fight any more monsters.

As stories go, this game has one of my favorites. With a great cast of characters, story, and humor, it will get you to laugh or cry (the latter especially on the genocide route). The game also has a bit of mystery around it. Especially with a certain character named ♋︎⬧︎⧫︎♏︎❒︎. I give the story an A+.

The gameplay, while short, is very fun. The genocide route is pretty tedious to a point where you have to grind in every area. I give the gameplay an A-.

The soundtrack is beautiful. It has songs like “Hopes and Dreams,” “Undertale,” and “Heartache.”

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My favorite song in the game is “It’s Raining Somewhere Else.” As previously mentioned, it reuses a lot of its music, however. I am honestly not sure if that makes Toby Fox a composing genius or lazy. I’m going with the latter. I give the soundtrack an A.

To conclude, this game is pretty good. It has great characters, jokes, and music. There are a few issues with it, but it is still one of my favorite games. I give the game an 8.8/10.




Piece of advice though, if you do want to check out the fanbase, I recommend taking a look at Handplates, Camila Cuevas’ Glitchtale, and Nick Nitro.

At a Glance: Undertale
Summary: Escape the Underground while making friends or killing monsters along the way.
Rated: E 10+ for Everyone 10 and up. Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, and Use of Tobacco
Price: Console: $14.99 Steam: $9.99
Systems: PS4, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, PC.
Distributor: 8-4, Ltd.
Release Date: Steam: September 15, 2015 PS4/Vita: August 15, 2017 Switch: September 18, 2018.
Rating: 8.8/10

Samba De Amigo Review

How in the Green Hills do you start a review on Samba De Amigo? Well, it began as an arcade machine on December 21, 1999. A year later, Samba De Amigo, a rhythm game, was released on the Dreamcast. The game received very positive reviews. It won “Best Social/Casual/Puzzle/Family Game” in the 2000 Game Critics Award as well as “Best Console Puzzle Game” in Gamespot’s Best and Worst of the Year. In 2008, a port of the game was released on the Wii. The port of the game wasn’t as well-received as the original due to the Wii’s controls. So, is the game an amigo o enemigo? (That is probably the only Spanish joke I can come up with.)


Note: I will be reviewing the Wii version.


You play as Amigo, a maraca-playing monkey. The main point of the game is to shake the Wii remote

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and nunchuck (you can play with two Wii remotes if you want) in the direction of the six colored circles with the rhythm of the music to gain points. The better you do, the higher your rank gets. Characters (including your Mii) will also dance along with you as you play.


There isn’t a story in this story. There are characters like Amiga, Linda, and Rio but they don’t do much besides dance along with you. I honestly feel these characters were a missed opportunity. I would love to see more of these characters and their background (except Linda, she makes me uncomfortable). I give the story a C+.


There are several modes you can play. There is the Career mode where you can play several songs. As you play, you will unlock more songs and progress through the mode. There is also the single-player mode where you can play the songs you’ve already played in different difficulty settings as well as some minigames. In the minigames, you can play Guacamole (Get it? It’s whack-a-mole.), Strike a Pose, Volleyball, etc. The main problem with the Career mode and the minigames in general is the Wii Remote’s motion controls. The moves you make with the remote will occasionally not register. The Strike a Pose is basically unbeatable since the Wii Remote won’t let you do certain poses. The Volleyball game doesn’t require any motion controls thankfully; however, a single game of that takes forever to do (either that or I am just bad at volleyball). I can’t say much about the Multiplayer as I haven’t played much of it. So overall, while the game can be fun, the motion controls ruin it. I give the gameplay a B-.


Now for the soundtrack. Honestly, I am not familiar with Latin music (or whatever it’s called), but I

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really do like the music Samba De Amigo uses. It has songs like the “Macarena,” “Bamboleo”(my favorite), “Cha Cha,” etc. My problem with the game’s soundtrack is its lack of originality. Even the main title theme is borrowing “Samba de Janeiro” by Bellini (Here is the original and here is the title screen to compare). I give the soundtrack an A-.


The game also has this style to it that is both absurd and yet charming. Some people may like the style the game goes for but I am a bit conflicted on whether or not I like it myself.


To conclude, this game is….fine. The story seems like a missed opportunity and the gameplay is ruined thanks to the motion controls. The game is saved by its sweet soundtrack despite it being unoriginal for the most part. I give the game a 6.5/10.





At a Glance: Samba De Amigo


Summary: Play as Amigo as you shake your maracas to the beat of the music.


Rated: E for Everyone: Mild Lyrics


Price: Dreamcast: $3.49 (Gamestop) Wii: $18.99 (Amazon)


Distributor: Sega


System: Dreamcast and Wii.


Release Date: Dreamcast: Oct. 16, 2000 Wii: Sept. 23, 2008

Rating: 6.5/10.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Review

After eight years of waiting for another installment for the Animal Crossing franchise, “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” was released on March 20. Judging by what other players have thought about the game, it seems to have been worth the eight years. The game has won the hearts of many reviewers such as IGN (it got Editor’s Choice in that review, too), Nintendo Life, and Gamespot. So, is the game worth your bells? Or is the game just a chore?

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Congratulations! You have purchased Tom Nook’s Deserted Island Package! You, and two other animal villagers, move into a deserted island. Unlike the previous entries in the Animal Crossing series where you are already in a town with shops and houses, you help make them. This is a deserted island after all. IGN writer Samuel Claiborn did find the game a little slow saying that “it takes too long to get to the good stuff. And by “good stuff” I mean the basics: The museum, shopping, and even access to parts of the island which require tools like the pole and ladder to reach.” I actually didn’t mind this and, in fact, I like the progression in this game where you will eventually explore more of the island as you live in it.


You are then in debt to Tom Nook for the tent you place down on the island and the phone he gives you, more on that later. The gameplay is similar to the previous games in which you have to collect bugs, fishes, and fossils to pay your debt to Tom Nook. Once you pay your debt, you can upgrade your tent to a house that brings you to another debt and the cycle continues. There are a few major additions to this game, however.


The first one is crafting. As you progress through the game, you will collect recipes that will require materials found inside trees, rocks, or even on the beach to craft. The tools you use will also be crafted but will break over time.


The second new entry to the series is the Nook phone. This gadget allows you to access certain apps such as calling other human villagers on the island, viewing the DIY recipes for crafting, and making designs for clothing.


The third addition to the game is the Nook Miles app. This acts like achievements and will award you with Nook Miles. You can exchange these for furniture, recipes, pocket expansions, or tickets to deserted islands. You can invite other animal villagers from these islands and get more materials if you use up everything on your island.

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When interacting with these villagers, I at first was worried I wouldn't be able to do errands for them like in the previous entries. You actually have to talk with them and give them gifts every once in a while to grow a bond with them so they can trust you and ask you to help them. The villagers are very kind and loving. One example is from a critic (Kallie Plagge) from Gamespot who mentioned that "I wasn't sure if I liked Stu, for example, until I stumbled upon him singing an adorable song to himself in the middle of town. I watched him for a very long time, and Flurry even walked up and watched him with me. Now they're my two favorites.”










In New Leaf, you can do projects such as bridges, lighthouses, and other buildings. My issue with that is it was a bit of a hassle dealing with the projects along with your debt to Tom Nook. In New Horizons, you also have projects but they are mainly bridges and inclines. Stuff like lighthouses you can buy using Nook Miles or even crafting which I don’t mind as much.

Image courtesy of Nintendo

Out of all of the Animal Crossing games, this one is the most gorgeous of them all. There is a little introduction video that shows the beauty of this game. The leaves in the trees blow with the wind, the cherry blossoms fall from the trees during the spring, and snowfalls during the winter. In fact, Nintendo Life reviewer, Alex Olney, says New Horizons is “one of the prettiest games on the Switch.”


There is an issue, however, that has angered many fans, including me. You can only have one island per game. If you want another island, you can’t just make another profile; you must buy another copy of the game -- which is $59.99 at present -- in order to get it. Sure, the previous entries had this issue but they were for handhelds. Even the Gamecube used memory cards to store the data (which are only $5 to $10 nowadays. I couldn't find how much they were back in the day).


The soundtrack is, like in every Animal Crossing game, pretty nice. The music changes depending on the weather and time. Before the Town Hall is built, the same song is looped. After it is built, the hourly music begins.


So to summarize, Animal Crossing was never one for its story but, like the previous entries, it has cute and quirky characters. I give the story a B+. The gameplay is as great as the previous entries and crafting is a great addition to the game. The fact that you need to buy another copy of the game to have another island is frustrating though. I give the gameplay an A. The soundtrack is very nice. It is ambient however so I give the soundtrack an A. The game gets bonus points for pretty art-style.


To conclude, “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” is a very fun game. It has great gameplay, charming characters, and a beautiful art-style. It may lack in story, but I recommend this game during our time in quarantine. I give this game an 8.8/10.





At a Glance:


Animal Crossing: New Horizons


Summary: Gather fish and bugs while interacting with animal villagers on a deserted island.


Rated: E for Everyone: Comic Mischief


Price: $59.99


Distributor: Nintendo


Console: Nintendo Switch

Rating: 8.8/10