Kyle Payne


6 games reviewed
84.2 average score
82 median score
83.3% of games recommended
6.8 / 10.0 - Gal*Gun 2
May 28, 2018

Gal*Gun 2 is an interesting experience, to say the least. I can’t say it’s a bad game, but it isn’t a great one either. I can say I am not the target audience and that’s fine, for those who the game is targeted at, will have a grand time. Judging this game, mechanically, it works, and the concept of rail shooters still works in 2018 despite being popularized over a decade ago. At an asking $60 price, it’s hard to justify but I did have fun with it for what it is. The story and soundtrack are poor, the former by design and the latter because of lack of care. The voice acting is great, and the graphics do well to imitate manga and anime. In the end, it all comes down to if this experience is what you want.

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May 27, 2018

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a fantastic 2D platformer that is challenging, filled with collectibles, and has a nice handful of characters to choose from. The game is beautiful, and the soundtrack is spectacular. The co-op element is wonderful, and the game is a ton of fun. Judging the Switch release without taking the Wii U version into account, this is definitely worth a purchase. However, here is the problem... Other than the higher resolution, the faster loading times, and Funky Kong, it's the same exact game that can be picked up for Wii U and a fraction of the price. Donkey Kong Country fans will not need convincing but for those who own the game on Wii U, the only reason to get this game is for the portability aspect of Switch. It was enough to warrant another purchase for me, but will it be for you? Other than that, this release doesn't add any incentive to double dip. For those who love challenging 2D platforming, this is definitely worth the purchase because of its extremely high fun factor and the challenging difficulty. Regardless of platform or year released, this entry is still a wonderful showcase of Retro Studios creativity and talent, a near masterpiece of exceptional gameplay and design.

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May 27, 2018

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is exactly what the title states; it is the ultimate version of Hyrule Warriors. The game has everything that was available on the 3DS and Wii U combined and runs at 1080p and 60FPS. For those interested in the series but never took the chance, this is the perfect opportunity. The game is loaded with more content than more games with full series, it looks good and the music is pretty great. There is no stuttering, no pop-in, and no performance issues that I’ve encountered. The game offers couch co-op and the story is surprisingly good. For those who have already played it... well, then it might be more difficult to recommend. 3DS players will see a vast difference in visuals and performance and Wii U owners will find an experience similar to what they’ve previously experienced. For you, I imagine portability will be the defining factor. For me, the portability trumps everything else because of my hectic lifestyle. Regardless, one thing is for sure, and that’s that the best version is the Switch version.

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Apr 24, 2018

Lode Runner Legacy is loaded with content and open freedom for individuals to dabble into their creative sides with little restrictions. Puzzles increase in difficulty as you progress through the levels and the gameplay does still hold up after 35 years, but the gameplay is where I can see gamers getting turned off. Unfortunately for Lode Runner, we live in an era where dynamic gameplay is prevalent and new ways to play are being discovered constantly, so players may see this simplicity and not give it a shot. That would be a shame. I’ve really grown to appreciate and enjoy Lode Runner Legacy and I think others could too; I definitely recommend this game.

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Oct 28, 2017

Fire Emblem Warriors offers a plethora of content and the overall experience is fantastic. There are some aspects that fails to live up to what was done in Hyrule Warriors but there are also some mechanics that are better. This game does more right than wrong and the amount of fanservice for both the Fire Emblem fans and those who love the Warriors series shows that care and love went into the coding of this game. I do wish we would have gotten some more characters from older Fire Emblem games and I do wish the story had some deeper meaning and/or player connection but the characters available all are fantastic to play with and they are all diverse in how they attack and how they play. In its debut year, the Switch has racked up a healthy list of games which many of them are must own. It makes me happy to be able to add this Fire Emblem Warriors game to that list. From the massive amounts of unlockables to its customization and to its deep combat, this may be Omega Force and Team Ninja’s best Warriors game to date and they should be applauded for being about to continue the innovation of their franchise and avoid it from becoming stale.

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Breath Of The Wild is one of the best games ever crafted. It is a wonderfully beautiful game in a realistic world with an amazing cast of characters and fulfilling adventure. I recommend everyone to play this game regardless of your opinion on Nintendo or the Zelda franchise because it’s a fun game that looks great. As someone who grew up with the franchise, seeing where it was to where it is, it’s nice to see the series at its pinnacle and once again the game, and franchise, to beat. I look forward to see how the series progress and having the freedom to play it on the go, or on the T.V., makes it even more spectacular. Nintendo has shown that there really isn’t such thing as hardware limitations when you have a strong vision and a great team of developers passionate about crafting a great game and experience. This is a great game with a spectacular vision created by a talented, passionate, group of developers and it’s also a reminder that, sometimes, the best games come from Nintendo. Sometimes the best things truly do come in small packages.

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