The Unpopular Opinion 4: Games We Liked That Many Did Not

The staff at SuperPhillip Central loves games. We live them, we breathe them, we bathe with them, etc. However, we sometimes go outside the norm with our reviews, bashing titles that many others enjoyed, and heralding other games that have received poor scores or negative feedback within the gaming community. This article focuses on the latter type of games. As the title suggests, this is our second go at representing the games that a sizable chunk of gamers and critics lambasted yet we still enjoy. To check out the first, second, and third articles, click this link, this link and this link. After you're done reading our choices, why not list some of your own?

Dragon Ball: Xenoverse (PS4, XONE, PS3, 360)

Docked points by many critics for having shallow gameplay, repetitive battles, and a clunky camera, we still ended up enjoying Dragon Ball: Xenoverse for what it was. It was a Dragon Ball Z fan's dream come true, allowing deep character customization, a story that didn't mind moving away from the typical scenarios of past Dragon Ball Z games, and had a rich variety of characters, character archetypes, and mind-blowing anime graphics. If you're a lover of games with a multitude of customization options, RPG style gameplay, and intense aerial and ground battles, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is the game for you.

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS)

While we're not head over heels in love with the latest Legend of Zelda release from Nintendo, the game is a far cry from a disappointment. With The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, Nintendo took a different approach to the series, offering multiplayer for up to three friends or total strangers to go through the game's 32 levels, solving puzzles as a team, defeating foes as a team, and collecting loot to create new, advantageous costumes. While the lack of voice chat hurts the online experience when more complicated puzzles poke their head into the player's way, and the online setup in general isn't the most optimal, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, an enjoyable and well designed level-wise multiplayer experience unlike any other was crafted by the fine folks at Nintendo.

Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. (3DS)

The majority of reviews slammed this next game from Intelligent Systems and Nintendo for the slow pace of enemy movement. Thankfully, Nintendo quickly patched in the ability to speed up enemy turns dramatically (either 2X on regular 3DS and 3DS XL models, or 3X on New 3DS models). This made for an experience that was much more tolerable and enjoyable than what was previously available to players. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. remains a challenging turn-based strategy game that requires patience and great strategy to complete. Since you're limited in your view to what your characters can see in their third-person views, smart tactical decisions must be made to stay alive and in one piece. It may not have sold anywhere near expectations (it actually bombed quite magnificently), but Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. is far from a bad game.

Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash (3DS)

Many critics of this next 3DS game and fans of the Chibi-Robo! series in general came off disappointed by Zip Lash's 2D platformer direction, which went against everything the series had been up to this point, save for the 3DS photo game. That is a shame, as Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash is a well put together game, only marred by a bewildering addition of a level wheel that selects which level you'll play next in a given world. Fortunately, it's quite easy to get around the seemingly random picks of levels and get the levels you want, so this is not as big of an issue as many players and critics led us to believe. While the vehicles levels are the weakest part level-wise, Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash is all around an entertaining platformer with a lot of heart.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U)

The main complaint of many behind Kirby and the Rainbow Curse was that it was unfortunate that players had to focus on the Wii U GamePad's screen when the game was so beautiful that it was a shame that they couldn't keep their attention on their television screen for the HD visuals. The lack of copying powers and repetitive boss encounters also saw points deducted by various sources. Still, the claymation art style delights, the stylus-driven gameplay is as innovative as it was when the Nintendo DS original Kirby Canvas Curse released, and the level design, though somewhat linear, houses  a profusion of captivating secrets and hidden treasures. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is by no means the best the Wii U had to offer this year for system owners, but it was also by no means the worst.

Legend of Kay Anniversary (PS4, Wii U, PS3, 360)

An imperfect 3D action/adventure game in every sense of the word, Legend of Kay Anniversary is a remastered version of the PlayStation 2 release Legend of Kay. Of all the games from the PS2 generation that could have been remastered or even remade, Legend of Kay was certainly an odd choice. Regardless, while the game suffers from plenty of problems such as the inability to return to past areas, grating voice work, and some repetitive combat and scenarios, Legend of Kay Anniversary is a very capable game whose budget price made it much easier to overlook the game's issues and become fun enough by SuperPhillip Central's standards.

Star Fox Adventures (GCN)

Shigeru Miyamoto suggested to Rare that instead of using an all-new protagonist and using the Dinosaur Planet new IP, Rare should bring in Fox McCloud and the Star Fox moniker to the game instead. Whether this was because Miyamoto figured the Star Fox license would work better for the game or because he knew that Microsoft would be soon buying Rare, and thus, taking the Dinosaur Planet IP with them is unknown. Regardless, this Zelda-like game was a far cry from what fans of the Star Fox franchise were expecting. However, the actual game, though not without its own problems, wound up as a captivating action/adventure title released in the first two years of the Nintendo GameCube's life. While not the desired finale to Rare's partnership with Nintendo's home consoles, Star Fox Adventures remains a compelling and enjoyable game.

Jet Force Gemini (N64)

Speaking of Rare-developed games, Jet Force Gemini's biggest annoyance to many fans is how in order to reach the final level, the final boss, and see the credits of the game, players need to rescue every Tribal in the game. This requires plenty of returning to past planets and areas to reach new locales within said planets and areas. While many saw this as pure filler, we at SuperPhillip Central found a new appreciation for the levels and planets we previously had explored. The collection and usage of new items opened up grand new areas that were a blast to journey through, mowing down Mizar's insect horde while rescuing innocent Tribals. Of course, it was a pain when we got a little trigger happy and blew the head off a Tribal and had to restart an area...

Banjo Pilot (GBA)

We just can't quit you, Rare! At least when it comes to The Unpopular Opinion 4. Rare has had many divisive games through its impressive lifespan, and one of the final games released on the Game Boy Advance by Rare was Banjo Pilot, a kart racer that originally starred the cast of the Donkey Kong Country series. There are still remnants of that game in the final product, such as the music, for instance. Banjo Pilot isn't a perfect arcade racing game, as the rubber-band AI is indeed an annoyance, but for all of its quirks, the game is in general fun to play. The colorful cast and areas of the Banjo-Kazooie franchise were well-represented in Banjo Pilot, and the actual flight mechanic felt great too. Sure, the game wasn't worth the five year wait for it, but the end product of Banjo Pilot isn't awful by any stretch of the imagination.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - After the Blood Moon Edition

If you were at a place where you could see the fabled blood moon (curse you, cloudy skies!), then you saw quite the spectacle! Here's another spectacle for you-- it's SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. It is here on a weekly basis that I delve into some of my favorite video game music tracks of all time. If you're just joining SuperPhillip Central, you're about 970 VGM volumes behind. That's okay, though. You can get caught up at the VGM Database.

For everyone else, we have a wide array of music to listen to together. We kick things off with some relaxing character select menu music from Dragon Ball: Xenoverse. Then we have a duo of platformers with Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time and Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando. Finally, we end the week's edition with two retro classics, Shining Force 2 and Mischief Makers! Now that everyone is all caught up, let's get to the music!

v971. Dragon Ball: Xenoverse (Multi) - Character Select

Some nice piano to start this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. This tranquil piano-centric theme of Dragon Ball: Xenoverse's character select theme leads you into a false sense of security before dropping you off in chaotic and climactic battles in land, sea, and air. Xenoverse is the fifteenth Dragon Ball Z fighter, hence its clever acronym, XV. Oh, you clever developers!

v972. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3, Vita) - Go West, Young Raccoon

The second main hub world of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time takes place in the Old West. This song perfectly suits the level. The level itself houses an Old West town, a railroad that circles the map, canyons, and plenty of other sights to see. Hopefully the cliffhanger that was Thieves in Time's ending somehow, someday gets resolved, as many fans, including myself, would love to see a strong conclusion to the events of the game.

v973. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2) - Planet Todano

We go from one PlayStation platforming franchise to another, one of my favorite PlayStation franchises period, Ratchet & Clank. Going Commando remains my favorite in the series, offering a near-perfect mix of platforming, exploration, and run-and-gun gameplay. Planet Todano is home to MegaCorp's testing facility. Be on the lookout for savage squirrels and this hella-funky spy-like theme.

v974. Shining Force 2 (GEN) - Lively Town

Retro time! Shining Force 2 was a Genesis exclusive that helped bolster the system's RPG lineup, something that paled in comparison to what its rival, the Super Nintendo offered, RPG-wise. For every Phantasy Star and Shining Force was a myriad of RPG titles for the old SNES. Shining Force 2 delivers old school RPG charm with a lovely soundtrack, evidenced by this Lively Town theme.

v975. Mischief Makers (N64) - Esperance 1

Still retro, but a little more recent, Mischief Makers was a Treasure-developed game that had the developer's creative and innovative mark all over it. The gameplay is still quite unlike anything else out there, and the game itself was 2D, something rare for the Nintendo 64, which generally was full of 3D endeavors. Still, don't sleep on this cult classic, as it's quite extraordinary.

Review Round-Up - August 2015

Although not SPC's Game of the Month, Dragon Ball:
Xenoverse's power level was pretty extraordinary regardless.

August started out with a steady stream of reviews before slowing down a little. Six reviews were posted last month, offering looks at games like Dragon Fantasy: Volumes of Westeria, which earned a B, Badland: Game of the Year Edition, which netted itself a B-, and Legend of Kay Anniversary, which got itself a C-. What followed was two weeks without a review until Wind-Up Knight 2 stepped up and surprised the heck out of me with its quality, getting a well deserved A-. Following that was Gunman Clive HD Collection the very next day, earning a B+. Finally, Goku's friends and foes had some climactic, breathtaking battles with Dragon Ball: Xenoverse, asking Shenron for a good score, which it received with a B-.

Next month is going to be packed with reviews. I just hope my schedule will allow it! We'll see reviews of Super Mario Maker, Grand Theft Auto V, and much more! I hope you'll find yourself excited to see what else is coming!

Dragon Fantasy: Volumes of Westeria (Wii U eShop, 3DS eShop) - B
Badland: Game of the Year Edition (Wii U eShop) - B-
Legend of Kay Anniversary (Wii U, PS4, PS3, 360) - C-
Wind-Up Knight 2 (Wii U eShop) - A-
Gunman Clive HD Collection (Wii U eShop) - B+
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse (PS4, XONE, PS3, 360) - B-

Two titans butt heads in battle! Just one of many
battle scenarios within Dragon Ball: Xenoverse!

Dragon Ball: Xenoverse (PS4, XONE, PS3, 360) Review

As mentioned, here's that second review. The fifteenth Dragon Ball fighter receives its judgment from SuperPhillip Central here and now. Will this fighter be better than the ones before it? Let's find out with my review.

Rock the Dragon

After years of Dragon Ball Z fighting games, running through the same now-tired story, and featuring minute differences between titles, one might be completely fried when it comes to the games. However, Dimps and Bandai Namco Entertainment have gotten onto something special with the first Dragon Ball Z game of the eighth generation of gaming consoles, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse. With a new take on a tired story, character customization like never seen before, and competent gameplay, there's no need to make a wish to Shenron for a new, capable Dragon Ball Z game.

It's a big, bad battle royale!

You start out by building your custom fighter by selecting one of a handful of races from the Dragon Ball Z saga to play as, whether human/Earthling, Saiyan, Namekian, or Majin, for example. Each race has its own strengths and weaknesses. While the Earthling race is basically the Mario of the races, extremely well rounded, Saiyans have high attack and low health, the Namekians have higher health and regenerate health better than any other race, and the Frieza clan is fast but suffers from low attack strength. You can use a selection of faces, body types, hair types, and much more to tweak your fighter to your desired specifics.

Each race has its own strengths and weaknesses.

As you play through the story and other types of missions, you gain experience points from performing well-- doing things like taking a limited amount of damage, using special attacks, blocking a bunch, defeating enemies, and other aspects of battle. This experience, like an RPG, earns you levels that grant attribute points that can be spent on things like increased health, Ki (the energy used to perform special and ultra attacks), basic attack strength, special attack strength, and a lot more.

You also earn Zeni from battle, the currency of the Dragon Ball series, which can be used in the game hub of Dragon Ball Universe, Toki Toki City, a circular area divided up between three parts. It's in the commercial district that you can spend your Zeni on helpful healing items to be used in especially tough battles in the game, as well as costume pieces for your custom fighter.

Not only are costume pieces great for giving your fighter that special "je ne sais quoi" and fashion flair, but they also give stat boosts to your fighter as well. There are hundreds of different costume parts to choose from, some only being available by playing specific missions over and over again until you randomly unlock the costume part desired. Some costume parts are exclusive to certain races, but most are available for all.

The main attraction of Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is the story missions, having you under the tutelage of the Supreme Kai of Time and Trunks, who is making good on paying his debts for illegally traveling back in time to alter the past to make for a better future. Someone or something is altering the past with evil intentions, making it so history has changed with grave consequences. For instance, the first saga represented in Xenoverse is the Saiyan Saga. One change to history is that when Goku is holding Raditz for Piccolo to use his Special Beam Cannon to defeat him, as well as sacrifice Goku in the process, Raditz slips free just before the beam hits him. This is a great change to what really happened. It's up to your custom fighter to enter these scenarios and fix them. The changes to history in Xenoverse can be mighty big shocks to the Dragon Ball Z faithful. What else can you say about facing a highly capable and almost-as-strong-as-Gohan Hercule?

...I don't remember this scene from the show~!

Apart from the story missions, there are missions known as Parallel Quests. These missions, which can be played with two AI partners (you can select which characters they are) or up to two human players via online, take place in parallel universes where battle conditions and contenders are altered from the norm. One has you taking on Frieza's guards before taking on the power-obsessed foe himself, while others have you teaming up to take on Goku, Gohan, Krillin, Vegeta, and a host of other fighters one after the other at the Cell Games.

"I'll be right over here if you need me, Goku!"

Completing specific requirements in the Parallel Quests offers an extension of the quest, meaning a new foe or foes enter the battlefield as an extra bonus. Beating this enemy or enemies, resulting in an Ultimate Finish, usually gives something good for doing so , and losing a Parallel Quest at this juncture of the quest isn't penalized, as it's merely a bonus part of the quest.

However, sometimes you can complete a quest's completion requirements to unlock the extra part of the quest and still not get the next part. This is where Dragon Ball: Xenoverse's ugliest feature is seen, the random number generator. You see, completing Parallel Quests multiple times is a must because even though each quest has a list of goodies you can unlock, such as costume pieces, special attack moves, and Z-souls (equip-able items that grant a special ability in battle), you are not guaranteed to win them for completing a given Parallel Quest with an Ultimate Finish. Instead, it's totally and frustratingly random. This means that while your friend might get that special jacket that Future Trunks wears on his second time completing a quest with an Ultimate Finish, it might take you 10-20 times to finally obtain it. All that ends up doing is artificially extending the play time of Xenoverse, and unnecessarily so, as there is already a lot of content to be found in game.

"Here's some Ki in your eye, chrome dome!"

Dragon Ball Z's strength lies with its extravagantly entertaining fights and unbridled chaos on the battlefield. Dragon Ball: Xenoverse attempts to match the action of the anime to varying degrees of success. In Xenoverse, battles take place in expansive areas with some destructible obstacles in the form of trees, mountains, houses, among other objects. This opens up the possibility for large scale battles featuring lots of horizontal and vertical flying and moving around. Unfortunately, the lock-on system, while helpful, can make for a very clunky experience when the fighting occurs up close and personal.

Combos are very easy to perform, relying on a series of light and heavy attacks to do damage and continue an impressive barrage of physicality. However, it's all too easy to find a combo that works and keep spamming it for most of the game. Blocks and the ability to teleport behind an attacking foe are indeed legitimate strategies, requiring some stamina to do, and these help in making battles less about spamming and more about strategy.

You don't want to be beaten by an Earthling, do you, Vegeta? The other Saiyans
would never let you off the-- oh. That's right. Almost all of them are dead.

You can utilize powerful Ki blast attacks in both super and ultra form, with the latter requiring more Ki to use. You can either patiently wait for Ki to regenerate or you can use one-time use capsule items to do the job. Each fighter can hold four super blast moves and four ultra blast moves. These are highly impressive to see in motion, offering some "holy crap" moments, particularly if you're the target of a said blast attack.

Big blasts are the norm for a DBZ battle!

Regardless, there is a certain amount of button mashing that Dragon Ball: Xenoverse allows, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who you are. If you're looking for an accessible fighting game, you have one. If you're looking for something complex and in-depth, you should look elsewhere-- even within the Dragon Ball Z line of fighting games.

Xenoverse looks the part of an anime brawler with bright, colorful, and detailed characters, expertly animated. Seeing the detail as a fight goes on with your fighter gaining more scuffs, bruises, and blood is quite a nice touch. Areas feature plenty of eye candy and destructible objects as well. On the audio side of the spectrum, all of the voice actors of Dragon Ball Z Kai have lent their voices to Xenoverse, and all sound great in-game. The sounds of punches, kicks, and Ki blasts connecting enhance the throes of battle perfectly.

...And it was then that Kid Buu let out a huge burp.

Dragon Ball: Xenoverse delivers an amazing recreation of the action from the anime series. It's an obvious "must-have" for fans of the show. For everyone else, it depends on how much you can stand the obnoxious element of randomness to certain content within the game and how simplistic Xenoverse is as a fighter compared to other games in the genre. As someone without much love tied to the Dragon Ball Z series, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse managed to pull me in and unleashed a Kamehameha blast to my brain.

[SPC Says: B-]