Inestimate's Game Reviews

  Console: Switch Developer: Game Freak Release Date:  November 18, 2022 (DLC released  September 13, 2023,  December 14, 2023 and January 11, 2024) Pokémon Violet  (and its sister game, Pokémon Scarlet ) is an open world, turn-based RPG focused around capturing and training creatures, and the beginning of the 9th Generation of Pokémon games. While its predecessors, Pokémon Shield  and Pokémon Sword  were a hybrid of open world and more traditional Pokémon gameplay, Pokémon Violet  and Pokémon Scarlet  are the first true open world games in the series. This Generation, including DLC, introduces around 120 new Pokémon, some with multiple forms, multiple new moves, abilities and items, and a new region based on Spain: Paldea. As is now typical of a new mainline Pokémon game, Pokémon Violet  adds multiple new gimmicks to the series to make itself stand out as unique, including Terastalizing, Picnics, Auto Battles, Tera Raids, and the U...

  Console: 3DS (eShop Exclusive) Developer: HAL Laboratory Release Date: June 30th 2016 BoxBoxBoy! is the sequel to BoxBoy! which released a year earlier, though I'd argue it feels more like a massive level pack than a sequel. As a result, I'll be talking about both games, since they're so similar. BoxBoy! is a minimalistic puzzle game with light platforming elements that is completely based around a single mechanic: being able to extend boxes from your body to create platforms. While this sounds simple and like it would get boring fast, HAL (most known for developing the Kirby games) keep introducing new obstacles and mechanics to keep the game fresh. Also, as is typical of HAL, there's an optional challenge added to every level: a number of crowns (usually just 1, but sometimes 2 or more) are scattered in every level and you need to collect them without using too many boxes. Each level is structured in small areas with a single puzzle separated by checkpoints that...