作者彙整: Kimberley Wallace
The Resident Evil 2 Remake Breathes New Life Into Claire
I’ll be upfront: Claire Redfield has always been my favorite Resident Evil character. She’s caring, strong-willed, and a total badass. She’s everything you’d expect from a good hero, and when we met Claire back in 1998’s Resident Evil 2, she was simply that, only defined by a few characteristics. Her red vest and motorcycle gave her a tough exterior, while her concern for her brother and quest to save Sherry Birkin showed a more sensitive side. The remake stays faithful to the original story, but it adds some extra layers to Claire’s personality. One thing I couldn’t get over as I played her campaign is just how these little additions, such as better bonding moments with Sherry and hilarious responses to being caught off guard by zombies and Mr. X, make such a difference.
In many ways, Claire feels closer to her Resident Evil Revelations 2 incarnation –composed and confident, ready to tackle the situation at hand and equipped with a killer one-liner. Who can forget her satisfying “Oversee this, bitch” quip? I’m glad that the Resident Evil 2 remake gave her just as many, if not more, great reactions. I love her shouting obscenities as she downs zombies, and saying things like “You can’t be serious” or “What the hell is that?” as her luck runs out. Leon does this to some extent too, but Claire’s responses have an extra hint of sass and frustration. It feels like you’re right there with her, having eerily similar thoughts. At one point, I made a mistake in the sewers, causing her to slide down the rushing water to an area I had previously been and damn, did Claire’s annoyed “You’ve got to be kidding me” reaction line up with mine.
This improved characterization goes beyond simple comments during combat and exploration; Claire and Sherry’s relationship is also enhanced and their interactions feel much more emotional and genuine. My favorite moment comes when Sherry asks Claire why she’s doing all this for her, and Claire mainly states, “Because I care.” You believe those simple words, because Claire’s proven it time and time again by stopping at nothing to ensure Sherry’s survival. I think this remake sells it better since we see it more in how Claire interacts with Sherry’s mom Annette and kidnapper Chief Irons. A nurturing and protective side that simply wasn’t as strong in the original emerges. Maybe it’s the desperation or sternness in her voice in these scenes, but more than better voice acting is at play here. These interactions hold more nuance and depth, and it allows Claire’s connection to Sherry feel much more personal and less about filling the “big sister” archetype she did when the game first came out.
Overall, Claire’s character is much more convincing, selling me on her feelings and motivations. This is necessary, because unlike Leon, who has a job to serve and protect, Claire’s journey is more personal. She doesn’t have to go to the lengths that she does for Sherry – she chooses to, and that says a lot about her as a person.
While the remake stays very true to this story arc, it amazes me how just a few changes such as extra lines and nuanced voice acting can make the impact so much stronger. It’s proof you don’t have to reinvent a character; sometimes it’s just about building off what’s there. The Resident Evil 2 remake gives Claire more depth and personality, and that in turn makes her that much more enjoyable to control. As a long-time Claire fan, I’m happy Capcom continues to make her character stronger at every opportunity.
10 Quick Tips For Getting Started In Kingdom Hearts III
Right now, you’re probably anxiously counting the seconds until you can launch Kingdom Hearts III. I don’t blame you; it’s been a long ride to reach the finale of the Xehanort arc. Of course, the best keyblade wielders come prepared, so while you wait, here are some quick tips to get you started on your journey to Disney worlds far and wide.
Take Advantage of Cooking Perks
Early in the game, you’ll unlock Little Chef’s Bistro, where you’ll cook with none other than Remy from Ratatouille. Besides that honor, cooking is also extremely beneficial, providing boosts to all your stats, alongside other perks such as increasing your loot from battle. All you need to do is collect ingredients while traversing worlds and then bring them back to Remy. Next, you’ll play short, easy minigames to unlock new dishes. Once you make the delicacy of your choice, you can then build a meal by selecting cuisine in the main menu, set your appetizer, main course, dessert, and more. These bonuses can be pretty big, especially as you mix and match meals as the game goes on. It’s fun to see what you’ll create next, hang with Remy, and watch your bonuses multiply.
Swap Keyblades Depending On Enemy Type
You can now wield up to three keyblades and equip them on the fly, so it’s best to use them to your advantage. Keyblades all have their own special form changes, each of which is more beneficial in unique situations. Some will be great for enhancing magic or boosting defense, and some will be better to use on flying enemies or hulking baddies. My advice? Try to have a keyblade equipped that complements the three main areas: attack, defense, and magic. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but it does come in handy.
Build Up Your Gummi Ship
Look, you’ll love or hate the Gummi Ship, and how much time and effort you want to give it is entirely up to you. However, you will be required to take it for a spin between worlds and face-off against space enemies. To make this aspect go as smoothly as possible, upgrade your Gummi Ship as much as you can. The Gummi Shop allows you to purchase everything from higher-level blueprints to extra pieces (even a Chocobo) that can increase certain stats. You will also find numerous parts as you explore the universe. Visit the Gummi editor to install new blocks, such as weapon or movement gummies. Giving yourself some extra firepower or movement speed can make getting to the next world less of a hassle, plus it’s cool to see your ship grow and stand tall against everything and anything.
Pay Attention To Enemy Patterns
At its core, Kingdom Hearts is an action game and boss battles often come down to recognizing enemy patterns. Pay attention closely so you know if they’re about to fire off a powerful magic attack that you can avoid. Having the right timing can get you through the toughest situations. While this won’t be as important on lower difficulties, it’s still important to keep in mind, as true to the series, bosses have multiple health bars and different forms to withstand. Don’t forget you also have reprisals and the ability to launch baddies in your back pocket.
Keep Upgrading Your Keyblades
When you’re at the workshop, you can synthesize items from parts you collect by defeating enemies and exploring each world. It also holds The Keyblade Forge, where you can upgrade your keyblade using materials you’ve collected. Not only will this increase the keyblade’s stats, but it also unlocks new abilities, such as stun protection or advanced magic. You get a lot of keyblades, so it’s best to find the ones you want to focus on and save up the crystals required to upgrade them. In the beginning, this won’t matter much, but as you advance, certain resources become more scarce, meaning you want to make the most of ones you do collect.
Use Your Shortcuts Wisely
In the customize menu, you can set up shortcuts, so you can instantly use an ability when you’re in a bind. This lets you tap a button and bypass navigating the battle menu to select it. Set the abilities you use the most to these. I recommend always having a form of cure on hand, and giving yourself a Link or two to access in case of emergency (more on that later).
Search, Search, Search!
Notice a trend for collecting in these tips? I don’t have to tell you that it’s important to scour environments for treasure chests, but the worlds also house some fun bonuses, like minigames. If you want to max out your keyblade upgrades, synthesize powerful new accessories, or cook every meal possible, you’ll need to take the time to defeat baddies and search every area thoroughly. This tip really depends on how thorough of a player you want to be. By no means do you have to be a completionist to get through the game, but if you want to be, there’s plenty to suss out, especially when you add photo missions and lucky emblems into the equation. Either way, it never hurts to pick up some extra goodies along the way.
Don’t Forget About Donald and Goofy!
It’s great to have Sora back with his two buddies, but don’t forget to check in on their equipment and abilities every so often. Like Sora, you can put armor and accessories on them and choose their abilities. Invest wisely and let your buddies reach their full potential in battle. This also extends to the various other Disney characters that temporarily join you. It’s worth looking at their equipment and abilities and providing them with an edge.
Low On Health? Remember These…
Similar to summons from previous entries, Links allow you to call on a special Disney character to help you in battle. Each is unique with their own cool attacks, but they all can be a godsend in a dire moment. They may drain all your MP, but they fully restore your team’s HP. You can also have one kupo coin in your inventory at a time, having this ensures that when Sora’ HP reaches 0, the moogles will rescue you from defeat. It only works once per battle and you have to purchase the coin, but it’s good to have a backup plan.
Choosing A Difficulty
As far as gameplay is concerned, Kingdom Hearts III is pretty straightforward, even if you haven’t touched the series. For seasoned players, you may want to bump up the difficulty to proud to start, as this entry is on the easier side. Standard will suit the average player just fine, while beginner is best for those who want to focus on the story and get through the battles as quickly as possible. Look, I get it, you’ve waited a long time to see the fates of these characters. No shame! But also note, once you choose a difficulty, you are locked into it.
For more on Kingdom Hearts III, read about the story threads we hope it ties up in addition to our review.
Kingdom Hearts III Review – A Main Attraction Worth Waiting For
Xbox One
If Disney has taught us anything, it’s to believe in magic. The company’s partnership with Square Enix may have seemed unlikely 17 years ago, but Kingdom Hearts became a phenomenon with a dedicated fanbase that remained invested in a sprawling story spanning eight entries and multiple consoles. Now, Kingdom Hearts III finally takes the next major step in that journey, giving fans what we’ve been waiting for: resolution. The new installment addresses threads that have been left hanging for years, and it does so by leveraging the Disney magic that seems to make anything possible. The result is the series at its strongest, and most importantly, it provides satisfying answers to the biggest question marks.
The story is a dream come true for devoted fans. Kingdom Hearts III explores plot points that wind through 358/2 Days, Birth by Sleep, Re:coded, and more; the narrative picks up where Dream Drop Distance left off, with Sora attempting to regain and enhance his lost power to stand a chance against Xehanort. So much has happened to so many different characters in the franchise, and spotting these familiar faces in Kingdom Hearts III and learning what they’ve been up to is exciting and makes the years of investment feel worthwhile. Like many fans, I’ve been wondering the fate of beloved characters, such as Aqua, Roxas, and Naminé. Kingdom Hearts III takes these arcs in intriguing and surprising directions, while also providing some closure. Let’s just say there are some cool scenes that still stick out in my mind, especially after waiting nearly a decade to see if Birth by Sleep’s Aqua, Ventus, and Terra would ever be reunited.
As much as I enjoyed the tale, newcomers (and even old fans who have just missed a few entries) will probably have a hard time following many portions. A memory archive in the menu provides short videos to get you up to speed or refresh your memory, but they’re not comprehensive. As a result, this is not a good place to jump into the series, but it remains rewarding for those who are already invested.
In terms of gameplay, everything that worked in previous entries is on display here. The action-packed combat is fast and fluid, testing your twitch skills and ability to recognize attack patterns. The battlefields are chaotic, which can be overwhelming, but the arsenal of options you have to eliminate foes is staggering. Chaining combos becomes extremely rewarding with keyblade transformations, which let your weapon turn into various implements, including everything from dual pistols to yo-yos. Do enough damage and attack an enemy when a green indicator flashes, and you can use iconic Disney attractions, like the mad tea cups and pirate ship, to take down enemies in a jiffy. This doesn’t even tap into the special attacks you can do with your party members, such as flinging Goofy at enemies or riding a rocket with Buzz and Woody to ram your enemies. Incidentally, after being away from Donald and Goofy for the last few entries, having them at your side again feels great.
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Your ability to move through the world is impressive, especially with the increased verticality. Expect to climb up plenty of walls. Flowmotion still lets you swing around poles and air slide off walls for bursts of speed to damage enemies and Shotlock also returns, allowing you to lock-on to multiple baddies and stream projectiles. Using all the special ways to attack in concert makes you feel powerful. The only thing missing was a sense of growing power from the new abilities gained by leveling up. In the past, a new magic, attack, or counter would make a significant difference. That’s mostly tied to the keyblades now, as you upgrade them and open up more advanced transformations, so Sora’s personal progression feels less impactful.
Visiting popular Disney worlds and interacting with these iconic characters has been a signature aspect of the series, and this entry does not disappoint. Each world incorporates new elements that feel distinctly different. In the Toy Story world, you can jump into toy mechs, using your robot arms to punch and shoot lasers at foes. The Pirates of the Caribbean world lets you engage in ship battles (similar to certain Assassin’s Creed games) where you must brace for impact and fire off cannons to take down ships in the distance. For the majority of Big Hero Six, you’re traversing high buildings and battling in the air. That was all fun, but not every world is a winner. I wasn’t a big fan of Tangled and its repetitive forests and silly dancing minigame. I also hated when I was forced to go on silly little fetch quests, like collecting 300 crabs for Jack Sparrow, or searching for all of Olaf’s hidden body parts in Frozen. But even with those frustrations, the expanded size and scope of the worlds in Kingdom Hearts III makes this the best and most varied collection of destinations in the franchise. Even the graphics are impressive for how close they mimic the films, right down to Pixar’s clear and exaggerated style to the live-action realism of the Pirates of the Caribbean.
The Gummi Ship is also back as your main transportation between worlds. If you’ve played the series, you probably already know how you feel about it. It’s polarizing, and Kingdom Hearts III does nothing to change your mind. You can customize the ship more than ever before (my favorite part) and have greater flexibility in going off the beaten path for treasure spheres and other discoveries. However, it still feels like busywork – an obstacle you have to get through to get to the main attraction.
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Kingdom Hearts III does have some minor disappointments. The extra content is of uneven quality, like minigames sometimes being too simplistic for their own good. I also wasn’t fond of the repetitive boss battles toward the end, since repeatedly facing similar foes is a tedious way to drag out the finale. Also, though I had fun spotting nods to Final Fantasy littered throughout the worlds, that popular franchise’s presence has been reduced to a very minor role. The lessening of Final Fantasy cameos didn’t impact my enjoyment, but the characters don’t play a role in the main story. That doesn’t mean they won’t show up in some of the optional content, but the days of fighting alongside heroes like Aerith and Auron appear to be over.
While not perfect, Kingdom Hearts III is the game I’ve been waiting for. After finishing it, I was delighted by how satisfied I was with the journey. I traversed worlds with some of my favorite Disney characters, persevered through challenging boss battles, and saw a triumphant finale that only makes me more excited for the future. The series still has a lot of heart, and that’s what makes it so endearing.
Score: 9.5
Summary: The latest entry isn’t afraid to go big, but it also doesn’t forget what made fans fall in love in the first place.
Concept: Visit Disney worlds with Sora and company to put a stop to antagonist Xehanort’s evil deeds
Graphics: With detailed environments and character models, the series looks better than ever. The Disney worlds are especially impressive, matching the movies they represent wonderfully
Sound: Main composer Yoko Shimomura’s ability to capture Kingdom Hearts’ emotional essence shines here yet again. The classic Disney music helps bring each world to life, and watching Sora explore Frozen while “Let It Go” plays makes me grin
Playability: The action-based combat is easy to learn, but has enough depth to keep you engaged. Multiple difficulty levels let players of all skill levels get into the action, but the previous story threads aren’t as easy to follow
Entertainment: With higher stakes, Kingdom Hearts III is a lot of spectacle in the best way possible. It isn’t afraid to go big, but it also doesn’t forget what made fans fall in love in the first place
Replay: Moderate
The Council Review – The Wrong Side Of History
Xbox One, PC
History is full of power struggles, great betrayals, and behind-the-scenes scheming. The ugly side of politics often rears its head as leaders engage in the cutthroat pursuit of protecting their citizens … and themselves. The Council explores this concept, allowing you to align yourself with renowned historical figures to decide what’s best for the world. With a cool geopolitical backdrop, you’d think The Council would be engaging. While the scheming is full of good ideas, it never lives up to its potential. The adventure is disappointing and unsatisfying, with ridiculous plotlines, technical shortcomings, and annoying puzzles.
The Council begins as a mystery of sorts. You arrive at a strange manor where your mother has gone missing. The reason for your visit? Your mother is part of a secret society that determines how to govern the world. It’s up to you to investigate this unique group, which includes famous individuals such as George Washington and Napoleon Bonaparte. The plot starts off promising, referencing historical events and exploring how religion has influenced government, but as fictional elements grow more prominent, it goes even further off the rails. When a huge plot twist was revealed halfway through the five episode arc, I lost all enthusiasm for the story – and further developments made me even more disappointed. To be blunt, the plot insults your intelligence with clichéd good-versus-evil comparisons. The tale unfolds through voice acting so bad it’s distracting, and watching the wooden character models interact is just as jarring. This hurts the immersion just as much as the horrendous twists; for a narrative-driven experience like The Council, these are all big problems.
At the very least, The Council has some interesting wrinkles in how it explores choice and progression. Every political mastermind has skills that make them successful, and this is put directly into the gameplay with light RPG elements. You pick from three classes – diplomat, occult, or detective – but you’re not cut off from gaining skills in different trees. As you play, you can apply points to increase your prowess in particular skills, like conviction, diversion, and psychology. Permanent bonuses called talents are unlocked depending on how you react and what you find in the manor. These can be anything from gaining additional experience to obtaining extra items. As someone who plays a lot of RPGs and loves building characters, I enjoyed this aspect. You’re always balancing what’s more important for you to focus on. Do you want to level up the manipulation skill to get people to act in your interest, or invest in the ability to pick locks to obtain beneficial items and information?
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This all plays into your conversations. Depending on your aptitudes and the information you uncover, certain dialogue options open up. As in politics, relationships are important and fragile. A wrong move can cost you, but you can also make enemies into allies just as quickly with the right argument. The basic gameplay revolves around effort points, where some dialogue options have a cost, and that cost is lowered depending on your skills. You only get so many each quest to expend, so choosing wisely is essential. You want to invest optimally, whether it’s in an alliance or learning a secret that changes your perspective on a situation. The game has its share of alternative paths because of this, but that doesn’t matter when they all lead you down bad plotlines.
In addition to exploring the manor, building relationships, and making decisions, you encounter puzzles, which are more complex and logic-centric than we’ve seen in recent narrative games like Life is Strange and Telltale’s The Walking Dead. While I enjoy solving riddles and brain teasers, The Council’s puzzles are tedious. For instance, one had me matching religious figures in paintings to their associated bible verse. If that required me to sort through a book or two, it wouldn’t be so boring but this is a drawn-out process that you do multiple times by trying to decipher clues for the verses that span across many different gospels and passages. I much preferred when deducing solutions based on the information you have, such as learning how to write messages in a secret code and matching historical dates and events to access a secret room. As you solve various puzzles, expect to backtrack to talk to people and gather requested items, which is exacerbated by long load times when you enter a new room.
The Council’s bad graphics, voice acting, and load times didn’t bother me as much as its problematic narrative. What’s the point of having choice and consequence when you don’t care about the story you’re inhabiting? The Council seems promising with its good ideas, but then when you get further into it, it betrays you like a dishonest politician.
Score: 6.5
Summary: The Council has an alluring premise with interesting choices and consequences. However, it falls apart with absurd plot twists, tedious backtracking, and unexciting puzzles.
Concept: As a member of secret society, you arrive at a mysterious manor where you brush shoulders with historical figures, uncover secrets, and decide the future of the world
Graphics: Outside of the unremarkable visuals, the unnatural body animations and poorly synchronized dialogue breaks immersion
Sound: The voice acting is awkward and horrendously stilted, to the point that the game would be better without it
Playability: Moving around the manor and picking dialogue options is easy, but trying to select items in close proximity to each other is frustrating and text sometimes blends in with the backdrop
Entertainment: The Council has an alluring premise with interesting choices and consequences. However, it falls apart with absurd plot twists, tedious backtracking, and unexciting puzzles
Replay: Moderate
