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After 40 or so hours, Zenless Zone Zero stands out as a visually distinct, streamlined mobile game that also plays well on PC and console. It has a lot going for it stylistically, but its combat lacks depth compared to competitors and feels like a chore after long stretches of time. I still see it succeeding with regular updates, its character-driven story, and intuitive gameplay, but I wish HoYoverse spent more time pushing the game in a direction with higher stakes and complexity rather than convenience.
While I’ll surely continue to chip away at my best times, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition feels more like practice than the big game itself. It’s a great way to learn the basics of speedrunning, but the outlet for those acquired skills is in another castle. Maybe it’s all building toward the return of the real Nintendo World Championships. If that’s the case, cue the ’80s training montage music. I’m going big time.
After a thorough 25 hours with Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, I’m left torn on what winds up landing as a run-of-the-mill Soulslike. Ideas like its combo system make for a fresh spin on a well-trodden genre, showing a spark of creativity in design. Those are just held back by other underdeveloped ideas that don’t necessarily excel in a particular facet. An added layer of jank certainly doesn’t help matters either. Whether you think of Flintlock as a true Soulslike or a Soulslite, as its developer calls it, it’s still lacking in both departments.
Kunitsu-Gami constantly encourages players to stay engaged, whether that be because they have to plan out the maiden’s path, actively fight enemies during the night, or craft their own interpretation of its mostly dialogue-free narrative. While some parts of the journey can get repetitive, Kunitsu-Gami rewards those who pay attention, learn its deep systems, and adapt to whatever wacky situation it throws at them. There’s nothing else quite like it.
As an amateur birdwatcher myself, Flock really captures something I love about patiently watching animals in their natural habitats. On a recent walk through a nearby cemetery, I caught a bird I’d never seen soaring over a pond. I carefully peeked at it through my binoculars and started taking mental notes. Black feathers. Orange accents on its wings. A quick search let me correctly identify it as a red-winged blackbird, leaving me satisfied with my ability to clock its defining features. I get the same smile on my face whenever I see a green piper wrapped around a tree and correctly guess its name.
Anger Foot's one-note action gimmick can't find a second leg to stand on.
Sometimes a niche series like this that’s been around for decades can become comfortable catering to longtime fans. Banana Rumble avoids that pitfall by instead giving new players all the tools they need to understand each challenge. Casual multiplayer modes, as light as they may be, bring some extra appeal for that crowd. On the other end of the spectrum, the spin dash is a powerful tool for veterans who want a new way to push their skills to the limits. Whether you’re a longtime spectator or a seasoned speed demon, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble saves a seat for you at the party.
Shadow of the Erdtree is so packed with new content that it almost feels like a sequel to Elden Ring.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance makes one of the best open-world RPGs around even better.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a visual stunner for Xbox even if its gameplay isn't too creative.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door stands the test of time and is fantastic on Nintendo Switch.
The cryptic Lorelei and the Laser Eyes may very well be the greatest puzzle game ever made.
Homeworld 3's vast galaxy clashed with the limits of a poorly paced campaign and buggy missions.
Animal Well's deep secrets and arresting atmosphere will suck you down the rabbit hole.
Stellar Blade is a masterclass in style, but it's lacking substance.
Endless Ocean: Luminous’ calming ocean exploration and lovely multiplayer components wear thin due to slow progression hooks that turn every aspect of it into a long chore. With tons of features from previous installments missing, anyone who wants to see its miniscule story to its end will need to tread a lot of water to find the pearls.
Another Crab's Treasure utilizes its charming setting and assist mode options to become one of the most approachable Soulslikes ever.
Sand Land is a definitive adaption of a great Akira Toriyama manga, but just fine as a game.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau tells an emotionally impactful story reinforced by creative design decisions that put a physical feeling to abstract emotions. Its struggles lie in its approach to the Metroidvania genre, as its surprisingly straightforward structure sometimes undercuts the winding tale of acceptance. It’s an imperfect debut, but that’s fitting for a game about something as messy as grief.
As a Suikoden successor, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is faithful to a fault.