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There really isn’t much more to say about Tamagotchi Plaza. It feels like a throwback to the cheap cash-grab minigame collections of the Wii era—a game trying to skate by on name recognition and little else. Who needs fun when you have a Tamagotchi, right?
Dividing a game into five separate genres could be a recipe for disaster, but Shuten Order turns it into something brilliant instead. While some routes are stronger than others, each is enjoyable in its own way, with different gameplay mechanics and structures. Despite some flaws and typos, everything came together in a satisfying way that made Shuten Order a great experience overall.
Varlet feels like a turn-based RPG that is simultaneously doing far too much and far too little. The story is overly complex and long for the game's 16 hour run time, which also takes away from the development of its cast of characters. On the other hand, the dungeons lack personality and variety, and the combat is truly one note, leaving a ton to be desired. I cannot recommend Varlet for anyone, as it doesn't have anything it truly excels at, and far too much that it utterly fails in.
Catto’s Post Office is an adorable, pun-filled, heartwarming, and sincere game, aware of how aspects that might seem small or microscopic in the grand scheme of things can still be extremely important to certain individuals, especially to a sensitive Postcat like Catto. The game made me feel as if I was watching an animated show on TVOKids, Treehouse TV, or Teletoon–sometimes your soul just needs that sort of nourishing game experience.
Time Flies is a profoundly poignant game, allows you to look within yourself and especially with factors that are at play for each person, to hammer down that sonder, if you still have yet to obtain that sense of clarity, or if that sliver of reflection needs to continue growing. Being able to mix gameplay hilarity with the looming death that is ever approaching in this stylistically hand-drawn black and white world fascinates me. Just because you are as tiny as a fly in this game, does not mean your impact on its world is also tiny.
I could go on and on gushing about how much I truly love SHINOBI: Art of the Vengeance. From its stylish, quick-witted gameplay and challenging experience to its beautifully designed character portraits with maps, I scrape to uncover each secret until I reach that 100% completion. Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap was one of my first games I played on the Nintendo Switch that introduced me to this developer, and Lizardcube has done it again with this Shinobi rejuvenation’s smooth and sleek gameplay.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a pleasant and relaxing farming simulator that mixes up the usual formula in an interesting way. The pacing is a bit wonky towards the beginning and can feel a bit repetitive, but playing at your own pace helps to make this a worthwhile game to kick back with.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is an outstanding remake of one of the medium’s finest works. The story is timeless and gripping, the gameplay has been improved upon without losing any of the original’s charm, and the visuals are extraordinary. I’m so glad that one of my very favorite games of all time has been brought to modern consoles in such a loving and wonderful way, and I hope to see the rest of the mainline Metal Gear Solid series get this very same treatment in the future.
Fans of Western RPGs, Dungeons & Dragons RPGs, and CRPGs will find much to enjoy about Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition. Players new to the game and preferring to play on console, this is the only way to play it, and it’s a deal considering how much content is in this game. But if you’re on PC, a modded version of the original might be better.
Herdling tells a poignant tale using simple mechanics, alternating light environmental puzzles with more treacherous gameplay. Some players may find the potential for animal harm in the game upsetting, but the emotional core of its story would ring hollow without adversity.
Regardless of the multiplayer woes I faced, having a small group that played together regularly kept the game fun and fresh. If you have a reliable friend or friends who can play with you, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is a very fun game. If not, it can still be fun for a solo player, but a lot of the magic from co-op, one of the major draws to the game, is completely lost.Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is a lot of fun despite the massively overlooked quality-of-life features that are missing from the game. A few small updates could really put a shine on this otherwise flawed gem.
All in all, my time with Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Definitive Edition was nothing less than spectacular. I understand now why a larger portion of the Warhammer community praises this game. It has a lot of heart and offers a lot to both the RTS and Warhammer communities. Each expansion provides something different and unique; the supported multiplayer is a nice cherry on top. If you've ever been curious about Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, I couldn't think of a better way to play it than with the Definitive Edition.
The saving grace of Mafia: The Old Country is its linear focus. There is not a single point in this game where I was asked to explore the large open map or search for some resource to get arbitrary upgrades. This linear focus and a 10-hour run time kept me from ever getting frustrated or annoyed with my experience, even if I never felt particularly engaged throughout. I’m not mad that I spent my time with Mafia: The Old Country, but for such a focused experience to feel so bland is ultimately disappointing.
Those looking for experimental games made with minimal budgets and offering deep human stories and experiences, Camille and Laura is the game for you. Camille and Laura is short and sweet.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is an incredibly stylish follow-up to an already solid 3D fighter. There’s a wide range of neat characters, a satisfying combat system, exceptional presentation, and a good range of modes. If you’re into Demon Slayer, you’ll be into The Hinokami Chronicles 2.
Ra Ra BOOM is a beat ‘em up and a short experience that doesn’t ask too much of you. Unfortunately, it doesn’t draw interest beyond the great introduction to what could’ve been a group of characters that people started to cosplay as and look forward to wherever they showed up next. The game even has an odd moment where it pokes fun at itself, which feels entirely unearned. The game also has a number of moments that feel like a cutscene or animation of a boss terrorizing the ladies or lurking in the environment are missing, breaking the rule of “show, don’t tell”. As a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mark, I should’ve been ecstatic when I encountered what was effectively an entire level devoted to the franchise, only to feel nothing upon completing the level.
Abyssus is another roguelite that could be balanced much, much better. While I’m sure a friend group could have fun as is, the sheer amount of gameplay-related things (weapons, mods) that must be unlocked could lose players’ interest before they even get to them. There is also an enhanced difficulty setting, which I’m not sure how players will tackle unless there are some extremely powerful hidden charms. The awesome aesthetic (minus the player characters) would’ve made for a great adventure into the depths, provided there were fewer jokes, but maybe a game about colonizing an ancient Aztec/Mesoamerican-inspired civilization shouldn’t think too hard about what it’s actually saying.
Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact is a bit of a mess, despite some fun being present throughout. If there were better visuals, more content, and less exploitable gameplay, it would be a blast to play casually, but what’s present is simply a bit too busted to really get into.
Atmospheric but not scary or interesting.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a near-perfect 3D platformer, delivering groundbreaking mechanics, rewarding puzzles, and incredible creativity—only minor technical issues hold it back from absolute perfection.