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Crisol: Theater of Idols is an engrossing, if slightly unpolished, horror experience that offers a world that is dripping in atmosphere and a combat loop that keeps you on your toes. It might not always terrify you in the way it intends to - especially where Dolores is concerned - but between the grotesque enemy designs and the constant tension of the Blood Bullet mechanic, there is plenty here to enjoy. If you’re a fan of survival horror (and don’t mind a little bit of indie jank), this trip to Tormentosa is well worth the low price of admission.
Despite the sometimes-scrappy combat and the occasional technical issue, it’s hard not to love Romeo is a Dead Man. It has so much personality that you end up forgiving its rough edges, and more importantly, it’s a game that isn’t afraid to be completely stupid, surprisingly thoughtful, and aesthetically loud all at the same time… it’s great. It won’t be for everyone, and if you need your games to be polished to a mirror sheen and make perfect narrative sense, you’ll probably bounce off this hard. But if you’re willing to embrace the silliness and dive into the universe with an open mind, Romeo is a Dead Man offers a thrill ride that is well worth taking.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined walks a delightful tightrope, where it successfully trims the frustration of the original game whilst polishing the gameplay and visuals until they gleam. It’s a cosy, comforting epic that’ll hooks you in with its fantasy adventuring, only now, you don’t have to quit your job to finish it… it’s a win-win, right? The unique diorama visuals are a treat, the combat is deeper than ever, and the newfound respect for your time is genuinely refreshing. It might still be a slow burn for some, but for those seeking a grand adventure with heart, this is undoubtedly the best way to experience this RPG classic.
It has a few small issues, but Escape from Ever After still manages to stand out as a cracking RPG that offers engaging combat that’ll hook players in with its clever mechanics and variety, and a wonderful world and narrative that’s simply oozing with charm. It manages to scratch that Paper Mario-like itch perfectly, all whilst standing tall as a brilliant release in the genre in its own unique, fairytale way.
It’s not often a game spends over a decade in development and comes out the other side looking this healthy… well, as healthy as a game about mutated, flea-ridden cats can look… but man, I loved playing Mewgenics. Don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly not going to be for everyone, and the gross-out humour and punishing difficulty spikes will likely turn a few people away at the door. But if you’re a fan of the darkly weird tone and love yourself a bit of in-depth tactical nuance, you’ll find one of the deepest and most rewarding strategy games to come along in years. It’s an absolute triumph, and even after 40 hours of play, I can’t wait down to sit at my PC and play some more.
Despite the inventory headaches and a narrative that largely fades into the background, Nioh 3 stands tall as a masterclass in action RPG design. The shift to open fields breathes fresh air into the exploration without sacrificing the series’ signature difficulty, while the new Samurai and Ninja dual-system offers the most satisfying, fluid combat Team Ninja has EVER crafted (and believe me, that’s saying something). It is punishing, beautiful, and endlessly rewarding, with Nioh 3 not just a worthy sequel, but the best that the series has ever been.
Earth Must Die is a clever, genuinely funny, and visually striking adventure that brings a modern twist to the point-and-click adventure genre. Its wonderful writing and excellent voice cast ensure every joke hits, whilst it brings with it enough unique (and utterly bizarre) moments to ensure that it’ll stay in your head long after you finish. It’s not too tough and it does have some fiddly moments here and there with the controls, but Earth Must Die stands out as an excellent adventure that both long-time fans of the genre and complete newbies are sure to enjoy.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins – Visions of Four Heroes serves as a fantastic companion piece to an already great game. It takes the solid foundation of the base game and builds on it with a narrative confidence that genuinely surprised me, whilst the Strategic Battle mode adds an intriguing element that changes up the formula in some interesting ways (even if the AI can be a little iffy). It’s a generous, polished expansion that proves Omega Force is on the right track, and if you were looking for an excuse to dive back into the chaos of Dynasty Warriors: Origins… well… this is an absolute no-brainer.
I Hate This Place is a game with a lot of heart and a killer art style, but it’s dragged down by rough execution. The visual flair and the sound-based stealth are great – especially since they help embrace comic book origin of the experience perfectly – but the awkward combat, confusing navigation, and unbalanced survival systems make it harder to love than it should be. It’s a decent time for die-hard fans of the genre or the comic, but it definitely feels a little too rough around the edges to make it an easy recommendation for everyone else.
Fighting Force Collection is a love letter to a specific slice of gaming history, and while the gameplay is undeniably dated and might struggle to win over a modern audience without those rose-tinted glasses, the nostalgia factor here is certainly strong. If you grew up smashing up these blocky environments, this collection is definitely a fun trip down memory lane.
Cassette Boy is a smart, inventive, and entertaining adventure that takes a high-concept mechanic and makes it clever, creative, and, most importantly, a TON of fun. It might stumble a bit when it tries to be an action game, sure, but as a puzzle game, it’s a unique and rewarding experience from start to end. Just remember: if an enemy is giving you trouble, just rotate the camera until they disappear... out of sight, out of mind, right?
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is a big RPG – sometimes a little TOO big, especially with its dialogue – but ultimately, it makes for a brilliant experience. It does take its time getting to the point, but between the brilliant characters, the perfectly refined combat, and the polished visuals, this really does feel like the series at its highest point. If you’ve stuck with the series for this long, you already know you’re going to play it, and trust me, you’ll love it… just expect a bit of a long ride.
MIO: Memories in Orbit starts with confusion and punishment (and it will test your patience), but if you stick with it, it rewards you with a deep sense of mastery across its platforming and combat and a rich sense of discovery across its stunning world and storytelling. The lack of hand-holding, which annoyed me at the start, eventually instilled a genuine sense of wonder as I uncovered the world on my own terms, and when things click (and they will), it’s hard to put the controller down. It’s just a real blast to play, and whilst it’s a little bit on the long side, MIO: Memories in Orbit NEVER gets boring.
BrokenLore: Unfollow is a title that has a lot of ambition, with it packing in some cool ideas, effective jump scares, and a narrative that’s easy to get hooked into. However, as the chapters roll on and the experience shifts from grounded psychological terror to surreal, trope-heavy chaos, it loses some of its strengths, especially when paired with some fiddly puzzling and chase sequences that often feel a little frustrating. It’s almost poetic that in telling the story of a woman suffering from a fractured sense of self, the game ends up suffering from its own identity crisis. But hey, it’s worth a play for the story alone and it definitely has some bright moments, even if it doesn’t always deliver on its own ambition.
Big Hops is the kind of game that leaves you with a big, massive smile on your face when playing. Sure, it might stumble occasionally with a finicky camera and it’s not too tough, but it more than makes up for it with its charming world, sublime platforming, and creative ideas that’ll keep you hooked in front start to end. It really does feel like a thoughtfully crafted love letter to the genre, with Big Hops easily standing stand on its own two (webbed) feet amongst some of the greats of the genre. If you’re a platforming fan, you won’t want to skip this one.
Cozy Caravan is a heartwarming and satisfying escape that focuses on the joy of the journey in plenty of delightful ways. It introduces a loop of commerce, exploration, and kindness that feels rewarding in its own unique way, and while the deliberate pacing requires a bit of patience (and might feel a tad too slow for younger players looking for instant gratification) the trade-off is a rich, reactive world that feels wonderful to inhabit. The genre is rich with these kinds of cosy and charming experiences, but Cozy Caravan offers a journey that’s well worth taking.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - From the Ashes gives players a fantastic reason to return to Pandora, and by streamlining the mechanics and shifting to a third-person perspective, it helps create an experience that feels more cinematic and distinct than before. While the world is a little less vibrant than before and the third-person view does have some quirks, the refinements to gameplay and compelling storytelling and world help make this a must-play for fans of James Cameron’s bedazzling Avatar universe.
Ultimately, Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is a product of its time – it’s full of heart, weirdness, and ambition, but it also looks and feels a little dated in design. It doesn’t hold your hand and it controls a bit like a bar of soap, but the core loop of exploring this colourful, silly world remains satisfying. And whilst it is a little limited on extras, this port provides an accessible way to play a cult classic on modern hardware – and thanks to the recent patch, it’s in a state worth recommending to those with a soft spot for the PlayStation era.
Arken Age shatters the Quest port stereotype, delivering a visually stunning and mechanically deep adventure that feels NOTHING like a compromised port. With its vibrant art direction, addictive weapon modding, and vicious combat mechanics, it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the platform’s heavyweights. And sure, there can be some repetition and the loading times might test your patience, but the sheer quality on display makes it completely worth the wait.
Marvel’s Deadpool VR is a gloriously violent, ridiculous, comical, thrilling, and, perhaps most importantly, entertaining ride through the Marvel universe as seen through Deadpool’s blood-covered mask. The combat does have some imperfections that are commonly associated with virtual reality, but the humour, style, voice acting, and sheer insanity of the set pieces ensure that this is another superhero thrill ride that Meta Quest owners simply won’t want to miss out on.