Twisted Voxel
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Fate/Stay Night Remastered revitalizes the classic visual novel with enhanced graphics, modern UI, and an official English release for its 20th anniversary. The multiple story routes, diverse endings, and rich storytelling offer high replay value and make it a standout visual novel for Fate franchise fans.
Despite some drawbacks, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is the best new entry in the series that fans and newcomers alike can appreciate.
Star Wars Outlaws offers a fresh take on the franchise. While it has great visuals and solid gameplay, it relies on familiar open-world tropes, which may not appeal to everyone. The protagonist, Kay Vess, and her companion, Nix, offer enjoyable interactions, but some missions and stealth elements can feel repetitive.
The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection revitalizes the beloved series with a focus on investigative prowess, updated visuals, and expanded gameplay mechanics. The shift to crime scene exploration and clue gathering breathes new life into the series, making it accessible to both long-time fans and newcomers. This collection stands as one of the strongest entries in the franchise, blending nostalgia and innovation for lovers of the detective genre.
Bakeru stands out in the crowded action platformer genre by blending nostalgic gameplay with modern mechanics. While the story isn't groundbreaking, it excels in character design, art style, and engaging gameplay.
Tomba! Special Edition brings back the beloved and quirky PS1 classic, delivering a delightful blend of nostalgic charm and thoughtful modern enhancements. While the game is primarily an emulated version, Limited Run Games has enriched the experience with behind-the-scenes content, a new OST, and widescreen support, making it more than just a simple port. Despite its age, the game’s unique art style and engaging Metroidvania mechanics hold up well, though the controls can feel dated.
Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid offers a nostalgic slice of rural Japanese life. The game creates a relaxing atmosphere for players to enjoy a carefree summer vacation. However, repetitive gameplay and technical issues, such as blurry visuals and performance drops on the Nintendo Switch, detract from the experience.
SteamWorld Heist II is a grander sequel that retains the core gameplay elements while trying to offer innovations. For fans of the original, it is a worthy sequel.
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is an enjoyable Metroidvania game, though it is marred by a lack of clear direction and frustrating platforming sections.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak serves as an excellent introduction for new players and a warmly received return for those familiar with the series. The game enhances its combat system with new adjustments, resulting in a more dynamic and thrilling battle experience. While it may not achieve the pinnacle of the franchise, it lays the groundwork for a promising start.
SPY×ANYA: Operation Memories, a spin-off from the popular anime SPYxFamily, focuses on the charming antics of Anya, providing a lighthearted and visually appealing experience.
The 20th Anniversary Edition of Beyond Good & Evil revives a beloved classic with enhanced visuals and character models while keeping the original gameplay and level design intact. The improved graphics make it worth the higher system requirements, and new missions and quality-of-life features enrich the experience. Fans of the original will appreciate this remaster while awaiting the long-promised sequel.
Despite its setbacks, however, Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon’s strengths in narrative and presentation make it a worthy recommendation to fans of visual novels.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance expands the base game with new content, improved performance, and deeper lore. Despite the challenging difficulty, the added quality-of-life improvements make it a rewarding experience for both returning players and newcomers.
Capcom has revitalized the original Monster Hunter Stories by releasing it on PC and making it compatible with the Steam Deck. While it may appear lower-budget compared to its successor, its excellent combat system and engaging RPG elements make it an enjoyable experience.
The release of Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece on Steam is a significant improvement, especially for Steam Deck users, offering better compatibility and performance without the need for extensive tweaks.
Shadow of the Erdtree maintains the high standards set by the base game. It introduces the challenging Realm of Shadow, offering new boss fights, weapons, and progression without excessive grinding. The expansion revitalizes the sense of discovery with secrets, mini-bosses, and unique NPCs.
Sand Land is a visually stunning game with a heartfelt narrative that unfortunately stumbles in gameplay variety. Fans of Toriyama’s work will find much to love, while newcomers might find the combat repetitive. Nevertheless, it is a journey worth experiencing, especially for those who appreciate a well-crafted world and engaging story.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is an impressive sequel to the cult classic game. It features an ambitious open-world and a more engaging storyline that combines nostalgia with innovation. Although the game has a few design quirks and occasional performance issues, especially on PC, it compensates with a rich narrative, an expansive world, and an engaging combat system. Players who are willing to dive deep into its universe will find it a rewarding experience. While it does not redefine the action RPG genre, it successfully captures the essence of adventure and exploration, making it appealing to both veteran and newcomer players.
Unicorn Overlord blends Vanillaware's signature artistic flair with a complex combat system reminiscent of Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics, set against the backdrop of a rich high fantasy narrative. The game not only provides a deep strategic experience with its innovative combat mechanics and expansive world exploration but also excels in storytelling, offering a compelling tale of liberation and the quest for justice, making it a standout addition to the genre.