Persona 3 Reload takes the concept of remaking a beloved title and goes all the way through with it, especially when it comes to the visual finesse and the excellent presentation. The social simulation, interactions, and activities are some of the best ever put into a video game, making it feel immersive from the very first day at Gekkoukan High School. There is always something to do in this wonderful city, ranging from the grand reopening of an old bookstore at the mall to heading to numerous restaurants to spend time with friends. While the social links stand out as the undisputed highlight in Persona 3 Reload, it is the monotonous Tartarus and generic enemy designs that ironically slow things down and make the combat feel a bit dull compared to the other aspects of the game. The storyline is gripping and intriguing at the beginning and stays that way later on too, but because of the more serious elements that are never fully realized, it starts to lose its hold as time goes on. However, the stunning animation, fluid gameplay, wide palette of character types, great soundtrack, and bustling setting make Persona 3 Reload a highly enjoyable remake.
Persona 5 Tactica succeeds on various fronts, from being the perfect gateway to the tactical role-playing genre or the Persona franchise for newcomers to putting a uniquely stylish spin on strategic games and making it a layered experience for strategy or series veterans. It moves fast and flows smoothly, all thanks to the top-tier, aesthetically stunning animation and exciting gameplay elements. In addition, the way Persona 5 Tactica presents its relatively simple story is also applaudable, with masterful use of numerous types of cutscenes and naturally written dialogue. But the heart and soul of Persona 5 Tactica lie in its colorful roster of characters, each with its own varied personality that brings a certain charm to the game.
As a nostalgic multiversal adventure, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 does not completely work due to a lack of proper cinematic cutscenes, simultaneous multiple-character interactions, and a repetitive and lazy single-player campaign. The game obviously has all the right ingredients, which include iconic characters, clever meta-humor, and excellent brawls, but it is never able to fully realize its own potential. But the inclusion of Supers, easy-to-understand move sets, fast-paced fights, and dynamic stages end up making Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 an enjoyable time with a group of friends, with everything else just feeling half-baked.
There is a lot to do in EA SPORTS UFC 5, ranging from a highly rewarding and fast-paced Career Mode to a clever Fight Week mode. Moreover, the inclusion of Alter Egos and icons like Muhammad Ali and Fedor Emelianenko is the cherry on top of an already stacked fighter roster, and the soundtrack is absolutely amazing. Aside from some awkward cutscenes and a couple of bugs, Electronic Arts has truly created a great MMA fighting game that requires players to strategize for each match differently, making every fight feel fresh and more intense than the last.