Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered successfully revives a classic, bringing its rich narrative, atmospheric world, and engaging gameplay to modern audiences with improved visuals and performance. While it falls short of being a definitive edition due to missing quality-of-life updates and minor technical issues, it remains a worthy tribute to the originals.
Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire is a game with a lot of heart and ambition. It mildly revisits elements from JRPG classics like Skies of Arcadia while trying to bring new ideas into the fold. While the nostalgic appeal to the atmosphere, style, and gameplay has its merits, the game depends too much on it, making it a bit lackluster on many fronts.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is a great modernization of the classic title, with a solid platformer for both new and returning players. History fans are in for a treat with rich historical lore to discover. Additionally, the soundtrack was a real highlight.
Gimmick! 2 is a love letter to the original game, with all sorts of fun challenges and levels to complete across six worlds. The game does a wonderful job of juggling the appeal to both long-time fans and new players. Additionally, the soundtrack from David Wise is spectacular, capturing the adventurous spirit of the game. Overall, Gimmick! 2 is a great sequel that more than rises to the challenge.
Bakeru is a love letter to Japan and its culture, ultimately culminating in one of the best platforming experiences I've had in years. With engaging combat, vibrant visuals, and delightful levels, this is one any fan of the genre should not pass up.
Elrentaros Wanderings, also known as Rear Sekai in Japan, borrows many elements from the Rune Factory series. The game excels in its combat mechanics, but the aspects that people most wanted to see - the farming and the social aspects - were left with a sour taste of incompleteness. Despite that, the game has a lot of charm and redeeming qualities that RPG fans can appreciate.
Ultimately, Samurai Warriors 4 DX is one of the most complete experiences in the franchise, and it came with a pretty decent port to Steam. Although not the most customizable graphic experience, it stays true to what made it so great and would be a great acquisition at a discounted price.
Ultimately, Endless Ocean: Luminous is a chill, relaxed experience that doesn't offer much beyond the surface. The game is essentially a collectathon, with little to do outside of exploring and looking at things. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but Endless Ocean: Luminous is exactly what it aims to be—a title about exploring the ocean.