The only rival here is Estelle Bright herself. Past a few short moment enjoyments mostly reserved for fans of the series, Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga isn’t a game I would openly recommend going into blindly due to its almost phoned-in concept and experience. Just stick to another crossover fighter if you want a good brawl with your friends, or boot up Power Stone 2 if you still have it. If you really want Trails in the Sky or Ys, new games of both series are released annually.
Then again, beating the crap out of vegans for most of the game is kinda great. If you had your fill with the first game, this one is more of the same. But if you have an itch to see where the series goes, Scott Pilgrim EX can provide seriously good fun, especially if you have friends to enjoy it with.
It makes no sense why this is called “Reimagined” when most of the time it cuts content. They should have called this “Dragon Quest VII Abridged and Easier“, because that’s what it is. There is still some enjoyment to be had; it is still a Dragon Quest game afterall, but losing so much content for the sake of better graphics doesn’t seem worth it.
The added content in Ys X: Proud Nordics is definitely a nice bonus compared to the original, but is paying full price again really worth it? If there were ever a time for Adol to voice his thoughts, this would surely be it.
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The developers should spend more time improving the interface, as it feels jarring and unintuitive, especially when crafting items. That said, despite its small flaws, Philna Fantasy clearly comes from a team determined to make the best game possible with all the right ideas, and they’re impressively close to hitting that mark.
But the story? The story absolutely shines. It’s engrossing, introspective, and often existential. It makes you think. And while it’s not the next Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, it deserves attention for being a truly unforgettable experience.
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 has small issues but feels like a fantastic experience for me as a fan of the trilogy. The story, gameplay, and replayability make it the definitive experience of the three fantastic games where you ride a massive tank and blow up villainy.
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Demonschool brings fresh and engaging strategic ideas to the popular Persona-like, school-focused RPG genre, but it’s held back by an overwhelming number of game-breaking bugs that desperately need fixing. After waiting three months for improvements following its initial build, I’m completely baffled that the same problems still plague it.
Little Nightmares III is one of 2025’s biggest disappointments. The misplaced focus on co-op hurts the main adventure while also being sleep-inducingly boring. To add insult to injury, the big reveal is so painfully stupid, you’ll wonder if it’s an elaborate prank.
If you enjoy fast paced mech suit flying action with cannons, laser swords, and jets to improve your movement, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is the model you want baby.
Final Fantasy Tactics is a legendary game, and possibly, if not the greatest strategy RPG to ever exist. It’s sad to say, but it deserved way better than this. There’s rumors of a potential sequel that may happen but if Creative Studio III is behind it, I worry about its direction.
The story continues not too far after the first entry’s conclusion, so sometimes replaying the first before going in is suggested. Overall, it was a satisfying adventure, but with Final Fantasy Tactics taking the spotlight with its less-than-stellar modern release, Rise Eternia 2 certainly won’t be getting the spotlight it may secretly deserve.
Koei Tecmo and Gust added yet another page of fantastic alchemy goodness to their long list of ateliers, not just for ongoing fans, but maybe a few new ones looking for another good JRPG to enjoy.
Varlet isn’t a game I would recommend to anyone. Even for Japanese high school game enjoyers, there’s just not enough content or reward behind said content to really motivate interest in its pursuit. Every feature in the game feels half-cooked, with the combat system being the only interesting thing, but ultimately falls hard on its face since there’s really no feeling of reward or satisfaction.
Wild Hearts S is a fine port, and released at a very good window for those in need of a good progression-based game on the Nintendo Switch 2. Sadly, it won’t likely get any support if the original release is anything to go by, so don’t expect it to be the most long-term solution for multiplayer. Aside from that, and some poor texture qualities scattered throughout the game, Wild Hearts S is a hunt worth taking, especially for those who did not play it in the initial release.
While the game could benefit from a map to view where you have been for the constant need to backtrack, there’s not too much to detract from this well-polished and delightful adventure platformer game. I question the decision to clash pixel with HD art. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a game I would recommend to not only fans of the series, but to people interested in having their wish granted for a good adventure game.
Despite some minor issues, the adventure itself, in its full package as Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition, is one I’d still recommend to any DnD player.
Competition has gotten fierce within this sub-genre, yet Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is by far still a worthy addition to the landscape and is a faithful addition to the beloved franchise.