Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a fairly by-the-numbers remaster that offers us the best version of the game, despite some opportunities to improve upon what was already there. A completely new take on the voice acting would have done wonders, a la Persona 3 Remake, as well as improved character models wouldn’t have hurt as well. Still, the game that is here is still a really enjoyable entry in the series, and a reminder of some of the best Capcom has almost left behind.
Warhammer 40K: Speed Freeks can certainly feel limited in what is available to take on, but the extremely low price does make up for some of that. Still, additional modes, and even vehicles, should be added at a somewhat regular pace if they intend to keep its player base engaged. What is here is enjoyable, with the crunchy and weighty combat you'd want, all wrapped up in an aesthetic that feels perfect for it.
Monster Train 2’s variety and content does wonders for repeated runs, even back to back to back until you've lost track of time. The upgrades, equipment cards, and the synergies between the clans make for a very entertaining game, despite the forgettable story and character moments. Still, the core of the game is fantastic and is a fantastic addition to the greats of this genre.
Regardless of my issues with Revenge of the Savage Planet, Racoon Logic survived a studio closure to reform and return to this series. While Revenge makes some improvements over Journey, I certainly wanted more from it than what is here. The third-person perspective is ideal for this series, and there is a lot of potential for a third game. All in all, Revenge of the Savage Planet can be a great time in co-op, since the story is so in the background that you could mute it and not feel like you've lost anything in the process.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 has some of the best fighting games of their era in one amazing package. Nostalgia is certainly riding high here as the 3D visuals obviously don’t hold up, but they nonetheless are oozing with charm and personality, especially Project Justice. Powerstone 2 matches online have been wildly entertaining, and jumping in to get a few rounds of Alpha 3 has been a dream. As Capcom winds down on the available games to add into a future collection, this release has been one of the best, providing the first time many games have seen a release either outside Japan or in the past twenty-some years. If you need any more proof that Capcom is the king of fighting games, this collection is Exhibit A.
Doom: The Dark Ages is often a perfect successor to the rest of the trilogy, with some fantastic weapons, a great addition with the shield, and an absolutely breathtaking aesthetic. Still, the bland soundtrack and wide-open areas zap the energy out of most encounters, resulting in a game that, while extremely well made, feels less like Doom and more like Serious Sam mixed with Painkiller, which isn’t ultimately a bad thing if you like those games. Still, The Dark Ages is wildly enjoyable and does provide some satisfying combat with the best version of the Slayer yet.
Trident's Tale is a pretty fun time. It's a fun swashbuckling adventure that plays like a Saturday morning cartoon. The characters are fairly likeable with mixed performances, but the ship combat and fights our hero, Ocean, will have are likely where people are going to get the most out of this game, even if they lack polish and features to make them stand out.
Blades of Fire likely sounded great on paper. However, its lack of direction, dated visuals, and inconsistent combat leads to far too much frustration. While the premise of forging your weapons is appealing, and does actually make the game stand out, the weapon swapping systems are cumbersome to use during combat and make this one adventure that's hard to recommend.
Much like building a road, you lay the foundation to build upon what is there. This is true with how Mudrunner and Snowrunner have shaped where this series is going. Roadcraft is the culmination of those ideas, mechanics, and gameplay sections to a degree where that complexity and depth is wildly addictive. While Roadcraft is perfectly serviceable and enjoyable as a single-player experience, this might be one of the most enjoyable co-op games I’ve ever played. Roadcraft also does a great job at balancing the realistic and the need to simply be a videogame, and the results are vastly impressive.
Expedition 33 is a masterpiece and a game that will be talked about for years. From the brilliant story, expertly delivered performances, to one of the most memorable soundtracks and casts in years. Turn-based games have had some struggle in capturing a new audience, usually lacking the action and excitement most games today offer. However, Sandfall Interactive proves that the execution is what matters, offering a turn-based system that is insanely action-packed and constantly engaging. Expedition 33 is astounding, entertaining, and wildly successful in everything it achieves.
While the presentation of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is top notch, with its REV and SPG systems being solid additions to the series to have it stand out, the limited modes and questionable additions of real-life people, can be some odd choices to accept. Still, with solid online, some fan favorites in the cast, and a fantastic soundtrack, Fatal Fury is a true competitor to Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and several others that are taking the fighting game landscape by storm. Fatal Fury is back, and better than ever.
The First Beserker: Khazan is an absolute riot. It’s brutal, punishing, and has so many systems, mechanics, and upgrades, that show their purpose immediately. The customization you have for Khazan is perfect for build-crafting, even within each weapon type. Khazan has its presentation on lock and is a gorgeous game with incredible art direction and tone. It’s action-packed, its bosses are spectacles, and with nearly 70 armor sets to craft, there is so much to this game beyond a single playthrough.
Steel Seed is a game right up my alley. I love this genre and the games that have that surface level of jank. There is just something about seeing a game built with such clear passion that sometimes doesn’t get the level of polish we see in AAA. I get that many will see a very bare-bones approach to its combat, and I totally agree with that, but there is something fun here that I had a great time with, crashes aside. It's flawed, certainly, and could have used more to make me enjoy the two leads, especially Koby, but ultimately, it's an experience I enjoyed, and eager to see what the team does next.
Hot Rod Mayhem joins a genre that is packed full of some of the best games ever made. Sadly, it brings nothing to make it stand out or add to the genre, making it very forgettable. While its courses are pretty enjoyable, with several ways to engage with them, this is nonetheless a title that will remain in the rearview of a stacked collection of gaming greats.
Primal Game Studio has crafted one of my favorite games this year, an experience that seemingly came out of nowhere. With a flexible class system, and wonderful level design, as well as a host of deeply challenging boss encounters, it's the best Metroidvania since Metroid Dread, a title I cherish as a near-perfect experience. Mandragora has its flaws, and some are more apparent than others, but ultimately is a wonderful new addition to the genre, and an absolute must-play.
Lost Records is certainly enjoyable depending on whether you get the true ending or not. Its resolution is brief but wonderful, and despite a poorly executed second chapter that led to it, it’s a package of two episodes that waver greatly in their quality. Bloom did a great job at building the bonds between the girls, but Rage fumbles so much of its potential to get to its ending.
Pilo and the Holobook is a charming and bite-sized adventure with smart puzzles and a clever sticker system that could entertain kids of all ages. Pilo is adorable, and the lesson he learns on his journey is one that I feel is needed in times like these. With a fun sense of discovery and some playful characters and locations to explore, Pilo and the Holobook is quite simply a delight.
While the initial few hours really made me fall in love with Star Overdrive, the longer I spent with it, the more some of its design choices made me fall out of love and start to notice and experience the extreme tedium that is baked into progressing the main story. The hoverboard is essential to the game, which is why the slow moments of it can result in far too much trial and error as you attempt to master it to sail high to your next objective. While its story’s conclusion was certainly worth the journey, the path there was sadly a bumpy one.
Lunar: The Remastered Collection’s strengths are easily its stunning soundtrack, engaging cast, and great writing, allowing for memorable personalities and events to rise above a fairly average combat system. The new cast is excellent, and the higher quality cutscenes allow Lunar to stand out from its contemporaries. The world-building and stakes are wonderfully crafted, allowing both games to be extremely competent adventures. If you haven’t had the opportunity to engage with Silver Star Story Complete and Eternal Blue Compelte, this collection is certainly worth it to embark on two underrated JRPG’s, that after thirty years, are finally back.
South of Midnight is a game of high highs and soft lows, largely contributing to some weak combat, that while often fun, is a tad too formulaic. While I certainly have my issues across several fronts offered in the game, the story, its rich characters and backstories are the star of the show and shine incredibly bright. Overall, when South of Midnight is firing on all cylinders, it's a truly remarkable story with engaging characters, a wonderful setting, and a music score that constantly shines.