Find Love or Die Trying certainly doesn't reinvent the visual novel wheel or add much to the genre, but it is enjoyable enough to entertain you for a brief few hours. It has a cast of fun characters, a twisted take on the dating game, and a decent story to wrap it all up in. If you enjoy the genre and want to know how it ends, certainly check it out.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is very much destined to be a decisive experience due to its more action-orientated combat, its cast of characters, visual style, and its writing. While I don't agree with every choice made here, and a few less than impressive character arcs, as well as the lacking presence of its elven gods in its story, Dragon Age: The Veilguard gave me everything else I wanted from it. It's action-packed and visually pleasing, and its use of Solas is extremely well-crafted and more than kept me entertained. Dragon Age was always going to be a challenge to remain relevant and a crowd-pleaser after a decade away, but ultimately, I loved it and it's one of the best games this year.
Rage of the Dragons is not only a great successor to what would have been a great Double Dragon fighter, but it almost plays like one of the best SNK games out there. It’s a colorful and vibrant Neo Geo game that while got a lot of love back in the day, the limited reach it had back then is over. While we are eating good for fighting games in 2024, Rage of the Dragons is a solid snack that you should certainly add to your buffet of great titles this year. With solid character designs, gorgeous pixel art, and a deep and rewarding combat system, there is a lot to like here and get lost in.
Threshold is interesting, but didn't captivate me in the ways that Mouthwashing did. It has an eerie charm to it, and the PSOne/Nintendo 64 visuals do a lot to give this a nice unique look among the tons of sprite-based indie games. It may be a short shift, but you'll always remember your brief stint as a member of the Border Post, just don't tell Mo.
Slitterhead’s issues run pretty deep as it’s a repetitive experience that doesn’t really play around in its horror aspects nearly as much as it should. Slitterheads run from you as opposed to the player being stalked or hunted. The game shows its hand very early and never changes up its combat, exploration, or mission design. There are genuinely maybe four unique missions here that then get repeated countless times in favor of a time travel story of “how do we fix it this time” that doesn’t pay off. There are interesting ideas here that could translate to a more improved sequel, but nothing here indicates that this game will do well enough to even warrant one.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is an extremely lacking Nintendo debut for the titular Princess Zelda. While the experimentation is often engaging, the menu system to explore that creativity is an utter annoyance. That said, you’ll often use the same tools over and over again to get the results you want due to them working well enough that newly discovered items will either cost more to summon or lack the flow you already have working for you. Monster AI is awful when it comes to using them in battle, and Zelda’s inability to even fight or defend herself with the Tri-rod is disappointing, especially since she has to rely on an unsurprising ally to engage in combat. Echoes of Wisdom can be charming and look the part, but it’s evidently clear that Miyamoto wasn’t evolved as it lacks that typical Zelda magic.
Awaken: Astral Blade is a visually pleasing Metroidvania that has intense flashy combat, and an enjoyable world to explore, but it falls flat in areas that can get in the way of the experience. Its story and characters are immediately forgettable, and a constant slew of grammatical errors and painfully bad voice work really stand out in a bad way. There is a good foundation here for Dark Pigeon to work from and refine, especially as this is their first game. If you are the type to enjoy really any Metroidvania title and need a break from beating Hollow Knight for the twelfth time, then you could find some fun here if you don’t mind wading through its numerous flaws.
Overall, if you are a fan of these collections and are intent on buying them, regardless of what's involved, there is a decent few hours here at most. It's hard to recommend this collection due to there only being one really fun game here. That said, if you are interested in the origins of Metal Slug, then grab a few guns, a jet, and snag a few of those hostages to rescue, and prepare to die, alot.
Despite the forgettable story and disappointing vocal performances, SlavicPunk has a rather enjoyable combat loop, even if the enemy variety is certainly lacking. While the parts that are here are wildly inconsistent, the foundation of what Red Square Games has built here is solid enough to build upon, allowing for a potentially great sequel if we should return to the fractured mind of Janus.
Metal Slug Tactics is gorgeous, it may have some entry-level appeal in how its tactics are concerned, but the fundamentals are solid and the gameplay is remarkably satisfying. With a ton of mods, weapons, and characters to unlock, I look forward to what additional runs may offer for my enjoyment of the game going forward. While I do wish there were more areas to break up the level variety, Metal Slug Tactics is nonetheless a joyous experience that is good to the last round.
Vertigo Games may be new to the Metro lifestyle, but they pull it off with a confidence that really shows through. The VR touches to bring the series to VR are masterfully handled with only the occasional VR jank issue rearing its ugly head. The story may not always impress, but the tense firefights and threats around every corner really perform a lot of the heavy lifting. Metro: Awakening is a standout title for the PSVR2 and while that isn’t saying a lot given its barren catalog, it’s still a solid outing nonetheless and a great Metro game to boot.
Shadows of the Damned was a fairly mediocre release back in 2011 and a proper remaster or even a remake to change a few design choices that were forced upon the creators, could have really made this something special or at least improved elements of the game that needed it. Instead, this “Hella Remastered” release is nothing more than an up-res’d port with a few costumes and a newgame+ mode. The Adaptive Triggers and Gyro Aiming on the PS5/Switch might be able to entice some players to jump in, as well as the cheaper buy-in price of $24.99, but this is still nothing more than a straight port of a 13-year-old game that wasn’t that great to begin with.
Ys is a series I fell in love with some years ago and each new entry has often given me what I have wanted from it. Nordics; however, doesn’t provide me with much more than what I already got from Lacrimosa of Dana in regards to its combat and exploration, and the newly implemented ship combat and sailing is just as bland as its lifeless ocean. I love this series and want it to be better than it is, but after the remarkably impressive Monstrum Nox, I feel that this team is capable of giving us an epic and fantastic adventure for Adol to tackle. Ys X: Nordics; however, doesn’t provide anything new and interesting to really sink your teeth into. It’s a fine adventure that I did enjoy pushing through, but it’s my least favorite Ys game so far by a nautical mile.
Metaphor: Refantazio expertly nails what it means to do. Its narrative and cast of characters shine in a wondrous fantasy setting that provides a ton of opportunity for a continuing series. While it doesn't stray too far from the Persona foundation, it is unique enough to satisfy both camps of players who may or may not get on with their previous work. While the pacing can drag on in some moments with the calendar system, and a final encounter I found to be exhausting, I am still a huge fan of what Studio Zero has crafted here, and am eager to see what they work on next.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem is certainly aimed at kids, that much is apparent in its bright and colorful nature and the appeal of driving these fantastical bruisers of vehicular destruction. The game’s focus of allowing you to crush cars under those massive tires and pull off wild stunts in the air is here to varying degrees and your mileage will vary if the feel and control of the game is suited to what you want from it. I think with more variety in its objectives and stunts, a clearer distinction in the environments to make them stand out, and a tighter feel to control these trucks, then Stunt Mayhem could be the Tony Hawk of Monster Truck games.
Just Dance 2025 has what fans of the series will likely want; more songs. Those who are committed to subscribing to the Just Dance+ service are likely this game's target audience and the appeal of having hundreds of songs available to you is certainly present across all of its menus. This year's entry looks to bring some accessibility features to the table, but in the grand scheme of what is offered, it feels more like a test of what is to come than a confident roll-out. While this year’s version is effectively just a song pack instead of a fresh new release, it still provides the presentation of last year’s release with a host of new songs and potential favorites.
Neva has a wealth of stunning artwork here with a soundtrack that is simply superb. Alba and Neva are engaging and well thought out, even if Alba passes out a bit too often for my tastes. Regardless, Neva is a true work of art with a combat system that is deep enough for what this journey needs from Alba and her incredible companion. Its puzzles are brief enough that I don’t find them consuming too much of my time, allowing me to move on and find a pace that works for me. Neva may not break as much ground as Gris, but Nomada Studios has nonetheless crafted a stunning adventure and yet another masterpiece to enjoy.
Shogun Showdown, despite all the tools and abilities you can rely on is brutally difficult in most circumstances, especially if you have the habit of acting before you really analyze every move or press the wrong button, something that has killed some very lengthy runs for me. Still, Shogun Showdown is a remarkably tight strategy game that looks good, feels good, and has some clever tricks to make you feel like a master tactician, just make sure to not accidentally keep pressing the turn-around button and getting a host of swords shoved through your back.
Astro Bot is frankly superb in its execution, offering delightful worlds, abilities, and charm. Its presentation across its celebration of PlayStation’s history is twofold; one where it honors what came before and the other side of the coin in that it shows how much IP PlayStation has intentionally left behind. Regardless, Astro Bot deserves to be in your collection, not just because of how great it is, but that it hopefully sells well enough to allow other teams at Sony to not follow the same basic third-person over-the-shoulder narrative trend the publisher has been clinging to for years. We need more charm and experimentation from Sony, and this game is hopefully just the start.
Like Mullet Madjack, Kill Knight is a fast-paced indie release that succeeds through its basic premise and series of tools. As an undead Knight, you destroy everything that comes your way while earning new upgrades that make the job that little bit easier. Its level design is very similar across its five environments, and its enemy variety is thin in ways where you might take notice, but the gameplay always shines and makes it a very visceral experience that gets more engaging with every new bloody run.