Unicorn Overlord never faltered and has cemented itself as one of the best tactical strategy games I’ve ever played. The similarities to Fire Emblem are certainly there, but its gameplay during battles presents a different approach to its combat that absolutely soars.
South Park: Snow Day, likes its use of COVID here feels out of date across the board. The simplistic visuals feels several generations behind, and its shallow gameplay cannot be saved by a card system that shows some true promise. As a lifelong South Park fan, I know the series can produce strong and compelling video games because we have seen it done twice before.
I do think the final encounter is a tad harder than it should have been, given the encounters before it, but all in all, Pepper Grinder is incredible fun that takes its drilling gimmick and creates a fun and engaging experience around it.
Alone in the Dark does well to utilize their performances within their own campaigns. While the dual canon approach to telling the story doesn’t ultimately satisfy in ways I personally was expecting, especially as it makes both campaigns far too identical, I found it to still entertain, even if I never felt the main story to really grip me. I think Pieces Interactive has a solid foundation here with their take on this franchise, I just would prefer a more direct horror route to really amp up the atmosphere and make me free truly alone in the dark.
Outcast: A New Beginning is exactly that type of OG Xbox or early Xbox 360 game made yet again for a modern audience. It can at times look fantastic, but character’s don't always shine and the technical issues present, at least in the review build, made for a tiring experience of seeing massive framerate drops, excessive screen-tearing, and more. While these issues are set to be addressed in a day one patch, that is something I cannot speak to currently. This return to Cutter Slade is enjoyable, but not everything works well, especially coming from a team that built the first 3D open-world game.
I think Expeditions is a solid experience when it brings with it the best qualities of its past, but there are times when the title doesn’t do a good enough job at hiding the puzzle-like nature of what these titles are at their core. While Expeditions does a great deal to be more streamlined and accessible, all it did was make me wish I was playing SnowRunner instead.
Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League is a co-op game that feels stretched out to accommodate the live service model. The Arkham games meant a great deal to its fan base, but Suicide Squad clearly shows that even the best marksman can miss their shot.
Yes, there is fun to be had here with solid combat and a decent co-op-fueled endgame, but the world structured around Skull and Bones is lifeless, bland, and uninspired, destined to be one adventure long forgotten.
The appeal of what Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons offers is through the aesthetic of Story of Seasons. Each puzzle pulls from the people, the places, and the tools you’ll use through the inspired game. Days pass as you solve puzzles, and you’ll see the characters tending to the farm. This starts to show progress as you work through the seasons.
Overall, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is marvelous, a wonderfully crafted love story by a team that has elevated their game to new heights. Its central cast is remarkable with lives that felt truly lived, their pasts that really define them as people. This is easily Don’t Nod’s finest work, despite my undying love for Life is Strange. Simply put, Banishers is a true work of art; a love most spiritual.
Alisa: Developer's Cut, if you understand what the game is trying to emulate. It’s not the best of these imitations, but it does enough well that I do still strongly recommend it to those yearning for that era of gaming to resurface. It can be a little clunky and suffer from a few decades-old annoyances, but it’s a true and honest love letter to a classic series that excels in its purpose.
As it stands, Rogue Trader is a game that is good but should have been substantially better, given the pedigree of the studio. It had all the pieces to be something truly fantastic, but a wealth of technical issues and poor execution caused the game to suffer far more than it succeeded.
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank isn't likely to see me racing through its halls again anytime soon due to exhausting what I've gotten out of it, It's certainly charming and worth at least checking out.
I was obsessed with Lords of the Fallen during my entire run with it, and happily looking to dive back in once I have some free time. Hexworks has improved upon the original in every single way and is now a studio I am going to keep an eye on.
If you enjoy a solid Metroidvania that can provide a decent amount of challenge without being insanely difficult, The Lost Crown is a pretty satisfying journey in an effort to bring back a once beloved series that is one of my personal favorites.