Art of Vengeance is a triumphant return for the series. Leveling up the formula with excellent traversal and combat. Its richly layered, hand-drawn backgrounds are as inviting as they are detailed. Lizardcube has modernized the series while honoring its 1987 roots, forging a fresh path for Joe Musashi that respects the lessons and legacy of their peers and predecessors. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is sharp, fluid, and pure, and a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern design.
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is a blast from front to end. There is so much to discover and fall in love with. Although this Director’s Cut port does not bring much new that may excite long-time fans, it is still a classic and is one of the best entries in the series. It serves as a great starting point for those who want to experience what these games have to offer. Yakuza 0 played a huge role in revitalizing the series in the West and showed Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku that we also deserve these games. The best part of it all, though, is that one of the best entries in the series is finally on a Nintendo platform, and it looks and runs great.
Welcome Tour is an interesting time. On one hand, Nintendo offers us insight into their past, and the thought process behind creating the Nintendo Switch 2. And at times, it feels endearing to get a peek at the hundreds of engineering years poured into the device. On the other hand, it feels very corporate and structured. I enjoyed aspects of the Welcome Tour, but I can’t say the entire experience was enjoyable. It feels like a gamified convention demo that lacks the soul of titles like Wii Sports or Nintendo Land.
Aside from a few gripes, I thoroughly enjoyed helping out in the land of Hyrule. The Legend of Zelda is all about the essence of adventure. It is about seeking, solving, and conquering. Putting your might and wit to the test and coming out victorious! All of that is present here in Echoes of Wisdom. Just this time around, instead of playing as the hero of time, we finally earn an adventure where we save the world as Zelda. And Echoes of Wisdom lives up to the excellent standards of the series' prior entries.
The Plucky Squire is an extraordinary game and the amount of style, love, and craftsmanship that is on display here is enough to make even Nintendo themselves jealous. The game constantly kept me on my toes and I commend All Possible Futures for expertly weaving genres and mini-games together while also telling a cohesive and charming tale. All the elements on display in The Plucky Squire merge together to produce an exemplary package.
All games represent a new language to learn but to throw on that learning a whole sport and its quirks can feel daunting, but that’s the beauty in Video Games! When playing CFB25 you are given the tools to learn the sport more inherently, and there’s no other football game out right now that feels as fast, responsive, and dynamic as this one!
I recommend Sand Land and enjoyed the combination of different elements. The vehicles remained varied. Gameplay systems combine together to create a simple and effective piece. The open worlds are large and there’s a ton of quests to complete, and there’s a diverse set of enemies to conquer. Sand Land sustains blemishes, but it serves as a wonderful sendoff to Toriyama while being a good nostalgic romp.
There is a lot to love in Rise of the Ronin and it is a valiant first crack at an open world for Team Ninja. The gameplay and combat shine the brightest here. It does a good job of keeping you in the flow of combat. The side content is a checklist of things to do, but it serves its purpose to supplement the combat, which is a frenetic and brutal dance.