Overall, High Times was exactly what I thought I’d be getting into, although probably at a longer length than I expected. Of course, this could have been based on the donuts I served or perhaps I made some of the wrong choices, but it definitely took a bit before I got to the romance ending I was looking for. It feels as though the right way to play is not to try and power through, but to enjoy the journey just a bit at a time. This may have also helped the financial management aspect feel stronger but once I was safely within the $100 range, money never became an issue.
Advent: Dawn is exactly what I wanted in my next visual novel. Something that would grip me with its story and characters while not overstaying its welcome. With the flow chart, varying endings, and how it all ties together, Advent: Dawn exceeded my expectations while keeping me guessing in certain moments. It’s a game that doesn’t question your intelligence while also breaking down concepts and theories in digestible nuggets.
At it’s core, there is something really great about Lover’s Enigma. Perhaps its how the horror is interwoven in the story. It may also be the cleverness of making you reload what you thought was an ending. While this isn’t a game that I’d say will stick with you long term, it’s not one you’ll quickly forget or regret. Either way, I’ll be watching closely to see what else this team may come up with as time goes on.
The 7th Guest Remake kept the bones of the story and provided new puzzles that would work for a new audience. At times The 7th Guest Remake feels like an escape room that you are crawling through to save yourself and the lost spirits. At others it feels like an amusement park attraction. I almost expected to find a gift shop near the end selling old man Stauf’s toys. None of this is in a bad way, it nails a certain vibe and joy that can be difficult to deliver without overstaying its welcome. Despite being a remake of a game from 1993, it doesn’t feel dated and old, except where it should in its setting. It was a joy to visit Harley-on-the-Hudson and I hope you each accept that invitation when it comes your way.
Schrodinger’s Call is a beautiful yet haunting visual novel touching upon the human condition. We explore love, grief, human connection, and the memories that haunt, harm, and heals us. Be it the little white lies we tell ourselves or the the strength we find to face the truth. It is at its core a visual novel which means the game play will feel minimal for many. It’s strength is in the story. It is how it causes us to reflect upon our selves. Schrodinger’s Call will call out to players, wanting them to connect with those important to them. It reminds you that you are not alone, you are loved, you are important, and you matter. There is someone out there waiting to hear your voice. Call them before it’s too late.
Coffee Talk Tokyo is a wonderful narrative in a short and sweet packaged form. While narrative driven stories are not for everyone, those who enjoy a good glimpse into different characters will enjoy their time with Coffee Talk Tokyo. One full playthrough will only take about 6-7 hours which allows players to squeeze this into their busy schedule. Does Coffee Talk Tokyo do anything overly new and original? No. However what it does, it does exceedingly well.
I find myself with a knot in my throat just writing about this game. OPUS Prism Peak feels at times a lot less like a game and more like a work of art. That is if you can handle the joy, the loss, the pain, or in other words, life. It is cathartic, it is real, it is beautiful, and it is sad. The jadedness of adulthood, the naivete of youth, joy of life, and the journey we take to get to our endings. But also that there is hope, there is a future, sometimes we just need to take a photo, pause, and reflect.
For those looking for a shorter, narrative driven game to dive into, I highly recommend The Posthumous Investigation. It’s an intriguing character study that keeps you guessing and makes you wonder, who truly was the culprit and why? What in the human condition made this man both so loved and hated? You’ll have to play to find out.
PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse is a fantastic story that may even make you wish the game was slightly longer. For those who want a mystery that transcends a lifetime set in a beautiful fishing village backdrop, this is for you. While not puzzle heavy, when they appear, they are well thought out and clever. When focused on the narrative, the story is well paced. The writing is smart enough to reiterate the things you need to know without feeling too repetitive. After this entry into the series, I hope Square Enix knows they have something precious in their hands and continues to revisit this series in the future.
Should Clue: Murder By Death ever add in some quality of life basics, even just labeling the rooms, or allowing you add markers, this could be a wonderful mystery. For now, unfortunately, its one where it feels fine to leave quite a few stones unturned.
Easy to learn, hard to master, perhaps even more difficult to complete. It is a roguelite so even if you complete one run, you probably haven’t fully seen everything there is to see. The positive with this DLC is that while it is more of the same Monster Train 2 you’ve come to love, there’s more than enough to rejuvenate the game. Especially for those who love the challenge. The addition of a separate logbook and the ability to make sure that no one can get the story out of order would probably make this a perfect DLC. Perhaps in time these small tidbits will be added. Even without this, the DLC is well worth your time. If you’re a Monster Train 2 fan who has stepped away for a bit, now is the time to return.
There are some great workings here. However, it’s hard to say that perhaps with more time for polish it would be a huge improvement. Of course, there is the potential for Demonschool to improve. Revisit and fix some of the technical glitches that are occurring within the game is a great starting point. However, this is a game that was announced in 2022, faced delays, and is still a bit of a mess. There is nothing worse than ruining a good groove by the game going to the main menu. That isn’t to say that the entire game isn’t worth it. The combat is great although a bit too much. The overall story, while predictable and full of tropes is enjoyable.
The Berlin Apartment is an interesting experiment in historical fiction told in a static setting. We hardly ever see outside the apartment and when we do it is difficult to watch. The moments outside the apartment are reminders of what was and what was taken from us. It is a glimpse of a war torn country trying to reshape itself into something new. It is also a look at humanity at its best and its worst. For fans of visual novels and shorter games, this is a great addition to a collection.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger was a welcome surprise. I knew so little of the franchise I expected to be confused more often than not. Instead, I found myself enjoying my time with these monsters. If you aren’t a completionist, you can expect to give up about 40ish hours of game time to get through the entire story. With monsters this cute and personable though, you may find yourself wanting to spend more time with them as you go.
The story is still quite good compared to it’s initial release. The small tweaks to the localization with the addition of voice acting adds a nice layer of immersion to the story as well. Overall the game is as good as this reviewer remembers. With an entry like this, one can only hope that perhaps Final Fantasy will revisit the Tactics IP and perhaps even give us a brand new game in the series.
During the best of times, it felt like a game that was a school project. At some of the worst times, it felt like a game that I’m not sure who it was made for. Maybe there is a subset of gamers that really enjoy on the rail gun games, or maybe those who just want a very quick shooter. Either way, in a year that has been incredibly competitive with games unfortunately Candy Rangers does not rank highly.
Will this game be a contender game of the year? Probably not as it is a bit too niche. Will it tell a compelling story and make you work for the conclusion? Absolutely. Visual novel fans who like their stories a bit darker should absolutely have this on their radar and in their libraries. It may not be Danganronpa, but it sure is just as satisfying at the end of it all.
It’s very clear that a lot of care went into making a very solid game. The historical aspect gives it a lot of depth and somehow, the game never feels like it doesn’t know what it wants to be. Hell Clock finds its way as an ARPG and roguelike quite easily. It’s clear the developers at Rogue Snail had a story to tell and wanted to tell it in an approachable way. I can confirm they succeeded.
Perhaps with a little bit of tweaking, Shuffle Tactics will begin a new trend or find some great footing. For now, it’s just a bit too much to be enjoyed by many. It will find an audience, but it may be quite niche. A bit more polish and maybe removal of some of the too much content and this might be a great way to bridge these genres together.
Credit to Sassy Chap Games for coming up with so much on their first game. Of course, yes, many of them have so much experience behind the microphone, the switch is quite smooth. The game delivers everything it promised and more. It truly is a labor of love and it shows. The team also made a point to ensure that during the date with developers, each team member has a chance to speak and get highlighted. The work given into even this moment, shows how important this was to everyone.