Gust’s first foray on the PS4 with their flagship Atelier title is a rousing success, and even though I lament the removal of the time limit mechanic from the series, it still proves one of the strongest entries the franchise has had to date, and one of the best RPGs available on the PS4.
Score Rush Extended is very much a one trick pony, but that one trick is a tried and true classic and still enjoyable all these years later. Even though I personally prefer to play bullet hell shooters with mechanics that put a twist to the genre to keep things interesting, the simple and satisfying action, along with its modest asking price, makes Score Rush Extended well worth looking into if you have an itch to dodge a screen full of bullets.
A gaming experience that's more polished and exciting than I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing and one I'll be sure to continue to play for the foreseeable future
Bravely Second is a title that builds on the success of its predecessor without taking too many risks. There are only a handful of new mechanics and ideas present here, but as the original was brimming with so much innovation, I have a hard time holding it against the sequel for upholding the precedents made by its predecessor. In turn, it also stands amongst the best JRPGs on offer for the 3DS.
PopoloCrois follows in the footsteps of other hybrid genre JRPGs like the Atelier series, and instead of alchemy mixes in a heavy dose of a farming instead. While the farming aspect of this hybrid title is compelling enough, the dull combat and a snail’s pace holds it back from greatness.
[D]espite all odds, [Drinkbox Studios has] managed to craft a title featuring a fantastic world that begs to be explored, and a combat engine that’s intuitive and the finest use of touch controls since Tearaway. It’s simply the best title to come out for the Vita in some time, and one worth adding to the library of every Vita owner.
Despite the lackluster dungeon designs and rather pedestrian difficulty, the gorgeous art style and a greater emphasis on its story and characters makes Ray Gigant stand out amongst its peers.
Despite its age, Melty Blood is a deep and engrossing fighter with a lot to offer. Whether it’ll have a lasting place in this ever shifting anime fighters market is unclear but I’m glad to see it finally released in the States all the same.
Stranger in Sword City is a brutal and uncompromising experience that’s well worth overcoming. It features some interesting gameplay ideas along with a terrific art style and an OST to match. If not for its few notable flaws, it could have easily been the best dungeon crawler on the Vita.
Overall, Nights of Azure is a rather unremarkable ARPG that just happens to have a gorgeous art style and a fantastic soundtrack. Even though it's not likely to become the new flagship franchise for the developers at Gust, it's a solid attempt at a new genre and a good distraction until the next Atelier title releases later this year.
Salt and Sanctuary is a great game- built on a solid combat engine and a world that begs to be explored. If it weren't for the numerous bugs and the pedestrian difficulty, it could have been something truly exceptional.
Trillion: God of Destruction is a game with a unique concept, expertly executed with clever mechanics and solid writing. It’s easily the best I’ve seen come from Idea Factory/Compile Heart, and an experience that reaffirmed some of my own personal traits not just as a gamer, but as a human being. If you fancy yourself brave enough to face Trillion, be wary – you too might not be prepared for what’s in store.
I certainly had my doubts about Pokkén when I booted it up for the first time, but it's safe to say that it's thoroughly won me over. The vibrant visuals with some spectacular animations, along with a combat system that's deceptively deep but simple to grasp makes Pokkén easy to recommend to anyone, whether they be a fan of Pokemon or not.
While the core gameplay of Fire Emblem: Fates remains intact and enjoyable, the poorly conceived release model, along with a predictable story that feels incomplete holds it back from true greatness.
Regardless of the limited content, SUPERHOT is certainly one of the most innovative FPS games I've played in recent years, and well worth playing for anyone who's tired of the same old formula.
For the 15th anniversary and the first Digimon game to be released in the west in over seven years, the fans deserved better than the localization effort put forth here. Still, despite these issues, the core gameplay remains strong and stands as a fun game to play- just not to read.
Project X Zone 2 is a deeper, more satisfying experience as it is greatly improved from the original in every single way. It's a shrine to a great cast of characters we've grown fond of over the years, carefully crafted by people who love these characters just as much as we do.
Despite these flaws, Final Fantasy Explorers offers a good time with friends taking on iconic enemies from the FF universe- just don't expect much of a challenge.
In the early hours of Trails of Cold Steel, I was skeptical that it could live up to the lofty standards set by Trails in the Sky. However, after my first year spent as a student of Class VII, I can confidently say that it has, and knowing that this is just the beginning of a new series fills me with great anticipation.
Fun Tidbit – The music in this game is quite odd. I can swear I heard someone singing about sushi at one point.