Despite my less than enjoyable time with Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, I can’t help but appreciate its existence as the precursor to some of my favorite JRPGs of all time. However, as is often the case with pieces of history, it’s best left in a museum to be admired for all future generations.
Coming hot off the heels after Shadow of the Colossus and now with Demon’s Souls, Bluepoint Games have cemented their name as the best in the business when it comes to remaking beloved classics. Not only have they managed to capture and retain all the elements that made the original so great, they have brought it to the modern age as the absolute showcase title for a new generation of consoles.
Hades stands not only as the finest, most well-crafted game from the exceedingly talented developers at Supergiant but as one of the pinnacles of the genre. If you never looked at rogue-likes seriously before due to differences in personal tastes and what you believe that they represent, this might be the very title to change your mind.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4 is a true culmination of an epic journey filled with unforgettable characters in a world that has become as familiar and inviting to me as my own hometown. If not for the lackluster localization effort and continuous implementation of uneven voice acting, this could have been the perfect send off for the members of Class VII, Thors military academy.
Mortal Shell is built around a solid foundation with a fun and responsive combat engine propped up by strong visuals. While some obtuse design choices and an uninteresting world holds it back from escaping the moniker of being, “just yet another souls-like”, it’s guaranteed to scratch that itch, at least a little.
Despite being charming and oftentimes funny with some great set piece moments sprinkled throughout, Paper Mario: The Origami King’s repetitive combat and dull sense of progression hampers an otherwise enjoyable journey.
Even though the lackluster combat is a major detractor in an otherwise great return to form for the series, it doesn’t ruin the experience either. Despite being on hiatus for so long, this release proves that there is life left for the series, and I for one can’t wait to see what’s next in store for the world of Sakura Wars.
Granblue Fantasy: Versus makes a great first impression with its stellar visual flair but falls a bit short on the gameplay department with simplistic combat mechanics and a story mode that becomes boring a little too quickly.
Despite missing a few defining features of the original, Resident Evil 3 makes for a thrilling experience that I’m sure will be enjoyed by both veterans of the series and new fans alike.
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection provides a compelling package for those who never had the opportunity to check out a piece of lesser known Megaman history.
In a bid to move the series forward towards a new direction, Atelier Ryza presents a new exciting combat engine and one of the best takes on alchemy yet, but falters with its plodding pace and a cast of forgettable characters.
Despite some issues that makes it feel like a step below Azure Striker Gunvolt 2, Luminous Avenger iX is still a worthy inclusion in the Gunvolt Chronicles universe.
Despite the hardware limitations and a handful of odd design choices, Astral Chain is one of the best new IPs to hit in recent years and one deserving the attention of every Switch owner.
After a long, grueling wait, the Legend of Heroes makes its triumphant return and I am more than happy to report that the wait has been worth it as Cold Steel III delivers on all fronts with improved visual fidelity, performance and a slew of meaningful new mechanics. Led by a cast of unforgettable characters and an intriguing story arc that will have you begging for more when the credits roll.
As the follow up to the best selling game that Capcom has ever made and my personal pick for game of the year, it’s an understatement to say that there was a lot to live up to. Luckily, the masters at Capcom were more than up for the challenge and delivered on an expansion that highlights the unforgettable moments of triumph the series is synonymous for while moving forward with clever new mechanics that enhance the Monster Hunter experience to its finest iteration.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses stands tall as a true step forward for the franchise both in terms of presentation and gameplay, which I am certain will propel the series to yet another level of relevancy and popularity.
Atelier Lulua is a solid, albeit safe final entry in the Arland quadrilogy that does an admirable job of bidding farewell to a lovable cast of characters.
Instead of a glorious celebration of all things Atelier, Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists comes off more like a misguided attempt at creating a spinoff by toning down all the elements that makes Atelier games enjoyable in the first place.
Despite feeling that this was a bit of a missed opportunity, the Phoenix Wright Trilogy on the Switch has now become my recommended way to experience this classic story thanks to its various quality of life updates and solid price point.
Zanki Zero’s unique premise and the way it connects to the various mechanics surrounding the game is noteworthy for its ambition and creativity. However, the shaky foundation of its overly simple combat engine and level designs holds it back from greatness.