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.
The joyous sense of freedom in being able to engage and disengage a situation as I effortlessly transitioned between stealth and combat- the feeling of excitement as the awe-inspiring bosses and set pieces set the bar to new heights both in spectacle and design, Sekiro is a masterpiece that will influence future games to come for generations.
Despite the lack of challenge and somewhat underwhelming story, I still found myself thoroughly enjoying the fast paced combat, and as I continued to experiment with different weapon types and skill loadouts losing countless hours, I knew the niche that God Eater has carved out for itself is most certainly well deserved.
While I have some contention in regards to the changes made to the main campaign, the additional stories are well worth the cost of admission by itself for fans, and even though I hesitate to call “Elite” the definitive way to experience the beauty of Steins;Gate, there is simply no bad way to experience such an exceptional story.
As a fan of the No More Heroes and Suda51 in general, it pains me to see the series stumble in this way, as the insufferably dull combat and a cast of uninteresting villains has me pondering, “will there truly be no more heroes?”
After the short reign of Super Mario Party, Super Smash Bros Ultimate has now become the de-facto game of choice to play at the office as well as the home. It encapsulates the timeless elements of the long running series and sprinkles a wealth of content unmatched by its contemporary rivals. Simply put, it’s couch gaming bliss.
Hitman 2 is not leaps and bounds better or even different than its predecessor, as it feels less like a sequel and more like the second season. However, it manages to hit the mark where it truly matters with expansive level designs and a wealth of gameplay options that makes playing through the same missions multiple times consistently fun but feel different every time.
A shame as this party was one I was glad to be invited to- I just didn’t feel the desire to stick around for too long.