Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a brilliant, majestic recreation of one of the PS1-era's most beloved JRPGs. Armed with an effortlessly charming diorama art style, impeccable music and an incredible combat system, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is simply breathtaking. There is a bit of a misfire in terms of the voices and how oddly long some of the line deliveries are, but this is a JRPG of such immense quality and care, that skipping it would not be advised. You simply can't miss out on this loving tribute to Dragon Quest's historic past.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition isn't going to break any new ground or change the world, but if you're looking to get a spiffy upgrade for your new machine, it's potentially worth diving into. If you're tired of the desert island theme, though, there's absolutely nothing here that will remedy that.
Blightstone has a solid, strong foundation in terms of its combat and battle mechanics. The use of environmental hazards and interactive battle arenas is what helps the game stand out. The rest of the game feels like something of a slog, however, with some harsh RNG and an inconsistent pace that makes Blightstone feel like it can't get out of the blocks. There's something fun hidden here, but it is sadly overshadowed by a game that feels more interested in punishing you for simple things than allowing you to learn.
MIO: Memories in Orbit is a dark, challenging Metroidvania Soulslike that perfectly understands what makes this genre so much fun. Combat feels precise and weighty, with fantastic enemy design and one of the most enjoyable Metroidvania maps seen in years. Traversal is incredible, and you'll be in awe of its wonderful music. Sadly, MIO also continues to use outdated Soulslike mechanics, including long, arduous boss runbacks, and the upgrade system is interesting from a thematic standpoint, but ultimately pretty dull.
Octopath Traveler 0 introduces a new town building system to its endless turn-based battles, but doesn't innovate much outside of that. Combat feels fun and powerful, but with this being the fourth game in the series, it could use a touch up. In the end, Octopath Traveler 0 is an incredibly enjoyable JRPG, but one that feels like it's just spinning its wheels at this point. Town building is fun, but ultimately shallow.
Death Howl is a complex, yet easy-to-get-into deck builder that utilizes a slick, stylish mix of Soulslike gameplay systems and card-based combat. The world and story are breathtaking, with outstanding pixel art and ominous, subtle sound design. Combat feels excellent, but if RNG and dying a lot in games isn't your idea of a good time, it may not win you over in that regard.
Tingus Goose is a bizarre experience all around. Thankfully, it embraces its own oddities, and that's the type of weird I can get behind. If you've ever played games like Lemmings, you'll feel right at home with it. The challenge of creating a Rube Goldberg machine to guide the Tingus to the destination, while gaining as much cash as possible, is an intriguing gameplay loop that is hard to put down.
But if you're a Zelda fan looking for a fix until the next mainline entry comes along, Age of Imprisonment is a worthy adventure worth undertaking.
The oddball staff members at the asylum are full of charm, and the patients are just as endearing. It struggles with some unfortunate design choices and some unusual bugs in the menus, but is overall worth a bit of your time.
Europa Universalis V is the thrilling next iteration of Paradox's long-running grand strategy series. If you're still playing EU IV and wondering whether the upgrade is worth it, I'm here to tell you that you absolutely need to play this game. It takes everything about the last entry from 2013 and improves on it. If you're a newcomer with an interest in complex, deeply involved grand strategy games, then now is the perfect time to jump in.
Jurassic World Evolution 3 is without a doubt the absolute best dino park management game that has ever been made. Any of the issues or complaints I had from the first two games have either been improved on or completely eradicated. The campaign and challenge modes are worth checking out, but you'll find yourself absolutely absorbed by building and maintaining your park in the sandbox mode. It's a magnificent blend of nostalgia and contemporary game design, and is well worth dumping hours of your life into.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is not the next-generation evolution of the franchise that you've been waiting for. And while that is disappointing, these spin-off titles have done a pretty good job of creating fun little diversions that will tide you over until the next mainline game. If you're expecting voice acting and a compelling story, you'll be disappointed, but the appeal of catching and battling with Pokémon is still a decent adventure worth undertaking.