Taylor Rioux's Reviews
Quantum Witch might be a simple and short adventure upon first glance, but that brevity belies the depth of the narrative and messaging. Part manifesto and part meditation, it is a monument to both NikkiJay’s personal experiences and to our shared understanding and navigation of life — and all of the trials and tribulations we face along the way.
For a studio with such a limited repertoire of games, Shift Up has certainly left their mark on the space with Stellar Blade. While nothing could ever live up to the lofty aspirations set by internet culture-vultures, Stellar Blade carves out its own space with grace and precision.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate manages to not only be a fantastic action roguelike, but also an excellent vignette of what makes these characters so special to millions of people worldwide.
While the combat may not be the most exciting offering in the roguelite genre, there’s still a lot to love in Children of Morta. Beautiful pixel artwork keeps things visually interesting and is especially well done in touching family moments.
Blades of Fire is a fundamentally enjoyable game bogged down by a large number of truly uninspired aspects. Spiritless combat and exploration don’t mix well with a slow-paced story. Thankfully, there are enough bright spots to bridge the gap between early plodding moments and the endgame, such as the excellent voice performances and animation work.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a breathtakingly beautiful examination of death, grief, loss, and love. With an obvious deep respect and reverence for the cultures, people, and video games that came before it, Clair Obscur strikes the balance between pastiche and derivative work.
Stray is a lovely platforming adventure game that sees you playing as a cat in a somewhat dark, but ultimately hopeful world. Much of the gameplay revolves around exploring your surroundings or solving puzzles, but the real highlight is just how well it nails its animations and tone.
Dawn of Ages is a vapid, highly-monetized auto-battler with little in the way of creativity. A medieval strategy game with base-building aspects that never amount to more than busywork. Riddled with bugs and offensive pay-to-win monetization, it offers so little of value that I came away offended that it exists at all.
Despite not being wholly original by design, Kaya’s Prophecy succeeds in marrying the two disparate ideas of card battler and village management. A simple, yet distinct art style, combined with timeless deck-building mechanics, makes for an endearing and addictive experience.
Surprisingly difficult, Seafrog is at times a joyous experience and at others a bit of a bore. Creative level design lends itself to navigating through inventive use of your abilities, but failure is punishing in all the wrong ways.
While elements like the artwork and music are truly exemplary, the real value in Pyre lies in the tale it tells and the characters who shape it. Dealing with themes of fighting oppression, redemption, and hope, Pyre remains a poignant piece nearly a decade later. Perhaps especially so, now.
IXION is a bit of a mixed bag. Complex and vast systems at play often veer on the edge of tedium, all while being somewhat obtuse.
One part puzzle game and one part roguelite, Blue Prince is a beacon of creativity and mystery. Masterful use of space, color, and the video game medium itself have concocted a beautiful blend of storytelling and puzzle solving.
While SONOKUNI doesn’t break barriers or have the most moving story, the visual style and music create a memorable experience. Combat is fast but measured, allowing you to correct your mistakes and make incremental improvements and progress.
Light in subject matter, content, and difficulty, Nif Nif doesn’t do enough to stand out from the pack for adults, but might just be what you need to introduce the genre to a younger audience.
Monster Hunter Wilds starts slow but is worth the wait. Bombastic battles and diverse equipment ensure you’re always either working on something or enjoying the ride when you play.
Judgment is a must-play for fans of detective stories and action games alike. It boasts a charismatic protagonist, an exciting combat system, and a visually stunning presentation. Despite hitting some familiar beats, it delivers an enjoyable and deeply moving escapade.
Avowed is a game full of exploration, wonder, intrigue, and laughs. You can get lost in the world in so many ways — whether it’s the story that draws you in, the deep characters you fall in love with, or the parkour that keeps you playing, there’s so much to see and do. It may not have the most expansive map in the history of RPGs, but this adventure contains interesting exploration paths that are open to player creativity.
Warriors: Abyss is light on story and gameplay systems, but succeeds in delivering a somewhat fun loop. While there is little variety in the enemy types or overall gameplay systems, the massive roster of 100 different characters helps alleviate some of the monotony.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a departure from the long-standing series’ formula, but offers a worthwhile experience all the same. Combat is still flashy and fun, but Origins offers a more deliberate, measured approach to the fights that keeps things engaging for longer.