Final Fantasy XVI Echoes of the Fallen pleased me during its short runtime. But that's owed more to the foundation than the added content itself. The combat is still enjoyable, and for that reason the new material sufficed. However, to truly recommend this DLC, it lacks sufficient scope and innovation in my opinion.
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Alan Wake 2 overall entertained me, even though some of the combat encounters and the limited save points occasionally caused more frustration than genuine tension. The game also crashed frequently for me, even after several updates. With plenty of exploration included, my playtime ended up being around 30 hours. I did enjoy the atmosphere, and the quieter sections did not bother me. Fans of the original and of other recent Remedy Entertainment titles will recognize quite a few familiar elements. The radio broadcasts return as well, although this time there is a running gag that I personally did not find particularly funny. Additionally, songs are no longer automatically played after them, though radio shows, music, and other content can still be replayed—just not ideally during dangerous situations. Visually, the game also looks solid on Xbox Series S, although some character models occasionally fall into the uncanny valley. I consider Alan Wake 2 a solid continuation. Anyone who enjoyed the predecessor will likely not go wrong with this one.
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Fetch-Quest: The Game, I mean Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, can entertain for a few hours. However, the fetch quests wear out quickly and you're often traveling through the same areas. In my opinion the combat system is a bit too simple to motivate for long periods, and the story drifts along for ages.
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Anyone with a genuine interest in Cuisineer who’s willing to be a bit patient should definitely keep an eye on it. It has its own charm.
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Another World Mahjong Girl did not turn me into a Mahjong expert. Even by the end, I still hadn’t memorized all the possible winning hands. You also shouldn’t expect much of a story here, and the flavor text for the opponents is not particularly meaningful either. That said, I do find the character style quite appealing. In the gallery, you can view individual girls you have either recruited or defeated. You can also interact with them for reactions, although many of them are not particularly positive. After all, winning at Mahjong alone is not the same as winning someone’s heart—who would have thought?
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Overall, Fate/Samurai Remnant won me over—and I can confidently recommend it even without prior knowledge of the series. The visual style appeals to me, as does the music, which suits the setting perfectly. Characters and designs mostly hit the mark. The combat system is solid, though I occasionally struggled with the timing between enemy telegraphs and attacks.
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Overall, I enjoyed my roughly 20–25 hour journey into the year 2037. Of course, this can vary depending on how effectively one uses Hacking Trigger, or even deliberately plays toward a Game Over scenario—which I did not. The total playtime also differs depending on whether you advance text immediately after reading or wait for the voice acting to finish. This time, voice output is available not only in Japanese but also optionally in English. Personally, that was not particularly important to me, but others may certainly appreciate it. The story was engaging and entertaining, although some characters remain somewhat flat or are not given enough opportunities for deeper development. I found the musical accompaniment fitting and well-implemented. In general, I had little trouble identifying the right moments to use Hacking Trigger in order to avoid a Game Over. Near the end, there was one section I found a bit less clear, though that may simply be subjective. Even though there are some connections to other entries in the series, I feel that Anonymous;Code can also be recommended without prior knowledge of the franchise.
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Atlas Fallen can certainly entertain even if some sand may have gotten into the gearbox.
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Aragami 2 was something I was curious about after hearing that it would feature a more developed combat system. For me personally, however, this did not turn out to be an improvement. I do appreciate the option to incapacitate enemies without killing them. Unfortunately, the voice acting is once again largely unintelligible apart from a few recognizable terms. The shift toward more open areas, and with it more aimless wandering, is something I enjoyed less. In addition, not only do you revisit the same areas too often, but there also feel to be simply too many missions overall, making the game come across as unnecessarily stretched out. Ultimately, my conclusion remains that different does not automatically mean better.
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Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg entertained me, but at times I had difficulties filling the available time meaningfully. Presumably partly also because the fairies can take away so much work. Whoever is not put off by the mere existence [of this mechanic] can find a rather relaxed experience despite the time limit.
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Gal*Gun 2 offers various changes compared to its predecessors, but remains similarly entertaining. Since the basic premise stays the same, it is naturally not for everyone either. Also unchanged is that it can feel repetitive when playing for multiple endings. And the occasional boss fights are also similar to one another. At least for a while, the free missions offer some variety. The VR shooter principle works just fine without VR as well, but as with its predecessors, the difficulty remains low. Lighthearted fun is the focus here too.
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Final Fantasy XVI pleased me greatly. The story is engaging, yet offers quieter phases to catch one's breath in between. The presentation is convincing as well. The combat system flows naturally and is enjoyable.
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Even though my enjoyment was dampened at times as I mentioned, I did like Hi-Fi RUSH overall. The basic principle has its charm, the style is clean and pleasing to look at, and the conversations and humor appealed to me. However, I'm divided when it comes to optional content after completing the game. I already mentioned the obstacles above that require replaying levels. That already feels a bit stretched. Some conversations and tutorials still take place during this, thereby disrupting the flow. Additionally, there's also a combat challenge with demanding requirements for the player, including regarding the beat system. To be honest, I found this far too difficult. Nevertheless, Hi-Fi RUSH is definitely worth recommending, especially for the Game Pass users among you.
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Kena: Bridge of Spirits convinced me overall, even though I had some minor issues. The camera control during fights against multiple enemies and the tight parry timing somewhat dampened the combat experience. Technical compromises on my aging console also bothered me a bit. Otherwise, I find it visually and stylistically appealing. The areas are in my opinion not too expansive, but complex enough that you won't automatically find everything optional. The story isn't particularly elaborate, but it keeps things concise in return. Overall, I consider the game to be a recommendable action-adventure.
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Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key has given me much joy again, just like the predecessors. The story may not be as complex as in some other RPGs, but I gladly accompanied the group on their adventure.
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Just as Gal Guardians: Demon Purge has two protagonists, the playing experience had two faces for me as well. That, by the way, is not a comment about the sisters, before anyone misunderstands me. The core gameplay entertained me well; stages and bosses are varied. The music knows how to please, and as a connoisseur of the GalGun series, I delighted in several reunions and the occasional scene. But as I devoted myself more to the optional content, which can sometimes influence the available endings, it became more unwieldy than hoped. Without a particularly helpful map function, I wandered through the castle, striking many walls in hopes of finding passages. The aforementioned revival problem also tripped me up at times.
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A Maiden Astrologer Divines the Future offers gentle, leisurely entertainment without great drama, as per my expectations. The problems that arise have virtually no real chance of escalating within the friendly and helpful circle of friends.
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The shooter gameplay isn't particularly demanding, and across the various routes there are indeed quite a few repetitions. But it builds on its predecessor. Shooting directly at marked weak spots still feels good, and the possessed enemies are a nice addition. The fact that you sometimes have several stages to choose from, and that some stages feature branching paths, makes for more variety. And of course I already had to take a closer look via zoom purely for the sake of science, or rather, collection. But those unwilling to bring joy to schoolgirls should stay away from this installment as well.
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I'm somewhat torn when it comes to rating Girls Tank Battle. On one hand, the girls are practically not integrated at all. Furthermore, the visual design is very simple and not particularly appealing. Then there's the high randomness factor, which can significantly affect your chances of winning. The randomness in Tech Research combined with what I feel is overly slow progression there certainly doesn't inspire enthusiasm. That said, I wouldn't give it a red light. To be fair, largely due to the straightforward core gameplay and relatively short rounds, I kept finding myself playing it intermittently. There was even a certain "just one more round" feeling. And while no technical problems were really expected given the graphical level, none stood out. However, I would have preferred being able to see the entire battlefield at once rather than just a large portion of it.
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If you already enjoyed the predecessor, I can wholeheartedly recommend God of War Ragnarök. It is an entertaining game with fun and challenging action and exploration to your liking, which also takes ample time for quieter sections and the characters.
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