Joey Leong's Reviews
Although the boss battles in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse may be lacking and the story, predictable, other aspects like its game design, soundtrack, combat, and characterisation outshine its flaws and make them insignificant. The game is a delight to play and doesn’t shy away from letting players take their time unravelling the mysteries of 1944 Paris. It’s safe to say that Konami can boldly bring on the next chapter of House Belmont in future titles.
It’s surprising to say that a fighting game can tell a great typical story five times over, and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls has managed to do so. With such an accessible way to enjoy combat alongside tools to bridge the gap between newbie and pro, players of all skill levels will enjoy round after round as long as support for the game persists in the years to come.
Anno 117: Pax Romana breathes new life into the city-building genre through meaningful narrative and gameplay choices, although minor quality-of-life features would have improved the overall experience. Nevertheless, long-time fans and those new to the series will find no shortage of fun pouring hours into building their ideal Roman-Celtic city.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach brings a level of innovative playability for casual gamers who are interested in the story. That is not to say that they will catch up easily with the game’s events unless they spend time reading its jargon and concepts. Still, the game’s gripping tale of loss, connection, and sometimes socio-political exploration is worth experiencing if gamers are willing to carry out the next delivery order.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is one of the most accessible titles for franchise newcomers. Although its new features reduce micromanaging while keeping the gameplay loop streamlined, it suffers from being too linear and predictable on top of a slightly confusing endgame. Still, it’s a beautifully presented title which beckons players to play just one more turn.
Astro Bot is an enjoyable platformer that fully utilises the features that make the PlayStation 5 special. Clocking in at roughly 16 hours to find every collectable, players can hope for more content in the future – only if Team Asobi is willing to add more value to a game that already offers so much.
Even with a compelling historical premise, Rise of the Ronin reveals its cards too early while suffering from poor AI and choppy game performance. Still, there is something to appreciate in its tale if you’re willing to look past its flaws.