Krista Noren's Reviews
Fate/Extella is clearly made for hardcore fans of the series. It's a hard sell to anyone that's not well-versed in the Fate franchise, and even then, the repetitive, clunky combat system and overly wordy story sections will likely drive off those that have any interest in the game.
Codename Steam managed to set expectations high, but ultimately was not able to deliver a captivating game. There are so many great ideas here, but most of them go without being fully utilized. Bland and annoying gameplay mechanics keep this game from being something truly enjoyable.
It seems Star Ocean fans are let down once again, with another mediocre entry for the series. This is hard to recommend, even to hardcore JRPG fans. Stale combat, and other gameplay issues ultimately prevent this game from being able to stand up with previous, more enjoyable Star Ocean titles.
With the decompilations and Sonic 3: AIR a lot of effort to get working, Sonic Origins is the most accessible way to play these classic games. However, even if you bought the Android ports and owned the ancient version of Sonic 3 on Steam, it'd still be cheaper than buying this collection. I want to love it, because it should be perfect, but winds up being far from it.
Most people ought to skip Gotham Knights, and save themselves the trouble of playing a clunky, repetitive game with elements that they've seen countless times before. However, anyone that truly loves the sidekicks of the Batman franchise will be utterly overjoyed and willing to look past the lack of polish and enjoy a janky game that has a lot of intricate details and care put into it.
It’s hard to recommend this title at all for the single player campaign alone. While the combat is fun in short bursts, it can easily get repetitive since most levels require the exact same strategy each time in order to win. However, Neptunia fans should like this, as well as Vita owners looking for an enjoyable online co-op experience.
Days Gone sits at the cusp between good and bad. It exists as a wholly mediocre game, relying so much on its inspiration that it never feels unique. When compared to Sony's recent first-party successes in the form of Spider-Man and God of War, it only makes Days Gone that much blander.
If you're a fan of either Arslan or Dynasty Warriors, you'll probably like this game. Otherwise, it doesn't offer much else that other, more robust titles in the series couldn't provide.
Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires manages to mix two largely different gameplay types into one game and makes it work. There's a lot of content to play through, and a great amount of customization. It provides hours upon hours of content without getting too boring or repetitive.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition, at the end of the day, is three well-regarded games bundled together, with some modernizations to help keep them relevant, nearly 20 years after their original release. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that I’m new to GTA that prevents me from finding many issues with this collection, as I’m absolutely taken with the fun gameplay and more than content with both the graphics and performance. But that also goes to show how this collection helps introduce these games to the current generation, allowing new fans to understand the hype behind three classic industry-defining titles.
Though Chase: Cold Case Investigations doesn't last long, it's still a fun game. The game doesn't pad itself out unnecessarily just to lengthen playtime, and knows exactly when to end, as well as having a good enough story to keep players interested the whole time through.
While the overall writing and story is a little weak here, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice is still a fun game, featuring characters you all know and love. Sadly, it's starting to prove that living up to the quality of the first three games is a hard feat to pull off.
At the end of the day, Pokemon Sword and Shield are genuinely fun. That fun might be a little short-lived, but it's still got all the trappings that you can expect from a Pokemon game. There's a few new bells and whistles, a few steps taken forward, and a couple of steps taken back, just as there is with every new generation of the franchise.
Read Only Memories could have been a just another adventure game lost to the genre's massive list of stellar games. But Midboss managed to push the social boundaries of what's normally seen in video games, combining it with a familiar gameplay style, creating a memorable and interesting experience.
Though Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom can get repetitive after quite a few hours in, there is a ton of mindless fun to be had from just speeding across expanses of land and taking down dozens upon dozens on giant foes. Even if you aren't a fan of the anime or manga, Wings of Freedom is a very enjoyable experience.
A serviceable remaster that reminds us of how good Sonic games can be when they're done right.
Any Persona fan will be delighted with seeing their favorite characters together once more. If you enjoyed Persona 4: Dancing All Night, or love either Persona 3 or 5, there's a good chance that you'll be pleased with these spinoffs. This would be easier to recommend however, if both titles were not split up as separate $60 games, with lots of added DLC.
Hitting many highs, and a few lows along the way, Super Mario Odyssey is one of those titles that will definitely get attention, both from those looking to buy a Switch, and those that currently own one. If you're a Mario fan, you're probably already sold on the idea, but even for those who are looking something that offers that "Nintendo experience" you can get nowhere else, this is surely a game you'll want to pick up.
All in all, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X is a little bit of a downgrade from past Diva titles, but the core gameplay is still as great as ever. If you’re a fan of rhythm games, definitely give this a go
It's been four years, but Resident Evil HD is just as good a remake as when it first launched. For anyone who didn't grow up in the era of the original PlayStation or get around to trying it on another platform, this specific outing of Resident Evil 1 is a great way to get into the series, provided you don't mind a few Switch-related quirks with the port.