Drew Hurley's Reviews
ACA NeoGeo: Shock Troopers is an ideal game to add to anyone's Nintendo Switch library for playing while commuting, dropping into tabletop mode for some local co-operative action at a friend's house, or even diving into at home on the big screen to try and top the online leaderboards for that strong feeling of satisfaction. It may have a short playtime, but it is extremely enjoyable to go back to it again and again - a truly excellent dose of arcade fun.
"Games as an art form" is still a touchy topic. Little Inferno, however, is very obviously more art than game - an experimental meta piece that is a commentary on the mindless time waster games and consumerism in general around games... and it's both interesting and well put together.
There are exclusive titles on every console that epitomise the system; titles that are indelibly linked with that hardware through future generations. Adventures like The Last of Us, like Kingdom Hearts, like GoldenEye and Super Mario 64. Horizon: Zero Dawn stands worthily alongside these iconic releases. The story is enthralling, the open world is lush and inviting, the gameplay extremely addictive, and the sheer scale of it all is amazingly vast. Simply put, this is a phenomenal game.
Like many others of its ilk, New Frontier Days - Founding Pioneers is full of the types of mechanics that make for very addictive gameplay - the type that have that "just one more minute" gameplay. Despite how it makes the hours fly by, though, this is ultimately a boring grind with no real depth, no heart, and nothing special here. With the superb Stardew Valley on the horizon for Nintendo Switch, fans of these types of games should try holding out until then and give this one a pass. Heck, you would even be better off with Farmville to tide you over…
Replaying these games once again really hammers home just how great they are. Even with knowing every chapter, every death, every culprit, and every twist, there is still just so much to enjoy here. So many funny moments, great characters, fantastically surreal situations, a superb soundtrack - it's just all so good. So good, in fact, that the lack of any new content can even be overlooked. It's even better for those new to the franchise that can experience all the twists and surprises that are there in abundance. This is a release that even the home audience of Japan hasn't got yet (nor has it even been announced!), and one that Western fans should snatch up.
Of all of the Nindies to land on launch day, Vroom in the Night Sky, is without a doubt the worst.
Dragon Ball Fusions is such an original and fun idea, yet is plagued with so many flaws and annoyingly flawed aspects of the gameplay that the final product is reduced to something that ends up being a specialist game for hardcore fans that can ignore a 10-12-hour title tripling in lifespan due to so many repeating animations bloating out every combat sequence. There's still an enjoyable game here with some addictive aspects, but it could be so much better with just a few minor tweaks. Quite disappointing.
Intrinsically addictive, relaxingly laid back and completely charming. The Atelier games are hard to sell to those who have never played them, but once you start, you'll be tearing through the back catalogue to experience them all. The removal of the time-based objectives does negatively impact the final product, but left in its wake is a game to put your feet up and unwind with.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 - Road to Boruto is a must-buy for fans of Naruto and the Ultimate Ninja Storm series, but it ultimately brings nothing new to the table. It's well worth the cost of the DLC, and those who have yet to pick up Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 now have a further reason to do so with the complete edition. That being said, with the recent serialisation of the Boruto manga and an incoming anime, it would have been preferable to see an "Ultimate Boruto Storm," not to mention it would have been nice to see more playable characters from the Boruto series and perhaps a covering of "The Scarlet Spring" or "Naruto the Last" added to this, too.
Go tell Aunt Rhody she needs to play Resident Evil 7, as it's an absolutely stunning rebirth and return to form for survival horror. This soft reboot has reinvigorated the franchise and brought AAA survival horror back. The future of Resident Evil looks very promising too, since Capcom established that the Bakers have taken plenty of visitors over the years and have filmed them all. These experiences are already set up to be the part of some upcoming DLC and for future instalments this leaves plenty of story threads hanging and questions left to be answered.
Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star is something of a mixed bag. This style of game works well with the Fate backdrop, and the actual Area Supremacy Battle makes for fun and addictive gameplay, but the presentation of it leaves a lot to be desired, with battles that feel too brief with far too much story interjected in between them. Not to mention that this story is terrible. Even the side stories for the supporting cast are heavily uninspired.
Without doubt, this is a must-play for fans of the series, managing to be a perfect accompaniment and semi-sequel to the original. Though the first game indisputably felt like a complete tale, Steins;Gate 0 nonetheless feels like an essential part of that story, and is so integrated with the original that it mostly feels like the whole story is finally being told. The voice actors' performances, the stunning art, and the superb soundtrack all combine for a final product that is absolutely top tier. Every aspect of this game is polished to perfection. Again, this is, regardless of medium, one of the finest time travel stories that has yet been told.
A decent enough addition to the series, but ultimately, one that fails to bring anything new or special. Hardcore Picross fans will be picking this up regardless, while those who may be interested in trying out the number crossword puzzler would be better off going for the tie-in version to whatever franchise they prefer, or even the 3D version.
With so many disappointments in recent Telltale titles, it's fantastic to see the team recreate the magic of Clementine's earlier stories in A New Frontier. It manages to introduce a great cast of likeable characters that have their own tale to tell, while also expanding Clementine's saga. This feels like a return to the form of the glory days of the first season of The Walking Dead, or even The Wolf Among Us, so here's hoping the team can keep the quality up for the rest of the series.
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier - Episode 2: The Ties That Bind II keeps the course, delivering another quality storytelling experience with aplomb. Javi's story is a compelling one and fans can't help but clamour for closure and answers for what happened to Clem… and what happened to AJ. Plenty of pieces are in motion and this is building to be a very special story. If only Telltale could get this quality over to its other recent titles...
The first paid DLC for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, DB Super Pack 1, is a considerable disappointment, but one that Xenoverse fans will be familiar with considering they experienced the same with the first title. Hopefully, the second DLC will pack a little more punch and, ideally, include Whis or Goku Black. At least, in the meantime, there is the new free DLC to enjoy.
The entire of Batman: The Telltale Series has been an exercise in disappointment. While there are some solid design choices and fresh takes on the characters, the world this is set in feels shallow and the story fails to capture and keep the interest of those playing. The Telltale gameplay has some fun moments, particularly the odd fight scene, but it just feels too safe - by the numbers, and 'just another Telltale game' crafted to the template of all the others. Batman fans will enjoy this original Year One tale, Telltale fans, too, but there's nothing special here, even in the final part, Episode 5: City of Light.
Puzzle games definitely have a niche audience, but Nintendo and Jupiter have definitely found that audience on the 3DS. Its reputation as a platform for anyone and everyone has opened up the games to many more players. With Picross 3D: Round 2, there's nothing here to set the world on fire, but it's still an extremely solid, addictive, and enjoyable puzzle title that will keep players engaged for plenty of time and they will have lots of fun while doing so.
Final Fantasy XV marries elements that made the series so well loved, with fresh new ideas and inspiration from Western RPGs, and manages to be both a love letter to the series and something brand new. It's so easy to get attached and invested in the story of Noct and crew, despite the game's several flaws, but there are indeed too many aspects that hold the adventure back from reaching its full potential. There are key moments that will be pleasing to long-time fans, but just be aware that there are some drawbacks to this otherwise engrossing role-playing escapade.
While the problems of previous episodes in regards to the slow story and the lack of influence on it based on the choices made remain, Batman: The Telltale Series - Episode 4: Guardian of Gotham is considerably more enjoyable. As is often the case with Batman, the villains end up stealing the spotlight here, and seeing both Cobblepot and Two-Face truly come into their own is superb. Then the finale delivers a decent cliff-hanger, and a branching option to set up the final episode. Maybe Telltale can pull this back after all!