Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
Daemon X Machina is a solid game that boasts a great foundation but could use just a bit more polish in some areas. While I appreciate that it at least tries to craft an intriguing narrative instead of just putting in a throwaway story, the dialogue is admittedly a bit rough around the edges. The game could also be grindy, particularly if you want to get the best gear. Even with its issues, however, the excellent core combat makes this game worth a look, especially if you’re a mech fan. Hopefully, it does well enough to warrant a sequel as I’d be interested in seeing what this team can do a second time with the solid foundation it has set.
Calling Code Vein a Dark Souls clone is a bit unfair as it certainly adds its own unique spin to the genre. It doesn’t quite nail the purposeful gameplay that’s perfected by Dark Souls and Bloodborne. At the same time, its anime-style visuals combined with its more free-form class swapping makes it a fresh alternative for folks hungry for more Soulsborne-style games. All in all, Code Vein is a solid first effort that establishes a promising franchise.
Nintendo could’ve just taken the easy way out with Link’s Awakening. Instead, it brought back a gaming classic by remaking it from the ground up while keeping all the wonderful things that made games such as the original a bonafide treat. The new look won’t be for everyone and the Switch struggles at times when there’s too much going on. But those are minor quibbles for a game that reminds us why the top-down Zelda games were so beloved in the first place. Link’s Awakening is a charming remake done oh-so right. One last tip: don’t steal anything. Seriously.
Borderlands 3 doesn’t introduce any massively revolutionary concepts that completely change the game. Sometimes, though, people just want more of a good thing and Borderlands 3 delivers on that front for fans of the series.
Knights and Bikes isn't perfect, but it makes up for its hiccups with charming visuals, two adorable protagonists and a moving story that reminds us of some of our deepest, strongest fears and insecurities as kids. At the same time, it also reminds us of a time when we were filled with youthful optimism and were positively certain that we would make a difference in the world around us, no matter how tough things get. After putting in time in the game, one thought comes to mind. I wanna ride my bike.
Death is never a comfortable topic. Oninaki, however, doesn't just address it but wholeheartedly runs with it. It doesn't always succeed but it does make you think about the meaning of mortality — perhaps a bit too much as people die left and right. The combat also could be a bit tighter and the story overstays its welcome a bit. Beautiful visuals compared with a haunting score, however, make the game a treat to behold. Here's hoping Tokyo RPG Factory further builds on this for their next new JRPG IP.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses marks another stellar entry in a beloved series that continues to find ways to keep the experience fresh even after three decades. From its improved presentation and solid voice acting to its deep combat system and compelling narrative, Three Houses serves up a lot of meat that fans of the long-running franchise will gobble up. The main character admittedly can feel wooden at times and the school life part peters out a bit toward the end. Nearly 30 years after its humble beginnings, however, Three Houses is proof that Fire Emblem's flame continues to burn brightly.
Monster Hunter World Iceborne builds on its excellent predecessor with a plethora of new and returning monsters as well as some fun new mechanics to boot. The Clutch Claw is an especially fun addition to the game while Guiding Lands helps flesh out the endgame for folks who felt World didn't do quite as good a job in that department. Admittedly, certain endgame aspects can be a bit too grindy and some of the side stuff like Lynian picture taking can be wonky at times. Overall, however, Iceborne proves to be a better Monster Hunter World for fans of the series.
Super Mario Maker 2 is like a side-scrolling trip down memory lane for Mario fans minus the kids yelling "are we there yet" in the back seat. The sequel not only tickles your creative fancies but also adds a bevy of fun features not present in the first game, such as a new story mode, even more tools and the Super Mario 3D World style. Admittedly, the 3D World portion is a bit limited and isn't quite as feature-complete as the other styles. If you love designing levels or want to check out the Super Mario Maker 2 community's crazy concoctions, however, this game will have you exclaiming "Mama Mia."
Super Neptunia RPG features great music, wonderful visuals and that kooky Neptunia storytelling and dialogue that fans of the series know and love. Unfortunately, the overall experience is taken down several notches by the gameplay, which features pretty basic platforming, a multitude of fetch quests and combat that could be more fleshed out. Newcomers will probably not want to nep to this particular beat but hardcore fans will still enjoy its very Neptunia-ish writing and dialogue