Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
It honestly pains me to say this as someone who continues to be a big fan of the original. The problem with Secret of Mana HD doesn’t lie in what the developers changed as some might believe. It’s what they did not change. I almost hate myself for saying this but one of the key parts of Secret of Mana — its combat — just don’t hold up as well today. I’m still a big fan of the game. But my view of it is now a more tempered one as opposed to the blind devotion I had for it before I replayed the original game and played its new HD version as well. It’s still a solid game but also feels a bit more flawed.
A classic-style JRPG with a twist, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology features an interesting time-travel mechanic as well as position-based combat that makes for some interesting strategy. The game is surprisingly linear despite its multiple paths and can get repetitive after a while. A novel concept combined with interesting characters, however, make Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology worth sinking a lot of time into.
Dragon Ball FighterZ is a stellar fighting game that not only gets the job done but does it really well. With its faithfully impressive visuals and easy to pick up yet still surprisingly deep fighting mechanics, Dragon Ball FighterZ is is no mere cash grab that layers on the fanservice and then calls it a day. This is the Dragon Ball game longtime series fans have been waiting decades for and, boy, am I glad to be around to finally see it.
Kirby: Battle Royale trades in the pink puffballs platforming adventure with a collection of arena battles and mini-games. The game certainly can be fun in short bursts but lacks the depth of the mainline titles. It also gets a bit boring when playing solo so you'll want to scrounge up some warm bodies for this one. It's great if you like party games with combat but feels more like a light appetizer than a main course.
Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package is the definitive edition for fans who want to experience the fourth mainline entry in the game. Although the addition of extras like “Capcom Heroes” is nice, the aging combat is starting to feel as fresh a zombie. The removal of the timer might disappoint purists, though it makes the game more accessible to newcomers. It feels like a series at a crossroads, for sure.
The game could have easily done what’s safe and made minor improvements to a tried-and-true formula. Instead of going for the easy cash grab, however, Monster Hunter World takes a big risk creatively and financially by going for broke and making the most ambitious entry in the series to date. Is it perfect? No, it’s not. Is it a 10? In the eyes of this Monster Hunter veteran, absolutely. This is the best mainline Monster Hunter game I’ve played. Ever. It’s also one of the best games I’ve ever played, period.
Steep is a refreshing and unconventional take on the snow sports genre that boasts a more open, chart-your-own-course approach than its more structured brethren. It's not going to be for everybody and hardcore racing junkies will want to look elsewhere. If you enjoy experiencing the mountain as opposed to simply conquering it, however, Steep is definitely worth jumping into.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a game that sticks to a certain JRPG style and its own formula almost to a fault. It actually reminds me of the countless hours I've spent journeying through JRPG after JRPG on multiple console generations during the genre's Golden Age. At the same time, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 isn't the easiest game to pick up. At a time when many people want instant gratification or don't have the time to spend on a chunky JRPG, Xenoblade Chronicles 2's mechanics can frustrate and overwhelm. If you give it a shot, though, chances are, you just might find something that surprisingly suits your taste. It isn't for everybody. For those that end up liking it, however, it's a unique dish that hits the spot in a way that other delicacies do not.
The good news is that Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a faithful rendition of the classic Lego game formula. The bad news is that Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a faithful rendition of the classic Lego game formula. Personally, I'm feeling a bit tapped out after playing more than a decade's worth of Lego games without much change to the base formula. If you love Lego games or want to try them out for the first time, however, then Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is one block party you might want to get into.
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon encourage a visit to Alola to catch ‘em all once more, but your mileage will vary based on your past experience with the previous titles. If you’ve never played the original Sun or Moon games, then Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon is the definitive version of the series’ seventh generation and a must-have for your Pokemon gaming collection. If you played the heck out of Sun and Moon, however, then the new features might not be enough to warrant a return trip. Still, it’s a worthy swan song for the series on the 3DS.
Star Wars Battlefront was akin to Jar Jar Binks, a game with its share of fans and haters that turned out to be flawed but was an annoyance at most. Battlefront 2, on the other hand, is like Anakin Skywalker, a game with so much potential that it fails to realize thanks to what many see as a sinister turn. It’s a shame as the game actually does several things quite well and can be a blast to play. While it deserves credit for rectifying some of those issues prior to launch, however, the aftertaste of its questionable decisions continue to be a lingering issue in what otherwise could have been a stellar game.
Call of Duty returns to its roots and the war to end all wars in COD WWII. This iteration brings the spectacle of the series' modern shooters into a World War II setting while adding some new twists to its online progression. While the change in eras is much welcome, however, the game essentially feels like the same COD title except with a WW2 skin. For fans of COD's gameplay, that's exactly what the medic ordered. For those who want something different, though, what you're left with is a solid though not quite memorable shooter.
Like a nice car that comes with an aftermarket spoiler that doesn’t quite match, Need for Speed Payback is a game with some interesting parts that don’t quite mesh into one synergistic package. Its open world is beautifully vast and its diverse car selection will have something for everyone. Unlikable characters, however, combined with grindy gameplay with a hint of mobile gaming elements stall the momentum of a game with potential.
The Layton series returns with a new cast as daughter Katrielle takes on the puzzle-solving mantle. The gameplay, however, is classic Layton, which can be good or bad depending on whether you love its traditional mechanics or are starting to feel a bit burned out by it. If you're looking for a totally different experience, this doesn't quite fit the bill. If you love that classic Layton charm, however, Katrielle and the Millionaire's Conspiracy delivers.
Mario is back with a bigger sandbox and a new mechanic for bringing familiar foes to the mustachioed side. The addition of open world-style elements adds freshness to the classic formula while charming touches make Super Mario Odyssey ooze with fun. You do get a bit more dead space and traditional controls feel gimped compared to the extra options you have from separated Joycons. If you love Mario and platformers in general, however, it would practically be criminal to not have this game in your library.
Like its predecessor, "South Park: The Fractured But Whole" proves that games based on popular entertainment properties don't have to be soulless cash grabs. It doesn't quite have the new car smell of Stick of Truth and the humor can be crass and outright mean, so it won't be for everyone. Strong dedication to the source material, however, combined with the obvious love and care to do right by South Park fans make this a can't-miss game, whether you're a loyal viewer or an old fan who hasn't seen the show in a while.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus serves up one of the best single-player shooting experiences for any console generation, thanks to an excellent mix of storytelling, gameplay and world design. The violence might be a bit too much for some and its take on difficult topics such as prejudice and racism might make some folks uncomfortable. At a time when loot boxes and microtransactions are increasingly intruding into the industry, however, The New Colossus proves that developers don't have to sell their souls to create a compelling game.
Assassin’s Creed returns with a polished take on the franchise’s mechanics as well as stunning visuals and vistas that will make you feel like a virtual tourist of Ancient Egypt. The gameplay itself doesn’t stray much from the classic formula, which can be good or bad depending on your view of the series’ gameplay. Improved combat, however, combined with a nicely crafted world and an intriguing protagonist make Assassin’s Creed Origins a worthy entry in the long-standing franchise.
Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth, returns with the series’ minimalist take on dungeon crawling, which cuts the fat to focus on battling and exploring. The barebones approach won’t be for everybody, especially those who want their JRPGs to come with a chunky story. For fans who love to draw their own maps and pull off creative and crazy party combinations against tough bosses, however, Etrian Odyssey’s single-minded obsession to its classic formula is just what the witch doctor ordered.
Ultimately, this is a Warriors game through and through and your mileage will vary depending on your love or lack thereof for the series. If you're a Fire Emblem fan but consider the Warriors series' brand of hack-and-slash action to be mindless and repetitive, this won't be the game for you. If you love the Warriors series, however, and also have an affinity for Fire Emblem characters, this will be a match made in heaven.