Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
Yakuza Kiwami is a welcome retelling of the original that helps bring in new folks to the fold while giving fans another opportunity to enjoy the game that started it all. Some aspects of the game haven’t aged quite as well even with the new coat of paint. A compelling story and setting, however, combined with memorable characters and an affordable price to boot makes Kiwami a welcome blast from the past that arrives just in time.
A solid base mechanic with potential and affordable price make Flip Wars an intriguing proposition for party game lovers. Its lack of content, however, reduce the mileage you might otherwise get from the game, especially in solo play. If you like to see a different take on Bomberman-style games and can round up folks to play with you, however, this budget title can still be worth flipping into.
Sonic Mania is a love letter thoughtfully crafted for fans of the series' early romp in 2D, which the game follows to perfection. Admittedly, some of the game's mechanics have not aged well and might be cumbersome for some. If you love the classic gameplay, however, and want to experience it through larger areas littered with multiple paths and secret nooks and crannies, you'll want to spin dash your way to this one.
The gameplay leans a bit on the easy side and doesn't quite have the meatiness to keep you coming back for more. It retains much of the charm of the series, however, while getting rid of its more stressful elements. If you're a fan of Kirby games, this lighter, two-dimensional take on Pikmin is the gameplay equivalent of snacking on cotton candy.
It's admittedly simple and repetitive. The game, however, oozes charm and high comedy depending on your real-life relationships with the people your Mii characters are based on. It's basically like Thanksgiving with relatives, minus the stress.
“Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age” brings back a pivotal title in the series' modern period that has proved to be ahead of its time. It's like a time capsule that bridges the transition from the series' classic roots to its more modern iterations. Like the original game it's based on, the game is not perfect. If you love JRPGs, however, this is one history lesson you'll want to take.
Splatoon 2 returns with all the charm and quirkiness of the original plus some new features that make it an even more polished experience. Difficulty for the story mode bosses leans a bit on the easier side and the online experience has some minor hiccups. An engaging campaign that harkens to old-school action games as well as full-fledged online multiplayer that now adds horde mode, however, makes Splatoon 2 avoid the dreaded sophomore slump by serving up an even fresher experience in the shooting genre.
Despite some promising elements, mismatched expectations and an unsuccessful attempt to set things right cause this Valkyria Chronicles spinoff to crumble under its own weight. Ultimately, Valkyria Revolution is a game that suffers from an identity crisis and ends up not being quite sure of what it wants to be. I just hope that the Valkyria franchise gets another chance to do what it does best and deliver a new entry that's more faithful to its roots.
Ever Oasis is one of the pleasant surprises of the summer, delivering a fun action RPG with an extra helping of city building and oodles of charm. It leans a bit on the easy side and gathering can get a bit grindy in the first half of the game. Overall, though, it hits a lot of the right spots, especially for fans of old-school action RPGs. It's essentially one of those games that you didn't know you wanted until you play it.
Oraoraora! ARMS is a fresh and welcome entry in the arena fighting genre that features interesting characters, solid fighting mechanics and one of the best implementations of motion controls that I've seen for any system. Admittedly, the campaign mode could have benefitted from a more robust story and the inability to remap your buttons is a bit frustrating. Despite its issues, however, ARMS is a wily knockout fighter that dishes out lots of fun and entertainment for the young as well as the young at heart.
Deck 13 serves up a fun alternative to Dark Souls in the Surge, featuring the same type of deliberate combat and punishing difficulty in a more sci-fi package. It's a bit short and could use more diversity in its foes and environs. If you're looking for a different take on the Souls-like genre, however, this one's worth taking a stab, hack, slice or bludgeoning blow at.
Ultra Street Fighter 2 looks like a love letter to fans such as myself who spent tons of time and even more quarters at the arcades during SF2's heyday. While classic mode remains fun and modern mode looks nice, a lack of extra features and a poorly implemented first-person mode with waggle controls sours what should have been a celebration of Street Fighter 2's legacy. It's still a solid title but also represents a missed opportunity.
Those crazy Mishima boys are at it again in Tekken 7, which spices up its volcanic, dysfunctional family drama with some new mechanics and one “Raging Demon.” Admittedly, a few more extra modes certainly would have been nice to have. A full-fledged campaign combined with rock-solid mechanics, fun customization and that flashy Tekken style, however, makes this game another hard-hitting entry in the popular fighting franchise.
Disgaea 5 Complete returns with devilish hijinks and the deepest tactical system in the series to date while throwing in all the DLC extras for free from the original PS4 version. The game can feel overwhelming for newcomers and requires some serious grinding to fully enjoy everything it has to offer. Tactical RPG lovers, however, will love its depth while the ability to play on the TV or on the go makes it arguably the best version of Disgaea 5 out there.
“Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception” is a well-done visual novel that features a chunky narrative as well as some tactical combat to help add diversity to the mix. Its incredibly long walls of text won't be for folks who are more interested in a dedicated tactical RPG. If you're looking for a polished visual novel experience with likable characters and a sprinkling of battling for diversity, however, Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is one amusing and entertaining journey that's worth embarking on.
Part Spirited Away and part Tim Burton-style narrative, Little Nightmares serves up an intriguing suspense-horror platformer with great visuals, a nice dose of mystery and a compelling narrative. The game is a bit brief and leans toward the easier side of the difficulty scale. That short experience, however, is definitely sweet and will tickle fans of Limbo, Inside and other games in the genre. All in all, Little Nightmares is a sleeper hit.
Like a loaded hero sandwich, Injustice 2 serves up a stellar fighting game that is not only mechanically solid but also packed to the gills with plenty of "fixins." It still has some uncanny valley moments and the dark, insufferable versions of Superman and Wonder Woman are starting to wear a bit thin. Thanks to a deep combat system, a chunky narrative and a plethora of collectibles and unlockables to collect, however, Injustice 2 is proof that fighting games can be full-fledged experiences that aren't one-dimensional.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia provides the best of both worlds by serving up classic tactical gameplay in a modern, more visually pleasing presentation. Some fans might decry the absence of the Weapon Triangle and romance options. All in all, however, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia does a commendable job in re-imagining an old game for today's times. It's a great example of a remake done right.
Like a lovable blast from the past, The Disney Afternoon collection brings back six 8-bit games based on beloved franchises while adding a few twists. These include a neat rewind feature as well as a Boss Rush mode for getting into the big action right away. The games can feel dated and might not hold up for folks who don't have any attachments to the original versions or the franchises they are based on. If you enjoyed the games as a kid, however, they provide a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Having played all those other Lego games in the past, Lego City: Undercover feels like a retread, despite its solid design and mechanics. If you're a newcomer to the series, Lego City: Undercover will be loads of fun, especially when played with a sidekick in your living room. If you're someone who played the Wii U version or many of the games in the series and are looking for something new, however, Lego City: Undercover will likely feel like more of the same despite being one of the best incarnations of the Lego formula.