Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
Sci-fi survival horror can have a been-there, done-that vibe but Prey manages to add another worthy entry to a genre that has seen its fair share of titles. Thankfully, the game manages to strike a good balance between action and tension while weaving a narrative that encourages you to discover what's next. Certain aspects of combat can feel clunky and loading times can be annoying given all the backtracking you need to do. Overall, though, Prey is a pulse-pounding addition to the survival-horror genre.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe puts the pedal to the metal by creating the most accessible racer in the series, or any racing game for that matter, to date. Smart steering and auto-acceleration lets little kids join in on the fun without being too overpowered. The return of a full-fledged battle mode also makes it a more complete Mario Kart experience. It might not have enough new features to entice folks who still own the Wii U version. Overall, though, this is arguably the best Mario Kart game to date.
The Caligula Effect features a nifty concept as well as some notable minds behind its story, music and character design. At the same time, the PS Vita JRPG is also the victim of bad timing as everything it does, Persona 5 does much better. If you haven't played the latter, then I recommend getting that instead. Otherwise, if you're looking for a more old-school Persona-style game, then The Caligula Effect can be worth checking out.
Groundhog Day meets Cluedo in the fascinating murder-mystery game, The Sexy Brutale. At times charming and other times poignant, this spin on the classic “whodunnit” formula in a mansion features an interesting time travel mechanic as well as a likeable cast of characters. The game and puzzles are admittedly linear and repeating time can get, well, repetitive at times. Overall, however, The Sexy Brutale is a fun murder-mystery romp, regardless of what time it is.
Like some unholy love child, Dragon Quest Heroes II continues its predecessor's attempts at merging JRPG conventions with the hack-and-slash gameplay of the “Musou” or “Warriors” franchise. Although it isn't always a perfect union, Dragon Quest Heroes II is a fun romp that provides one of the more challenging experiences in Koei Tecmo's “Warriors” franchise. If you enjoyed the first game or Hyrule Warriors, you'll certainly want to try this one out.
Wait, isn't turn-based role-playing game combat supposed to be obsolete? Persona 5 proves that the classic JRPG formula can still work in today's world given the right amount of love and attention. Add a compelling story, stylish production and a healthy dose of modern cool and you've got today's standard-bearer for the traditional JRPG formula.
Looking back at the games I loved most since the NES era, every single one had their imperfections. If I were to rate those few select titles just based on the pure joy I felt while playing them, however, I'd give those games a 10. Just like those beloved titles, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is not a perfect game. Ask me just how much I enjoyed playing it, though, and I would say it deserves the highest rating I could give it. In the end, that's all that truly matters.
Ultimately, Touhou Double Focus is a game that appeals to a narrow slice of the gaming community. The tough Metroidvania mechanics won't be for everybody and the game has a bit of that rough, "dojin" or fan-made taste to it. If you enjoy old-school games with an indie feel and loads of Japanese flavor, however, this one just might humor the otaku in you.
Atelier Firis is a fun and charming Japanese RPG with an alchemy twist that works quite well with its open-world approach. Admittedly, the combat system is a tad underwhelming and I didn't feel a bond with most of my party members. The key cast members are quite likable though and the game's engaging item creation system make this worth checking out if you enjoy more cozy JRPGs.
Toukiden 2 steps up big time from its predecessor, featuring a new open world with a fleshed out campaign while throwing in a fun Demon Hand mechanic that makes breaking demon body parts a bonafide hoot. It's still not enough to dethrone Monster Hunter from the top of its perch for this fan of Capcom's premier hunting franchise. It's the closest any Monster Hunter clone has gotten, though, making it my second-favorite series in the hunting genre.
Necropolis: Brutal Edition is a combat-based rogue-lite game that features some interesting ideas — like a procedural Dark Souls of sorts. Execution of those ideas, however, feels uneven and is hampered by the lack of a sense of purpose and clarity. A key trait for any roguelike is to provide you incentive to try, try again. Necropolis, however, feels like a stick that’s missing that enticing carrot to keep you coming back for more.
Touhou Genso Wanderer is a charming and challenging take on the classic Mystery Dungeon formula with lovably wacky Touhou characters. Presentation is great for this type of roguelike game and it also features lots of Japanese voice acting. Like many games in the genre, it can feel grindy and repetitive at times, and its difficulty also might scare newcomers away. If you like games like Shiren or Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, however, this is one title you'll want to wander into.
Like the explorers entering Andromeda's new world, Mass Effect Andromeda appears to be feeling its way into something new. The game has a good foundation to work with but an assortment of niggles and glitches combined with a lack of polish add up to one shaky melting pot at times. As a big Mass Effect fan, I'm still looking forward to seeing what's next. I just hope that the series gets a chance to keep continuing its journey.
Mario Sports Superstars takes the mechanics from some of Nintendo's popular sports series and puts them in one package. While games like tennis and golf do a good job in emulating the gameplay of Mario Tennis and Mario Golf, the bare bones features make the total experience feel stripped down — essentially turning it into a jack of all trades and master of none. If you like simple minigame collections, however, this is one of the better ones out there.
Snipperclips is arguably the best surprise of the Nintendo Switch launch, providing a fun and charming puzzle experience while also bringing back the joys of couch co-op and competition. It's not as fun when played solo and doesn't give you much reason to replay finished stages. Get two to four players in the same room, however, and get ready to make some noise and imbibe in hilarious hijinks.
Digimon World: Next Order is a throwback to Digimon World from the original PlayStation, complete with its town-building aspects and limited lifespans for your creatures. Its grindy nature and technical aspects for training can make it less accessible for newcomers and more casual players. If you like old-school Digimon gameplay, however, this is gaming comfort food that's a blast from the past.
I what appears to be a Renaissance for farming games, "Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns" adds another solid entry into a genre that appears to be seeing new life. Featuring plenty of charm, notable quality of life improvements and a lot of content to chew on, Trio of Towns feels like a "Bokujo Monogatari" game for sure. It might not quite reach the heights of new king Stardew Valley or fan favorite Rune Factory 4. For Harvest Moon fans, though, this will feel like a familiar friend.
WRC 6 won't take the crown from Dirt Rally but represents a step up from WRC 5. It also boasts some advantages over its more popular rival as far as its number of stages and more proper career mode. Although Dirt has the advantage as far as technical and visual prowess, WRC 6 still has a place in the rally space thanks to its accessibility to newcomers and more casual players.
With shooters and open-world titles getting a bit long in the tooth, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands manages to provide a fresh take on both genres by combining them into one cohesive package. The game can feel repetitive after long sessions and it might not satiate those who prefer the twitch mechanics of versus online shooters. For folks yearning for a cooperative campaign with friends in a large open-world playground, however, Wildlands serves up a fun experience.
"Nier: Automata" features a mishmash of gaming mechanics that surprisingly works. Whether it be "shmup" shooting, 3D action fighting or even open-world adventuring, everything in the game comes together fluidly like a three-cheese dip. The art style won't be for everyone and it can get fetchy at points. For fans of Japanese action and RPGs in their various forms, however, this is one treat worth imbibing in.