Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
As its fittingly long name implies, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue should serve as the last appetizer before the long-awaited main course that is Kingdom Hearts 3. The best part is arguably Aqua's new chapter, a short but sweet entry that teases the promise of KH3. It's too bad that it couldn't be longer but for fans burned out from waiting, it just might rekindle their interest in the series, provided the price of entry isn't too high.
While Final Fantasy continues to make sweeping changes to its JRPG formula, Tales of Berseria keeps refining the classic template it’s known for, resulting in an enjoyable adventure for series fans. The lack of any revolutionary innovation might disappoint those looking for something different. Fans of classic JRPGs, however, will like the polished familiarity of this title.
With an intriguing premise and classic gaming style, Divide has the makings of a compelling, sci-fi mystery. Despite a strong story, neat concept and solid musical score, however, repetitive exploration and an assortment of bugs mar what should have been a promising overall experience. That's unfortunate as this has the ingredients of what could have been a great game.
"Poochy and Yoshi's Woolly World" takes all the charm and fuzzy feel of the Wii U version and squeezes it in portable form with some new additions. New features such as Poochy Mode and Poochy pups might not be enough to sway owners of the original game to take the plunge. If you're pining for Woolly World action on the go, however, this is one yarn-filled adventure that you would want to spin.
For Honor is a great new IP that takes the fun parts of competitive online shooters and sprinkles them into medieval-style combat. Add excellent visuals to the tight, polished gameplay and you have the makings of a potential esports contender. Unfortunately, microtransactions and free-to-play inspired unlocks take the sheen out an otherwise enjoyable experience. If you don't mind that, however, then For Honor is good fun.
Gravity Rush 2 serves as a modern throwback reminiscent of those times when Japanese games ruled the console roost. Like hard candy with a soft center, the game does a good job in balancing its more serious themes with whimsical moments. Its gravity mechanics, meanwhile, make for compelling action despite some of its niggles. If you’re looking for a unique open world game with a Japanese flavor, Gravity Rush 2 will attract you.
Resident Evil 7 marks a return to form for the series after the much maligned Resident Evil 6. If you disliked the action of the last few main titles and prefer a more intimate, suspenseful experience, then make sure to eat up on this gory heaping of horror, just like Marguerite Baker tells you to do.
From the red-light district of Kamurocho to the streets of Sotenbori, Yakuza 0 serves up a compelling open-world adventure with lots of action and oodles of content to keep both series vets and newcomers entertained. Add an intriguing story filled with underworld politics, good character interactions and a high level of polish and you’ve got what’s arguably the best entry in the excellent Yakuza series to date.
Life of Black Tiger is the kind of game that will make you question what you’re doing with your life. On the plus side, there's nowhere to go but up after playing it.
This HD re-release of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is the same game that fans know and love, complete with high-paced action, team mechanics and over-the-top hyper combos that’ll take you for a ride. As a port, however, this rendition does the bare minimum and does not add any new key features while also suffering from some netcode issues. It’s still a great game for hardcore fans or newcomers looking to get into its kinetic action. At the same time, it’s also a bit of a missed opportunity.
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone rectifies the main issue with Project Diva X by adding a huge song list that will have you playing for days on end. The lack of a story or interaction among the cast is disappointing and the difficulty can be intimidating for more casual players. Tight gameplay, lots of unlockables and catchy tunes, however, make this an easy recommendation for rhythm game fans.
Following 2015’s excellent Wii U version, Super Mario Maker 3DS takes the fun of Mario level design on the go. The portable version brings the fun of the original’s creation tools as well as modes like the 100-course and 100-Mario challenges. Although the visual downgrade is expected, however, the limited level-sharing options are more surprising and take out the teeth from an otherwise solid game that’s centered on creation.
Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization feels like a game that’s on the cusp of something great but is held back by a few hiccups. The story is interesting and quite fleshed out, and the base combat has potential. The inconsistent pacing, sketchy AI and grindy nature of the game, however, make it feel like a slog after a while. If you’re a fan of SAO, though, this is worth checking out just to re-experience Aincrad’s rebirth once again.
The Last Guardian is a story about the bond formed between man and beast where loyalty and friendship trump instincts. It's not perfect as Trico's AI can be finicky and the pacing will not be for everyone. Nevertheless, if you like games that challenge your knack for problem-solving and also appreciate storytelling that's both touching and raw, The Last Guardian is a game with timeless appeal that's very much worth the wait.
Yomawari: Night Alone is a story about childhood loss, mortality and facing your fears. It’s certainly not the most technically or mechanically amazing game and a lack of familiarity with the Japanese concept regarding gods can dilute its story. What it does well, however, is leverage Japanese folklore while tapping into those fears and insecurities we’ve all felt as children in order to transcend the game's own limitations. Charming and survival-horror may seem like an impossible mix but that’s exactly what Yomawari: Night Alone manages to do.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a faithful rendition of the original, perhaps too faithful, with visual improvements and mod support right off the bat for consoles. The lack of major new content and gameplay changes means folks who have burnt out while extensively playing the original likely won’t have reason to revisit this region of Tamriel. If you’ve never played the game before, however, it presents a great opportunity to experience one of the best RPGs to date.
Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection remasters what are considered some of the best games in the series alongside Black Flag. Parts of the games admittedly haven’t aged as well but the story continues to be a compelling one even today. Overall, the lack of significant new content means there’s less reason for series vets to don the assassin’s hood yet again though newcomers will find a lot to enjoy in this one.
Final Fantasy XV represents a coming of age, not just for its protagonist but a series that was met with a polarized response from Final Fantasy XIII. It shows some courageous risk-taking that breathes new life into the series' aging formula while also encouraging the kind of exploration that was lacking in FF13. Admittedly, the modern settings and new magic system dilute some of the fantasy elements the series is known for, and the hybrid turn-based and real-time combat system can feel like a compromise to fans of the two differing styles. At the same time, this is a worthy addition to the Final Fantasy franchise that looks to the future while also honoring its past.
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 builds on the foundation of the solid original, including its fusion (ha) of fighting and RPG elements while also adding a bigger hub and even more characters to its deep roster. The game can be a repetitive grind at times and the combat system can be a bit too simple for hardcore fighting-game purists. At the same time, the game’s RPG-style progression and social aspects continue the fresh take on the Dragon Ball formula that its predecessor started, which remains a nice change of pace for the series. Admittedly, the game won’t be for everybody but if you’re an avid Dragon Ball fan, feel free to add one point to my final score.
Don’t let its old-school look fool you. Owlboy is a game that is excellent regardless of the time period thanks to great gameplay, a compelling story and characters that will make you care.