Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key marks the end of the wonderful journey of Reisalin Stout and friends, and what a fitting send-off it is. From its larger maps to its new key-based mechanics, Atelier Ryza 3 certainly goes big for its last hurrah. Combat, while fun, can use a bit of balancing and ally AI could be more consistent. Overall, though, Atelier Ryza 3 neatly ties up the series’ narrative into a nice bow and will especially make longtime fans look back fondly on their adventures.
Idea Factory and Compile Heart serve up another dose of Nep-Nep in Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters, complete with the kooky and offbeat storytelling that Neptunia fans know and love. The use of a new action-based combat system can be potentially polarizing, especially since it feels uneven and could use more polish. If you love the narrative of Neptunia games and its characters, however, the story alone makes this worth playing.
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe goes the extra mile in giving new life to an older game, going beyond the standard remaster route by remaking its visuals, adding a new minigame mode and also throwing in a post-game adventure starring Magolor to boot. At the same time, the campaign remains fun especially when you have other players joining in. Non-Kirby fans might find the action a bit too simple. For folks who want a polished action game with multiplayer co-op that’s also family-friendly, the game represents a welcome return indeed.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty adds to the growing list of “tough love” games that mercilessly tear players down before building them back up. To its credit, Wo Long introduces a lot of quality of life improvements that make its journey a lot more accessible and every death not quite as harrowing as it is in other similar games. At the same time, level design and storytelling could also be better. That being said, the combat in Wo Long is among the best and feels quite rewarding once you get the hang of it. It’s a no-brainer for action masochists and folks who love a good challenge.
It’s been a long time coming but Like a Dragon: Ishin! is finally out for western audiences in remade form. While the game is starting to show some of its age mechanically, the redone visuals and quality-of-life changes also give it new life. The storytelling is also solid, especially for newcomers but can feel a bit too similar to past games for longtime players. Add a plethora of quirky mini-games and Like a Dragon: Ishin! is still worth the long wait.
The monster hunting genre has always been big enough to support more games besides Monster Hunter. It’s just that previous games haven’t quite scratched that itch the same way that Monster Hunter does. Wild Hearts is the first one to come pretty close. That’s good news if you’re a Monster Hunter fan because it means you now have one more good hunting game to play. It’s honestly good for a first crack at the genre — the Koei Tecmo’s solid Toukiden series notwithstanding — and I look forward to seeing how it further evolves in the future.
Labyrinth of Galleria is an excellent take on classic, first-person dungeon crawlers of old, boasting a fun class-based combat system and solid floor design. The game can suffer from some pacing issues and could do a better job in making your objectives more clear. But its great dungeon-crawling mechanics combined with one of the better told and voiced stories in the genre make this worthy to dive into.
Dead Space is a perfect example of how a classic game can get new life with the right treatment. Not only does it polish up the game for modern audiences with remade and vastly improved visuals, it also throws in new gameplay additions while keeping the feel that made the original so special. The changes are not only great for newcomers who never played the original, they’re also great for Dead Space veterans who want to experience the game again in a new way. Now bring on the remake of Dead Space 2.
Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix is a great example of the classic shmup. From its solid shooting mechanics to the extra bells and whistles from the MIKADO Remix, the game hits almost all the checkboxes for what a great shmup should be. It doesn’t quite have the pulse-pounding action or unique mechanics of the upper echelon of classic shooters. It’s also missing a key feature from the Switch version. For folks looking for an old-school shooter, however, Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix remains a worthy representation of the genre.
Ultimately, Forspoken is a game that is just like its main character. At first glance, it appears flawed and suffers from several issues. Dig deeper and give it some time, however, and it just might grow on you thanks to a compelling story that tackles some tough issues and a really good combat system that dishes out some serious fun. It’s certainly far from perfect. But it’s also not the horrible game that some make it out to be. I only wish the pacing was better as it starts out really slow and takes a while for it to really get going.
Fire Emblem Engage represents a return to the more singular storytelling of past games prior to Fire Emblem Fates. Gone are the multiple stories experienced through various factions. Instead, you have one main story to go through that's more centered on the protagonist. The streamlined experience is a common theme that pervades other aspects of the game. The new Somniel hub gets rid of extracurricular activities such as teaching and serves more as a base for services, unit training and development, and PVP. Combat, meanwhile, while still rock solid, also gets a rewind mechanic so players no longer have to waste time reloading saves. Some might decry the changes as a watering down of the game as well as features from Three Houses. Others will see them as much needed quality-of life additions that strip out the fluff and allow players to concentrate on battles. As such, your mileage and enjoyment of Fire Emblem Engage depends on which side of this debate you fall under.
Nearly seven years after first releasing on Vita, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana holds up incredibly well even today. Despite its old-school aesthetics, the game looks nice and runs especially well on the PS5, thanks to its high and consistent frame rate. Granted, the old-school gameplay might not float the boat of folks who want something more modern. For fans of classic JRPGs, however, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana’s interesting characters combined with its fun action combat and base-building and crafting mechanics make it one of the best games I’ve ever played in the genre.
While One Piece Odyssey doesn’t revolutionize the genre, it does provide a pretty good JRPG experience that proved to be better than I expected. Add the hilarious hijinks of the Straw Hat crew and what you have is an entertaining romp overall. It might not quite satiate the appetites of folks who don’t particularly care about One Piece. If you love Luffy and the gang as well as JRPGs to boot, however, One Piece Odyssey is like hitting two South Birds with one stone.
The Gungrave series harkens back to the heyday of Red Company when the developer was churning out excellent games such as the Sakura Wars and Tengai Makyo series. Nearly two decades later, Gungrave G.O.R.E. returns to a much changed world with different tastes. For its part, Gungrave G.O.R.E. faithfully sticks to the trademark mechanics of the past games. It’s definitely a risky decision as classic Gungrave is an acquired taste that isn’t for everybody. If you loved the old games and protagonist Beyond the Grave’s top-notch drip, however, Gungrave G.O.R.E. is essentially the Gungrave that you know and love.
Kukoos lost pets harkens back to a time when 3D mascot platformers were the bees knees. While it has some rough spots and doesn’t reinvent or revolutionize the genre, the game boasts some solid and, at times, challenging platforming. Add some fun boss fights, four-player multiplayer and an affordable price and you have a game that lovers of old-school platforming just might go cuckoo for.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns provides a fun and addicting experience, especially with its tactical combat. It’s not exactly XCOM. But it also shares that XCOM feel despite the different mechanics. Storytelling and dialogue, meanwhile, perfectly emulates the style of Marvel movies, which can be good or bad depending on your preference. Admittedly, the game's visual aesthetic can feel like you’re playing a mobile game sometimes. The gameplay, however, is quite good and has that familiar Firaxis tactical polish. It’s one of the nice gaming surprises of the year for sure.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion goes the extra mile in bringing back the story of Soldier First Class Zack Fair and how it ultimately shapes several key characters in the FF7 franchise. From its greatly improved visuals and production values to its faster-paced combat, Reunion goes above and beyond even the best remasters out there. Some parts can still feel dated despite its best efforts. Overall, however, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a remake done right.
Kratos may not always know best but, boy, does this father know how to serve up some story-driven action in God of War: Ragnarok. The storytelling remains top-notch and the new mechanics help freshen up the previous game’s combat. The game remains highly linear, however, and can feel like you’re playing an interactive movie at times. That being said, its excellent narrative combined with engaging combat makes God of War: Ragnarok worthy to pick up Thor’s hammer from a gaming standpoint.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force is the latest entry in the long-running JRPG series, which has hit some stumbling blocks with its last release. The decision to have dual protagonists is a nice touch, especially given how likable they both are. Combat is also good for folks who prefer a more action-oriented system, with the DUMA mechanics adding even more options for players. The storytelling’s pacing can be uneven and its vast areas can also feel empty at times. Overall, though, it’s a solid addition to the Star Ocean franchise and a step back in the right direction.
Bayonetta 3 is another excellent addition to the franchise that pushes the series’ already excellent gameplay to a whole new level. Storytelling can be a bit uneven and the visuals, while boasting great concept design, can suffer from texture and performance hiccups. Bayonetta 3 delivers where it counts the most, however, and that’s its fast-paced, combo-licious combat. Throw in a new playable character to the mix and you’ve got another entry that can stand toe-to-toe with any of the best action games out there, crying devils included.