Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
If you’ve played the previous versions before, there really isn’t a big, overarching new feature in Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, so there’s less incentive for you to double or even triple dip unless you want the ability to play on the go with a bigger screen. If you’ve never played it, though, this is literally the definitive version of the game and is the one you should get. For fans of the Warriors-style of games, Hyrule Warriors is easily one of the best takes on the Musou formula.
Overall, the gameplay isn't quite revolutionary but is a very solid representation of the genre. Add charming touches, likeable characters and lots of bonus content and you've got another Disgaea title that should satisfy fans of the series and Japanese strategy RPGs in general.
Ultimately, "Romance Dawn" provides a quick pirate RPG fix for One Piece fans but doesn't come close to dethroning Skies of Arcadia.
Even with the new mechanics, gameplay isn't radically changed, which will likely disappoint players who crave for more major additions. For folks who like Madden's basic gameplay, however, the new additions add some polish to the product. And while the lack of a major gameplay overhaul can be debated, graphics definitely take a big leap forward.
Cindered Shadows is a nice addition to the Three Houses experience, especially for folks who have played the game heavily and want more or just need some extra variety to add to their replays. The difficulty might frustrate more casual fans and it would have been nice to have more class options for your crew. If you’re looking for an excuse to travel back to Fodlan, however, Cindered Shadows just might be your ticket.
Nearly four years after its original release, Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore holds up well even today. The switch to the Switch, pun so totally intended, feels surprisingly natural even with the loss of a second screen. The first game was criminally underrated so now’s a good time for folks who missed it to experience its unique flavor as well as all the extra post-release content. The game also adds some new features to entice fans who played the game before. In fact, I selfishly want folks to support if that means we get a chance for a Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE 2. Pretty please for reals, Sega/Atlus and Nintendo?
Persona 5 Royal remains an excellent rendition of the classic 3D JRPG formula and all that entails. If you felt burnt out by the first game, this likely won’t change your opinion. If the original P5 left you wanting more, however, then Royal just might steal your heart again. And if you never got the chance to play the original but love JRPGs, then get this new version for sure. For fans of the genre, this is about as good as it gets.
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.
As an avid robot fan and someone who enjoyed the last game in the series, I really wanted to like New Gundam Breaker. Stiff controls, however, combined with a broken parts system and heavy use of tired MMO-style side quests make this new entry in the series fall hard like a space colony on Sydney. This game made me want to go back and play its predecessor Gundam Breaker 3 instead, which has an English-subtitled version, by the way. I suggest you do the same.
Released at a time when the genre is seeing heavy hitters such as Overwatch come to market, Umbrella Corps is a competitive shooter that’s as much a victim of bad timing as it is lack of polish. The idea behind its concept is interesting, especially for folks such as myself who were hoping for an improved version of Operation Raccoon City. With schizophrenic gameplay that falls behind others in the genre and no campaign to fall back on, however, Umbrella Corps is an even bigger missed opportunity than ORC was.
Everybody 1-2 Switch! is a party game with promise that’s ultimately brought down by uneven execution. It has some fun games such as Hip Bump but falls short otherwise due to the bulk of its games being centered around mundane tasks. It can still be fun as a family game played with little kids. For teens and adults, however, the gameplay likely isn’t compelling enough to hold their attention for an extended amount of time.
Contra is one of my favorite video game series of all time. Which makes giving Contra: Rogue Corps a low score extra painful for me. I really wanted this game to do well. But while it has some good ideas, they’re pretty much buried in an avalanche of poor gameplay decisions. From overheating guns to poor camera angles, playing Rogue Corps feels like you’re fighting the game a lot of times instead of the aliens inside it. I just hope it doesn’t spell the death knell for a franchise I love so much.
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.
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.
Langrisser: Re:Incarnation Tensei has the misfortune of being the next strategy RPG that I’ve played after Fire Emblem Fates, making its flaws seem even more magnified. Behind the low production values is a game with some good ideas. Unfortunately, it looks like its makers didn’t quite have the necessary resources — whether it be time, money or both — to fully realize them.
More a visual story than an actual game, “XBlaze Code Embyro” caters to a specific audience, with an emphasis on the word “specific.” The story leans heavily on anime tropes and the execution might feel inelegant to folks used to games with a lot more polish. It certainly isn't for everyone though fans of BlazBlue’s story or visual novels in general will get more mileage out of it.
Then again, I can see certain types of gamers enjoying this, too, especially with its lower price point. If you welcome the challenge of a technical 2.5D hack and slash and the quirks that comes with a roguelike, however, this game will be more up your alley.
“Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven” looks spectacular thanks to gorgeous character models that bring a large number of its kooky cast to life. Gameplay, however, feels a bit flat and lacks the engaging action seen in “All Star Battle.” The AI is also about as reliable as the electronics of a Land Rover. Fans of the series might still enjoy this arena brawler but folks expecting a more polished fighting experience likely will feel differently about it.
Underneath TMNT Mutants in Manhattan’s shell are solid mechanics that could have been a great foundation for a technical brawler. Those technical elements, however, don’t get as much play as the game typically devolves into a four-turtle free for all. Add the lack of local co-op and you have a missed opportunity, especially given how the game nails the Ninja Turtles’ visuals. Overall, the game just can’t quite figure out whether to provide a solid single-player adventure or hectic multiplayer brawler.
The premise behind Arc of Alchemist’s world and its story is a good one. The implementation, however, could be better and the game feels incomplete due to its uneven combat as well as its awkward interface and systems. Given my affinity for old-school JRPGs and cute character designs, Arc of Alchemist should be a game that I absolutely love. Instead, I now find myself wondering what could have been.