Elisha Deogracias's Reviews
Samurai Warriors 5 is a great way for newcomers to jump into the long-running series. With a redesigned cast and amazing new gameplay mechanics, this marks a new era for the franchise.
As furry visual novels go, Winds of Change is in the upper echelon. Leaps and bounds from its predecessor, this follow-up boasts a charming cast of characters, wonderful character models, and some great storytelling. If you want a fantasy tail… erm, tale to sink your teeth into, this is one you should check out.
Unfortunately, I would give a higher score to this game had I played it on any other platform. The online component has the potential to make this a wonderful sports addition, with ranked matches following a streaming schedule (mimicking the around-the-clock nature of the Olympic Games), but unfortunately the Stadia userbase was so barren that I wasn’t able to test this out. I hope that there can be some sort of cross-platform compatibility in a future update, because I’d love to test my mettle against human opponents around the world. As it stands, I feel like I’m the only person playing this game on Stadia, and as such it’s pretty lonely. If you plan on getting this game on Stadia, I strongly recommend getting another local player with you; you’ll have an immensely better time with someone in local multiplayer.
Whether you easily land birdies or struggle with bogeys, Mario Golf: Super Rush is a joy to play with friends and family. With accessible controls and mechanics that appeal to casual fans and hardcore golfers alike, there's a lot to love with this Mario sports title!
Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir feels like a top-notch mystery novel at its best moments. However, its limited mechanics can cause a bit of frustration, but if you stick with it, it'll be worth your time.
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a cute little game that's over way too quickly. While this means that a lot of its questions aren't answered and its mechanics are underutilized, what's here is still a very enjoyable ride with an adorable protagonist (that may need a calculator or two).
Luckily, the avant-garde humor is still intact, and I found myself laughing out loud at getting caught once again by mom. Well, that or accidentally letting the kid fall into a pit because I didn’t patch up a hole in the game. I really love the minimalist graphics due to the quirky charm it provides, and now that this is officially a franchise (seriously; there’s a spinoff title called Hide & Dance that’s surprisingly good), I’d love to see an overhauled sequel soon.
In terms of presentation, the graphics are charming and have a Saturday morning cartoon feel to it. Cloudy and some NPCSs are rendered in cardboard while other objects are in a minimalist 3D style. It’s a nice contrast that pops with the colorful graphics. There are a few hiccups here and there when playing in handheld mode, but it’s alright when docked. The music is a bit of a weak point, with some stock tracks being used to grating effect. It’s not a dealbreaker, but I would have appreciated more original tunes than what was offered here.
While the less powerful Vita version of ScourgeBringer does have a few performance issues, this is a great way to get into the addictive roguelike. With some brilliant swordplay, gorgeous pixel art, and a great progression system, you should prepare your handheld and get ready to judge the Judges.
As a $9.99 download, the Switch re-release of Shantae is a great look at the half-genie's debut for those who want to check her out. It might be dated compared to the rest of the series, but it's a nice look back at the classic series we know and love.