Hayes Madsen's Reviews
The complexity of the game can definitely be a huge barrier to entry, and there's a repetitiveness that comes with hunting games that might turn you off if that's not something you enjoy. Still, God Eater 3 functions as a strong, complex JRPG and a good way to test out the series if you've been curious this whole time.
Everything outside of that core combat feels so wishy-washy and uninteresting, that I can't recommend Jump Force to anyone that doesn't have an immediate interest in anime. If these characters have been a huge part of your life, or you're familiar with a few of the series, you'll definitely enjoy it, but go in with some lowered expectations.
It's an unerring tribute to everything Disney and what the Kingdom Hearts series has become, and despite its few flaws creates an interesting blueprint for where the series could go next with gameplay and story.
This is easily one of the biggest Tales experiences to date, and pretty much everything about Tales of Vesperia still holds up by today's standards. Whether you're experiencing the game new, or replaying it for the umpteenth time, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is a JRPG worth adding to your collection.
This is the most ambitious and all-inclusive Super Smash Bros entries, and one of the very best games Nintendo's little system has gotten yet.
The fact that so little is, or needed to be, changed is a strong testament to the quality of the originals. The Reignited Trilogy only helps cement the fact that the three original Spyro games are some of the best platformer/collectathons ever made.
If there's one fault My Hero One's Justice has it's a lack of ambition, to really try and go for something inventive and new, like its anime counterpart. Still, if you're jonesing for more My Hero Academia, this will see you through the wait until Season 4.
Without a doubt, this is the very best place for newcomers to jump on, but there's still plenty of depth for vetaran fans. In all respects, from the guest character to the presentation and new mechanics, this is the best that SoulCalibur has been in a long time. It's not just one of the best fighting games of the year, it's one of the best games of the year, period.
Despite not having played Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in nearly a year, almost immediately I found myself completely absorbed by Torna, exploring every nook and cranny, and once again growing to love its characters. The odd style of pacing and sidequest focus can be off-putting for some, but taken as a whole Torna is a fantastic piece of additional content for a massive JRPG. It's a fitting way to cap off the wave of post-release content Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has received, and a must-play for any fan of Monolith Soft.
For the first time since the very first Valkyria Chronicles, it feels like the series has realized its full potential. It's easily the longest Valkyria game yet, but it doesn't suffer for it. Longtime fans have a lot to love here and for newcomers, it's the very best place to try the series out.
Dragon Quest XI is a high new benchmark for the series, and shows how a traditional JRPG can still be appealing for the modern age.
It's amazing to think that we've gotten now four Yakuza games in the span of nearly a year and a half, and yet, Yakuza Kiwami 2 doesn't feel old or overdone. The amount of content, and the quality of said content is staggering.
It may not do everything fans wanted, but this is one unforgettable conclusion to an already memorable journey.
It's been four years since the original release of Captain Toad, and yet, the game still feels as wonderfully unique as it did then. There's nothing else quite like it, and the Switch version looks and plays wonderfully. The overall experience is a short one, but there's plenty of replayability, and it's an experience that any Switch owner should jump on.
Outside of the sometimes stupid allied AI, Shining Resonance Refrain doesn't do anything “wrong,” it just doesn't excel at much either. There's little that gives the game a unique identity or sets it apart from the wealth of JRPGs available.
Sushi Striker is pure ridiculous fun, and while it leans heavily on its core gameplay loop, it manages to keep things engaging. Nintendo has proven they have a knack for the absurd, and Sushi Striker definitely feels like it could be the foundation of a new series.
Despite the fact that Moonlighter doesn't do anything incredibly new, it still feels like a wholly unique experience. The combination of dungeons and shopkeeping creates a great gameplay loop that encourages exploration, and the game's aesthetic really helps drive everything home.
It's quite sad that Chamber of Time so actively works against you in many ways. The tediousness of everything, from school exploration to combat, can really start to drag on you after a while, even if you do enjoy the story and characters.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was already a strong title on the Wii U, and the Switch version simply makes it even better. Those that may have been turned off by the difficulty before can now feel free to jump in with Funky Mode, and the improvement to loading screens really does make a difference. It's yet another strong checkmark on the list of growing titles Switch owner need to have.
The quirkiness, presentation, strong voice acting, and characters help push past the simplistic gameplay and the narrative the game tells is surprisingly engaging. I had no idea what to expect from Detective Pikachu going in, but it ended up being one of the most unique Pokemon spinoffs ever.