Hayes Madsen's Reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The wait between Devil May Cry 4 and Devil May Cry 5 might have been long, but the payoff is more than worth it. It doesn't deviate from the series' formula, but instead refines it to a polished sheen; one that's packed with an absurd amount of style and spirit. This is a must-play action game for fans of the series and the genre alike.
It's honestly amazing that it took this long for Trails of Cold Steel to make its way to PS4, and if you missed the game in the past, you have no excuse now.
Although most of the games feel very basic, they still have that trademark Nintendo charm, and I still can’t get over how ingeniously these cardboard sets come together. If you’ve been into the past Labo sets, the VR Kit is a no-brainer.
If you’ve got a serious itch for some good old racing, Sonic and friends can help scratch it.
With an entirely original story and streamlined side content, Judgment is easily the best place to get introduced to the Yakuza formula, and for longtime fans it’s the best Dragon Engine game yet. Either way, it’s one you shouldn’t miss out on.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 is a treat for any fans of the old games, or even just Marvel fans in general. The game manages to be welcoming to those with only knowledge of the MCU, or those that have a deep well of comic knowledge.
Astral Chain could is one of the best games on Nintendo Switch, period. PlatinumGames has proved, once again, that no one does stylish action games better, and I sincerely hope we get to return to the Ark again someday.
If you’re willing to tough out the rough opening hours, there’s a deep mech experience lying underneath with exceptional combat that constantly keeps things exciting, even with a few issues.
Code Vein is easily one of the sleeper hits of the year, and it’s an experience that’s a joy to sink your teeth into.