Alex McAuliffe's Reviews
Agents of Mayhem screams mediocrity at every turn, and while it introduces some fun mechanics, it ultimately boils down to a boring FPS mishmash. It fails to stand out in any remarkable way, the attempts at humor doing it no favors.
Fullbright proves that they have mastered interactive storytelling by delivering a uniquely absorbing experience in Tacoma. Allowing players to explore as much or as little as they want perfectly complements the amazing cast of characters and beautiful environments. While it may be short, Tacoma is one of the most unique games I've played this year.
Developer CI Games attempted to fix many issues of SGW3's predecessors in ways which ultimately confuse and distract the core experience of the game. A barren open world, glitches and long loading times, and needless hand-holding through forced playstyles ruin what fun is to be found in the well-executed core element of the game: sniping.
Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns improves upon its predecessor significantly by adding tons of content and many new features and mechanics. While the title comes out slow, it quickly picks up to a nice, steady speed which serves to relax the player and keep up a gentle atmosphere. Presentation issues aside, Trio of Towns with its plethora of content is certainly an enjoyable timesink.
Pokémon Sun and Moon observe the Pokémon tradition, changing it in minor ways while keeping the formula intact where it matters. However, poor graphical design, a heavy focus on linearity, and a lack of difficulty make Sun and Moon unable to become the evolution which the Pokémon series desperately needs.
After the disappointing original title, I was hopeful for a sequel that would fix some of the major problems and emphasize what the series does well. Instead, I got a sequel which made marginal if any improvements over the original game, only this time with no novelty whatsoever. It's very disheartening and doesn't bode well for the series' popularity in the West.
Aragami combines the tried-and-true concept of stealth, makes it its focus, and delivers. With beautiful presentation and unique, concentrated gameplay, Aragami sets a new standard for indies. Despite minor flaws in the AI and performance, Aragami is an experience not to be missed.
An emphasis on bad puzzles and a lack of real communication turns Federation Force's focus away from where it should be: tough battles and strategic customization. It's not the game that most people were looking for, and it's certainly not flawless as a standalone title, but there's a lot it does well. Ambitious but ultimately underwhelming, the title unfortunately emphasizes the parts of itself which are the most problematic.
F1 2016 nails the content and visuals, but fails to ease the player into most of its complicated mechanisms. To a Formula 1 fan, it's a masterpiece, but to anyone else, it's a bit overwhelming and doesn't stand out among other racing games.
Like an experienced chef with a garden of spices, I Am Setsuna borrows from classic RPGs in many areas without feeling like a fan game or a ripoff. While minor flaws detract from the experience, the brilliant presentation and nostalgic gameplay are enough to make Setsuna worthy of standing with its ancestors.
Lost Sea is a unique title that provides a new, casual experience that holds its own on consoles. Though it is not suitable for long play times, it's a great game to kick back and relax with. The colorful world and unique mechanics leave the player with a sense of satisfaction-- until they die and all of that slips away in an instant.
A true jack of all trades, The Tehnomancer's impressive visuals don't make up for its lack of engaging combat and inability to set itself apart from other games in the genre. It's a mashup of many other open-world RPGs that is produced by a smaller developer than any of them; it sets itself up for disappointment.
For a title that people have been awaiting for years, Star Fox Zero falls a bit short. It continues the Star Fox legacy in a nostalgic and venerable way, but its controls and length hamper its greatness. It is a good game, yet somewhere underneath its main problems is a fantastic one.
Battlefleet is the opposite of a "jack of all trades"; it masters the RTS and has fantastic presentation, but to anyone but an RTS expert, it's about as exciting as watching paint dry. However, the strategic perfection this game reaches is inarguable.
Twilight Princess was a confused and under-appreciated game in its time, but this version is definitive, updating its overreaching graphics and making it an absolute blast to play and explore. This is a worthy remaster of the original; while it leaves some critical annoyances unchanged, it brings the game to a modern age and shows that even after ten years , it's still a fantastic entry in the series.
As a 3DS title and as a Fire Emblem title, Fates does not disappoint. It is everything you could expect from a good Fire Emblem game and a solid addition to the 3DS library. It's the first good 3DS game I've played in a long time, and it's one I'm still playing today. It's minor flaws are easily outshone by its major accomplishments, and localization issues slowly lose all meaning as the player is lost in the mountainous content and beauty of this game.
As a 3DS title and as a Fire Emblem title, Fates does not disappoint. It is everything you could expect from a good Fire Emblem game and a solid addition to the 3DS library. It's the first good 3DS game I've played in a long time, and it's one I'm still playing today. It's minor flaws are easily outshone by its major accomplishments, and localization issues slowly lose all meaning as the player is lost in the mountainous content and beauty of this game.
I'm interested to see if Nintendo will continue this series in America. There's definitely a lot of groundwork made in this game, but it's so unrefined that I really can't recommend buying this game. But keep an eye out for a sequel, because if the combat system was fixed, this game could have been a home run.