Elias Blondeau's Reviews
A novel twist on familiar gameplay elements, Yakuza Zero once again delivers a unique blend of real-world immersion, humanistic storytelling, and some of the best action gameplay on the market.
Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea is a pretty shoddy port, but the game itself is a charming, arresting adventure with loads of content and depth.
Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers is a smart twist on the SRPG formula that pushes the genre in new, interesting directions while never losing touch with what makes these sorts of games so satisfying.
Sniper Elite 4 is the best entry in Rebellion’s long-running franchise yet, and a great title for fans of stealth gaming.
It feels dirty to say “no” to new Psychonauts, but Rhombus of Ruin is a half-baked attempt at wrapping up the first game’s cliffhanger bundled with some monotonous gameplay and too little content for the asking price.
NieR: Automata is the rare gaming experience in which narrative, aesthetics, and gameplay all complement each other to form a perfect storm of master class game design. A truly exemplary example of what video games are capable of as an art form, and a new personal favourite.
Super Bomberman R is a surprise winner in the Switch launch line-up, and well worth considering for old-school players, multiplayer enthusiasts and lovers of cute things.
It's never been easier to play the Zero Escape titles than it is now, and for the money, any fan of heady narratives and fun puzzles is in for several hours of quality entertainment.
Bullet Soul is a solid bit of enthralling bullet hell action, complete with arresting visuals and a stellar score, that makes a compelling offer at its low price point.
Atelier Firis: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Journey is a dull, flat story filled with insipid characters, delivered through thoroughly monotonous gameplay and dragged out over the course of an interminable amount of time. Steer clear of this trope-ridden snoozefest.
It’s an easier experience with a story that’s markedly simpler than past entries, but Persona 5 is still operating on a whole different level than its peers. A simplistic yet ultimately winning JRPG with loads of content.
Yooka-Laylee is both a joyful ode to Rare’s heyday and a polished platformer that stands head and shoulders above what few contemporaries exist in the genre.
Has-Been Heroes, best enjoyed in short bursts, is a clever take on roguelikes and a strong argument for the Switch's easy portability.
Full Throttle hasn't aged particularly well, and it's made more unenjoyable by a remaster that actively sucks the life out of the game's personality.
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ is a perfect fit for the Switch, and barring some framerate problems in local multiplayer, is arguably the best way to play this modern classic.
Dragon Quest Heroes II is arguably the best thing Omega Force has ever put out, and the best spin-off to come out of Dragon Quest since Dragon Quest Monster: Joker.
Puyo Puyo Tetris is a beautiful, wonderful, joyful game with loads of content that any Switch owner should pick up immediately. One of the very best puzzle games ever made.
A vehicular-based collection game, at least in theory, as no quality assurance of any kind was provided.
Prey is a game that is a patchwork of other titles with no swatches of originality added to the mix.
Syberia 3's ample potential for greatness is squandered by an awkward translation, poor design, and a heaping helping of technical issues.