While more content additions would be welcome, the small improvements - mostly ease-of-life additions that helps clean up archaic systems or UI - do at least amount to something, and the graphical improvements are jaw-droppingly beautiful, provided you're a fan of the art style in the first place. This is the definitive way to play Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and, beyond that, the definitive Paper Mario game in a franchise spin-off that should look to the past to discover its future following this remake.
Overall, Solo Leveling: ARISE is still an excellent game, one worthy of a look even for those who don't usually find gacha games appealing. Sung Jinwoo being an effective character and a depth of strategy will even allow free-to-play users to thrive, though they'll likely be looking at battle pass subscribers with envy given how wide the chasm is between the two demographics. Strong gameplay, an adoration for the source material, and a number of tactical decisions that make strategy paramount characterize one of the better "free" mobile game releases in quite some time.
I'll be honest - as a fan of Suikoden, I really wanted Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes to be good and perhaps serve as something of a renaissance for a forgotten branch of JRPG design. At times, it still feels like it could be that, with a great story, remarkable cast of characters that is impressively deep, and flirtation with pixel art greatness in some of its designs. Unfortunately, those qualities are drowned out by a frankly anachronistic approach to RPG mechanics, a glacial pace, and some serious performance issues, at least on Nintendo Switch.
No Umbrellas Allowed ports well to the Switch, though some clunkiness in the interface makes for a less-than-perfect experience.
What's here is a shining example of how a studio can find its niche and iterate on it without playing it safe. Shiny Shoe has really made something special here and with season leaderboards and multiplayer adding even more layers of potential competition and metaprogression, it really feels like Inkbound is a must-play for anyone who enjoys the roguelike genre.
Unicorn Overlord is a truly excellent tactical RPG that is great where it matters. Incredible gameplay makes it replayable and fascinating, while its aesthetic and world map keep Fevrith interesting. In spite of some minor stumbles in its cast of heroes, Unicorn Overlord rivals some of the best of Fire Emblem. That comparison will likely stop if Vanillaware pursues Unicorn Overlord as a series in the future; it's very much its own game, and a memorable, great one, at that.
What felt like an impossible task in Remake has since been one-upped in FF7 Rebirth. Improving directly upon Final Fantasy 7 always felt like a dangerous proposition, and Remake smartly switched things up to avoid having to do so directl
Anyone who previously thought about giving Like A Dragon a try will want to start here. It may be a lot to catch up on at first, but it's well worth it. For those already invested, it's hard to overstate just how important a landmark this is for the Like A Dragon series - a true passing of the torch, finally, and a game worthy of succeeding the action-based legend that preceded it. 2024 is picking up exactly where 2023, and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a game of the year contender and a tremendously high bar for the rest of the year to follow.
Ultimately, Persona 5 Tactica is another fun spin-off that proves the depth of its source material. Persona 5 has successfully ported itself to the musou, rhythm, and tactical genres, all the while maintaining the charm and flash that made it so instantly recognizable. At this point, it would be weirder to see a genre that the series didn't successfully adapt itself to than one it does.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a success. With just five chapters total, it tells a compelling story that maintains interest throughout. It's also a neat summary of Kiryu's storied past, serving as a solid introduction to him for those who found the franchise through Yakuza: Like A Dragon and Ichiban.
Detective Pikachu Returns is a fine game that knows its niche and plays into it well. It operates more like an excuse to see Pokémon in a different setting than anything else, but for players interested in that sort of thing, it's fascinating. I wouldn't really recommend the game for adults looking for anything challenging or particularly nuanced, but it's an okay story wrapped in a wonderful world that's reasonably quick to complete. Detective Pikachu Returns doesn't quite make good on the promise the film adaptation gave the series, but it's a solid follow-up and anyone who liked the first will double down on having a good time with the second.
EA Sports FC 24 is a fine - even good - soccer simulation that just doesn't change anything in a meaningful way, making it forgettable.
Baldur's Gate 3 is imposing in stature and its best moments are truly memorable, but some early issues with scale suggest an uneven experience.
Truthfully, our stay in Kanai Ward was a lot of fun, and we want to see more of the game's setting in the future. Master Detective Archive: RAIN CODE is a great narrative adventure with some truly satisfying detective work. It mostly comes down to this: approaching RAIN CODE like a visual novel with some unfortunate action elements means it's an enjoyable jaunt, and well-worth a look; expecting more from it beyond its engrossing world, charming mysteries, and charismatic cast, however, might make for a less than stellar stay in Kanai Ward for would-be master detectives.
With an incredible score, an enthralling story, and an eccentric and electric gameplay approach, Final Fantasy 16 is, quite simply, a modern masterpiece.
If it's time to move on from the Tears of the Kingdom Hyrule that's now spanned two games, it hasn't overstayed its welcome. The memories this game is capable of creating just because of its ambitious systems mean that no two players will ever have the same experience - except that of joy, and the excitement that comes with unknown possibilities. Anyone worried that there would be some fatal flaw that came to ruin what seemed to be a can't-miss Switch launch can now rest easy. Tears of the Kingdom is a monumental achievement, and it's going to be talked about relentlessly for years to come.
Those issues aren't directly related to the core of Star Rail, however, which shines as brightly as any of the celestial bodies it tasks players with visiting. The quality of content at launch is, quite simply, incredible - it really looks, feels, and plays like a live service game that has already been out for years. Its turn-based combat might, tragically, not be for everyone, even in spite of its depth of tactics and highly customizable loadouts. That should be something everyone decides for themselves, however. Honkai: Star Rail is a must-play 2023 release that could very well become the next big thing in live service games, and will, if nothing else, become one of the better RPG releases in recent memory.
Ultimately, however, these shortcomings don't make for a bad game. In fact, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is quite good - great, even, when it's firing on all cylinders. It's definitely one to check out for fans of the franchise even with the dramatic shift in gameplay style, and those unfamiliar may still find something to love in its storybook presentation and deft attention to slick detail.
Ultimately, Like a Dragon: Ishin! feels like it delivers on the promise of a well-timed remake for an underappreciated title in RGG's catalog. It's a refreshing adventure that's identity is both intrinsically tied to the usual crime drama RGG is known for and yet distinctly separate from the modern trappings of those concerns. Like a Dragon: Ishin! is another quality game in the Yakuza universe, and it's one well-worth exploring for anyone with even a slight interest in its stylish delivery.
Horizon Call of the Mountain is, however, an excellent game in its own right. As a showcase piece for the early days of PlayStation VR 2, Sony probably couldn't have asked for a better launch title. Call of the Mountain's intensely beautiful visuals and well-developed main gameplay systems make it a meaty virtual reality experience that's absolutely a must-own for anyone who picks up PSVR 2. While its price feels a little steep, especially in conjunction with the hardware that supports it, anyone willing to make that leap will be just as satisfied as they will inevitably be by Ryas' adrenaline-pumping feats of strength hundreds of feet in the air on a mountainside.