If you didn't play the first Dragon Quest Heroes, then no worries, because the two are not connected in any way. Even the classic DQ characters that return from the first game make no mention of it. DQH2 is a standalone story about two cousins who live in a world that has known peace for a thousand years, but now someone is roaming around the world brewing trouble, convincing kingdoms to go to war. It's your job to solve this mystery and protect the peace. It's not a terribly intricate story, but it does feel at home in a Dragon Quest setting, and is largely enjoyable despite how nonsense it becomes towards the end.
I leave Nier: Automata behind, not just pleased with it, but enraptured by it. Hopefully you will too.
Yes, indeed. From Software has crafted another fantastic title, one that calls back to the great parts of the series' history while still having an identity of its own. If this is how Dark Souls ends, then it will go out burning brightly.
While a couple of its old issues remain, Twilight Princess is an exciting and charming adventure through a darker Hyrule than usual.
Salt and Sanctuary is not without its flaws, and it could probably stand to lean a little less on its influences, but it's still a very fascinating and fun time.
The Following may be different than its core game, but in this case I think that helps more than hinders. One of Dying Light's biggest strengths was that it proved that zombie games could still be fun, and The Following absolutely retains that. It doesn't really add anything in the way of enemy variety, and its story, while interesting, isn't as fleshed out as it perhaps could be, but it is a genuinely fun time.
Perhaps if the team had aimed for a visual style just a bit more detailed, they could have landed on an aesthetic that really stood out, but unfortunately the dead-eyed caveman stare just doesn't do it for me. With some more varied weapons, a bit of a re-balancing on the health situation, and some re-arranging of stages so that they come along by theme rather than at random, Dinocide could have something going for it, but as it stands, I'm afraid it's just not noteworthy.
The game used in this review was a physical copy purchased by the reviewer.
The biggest shame about Need for Speed is that the driving is so satisfying that it makes the fact that the rest of it is so throwaway stand out that much more. This game would have benefited greatly from a mode where you can just get matched with other players and do a bunch of different race types back to back. Instead you're stuck in an online only game with other players who you won't actually be doing any races with. It's got a damn good soundtrack though.
At only $30, and with all of its extra content included, Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition is a pretty good deal. It's the same great game, now looking better than ever. If this had gone through some extra bug squashing and had gone for the full 60 fps then this would be an absolute no-brainer for anyone interested in the Darksiders series, but as it stands it's still a great jumping on point for those who have yet to ride with Death.
A great cast and some hilarious writing make Tales from the Borderlands one of Telltale's best titles yet.
If I was to go in depth on all of this game's mechanics I would literally be here for thousands of words, so suffice it to say that the game has plenty to offer and almost all of it is entertaining. It's a bit of a shame that the story lacks the hilarious premise of its predecessor, but mechanically Disgaea 5 is as solid as they come. I've spent over 60 hours on the game, going through the story and messing around a bit in the different optional worlds, and there is so much more I could do in it. Whether you're looking for a fun 50 hour story, or want something that will have you grinding your nights away for hundreds of hours, Disgaea 5 is a pretty safe bet.
Galak-Z is a fun game with cool ideas at its core, and I really enjoyed playing through the first couple of Seasons. However, a severe lack of variety -- combined with very little sense of consistent progression -- serves to hold it back from greatness.