Spencer Legacy's Reviews
Final Fantasy Resonance takes a discontinued mobile game and reinterprets it as a fluid, fast-paced RPG you shouldn’t miss. The leveling curve for the game’s Visions can be a little wonky, but the turn-based gameplay, party customization, and stellar presentation make that a trifle moot, as it both appropriately lionizes Final Fantasy and offers a new experience for those who missed the mobile game.
One Piece: Grand Gourmet takes the best parts of Kairosoft’s game design and One Piece’s neverending world and combines them into a truly delightful dish. Aside from a couple of small translation trip-ups, the game is a blast to take in. As someone who’s loved One Piece for almost as long as I’ve been alive, I've been pleasantly surprised by this and have struggled to put it down. Kairosoft gets what makes a sim game truly fun, and it mixes that fun with the whimsy and silliness of One Piece in a brilliant way.
Ratatan captures pretty much everything that made Patapon fun, though your mileage may vary on the first few runs. Once things get going, Ratatan lives up to its predecessor’s reputation, mixing a solid roguelite angle with its unique, incredibly satisfying rhythm-based gameplay. If you dig rhythm games, I recommend giving Ratatan a go, as it’s got plenty to offer that you won’t find anywhere else.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is a massive, well-crafted strategy game that makes the most of its fresh ideas. Though the free time periods can get repetitive, the maps, narrative, and character progression more than make up for it, making it one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch 2. I can’t even imagine what the next Fire Emblem will be like, since upping the ante from Fortune’s Weave seems nigh impossible.
Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition is chock-full of enjoyable new content that makes an already excellent game even better. The added campaign strengthens the game’s world, while the Most Wanted roguelike mode lets you experience intense combat in a fresh way. There’s no better time or way to experience Sucker Punch’s most recent banger, so I fully recommend giving it a go.
Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] is an excellent way to experience most of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, whether for the first time or for the umpteenth. Most of the bundled games deliver essentially perfect performance on the Nintendo Switch 2, while the more recent games still maintain consistent enough frame rates to please most. Being able to play the entire franchise on the go is a thrilling prospect, and I’ll likely be doing so for a good long while to come. This is a great way to get ready for Kingdom Hearts IV, and I’m sure many Nintendo-exclusive fans will be doing just that with this top-notch bundle.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a fantastic racing game that perfectly captures the breakneck speed of the source material’s iconic vehicles. The story and abundance of modes make for a unique racing experience, and though a couple of small rough edges exist in how it’s presented, this is a brilliant title that had me frequently jolting to the edge of my seat. Whether you like Star Wars, racing games, or both, there’s lots here for you to sink your teeth into.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Torneko's Mystery Dungeon may have some bumpy parts that are tough to revisit all these years of iteration later, but it serves as a pleasant enough adventure and a fascinating piece of gaming history. I hope the next couple of Torneko games follow suit, as I’d love to have an excuse to see how each subsequent game builds on the last. Plus, I’ll never say no to more official releases of the past Dragon Quest games that the West missed out on.
Marvel’s Wolverine is another impressive example of just how great Insomniac Games is at adapting iconic superheroes into the video game medium. The combat isn’t especially complicated, but there’s something uncomfortably satisfying about just how fun it is to mow down foes as Marvel’s most famous mutant. I’m curious to see where this version of Logan’s story goes next, as Marvel’s Wolverine has proven that Insomniac’s take on the Marvel universe just keeps getting more intriguing.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is one of the most impressive games I’ve played this generation. The sprawling world and multifaceted story are wonders to behold, while the combat walks the perfect line between complexity and accessibility. Though there is a little bit of open-world jank to contend with, you’d be missing out by choosing not to play this game, as it may already be the best release in an extremely competitive September.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is easily a contender for game of the year, as it blends merciless action with skill-based combat in a near-seamless way. The story and visuals complement the ridiculously sharp gameplay extremely well, and though the camera can be a little problematic on rare occasions, that shouldn’t stop you from experiencing Capcom’s latest banger.
Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters is a flashy and extreme soccer game that anyone can enjoy. Though the pacing of matches in the story mode can be a little bit bumpy, the narrative itself, in addition to the satisfying gameplay and solid visuals, makes this an accessible and highly enjoyable sports title – even if you’ve never interacted with the source material.
Feed It may not last long, but it hits hard while it lasts. The visuals and sound do a lot to make it uniquely unpleasant (in a complimentary way), while the intense themes are properly portrayed throughout the fast but harsh narrative. This is a solid little horror experience for those in the mood for something upsetting and with a couple of hours to spare.
Pokémon Pokopia just keeps getting better with the release of Bubbly Basin – the first of three DLC areas that has set an exceptional standard for those yet to be released. There’s lots to explore and more charming narrative content, as well as a strong selection of Pokémon to befriend. If you enjoyed Pokémon Pokopia’s base game, you’d be missing out by passing on Bubbly Basin, and I can’t wait to see what the next area is like.
ReStory is a relaxing game that combines the laid-back sense of accomplishment from repairing things with a well-designed gameplay loop that keeps you coming back for more. It’s almost hard to believe that scrubbing down metal frames and twisting screws could be such a pleasant activity, but I can’t stop doing it to unwind. If you’re in the market for a chill game that scratches your brain in a totally unique way, you cannot miss ReStory.
Ambrosia Sky Act Two is a fitting conclusion that introduces enough new twists to set it apart from the first act. There are a couple of navigational issues, but the oddly relaxing sensation of spraying down fungus combined with the many mechanics surrounding that central conceit are certainly worth experiencing. If you want to power wash some dangerous growths in a melancholy sci-fi world, I think Ambrosia Sky: Act Two will be right up your alley.
Splatoon Raiders tries something new with one of Nintendo’s somewhat more recent long-running series, to largely great success. Though a bit more variety in terms of missions and character customization options would have been ideal, the numerous weapon and gadget combinations and unique approach to Splatoon’s core gameplay craft an exciting spin-off that’s worth your time.
Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD is better than ever on the Nintendo Switch 2, and I’d be remiss to not encourage anyone who has yet to play these games to do so on the Switch 2 thanks to its helpful gameplay features and sharp visuals. Though the lack of ability to upgrade from the Switch and the inability to skip cutscenes are a bit disappointing, this is an otherwise magnificent collection of two all-timer RPGs, and I hope its extra features somehow get patched into the other versions of the remaster.
Disgaea Mayhem has its stumbles as it fuses Disgaea’s iconic systems with frantic hack-and-slash gameplay, but it’s a largely worthwhile venture for series fans. Jumping between the different weapon types and leveling yourself and your items to crazy heights make for a solid base, and the charm the series is known for is certainly intact, even with its short playtime. Essentially, if you like the Disgaea series and action RPGs, you’ll likely have a good time with Disgaea Mayhem – so long as you know it won’t be too long a time.
D-topia is a pleasantly laid-back puzzle game that examines the idea of an AI-made utopia in thought-provoking ways. There are a couple of small things that could be smoothed out, but the unique vibe and enjoyable puzzle-solving are enough to make it worth your time. If you’re looking for a thoughtful but relaxing smaller title to spend some time with this summer, D-topia could certainly be the perfect pick.