Spencer Legacy's Reviews
The Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is another strong collection from Digital Eclipse, despite some strange missteps. The included games and ports range in quality, but they’re presented with the excellence we’ve come to expect from the devs. The online is frustratingly limited at launch, but the bonus content and various available ports make this worth checking out if you have any interest in the series’s early days.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a brilliant package that brings new life and depth to two of the most influential RPGs of all time. The improved visuals, voice acting, and story changes go a long way in making these classics feel both retro and new, even if the first game is a little tough for modern players. This is the best way to play these two once-revolutionary titles, and I truly hope that Square Enix continues to remake the earlier Dragon Quest games with such care and style.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an overall strong step forward for the series, as it utilizes past mechanics alongside interesting new changes to great effect. The visuals are still underwhelming, and it takes a good while to get going, but other than that, this really does feel like the Pokémon Z we thought we’d get so long ago, but with plenty of exciting modern twists.
Once Upon a Katamari is a brilliant new entry in the long-rolling Katamari series that I think anyone could find enjoyment in. The time travel theme and creative stages are an absolute blast to partake in, while the story is just as weird and silly as ever. If you’ve been wanting to see the Katamari series come back to its foundations with just a little extra on the side, then you need to play Once Upon a Katamari as soon as possible.
There’s no doubt that Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are excellent games, just as they were when released. This Switch release is a bit off with its pricing and some of the controls in Super Mario Galaxy 2, but the games at the center of it all are brilliant as a whole.
LEGO Party is a solid take on the board game genre that rarely works outside of Mario Party itself. There’s a ton to unlock, plenty of LEGO charm, and interesting board themes. It’s definitely got a lot of luck to it, but if you can look past that, you’ll find a great game to play with friends and family here.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger represents the peak of creature-collecting RPGs. It takes everything that worked in the Cyber Sleuth franchise and takes it to the next level in interesting and streamlined ways, all while including great new additions as well. Once again, the first English theme song has been proven true – Digimon are the Champions.
Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is an enjoyable remake that anyone who digs platformers can have fun with. It doesn’t break the mould, and the voice acting can come off as a bit strange, but even without any nostalgia for the original game, I had a fun time with this new remake.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is everything a kart racer should be and then some. It’s absolutely chock-full of characters and tracks, features some of the most satisfying racing mechanics I’ve experienced, and has a plethora of modes to play around with. If you dig Mario Kart, you do not want to miss out on Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.
Donkey Kong Bananza’s DK Island and Emerald Rush DLC have the potential to be a lot of fun, but the bundle ends up being a little bit underwhelming. I wish DK Island were more robust and rewarding to explore, and the price point is a bit steep for a fairly straightforward and repetitive mode like Emerald Rush. If you’re desperately looking for more Donkey Kong Bananza to play, this is alright, but I wish it were either cheaper or more extensive in its new content.
Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection is an odd case. As a collection and as a piece of digital preservation, it’s brilliant. There are lots of interesting bits of bonus content, tight emulation, and pleasant visuals. It’s just that the Bubsy games themselves aren’t very good to begin with.
Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots features plenty of golfing goodness that will please anybody who likes to take to the green. It likely won’t make golf more appealing to anyone who doesn’t already enjoy it, but the variety of modes and playable characters and caddies make it into a title that will devour the time of any enthusiasts.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a pleasant and relaxing farming simulator that mixes up the usual formula in an interesting way. The pacing is a bit wonky towards the beginning and can feel a bit repetitive, but playing at your own pace helps to make this a worthwhile game to kick back with.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is an outstanding remake of one of the medium’s finest works. The story is timeless and gripping, the gameplay has been improved upon without losing any of the original’s charm, and the visuals are extraordinary. I’m so glad that one of my very favorite games of all time has been brought to modern consoles in such a loving and wonderful way, and I hope to see the rest of the mainline Metal Gear Solid series get this very same treatment in the future.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is an incredibly stylish follow-up to an already solid 3D fighter. There’s a wide range of neat characters, a satisfying combat system, exceptional presentation, and a good range of modes. If you’re into Demon Slayer, you’ll be into The Hinokami Chronicles 2.
Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact is a bit of a mess, despite some fun being present throughout. If there were better visuals, more content, and less exploitable gameplay, it would be a blast to play casually, but what’s present is simply a bit too busted to really get into.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an absolute blast through-and-through. The visual style is top-notch, the gameplay is tight and exciting, and the game is perfectly paced with plenty to do for those who wish to push themselves. Outside of a couple of minor bugs, this is one of the sharpest games of the year, and worth playing whether you’ve got any experience with the Ninja Gaiden series or not.
Tron: Catalyst is a solid action-adventure game that Tron fans will definitely appreciate. The pacing can be a bit jittery, especially towards the end, but the exciting combat and intriguing story make this a worthwhile trip to the Grid ahead of Tron: Ares later this year.
Alien Hominid Invasion is a blast of a side-scroller that looks great and plays in a very satisfying way. There’s a huge amount of replayability with all the different cosmetics and weapons, the art style is charming and nostalgic, and the gameplay feels great all around.
Alien Hominid HD is definitely simple, but there’s a lot of charm to be found in this old-school package. If you’re looking for a good challenge filled with goofy moments that won’t take up too much of your time, this is a solid enough pick.