Spencer Legacy's Reviews
Fire Emblem Engage isn’t the Fire Emblem I expected, but I’ve had an absolute blast with it. The scaling down of support and the somewhat predictable main character aside, the enticing gameplay, Engage mechanic, and depth of customization makes for a more than satisfying next entry in Nintendo’s premiere tactics franchise.
Dragon Quest Treasures makes up for its straightforward and uninspired combat with a plethora of compelling content and a gameplay loop that will keep you playing for just a bit longer every time. Here’s hoping Square Enix makes a sequel to Treasures that improves upon combat, because that’s all it would take to make it a top-tier spin-off.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII: Reunion is, for the most part, an excellent remake of a prequel that deserves more attention all these years later. Though the voice acting is uneven, the campy and exciting story, smooth but suitably complex gameplay, and breadth of content make this a Final Fantasy game that everyone should try.
The Callisto Protocol has potential, but its strange melee combat, average story, and average gunplay keep it from standing out in any way. It looks great and has fun moments, but the majority of my time with The Callisto Protocol wasn’t especially memorable.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are so, so close to reinventing the Pokémon series in a brilliant way. They’re just held back by unacceptable bugs and performance issues that simply shouldn’t be happening this frequently in such a monolithic and profitable franchise. I hope Game Freak is able to implement some much-needed patches, as there’s a remarkable diamond in this copious rough.
Save Room is a straightforward, compact, and delightfully satisfying game that will make anyone who played Resident Evil 4 especially happy. Given the price and bite-sized nature of the title, there’s no one I wouldn’t recommend Save Room to, as it’s a delightfully compact experience all around.
Sonic Frontiers could serve as the exciting basis for future Sonic titles. It has some definite issues, but Frontiers does a lot more right than it does wrong. I’m very excited to see the future of Sonic the Hedgehog, as Frontiers could be the first step towards a new era of the blue blur.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force might not set the world on fire, but it’s well-made and thoroughly enjoyable. Everything from running around to fighting is a blast, and though it looks a bit odd and can feel a little repetitive at times, the unique premise, snazzy soundtrack, and voice acting make The Divine Force worth any JRPG fan’s time.
Soulstice is an all-around decent character action game that is weighed down by a few odd mechanics and a bit of a lack of identity. It’s fun enough to fill the hack-and-slash hole that you may have, though I’d say to wait for a sale to get the most out of it.
Dragon Ball: The Breakers is a very peculiar game that pulls off its concept but is held back by jank and ruthless microtransactions. With some changes (likely to a free-to-play model) and additional polish, The Breakers could be the dark horse asymmetrical multiplayer game. Until then, though, it’s just a fun but flawed game for Dragon Ball megafans.
Lego Bricktales is, for the most part, a brilliantly laid-back experience. It has the occasional annoying build and some technical problems, but the majority of your time with the game will be spent just putting Lego bricks together to make a bunch of things in whatever way you desire. It’s nothing like the majority of Lego games, but will hopefully serve as a springboard for a future subseries of Lego games that aim more toward creative builds and chill evenings.
Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness has all the potential makings of a great anime game adaptation, but it, unfortunately, ends up falling short. Its frustrating mechanics and lengthy mandatory tutorial mean that you’ll have to put up with a lot in order to get to the best part. If you’re a big fan of Made in Abyss, you may be able to look past these flaws, but otherwise, I’d wait for a polished sequel.
Soul Hackers 2 is an excellent JRPG that Shin Megami Tensei fans and newcomers alike will be able to dive straight into. Though the dungeons are basic and repetitive, the gameplay, characters, and story are all more than enough to keep you riveted. Don’t let Soul Hackers 2 fly under your radar, as it’s one of the year’s best RPGs.
SD Gundam Battle Alliance is a somewhat repetitive but flashy and fanservice-filled hack-and-slash that is essentially an action-packed love letter to the Gundam franchise. The variety of units and attention to detail is impressive, to say the least, meaning Gundam fans will likely find this one to be worthwhile.
Pac-Man World Re Pac is a refreshingly straightforward remake that will appeal to fans of the original game and newcomers alike. There are some repetitive parts and it’s a bit easy, but Re Pac makes for a chill and charming platforming experience for when you just need a breezy break.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is one of the best JRPGs in recent years. Its characters, story, and world are all exceptional, and it’s remarkably fun to play. The fact that this game came out ahead of its original release date is wild, as it’s turned out to potentially be the best RPG on the Nintendo Switch. If you’re looking for a long, enthralling game to get lost in, grab Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
Digimon Survive has lived up to its long-incubated hype. The story is intriguing and pleasantly mature, the gameplay is simple but enjoyable, and the performances are rock solid. It can be a bit repetitive, but I’d still recommend the game to anyone with a passing interest and a love for narrative-heavy mon games.
Mega Man Battle & Fighters is a simple but fun fighter/boss rush that I had a great time playing. It’s not especially complicated or anything, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a small and refreshing port of the Power Battle/Fighter games, with handy features that make this the most accessible version yet.
Live A Live is genuinely one of the most ambitious RPGs to have come from Square Enix. I’m truly glad that the world can now experience this gem, as it offers a unique experience that is tough to find anywhere else. If you dig RPGs but want something different and creative, I implore you to give Live A Live a shot.
Escape Academy is a unique and satisfying escape room-esque game that puzzle fans will truly dig. Some voice lines can be repetitive, and the puzzles can be a bit unclear on occasion, but otherwise, it’s a strong and delightfully puzzling adventure.