Alex McCumbers's Reviews
Playing through A Hat in Time was time spent with a broad smile and a belly full of chuckles. It was one of the most wholesome gaming experiences I’ve had in years, recapturing that childhood wonder and pure enjoyment of playing games.
A lot of these more subtle elements were lost in Samus Returns, making the experience feel less weighted than that early Game Boy title. Aside from that though, Samus Returns is a must have on the 3DS, one that’s filled with challenge and truly epic moments.
Unfortunately, in its current state, I cannot recommend Forma.8 to anyone, even the most hungry fans of the Metroidvania genre. There are better games in that genre that explore similar feelings of isolation and there are better games on Switch that evoke that nostalgic feeling of older systems.
I can only hope this relationship with Nintendo and Ubisoft continues, because aside from Breath of the Wild, Mario + Rabbids is the best game on the Switch.
Phantom Trigger, at least the Switch version, should’ve been delayed.
While there are better JRPGs on the Vita, Tokyo Xanadu may fill that dry spell between major releases. Combat can be fun and going through dungeons is almost meditative in that it requires little energy. Trying it on harder difficulties may be the way to go for those looking for a tougher system to play with. Story wise though, there’s not much to celebrate.
Persona 5 takes the JRPG mold to create an intensely original, deep experience in its gameplay, presentation, and narrative. There are not many games that pull it off quite like Persona 5, marking it as a masterpiece title that will set a benchmark for years to come.
ARMS is an excellent example of a mechanically excellent title, focusing mostly on the actual gameplay more than anything else.
I’ve played a lot of anime games through the years with varying degrees of enjoyment, but I don’t even think being a super fan of the Asterisk War franchise would entice me to play Phoenix Fiesta any more than I already have.
Of course, for fans of the series, Dragon Quest Heroes 2 has all the right touches to bring about a smile.
Akiba’s Beat is definitely not for everyone and for most players it would be a boring affair. If anything, I recommend playing the Vita version instead; at the least it can be played in small bursts absentmindedly.
Having the game on PS4 and including multiple ways to play with friends is a huge bonus that makes the game worth picking up for those who want some memorable nights at the couch.
If anything, World of Goo is a fun little distraction on a console that is still trying to find its feet. There are definitely worse ways to spend ten bucks. It will always feel better playing this game with a mouse though.
A lot of folks have been complaining about just how small of an experience Episode Gladio is and I’m inclined to agree with their frustration, at least partly. This episode could have been so much better, but what is presented is a fun way to spend an evening.
Snake Pass is an absurdly unique game that takes the feel of retro platforming to make something unforgettable. Yet, there are a few things that would make this game so much better. Here’s hoping this is elaborated upon either with a level pack or a sequel.
Super Bomberman R doesn’t do anything incredibly unique as far as the series is concerned. Fans of Bomberman will want to pick it up though, since its still a rip-roaring good time with friends.
Breath of the Wild is, without a shadow of a doubt, an experience that all players should experience.
Dungeon crawler fans will have a ton of simple fun with MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death. Having another good game for the criminally underrated PS Vita is definitely a benefit.
Fairy Fencer F Dark Advent Forces feels like a visual novel stapled to a JRPG, making for an odd homunculus that just can’t compete with other titles in the genre. I can only recommend this one to those who already have sunk hundreds of hours into similar games.
All in all, anyone wanting to know how not to make a platformer should play Rad Rodgers. It's a surprisingly good example of all the wrong ways to go about it. Anyone else should probably avoid this title.