Alex McCumbers's Reviews
Final Fantasy XV is an incredible journey across a unique world with interesting, fairly layered characters and awe-inspiring moments of epic visuals. It is a must play for fans and newcomers to the Final Fantasy series, and while it almost satisfies that expectation that comes from ten years of development, it just simply isn't perfect. Although, Noctis' story will live on as a highlight in the Final Fantasy anthology for many years to come.
It will be interesting to see how this game evolves over time, as continued support will definitely prolong how long hardcore players will continue putting in hours. I have certainly enjoyed my time with it and it’s something I plan on loading up regularly.
Shantae: Half Genie Hero is a fun platformer with a lot to love. Shantae continues to prove her worth as an important character in gaming, eager to stand alongside characters like Mario or Mega Man. It’s definitely a game that will stand the test of time, many years from now as a classic.
I think as long as I can physically play games, I’ll be playing the Binding of Isaac, a timeless classic with layers of meaning and importance. Congratulations McMillen, Himsl and the entire Nicalis team, you’ve made a masterpiece.
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.
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.
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.
Breath of the Wild is, without a shadow of a doubt, an experience that all players should experience.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Of course, for fans of the series, Dragon Quest Heroes 2 has all the right touches to bring about a smile.
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.
ARMS is an excellent example of a mechanically excellent title, focusing mostly on the actual gameplay more than anything else.
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.
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.
Phantom Trigger, at least the Switch version, should’ve been delayed.