Without a doubt, Persona 5 has climbed the ranks into one of my favorite games of all-time, if not being at the very top. It’s going to be hard for ATLUS to top this one when the eventual Persona 6 releases, but you know what’s funny? I said the same thing after finishing Persona 4 Golden, and guess what? They succeeded with Persona 5. I have full confidence they’ll be able to do it again in a few years time. There is a new measuring stick by which all future JRPG’s are going to be compared to, and it has successfully changed the landscape for what it means to be a Japanese developed roleplaying game.
We got used to The Legend of Zelda as it was and as it has been for thirty years. The previous entries in the franchise can still stand the test of time as some of the greatest games ever conceived. But there hadn’t been a true evolution for the series since Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64. Breath of the Wild is that next step in the evolution and blew open the design of what it means to be a Zelda game, and it feels extremely satisfying. I pray that we aren’t in for another six years before the next game, but even if we are, there’s a ton of content here to hold fans over for a long, long time. Hands down, this is one of the best games ever made. Bravo Nintendo, bravo.
Horizon Zero Dawn is a game that almost every owner of the PlayStation 4 should experience sooner or later. It doesn’t just appeal to roleplaying game fans or action adventure enthusiasts. This is a game that almost everyone can enjoy in some fashion, and it shows with how well the game has been performing since it’s release one month ago. This is an impressive piece of art for both Sony and Guerrilla Games, and we simply cannot wait to see what is coming next.
Square Enix and PlatinumGames really knocked one out of the park with NieR: Automata. Do not let this franchise die and fade away! It deserves to be one of the main staples right up there alongside Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, especially if it continues to have as big of an impact as this one did over the original. When we set out with Level Down Games, never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that we’d have three masterpieces release in the span of one week. But that’s exactly what happened.
As mentioned earlier, we honestly cannot wait to see what the future holds for the talented team over at Bluepoint Games. But at the same time, we can’t help but to wonder what may be next for Fumito Ueda and genDESIGN. The recent teases from Ueda himself certainly have our collective minds pondering the possibilities, but one thing is certain. Whatever it is, will be worth the wait.
Final Fantasy XV does not disappoint after waiting for so long to enjoy it. The relationship that formed throughout the game between Noctis and his friends is definitely one of the strongest aspects of the story. But the rest of the story is just as good, even if it is lighthearted at times and silly. It does have its moments that'll tug on your heartstrings, and the soundtrack by Yoko Shimomura helps paint an epic tale that I was glad to have been a part of and experience after first seeing Noctis in a trailer over ten years ago. Final Fantasy XV certainly is moving the franchise forward in the right direction. I absolutely cannot wait to see where the series will go with Final Fantasy XVI. I just hope it isn't 2026 before we see another mainline entry.
With all sincerity, I hope that Fumito Ueda and genDESIGN are given another opportunity to make a game within the boundaries of Sony Worldwide Studios, and that is doesn't enter development hell for the better part of a decade. The team has clearly shown that they are still talented and have what it takes to produce emotionally enthralling games and experiences worth playing through. The Last Guardian is not perfect. It doesn't have to be perfect to leave a lasting impression on the player like it does. But it is close.
Kingdom Hearts 3 is a technical marvel and was well worth the wait fans of the franchise have been complaining about. Thirteen years is indeed a long time, but things are starting to feel like we’re back on track and maybe, just maybe, it won’t be that long again until we see another mainline entry in the franchise.
It's very rare that a game releases and can bring out these types of emotions and feelings within a player. Abzu is worth every second that it lasts, which for me took just under three hours. That includes exploring more than just the path from one area to the next. It's a game that is worthy of being explored and experienced, and it will leave you in awe and wonder as you slowly figure out the story, what is happening, and why it's happening. The ending caught me completely by surprise, which in fact was a great thing. Giant Squid Studios created something extraordinary with Abzu, and it will certainly stick with me for quite some time.
If Blizzard can truly stick to their plan now of releasing more content for each expansion, while releasing newer expansions at a slower pace, we could be returning to a golden age for Warcraft once again. The current subscription numbers since launch could also be a reflection of that, based on what Blizzard has come out and said. If you’ve ever played World of Warcraft, if you currently still do, or even if you never have. Legion is the perfect point to jump in, and start shaping your story and your legacy in Azeroth.
The imagery used in several key scenes in Shadow of the Tomb Raider are still weighing on my mind days after finishing the story. I was invested from start to finish in this emotional journey Eidos Montreal is taking players on, and it was truly hard to stop playing.
Dead Cells is a great new addition to the Metroidvania genre, and it’s amazing that this is Motion Twin’s first major outing besides free-to-play based browser games. Kudos to the team for creating such a memorable experience that sinks it’s claws into you and keeps dragging you back for “just one more run” at 3:00am in the morning.
In 2019, you really will be hard pressed to find another traditional Japanese roleplaying game that completely satisfies all checkboxes as well as The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel. While certain portions of the game did feel like filler and every chapter is laid out in an almost identical fashion, this is easily overlooked thanks in part to the memorable narrative, amazing cast of characters, addictive battle system, and incredible soundtrack. Keep in mind that this is also part one in a series, so some of the filler may have more meaning in Cold Steel 2, Cold Steel 3, and Cold Steel 4.
Ghost of Tsushima is a once-in-a-console generation type of game. There aren’t many we could say the same thing about in the same sentence. Red Dead Redemption 2? Sure. The Witcher 3. Absolutely. Breath of the Wild? Yes. But Ghost of Tsushima easily stands amongst the heaviest hitters to release over the course of the last seven years. With plans to expand the game further as we’ve seen in the weeks since release, including a multiplayer component titled Legends arriving later this Fall, Sucker Punch is clearly committed to seeing this new IP thrive and prosper. And that, my friends, brings a huge, cheesy grin to my face.
Tokyo Xanadu is clearly the start of a brand new franchise arc for Falcom. The Xanadu series in name has been around for quite some time, but this is the first time we’re seeing something on this level and scale for it. It is honestly my second favorite original roleplaying game released in 2017, second only to Persona 5 earlier this year. The lore found within the game and the premise that they have developed with these different organizations and factions, each with their own unique way to deal with the Eclipse and things surrounding it.. we could easily see something on the scale of The Legend of Heroes with some proper care and management. We know Falcom has their hands busy over in Japan currently with Sen no Kiseki IV, and we’re positive they’re eager to work on Ys IX… but after that.. maybe we’ll end up seeing Tokyo Xanadu 2. We can only hope, right?
Nex Machina is a gem, and one that deserves to be experienced and enjoyed by as many gamers as possible. I highly recommend this to anyone, but especially fans of twin-stick shooters and those that have been following Housemarque for years. This is definitely some of the most pure fun I've had with gaming this year, and that's saying a lot!
If you are a fan of Danganronpa, you're in for a treat. This is without a doubt an excellent continuation for the story and the characters, and as a nice little bonus, it's also the longest game in the franchise so far. If you managed to get through this entire review and you haven't played a game in the series yet, again, it's very important that you start with the first, which is Trigger Happy Havoc. From there, work your way up until eventually getting back to Killing Harmony. Doing so will allow you to really appreciate what Spike Chunsoft has achieved in this masterful example of storytelling and character building. Only one question remains at this point. How long must we wait until the next entry of Danganronpa?
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is definitely going to set the bar for future installments of the Ys series. Hopefully it continues to go up from here, because I had an absolute blast experiencing this story and playing through the game. There were a few hiccups along the way, such as slight frame rate drops during more intense combat moments when there was a lot going on, minor voice acting issues, and rare AI issues. But these moments are easily counterbalanced by an incredible soundtrack, amazing story, addictive gameplay, and one of the best battle systems for any Action RPG around. Ys fans, you’re going to love this game. Action RPG fans, pick this one up. Everyone else… you might just be surprised with how good this game really is. Well done, Falcom.
I honestly wasn’t expecting to enjoy this entry as much as I did the previous trilogy since it changed developers, but how silly I was to even think it’d be anything less than amazing. Gears of War 4 is hands down one of the best games released so far in 2016. The Coalition nailed the feel and atmosphere of the series perfectly, and the future for fans is looking brighter than it ever has.
With a campaign that tells a tantalizing story, and a multiplayer mode that belongs near the top of its class for the series, fans of the franchise have plenty of reasons to keep coming back to this until DICE releases another game. Battlefield 1 takes me back to the Medal of Honor era that I thoroughly enjoyed and quite miss, and makes me realize how badly we needed a historical setting once again in today’s first person shooter market.