Damsel is a mixed bag of emotions for me. I came into this really excited for another experience like Katana ZERO and games of a similar fashion, especially because that is still one of my favorite releases in 2019. While there are elements that I enjoy, I can’t get behind the game as much as I initially expected I would. The odd technical issues and way too repetitive missions holds this back into the good department, instead of thrusting it forward into the great department.
Overall, Strange Brigade felt like a game chalk full of good ideas and decent gameplay mechanics that never was able to pull things together all at once.
In the end, Operation Babel: New Tokyo Legacy falls into a lot of the same traps that other first-person dungeon crawling roleplaying games also find themselves in. While the new gameplay mechanics and cast of characters remain a strong point, the overall design of the dungeons themselves and the lack of a compelling story make it hard to stay engaged throughout the 25+ hours needed to complete the game. For those that don’t have any experience with these types of games, the learning curve required might be enough of a frustration to avoid purchasing it. But, if you feel like you can either figure things out easily, have enough patience to really understand the mechanics, or have played through other Experience Inc. games like Demon Gaze and Operation Abyss, then certainly look at Operation Babel as another solid entry into this genre.
Batman – The Telltale Series Episode 4: Guardian of Gotham definitely has a lot of good going for it, being a part of one of the best series Telltale Games has crafted to date. But it is definitely the weakest episode up to now for this otherwise stellar game.
Earthlock: Festival of Magic was an enthralling concept that failed to materialize into one of the better roleplaying games this generation. The potential was certainly there, but the lack of an interesting story, characters that do not feel memorable, and strange difficulty spikes that require a lot of grinding hold the game back to a certain degree. The combat and battle system offers a lot of enjoyment though, and is where the game really shines. Still, even with the complaints, fans of the genre are going to find something to love in Earthlock.
It’s a silly phrase to say because it doesn’t make much sense, but I really was hoping to like For Honor more than I actually did. Everything leading up to the release of the game looked very promising, but after seeing it firsthand and spending time with it, I found myself a lot more bored than I anticipated. The single player experience is basically non-existent, with the campaign being finished in a mere couple hours. Multiplayer is the meat and potatoes, and if that just isn’t your thing, I’d recommend holding off on it for now. But, if the thrill of one on one duels and the nature of the combat sound appealing, you’ll find more than enough to satisfy here.
This in no way means Hitman Episode 3 is a bad episode or not enjoyable. It was still enjoyable to an extent, but it definitely does not hold up to the level of mastery that IO Interactive pulled off with Paris and Sapienza. If this had been a standalone release, or the first mission released in the episodic nature, I wouldn’t feel too comfortable with the rest of the releases going forward. But since this was released in the middle of the life cycle, and there is still three additional missions to go, it doesn’t affect things to drastically.
There’s a lot of room for improvement when it comes to patches and potential expansions in the near future. It will be interesting to see if Hello Games takes this approach. More things could easily be added for players to do, and having a bit more diversity in that regard could change this game from something average to something great.
I had high hopes for Mafia 3. It was one of my most anticipated games for the rest of 2016, and I'd by lying to you if I said I wasn't slightly disappointed. Certain aspects of the game are still rather enjoyable, especially the storytelling and the way the game is presented to the player. But I'm not sure if that's enough.
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas is a quick experience into an alternate dimension Legend of Zelda title. While some are going to find the trip a remarkable one, others are simply going to see Oceanhorn as nothing more than a game imitating a much better game. I did enjoy the time spent on the journey, but it just didn't offer enough for me to really want to dig deeper into it. I am excited for the future of the series though, as Cornfox & Bros. can really do something amazing with the sequel.
Mass Effect: Andromeda severely disappointed me with the way the game performed even down to basic things, and I have to reflect that in my final score. I have high hopes for the next installment in the Dragon Age franchise, and I honestly hope this game does not spell the end for Mass Effect. There's clearly another trilogy worth of content here. Please do not abandon ship.
But let’s be honest. You aren’t going to decide to pick up and play Tell Me Why based off of how it performs, how it looks, or even how it sounds. You’re going to pick this up and play it because Dontnod Entertainment has shown that they know how to make an engaging choose-your-own-adventure style of game. As usual for anything published by Xbox Game Studios, the game is available through Xbox Game Pass, and for that reason alone, it’s worth a handful of hours of your time.
Shenmue III is a lifelong dream come true for fans of the franchise, but anyone else may get turned off by its authentic late-90's game design.
This game is not going to be something to appeals to everyone, or even to a large audience of gamers. But there is a dedicated group out there that will appreciate what there is to offer here.
Every so often, a game comes along that dares to do something different in terms of narrative design and the themes that get explored. The EA Originals lineup of games over the past year has been a blessing in disguise for the company, with the likes of Fe and A Way Out doing quite well both critically and with fan reception. Sea of Solitude is the latest entry into that lineup of games, and the message has been clearly communicated from the very beginning. This is a game about mental health issues and the ups and downs of everyday life as we struggle to get through this together.
Will this bring on a resurgence of ToeJam and Earl as a household series? Probably not. But it’s a great reminder of something special from gaming history, and I for one am glad to see it once again.
I’m glad the team at FuRyu didn’t give up on The Caligula Effect after it received such a poor reception when it first released. While still far from being amazing, this enhanced edition is a step in the right direction for the team and the franchise if they want to continue moving it forward.
After playing through A Rose in the Twilight and now this, I think Nippon Ichi is close to formulating a game using this style that will really break the mold and be great. For now, the latest entry is just good, but I’m glad I had the pleasure of playing through it.
This will absolutely appeal to the hardcore JRPG fan, those that enjoy deep combat and relationship mechanics, those familiar with the Tales of series, and those looking for an enjoyable story with a likeable cast of characters. For everyone else, especially those who despise fetch quests and quests simply for the sake of extending game length, definitely do some solid research before deciding on whether Shining Resonance Refrain deserves your time.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit is a quick thread which ties together the plot between Life is Strange and Life is Strange 2. We’re hoping we get to see more of Chris this September, because we definitely feel as if his story has yet to be concluded.