Kenny McKee's Reviews
Apparition is yet another example of a game being good in concept but bad in execution. I truly wanted to like this game. There are some really neat concepts, the ouiji board is fun to play around with, and the idea of only being able to bring along certain pieces of equipment could make for a grand, albeit nerve-wracking, time. Unfortunately, instead of the game that Apparition could have been, we got what essentially amounts to a slightly more developed Slenderman clone. The moral of the story: don’t’ ever assume that a game will be good just because it sounds like it should be.
Not only does Mad Rat Dead succeed as both a rhythm game and a platformer, but it masterfully mashes the two together—creating a new and beautiful Frankenstein’s Monster of genres in the process.
Pumpkin Jack isn’t a bad game. But it’s not a good game, either. It’s just, well, fine. For some, fine is fine; I imagine that some people will buy this game and enjoy it, and that’s okay. However, as someone who really has a fondness for GCN-era platformers, I hold games like this to a higher standard. I expect, if you will, a certain level of greatness. Do I think that this game had the potential to reach said greatness? Absolutely. But it didn’t, and, unfortunately, it’s the end result that matters the most.
With Halloween just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to snuggle up with a heart-pounding, fear-inducing, horror-themed video game. And, as far as said games go, Clea stands among my top choices for this year. Though it may be short, Clea delivers a truly satisfying experience, striking a fine balance between traditional gameplay and unique elements that all but ensures that it won’t be forgotten any time soon. Facing your fears can be scary, but it’s games like this one that also ensure that it’ll be fun, too.
Re:Turn never really gets anywhere close to feeling conclusive. Rather than making its story into a proper “hill,” where there are both ups and downs, this game’s story is more akin to an endless upward slope; you want to know what’s on the other side, but climbing for so long with no end in sight is also tiresome.
Nihon Falcom’s Trails of Cold Steel proudly stands amongst the few which can truly be considered to be at the pinnacle of the modern-day, story-driven JRPG, and it was truly wonderful seeing the culmination of the series’ work within The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV.
Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded is not my cup of tea, which is sad given how much I wanted to enjoy it. I always appreciate a challenging platformer when said challenge is approached in a fair manner. Still, there’s no getting past the fact that both of these penguin-packed platformers thrive on doing little more than punishing the player without giving them much notice. I know that there’s a fanbase for these kinds of games, and if you’re among them, then this is right up your alley. However, for those who don’t want to become a punching bag for the game that you’re playing, you should look elsewhere.
I’ve said it already, and I’ll say it again; Ys Origin is an incredibly refreshing game. Featuring characters with incredibly diverse playstyles, simple-yet-challenging combat, and an unmistakably large amount of that tried-and-true Nihon Falcom polish, Ys Origin is not only a celebration of Ys, but of action RPGs as well.
Disgaea 4‘s time as top dog has come and gone, but Disgaea 4 Complete+ ensures that this wonderfully wacky tactical RPG will be anything but forgotten. Between the polished combat, loads of extras packed into the game, and the amazingly well-written story and characters, it’s hard not to fall in love with a game like this.
Star Renegades stands out as a shining example of what a rogue-like RPG should be. It’s unbending in its insistence that the player not only come to understand the intricacies of its rules, but master them, yet provides enough resources to make sure that players who really want to reach the end eventually do.
It isn’t difficult to see why Adventures of Pip is still making the rounds on various consoles, despite its age. It’s a fun platformer with a unique gimmick that not only adds to the game but celebrates some of the many forms in which video games have come. It’s not the very first game that I would recommend to Switch-owners. However, it’s still one that I would suggest to those looking for new platforming worlds to explore.
Simply put, Witcheye is a very cleverly created game about role-reversal, and what could potentially happen after seeing the credit roll and the quintessential “The End” at the conclusion of a game. Although I do think that more could have been done to enhance certain aspects of the game—namely in terms of level build—this bite-sized story of witchy revenge is still worth spending the few bucks that it asks for in exchange for an enjoyable afternoon of gaming.
Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Myth Infinite Combate has a lot of problems, but it’s nowhere near being the worst game that I’ve ever played. If you’re looking for a content-rich dungeon-crawler, then you’ll probably want to pass on this one. There are better dungeon-crawlers out there. However, if you consider yourself to be a fan of the series and really want to experience it in a new and unique way, then picking this up still might be worth your time.
I know that I’m probably shouting into the void, here, but I’m going to say this anyway; please learn from your mistakes in this game, Compile Heart. Death end re;Quest 2 shows that you’re truly capable of making a great horror game, but also that you aren’t there just yet. There were plenty of problems, but there were plenty of things to love about this title, too. I’ve seen the EX Ending (yes, I liked this game that much), and I know that you guys are teasing the possibility of a Death end re;Quest 3. I want that to happen, I want to love it, and I want to give it a stellar review. All I ask is that you took note of what worked and what didn’t, and continue to grow this series to be as great as it can potentially be. I know you can do it!
Kandagawa Jet Girls might seem like it’s just a fanservice game. But that’s only part of it. Whether you love or hate games with an overflow of questionable outfits and provocative poses (not sure why you’d be playing it if you hated it, though), it shouldn’t be the only thing that you focus on with this game. Like with its sister series, Senran Kagura, there’s a legitimate game in here with some really fun and addictive gameplay. If you’re a diehard Marvelous and/or Takaki fan, you’re probably going to get the game regardless of what I say (which you should). But I also encourage people might be a little gunshy around this kind of thing to dive in as well. After all, life isn’t any fun if you don’t let loose from time to time.
The way I see it, Nexomon is kind of like the fast-food version of monster-collecting games. It’s cheap, easily accessible, and is certainly worthy of being enjoyed by some. However, when you compare it to its more original and carefully crafted counterparts, it’s easy to see just how ersatz its formula actually is.
It’s nice to know that my already-high expectations for visual novels can still be surpassed from time to time, and I have Aokana: Four Rhythms Across the Blue to thank for that. Despite mainly focusing upon basics such as love, friendship, and determination, the whole of it ultimately culminates into sublime VN experience. If you like VNs, you’re going to like Aokana. It’s really that simple.
I really wanted to like Ever Forward. And, in some ways, I did. Its surreal beauty is mesmerizing, and its story is both tragic and heart-warming. But scenery and stories a puzzle game does not make. You’ve got to have puzzles for that to work out. Or, more specifically, good puzzles. And, while Ever Forward has the forward, I found it to be lacking in the latter. I’m not telling you not to get this game—because there is certainly enjoyment to be found within it—I’m just telling you to brace yourself several bouts of frustration if you do.
As enjoyable as this game was for an outsider like me, there’s no denying Fairy Tail‘s true nature as a game aimed at its pre-installed fanbase. It’s the kind of game that you excitedly dive into because you’ve been a fan of the series for so long and want to experience its story like never before. Playing it with the mindset that it’s “just another JRPG” might leave you wanting more at the end of it all, but I know for a fact that, had I already been familiar with Fairy Tail, I would have eaten everything up faster than Natsu himself.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that The Revenant Prince is too ambitious for its own good in some places. It’s a game that tries to do a lot and meets with varying degrees of success along the way. If you’re looking for a perfectly streamlined RPG, this isn’t it. However, if you’re open to a unique experience and are willing to take everything in stride, then The Revenant Prince might be what you’re looking for.