Zero Escape: The Nonary Games is a perfect addition to any visual novel fan's collection. Both games are truly a work of art that combine mystery and horror to tell a story that is so gripping that it's almost impossible to put down. The only thing missing is the inclusion of the third entry of the series, Zero Time Dilemma.
Toukiden 2 shows that an already impressive series can be made even better by taking chances on new systems. The story stays in scope of the premise throughout the game even after accepting multiple side-quests, theres always clear knowledge of what to do next. Although the open world map by intimidating to some, the game offers easy quick traveling options to seamlessly get players from one place to another. After playing the game for well over 30 hours, I feel like I can continue playing for another 100 and with that I happily say, "Bring it on!"
The Silver Case HD Remaster might seem visually dated and it has that unapologetic approach to puzzle solving that only retro games can provide, but the characters and story connecting them truly stands the test of time. I was completely drawn into the mystery and world of the game that it became difficult to take breaks or attend to daily activities. The Silver Case HD Remaster will join the catalog of other great Suda51 games that I have come to respect over the years, this westerner is happy to have the opportunity to finally play it.
In the end, NEKO-NIN exHeart's comedic approach saved it from being forceable and predictable romance where the main protagonist gets all the girls without even trying. There are some pretty interesting twists in the second half of the story that adds a dose of drama and keeps the pacing fresh. I must say that for the $9.99 Steam price, there is a good four to six hour story here that won't let fans of adorable cat-girl illustrations down. I only wish that the first half of the story was as good as the conclusion, but as whole this a decent visual novel.
Developer Omega Force is truly a force to be wrecked with. The Japanese developer has not only continued a franchise, Dynasty Warriors, for 20 years, but they have found ways to bring their hack-n-slash formula to other notable series. Dragon Quest Heroes II fits in perfectly with the other entries in the Dragon Quest series, only with a splash of that musou battle system. Being a huge fan of the Dragon Quest mainline series, I was blown away with the how well this collaboration was executed and could easily call this one of my favorite games of 2017.
Cosmic Star Heroine is the perfect example of a crowdfunded indie game that might have been held back by budget and time. I enjoyed everything the game had to offer, but I was was left wanting more than a short RPG experience with an overused premise. If you're looking for a gorgeous 16-bit RPG with a unique battle system and a short campaign than Cosmic Star Heroine is going to resonate with you perfectly, but if you're looking for a story that will stick with you over the years than you probably should look elsewhere.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd provides a very fans-only story campaign that will satisfy anyone who's enjoyed the trilogy to this point. Even though assets were reused from the previous two games, it doesn't stop Trails in the Sky the 3rd from standing out on its own and giving each character a proper conclusion. I had to wait many years, but I'm glad to have finally been able to complete the Trails in the Sky trilogy.
The Caligula Effect has some of the coolest systems ever found on the Vita. The game seems to push what the system is capable of and perhaps that was asking too much. With some frame rate drops during battles and unnecessarily confusing dungeons, the game might get passed up by the more casual RPG players. However in the end, the side stories, characters, and awesome soundtrack saved the game and made me want to see it through to till the end.
Birthdays the Beginning begs to be enjoyed by a particular gamer, which could hold it back from non-simulation fans to give it a try. I would have enjoyed more interaction between me and my organisms, but the game draws the line of interaction with the world to merely altering the land. With that said, the systems introduced in the game work well for a game that is supposed to the “beginning” of a much larger idea. I'm excited to see where the series goes moving forward as well as the incredible environments that are sure to come from the community.
Grisaia: Phantom Trigger Vol. 1's premise fits in perfectly with the rest of the Grisaia titles, that includes the beautiful character designs that the series is known for. However, the introductory chapter felt rushed, which ended up hurting any chance for proper character development. As such, the climax of the story to feel out of place. Phantom Trigger Vol 1. begs to be longer in order to allow the reader to care enough to want to move on to the later volumes in the series. Hopefully, now that the introductions are out of the way, the real story can start.
Akiba's Beat caters to the niche audience who will definitely have a good time discovering the ins and outs of Akihabara through an entertaining and interesting story. However, hardcore RPG fans will be disappointed with the combat and dungeon exploration that they're probably used to seeing in PS2 and early PS3 games. There is fun to found in Akiba's Beat for those who wish to give it a try, but it will most likely be added to the backlog and quickly forgotten.
Disgaea 5 Complete is an awesome addition to the Nintendo Switch line-up of games. Taking this time-intensive tactical RPG on the go with me was an enjoyably experience; I am not always at home and willing to spend 80 hours on my couch playing a game. The game's premise feels like a soap opera at times, but it adds to the enjoyment when acted out by these silly characters. My only word of advice is to bring your Switch charger with you, because you're going to need it.
Although Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada is a spin-off of the mainline series of games, it shouldn't be seen as anything less than the best companion to Samurai Warriors 4. I enjoyed returning to the battlefield once more and learning all that I could about the Sanada clan while following their lives over the course of the game. The character driven plot was much appreciated as well as the graphical improvements made to the battlefields from previous games. I would definitely like to see more spin-offs of the series that focus on some of the other clans.
Being my first otome visual novel, Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds has made me a fan of the Hakuoki series. The game handles the large cast of characters wonderfully and allows the story of the Shinsengumi to shine through. For new visual novel fans this is the definitive way to start the Hakuoki series and date the guys that older fans had to wait years for.
Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku! is for gamers who want a quick and satisfying dungeon-crawling experience. The game is fast enough to pick up for ten minutes and complete a few missions, but also has some deep systems that can take hours of your time and push the game to its highest potential.
Nekopara Vol. 3 is a welcome addition to the series. It holds everything great about the previous entries, while giving it a plot with real character development. I enjoyed my time with the visual novel and can't wait to see the wonderful characters and story beats that Sayori brings to the series in the future.
Mighty Gunvolt Burst is something that you'll want to show your friends who quit playing games in the 90's or youngsters who haven't experienced a true retro style game. In a generation that pushes hardware to limits, Inti Creates continues to deliver these five – six hour long experiences that push our 2D action platforming skills to the test. Now if only we can get Beck in a proper Azure Striker Gunvolt game.
Although the game looks a bit dated and the story can be messy at times, God Wars: Future Past is a game that should be played by anyone who craves a great SRPG that tests your skills and knowledge of the genre. Kadokawa Games seemed to take the feedback of what they did wrong with Natural Doctrine and deliver a game that fits in well with other notable SPRG titles, while adding unique systems that allow it to stand out.
I love Tokyo Xanadu for what is: a solid action RPG with a dramatic premise and an awesome cast of characters. The game impressed me with the responsive battle controls and beautiful special attacks. Even though the story didn't amount to the standards Falcom has set in the past, Tokyo Xanadu truly shows what the PlayStation Vita is capable in terms of graphics and playability and I would happily play through the game again.
Children of Zodiarcs is the game that story-driven SRPG fans have been waiting for. It's evident when playing through that the developers at Cardboard Utopia are passionate about delivering a product that could potentially fall in line with some of the genre's greats. However, by adding unique mechanics and a focus on character growth, Children of Zodiarcs stands out as simply a great SRPG.