A rewarding sense of exploration drives this tribute to the 16-bit era. Strong ability based progression mechanics underline the Zelda-like comparison and procedurally generated elements complement the structure well. While its combat lacks precision, Songbringer is a very positive overall experience.
A love letter to Dark Souls that is more than capable of holding it's own. An intriguing story and setting, well designed enemies and levels, a great art style and keen sense of musical direction all contribute to make Immortal Planet an excellent ARPG.
One to try for fans of strategy RPGs, Children of Zodiarcs has a solid combat system with an interesting hook. The game is let down by a poorly told story that fails to satisfy but it does have it's moments nonetheless.
While Regalia: of Men and Monarchs never excels in any one area, the unique mix of gameplay elements really comes together to provide an experience that's worth having. If you're a fan of JRPGs, SRPGs, or a fan of the British tradition of absurdist fantasy comedy, there's something here for you to enjoy.
A competent, if not stellar, JRPG. Despite poking fun at many of the genre's tropes it can't quite help falling into them itself. Self-aware humor, a decent plot, and some endearing characters elevate the game above the mediocre affair it could otherwise have been though.
A hybrid of an interesting RPG setting, a fighting game style combat system of pleasing back and forths, and a great manga aesthetic, that is let down by frequent technical issues, a frustrating camera, and a poorly told story. Fans of both RPGs and Fighting games may well find something to love here but be prepared for a general lack of polish and some more glaring issues.
Yes, it’s wholly focused on fighting but it’s a damn fun fight to have. It even manages to throw in a plot that’s not entirely window dressing and look good while doing it. Toukiden 2 won’t appeal to everyone but it does have the potential to resonate with a broad group of players due to its flexible approach to how you play. Fans of action games and action RPGs should definitely give this one a try. It even manages a move to open-world design with grace instead of resulting in a cluttered mess of to-do lists. In short, buy this game if you want to kill demons, a lot of demons.
A decent opening devolves into a directionless wander. The repetitive nature of many of the game's tasks and situations mean that the real meat of the game is hidden under a lot of padding that demands a huge investment of time and will to uncover. Unless you're a hardcore fan of the laid-back crafting loop of the Atelier games, there are many more engaging RPG's out there.
A great example of quest writing and storytelling. An excellent modern take on the CRPG. The choice system feels meaningful throughout and a lack of rigid moral judgement means you're free to roleplay as you see fit. A must buy for RPG fans looking for a deep, choice-driven experience. The world feels alive and unique and there's a profound sense of immersion that's helped along by every aspect of the game coming together as one. The only minor negative is combat that occasionally doesn't work as intended but its innovative approach to problem-solving saves the day.
Linearity and a lack of exploration are a major flaw for me in a JRPG but that doesn't mean that Arelite Core falls flat. It succeeds in capturing much of what made its predecessors work in its compelling story and clever battle system but fails to add the extra touches that truly made those games special.
A bloody romp, a fun time with no brainpower required. One good story followed by one not so good story and literally infinite side content. Fans of the Warriors series will get exactly what they expect, plus extra entrails. Fans of Berserk will likely get a kick out of sundering enemies in two as the black swordsman as well as the host of accompanying characters but may be disappointed that some story details fall by the wayside.
With a great story and a wide selection of crazy mini-games, Yakuza 0 is worth a look for series fans and newcomers alike. Some padding, some stiff animations in minor missions, and a couple of kinks with the camera and targeting in combat are all that hold this game back from becoming a legend.
A light-hearted platformer, competent if not brilliant. The adorable transformation mechanic is a highlight, as are the customisable and upgradable abilities, the creative bosses and the quirky humour. Short-lived fun for all ages. For the tactile thinkers among you; this game tastes like bubblegum.
A satisfying, if limited, rogue-like and a decent platformer all rolled into one. The lack of framing and context for your actions fades into insignificance as you settle into the 'one more run' gameplay loop. The base difficulty level and rather basic gameplay may be off-putting for some but this is definitely one to try for fans of roguelikes and 2D platformers in general. Cutesy character designs and addictively simple gameplay are Bard's Gold's strongest features.
A great strategy title that hides itself behind some pretty inaccessible beginnings. What it lacks in visual flair it more than makes up for in strategic depth. The political system especially gives a great simulation of the trials of leadership. For strategy fans, this should definitely be on your radar. For anyone new to the genre, give it a go but be prepared to exercise patience while you learn how the game works.
Try it you love the genre, otherwise, I wouldn't rush out to pick this one up. For fans of Sci-fi and 2D Metroidvania platformers there's some enjoyment to be had to be had here, but what's there is fairly short lived and does little to differentiate itself from its peers in story or gameplay.
Definitely give this one a try if you're a fan of shooters, sci-fi, big robots, or any combination of the three. I'm not walking away from this with my mind blown, but then, I'm not walking away from this at all. I'm hooked on the multiplayer and I'll be interested to see where this game goes as it's updated over time. If nothing else, buy this game to support the cause of ridding gaming of ridiculous season passes.
A competent 2D hack and slash with a great manga aesthetic and a deep crafting system. It's not going to blow you away, but there are hours of content to get through if you get hooked on the gameplay. Otherwise, you might find the repetition a little grating by the end of the game.
Simply put; Worms W.M.D is the best entry in the franchise since 1999. Above and beyond its well-grounded strategy roots, the game elevates itself with some smart new mechanics. It's sure to please any fans of the pre-21st Century Worms games, and I would think it offers enough to get a whole new generation interested in the franchise to boot.
The release is currently somewhat held back by a variety of technical issues, but the game underneath the glitches is undeniably worth your time.