Nick Herber's Reviews
While SoulCalibur VI probably will not be a top title in the eSports fighting scene, it has a solid enough online presence that should provide plenty of competitive gameplay. That being said, too often the fighting genre relies too heavily on online competition to give their games longevity. Kudos to the development team here for creating an incredibly robust single player experience that is worth coming back to time and again. This makes SoulCalibur VI my vote for best fighting game of 2019.
Disgaea 1 Complete has a great history, and it is great fun revisiting this classic title with its new paint job and additional bells and whistles. There is something of a missed opportunity to add content to the core story or gameplay that does not occur here, but for an RPG / strategy fan such as myself, there is a lot of quality gameplay mixed with nostalgia that reminded me that even at fifteen years later, Disgaea does it better than most.
There have been some pretty big-named RPGs of late between games like Valkyria Chronicles 4, Dragon Warrior and even the re-release of Disgaea 1 this fall, which unfortunately overshadows METAL MAX Xeno quite a bit. That being said, there is something incredibly charming about this underdog title, with its complex progression systems, dystopian setting and colorful characters that should appeal to JRPG fans looking for something a bit different.
In many ways, Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle is a pretty traditional dungeon crawler with its grid-based movement, first person perspective and numbers-heavy combat on the back end. Where it breaks the mold a bit is in how it allows you to split your party up for its real-time combat and Japanese-infused aesthetic. This is a genre that sometimes can get a little stodgy, and does not generally bring a lot of innovation to the table, so despite some annoying difficulty spikes and some lackluster overall presentation values, Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle still makes for an interesting addition to the genre.
So Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk is my second dungeon crawling title in as many weeks, and while both were good I have to give the nod to Nippon Ichi and NIS America here for crafting one that manages to feel like both a traditional part of the genre while still taking some chances that generally work more often than not. The combat and sound effects can be a little repetitive and there is a bit of menu overload to be had here, but the massive, custom parties plus wall-breaking mechanics combine to compliment an enjoyably presented game with a darker, more interesting story than we usually see out of dungeon crawlers.
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy has some really great franchises to draw from (I have been playing various SNK fighting games for years, and immediately felt familiarity with the cast of characters), and it has arguably the most accessible fighting mechanics of any game to date, but the fanservice and modes really only go so far. SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy has a nice, fast combat system in place that makes local play with friends zany and entertaining, but the modes themselves and modest number of characters probably are not meaty enough to encourage me to spend a ton of the time with the title either. I've gone through and beaten the story mode several times just so I can see the various interactions and endings, but outside of trying to unlock a few more items, I am not sure the hook here is going to be enough to keep me coming back on a regular basis unless I have a few people over looking to play a quick, accessible fighting game.
If you are a fan of retro-styled JRPG titles, Cosmic Star Heroine provides a nice dose of nostalgic science fiction to enjoy. The visuals are better than the sound, but the overall presentation is comfortable and enjoyable, ably assisted by a deeper-than-expected combat system. There is not a ton of content here nor replay value in the roughly dozen hours it takes to see Alyssa's adventure through to the end, but it is definitely a worthwhile adventure while it lasts.
Shining Resonance Refrain is a title that should appease Shining and general JRPG fans, as it does a lot of things found in other games, and does them pretty well. The art style is cute, if the overall environments are a bit lacking visually, but couple with a solid audio presentation to create an enjoyable overall package. There is a lot to do here, though those turned off by grinding might not find the various systems interesting enough to spend oodles of time roaming and killing random critters encountered along the way. Personally I hope this is a sign of things to come, and we might see more Shining titles in the future - perhaps another strategy game please?
On the one hand, one could argue that Moss is a success in simply leaving me wanting for more. There is some truth to that, as this is one of the most engrossing stories I have played in VR or any other platform. The presentation is top-notch, the storytelling has charm in spades and the puzzles make excellent use of the VR technology. A little more maturation in the combat and gameplay coupled with a longer tale would have made Moss an absolute treasure, but what we have here is still one of the most endearing experiences in virtual reality to date.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is a fantastic game for a host of reasons. The characters are charming, the gameplay is entertaining and there is a solid gameplay loop that kept me exploring just a little further each time. Fans of the Ys series owe it to themselves to explore what this latest chapter in Adol's adventures has to offer, but the gentle learning curve and various options provided make this an approachable title for those new to the series or the action RPG genre as well.
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle checks off all of the boxes I look for in an Arc System Works fighting game. The action is fast and fun, the presentation is top-notch and the learning curve is handled perfectly as you progress from story to versus to competitive online where this title will no doubt find it has its longest shelf life. There are relatively few surprises to be had here, but the mix of franchises is still a lot of fun to explore.
With dozens of titles to choose from, many of which rank among the best in video game history, the Sega Genesis Classics delivers a lot of bang for your buck. This collection rightly hangs its hat on bucket loads of nostalgia, but some nice new features make this more than just the repackaging of older games I have seen in other compilations over the years. I could nitpick about a handful of titles that should have been here and some that might as well have been left off, but this is a collection of games that is definitely worth playing.
While the actual move The Last Jedi was pretty divisive among fans, the Pinball FX3 - Star Wars: The Last Jedi should fare a bit better with those who enjoy Zen Studios' pinball offerings. There are two tables in this pack, and while they aren't the best tables ever released, both are enjoyable.
Whether you are new to the Yakuza titles or a long-time fan of Kazuma Kiryu's exploits, there are numerous things to like about Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The title creates a sense of familiarity for those familiar with the series, but has enough new features and nuance to make this entry its own title as well. If you have not yet played any of the Yakuza games, this chapter does a great job of catching you up on the story while providing approachable - if sometimes a little shallow - game play. The end result is an open-world game that rewards you for the time you invest.
Bomberman has seen its up and downs over the years, but the overall formula is still a popular one with a lot of players. Brawl seeks to capitalize on a lot of the same gameplay elements while adding a horror aesthetic. All in all, it is a competently made game, but not one that does enough to make it a more compelling play than the games that clearly inspired it.
Mutant Football League is crass, silly and stupid fun - but the emphasis there is on fun. More often than not, I enjoyed my time with the game, even though it is light years behind the Madden series on a technical level. So if you are strictly here for the football gameplay, you will probably be disappointed. However, if are more interested in announcers who swear and players who explode, Mutant Football League should be just what you're looking for.
Kudos to the Telltale Games team for making Minecraft Story Mode: Season 2 Episode 5: Above and Beyond easily the best overall episode in the season - possibly the entire series. The stakes are high, decisions matter and the action filled finale provides some satisfying closure to the story.
Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock delivers a fantastic strategy game that provides hours of tactical combat and edge-of-your-seat encounters. That it is also a great representation of the Battlestar Galactica property is just an added, but very welcome, bonus.
SOMA first released on PC a couple of years ago, but now it is making its way onto consoles and fans of suspenseful, narrative-driven games should make sure to play this title if they missed it the first time around. I was fortunate enough to play SOMA the first time around a couple of years ago, but never actually reviewed it for this site. I found that the game was creepy, interesting, and it had emotional impact that delivered a memorable experience. Thankfully these intangible types of traits age really well whether a game is two years or twenty years old, and SOMA on the Xbox One is a fantastic overall experience.
There are a lot of moments where Black Mirror is pushing just on the verge of being a really solid adventure game, but those moments are too few and far between, hampered by technical issues and sloppy controls. The story is a good one, and those who are willing to wrestle with these shortcomings in favor of an interesting narrative will likely enjoy their time with Black Mirror, but in the end it is a barely better than average title.