In short, Last Encounter has a neat concept, but fails to follow through with it. A good challenge is the lifeblood of a videogame, especially when it comes to roguelikes. If the level of difficulty is incapable of matching and growing with the player's skill and arsenal, then there's no purpose in continuing to play. Before long, what should be a thrilling run deep into enemy territory becomes nothing more than a thirty-minute spectacle of light and sound. Anyone who picks this title up will inevitably face a tough choice. Do they make full use of the overpowered weapon system, knowing that they will rarely have any fun, or do they ignore everything, thereby stripping the game of its identity?
Even though it's been over a decade, Bullet Witch hasn't aged as badly as might be expected. There is some creativity in Alicia's skill-set. Summoning ravens and rose spikes lends a pleasing dynamic to combat. Also, reducing an entire city block to rubble just to kill a few demons never gets old. A typical play-through will only take about two-and-a-half hours, but the extra missions and harder difficulties are sufficient reasons to keep playing. Keep in mind, however, that this game is a product of its time, and its most appealing aspects run counter to what gamers take for granted today. Some simply aren't going to enjoy goofing around with physics or explosions, and that's fine.
When it comes to action RPGs, Ys Origin ranks among the elite.
ACA NEOGEO Gururin is a tough recommendation, even for hardened veterans of falling block puzzlers.
For gamers who still pine for the days of polished shoot 'em ups that leave nothing to chance, Wild Guns Reloaded can't be missed. It's proof that there will always be a place in the world for "thirty-minute videogames." Sure, it doesn't take long to reach the end, but the fun is in overcoming the impossible and doing it with style. The scoring system, while not ridiculously complex, does require players to make a lot of difficult choices. However, if they are willing to put in the work, they will soon discover that this awesome game will never let them down.
There are videogames that have issues and are held back from greatness by a series of missteps. Super Daryl Deluxe is a special case, because its wounds are self-inflicted. There were clearly a number of other directions this game could have gone in, but the ridiculous path it chose is probably what makes it so intriguing. The blatant repetition, the largely pointless narrative, the unlikeable cast; if even one of these elements were out of place, then the adventure would probably fall apart. Frankly, this is a baffling conclusion to arrive at, but few titles are designed to own up to their bad qualities. This one knows it has poor ideas, and runs with them anyway. It's actually kind of admirable, but still really hard to recommend on a whim.
All that really needs to be said is that Fantasy Hero ~unsigned legacy~ is an effortless slog. Considering the glut of action RPGs, it's understandable that there would be derivative elements, but this one doesn't even try to do anything unique. Worse, the lack of balance or polish results in a series of escalating aggravations. Before long, the very concept of "fun" is set ablaze, until nothing but ashes remain.
Unlike the first game, which was a flawed yet interesting experience, Zwei: Ilvard Insurrection opts for refinement, stripping away all of the half-baked elements. In almost every respect, this was the right decision to make. The combat is far more enjoyable, and there's none of the tedium that plagued the original. Still, the feeling of "sequelitis" is impossible to shake off. There's not a lot of content that's really fresh or exciting. The extra layers of polish just aren't enough for the conclusion of the Zwei saga to compete with Falcom's best. Then again, this is Falcom... Even its worst tends to be better than almost anything else out there. Really, the developer did a fine job here, and adventure-seekers won't be disappointed.
Ideally, players should try to experience Surviving Mars on the PC, but the Xbox One version is a fine substitute. In any case, they are treated to a very impressive simulator that rewards expert resource-management. The emphasis on automated drones helps to streamline all of the menial tasks, leaving players plenty of time to focus on constructing the perfect colony. Of course, the game features a steep learning curve, but there's always something new to learn. A few features, such as the individual characteristics of every colonist, are a bit convoluted and unnecessary. Still, maybe there is somebody out there that appreciates the extremely fine details. All in all, there's little stopping everyone from spending many sleepless nights attempting to conquer the planet.
When it comes to RPGs, the Nintendo 3DS isn't lacking for quality, even this late in the system's lifespan. If there's one title that deserves a spot in the upper echelons, it's The Alliance Alive. Its battle system is reminiscent of the SaGa franchise, except taken to the next level through superb balancing and design. No matter the player's skill level, they are treated to an adventure that caters to them, without coming off as condescending or frustrating. Not only is the world filled with wonders to explore, anyone who takes the time to do so will find their efforts appropriately rewarded. Simply put, this game is a modern classic.
Even for a Bullet-Hell, there's just too much going on at once. It's overwhelming, but not in a way that encourages players to try harder. Ultimately, it left this critic feeling a little cold.
Much like a relic from a forgotten age, Assault Gunners HD Edition struggles to find its place in today's gaming landscape.
Bleed 2 is a master-class in how to design a sequel.
In short, it's not worth the grey hairs.
Bleed is a short and entertaining romp that will keep anyone glued to their screen.
As mentioned earlier, a name carries expectations. Strictly in terms of game design, Fear Effect Sedna is quite possibly the strongest the series has ever been. However, it doesn't go far enough to make up for its deficiencies in atmosphere and storytelling. As it turns out, this title is as cold and distant as its locales and isometric perspective suggest. There's very little imagery to provoke thoughts or spark the imagination, just a high body count and a lot of swear words. Even if that were enough for a Cyberpunk game, it's handled in a manner that isn't stylish or memorable. All in all, this entry is a difficult recommendation, especially for Fear Effect fans.
Zwei: The Arges Adventure is a rare and enjoyable title, especially for anyone familiar with Falcom's output. The core fundamentals, such as controls and playability, aren't always ideal, and the rough frame-rate is a nuisance. The final result is a title that's buoyed by its charm and creativity. This a rambunctious collection of minor details that still manages a strong sense of coherency. However, it's tough to excuse the messy combat. The way it ties into healing and levelling is clever, but there isn't enough finesse. It's as if the system was designed by a team that hasn't yet found its footing in an ever-evolving genre. To sum it all up, this isn't a classic, but it's still worth experiencing.
While it doesn't quite stick the landing, Tesla vs Lovecraft is still well worth checking out. This twin-stick shooter captures the heart of what makes the genre work, and is designed to appeal to every level of skill. It's just such a natural and fun game that anyone will be happy to give up their weekend for it. The only other complaint worth noting is the blaring foghorn. Inception is a fine movie, but the horn it popularised has been a nuisance to this critic's eardrums for quite a long time. Hearing "BWWAAAHH" every couple minutes is akin to being trapped in the depths of Cthulhu's madness.
Again, this critic is not a big fan of rogue-likes, but can still recognise quality when he plays it. Starward Rogue is an exceptionally-crafted shooter that is packed to bursting with hours upon hours of replay value. Each floor is inhabited by an array of nasty bots that are more than capable of filling the screen with tiny projectiles. However, thanks to the wide selection of playable mechs, as well as an assortment of awesome weapons and upgrades, gamers will always be suitably armed for the task.
Newbies and veterans to Starward Rogue alike are most certainly going to enjoy this brand new update, AuGMENTED. While the added content may well lead to many a sleepless night, which probably isn't a good thing, the enjoyability factor of Starward Rogue: AuGMENTED, random capitalisation and all, is well worth the sacrifice.