Anyone looking for a weekend well spent can't go wrong with SteamWorld Dig 2; it is the very definition of a great sequel. Alongside the larger world and new features is a terrific amount of refinement, with each and every aspect given a little bit of extra attention. However, the basic formula remains unchanged. The bulk will be spent mining ore and selling it to buy upgrades, and although performing these tasks isn't required to progress, it's really not something that can be ignored entirely. For what it's worth, this entry does everything possible to make the process addictive and fun.
Genre enthusiasts, both young and old, are certain to enjoy Super Hydorah.
Although it definitely has style, Mary Skelter: Nightmares doesn't quite excel. The unique premise tends to be undermined by the typical eye-rolling nonsense that plagues anime. There's also not enough of a follow-through when it comes to encounter design. Each class is capable of numerous and creative skills, but the direct approach is almost always the right one. As the game continues, it actually becomes less complex, until the player is merely spamming whatever kills monsters quickly. Still, this DRPG does more than enough to keep one occupied for quite a long time.
Anybody expecting Drive Girls to be another dumb fun slasher will be sorely disappointed. The learning curve is pretty high, requiring a substantial level of patience, and perhaps even a guide or two. Given enough time and effort, it can be pretty entertaining, and the especially skilled will appreciate the advanced techniques. Until then, all this game has to offer are a poor camera, cheap enemies, and aggravation. It asks a lot and doesn't give much in return. What content is there is stretched far too thin. There are a lot of missions, but very few unique enemies, and nothing in the way of creative level design. Even fans of cheesecake will find depressingly little to satisfy their interests.
When it comes to writing and storytelling, Pillars of Eternity is a class act. Obsidian had complete freedom to pursue their vision, and it shows in the impressively-constructed world and excellent characterization. Every side-quest, no matter how minor, has at least some significance in the development of the protagonist. Again, it takes time to adjust to the controls, but they work very well. Players can comfortably lean back, relax, and micromanage when necessary. However, the mediocre frame rate and long load times mar the experience. Still, fans of the genre will appreciate this fantastic game.
Shantae: Pirate Queen's Quest is a fine add-on for fans of the series. Although an entirely new adventure would have been preferred, WayForward implemented a number of clever ideas to keep this one interesting. Exploring the levels in any order is a neat design decision, and it's nice to revisit Risky Boots' impressive skillset. This DLC also spares its players the meaningless questing, so they can focus squarely on the journey. Altogether, it's a fine way to spend a couple of hours.
Sonic Mania doesn't just stand shoulder to shoulder with the classics of yesteryear; it surpasses them. The level design is absolutely incredible. Each zone features a wealth of obstacles and secrets, and they're all superbly implemented. Players are given ample opportunity to explore, though there's also incentive in speeding to the end.
With its surreal visuals and quirky character design, Original Journey has little trouble drawing attention. Determining whether or not it can retain that attention will depend entirely on the player. On its own, the platforming and shooting aren't all that tightly designed. Relying on level-ups and gear to maintain interest only goes so far. Given a long enough period of time, most gamers will feel like they're just going through the motions.
Even with its flaws, Defenders of Ekron is a fine title for fans of both action and adventure. The campaign is filled with fun scenarios and thrilling boss battles. Controlling the Anakim is an effortless process. Players will quickly adjust to its many forms and abilities. While it is very much a double-edged sword, the massive amount of variety still works in the game's favour. Every stage is different in its own way, ensuring that the player is rarely bored.
Without a doubt, Collar X Malice is a required pick-up for fans of the genre. It features a thrilling storyline and some of the best characterization seen in an otome visual novel. Exploring every route will take dozens of hours, yet the viewer will never lose interest. Even the most mundane scenes are buoyed by the awesomeness of Ichika Hoshino and the rest of the cast. Also, it goes without saying, but the game is drop-dead gorgeous. Obviously, a game shouldn't be recommended on that quality alone, but the icing on the cake is quite nice.
Graceful Explosion Machine is a thoroughly solid title with enough content to last. However, it lacks passion. It has an almost clinical approach to everything, which makes for a shmup that's only enjoyable with the right mind-set. This genre is designed around stoking a flame in one's heart. After spending enough time mere pixels away from death, there is this feeling that takes over. It's hard to describe, but it's amazing. Every moment thereafter is earned. The best STGs pummel and exhaust the player, but after succeeding, it's almost as if EVO has just been won. When playing this game, there isn't even a spark.
Skeleton Boomerang is a lovingly-crafted throwback to the 16-bit era. Hunter moves with all of the grace necessary to survive the horrors of the isle. Controlling his boomerang is almost a game unto itself. Every moment becomes so much more interesting when it involves the curved wonder. Exceptionally skilled players will get a lot of enjoyment out of maintaining combos. The soundtrack can't be praised enough. A playthrough will take around four hours, and it won't outstay its welcome.
In short, Bullet Soul: Infinite Burst is a better structured and more confident shmup than its predecessor.
All in all, Graze Counter is a STG that's well worth checking out. The various scoring systems gel quite nicely, offering plenty of replay value. Admittedly, when it comes to grazing, I'm not a big fan. However, this is one of those rare shmups that gets the concept right. It incentivises risky play by giving the player agency. With every playthrough, the pilot will find themselves drifting closer to bullets, all in the pursuit of higher scores. This game is open-ended enough that anyone can devise their own routes. They won't be forced to navigate a constant ocean of projectiles, which gets pretty mind-numbing after a while.
All told, Valkyria Revolution isn't a complete disaster. Every now and then, it manages to hoist itself out of the loathsome depths, and deliver an adequate strategy RPG. The ragnites and other abilities are fun to play around with. There is also a small level of satisfaction in crushing hapless soldiers. Still, outside of very specific circumstances, this title demands absolutely nothing from its players, so it's unlikely to hold their attention for long. The intriguing plot is completely wasted by a combination of bad storytelling, laughable cut-scenes, and exorbitant loading screens. All in all, it's a shameful affair.
As with similar titles in the puzzle-platformer genre, Black The Fall lacks replay value. Still, this is a fantastic game and an exemplary showcase for what the medium is capable of. All of its elements are designed so that they don't conflict with one another. The visuals are stylish, but never at the expense of playability or comprehension. It relies on the background to tell its story, and superbly crafts the surrounding area with puzzles. No matter what happens, the player is always able to follow exactly what's going on. This is all accomplished without a single written word, and it's absolutely brilliant.
Like root beer, Neko-Nin exHeart is so bubbly and cloying that it's almost vile. Yura and Tama's antics will cause viewers to shift their feelings from uncomfortable to heart-warming in as little time as it takes to snap their fingers. Despite these sudden shifts, they're liable to stick around and see the story to its end. The most frightening possibility is that they're likely to enjoy it. Sure, the high-quality artwork and solid presentation make for a pleasurable experience. There's just something so insidious about the whole affair. How deep does this rabbit hole go? After witnessing this spectacle, can someone still admit that they're the same person as they were before? …Nin.
To put it bluntly, Toby: The Secret Mine plays it too safe. It settles for a basic understanding of the fundamentals, and does little to push the player. The pacing is appropriate, the adventure never becomes monotonous, but there aren't any inventive or exciting elements. Trial-and-error game design has its own problems, but at least more effort could have been put into Toby's death animations. Usually, he falls over like a puppet that lost its strings. In some cases, he doesn't do anything, and gamers are merely kicked back to the last checkpoint. If death is such an integral part, at least make it fun.
Witchinour isn't worth the hassle. While it does have a firm grasp of the basic essentials, it's difficult in all of the wrong ways. The stages are boring, the bosses are insufferable, and the spells are woefully inadequate. Even in games where the learning curve is akin to a steep cliff wall, there's at least something the player can do to make it palatable. That simply isn't the case here. Fans of shooters beware; nothing but misery awaits.
The deal with Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni is that it's a risqué and sometimes outright perverted videogame. Undoubtedly, not everyone is going to appreciate being practically smothered in breasts, butts, and everything in-between. Some might be able to look past that and laugh at the absurdity of it all; others would do better to simply walk away. That said, this title has thrilling combat, an intriguing story, well-written characters, and enough content to last a long while.