Tim Bissinger's Reviews
The game idea is traditionally good, the story interesting, the puzzles good, the ideas and loving details abundant: I was about to recommend Tangle Tower as a real alternative to Professor Layton - when the game was suddenly far too early, far too abrupt and above all over with far too many open questions and logic holes. All the work and effort that SFB Games put into character drawing and building a great mystery in the first few hours suddenly coincides like a house of cards. Maybe it was due to a lack of time or resources - after all, there aren't even any puzzles left towards the end. Tangle Towers should be a little adventure pearl with its quirky characters, high-quality presentation and good puzzles - but it stumbles over a much too early, abrupt and illogical ending.
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Trials was expanded from a wonderfully purist arcade title to a big Game as a Service - including Lootboxes, real money integration and embarrassing ingratiation with the Fortnite target group. So at least I don't enjoy trials anymore, although the playful core belongs to the best of the series. Too bad about the great level design.
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Bravely Default II doesn't deliver more than the bare minimum on all levels - gameplay-wise, technically, narratively and musically - and is thus, despite a still excellent job system, unfortunately one thing above all: generic.
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Beyond Blue is neither fish nor whale and remains in every respect a trial dive, which as a game as well as an interactive documentary only scratches the surface of the possible. It's not about exploring and getting to know this fascinating habitat by yourself, but, as in underwater tourism, about grazing spot by spot and scanning as many animals as possible on the way. I appreciate the work that goes into Beyond Blue. But the bottom line is that it's just a trial dive with an omnipresent guide.
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A powerful Mech construction kit, Daemon X Machina is a dream for all fans of combat robots, but as an action game it is a repetitive occupational therapy. It's a shame that the game design hasn't received as much lifeblood.
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Travis Strikes Again doesn't live up to the name No More Heroes or the talent of Suda51 and bores for almost seven hours with blunt action, uninspired level design and the eternal unwinding of the same processes.
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Is this still Warriors or already Breath of the Wild? Age of Calamity combines the well-known qualities of the Musou brand with charm, design and ideas of one of the best games of the generation - elevating it into a positively Zeldaesque adventure.
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The deceptively idyllic and wonderfully bustling microcosm of PNF-404 also impresses on the Nintendo Switch - just like the intelligently designed strategy adventure behind it. But now it's time for Pikmin 4!
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Pokémon Sword and Shield are cheaply produced, antiquated in every regard and no longer come even close to living up to the great name of the brand. "It's Pokémon" can no longer be an excuse - it's exactly the fact that it is Pokémon why it has to be more than what it is. And right now, Sword and Shield are one thing above all else: two really bad video games.
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Flying Wild Hog has gone overboard with complexity reduction - and sacrificed a great deal of Shadow Warrior's mojo in its return to the series' roots. Although the game isn't even half as long as its predecessors, it wears out noticeably after just three hours, having lost the originality of its brand mark katana, chi powers and weapon variety.
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NEO: The World Ends With You is both a sequel and a "reset", a worthy comeback of one of the most offbeat JRPGs and a game that keeps you hooked to the screen for a long time with its eccentric style, rhythmic battles, motivating "gotta catch 'em all" flair and great soundtrack - even if it can't shake off some long known problems.
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It is a delight to see this unusual masterpiece get a second chance! NieR shines in new splendor and new gameplay quality in this lavish new edition - and remains just as thrilling, fascinating and meaningful as on the first day.
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Light and shadow are close together in Lost Words: it tells a touching and tangible story of a young girl's life and embeds it in a gorgeous diary style - but then gets lost in a superfluous and boring sub-story that makes half of the game seem like filler.
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Origami King is a wonderful, light-hearted adventure - bound by chains preventing it from unfolding its true potential and creativity.
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Playtonic and Yooka-Laylee are successful in the second attempt and with one dimension less: The search for the Beettalions is a wonderful jump'n'run adventure that can keep up with Donkey Kong Country in its best moments and sets new standards in the genre with a great world map. What a positive surprise!
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Whether you're walking on the ground, the wall or the ceiling, in Etherborn this is all just a matter of perspective - and the game is wonderfully built around this unique idea of shifting gravity, offering complex level design and a great sense of scale. The only question, then, is why you're doing all of this, as the overarching story doesn't explain itself very well and leaves you with more questions than answers.
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Koral is a fascinating journey through the ocean that's less about entertaining with its simple puzzle mechanics, but rather about teaching and educating the player about the threats that this beautiful world is facing in the real life beyond the TV. While the game itself remains basic, its message is all the more important.
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SteamWorld Quest is another showcase for the creative talent at Image & Form who have crafted yet another charming robot adventure in a new genre, that, once again, manages to entertain with lovely characters, strong gameplay systems and slick presentation - even though the freshness wears off after a while of playing as the game relies a bit too heavily on its card-based battles and deck building.
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Precise controls, fast and action-packed twin-stick shooting for up to four players on one console: Assault Android Cactus is simply fun.
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Three Houses is a promising first step towards a new era for Fire Emblem, and a solid foundation for the next games to come. While it does lack challenge and depth in exploring the monastery, it excels in other areas, mostly in its rich and captivating universe, unique characters and advanced turn-based combat. The journey to the grand finale is long, but it's a memorable one that will please not just long-time Fire Emblem fans.
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