Super Mario Party Jamboree renews the familiar party formula without watering it down, and packs a lot of extra content on top: it's not just the wide selection of games and characters and the mix of retro and brand-new game boards that are key here, but also the small refinements to the gameplay and additional game modes such as online competitions and the movement games that make this Mario Party a showpiece package! And for those who consider themselves too lucky, there's pro mode now!
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Playing detective has never felt so organic! The procedurally generated map, which can be explored completely freely, offers a wide variety of ways to track down a perpetrator - or to end up in a dead end. Gameplay systems centred around stealth, profiling and physical confrontations and status effects, a social credit system or upgrading implants create a depth of gameplay that is unheard of in this genre. However, one drawback is the repetitive process of filling in the form at the end of the case. Shadows of Doubt is unfortunately still full of bugs and glitches in its current state, but this should be tolerated in case of the first fully-fledged sandbox detective game.
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No one will be surprised when an RPG classic is remade with attention to detail and turns into an absolute highlight! And that's exactly what Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is! Of course, in a faithful remake, the weaker passages, such as the Job Agency missions, have to be included to be faithful, but these low-points are hardly noticeable in the fantastic overall package. The story, the characters, the battle system, the brand new graphics - a victory for Super Mario all the way! Few games have earned a well-done retelling as much as The Thousand-Year Door!
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Nightdive Studios has breathed new life into System Shock, and probably in the best possible way! The antagonistic SHODAN is as menacing as ever with its small army populating the claustrophobic corridors of the Citadel Station. With the individual difficulty level, some factors of the game are mitigated, but in any case you can feel the mercilessness of the original - as well as its pioneering gameplay! The remake masters the challenge of bringing badly aged aspects up to date without losing any of the atmosphere of the original.
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Square has conjured up a really detailed role-playing game for the SNES that has been rightly dusted off without changing much of the original: The HD textures and slightly revamped battle system bring Super Mario RPG up to date, and the post-game rematches offer a brand new tough challenge. All summed up, this is a remake of a role-playing game as it should be in the textbook; the only downer is and remains the playing time of the main story, which is too short at roughly 10 hours.
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If anyone says that 90s role-playing games are out of date these days, should take a hard look at Star Ocean: The Second Story. With the help of stunning 2.5D graphics and a few small improvements to the combat system and other gameplay mechanics, the title shines as The Second Story R in a splendour that rivals any other current RPG of the year. The depth of the original game, including side activities, take care of the rest
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The WarioWare series has been around since the Nintendo DS, but with Motion Control the microgames have become a real blast. As on the Nintendo Wii, it's just huge fun to face the crazy challenges that last only seconds, in crazy poses in front of the screen. It's too bad that the single-player mode is already over before it has really begun. But instead, other game modes for single, party and multiplayer challenges can be found in WarioWare Move It! to round off the amusement.
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Super Mario Bros. Wonder evidently impresses with its creativity and innovation! The best jump 'n' run action paired with the colourful presentation of the flower kingdom including new enemy types and unpredictable spectacles of a wonder flower leave hardly anything to be desired! The implementation of a selectable badge before the levels rounds off the game experience; and the multiplayer has clearly been given some thought too. Only in terms of scope one can sense the short playing time and the small amount of power-ups that can be found.
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The influence of Danganronpa can be felt in every corner of Rain Code - and that's not a bad thing! Nevertheless, one could have wished for a bit more innovation besides the visually crazy "Mysterious Labyrinth" in 3D. For a new IP, the game borrows a bit too much from the spiritual ancestor, but the story and gameplay are absolutely convincing. Danganronpa fans and otakus will have a blast!
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Link is back, and better than ever! The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom takes the excellent foundation of its predecessor and adds to it: the new abilities allow for much more experimentation and puzzle solving, plus the islands in the sky offer a change from the earthbound world of Hyrule, inviting you to explore much more, putting the saying "The sky's the limit!" to new use. Nintendo has managed to outdo itself once again after Breath of the Wild.
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As a rule of thumb, sequels do a lot of things better, and so it is in the case of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor! With a full five lightsaber fighting styles, plenty of new abilities and activities in addition to those from the predecessor, a more open game world, more customization options and a multitude of small improvements make the title a worthy successor to Fallen Order. Once the minor performance and quality issues are fixed, there's absolutely no reason why Star Wars fans shouldn't pick this one up.
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There is a reason Advance Wars is considered one of the best games of all time: It offers something for everyone, from beginners to absolute experts in warfare, and can achieve an incredible depth regarding gameplay. This remaster also does everything right: changes are only made to the graphics, but gameplay and level design remain true to the original. Add online functionality, dubbing and a map editor on top and a Game Boy classic is brought to the modern era in a perfect way.
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And again, the grind is real, guys! Octopath Traveler II is insanely beautiful to look at, the story around the eight characters is better realized, and the turn-based battle system is a true joy, reminiscent of the glory days of 16-bit RPGs. If some boss fights drag on forever and random battles also demand their share of playing time, it shows that the sequel also appeals to die-hard fans for the most part. Nevertheless, the improvements compared to the first part are noticeable in every corner - Octopath Traveler II shows itself as a role-playing game on the highest level in 2023.
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Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman, the spiritual fathers of Guybrush Threepwood, are back, and you can feel it in every fiber of Return to Monkey Island. Hilarious situations, clever dialogue, memorable characters, beginner-friendly gameplay, and a fresh graphic style that may not be to everyone's taste bring the game series back to where it belongs: at the top of the point-and-click games. This game is definitely more than just pure nostalgia!
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The 2022 iteration of Live A Live shows how remakes for games from the early 90's should be done: a fresh coat of paint, a few quality of life improvments and Live A Live looks like a brand-new title that plays just as well. The story was, with a few minor drawbacks, so great that it still amazes today. It i is a love letter to old school RPGs and a recommendation for everybody who likes them.
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A gaming series as old as LEGO video games has to reshape some of its mechanics to stay relevant. LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga did a formidable with that and therefore has become the new gold standard for all games of its kind. The experience is only troubled by the ubiquitous little puzzle games, which all feel the same and fill the vast space of the galaxy far far away...
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Don't be fooled by Tunic's cute packaging: the game is quite demanding in terms of combat. When it comes to the quality of the puzzles, the game is on the same level as the platform classic FEZ. But the biggest selling point remains the mysteries that motivate you to solve another puzzle or find a collectible over and over again. An absolute recipe for success!
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You notice immediately that Horizon Forbidden West massively builds upon the first game and offers a lot more of machine models and side activities. The Gameplay stays excellent, only the story takes a lot of time to gain momentum. Forbidden West is still a sequel how most fans would've wanted it to be.
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Looking back at it roots, Mario Party Superstars brings back some of the biggest joys from the Nineties. A wide selection of the best minigames and classic boards originally debuting on the Nintendo 64 surely will satisfy everbody's nostalgia. On the downside it feels like there's content lacking, since there are only five playable boards, no overarching story and nothing worthwile to unlock. As soon as the nostalgia wears off, this Mario Party almost feels... incomplete.
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Inscryption may not reinvent the card gaming genre, but it is filled to the brim with great ideas and the usual twists of a David Mullins game. If you enjoy a spooky atmosphere as well as deckbuilding definitely check this out!
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