Sean Anthony
Everything that makes Puyo Puyo Tetris great is here, but the additions are incredibly underwhelming. The story is just as simplistic as the first one, and the new "map" is a glorified way to show off a list of challenges hidden behind light character banter. If you're new to the series, this would be a good starting point, but anyone content with the first Puyo Puyo Tetris doesn't necessarily need to upgrade.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe is truly the definitive version of Pikmin 3 with plenty of additions and quality-of-life changes that will make it difficult to go back to the original Wii U version. The side stories provide creative level design that was missing from the base game, all of the DLC missions are present, and the story can finally be played entirely with two players. Even if this doesn't lead to a Pikmin 4, it would be a great high point to end the series on.
Never Breakup is an attempt at a co-op game without the excitement most party games bring. The rope doesn't add much to the experience, it's slow paced at the best of times, and it lacks polish. If you're absolutely starved for a tethered-together title, you may enjoy it briefly, but this isn't a party game I'd recommend.
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling is the Paper Mario we've been waiting for for over fifteen years. It's aesthetically pleasing to look at, the main characters have an amusing dynamic, and it has a fun turn-based battle system with real time elements and strategy. I urge not only Paper Mario fans to give it the chance it deserves, but anyone that has ever picked up an RPG.
Resident Evil 3 follows in the footsteps of Resident Evil 2 by creating a great survival horror experience while revamping an old classic. While several sections from the original game are missing and it can be a tad linear, it's a great ride with very few low points, with the game ending as great as it started. Though the main game lacks features, Resident Evil Resistance should make up for it if it can maintain a strong playerbase.
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends fails to bust a move and find any justification for its high price point. It lacks in length, it lacks in features, and even lacks a leaderboard, an oversight for this kind of game. While it is an enjoyable title with a few friends, there are plenty more affordable multiplayer arcade-style games available for even a quarter of the price.
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is easily the best Legacy Collection to date while including the entire Zero and ZX series. While the Zero games may be a bit unfair due to the zoomed-in GBA view and unforgiving lives system, the new save-assist feature gives players the ability to play through these games at their own pace without feeling like they're given too much power. Z-Chaser is lastly a good bonus game, even if it is lacking in the level department.
Sega Ages: Puyo Puyo 2 is a blast from the past for anyone wanting to explore the series roots. Its display options toy with your nostalgia while the added perk of online play makes another reason to check out the classic block-dropping competitive puzzle series. If you already have several Puyo Puyo titles, however, you may not be missing much.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the best representation of the series' storyline in over twenty years of games. While animations in cutscenes may be too stiff and there are occasional bugs, the simple yet difficult to master gameplay and the sidequests that succeed in building a world we've already come to love make this a must-play Dragon Ball experience.
Luigi's Mansion 3 is incredibly charming and the best evolution of the series to date. Every corner of the Last Resort Hotel has secrets and the gems can be incredibly difficult to find. If you're coming for the hilarious cutscenes, you'll stay to explore every floor of what this game has to offer.
Jackbox rarely disappoints and The Jackbox Party Pack 6 proves that the series is just as entertaining as it ever was. The return of Trivia Murder Party is welcome, and the four new games all bring something unique to the table. If you've ever enjoyed a Jackbox title before, you'll absolutely want to pick this one up.
Witching Tower is a decent puzzle adventure title with good level design and plenty of secrets to find. The hit detection and melee combat can be a bit wonky and the bow isn't entirely accurate, but it makes up for this with its puzzles and immersive atmosphere.
Siege of Centauri is a fun tower defense title for a good price. While, visually, there's more to be desired, it runs incredibly well despite the thousands of enemies that can flood the map as you place your towers in an oftentimes frantic and addictive mission to protect your colony. It's well worth the asking price.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne adds just what Monster Hunter World needed and even more quality of life changes to the greatest Monster Hunter game of all time. The new monsters and quests pack a punch, and there's enough content to justify the price. If you're going to take on this cool expansion, make sure you bring along some friends and a few hot drinks.
Swag and Sorcery flirts with both micro managing and idle mechanics without excelling at either. While it's initially engaging, its main gameplay becomes stale quickly leading to a grindfest where the reward is more grinding. You'll eventually encounter overwhelming enemies and bosses that require more grinding, but little to do while you wait for your heroes to return from their journey.
Metagal tries to be a Mega Man homage, but instead comes off as a semi-decent clone with very few original elements. The ability to play as different characters later on is a neat twist, but it doesn't make up for the lack of sound design polish, inconsistent difficulty spikes, and the lackluster choice in specials weapons. For the asking price of $5, however, Metagal may be looking into for scratching a micro-sized Mega-itch.
ChromaGun VR doesn't do much to improve on 2015's puzzle shooter, and the game takes a hit both visually and in performance in its attempt. The mechanics work fine, but bland repetition of puzzle elements only hit a few primary colors rather than the rainbow of features to keep this an engaging experience all the way through. If you haven't played ChromaGun yet, this may be the way to experience it, but otherwise, you're fine with sticking to the original version.
My Time at Portia is not just a simulator, it's an adventure game loaded with things to do, people to talk to (and potentially romance), ruins to explore, and things to create. It's an addicting romp that keeps you playing the next day in hopes of finally completing that one goal only to create another one in the process.
Coffee Crisis takes the interesting concept of the classic beat ‘em up with a metal and coffee theme and attempts to run with it, only to trip over itself with a questionable implementation of modifiers that can't be selected normally, as well as bare-bones combat. All of the pieces of a quality beat ‘em up are present in this game, but it's not quite put together yet.
Hunter's Legacy: Purrfect Edition fixes several of the issues the original game had by adding a much-needed minimap and making enemies more reactive to your attacks. However, the sound design on Ikki herself is still irksome and the game is a far cry from what it could be. I'd love to see what Lienzo does with Ikki in the future, but for now, Hunter's Legacy: Purrfect Edition is just OK.