The minimal amount of interactivity required meant that sitting down to play Stray Gods was more like sitting down for a movie night than anything else – though I do agree that visual novel is the best label for it. And if we’re judging it as a visual novel, I think it’s got a lot to offer – far more than it does as a ‘roleplaying musical’.
Whether this is a first trip to Kamurocho or simply the latest of many, Lost Judgment is an engaging experience and hopefully not the last we see of Yagami Takayuki.
Immortals: Fenyx Rising is a wonderfully crafted epic in which Ubisoft Quebec celebrate rather than shay away from their influences to deliver humour and action in equal doses
Harmonix has always been a studio whose love for music infuses every title they’ve had a hand in. Fuser feels like the first time they’ve finally found a way to guide players towards engaging with said music on a deeper level than other rhythm titles, but in the process may turn away anybody who solely desires to recreate songs on plastic instruments or is hell-bent on chasing high scores while notes drop at blistering speeds.
It was a gamble on Sega’s part to make such major changes to a tried and true formula, even more bewildering given its recent meteoric rise in Western markets. If Yakuza: Like A Dragon proves anything, it’s that fortune does indeed favour the bold.
It’s a refreshing change compared to other entries I’ve played in and around the genre and one that ensures I’ll keep coming back to Descenders regularly for the foreseeable future. After all, a few more runs and I might just be able to make it through the forest completely unscathed.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated seems directly targeted at those with a real nostalgia for the original game. Improved visuals and audio aside, it’s hard to recommend to a new audience when the platforming genre has had some truly outstanding remakes these past few years, let alone new entries.
Tripwire has crafted a fantastically balanced experience that knows when enough is enough and is genuinely funny, something many games aim for but so few succeed in reaching. Maneater is an ideal palate cleanser for those suffering from ‘open-world’ fatigue and, despite its perfect size, still left me wanting more.
For fans of more modern entries in the genre like Kingdom Hearts or recent titles in the Ys or Tales series, Trials of Mana is a chance to discover a missing link which stays true to its 16-bit roots while improving the experience in numerous ways.
“A staggering reimagining of a genre touchstone, FFVIIR makes improvements upon the original in many areas but is similarly harmed by some uneven additions.”
There is quite frankly an overwhelming amount of content in Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate – while those upgrading from the base game may find it difficult to justify the cost outside of Infinity Mode, there’s no question that anybody tossing up between the base Orochi 4 and Ultimate at this point should absolutely go with the latter.
If the formula of the first game didn’t appeal to you then nothing that Dragon Quest Builders 2 does will change your mind, the game is in every respect better than its predecessor, but doesn’t change its form in any way to appease those scorned by it before.
While a few issues from the original release remain, the fact is that Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is still an excellent game further improved by the Switch's portability
It is an extremely competent entry to the genre but still falls back on some handheld design principals that I would have liked to see it shed in favour of larger areas to explore and more varied mission types and goals.
Rules is not a bad game but instead lies in the shadow of a cracker opening episode in Roads that it struggles to live up to. I think the importance of Rules will rear its head in later episodes as decisions begin to compound further and players are made to face the consequences of their choices in unexpected ways.
When examined individually, the titles that make up Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection are a little uneven in terms of depth – the narrative is traded off for visuals and some tracks are more suited to remixing than others. Taken as a whole, however, this is a great package for fans of Persona 4: Dancing All Night who are keen to catch up with the cast of Persona 3 and 5. It's also a great gateway into the rhythm genre for Persona fans who might have skipped P4D and would like to see what all the fuss is about.
In the space of a year, the Nintendo Switch has set itself up as the premier choice of console for rhythm gamers, with Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun the most polished of the genre on the system and my personal recommendation as the best place for newcomers to start rhythm gaming period.
Gal Metal isn't a game for all rhythm game fans, let alone gamers in general. It does a lot of interesting things in terms of systems and I can't help but admire the level of depth it offers to those willing to learn and practice. This is a game that isn't going to hit the mark for many – however, if it hits for you, it's going to hit hard.
An excellent start to the series, Life is Strange 2 improves upon its predecessor in many ways and has me excited for the remaining four episodes.
While previous Valkyria fans will get slightly more out of Valkyria Chronicles 4, it is, without doubt, a fantastic game for newcomers to jump on-board with. Improvements to many of the systems ensure a more balanced experience than previous titles and the availability of a Switch version will no doubt sway many potential buyers looking for a portable option.