Despite some shortcomings in the narrative, Sea of Solitude champions its storytelling. It lands solidly on its own two feet, for the most part, and presents a fairly cathartic look at loneliness and depression.
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth is a saccharine treat for hardcore Persona fans, but at times, it can get a little too sweet. Furthermore, somewhat unfair challenges hamper what otherwise could be a great JRPG to sunset the Nintendo 3DS.
SiNKR 2 improves on its predecessor in many ways, offering many difficult, engaging puzzles. Figuring out every solution is its own reward. On more portable devices, the game makes an excellent way to kill short bursts of time.
A Song in the Void does nothing to further the platforming genre, and even worse, it barely a decent level of quality. You're probably better off playing another walking simulator or Mirror's Edge, depending on what you're looking for.
Nonetheless, “Rules” can be called a mostly successful entry in the Life is Strange catalog. The plot uses the newly introduced characters very well, each of them fulfilling an important role in Sean and Daniel’s adventure. No moment feels wasted, with every action leading to major changes in the story. Above all, after I finished the episode, I knew I immediately wanted more from Dontnod. It’s just a shame that it could take another four months.
My Time at Portia suffers from arbitrarily long timers in its crafting system, but that's overshadowed by its rustic aesthetic and in-depth social system. For fans of the crafting and farming simulation genre, this is a title worth checking out.
Just Cause 4 is the most essential game in the series, perfecting years of blowing things up in the most creative ways. While the narrative doesn't have any lasting impact, the overall package delivers as video game comfort food.
Now that my journey is over, though, there’s a part of me that misses that tedium. I want to go back and hunt all the animals, explore every mountaintop and winding river. There were so many little easter eggs that I’ve missed in Red Dead Redemption 2, and I want to take my time to find them all. Maybe it’s Stockholm syndrome. Or maybe Rockstar has built one of the most realistic depictions of life itself.
The first episode of Life is Strange 2, which took me roughly three hours to complete, is an emotional experience that shouldn’t be missed this year. It’s a strong start to a series that exceeds all expectations. It lays a lot of promise for the next four episodes that I hope Dontnod delivers on, and I want the political commentary to continue. This sequel has a lot of ambition and lofty goals, but if it succeeds, it has the potential to be crowned one of the best titles in the episodic narrative genre.
The Messenger goes beyond paying its respects to the games of the past, effectively using the time shifting as a homage to the 8- and 16-bit eras. It’s more than a gimmick, acting as both a game mechanic and a storytelling tool. The interesting narrative draws you in while the clever writing breaks the fourth wall to make you laugh. The tight controls keep you playing, despite the slight tedium of the Metroidvania segments. The Messenger toes the line between being a tribute to old-school games and being a modern game with a fresh feeling.
The 8-bit graphics, the chiptune sound design, and the old-school gameplay harmoniously mix together to make a game that feels like it loaded straight off a cartridge.
There was a lot of potential, but it all feels wasted behind unnecessarily difficult systems. Seven: The Days Long Gone could have a very successful sequel that fixes all the problems with the first, but this isn't a strong debut for Fool's Theory.
It's painfully obvious that the game was initially a mobile game, and the PC port doesn't do much to accommodate for the new platform. The quick-time events that pervade the combat turn the game into a chore, and there isn't really any part that makes the grind worth it.
SiNKR delivers on its promise of being a relaxing experience, and with 60 levels, it has a fair amount of content. However, if you already don't like puzzle games, SiNKR likely won't be the game to change your mind.