Metaphor: ReFantazio is a magnificent heroic fantasy JRPG, the likes of which we haven't seen for decades.
I have deeply conflicting feelings towards Ys X: Nordics, to such an extent that it turns out to be difficult to score. The part of me that really enjoyed the battle system and sense of exploration, which are both better than ever before in a Falcom release, would opt for a high mark; the part of me that's disappointed with the characters, narrative, and visuals would score it lower.
While I can't shake off the feeling that Zenless Zone Zero suffers from a certain lack of investment, I can't see myself dropping the game either, if this initial version is representative of what awaits in future updates.
Wuthering Waves is a fairly good alternative to Genshin Impact, but gameplay improvements are needed.
Although Rauniot is shy on its lore and narrative, it still excels at captivating the player with an eerie, haunting world and incredibly tough riddles.
This part of the PSOne game has been remade with extreme care, marvellous graphics, and considerable enhancements in terms of both side content and the narrative.
There's no world to explore, battles are as hard as they are dull, the narrative barely progresses, and the game as a whole is far too time-consuming for its format.
Easier, awkward at times, and much less surprising than prior entries, this sequel is still an effective horror game, but not the hardened experience that I have come to expect from the series.
Hollow Cocoon has potential, and is notable for its visuals, but it lacks enough compelling and suspenseful ideas to succeed as a survival-horror title.
While Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris was bitter, Sword Art Online Last Recollection turns out to be rather sweet.
Furyu's first new gem since The Caligula Effect.
Trails into Reverie is the all-star game of the series fans have been waiting for, but struggles to advance beyond that.
Loop8: Summer of Gods had the potential to be a serious outsider with an innovative approach to the JRPG genre, if only it were better executed. Instead, it's such a massive disappointment that it will make me think twice before purchasing a Marvelous game again.
The vast tactical system, well-designed maps, and great characters alone make Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp a must-have for any Switch owner.
Compelling world-building and a great amount of freedom make Atelier Ryza 3 worth experiencing.
With Engage, the series continues to be the ultimate jewel in the Japanese SRPG crown.
A delightful RPG in its own right, rather than just a good retro-like experience.
Compared to Persona 5, Atlus delivers equally great characters, solid storytelling, mostly attractive design, and compelling battle and progression systems here, but the content is clearly lighter, the world much less elaborate, and the pacing a bit awkward.
Kuro no Kiseki represents, at its fullest, that invaluable joy of diving into a new world.
Although it only partially fixes Falcom's woes in terms of story pacing, Trails Through Daybreak is nonetheless a journey full of wonders.