Ultimately, Code Vein is a somewhat campy, but fun, breath of fresh air in a genre that has felt a little stale outside of games like Sekiro. The companions are fun, if a little one-note at times, and the combat is brutal, but exhilarating. If you like what you’ve seen so far of Code Vein, there’s no reason not to try it out.
Catherine: Full Body is still insightful, still troubling
It is what it is — a reasonably priced spin-off of the series that is not bad, it’s just limited in its scope and replay value, though your mileage may vary greatly depending on who you have to co-op with.
Brawlhalla is a great, free alternative to Super Smash Bros., but just doesn’t have the same spark that makes it stand out beyond that. Still, if you love the grind and want something new to play with your friends without needing an online subscription, this is a good choice.
"Does this unit have a soul?" Fans will recognize the quote to belong to Legion from the Mass Effect series, an AI who ultimately, leaves it up to the player on whether artificial intelligence can have a soul or not. With SAM, that question is arguably already answered due to you being in control of the AI in the first place, but it is still a fascinating concept to consider and I deeply enjoyed the intrigue behind it.
Tales of Vesperia still holds up as a game that is absolutely charming and enjoyable to play, with a multi-faceted cast of characters and a story of intrigue. It’s a JRPG that deserves your attention, even despite its tangible flaws.
The Shrouded Isle is a cult-simulator game that deserves your attention due to its interesting virtue and vice system, and its fascinating story. However, be wary that if you’re not into death and gloom, this may not be the game for you.
Jump Force is best enjoyed by separating it from the story entirely. It isn’t worth your time to invest in this half-baked storyline with its soulless characters and poor plot.
Mercenaries Wings: The False Phoenix is a fun, tactical game that is ultimately let down by its stereotypical, plain characters and a dull storyline. Fans who appreciate strategy should give it a try, but shouldn’t get their hopes up for anything beyond the game being ‘good’.
Akihabara completely lacks any personality, and only should be bought if you’re a fan of everything Japanese or Tetris.
Gal Metal starts off strong with its appealing world and witty protagonists, but falls victim to becoming monotonous when it reaches its halfway point.
A shallow attempt at a management simulator that looks promising, but rewards your patience with an empty world, a lack of features that would make the game fun and a completely joyless cast of characters. Avoid!
Bastion is a thrilling action RPG. Supergiant Games’ fans will love it, but it’s definitely for those who want a story with incredible music, fascinating characters and incredible gameplay.
Slaps and Beans is a game that shows that living in the past isn’t always a good thing. Only those who love their fighting games will see something good in this game.
Whether you’re an FPS fan or not, Immortal Redneck is a game that you should take out of your backlog and try it out for yourself. It isn’t something that demands all your attention, you can take your time or just speed run it as best as you can. What’s more, if you’re looking for a challenge I honestly couldn’t think of recommending any other game than this one.