The gameplay is incredibly simple and the controls are sound, but the incredibly short length and lack of challenge make this a fish you’ll want to throw back in the ocean.
Meters are constantly filling; new crafting recipes are always becoming available. Whichever Shallie you choose, she is continually becoming a stronger and more capable alchemist. It just would have been nice to see the conclusion of the trilogy grow in the same way its heroines do.
Understanding the experimental and purposeful design of 198X goes a long way toward appreciating it. Rather than a fun, traditional game experience, it's best viewed as a bold and thought-provoking work that reminds us of a time before wireless controllers and console wars. Back when all you really needed was a quarter and some courage.
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX seems to be a decent entry point into the world of Atelier, and its crafting system hides a depth that will satiate more meticulous players. The main story does take a back seat to the character interactions and exploration of the world, but I had some fun seeing Ayesha's journey (nearly) to completion. Look forward to reviews for the next two games in the Atelier Dusk Trilogy Deluxe Pack coming soon!.
Much like how I collapsed into my chair as the final credits rolled, the game actually crashes before the single post-credits scene, and it also froze on me once as well. These are unfortunate technical issues that frustrate but are worth coping with. To The Moon tells a must-read story, but as a game it's not without its flaws.
On the plus side, each game can be played co-op and there is no shortage of ways to challenge yourself. Shoot-'em-up enthusiasts will be fairly pleased, but this feels like a missed opportunity to really celebrate these six games and where they came from. Psikyo Alpha certainly doesn't shoot for the stars, and you might already own some of these games, but its stellar gameplay is still out of this world.
More platforming variety, like special abilities, and incentives, like hidden or hard-to-reach collectables would have been a welcome addition, but as it is I would only recommend 140 to the genre-fan who has to play every single game out there.
Steins;Gate: My Darling's Embrace is a good visual novel for fans of the series, and its less serious take on the escapades of Rintato and Co. is a nice distraction while it lasts.
Adding length by gating off stages with higher difficulties is a miss, and a few more stages would have been welcome, but it's still an easy recommendation as one of the more enjoyable entries in the genre. The story is interesting enough, especially compared to those of similar games. I've never been to Mars before, but I can safely say that it's worth taking a trip down to Jamestown+.
Although there's no doubt that playing co-op as a group of four will be more fun than hacking and slashing alone, the minute-to-minute gameplay doesn't feel satisfying enough to make this a game worth choosing over others in the genre. The objectives are really plain and the challenge and obstacles almost toothless. It might be a good first dungeon-crawler for a younger audience or a family that wants to play together, but this Riverbond ain't wide enough for me to recommend it to you.
The adult-themed sound effects and on-screen timer are both misses, but fortunately you can toggle them off and should do so if you pick up the game. It would have been nice to see a little more variety in terms of the abilities you can use, but the stages are still fun and quite varied themselves, and online leaderboards and achievements add some great replay value, too. You can't go wrong with Electronic Super Joy if you're looking for a satisfying and full platforming experience.
The Touryst is a wonderful slice of adventure gaming paradise, but it features some tough platforming and challenges that can be a little frustrating. Ultimately, though, these concerns are minor when compared to the visual splendour and dream-like atmosphere of the various islands and environments.
If your first impression of Black Future '88 is positive, I would say give it shot, but a lack of depth and variety keep it from reaching greater heights.
If you’ve never dabbled in the works of Kawazu, the release of this remaster is as good a time as any.
Better still, it's impossible not to be captivated by the Bergson family's struggle for survival and togetherness against a formidable evil. A two-player co-op option is the cherry on top of this exquisitely-crafted experience. However you choose to go through it, Children of Morta is an absolute must-play.
A lot of nagging issues keep Mary Skelter from being a must-play title, and instead I see it reserved more for people who want incredibly deep mechanics and aren't turned off by pedestrian story-telling. If you're willing to put the time in, you can unlock costumes and even Mary Skelter: Nightmares, the first entry in the series, but approach this dungeon-crawler with caution. You won't be able to avoid the anime girls in various states of undress nor skip walls of insipid dialogue.
Ultimately, Jackbox Party Pack 6 feels like a letdown. It's missing both You Don't Know Jack and a game where you have the chance to draw, and those two experiences are ones that my group of friends has always very much looked forward to. If you loved Trivia Murder Party or aspire to have your own stand-up routine, Jackbox 6 might be worth your time, but you're probably better off looking into one of the earlier collections that seem to be regularly going on sale.
A surprisingly interesting and unique horizontal shooter, but it might be an acquired taste.
However, in being a remake of the 1987 and 1994 versions, it also fails to bring anything too interesting or unique to the table. It's a fairly easy recommendation to brawler fans, but I think a wider audience would be better off with the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle, given its much stronger value proposition. Not that it needs saving, but Return of the Warriors isn't quite the savior of the brawler genre.
Planescape has a terrible bug that freezes the game when you try to rest in one of the earlier areas of the game, and this is still the least of its problems. It's possible that the original developers of these games made them for an audience that would be familiar with the mechanics or have the patience to spend hours figuring out the systems at play. 20 years on, these games continue to be filled with brilliant story-telling, but what they really need to tell you is how to actually play.