Matt Mirkovich
This DLC content comes off feeling a little 'more of same.' It doesn't introduce anything terribly new, and feels like it has less content and depth than the first chapter. I'm holding out hope that the third chapter can wrap this up neatly.
There are a couple of technical issues that hold back Life is Strange 2, it's got some weird visual glitches, and I encountered a few crashes in the short, but ultimately interesting story of two brothers, and their suddenly upended life.
I had hoped that after a few initially rocky hours, The Alliance Alive would somehow turn it all around and be a game that I would love. Unfortunately that's not quite the case here, and on a system with no shortage of good RPGs, it's hard to sell The Alliance Alive to anyone but the most ardent of fans.
If you can handle the game's slow pacing, World of Final Fantasy provides a good experiment to the classic formula. Given that Tose handles so many of Square Enix's ports, it's nice to see them be thrown a bone with an original title. I'd suggest this one while waiting for the eventual release of Final Fantasy XV.
Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroine's Infinite Duel is definitely an above average title. It's a shame that cutting corners in a few key places (like the online play menus, and the lack of a good combo training mode) really cheapens the experience. The wacky story is worthy of a playthrough, and the character roster is filled with some of the most unassuming combatants you've ever seen. Except Saber, she's a bad-ass.
There's nothing particularly amazing to NES Remix 2 if you didn't grow up with any of these games, but for those of you out there who have fond memories of these games, give NES Remix 2 a shot, it offers a short burst of some sublime gameplay.
This score is based on the number of Legendary items I found during my first day with the game (The .4 was because one of them wasn't used by my class). You could have had a ten Blizzard, you could have had a ten. That said, Loot 2.0 helps soften the blow of getting gameplay modes that could have been patched in, and a story that is over in no time flat.
Minutes surprised me with its challenging yet fun gameplay. After a few rounds of gameplay I was hooked and now whenever I need to take a short break I find myself reaching for my Vita to give this game a few Minu... err, rounds.
There's nothing horribly wrong with The Assignment, but the instant death rules that I disliked about The Evil Within continue to plague the DLC, making Kidman's story one of frustration and retries.
It's actually really hard to pick between the two which might be a better game, but for me, that Last Surprise remix in Dancing in Starlight really steals the show.
Deracine is one of the better experiences on the PSVR with a compelling story and some interesting gameplay. It feels like a complete experience from start to finish and has an interesting world that begs to be explored further.
Fallen Legion+ is a great value for an indie game, and it also happens to be a pretty good title to boot. If you're over turn based battles and want something a little more fluid that also looks great, then this is a great investment of your time and money.
Berserk: Band of the Hawk is a pretty good fit for the Dynasty Warriors formula. It keeps up the story's tension with a dramatic mission structure, and doesn't shy away from the source material's mature themes.
Prey gets a lot of things right, but it has a few technical hiccups and some balance issues that keep it from being a truly stellar experience. Let's hope we see some improvements in the next Prey.
Wayforward's heroine has come a long way from her GameBoy beginnings, and she's still got some great adventures in her yet. The gameplay is on point, and the visuals are top notch. The experience is a little on the short side, but fun throughout.
Va-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartending Action is precisely what is right about indie development right now. It's a really highly polished experience with a lot of secrets to be found, coupled with a story that pulls you along with strong characters. The drinks just happen to be a neat distraction.
The release and quick subsequent patches show that ECOLE and French-Bread are intent on seeing Melty Blood Actress Again Current Code has a long lasting presence in the minds of American fighting game fans. To finally see this game available in the US feels like some sort of dream come true.
Less bang for your buck is the best way to describe Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X. You've got a truncated songlist that has to be milked for modules, giving this series a grind game that it never needed to have. It's still got some great music and the presentation is as excellent as ever, but it still feels like we've been shortchanged somehow.
Like I said, keeping your friends close and your enemies closer could not be more apropos in Lost Dimension. The depth of this game makes it a pretty solid addition to the Vita library, even if it does come off a little heavy handed about some life lessons.
Persona 4: Dancing All Night has some big negatives against it, including a short song list and rough difficulty. But it's a ton of fun, the music is great, and the visuals are top notch. It's great for Persona fans. But, for everyone else, it's a tough sell.