In a slew of releases from Capcom for many of their well-loved series, Devil May Cry 5 continues the trend as a solid entry within the DMC mythos. By expanding upon the established combat systems and making sure the characters are looking slick and stylish while hacking through legions of demonic forces, the developers chose to spend their time tightening up what they do best, and it shows. Incredible combo depth, distinct character styles, and plethora or difficulties are sure to make for one hell of a ride.
Not without its minor faults, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition brings the enhanced version that fans in the west have been asking for nearly a decade. Despite the age, the graphical improvements and still solid gameplay mechanics keep it from feeling antiquated compared to the newer entries in the series. The definitive edition of the game is sure to delight fans who had played the original or those getting to experience it for the first time.
HITMAN 2 tends more to the safe side and relies on the framework of its predecessor to provide more of its signature brand of assassination. The most notable change is the incredible size of the locations as well as spending that extra time to make sure each area has a purpose and feels satisfying to explore. The disguise mechanics leave a bit to be desired, but there is still the capability to take on challenge runs through the Contracts system that enact various restrictions. Plenty of reasons exist to keep going back into the locales, increasing replayability significantly and help keep the limited number of regions from getting too stale as Agent 47 continues his worldwide tour.
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise can be appreciated for taking the base combat system and changing up the attack styles and enemy variety to more effectively reflect the established lore of the FotNS franchise. The weak story and somewhat ineffective use of the game world leaves a lot to be desired and may make it difficult for those looking for an in-depth story with a more incorporated game-world. Despite that, it creates a spectacle that fans will likely enjoy seeing as well as attract anime junkies to a more "extreme" Yakuza brawler.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 does a superb job remaking a classic of the series. The presentation and delivery of the whole experience shows an incredible amount of dedication from the development team to make sure the momentum obtained from Zero and Kiwami could continue for the series, perhaps driven even further as it has been confirmed this will be the last true remake for the series with 3 and 4 being released as HD remasters. In a world with room for only one dragon, the Dragon of Dojima soars.
Shining Resonance Refrain prefers a plethora of systems that are either inadequately explained or only serve as a reason to include additional grind. It feels the game errs on the side of caution and sticks to what is familiar, creating an exceptionally average action JRPG that neglects polishing core systems into something intriguing.
Whether you're a fan of the series and have been patiently waiting for a new entry or if you're interested in getting into the series for the first time, Valkyria Chronicles 4 represents the series well and provides an engaging experience.