As much as one can see what 7Levels is trying to do with Castle of Heart: Retold, it's not that well-polished enough of a game originally to warrant a remaster. Stilted and clunky platforming, bland overall tone and a lacklustre story don't shine through the admittedly nicer visuals.
Whilst the market for something neon-soaked and high octane may be lacking, Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights isn't going to be the game to reignite that spark. Shallow content, lacking multiplayer and just overall poor performance will see this one up on the blocks.
A real blast from the past, Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening is as classic an anime as it gets. Whilst it seems like a niche game for the fans, it's an accessible action platformer for old and newcomers a like. Interspersed with original animations and corny dialogue, it's a fun little romp through the golden era of anime and space adventuring.
It looks beautiful, it's got the right amount of challenge in it, and it plays smoothly. What more could you ask from Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound? As a standalone title, or to tied over until the next main game comes along, you'll certainly have a flipping good time.
Another drop in the Soulslike well, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is if anything a spirited and colourful take on precedings. But lush visuals and a smattering of some tweaked mechanics don't really do much to differentiate from practically any other offering in the difficult action-adventure genre. One for the devout, perhaps, but nothing new to those that are getting Souls fatigue.
At its heart, Front Mission 3 Remake is a mostly-faithful adaptation of the 2000's original. It retains the same tactical mech action, with some smoother transitions and polished graphics. But with the looming accusation of AI asset usage, and not much else being done to draw in newcomers, it may be a slightly harder sell than expected.
Another remaster to Capcom's belt, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny Remaster is what you'd come to expect from them. Spit and polish have given this twenty-plus year old classic a nice gleam, as well as some additions and quality of life improvements to make it accessible. It may not appeal to newcomers as much, but to the old school crowd, it's a welcome palate cleanser until Way of the Sword arrives next year.
Saber Interactive are back, pulling no punches with the style they've crafted. It may put off newcomers, but RoadCraft is a solid entry to their brand of realistic rambling. Switching from vehicle maintenance to large-scale community repair is a nice choice, only marred with occasionally inconsistent textures, non-intuitive controls and often cumbersome tasks.
Blades of Fire doesn't try to reinvent the Souls-like wheel, but it does add some new aspects to it. With a unique weapon crafting mechanic and varied combat system, it's only let down is the unfairness of combat itself. Still, it tells a good story through its leads, one that does entertain throughout.
Whilst there is a whole lot of fun to be had demolishing buildings and playing with physics in Deliver At All Costs, it starts to lose its balance about halfway through. The story and pacing take a very sharp nosedive, and the post-endgame content is more for completionists. That being said, it's not terrible, and worth checking out for something wacky, if a little bit wobbly at times.
A simple enough racer, #DRIVE Rally is the next evolution from Pixel Perfect Dude's last #DRIVE title. Whilst the racing is fun and competent, the lack of anything else to do might be a little off-putting. But for those that want cute arcade racing, this will get your engines revving.
After two and a half decades, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a welcome return to SNK's ranks. Accessible enough for beginners, yet hard to master for fans, there's an even playing field for all. The narrative may be lost on some, but with enough characters to master it's a blast for the fighting game community.
A spot on throwback to the hedonistic and violent days of the Manga animation brand, Mullet MadJack is top tier indulgent fun. Its insane pace, somewhat too on-the-nose allegories for consumerism, and blinding visuals, make it a blast for that repetitive, quick-fix roguelike fan.
Taking inspiration from shooters of the 90's, Turbo Overkill is as much a delight as they were back in the day. A few modern tweaks don't deviate from formula, making it a welcome inclusion to anyone old enough to know what rocket-jumping is. It isn't bloated either, with a decent campaign and some additional modes to get stuck into as the challenge escalates.
After this many years, that Suikoden I & II got remasters is in itself a blessing. That Konami paid attention and added quality of life improvements is testament to the esteem that these two titles hold. Lush visuals over a pixelated palette, UI tweaks and traversal improvements, this is a real love letter to Suikoden fans. There are a few cracks, more so in the first game, but as a package it's easily ignored for the stories and fun that both games bring.
The only way to Rise to the top of the World was improve on an already-great formula, and Monster Hunter Wilds has done that. More of what players have come to love, with several quality of life improvements and tweaks, Wilds has the potential to suck both new and returning Hunters into another glorious time-sink. Gorgeous visuals, sharp combat and a wealth of ways to play, there's no better time to become a Hunter of Monsters.
On the surface, Moons of Darsalon looks like it escaped from a time capsule planted in the early 90's. It evokes retro platforming with a challenge often missing in today's games, filling the gap that the likes of Lemmings have fallen into and disappeared. A game brimming with retro charm, it's a great callback to those who ever had a Commodore 64 or a TV heavy enough to anchor cruise ships with.
Sniper Elite: Resistance is here, and it's not reinventing the wheel. It is the same craft that we've seen, with a more cheerful protagonist, in different locales. But that's not a bad thing, as Rebellion have only striven to improve the head-popping formula that they clearly care about. Another trip back behind enemy lines, Resistance is just as fun as any of the Sniper Elite's before it.
Taken at core value, the Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered collection is exactly what fans of the original have been clamouring for. Visual improvements, some minor quality of life tweaks and bonus content make it a welcome return. However, those expecting more might be feeling left sucked dry, only to hope this draws up interest for a franchise resurrection.
Chock full of cuteness and charm, Tin Hearts also unravels into a well thought out and crafted puzzler experience. There are means to make it easier, should you wish, but also the option of playing it without aid to challenge those that seek it.