Brandon Lyttle
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a faithful adaptation of the tabletop game, and a direct improvement from Pathfinder: Kingmaker. The army management system is more hands-on than the kingdom management of the previous game, but it’s a less fulfilling experience. Fans of fantasy RPGs like Baldur’s Gate, Tyranny, or tabletop RPGs would be well-served to give this game a chance.
So if you like immersive sniper combat and the satisfaction of landing those sneaky headshots, then Sniper Elite 5 is a game for you. The game is nothing but wall to wall tactical and precise sniping, bombing, and assassination. There’s some running and gunning, but if you play the way the game is designed, you won’t be doing much of that.
Gal*Gun Returns manages to hold interest for a while in spite of the repetitive stages and simple gameplay. Maybe that’s a testament to the tried and true appeal of love, lewdness, and shooting. While those who don’t appreciate fanservice or rail shooters might not enjoy this game, it’ll evoke a strange feeling of nostalgia for fans of “weird” Japanese games even though we never got to play the original.
Vanillaware fans will probably be sold based on the artwork and faith in the company alone. So if you’re sitting on the fence still, you’re going to have to trust your gut. All in all, I had a great time playing and my problems with the game are a symptom of how unique it is rather than an actual flaw.
Ultimately, Rise to Ruins has a few troubles with its villager AI but that’s more than made up for by the originality of the game and the way almost everything else handles. During the day you flex your city-building muscles, and at night your defenses are tested by growing waves of enemies.
If you’re after a grueling challenge then this might not be the game for you, but with a fun and campy plot, enough mechanics that the game requires some thought, you’ll probably have fun whether you’re new to the genre or a city building veteran looking for something a little more relaxing.
Ultimately, Arcadian Atlas is an RPG with an exciting and dramatic story, strategic gameplay, and a fantastic soundtrack; though a lack of polish and quality of life features sometimes breaks the nostalgic illusion.
Ultimately, Cuisineer is a grindy game that will appeal to casual roguelike fans, weebs, or anyone looking for a grindy game to lose dozens of hours into. That same grind will likely alienate a handful of you, but if this kind of isometric combat is your thing then it’s worth pushing through.
If you’re already a fan of “AAA” style action RPGs you’re likely to enjoy Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden even more than I did.
Vectronom is the latest title from game developer Ludopium. Ludopium is a team from Germany whose other games include Vandals and Bury Me, My Love. Vectronom is a game that feels like a platformer but is actually a puzzle game. Each stage is set above a void that needs to be navigated. The rhythm of the music sets the pace for the stage, in addition to providing clues about the hazards of the stages. In Vectronom, stages are solved with planning rather than quick reflexes.
Corpse Party is an elegant old-school adventure game that makes great use of its limited tools. The sound cues and visuals create a sense of dread that doesn’t rely on jumpscares that seem to have become a staple of recent horror games.
While the gameplay issues and poor graphics (at least on the Nintendo Switch version) may deter players, fans of the original game or fans of collect-a-thons like Banjo-Kazooie and A Hat In Time will likely welcome the remake despite its flaws. The graphics might be lacking, the gameplay might be janky, but it’s fun.
For those wanting a fun side-scrolling beat’em up, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a fun and unique game that will provide hours of content. Those wanting a farming and village sim are better served by other franchises like Rune Factory.
Fans of games like Gauntlet or Rogue Legacy will probably find something to enjoy in UnderMine. However the game’s heavy focus on RNG with the Relics and constant enemy spam will alienate roguelite fans that like to succeed with strategy.
Those looking for a platforming challenge will want to steer clear of the heavy narrative focus in Lost Words. Meanwhile, fans of visual novels will likely be able to overlook the lacking conventional gameplay and really appreciate the story and beauty of the game.
World End Economica ultimately stands out as a modern classic of the visual novel genre. But like classics, they’re not for everyone. Players might be put off by the first game, but anyone who has even an inkling of interest by the time the prologue is done would be well served to try and see it through.
Fans of the earlier entries in the series will have little to complain about, and it’s a great new story for beginners to the franchise as well who find the older games inaccessible. But all this comes with one caveat: Please do not come into this expecting a realistic historical story. You’ll only end up disappointed.
Ultimately, Triangle Strategy is a strong narrative RPG with an identity all its own. Triangle Strategy is a worthy successor to Final Fantasy Tactics, but if you’re like me you’ll have to learn to remove that expectation and let the game have its own identity.
Ultimately, Lotus Reverie: First Nexus is a dramatic story with compelling characters and outstanding artwork that’s actually diminished by the inclusion of combat mechanics. I understand wanting to try and appeal to a broader audience with gameplay on top of narrative in a visual novel, but the game ultimately fails to make the combat relevant, meaningful, or enjoyable.
Fans of classic JRPGs will find a lot to like about Cris Tales, and a high tolerance for random encounters will help. Casual gamers will have an easy time digesting this game, but those random encounters will quickly become a problem for those lacking the tenacity and patience.