Ys has a long and respected history. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is only carrying the torch of what came before. There's so much to love about this game from its characters, the environments, the enemy designs and the juicy combat system. You can expect the usual JRPG goodness such as typical anime tropes, silly dialogue, humorous moments and dramatic events. The soundtrack is no slouch, either. It's great. There is performance issues and the localization is far from perfect, but Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA at its core and every unique thing it offers makes for a jolly time. If this is your only way of playing the game, then you need this JRPG in your library immediately.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is like The Elder Scrolls for the most casual player all the way to The Legend of Zelda to its charming world design. While it can be compared to an open-world Harvest Moon, it's very much its own identity. There's plenty of deep rewards for those who live for that stuff. The sense of discovery kept me engaged the whole time. I wanted to collect everything not because I was forced to, but because I wanted to. Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles evokes the feeling of that time of innocence while being a kid roaming grassy fields and stuffing your backpack with everything you can find and knowing that even simple sticks & stones were treasures because they were yours. Then you mastered their uses and felt like the best adventurer ever.
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk is like if Disgaea was a first-person dungeon-crawler RPG, albeit with an entirely different cast. The character and enemy designs are good and the humor is still intact. Above all, the battle system is fun to play. Exploring the different labyrinths can be feel a bit repetitive at the start, but it helps you earn the experience and learn the mechanics. The game continues to open up and flows much better as you learn more abilities and are able to craft more Puppet Soldiers to your party. As far as dungeon crawlers are concerned, Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk pretty much nails it.
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate truly is the ultimate Monster Hunter package. It's missing the quality of life improvements, openness, and spectacular visuals found in Monster Hunter World, but what it's not lacking is content and varied gameplay which can be seen as the best in the series. This action-rpg is no hack & slash. It's depth is engaging. Over 14 weapon types means 14 distinct fighting styles. Tons to craft, collect and sights to see. The 93 bosses are unique in both design and their patterns which provides a fresh experience every time you meet a new one. The game is fine solo, but if you grab a few buddies and get to work, it's one of the best times. Just stay away from fighting on the edges of areas. Happy Hunting!
Ittle Dew from 2013 has always been seen as a game that took direct inspiration from The Legend of Zelda series. Ittle Dew 2+ follows that principle, but adds so much more than the original game and sets out to create its own identity. It's sort of like allowing a game like Zelda to go a little crazy by not being entirely serious and be a well-designed game at the same time. Players looking for sidequests in order to have more to do won't exactly find that in Ittle Dew 2+. Instead, the puzzles and dungeons that are in the game are enough to fill that void. The developer Ludosity created an even better product than Ittle Dew's first outing and this game is sure to please fans of the first game as well as players looking for a puzzle-solving top-down action-adventure in the same vein as The Legend of Zelda. The team has great ideas and I'd love to see what they could come up with if given the opportunity of a bigger production budget.
It always feels good to play a game that pays total homage to The Legend of Zelda. The world design found in Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King shows it was cared for and the controls feel good. There aren't many collectibles and upgrades and the game doesn't put up a fight through most of it, but I can't deny the strength in all of its departments be it dungeons, bosses, charming dialog and vibrant art style. Heart went into this game. Anyone looking for a fun Zelda clone shouldn't look past Blossom Tales. It's worth picking up. It's worth getting a sequel. I want more.
SteamWorld Dig: A Fistful of Dirt may not be good as SteamWorld Dig 2, but it's still good. Getting to know the characters and even having different moves is enough to warrant playing it if you haven't already, but it's fun anyway. If this game is your introduction and you are into the metroidvania genre, you will also enjoy this. It has a pacing that never dulls and you're constantly being rewarded. It's about time you dig in.
Children of Morta is has multiple beautiful pieces that fit together. The Diablo-esque style gameplay is satisfying. The emphasis on family and bonds is told & shown throughout the game in a wholesome way. The pixel graphics and animation are very high quality and is simply gorgeous. There's oomph and impact you can feel. The procedurally-generated dungeon runs and grind might not be for everyone, but Dead Mage Studio shows exactly how it can be done properly.
6 Eyes Studio is a 2-person developer who had a vision to make a great rpg experience and they've succeeded in every regard. Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark is a joy to play. Turn-based Strategy purists should give this one a run as the customization and gameplay are easily the core highlights to that type of experience. The fantastic art and music only make the experience grander. If you've been missing a Final Fantasy Tactics-like game, then look no further.
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is an awesome anthology of classics that felt about time it should exist. The games included can be debatable, but holding out-of-print or hard-to-find games in the palm of your hands is way cooler than coming up empty. The Museum feature alone really is a blast from the past. The Watch feature is a new innovation that lets players not only witness a playthrough, but control it and resume the game from any point they choose. Overall, this is a worthy package created with care.
The true successor to 2006's Marble Blast Ultra is finally here. Marble It Up! carries the torch and is even better than before. It looks stellar. It feels finely polished. Or does it look finely polished and feel stellar? True to both, really. The level design is clever and the future updates are promising. Multiplayer mode will be a good addition. As a Super Monkey Ball fan who has been constantly craving for another entry in the series, I've been a little disappointed that nothing has been made to grab my attention and that a game after Marble Blast Ultra hasn't seen the light of day. Marble It Up! not only does its series justice but proves it's got what it takes to be the best in the genre. Don't stop now. Keep rolling!
I've been a fan of Moonlighter since it was first revealed and after having finally played it I can say it delivered. It's a game that fuses two different genres successfully. At one point you're navigating through floors of dungeons in different ways, fighting crazy enemies using a fun combat system. The next, you're growing a peaceful town and selling your earnings the way you want to through the shop you own. The action is fairly competent and constantly makin' cha-ching as a merchant is gratifying. The visuals are beautiful and nostalgic; the same is said for its music. If the idea of feeling stronger and playing smarter intrigues you, and if the choice to handle your earnings fancies you, then Moonlighter is a worthy time sink.
I like seeing love letters to games many people enjoy. Furi looks, sounds & plays good and it has some known names to back that up. It draws heavy inspiration, sure, but Furi is its own art worthy of standing alone. Some players may find it short if they're wanting more than just battling opponents, but it does have style and is satisfying from start to finish. This is a badass indie gem that reminds me of something I should have played on Nintendo's GameCube.
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout not only turns a new leaf for the series, but is the perfect entry for newcomers as well. The revamped synthesis mechanics are just that much better. I personally feel that the new turn-based/realtime battle system is an improvement by being fast and feeling fresh, but may not be for all. It just takes a while to unlock all its best features. The cast of characters and the new visual upgrade really amplify the cozy slice-of-life nature the series is known for. The plot stays steady, but it's the slow burn of the main cast and people of Kurken Island that make it worth it if the slice-of-life genre is your jam. It's wholesome, jolly vibes all around.
One other artistically awesome indie game that left an emotional impression on me was Old Man's Journey. Now with the journey of Arina and Frendt, The Gardens Between manages to go for the same areas of emotion. There's nothing seriously gripping here, but it's meant to leave an overall personal feeling, which it does well. The environmental puzzles using objects from each memory builds up a personal idea of what event is actually taking place and ultimately becomes resonating when it is revealed. It's fun getting to those points. The Gardens Between may look simple when giving it a brief glance, but it's one of the most charming, clever and wholesome games of 2018 and it's all about beautifully capturing friendship.
Anyone who isn't into fantasy card games, but have thought about trying them should give Hand of Fate 2 a look. There's a compelling narrative and many added RPG elements which should tickle the everyday RPG fan in general. The combat is good, albeit repetitive. The stories on your journey will keep you engaged. The Dealer makes you feel like you're never alone. The newly earned cards always feel surprising to see what's next in your story and there's enough variety in-between to never make it feel stale. Hand of Fate 2 brings the tabletop feel to completion and fully immerses you in its atmosphere. You'll be shouting at times, and they will be for different reasons, both excited and enraged; and that's part of the addiction. It's alright to be addicted.
SUPERBEAT: XONiC is very fun and there's nothing really bad about it. Its main purpose is to make sure the music and your coordination are in line with each other while offering a visual style to keep you engaged. It succeeds in all regards. The track list is enjoyable and the visual presentation is far from lazy. This is a perfect game to play at home or on the go. The game is just shy of 70 total songs which may leave players wanting more, but it's the kind of game where you still have all of these tracks to master because putting good songs on repeat is the name of the game and the beat music lovers should feel.
Image & Form continues to impress. When tackling other genres and adding their own flare they never cease to amaze me. SteamWorld Quest is a properly balanced RPG whose visual and audible are equally beautiful with the humor and charm that you know and love. It's a straightforward, more linear journey and that's okay because some games should be especially when there's wiggle room for discovering secrets. Play times may vary between 20-30 hours and upwards 40 for those truly committed. It's a nice dose of an RPG that is just downright fun to play. Its formula now has me wanting to see what more can be done.
Smoke and Sacrifice is fantastic. It's not often where a game comes along and uniquely pieces together elements quite well both visually and from a gameplay standpoint in a genre not occupying much of the gaming scene at the moment. It's beautiful and fun to play. Dozens of hours can be had. There are clever ideas implemented such as how the crafting system is handled. Both character progression and enemies are rightfully balanced. There's a lot to take away from Smoke and Sacrifice when it comes to what we should expect in the future. The only slight issue players have to deal with is the inventory, but if you can handle that then the rest is pure excellence.
Toki Tori is classic puzzle-platforming at its best. Levels are never cheap in design and solving them feels rewarding. The occasional "ohh yeah" moment may happen. The music and visuals bring out the charm of this series and with the amount of levels for you to challenge yourself, it's one the best deals on the eShop. 5 dollars or euros gets you a polished gem.