MechWarrior 5: Clans is a fun new entry in the MechWarrior franchise, even if you don’t know all the intricacies of the world and its history. Players can get lost trying to figure out how to customize everything from their characters, to their mechs, to what things to research — as there is a lot to unpack here. I do recommend the game, it’s one of the better MechWarrior games out there. If you enjoyed MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, don’t pass this one up either.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a fantastic remaster of a game from the golden era of JRPGs. The newly arranged music is great and the voice acting is good as well, and the improvements to the battle system from the original to this one is leaps and bounds better. The graphical choices made in this remaster is spot on with a nod to the original sprite graphics mixed in with more modern environments. Anyone looking for a classic-style JRPG to play should pick this one up.
This is still a must have for any Metal Gear fan, and even if you are new to the series or have only played Metal Gear Solid V, this is a perfect opportunity to play the games that started it all!
Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Tactics Ogre: Reborn and look forward to many more hours with the game.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force is an improvement from the previous game; Integrity and Faithlessness, but this is not a return to form to games like Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, or The Second Story. tri-Ace, to me, could do no wrong during the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 era. I would love to see tri-Ace return to greatness with a higher quality new Star Ocean title, but with this one I'll have to settle for average.
Persona 5 Royal is definitely an amazing role-playing game experience. The story is engaging and most of the characters are fun with colorful personalities to match. The battle system can be deeply engaging and almost a puzzle to figure out how to navigate. Collecting the Personas can be quite addictive as is playing with merging the Personas. This game is a must buy for any JRPG fan.
GREAT - Cris Tales is a fun game that has a great concept reminiscent of Chrono Trigger or Radiant Historia. Technical issues hold it back from truly spectacular status.
GOOD - Windbound attempts to combine Zelda-like visuals and gameplay with the survival genre of gaming that has become so popular over the past decade. For the most part it works, but there are some small issues like long loading, pop-in graphics, and less than ideal UI that hold it back from greatness. Still, there’s a lot of fun to discover here!
MEDIOCRE - If you like shooters and are really looking for something to play, flip a coin. Galaxy Warfighter’s lack of a solid soundtrack and its repetitiveness make for a dull experience that only the most desperate of SHMUP fans should seek out.
GREAT - For the first time on a Nintendo system, both Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light come together in one package. They both run great on the system – even in handheld mode! If you’re looking for a fun post-apocalyptic survival shooter than Metro Redux should fit the bill nicely.
GREAT - Foam Sword came up with a wonderful little game in Knights and Bikes. Playing the game really makes you feel like you are exploring the island through the eyes of the kids. Anyone who enjoyed The Goonies as well as adventure RPGs should not pass this one up.
GREAT - If you’re up to the challenge, Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions are great experiences on the Switch. There is easily over 100 hours of entertainment here and although both look a bit dated, I found playing them on the handheld to be a great deal of fun.
GREAT - Although the games look a bit dated even with the visual enhancements, Planescape: Torment and Icewind Dale Enhanced Editions are still fun to play today. Veterans of the PC games should feel right at home here and the ability to play on the go is great. Newcomers may want to push the difficulty down for their first time through.
GOOD - I would have preferred Grandia and Grandia II to be released separately, since the first one in this collection is so much better than the second one. Updated visuals really enhance the original game and it’s still so much fun to play today. The sequel didn’t receive the same amount of attention and as a result keeps this collection grounded instead of allowing it to soar high like it should have.
GOOD - Nelly Cootalot is worth a look if you are a fan of games like Maniac Mansion or Monkey Island. The story is just adult enough for older audiences to enjoy and for kids to still get a kick out of the humor. Hit and miss controls slightly hamper the experience, but overall it’s still a fun time.
GREAT - The Mana games are still great, even over 25 years later. The opportunity to finally play Trials of Mana, even with the remake coming out next year, is worth owning this collection. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, these adventure games are worth your time!