Alex Fuller's Reviews
Azur Lane: Crosswave doesn't harbour ambitions to be more than it really is and, though it may be a bit underwhelming, it at least doesn't outstay its welcome. It's perfectly happy to just provide some hours of mild entertainment without trying to reinvent the wheel and that may be enough for some, but certainly not all.
The music at least alleviates some of the monotony and players won’t need to spend too long with it to spark the ending credits, but the combat and systems contrive to make the gameplay far from enjoyable, and the story is almost not worth mentioning. One can only hope that it allows lessons to be quickly learned ahead of any future action RPG endeavours.
The game offers enough humourous charm and strong enough gameplay to make it an enjoyable experience.
Everreach: Project Eden somehow manages to avoid being as annoying to play as its constituent parts would indicate, and there will be some out there who can get a decent evening or two’s entertainment from it.
Though the level of drama and suspense is certainly nowhere near that of Steins;Gate and Steins;Gate 0, it’s good to be able to spend more time with characters.
It’s an easy recommendation for anyone who either wants to try something a little bit different or just wants a strong RPG experience.
A cheap-feeling experience that quickly lets any interest slip away.
It starts with a curious premise, only to retreat from it into a predictable storyline and highly repetitive gameplay.
Though the game makes a strong first impression with its chilling premise and a decent gameplay loop, it fails to carry that forward into the full experience.
Trails of Cold Steel III is everything I want from an RPG with a world that fully sucks players in, amazing music and locations in which one can just sit and relax, and a twisting and fascinating story involving incredibly deep characters that are easy to get attached to.
It brings an appreciably different approach through puzzles that manage to be more universal through the shunning of regular logic, with a strong cast and production that easily carry its story through to a very satisfying conclusion.
Astral Chain keeps the level of style that has come to be associated with PlatinumGames, and it’s most evident in the combat.
Utawarerumono is a property that deserves greater awareness, but unfortunately Utawarerumono Zan is unlikely to help. It might serve some as a brief reminder of events, but taken in a vacuum neither the storytelling nor gameplay do enough to warrant much attention.
The game tells an engaging story, but repetitiveness and mediocre combat hold it back from being a heavenly experience.
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is outstanding, and the pinnacle of Final Fantasy XIV so far. All of its elements blend beautifully for not only one of the strongest MMORPG experiences going, but one of the strongest RPG experiences full stop.
With a very satisfying final conclusion that makes impressive use of the previous reveals and clues, and a vibrant visual style, World End Syndrome is a very worthwhile pickup for those with passing interests in visual novels and mystery stories.
The swift progression through levels and missions, combined with a highly appreciable visual style and polish provides plenty of satisfaction. It won’t do much for those looking for a strong challenge or deep gameplay, but it succeeds in what it sets out to do.
The $40 launch price on Nintendo Switch is going to be an issue for many, especially given its pricing on other platforms and the selection of adventure titles also available on the system. It’s certainly an enjoyable game, and for adventure fans it’s worth keeping on the radar, but it’s an eye-widening price tag in the context of the game.
For those that haven’t played Steins;Gate, Steins;Gate Elite is an ideal place to start, and its use of animation will help ease in those who are less interested in the standard visual novel layouts.
Final Fantasy XII feels like one of those games that has gotten more appreciation with age, and that feeling is richly deserved.