Alex Fuller's Reviews
Hollow Realization shows no progress for a series that appears to be relying solely on its base franchise for sales.
It’s an action RPG at its most basic, with little to make it worth recommending.
Ultimately, the game has an interesting premise and selling points that on the face of things are worthy of attention, but the scope aimed for is such that the resources and timescales devoted to it sadly had no hope in achieving.
It was always going to be tough to follow-up Golf Story in an interesting manner, and one certainly can’t say there was a lack of ambition in what Sidebar Games was trying to achieve in Sports Story. However, fulfilling that ambition is another matter entirely, and ultimately the game leaves a sense of what could have been.
While the Touken Ranbu characters and stylings are certainly likable and engaging, the dilution of any challenge and depth to the gameplay make Touken Ranbu Warriors an ultimately uninspiring experience.
It’s certainly not a bad title, and thankfully the issues that are there are such that they don’t create an active barrier to progress, but the entertaining parts are steadily diluted enough that the experience as a whole misses out on being something to be fully celebrated.
Though it features an interesting approach to choice and consequence, the rest of the game doesn’t have the substance to support it, majorly diluting the impact of its choices and experience overall.
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.
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.
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.
Shining Resonance Refrain pivots between enjoyable and very dull moments. For every good aspect, there is another that undoes it, while everything else is strictly mediocre.
Though it’s not a bad game, uninspired gameplay and a lacklustre story and setting hold back Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon from ever being close to great.
While Absolver seems to get the combat aspect of things down well enough, it fails to back it up with any meaningful direction and content for players, resulting in an entirely forgettable experience.
The game certainly won’t appeal to those looking for excitement and action, but as a relaxing change of pace it works well enough.
For the most part Blackguards is a pretty enjoyable and engaging time, but there are significant areas that hold it back.
The battles and exploration are decent, but are completely overshadowed by familiar issues with the rest of the game.
The Outer Worlds sets a solid, if unspectacular, base that has plenty of room to improve.
Neither gameplay style is likely to wow anyone on its own merits, but they are used in good balance to make for an engaging 25-hour experience.
While a convoluted storyline and ultimately straightforward gameplay keep it from rising too high, it’s nonetheless an intriguing game worthy of attention and well positioned to be expanded upon down the line.