Temirana is one of those otome games I can happily recommend to anyone who enjoys intricate, interesting world building and a strong cast of characters who love swoonworthy romances.
The remake offers a lot of new goodies in the form of side content and a whole new story starring antagonist Yoshitaka Mine as he moves up the ranks in the Tojo Clan. However, the game ends up feeling quite bloated, the main story’s pacing takes a huge hit, and a lot of the changes made for Yakuza Kiwami 3 simply don’t land.
Kasey Ozymy has crafted such an intriguing, yet sinister world that makes you want to follow the game’s mysteries to the very end. While the combat is serviceable and the puzzles are passable, these are not the elements that will attract players to pick up the game; rather, it is the absurdity, humour, and sharp writing that will keep them exploring.
Guardians of the Galaxy is a solid experience that, while not a life-changing game, is the perfect palette cleanser for anyone wanting an RPG that doesn’t take itself too seriously and also doesn’t outstay its runtime.
The Lonesome Guild is a game that will find its audience through its visual appeal, but those wanting much deeper gameplay and story may be disappointed.
Wander Stars is a great reminder that episodic RPGs are a fantastic, if rare, thing. At no point does the game outstay its welcome across its ten episodes, and the writing and characters do a wonderful job of bringing players back. The battle system is interesting, though it ultimately plays a bit too safe, which is a shame given how playful the idea of using one’s words is.
Despite some flaws, Super Robot Wars Y is a complete joy to play, and it definitely has me wanting to explore more games in this long-running franchise.
Consume Me is a heartfelt look at personal struggles, finding courage, and finding compassion in a world obsessed with physical appearance. The game is a difficult, hopeful experience worth playing, reminding anyone going through these motions that they are not alone.
Tiny Bookshop has such an infectious gameloop that it’s very easy to lose hours to garner just one more sale. Between the game’s excellent writing and its effective gameplay, it’s a game that does so much in such a simple and meaningful way.
It’s an intriguing premise that many of us can appreciate, but an overall poor execution sees any such sparks fizzle out before they ever get a chance to kindle.
Doot Tiny Games has offered RPGamers a cozy RPG that will take players back to simpler times when exploring the world around them was the way of life. Any RPGamer who loves a creature collector RPG or wishes to indulge in a short and sweet experience should absolutely spend five dollars to check out this gem of an indie game.
Although Maliki: Poison of the Past offers strong storytelling, great art direction, and a stellar soundtrack, it’s still a game, and games need to be fun to play. Maliki: Poison of the Past is an ambitious title that can’t overcome its gameplay issues, making it difficult to recommend, but if you’re interested in this series, there are thousands of comic strips to enjoy.
Peglin is easily one of my new favourite games. It’s cleverly designed, every playthrough feels different, and there is a comedic chaos to all the insanity that is happening throughout the game.
There is a lot for otome fans to enjoy with Battlefield Waltz, particularly in its presentation and its wonderful cast of characters. While the game offers a very long Common Route, it makes up for this by offering players some wonderful growth within each love interest’s storyline.
Although the game has some smaller issues in its localization and the lack of extra content, it’s a wonderful game where it’s easy to lose time while playing it because it wants you to get to know everyone in such a deep and intimate way. This is definitely one café worth hanging out at and spending time in.
While these remasters are welcome on new platforms, the effort regarding how much was remastered is a bit of a debatable point. Regardless of Konami’s bare-bones efforts, both games still hold their own as being must-play classics.
The game is cute and charming, and seeing this wonderful property in all its LEGO glory makes for a fun experience. It’s a great co-op game, and it has the perfect runtime without outstaying its welcome.
While the game pays homage to the educational games of the past, Gameloft swings and misses as this iteration lacks the charm and camp of what made those games such classics.
Everything in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Like a Dragon series dialed up to a hundred, and while other series would long ago have gotten stale, sometimes injecting a large dose of stupidity can go a long way.
With short playthroughs that clock anywhere between an hour or two, I became obsessed with obtaining all of the endings, trying different hitchhiker skills, and just enjoying the ride through pixilated backgrounds with my Swedish indie pop in the CD player. While the game’s story is minimal, it’s a point in its favour as it allows the player to create their own road trip adventure.