Not only is this one of the better Borderlands expansions, it does a good job of a lot of things Borderlands 3 struggled with. Not only are characters fun and the story amusing, it is a fun ride for practically anyone involved. Sure, it doesn't offer untold amounts of grinding, nor does it contain a new tier of weapon, but there is more than enough to justify the cost of entry. Between one of the highest damage weapons in the game, amusing bosses and a cute story, it's worth revisiting Borderlands 3 over.
Basically, this is a game that was made with fan service in mind. It's silly, adds some neat elements and tries to have fun with the concept but it simply is not on par with the main games. For some this is enough or in some cases exactly what they want, it's just something you need to know before investing in it. If that is fine, you'll likely have a lot of fun, as it explores some of the sillier and fun sides that are hinted at in the main story. However, anyone expecting something on par with the original will likely be quite disappointed.
The long and short of Blair Witch comes down to how much you're willing to invest. If the journey means more than the destination, you can actually find a fair amount of joy in this adventure. It's just those looking for a simpler experience or possibly more interesting things than watching a video and having something weird happen, followed by some dialogue about how weird that was. So, unless you really want to explore the woods in hopes of scares, this is one adventure you can probably skip out on.
For the most part, SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions is going to appeal to the RPG fan at heart. It has some weird mechanics, a story that takes a while to get going and feels rather dated. This isn't to say you shouldn't experience it, as much as you should know what you're getting into.
Maybe at a more discounted price or if you just love a narrative but for these reasons it’s hard to see the series as anything more than okay. It hits the points it needs to, there just isn’t enough to elevate it beyond the basics.
Still, Lost Ember is a cute game that has a fair amount of variety. As long as you go in looking to play as cute animals and explore you'll have fun. Those looking for a deeper or more complicated experience will likely be disappointed, though even looking at the backgrounds can be relaxing. Toss in some performance issues and Lost Ember is fun and in some cases interesting but likely not something that will appeal to most people.
In a lot of ways, this review could probably go on for a lot longer highlighting how dated and lifeless this game is, but the fact of the matter is it is meant to appeal to fans. It’s hard to comment on how they’ll feel, but this is objectively a bad game and while it has elements of being so bad it’s good, such as the emotionless voice acting, making it hard to see the value in.
Given how simple the core gameplay loop is, there really isn't much to say about Deemo -Reborn-. The improved visuals make it easier to suggest and the gameplay is fun enough for fans of the genre. While some might find there is a bit of a learning curve, it's worth it to see where the story goes. So, if you're looking for a new rhythm game or just simply slept on Deemo before, I strongly suggest giving Deemo -Reborn- a go.
New Super Lucky's Tale is a massive improvement over the original and it shows. Between accessible levels and colorful designs, it's a game that is easy to enjoy. Sure, there are times when it feels too easy or the performance starts to dip but that doesn't take away from the rest. So if you're looking for a classic 3D platformer that is just fun or something like this for your young one, it's hard to say no to New Super Lucky's Tale.
There is a fair amount of charm to Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition. Characters stand out, it doesn't take long to warm up to Katrielle and the animated scenes make the experience so much better. Toss in a wide variety of challenging, yet accessible, puzzles and you have a fun adventure that is sure to delight kids of all ages.
To be perfectly honest, Disney Tsum Tsum Festival is in a weird place.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 does a great job of giving everyone something to do. Some games are hard, others require specific skills and a few are all tricks, giving everyone something to do. They're also short enough where you can easily play a few without getting sucked into a long session. Best of all, these can be played online as well, meaning you can go international or at least outside of the house to prove you deserve the gold. Toss in a cute story and plenty to do and this makes for a fantastic party game.
For the most part, Dusk Diver has rather simple charms. The mindless combat will be appealing for some, where as the mysterious story and cute characters others. Toss in handful of moves and places to explore and it's good, though it doesn't stand out that much. Sure, this isn't enough to break it, I just suggest you know what you're getting into first.
In a lot of ways Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is an improvement. Here we have someone who is getting into alchemy because they want to, plus a mysterious plot that is building in the background, making it one of the better stories to date.
Honestly, Mary Skelter 2 has some interesting mechanics, interesting girls and a story that has a fair amount going on, it just doesn't have the most appeal. It's the type of experience that would be great for someone looking for a darker version of Neptunia or possibly just enjoys darker stories but the gameplay and mechanics alone can't sell it. That being said, given you get the first game and there is a fair amount in both, it's easy to get the value if this stuff sounds appealing to you.
I don't want to say A Knight's Quest is a bad game, it just isn't a good or even okay one. The best way to describe it is, think of the average person trying to draw something amazing. Even if I can visualize this amazing piece of art, what I end up with is a pale imitation. Without any hook, fairly ugly characters and pretty much a lackluster experience across the board, it's hard to see a reason to recommend A Knight's Quest, even if the biggest sin is really failing to stand out in any way besides unappealing visuals.
It’s honestly really hard to rate Overwatch. In the time I played I enjoyed it enough to make sure I had Nintendo Switch Online time to play beyond the initial week and considered finally purchasing it for PlayStation, but it’s easy to see why this is the worst version. Still, it has all the previous content, enough disadvantages and reasons to keep the player base on the easier side and more to normally net this an Editor’s Choice award, it’s just the Switch’s shortcomings that hold it back.
Graphics aside, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is a story-driven experience that delivers that in spades. It's more than enough to make up for some of the shortcomings and is a more intricate story than you'd probably expect. That being said, if story isn't your thing, gameplay and graphics are nothing special. Nothing about them ruins the experience, they're just not on the same level as the story. So if you want to get sucked into a fascinating world, it's hard to say no, though if you're just in it for the gameplay, you might want to look elsewhere.
The struggle with explaining the finer points of Call of Cthulhu is that it hinges on you getting hooked. Without that moment where you're clamoring for more and willing to overlook some shortcomings, a quality that has benefited a number of titles over the years, it's just a rather dated looking exploration game with a neat story if you're willing to invest in it. For some, that is enough, though it isn't the type of experience that is easy to recommend. Not because it lacks anything worthwhile, you just need a certain mindset and there are other titles that do a much better job with far less.
The Alliance Alive HD Remastered might not be perfect or even be one of the most stand out titles on the 3DS, it still has enough to justify checking it out. Between a good number of characters, strong interactions and an overwhelming sense of cute, it's the type of adventure anyone can get into, provided they love character-driven stories. The only downside is, for all it does right, is that it's a 3DS title it shows its age, regardless of how good it is compared to other 3DS titles.