James Eckhoff
Natsuki Chronicles is a great entry into a classic genre of games. While the somewhat stale story and overwhelming options proved more distracting than positive at times, this is ultimately a title that I will come back to many times in the future.
While I enjoyed my time with Cat Quest 2, a bit more depth all around would have been "purr-furred." Perhaps the developer's hints of updates to come will remedy this oversight sufficiently.
Northgard certainly is not a bad game by any means, though I felt myself wanting it to be more of a game. Whether simplified for console release or not, I found myself craving more depth throughout my time in this Norse world.
Skybolt Zack is a hard to put down, quite enjoyable, if mildly shallow, game for anyone who enjoys speed-running and score maxing. That, combined with the excellent visuals and soundtrack, makes Skybolt Zack well worth a play-through.
Gorgeous game with a short, yet enticing story that left me wanting more. Just be sure to bring your patience with you before trying to tackle the puzzle-based gameplay.
As a fan of the anime and manga series, I found enjoyable immersion in Fairy Tail for the PS4 and recommend any fans to give it a chance. Other than this fan service, though, there is little to compel a player to continue in this game past the first few hours due to the repetitiveness of battles, missions, and story tropes.
While I greatly appreciated and enjoyed the story, music, and ambiance of ikenfell, the repetitive nature of combat began to wear on me towards the end despite initially standing out as a fresh take on a classic. Patience will be paramount for those looking to enjoy this gem that is just lacking a bit of polish.
Attractive visuals and level variety could not quite make up for the technical difficulties present in Fin and the Ancient Mystery. However, given the approachable price point and mild replayability, this game might be worth a quick playthrough for fans of platforming games, assuming depth is not part of your gaming pursuits.
Technical difficulties sadly sabotage what could otherwise have been an enjoyable medieval management sim. Perhaps future patches will soften up these rough edges.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD could be a wonderfully fun and enjoyable game. Sadly, control difficulties and horrendous camera mechanics greatly diminish the fun to be had.
Blacksad: Under the Skin has a pleasantly engaging story and fine, if somewhat repetitive, game play mechanics. Unfortunately, the end result just did not seem to be a finished product. Significant patch work will be needed to do justice to the story.
Might & Magic: Chess Royale is an excellent game for passing small bits of time, though the lack of depth makes it feel stale over time. Nothing revolutionary has been added to either genre here. Regardless, if proper updates persist, this could be an excellent addition to the autobattler genre.