David Flynn
Trials of Mana is a wonderful reimagining of the 1995 classic. It's an almost endlessly replayable RPG thanks to the roster of characters, class system, and incredible new game plus. However, it's held back from greatness by a terrible english dub, poor performance on Switch, and the lack of multiplayer especially leaves a large hole in an otherwise enjoyable experience.
Guard Duty is an ambitious adventure game, inspired by the likes of Discworld and Monkey Island, that doesn't quite reach its goal. Still, if you're looking for a short, funny romp through two distinct worlds the game definitely delivers.
Levelhead is an astounding creation from such a small studio. It's not just a toolset or portal for platforming levels, it's a community of creators all over the world supporting each other. It's not perfect, the single player is aggressively difficult and some aspects of sharing or finding levels leave a bit to be desired, but it's clear that this game is going to be supported by players and developers alike for a long time to come.
Sakura Wars is a great entry point to a fascinating series. If you wish Persona had a bit more action, you'll find exactly what you're looking for here. While the "sexy misunderstandings" are cringe worthy, the characters are fun to interact with and the giant robots are a joy to pilot.
Moving Out is a friendship-ending comedy game about moving furniture at any cost. It's a riot in both its premise and writing with a sizable amount of things to do that'll keep you coming back for more wacky physics. While it's best enjoyed with friends, it can still be fun on your own.
In Other Waters' best quality is just that: it makes you feel like you're in other waters. It's a well written exploration game that, while short, provides an interesting story. If this is the form the classic text adventure returns in, In Other Waters leads the charge with its immersive soundscape and imagination sparking descriptions.
Gigantosaurus The Game, while above average for a licensed game, is a thoroughly average platformer. While it is glitchy in some places, it will probably keep kids young enough to enjoy the show entertained for a good while and could serve as a gateway into the genre.
Bless Unleashed, when it's not completely broken, is a boring, unfun disaster. Everything about the game has too many issues to even recommend at the very low price of free.
Those expecting the quality and polish of its predecessor will be disappointed with Exit the Gungeon. It's too visually clustered and the new mechanics can be more frustrating than fun. Still, for a short burst of rogue-like goodness, you could do worse.
Dandara is an excellent game and I can't believe I haven't heard people talking about it. Its unique movement is accompanied by an equally unique world, soundtrack, and symbolic story that will fascinate lore nerds. While it's controls may not support the precision combat asks of you, the Salt is definitely a world worth saving.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a delightful update to a classic, and just the kick in the pants the series needed. It's a return to what made the spinoff so beloved in the first place, from the emotional story to the difficult resource management and boss fights. With a gorgeous watercolor art style, the world of Pokémon has never looked better.
Afterparty unfortunately doesn't come close to the standard its predecessor set. While it has great ideas and actors, the rest of the game collapses under the weight of its own ambitions.
As the west's first peek into the Granblue universe's gaming side, Granblue Fantasy Versus is a fighter that can stand alongside its peers in terms of depth, but in addition offers a simplistic control scheme that even those less familiar to the genre can get to grips with quickly and easily. RPG mode is a unique way to to learn the basics of fighting, even if this and other modes could have been a bit more fleshed out.
While Devil May Cry 3 is starting to show its age, it still holds its title as one of the best character action games ever made. The new additions add a refreshing twist on this classic game, while still retaining its difficulty and depth. And who knows, after so many re-releases and playthroughs, maybe people will notice how meaningful and well told the story is.
Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 have both the best and worst the series has to offer, which is saying something because those highs are so high and the lows really aren't that bad. All three games run exceptionally well, and 4 and 5 look like they belong on PS4 alongside Yakuza 0. 3 is a bit rough around the edges, but it's still a worthwhile entry in the series cannon.
All in all, Sonic 2 is still a great game this time wrapped in a very nice package. The new modes make the game more accessible than ever, while still retaining the core Sonic experience. While there are some nice details, like being able to switch between versions of the game and the Sonic & Knuckles lock-on cart appearing when selecting the echidna's mode, the lack of widescreen support is very strange.
Daemon X Machina has found its home on PC. The game looks and runs beautifully, and is surprisingly well optimized. This is the best version of a great game, don't miss out on it.
The Tale of Doris and the Dragon is an intriguing one. You'll be drawn in by the unique premise and dry wit, and stay for the charming characters.
Super Crush KO is an incredibly fun, if short and easy, character action game. It's as ridiculous and over the top as its contemporaries. Combat has a lot of depth, while remaining simple enough for beginners to pick up or veterans to enjoy.
Arc of Alchemist features repetitive combat, tired tropes, an empty world, and a poorly thought out and written story. There is nothing interesting in this package, just skip it.