Noah Hunter's Reviews
Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream is a fun time that ultimately falls a bit short of its lofty goals. While the story mode is a good time, there are issues here and there that prevent this from being a great experience. Moreover, the game's multiplayer offerings are fun to experience with friends, but the dwindling player count leaves major concerns for the longevity of this title.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a clear labor of love, retouching and retooling the 2006 classic for modern audiences. The gameplay is a blast, with all kinds of different weapons to experiment with as you work your way through the hordes to save survivors and escape. RE Engine brings new life to the title with stunning visuals and fantastic animations.
Astro Bot is a massive love letter to the 30-year history of PlayStation. With creative and charming ideas, the game is a blast to experience, with many cameos that left me astonished. The technical aspects of the title, such as its DualSense and physics implementations, sit at the top of the market. While there are some underutilized abilities and features, Astro Bot is a great time. This is exactly the type of game PlayStation needs more of: a focused adventure that never wavers from its mission of being fun.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a phenomenal piece of work from Yoshio Sakamoto and Nintendo that sits as one of the best games of 2024. From the haunting story to the wonderful characters, this is a game I'll be thinking about for the rest of the year and beyond. I truly hope that Nintendo continues the Famicom Detective Club series, as it sits as a very special IP within the company's history.
Crossy Road Castle is a fun experience with plenty of substance. With all kinds of levels to discover, you never know what awaits beyond each door. The boss fights are fun and engaging, and I found myself easily engaged in collecting each character and hat. Overall, Crossy Road Castle is a great time, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a new platformer.
Concord is the definition of a "fine" shooter. The gunplay is fun, but there is nothing here to set Concord apart from any other game on the market. Between its lackluster modes, characters, and price, it's no surprise that Concord was unable to differentiate itself enough to find a player base.
Fate/stay night Remastered is by far the definitive way to experience Type-Moon's masterpiece visual novel, with updated HD visuals and official English support for the first time in two decades. The newly added quality-of-life features are outstanding, allowing new players to jump into the world of Fate like never before. This life-changing novel is one any fan of the genre or medium should aim to experience.
Thank Goodness You're Here! is weird, wacky, and fascinating. This is an incredibly fun title with dozens of secrets to discover and errands to complete. With vivid hand-drawn animation and a never-ending array of humor, you should absolutely jump into the town of Barnsworth.
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is a surprisingly fun collection, but it falls short of a satisfying single-player offering. This is a great tool for beginner speedrunners or those simply looking to dive back into some classic NES titles. I'm most curious to see how the game might evolve, whether through updates or with a new entry.
College Football 25 is a good return to form for the series after an 11-year absence. All 134 FBS teams have been recreated with exceptional detail, from the stadiums to the playbooks. While there is a lot left to be desired, CFB25 is a great platform that Tiburon can build off of for the future. It's nowhere near perfect, but it's a ton of fun. It's safe to say that EA has mostly delivered.
Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is a great enhancement of the original 3DS title. It's by far the definitive way to experience this classic 3DS title, and a perfect supplement to hold over players for a new game in the widely popular series. With the second and third games now available on Nintendo Switch, we can only hope that the GameCube original will make its way over at some point.
Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- is a beautiful and surreal experience with gorgeous illustrations, an incredible narrative, and presentation that sits atop the visual novel market. It can be easy to get lost in life, but Tsukihime provides a firm reminder that no matter how fragile life is, you belong here.
Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide ties up the base game quite nicely, resolving one of the key mysteries of the base game. The face-off with Leviathan is one of the most memorable Eikon battles yet, with a beautiful score and challenging fight. However, The Rising Tide still suffers from the same problems the base game had. It also only provides a few hours of story content, which makes it somewhat of a hard recommendation at its current price point.
Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection revives two beloved multiplayer experiences for modern consoles. While both keep the gameplay feel and flow, this release is plagued with serious online issues that make this collection hard to recommend. The single-player content is exceptional and justifiable for purchase, but overall, the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection feels incomplete and messy.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a generational RPG that exemplifies everything there is to love about the medium. Featuring a colossal open world, a gripping narrative, beautifully written characters, and an out-of-this-world soundtrack, Rebirth is a title no RPG fan should pass up on. It's improved on nearly everything from its predecessor, offering a complete and flawless combat system alongside countless other additions. FFVII Rebirth is the shining jewel of modern Final Fantasy, a prime example of the series at its best.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an excellent first step into console RPGs for the series. The story doesn't quite live up to expectations with poor pacing and an overall lack of character development, but the second half features epic fights and a streamlined narrative. Additionally, the gameplay is a thrill to experiment with, and it is a blast to play with friends online. Combined with its jaw-dropping mosaic-like visuals and beautiful soundtrack, it's safe to say that the six-year wait has mostly paid off for Cygames & Granblue with a solid first entry into the world of RPGs.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is gleaming with joy from every corner, with bright colors and expressive animations. The innovation and creativity seen in each level transcends what held back previous 2D entries, marking a new era of 2D Mario. While there's nothing here that transcends the platforming genre, Wonder is a fantastic title that any Nintendo Switch owner should grab.
Alien Hominid Invasion is a re-imagining on the formula of the original Alien Hominid. Taking the form of a roguelite, the title features a widely customizable gameplay system with beautifully stylized graphics. However, the lack of diversity among objectives in levels can get old quickly, especially with the roguelite style.
Skull Island: Rise of Kong is a bug-filled mess that's defined by an empty world with no exciting gameplay. With no simple QoL features like a useable map, it's a pain to complete each level. For $40, there's not a chance Rise of Kong is worth your money or time.
Fate Samurai/Remnant is an excellent new take on the almost two-decade-old series. New and old fans alike have an excellent story in front of them, with dozens of hours of exciting combat through the many playable characters. This is an easy recommendation for any RPG fan in a year crowded with exceptional games.