Mousebusters is an adventure game with point-and-click, puzzle, and shoot ’em up elements. The gameplay loop is okay, but slow at times. The characters are fun, but not all of them stick the landing. The narrative can be slow but picks up in the second half, leading to a satisfying ending. While it has issues, the last hour of the game more than makes up for them, and I enjoyed my time with it, especially since you can beat it in an afternoon.
FZ: Formation Z is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up and run-and-gun game, making it an interesting combination of genres that work fairly well but don't feel fully utilized. The game is very short, though, and while it's designed around replayability, I didn't feel a reason to keep playing after a couple of runs. While I still recommend giving it a shot, I only see fans of the genre sticking with it.
Blood: Refreshed Supply is a remaster of the cult classic Blood. This is actually the second remaster of the game, but this really is the definitive way to play the game. Nightdive did an amazing job with this remaster, including both of its expansions and the fan levels MARROW and Death Wish. It is still an old-fashioned FPS and has the same issues other games of the time had, but even with all that, this is still an amazing remaster of a great game.
The SEGA Villains Stage for SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is a bit of a mixed bag. The levels are a step down from the base game and a bit disappointing, but the boss fights are great and show such love for the series that I wish were present in the rest of the levels. Still, these fights are fun enough to make fans want to play them again.
Tales of Berseria Remastered is an odd release. The original game is still a good time, problems and all, but this release feels less like a remaster and more like a port with some additions. It has all the DLC from the original, but that just amounts to costumes, and it has some nice quality-of-life updates but nothing to buy a new game over. Still, this is a fine way to play Tales of Berseria, especially now that it's finally on Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
Maid Cafe on Electric Street is a story-driven adventure game with life simulation elements. A slice-of-life story that hits all the right notes, even if it has some pacing issues. The cafe management gameplay is not that engaging, but the characters help make up for it. Explore this town with stunning pixel art that will delight anyone. This is a fun but slow adventure. I recommend taking your time with it.
City Hunter is a remaster of the 1990 game released for the TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine. A product of the time that suffers from level design issues, partly offset by it's length and slight replayability. Although the remaster itself is nothing short of great. Giving all the modern additions you would want, along with multiple versions, and a great bonus catalogue to look through. The game itself has issues, but it's still a nice novelty to own, though one I would wait for a sale for.
The Disney Afternoon Collection is a solid collection of classic games from the Disney Afternoon television block. The additions are great too, from modern quality-of-life updates, galleries for the art and music, along with time attack and boss rush modes. Even if you don't like all the games like me, there is still a lot of good here, even if you end up mainly playing DuckTales, like me.
The Real Face of a Vtuber is a murder mystery visual novel. In it, you have to find out who murdered the CEO and founder of Lilien Entertainment, a company that manages Kuripa, a VTuber. The narrative is one I enjoyed for the most part, even if I didn't like the ending or how I got to it. The characters are a mixed bag, too, and I enjoyed half but forgot about the rest. I will have to commend the VTubing aspect, which is very well done, and I can only commend everything surrounding it, even if the game as a whole has issues.
Once Upon a KATAMARI is a strong return to the series that every fan should experience. Everything that made the originals great is still here, along with a few new additions. Not all of them land perfectly, but none take away from the fun. While it’s on the shorter side, the game’s replayability and incredible soundtrack keep me coming back for more.
Lost Soul Aside is an action-adventure RPG that had a troubled development. That becomes obvious when you start playing. It's an upoptimized mess, with a story that actively annoyed me, and gameplay that got boring and repetitive. The game just takes from others in the genre that inspire it, with no idea how to make it work. The end result is a disappointing game I can't recommend to even the most curious of players.
Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening is a 2D action platformer and an adaptation of the classic series Cobra. The game excels at adapting the anime; all the cutscenes are beautiful, and the music is superb too. Sadly, that doesn't translate into gameplay, and you end up with a basic platformer. It's still an okay time, but one that made me want to check out the source material rather than go back to the game.
The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily is a strategy game that veterans and newcomers to the genre can enjoy, but it's one doesn't do much to stand out. While I like the mechanics it has, I can't help but feel the game is too easy at times as well. The characters are great, and even if they only appear in one story route, they still have some memorable moments in the game.
Shadow Labyrinth is a 2D action-adventure Metroidvania that is also a re-imagining of Pac-Man, taking place in a dark sci-fi world of classic Namco arcade games. The classic Pac-Man gameplay works surprisingly well in this new format. It has a slow start, but once it clicks, you are treated to a great Metroidvania. The difficulty can get quite high, and while not everyone likes that, I loved how rewarding the game felt. It needs a few updates to sort things out, but it's still a great time—I can't stop playing.
Return to Ash is a visual novel about being dead and being alone. It has a strong premise, but one I don't think it lives up to. My biggest issue stems from how short it is as when it finally starts to get interesting, the story is over. Still, it's a fine time, and there is one strong story route in here that shows it could be done with a little more time. I still think it's worth a try, just know you'll do everything in an afternoon.
Ruffy and the Riverside is a 3D platformer from Zockrates Lab. It is inspired by platformers of the late 90s and early 2000s and wears that inspiration on its sleeve. It wears that inspiration well, though, and offers not only a game that fits on the shelf with its inspirations but one that is able to stand out as well. A short but fun time that is a must-play for any fan of the genre, or anyone that grew up with it.
Star Soraight Fantasy: Magic to Reach the Sky is a Metroidvania starring Tokino Sora. Fans of the VTuber will find much to love, but others will not so much. On the other hand, it is a serviceable Metroidvania that doesn't excel in the elements. The game doesn't overstay its welcome, and the short runtime makes it so it never really falters. Still, I can say the game is fine, and the passion on display was at least nice to see.
Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen is a horror game I have trouble recommending. While I have nostalgia for it, I don't know if someone without a connection to the series will get much out of it. It's very short and has frustrating monster spawn rates. But even after all that, I still had fun thanks to some clever puzzles, and even played it more than once thanks to the new leaderboard. My issues with the original are still here, but strangely endearing. Worth a play for fans of the series, but your mileage may vary.
Tetris: The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye- is a great way to play Tetris. It helped me rediscover a love for Tetris I once had, and for the first time, I'm trying different control schemes and modes. Sadly, the game is still in a buggy state and needs some work. The dev team is listening and communicating with players, and I do have faith these issues will get fixed, even if it might take a while. Even after all that, I can still recommend it, and this will be the version I continue to play.
All in Abyss: Judge the Fake is a visual novel poker RPG that only excels in one aspect. The actual poker games are a lot of fun, but the whole thing is held back by a lacking narrative. The characters are not interesting, the antagonist are not memorable, and the story falls apart the more you play. It's a shame because I really enjoyed playing Texas hold 'em when the game allowed me to, it just paired with a story I plan on forgetting.