[I]f X were about nothing more than exploring a world devoid of story, battles, and systems it would still be easy to recommend, but the fact it tells a worthwhile tale, constantly rewards your time, effort, and curiosity, and features one of greatest battles systems ever created just makes it all the better. In other words, pick up Xenoblade Chronicles X and clear your schedule, because you have a whole new world to explore.
Succinctly summarizing Stella Glow has proven surprisingly difficult. In many ways it feels like your average JRPG strategy game, and in some places it even stumbles over itself with attempts at being cute or sexy. However, there are also enough strong points that really shine through and make the game stand out from the crowd, even if its best features are reminiscent of ideas from more noteworthy titles.
Putting all these aspects together leaves us with a game that strangely feels almost like it is less than the sum of its parts. The gameplay features some unique concepts that are frequently fun, but at the same time weapons made to further enhance the combat just let it down. The game's aesthetic is also very well done and yet another example of great retro inspired design, but it is betrayed by the color selection of all things. These might seem like small complaints, but together they contributed to a general lack of interest on my part. Even with everything Extreme Exorcism does right, I never really felt the need or desire to come back; I played it, I kind of enjoyed it, but nothing makes me want to hop back in. Maybe others will feel different, but ultimately Extreme Exorcism is a game with some good ideas, a few noticeable flaws, and the absence of that one thing that can make a good game great.
With its gorgeous visuals, moody story, and clever platforming gameplay, Nihilumbra is definitely trying its best to join the hallowed halls of indie greatness. However, I think it falls short, but not by much. Though they might seem contradictory, I would argue that the narrator needed a bit more gravitas while the story needed a little more subtlety to let the gamer decipher more of their own emotions. And while the gameplay is great, I really would have preferred a longer campaign that continued the brilliantly conceived difficulty curve and fewer post game levels that drastically up the difficulty. Of course, there are plenty of people who will probably adore the challenge, but I imagine that many will also be upset to find half of the game is overly frustrating. These problems, though, are actually quite small because the core package is so well executed and well worth just about any gamer's time.
All of these factors leave High Strangeness in a place that I find, quite appropriately, strange. Nothing about the game feels incomplete but many aspects of it feel like they weren't fully realized. The game starts off with plenty of compelling story and gameplay ideas, but halfway through the game it feels like the developers stopped developing these ideas and then created a flat line to the end. I don't want to make the second half of the game sound bad, because it really isn't, but I can't deny that it isn't really isn't all that good either.
For those willing to invest the effort and time, Etrian Mystery Dungeon is a phenomenal game that will challenge and reward you in equal measure.
Altogether, these changes don't really add up to a hugely compelling argument for Assault Horizon Legacy+ over its original version. The core game, while not particularly exceptional, remains a solid, enjoyable experience that benefits from the simple fact that there really isn't anything else like it on 3DS.
It's Flappy Bird with 3D graphics and a stereotypically French art direction some, myself included, might find charming. Some might find the ultra simple gameplay addicting. Miiverse Stamps! Appropriately cheap.
Considering the plethora of top notch platformers available on Wii U, Wooden Sen'SeY isn't capable of earning an automatic recommendation. The game looks great and has a fantastic soundtrack, but the mechanics just feel a little too off to qualify as gameplay bliss, though they are most certainly serviceable. Finally, the brevity of the core game is going to hurt the overall sense of value to those who aren't obsessed with absolutely mastering every game in their collection; so if that isn't you it might be better to wait for a sale.
Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails is a truly original game that obviously required a great deal of thought, passion and creativity, something I really don't get to say nearly enough.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is an amazing accomplishment; it manages to root itself deep in the fertile nostalgia millions of gamers have for A Link to the Past while simultaneously morphing classic Zelda mechanics and introducing brand new ideas that fit in perfectly with the storied franchise.