Players entering Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter without any experience with these games should note that this is only the first part of a larger story. While there is some resolution to certain plot points, others are wide open even upon finishing the game, with a few new ones even being presented in the final hours. Still, based on what the development team has said and a few hints present within the game, I don’t expect we’ll have a terribly long wait for the rest of this incredible journey. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter may be missing a bit of the charm of the original English translation, but it makes up for it with a deeper and more fully realized combat system, a ton of style, and the most fully realized version of an incredible game. New players couldn’t ask for a better place to start, and returning players will be thrilled to find the developers nailed this reimagined take on a classic.
Still, Quartet features a fantastic story, interesting characters, and a fast and fun battle system. It is a journey that fans of the genre should absolutely check out. While it can be a bit linear at times, my only complaints are very minor in the context of everything it does right. Quartet may have influences from the past, but it feels like a modern RPG in the ways that matter.
Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots still plays well, but it’s entirely lacking the charm and personality that this series is known for. With weak courses, a severe lack of interesting ways to play, and characters that I couldn’t wait to get away from, I have a hard time recommending this entry to many players. The online modes work well enough, so those who want to play with friends will probably have a better time than most, but there are so many better golf games on the market that are more worthy of your time.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants DLC may not reinvent the game, but it provides a strong reason to return to one of last year’s best releases. After a few minutes of remembering the controls, I was extremely happy to have even more tombs to raid and enemies to conquer. If you liked the main game, you’re almost certain to have a good time with The Order of Giants.
For fans of the various properties here, Super Robot Wars Y is a no-brainer. Even as someone unfamiliar with a lot of these properties, it was still cool to see the few characters I did know show up and interact with each other. I can only imagine how cool that would be if I knew the rest of this crew. Still, after playing it, I’m curious to check out a few more of these series because so many of these characters are likable and grabbed my attention. Even beyond the characters, there’s a ton of quality strategy RPG goodness here for anyone who enjoys the genre. Super Robot Wars Y may not break any new ground there, but it’s well executed and will keep you busy for a very long time.
While the story of Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion may not have connected with me, and the action may not be breaking any new ground, it is ultimately a ton of fun to play with fast-paced action that is instantly engaging yet offers enough variety throughout to keep my attention. Anyone who loves customization will be in absolute heaven and should absolutely check this one out.
Shuten Order offers plenty of variety, and in almost every one of its routes, I found things to like. The overall mystery here is genuinely interesting, and it builds to a satisfying conclusion. It just takes so long getting there, with each of its rather thin gameplay styles pushed too far, that it’s hard to recommend to all but the biggest fans of visual novels.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is another solid entry in this long-running series, with the titular bazaar offering a nice change of pace for players that sets it slightly apart from other Story of Seasons titles. Despite this and some other fun new features the game introduces, the series could still benefit from a true refresh to help it stand apart from its contemporaries. If you haven’t experienced one of these games in a while, Grand Bazaar is a good choice to revisit the series. For those who have played a recent entry in the Story of Seasons franchise, though, you won’t find enough here that stands out to make this a must-play.
Whisper of the House, at its best, gives me a lot of the joy I found when playing Unpacking, and if you’re looking for more of that feeling, then you could certainly do a lot worse. There’s also an intriguing mystery here that gives you a reason to keep searching through Whisper Town even when you aren’t setting up a house. While there is fun to be had here, every time it gets away from simply unpacking places, the experience simply isn’t as cohesive.
Herdling offers interesting mechanics and a fantastic soundtrack on any platform. It also has a fantastic style that should be a strength, but the Switch version in particular looks so washed out that it dulls the appeal of this part of the game. I’m not saying to avoid playing Herdling, but if you have any other options, I’d definitely recommend checking it out on another platform.
Despite a bit more repetition of songs than I would have liked and the curious lack of a VR mode in a game that seems perfectly designed for it, Fresh Tracks is a blast to play with a killer soundtrack and incredibly well-designed mechanics. Any fan of rhythm games should absolutely check it out.
Ra Ra BOOM has some weaknesses. Its story doesn’t really connect, and the melee combat lacks the sort of flow that the best games in the genre manage. Still, its twist on genres, which combines various gameplay styles into one interesting experience, is largely successful and makes it worth a look for beat ‘em up fans.
Despite these concerns, I’ve had a lot of fun with Abyssus, and I imagine I’ll continue to do so. It’s not the most complicated game I’ve ever played, and it has some balance issues, but it just feels so good to blow enemies away and to chain abilities together that can cause massive havoc around you. I’ll just make sure that when I come back to Abyssus, I’m consistently doing it with a crew of friends who are all ready to cause even more of that mayhem with me.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a triumphant return to 2D for Ninja Gaiden. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait decades to see the series follow up on it. I genuinely loved every single level. The team at The Game Kitchen does a fantastic job of continuing to build upon established mechanics while also finding new ways to twist them and entirely new twists to throw at players through the game’s four acts. Any fan of action games needs to check this one out.
Shadow Labyrinth has some ideas that really connect, but the game they’ve been placed within rarely feels more than serviceable. Once you gain some power-ups and can take advantage of the full suite of abilities you have, it’s fine, but seldom interesting, and, considering how unique its premise is, that’s a problem. There are much worse games in the genre, but there are so many better options available that I expect Shadow Labyrinth will be mostly remembered more for just how weird it is, rather than the journey it offers.
Rematch may not be the most complex game ever, but it offers a unique take on multiplayer football, which, with the right team, can be an enormously fun time, at least when things work. Currently, however, there are too many issues, and the community has too little interest in playing the game correctly for me to recommend it to most. If you have a crew of friends who all want to play together and love the sport, then it becomes an easier game to recommend, but most players may want to wait and see what updates Sloclap has planned for Rematch’s future before jumping in.
Parts of The Drifter don’t fully come together in the end, but the journey to get there is one of the best I’ve experienced in a point-and-click game in years, and its setup for playing on a controller should become the new baseline for the genre. Add in excellent voice acting and killer atmosphere, and this is a game that anyone who enjoys the genre should absolutely check out.
Don’t let a few issues dissuade you, though. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach smooths out almost all the issues I had with the original game and allowed me to dive in and fall in love with its addicting gameplay. The story may still be mostly nonsense, but it’s not unenjoyable nonsense, and it does nothing to keep me from wanting to deliver just one more package. Seeing what’s over the next horizon has never felt better in a game. Those who loved the first game will almost certainly love Death Stranding 2, but even those who bounced off of it should give the series another chance here.
New escape sequences are the highlight of No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES. It’s a shame that its low-stakes story makes it hard to really connect with the overall experience. If you just want to hang out with the series’ cast, you’ll get that here, and there’s definitely joy to be found in doing so, as a lot of members of this cast are fantastic. Despite this, the overall story ultimately feels held back by being stuck between two established stories, and the entire experience feels afraid to take any risks. Fans of the series will have a nice time with this one, but it certainly doesn’t offer a good point of entry for new players.
While the new additions might not add a ton to the experience, Yakuza 0 is still one of the best games ever made, and Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is an excellent version of it that you can play portably. If you haven’t played it yet, there’s no time like the present.