Young Souls is a breath of fresh air for the genre, the developers have done a fantastic job at merging so many different elements into one. Jenn and Tristan are some of the most memorable characters to ever grace the genre. Although playing on the Nintendo Switch I did experience some slow loading times and a bit of dropped frames during those frantic moments, but this wasn’t enough to sully a stellar title that is sure to be a new classic.
In the midst of all the amazing fighters one the market Phantom Breaker: Omnia could be this year's hidden gem as its unique approach to creating an original experience is just fantastic.
Dawn of the Monsters is the Kaiju beat 'em up we’ve been waiting for with the developers doing a grand job to create a unique experience whilst celebrating the genre. I would love to see some new characters and levels in the form of DLC or even some online PVP worked in there to ensure its longevity.
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is basically the best of both worlds with the combination of Square Enix’s RPG elements merging with Team Ninja’s fighting mechanics to create a whole new experience for the series. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is still very much a Final Fantasy game, but it's great to see Square Enix take a risk with this title which has been fantastically executed.
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition is a great remaster that retains all the glory from the original. The updated visuals are great, really elevating the entire experience.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a grand return for a fighter that has aged really well. Atlus has done a fantastic job at porting this game over even with the omission of the rollback netcode. The level of complexity within the combat and endless amount of content will ensure that Persona 4 Arena Ultimax's second spot in the limelight will last until the next Persona fighter is hopefully released.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a fine return form for the Lego game series, the massive changes to gameplay are fully welcomed. The level of depth in the overall design and recreation of Star Wars lore is phenomenal. There’s so much content within this game, that the completionist will be busy for a while, let’s just hope there is additional DLC on top of what is coming, that will explore the upcoming series.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a very different game from what Vanillaware has released in the past, but this is a great showcase of what they are capable of. The narrative is a fantastic piece of science fiction that can easily work as an anime or feature film.
.Hack//G.U. Last Recode is a huge walk down memory lane that offers tons of content and replayability. The game does suffer from some repetitive features and a lack of strategic enemies. But overall .Hack//G.U. Last Recode is a great JRPG that feels perfectly suited to the Nintendo Switch.
Final Vendetta is a great homage to classic Beat ‘em up from the 90s that will really please fans of the genre.
Sonic Origins is a great way to enjoy these classic titles for the first time, no matter how you play. The updated visuals and extra gameplay options really accentuate the amount of work that has been poured into this collection of gems. There are a few design choices that could’ve been implemented a lot better, however, Sega has released a fun anthology with plenty of replay value.
DNF Duel is another stunning fighter from Arc System Works that offers a unique experience setting it aside from other fighters. Its simplified fight mechanics make DNF Duel an accessible fighter whilst still being complex enough to offer a challenging experience for members of the Fight Game Community.
Redout 2 is an impressive anti-gravity racer that is visually stunning but does have a somewhat steep learning curve.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak does a great job of building upon some of Rise’s gaming mechanics. Some may find it a shame or even weird that the heavily advertised Rampage didn’t receive any updates, however, Sunbreak is huge and feels like it could be a full game on its own with the new features being enough to bring back players for a long time.
Capcom Fighting Collection is a fighting game fan's dream come true with these classic titles being perfectly ported whilst maintaining all their original features.
The Hinokami Chronicles isn’t complex enough to challenge fighters like Dragon Ball FighterZ or Guilty Gear, but it is a fun title that will really please fans of the series.
Stray is a fantastic first game from BlueTwelve Studio, that is an experience unlike any other.
Live A Live is a masterclass in how to remake a classic title that is being released in other territories for the first time.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an amazing entry into the already wonderful series. It reaches a new standard of storytelling, combat and customisation within the Xeno series There are a few technical mishaps here and there but not enough to dampen the overall experience. JRPG fans can’t miss this stellar adventure that’s one for the ages.
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 is another fantastic entry into this wonderful series, with Inti Creates just upping the ante with every instalment.