This could have been like a Sonic Mania, but for Alex Kidd; instead of a celebration of what made Alex so great, this feels like a eulogy of why he died. The original game is borderline a blank canvas for potential, almost anything could have been done. But other than the beautiful pixel art, it is the same.
It may be remembered for becoming the arena multiplayer game, Quake began as an incredible successor to Doom. With Quake Remastered, gamers can finally realize just how important Quake is, and how it’s still a boomer shooter masterpiece.
Xeno Crisis has its heart in the right place, but is too stingy with offering enough content to make it worth the absurd asking price of $19.99 USD. It’s a slick looking retro style action game, but one that aspires to be something very basic. If it wasn’t so utterly repetitive, it could easily be considered a classic.
It’s easy to misjudge Returnal as some kind of pretentious Sony story-driven drivel. The truth is that it’s a hardcore 3D action game that has more in common with Doom Eternal and Metroid Prime than anything Sony has ever made before. It does suck to lose almost everything and starting from the beginning, but sometimes that’s just the way it goes.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin has a deep combat system, and players who enjoy very complex character building mechanics will find that there is limitless potential for any monstie. It’s held back by technical limitations on Switch, but that shouldn’t be an issue for the PC version. The only problem you’ll have is fighting the urge to stuff Navirou in a refrigerator.
Blaster Master Zero 3 is a worthy climax for the series.
Hopefully there will be fewer re-releases or updated ports of the inevitable Part 2, and Square Enix can make the game as good as it can be the first time. It’s appreciated that owners of the vanilla game get the PlayStation 5 upgrade for free; it would have been even better if this was the game that was released the at the beginning.
Maybe the anime will deliver on the story aspect of Scarlet Nexus, because this game fails to immerse gamers into the drama. The gameplay is subpar when compared to recent similar action RPGs on the market, and towards games from four generations ago.
The premise formula in Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol is a very solid foundation. If a new one is every made, the ways to improve upon them will be very obvious. For now, these classics can now be enjoyed and experienced by pretty much everyone, and hopefully inspire new game designers to not make the same mistakes.
The original was a solid 8/10, and could have been elevated higher. Instead, a publisher callously and quickly released a lazy port of a classic, because of the interest in Shin Megami Tensei V.
Legend of Mana Remastered is a decent entry level action RPG for children thanks to its easy combat and seemingly wholesome setting. The various dialects characters speak in make for amusing reading with kids and the simple co-op action is easily understood. Since the plot is so light and focuses on short sub-stories, the scenarios are easily followed and digestible.
On Switch, Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection can only be recommended for playing the first two Sigma games. Even then, the port quality is a bit on the rough side for Sigma 2. The first game is the undisputed champion of the bunch, and will test the mettle of any action game fan. As far as compilations go, Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is very bare-bones and reeks of laziness.
While much of the humor is skin-crawlingly embarrassing, once in a while there is a gag that might get a chuckle out of the most cynical of gamers. DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power is a fine game for kids, or weirdos who are into ponies. Everyone else might find it a curious feel-good game where the action is mild, and the dopamine satisfaction for seeking collectibles.
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a decent remake of Monster World IV. It won’t replace it, since it doesn’t do everything better, but it does enough to improve on the foundation. The new features added make for a more enjoyable experience, but the developers could have gone further to make Asha’s adventure more than the sum of its parts.
It certainly isn’t perfect, but Biotmutant is more than the sum of its parts, and that is saying something for such an enormous and packed game.
It would have been preferable if the dialogue sequences had a bit more cinematic flair to them instead of characters talking in flat wide shots, or if there was an option for the original soundtrack. While still deeply flawed, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… is still highly recommended for its depressing existential scenario that makes players look at RPGs in a different way.
There is a lot to like about Disco Elysium. Its unorthodox and detailed world is beautifully rendered, and the characters are excellently voiced. There is a ton of style that makes it appealing, but none of it matters if the current build is broken and unplayable.
Toree 3D is the most fun that a dollar can buy. It is very brief, but it does have a lot of charm and the foundation of the mechanics are very satisfying. Level design is extremely tight; there is nothing wasted, and there is no filler. By the time it is over, expect to replay a few stages in order to feel that euphoric rush of adrenaline from the platforming.
The philosophy of the game design is firmly rooted in old arcade sensibilities. Some may be turned off but this, but for those who grew up in arcades in the 1990s will undoubtedly feel Battle Axe is like coming home.
Kenji Ito’s brain melting music certainly elevates the experience, and the brevity of each scenario prevents SaGa Frontier Remastered from ever overstaying its welcome. This is one of the most replayable and addictive JRPGs ever made, and it was overlooked for not embracing new technology. There is still nothing like SaGa Frontier, and there likely will never be.