While Bayonetta 3 is the weakest of the three, it is still a very good game that will give fans a lot of bang for their buck. There is enough changes and experimentation to justify this sequel and the rating system is the most forgiving than ever for neophytes, while also providing enough high level challenge for veterans.
At worst, Haiku The Robot can feel forgettable due to how by-the-numbers it is. Its art style is just serviceable, but the playability and kinesthetic feel of the controls make it one of the better “metroidvania” games out there.
Tinykin is a humble little game with modest aspirations for a target audience that is often neglected. Children can enjoy it, but so can children-at-heart too. Tinykin’s imaginative and creative visuals that overcome its limitations make it stand out. Most importantly, it feels really good to play because of its tight controls and its kinesthetic feedback.
The striking art and sound of Saturnalia are definitely its strengths. The gameplay is a compelling mixture of ideas that mostly pay off due to the puzzle-like scenario. The storytelling may lead to confusion, but there is nothing else like Saturnalia.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force is not a perfect action-RPG, but it does have a lot going for it that make it extremely enjoyable. It has top notch production values for the most part and it more than makes up for the utterly disappointing Integrity and Faithlessness. The the balance of awesome visuals, exciting combat and addictive exploration mark this entry as a series high point.
The gameplay in Absolute Tactics: Daughters of Mercy was close to being interesting. Its scope is very limited and the various soft-locks encountered were frustrating and time-wasting. Some of the technical issues were ironed out, but risk of them happening still looms while navigating the confusing menus and esoteric UI.
What it lacks in visual appeal, it makes up for in depth and polish. It is too bad that Mecha Ritz: Steel Rondo doesn’t excel in all aspects. If it did, it could rival some of the best shooters that Treasure is known for.
Fans of survival-horror will get a lot of enjoyment out of The Chant. Its gameplay is exciting and has a unique premise that is rarely explored. While the enemy design won’t make your blood run cold, the creepy performances from the actors will and it’s all tied up in a very slick and polished package for a fair price.
Anyone who enjoys the kind of games that Cyberdreams used to make will adore Scorn; bleak and surreal puzzle-driven adventure games that treat the player like an adult. It may cost a bit much (if you don’t have Game Pass), but it is the kind of game that stays with you, long after you play it.
Signalis barely has any weaknesses as far as being a complete experience. At worst, some impatient gamers might struggle with some of the puzzles in the game. For its price, with Signalis gamers will get a highly immersive, substantial horror game that lasts roughly eight hours or more depending on player skill.
Regretfully, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 came and went like a wet fart in a dark rainy night. It was the last new Castlevania game made, and its not hard to see why. It’s an expensive and bloated mess of ideas that don’t mesh well with trite gameplay.
Valkyrie Elysium has some pretty sad lows, but it does have a few highs that make it endearing. The developer clearly has a lot of talent at making stylish 3D action games on a shoe-string budget and they got the most important parts right.
Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed is so frustrating because it is a great game that is buried underneath technical issues and glaring cuts. Its potential was wasted keeping it out of reach from being a perfect remake.
Ubisoft is understandably unpopular with a lot of gamers for their yearly approach to making games. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is an example of them proving they can make something wonderful if they take their time and to miss out on it would be a great tragedy for everyone. Just make sure to never go into the settings menu.
Not everything works as intended. MercurySteam would learn from their mistakes in later games and would eventually land a bull’s-eye with Metroid Dread. With Mirror of Fate, gamers can get an idea where the developer was heading and can see the beginnings of where their best ideas were coming from.
Anyone who enjoys relaxing or laid-back games will find a lot to like about Time On Frog Island. It has an intensely charming art style and animation, and it manages to capture the feeling of being stranded somewhere strange while it lasts.
Much of the game design in Pac-Man World Re-Pac is very standard and is what you would expect from a early 3D platformer from the PlayStation. What makes it unique and still interesting is the distinct Pac-Man-isms, stage gimmicks, and theming. Without that, this would be a plain 3D platformer.
Some features like improved legibility and pathfinding are coming, but these are all technical shortcomings that should have been addressed before released. Despite all these flaws, Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition is still worth playing and with Dightdive promising to continue support the game with updates, this version could live up to being the “enhanced” edition.
There aren’t too many 3D action games with fixed camera POVs being made anymore. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was the last of its kind and while it isn’t perfect, it is one of the better examples of its kind from a console generation that was hopelessly creatively bankrupt.
Anyone who enjoyed games like Blasphemous, Dark Devotion or thought that Symphony of the Night was bloated with extraneous RPG elements, will adore Moonscars. The core combat mechanics are deep enough to carry a determined player and the multitude of systems give less skilled gamers just enough wiggle room to tip the scales in their favor without it ever becoming an easy game.