I didn’t expect to enjoy Lost Eidolons nearly as much as I did. I’d assumed it would be just another one-note SRPG set in another generic high fantasy world. The Fire Emblem similarities would be skin deep, and nowhere near as high quality. However, I was delighted to be wrong as this game over delivered on every level. Impressive presentation, simple yet deep combat, and there’s plenty of variety in progression and customization. And while the story’s long in the teeth and the reliance on visual novel style dialogue sequences may not be for everyone, fans of the genre will be right at home.
For fans of the franchise, it’s a purchase. Either at launch or the minute it gets to a “too good to pass up” sale. Especially when it’s such a popular series, and in this case a very popular arc that’s been adapted. For people who aren’t already in the know, nothing about the game is designed to bring people in. Little marketing, gameplay trailers unashamedly show off all the flaws, and the Japanese only voice acting is a huge deal-breaker for many in the west. For me personally though, I fall into the former category.
Circus Electrique has so much promise. It’s gameplay foundation is incredibly solid, the theme unique and well executed, and there’s plenty of variety in everything. And while it’s definitely inherently flawed, there’s nothing here that can’t be fixed. Right off the bat, a store or resource exchange system would go far in improving your dealings with RNG. A way to leave current districts and replay previous ones to grind would as well. Balance changes are as always the easiest to pull off, and I’m sure some are on the way even now. The point is, while these issues are critical to actually playing and enjoying the game, they’re all easily fixable and I’m really hoping the developers realize this. Because this really is a fun and unique game, and I’d really really love to actually be able to enjoy it.
I wholly believe in turn-based combat in general, and certainly for any game with Intelligent Systems’ name on it. They are very good at what they do, and their style has always flourished with Fire Emblem. Still I would love to see more of this, maybe a whole series of re-imagined classic Fire Emblem games in this style. Or hell, even a proper original one. The traditional fun Musou combat properly combined with the tactical and RPG elements of Fire Emblem creates a Musou game with genuine depth and difficulty, which has always been a Warriors‘ game Achilles heel.
The Shadowrun Trilogy is for everyone, and I’m glad it can finally be played by everyone. These fast-paced incredibly linear games are the opposite of the sprawling unfocused experiences people expect from the genre. Very story and dialogue based, though the lack of voice acting might turn people off. But the truly unique settings, the blend of fantasy and sci-fi, alongside the fun and quick XCOM-esque combat make games that look, read, and play very well. They helped shepherd in today’s RPG renaissance, and are still high watermarks of what’s been accomplished during it.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is that rare anime game that has something for everyone. Established fans of the franchise get to play through a fantastic adaptation of the anime. Newcomers get a fantastic introduction to the anime franchise that took the world by storm. And people who don’t care about that at all and just want a fun flashy arena fighter to play around with get that in spades.
I can’t convey just how impressed I was with Outward Definitive Edition. I would have been happy with a standard THQ Nordic styled remastered collection, but it was so much more. It was almost on the same level as the Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition, which I still hold as the gold standard of re-releases. There was so much love and care poured into every part of it, and in many ways it feels like a brand new game.
I could keep going about how much this doesn’t work, but that would be putting in more work than the developers did for SpellForce III Reforced. It’s a rare case of a game that I just enjoy from the start, and it only got worse the more I played. There are games I would consider to be bad, but this is a whole different beast. It just fundamentally doesn’t work. I would struggle to order one group to attack an enemy during battles, and by the time I did, the rest of my army had been massacred by everyone else. I’ve never been so frustrated with a game before.
I was ultimately disappointed, but not surprised by GRID Legends. After all, with the level of quality the last game set I couldn’t imagine this one being that much different. And while I did really really enjoy the story mode, it was very short and not the kind of thing people buy racing games for. The rest of the single-player was generic and barebones, while the multiplayer is already circling the drain.
Dawn of the Monsters is a super fun game dripping in style. From the comic book art style, to the very Kaiju inspired story and character designs, to the surprisingly deep combat and customization systems.
It may not be the Final Fantasy Tactics 2 that myself and others were expecting, but, honestly, it’s even better than that. Triangle Strategy is its own game that manages to stand on its own feet, which is always impressive for a new IP. I only hope there will be more to come.
Games like Elex II, where it seems no effort was put in, and no ambition is shown, are simply unacceptable. This is just the tip of the iceberg too, as I didn’t even mention the least fun jetpack ever, immortal and totally uncustomizable companions, and the choppy framerate. I could go on for days, but ultimately it doesn’t matter, because it can all be summed up succinctly. Don’t play this, get something else. Respect your time, respect your wallet, and respect other games that are simply doing it better.
At the end of the day, Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection is a great collection of great games. Games most of us have already played. But the Switch is perfect for replaying exactly those kinds of games again. Borderlands, Baldur’s Gate, Dying Light, even other Assassin’s Creed games already. I’ve been waiting way too long for this collection to finally release, and I’m very happy that it turned out as well as it did.
Creative Assembly can rest easy knowing they have created something truly magnificent. This is the number one choice for any fantasy strategy gamers. Nothing comes close, and who knows if something of this scale and grandeur will ever be attempted again. Or for that matter, even needs to be.
Expeditions: Rome is a great game that does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s a CRPG set during Ancient Rome focusing on authenticity and balancing RPG mechanics with hardcore strategy mechanics. A balance it strikes well, with a well written story and a polished Roman Legion customization and battle system.
I like Left 4 Dead clones, and I love VR. It was made by a developer with previous experience in both, so I figured it had a good chance of being quite fun. Even then though, the game still impressed on every level. Game design, both in gameplay and graphics, did exactly what they set out to do. Is it particularly innovative or forward thinking? Not really, but at the same time that’s not what I signed up for. If you want a fun atmospheric VR Left 4 Dead clone with solid gameplay and a decent spread of content and replayability? Then After the Fall is your game.
Enemies and locations do eventually get kind of repetitive, but the combat is what you come for and it’s what makes you stay. VR needs more games like this, ones you play because you just wanna have some harmless thoughtless fun.
If I haven’t made it clear enough, I love this game. It’s a clear product of care and passion, and you can see that poured into every aspect of it. The battle system, demon fusion, demon animations, and the entire design of the open world. And none of that touches on the actual meat of the game. The story, the world and lore, and how everything comes together. It took forever to get here, but the waiting was absolutely worth it.
My Friend Peppa Pig is not a game most of us will play. However, it’s not your standard licensed nightmare fuel. It was created to be a carefully crafted experience for the show’s young fans. This is reflected in its simple button scheme, simple puzzles, and not much gamey gameplay to speak of. However it looks impressive and perfectly succeeds in delivering the experience of being inside the show. So for any parents with kids obsessed with the show, this game was made for them.
Dying Light Platinum Edition is the ultimate edition of an amazing game, now on a handheld. It takes the whole base game, its main expansion, and every other bit of DLC, big and small, ever released. Which wouldn’t matter if it was a bad port, but it’s somehow the exact opposite. One of the most impressive and smooth ports ever released for the system, and proof that it is possible for impressive games to work on the platform.