Imp of the Sun was a pretty enjoyable little play from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the fact it didn’t even remotely try to hold my hand, telling me to figure my path out right from the getgo. I also really enjoyed its postgame offerings, with a pretty decent (and challenging) NG+ mode which made things a lot more tense on my second run.
Unbound: Worlds Apart is an adorably charming indie game that really shows the strength of Alien Pixel Studios’ craft. Throughout the 6+ hours I spent with it, I’ve encounter various puzzles, a bunch of sneaky enemies I couldn’t fight back against, and even some bosses I had to survive in order to solve the problems that face the world. A total package, Unbound: Worlds Apart is an absolutely adorable indie title. It hits the ground running and doesn’t stop from beginning to end.
Rune Factory 5 has been a lot of fun and has a ton to offer regardless of how you plan to tackle the game. Hopefully it doesn’t take Xseed another eight years to make the next game in the series, or maybe we get some big updates or DLC, but if it does, then I’m more than certain that this game has enough to do to keep people coming back and tackling more and more, even if it’s just exploring different love interests, or only wanting to be a potato farmer.
This game might have been hyped beyond belief by streamers, but this is one game you should avoid.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a huge step forward for what is achievable in the Pokémon series as a whole. This is a defining step in the franchise that shows just how much gas is still in the tank. The staleness of the mainline series and the need to remake the older generations is being shown it’s not needed any longer. New gameplay mechanics show just how far this series can be pushed, and still feel like a Pokémon game.
Beat Souls does genuinely deserve the –Souls title. This game’s Hell Mode is genuine hell and I challenge anyone to see what kind of a level they can achieve in it.
Pokémon Shining Pearl was a nice way to revisit the Sinnoh region, and would be a great introduction to anyone new to the Pokémon series. For any returning players, the lack of what could be considered a “Legacy Mode,” letting players turn off the full party XP share, can take away from the “challenge” of the game. All around it was plenty enjoyable and definitely made more for fans who want to continue their adventure post-game and hunt shiny Pokémon.
Loop Hero is a faithful release on Switch that plays well both with controller and with touch screen. The game is completely up to date, and for anyone who didn’t stick with it on PC, it’s a great game to play on-the-go and be able to stop or pause whenever needed. Even though the PC version game out nine months ago, I’m likely to have spent more time playing on Switch already, accessibility really does Loop Hero favours.
If you’re looking for some childhood nostalgia, look no further than Monster Rancher 1 + 2 DX. If you have never played these games before, this will probably do absolutely nothing for you because, to be honest, these games are much more sluggish than they ever felt back around release. Welcome to the joys of the evolution of gaming. Some games can withstand the test of time, others can not. Monster Rancher is unfortunately a game that should be returned to solely for nostalgia’s sake.
In the grand scheme of things, Dadish 2 could have very easily been a DLC pack for the first game, but given its cheap price, it’s absolutely justifiable to pick up this sequel game if you’ve enjoyed the original. Sure, it’s pretty much just more levels on the same engine, but that’s not entirely bad. It’s a good time if Dadish was your thing.
All in all, Lyrica2 is an interesting traditional “Chinese music + Tap Tap Revoluton” blend. The way that this game puts together a lesser explored style of Asian music and brings it into the limelight with a more modern style, especially in rhythm game format, is really interesting. Providing more traditional takes, alongside more modern remixes also allows for the music and the game itself to be more accessible to people who may be turned off by the idea of not understanding most of the words in the songs.
Save for some small changes to each of the individual game modes, it’s obvious that most the effort in Vanguard went into multiplayer, which makes sense. Zombies has been brushed almost entirely to the wayside, and while the campaign is fairly lengthy and has a story that actually makes sense, not involving brainwashing, it’s a big win for Call of Duty this year. The hope now is that the season updates, new maps, and hopefully some new Zombies content, can help to fully flesh the game out effectively.
While Dadish is a pretty simple platformer, with some fun puzzles and a few harder-to-find stars (its main collectible macguffin), it is actually pretty fun, and it will offer you a good time. It’s a cute little game with some pretty funny dialogue and, especially near the end, some levels that will definitely take you a handful of tries to finally be able to do and collect its prizes. You could a lot worse than tackling this odd but adorable little indie title.
As a whole, Sheepo is quite short and simple, but very sweet. This game is a lot of fun, and if you’re after achievements, going for the “no death” speed runs can be challenging, but very welcome, given how enjoyable this game’s overall loop is. While it might not be the most traditional metroidvania game, it’s one that’s absolutely worth taking a look at if you’re looking for something you can knock out in one session.
Flynn: Son of Crimson has been one of the few games in recent times I couldn’t put down once I got started. It was a perfect mix between great visuals, retro-styled gameplay, a challenging but never unfair level of difficulty, and an excellent progression system encouraging you to revisit past levels. This is a game I really want for people to find out about, as it would be criminal for a gem like this one to be overlooked by players out there.
If you liked Spelunky, welcome to Spelunky 2: “Spelunking With Friends”. The game feels the same, plays the same, and is basically the same. Save for a handful of quality of life changes that, for the avid Spelunky fan, may be great, especially if you’re interested in tackling these dungeons with friends.
If you are looking for a stopgap substitute for a 2D Zelda game, but with a bit more to offer in terms of depth and playability, Garden Story is the way to go.
Boyfriend Dungeon was far more enjoyable than expected. Sure, every character you meet may want to hop into bed with you in an absurdely thirsty way. There could have been a bit more variety in terms of enemies and areas, with me being hopeful that a potential sequel might fix these issues.
10 Second Ninja X is a great pick up and play game. It would also be a fun game to aim to master, similar to Super Meat Boy. With it launching on Switch, when is a better time to check this out than out, on the go, while you’re waiting for your coffee, or stuck on a bus? The pacing of the game works well for quick play sessions.
Dark Deity removed some of the most important parts of what makes these styles of games so loved. While the game itself is fun, and if you’re looking to scratch the itch that Three Houses may not have quite hit, Dark Deity might just do the trick. If you’re looking for that original, hard-to-master-might-need-to-restart-the-game type of difficulty instilled in your mind by the original Fire Emblem games, Dark Deity misses the mark here.