Dan Rizzo's Reviews
While it’s gameplay may not stand out as anything unique, it’s a lot of fun. Learning how to pull off a one-two-three punch/kick combo, allotted with an awesome finisher is such a gratifying feat that ultimately displays how a combo string should really be delivered. River City Girls is unmissable, and is one of the best arcade based experiences this year.
Three titles that are insanely popular amongst gamers, and the world of esports. It’s the grandaddy of ’em all. Borderlands still has something to prove to us, and that’s not to take this all seriously. Sit back, have a laugh at your characters expense, with a little self deprecation and humility presenting a chuckle, while systematically planning your next attack and how to loot every single enemy in the area, while beholding it’s bloody grace. Welcome back Borderlands, we missed you.
It’s lush environments, along with it’s impactful offsets that will make your jaw hit the floor. It’s story that will absolutely tug at your heart strings, not going to lie… cried a little playing this again. It’s inspiring, it’s daring, it’s courageous, and completely captivating. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is one of the best JPRG’s ever.
It’s ironic, but not a coincidence that we experience a title, tailor made for handheld hardware make a solid return for Nintendo’s newest piece of kit. The charming, and nostalgic world of Zelda returns with this incredible adventure, proving that the franchise itself, will remain timeless with Link’s Awakening being one of the greatest entries ever.
It’s interpretation of the Souls category relies on it’s established past, but brings in elements from many other Role-Playing titles, but conveys an uncommon commitment. From its amazing level and dungeon design, its vast and beautiful world, its insane cast of characters, and addictive gameplay, Code Vein will no doubt be remembered as one of 2019’s best.
AIBA’s shining personality really helps in times of ominous footing. Boss’ guidance really sets a pace between her relationship with Date, and making sure he remember’s why he’s an officer in the first place. I love everything about AI: The Somnium Files. It’s story, it’s presentation, it’s sound design, and it’s characters. Spike Chunsoft and Numskull Games truly have themselves a Game of the Year contender on their hands.
The Surge franchise has a bright future ahead of itself, and while it may have hit a small bump in the road with it’s sequel, it’s learning curbs will only help better their development heading into the next generation of gaming. The Surge 2 is well worth your time, if your a fan of any action RPG or Souls-like title.
If you are a fan of the visual novel genre, this is certainly a must play title. It’s historical presence within the category will forever be etched and shown through many of it’s counterparts, that have experimented with similar traits. YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of this World is certainly one of the best visual novel titles, of all time.
It’s a little-big adventure at heart, that relies on it’s impeccable writing, lovable cast of characters, it’s beautiful design, and incredible gameplay that truly revolutionised combat tactics in the JPRG genre. The Alliance Alive HD Remastered is a welcome addition, to the expanding Nintendo Switch Library, and will still have JRPG lovers talking about it’s originality and incredible detail for years to come.
The combination of on-screen beauty, intuitive puzzle design, great gameplay and charming characters makes Trine 4, one of the best platformer-puzzle title’s I have personally played. Trine 4, is not to be whimsically missed, and deserves every bit of your attention and will be remembered as a platforming pleasure that will gratify anyone looking for a completely casual experience.
For anyone out there looking to get their JRPG fix on-the-go, this is certainly a must have title, that will have you on the grind for hours. While a casual run of the title will get you over the seventy hour line, I am sure that it will deliver more than what anyone will expect. Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition was an amazing revisit of this incredible JRPG, and one soon that I will not forget.
It’s certainly a juxtaposition in what would and could be for gaming. MediEvil translates what gaming was for golden-era of gaming, smaller development teams with an audience that had a bigger tolerance for a certain standard of gaming, and that’s something I can definitely appreciate when revisiting this title.
The Outer Worlds has birthed what could be a remarkable initiation into an incredible franchise for years to come, and could very well be Obsidian’s Renaissance piece, finally separating itself from a tired franchise that has seen better days in the Fallout series. The Outer Worlds is truly one of the best video games of 2019, and could very well be it’s Game of the Year.
I would implore Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and SEGA to reconsider patching in motion controls for the title, to give gamer’s it’s respected experience that we all came to love on the Nintendo Wii, as it’s current bearings lack any posture to prop itself perfectly within the party gaming market. While I somewhat enjoyed the title, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD is worth checking out, purely for it’s nostalgia factor.
This title is just the right fit. It’s hilarity exhumes most of what has made the franchise as successful as it has been in Japan, and it’s great writing which is delivered by an incredible cast of characters make this an unforgettable experience. Conception PLUS: Maidens of The Twelve Stars is certainly an enjoyable and lustful tale. Just don’t tell mum and dad.
I for one cannot wait to take my next vacation back to the mansion, and dive deep into every nook-and-cranny, to the title’s absolute completion. It certainly is one that deserves the time, just as much time and effort as Nintendo have put into making this title, and serving it to it’s fans like five star, hotel room service should. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is one of the best video game experiences of 2019, and should undoubtedly be in the same conversation for Game of the Year.
The franchise certainly has a bright future, and a new home on the Nintendo Switch, remembering that it’s initial release was for the Nintendo3DS only excites me further to see what Level-5 could potentially develop for the hybrid handheld-home console. We could possibly see a revamp and brand new engine laid upon us for future installments, and that on it’s own certainly thrills me. The Professor Layton franchise will forever be one of the best puzzle-adventure franchises, and I certainly cannot recommend Layton’s Mystery Journey enough.
Does it wrap everything up nicely, plot wise? No, it doesn’t. That’s what leaves me befuddled on why the title is so good. Does it deserve an accolade and be recognised amongst the best presented in 2019? Hell yes. It most certainly deserves to be in the same conversation as anything labeled “Game of the Year”, and I for one will argue for it. It’s different, It’s unique, it’s incredible. Death Stranding is one of the best, and unmissable video games of this generation.
While we sat there for many an hour watching Goku yell and scream over an exaggerated amount of episodes to finally hit Super Saiyan on Frieza’s pale and purple behind, being able to physically land the final blow on evil emperor makes everything come full circle in what I consider to be the ultimate nostalgic set piece of any fan of this incredible franchise. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, is a must have and must play experience for fans of this generous and enthralling generational franchise.
It’s one for you to enjoy creating an original experience, and one to experience original creations. Dreams’ true capabilities are yet to be discovered, as we are well into it’s early days in full release but I have no doubts that not too far in the future, we may see some of the greatest in gaming this year come from this engine, this platform, this wealth of creativity that is the Dreams community. Dreams is essential gaming this year, and truly a must have for all gamers.