All in, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is exactly what I expected when it was announced as "Boomer Shooter" and that is a damn good thing. When it comes to this franchise, you usually have to go into it expecting certain levels of jank much like Necromunda: Hired Gun. Fortunately, here the developers have put out a jank-free, high-quality product that should bring Boomers and Gen Z kids together in a bloody ballet in the glorious name of the Emperor.
DNF Duel is a fine addition to the rosters of fighting games on the Nintendo Switch. I can only hope that crossplay comes in the future alongside the number of updates and support Arc System Works has promised the other versions. It's a bit of a niche franchise when compared to stuff like Dragon Ball Z and may not quite have the appeal for more casual fans. That said, fans of the genre who fancy an anime fighter with a bit of a difference will find that DNF Duel stands in its league.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a hefty and fun title. It's not only an essential purchase for gamers who have been dreaming of the series coming back, but also works extremely well as an introduction to gamers who may have missed out originally. If you've already had your fill of Fire Emblem and crave something similar or like the idea of the series but not its fantasy theme, Advance Wars has you covered. It has all the addictive charm of a Nintendo title with some great strategy gameplay. Sadly there isn't anything in terms of "new" content for returning die-hards and the graphics can be a little deceptive, but delay or not, this is another great experience.
Cannon Dancer: Osman should feel like a celebration of unearthing a lost gem. Instead, the lack of extras and personality in its presentation outside of the game gives it more of a "shop-bought replica" feel. It's a fantastic way to spend an hour and longer should you want to challenge it to the one-credit clear, but I don't think there is enough there for people who aren't retro enthusiasts or have a history with the "Strider" games. I love Cannon Dancer: Osman, but it's a tough one to suggest outside of its niche. If you fall within that niche you're guaranteed to have a smile from ear to ear. Outside of it, it feels like an overpriced, flash in the pan.
If you have a hankering for a new shoot ’em up on your PlayStation 5 or played Final 2 and just really need 7 new stages and a selection of new customizables then R-Type Final 3: Evolved could be right up your alley. If you played but weren’t really into previous R-Type titles or had your fill with R-Type Final 2, then this is a bit of a tough sell considering it’s not really a sequel but more of an enhanced update. Confusing nature aside, I had my fun with R-Type Final 3: Evolved, but it didn’t quite do enough for me personally to stick around. After spending countless hours on the previous game, I felt like dipping out quickly after seeing the new stages.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is a bombastic remake of one of the best games ever made and it achieves greatness in the same way the original did. It doesn't replace the original but rather compliments it and feels like a natural continuation of the previous remake titles. I was hooked from the second the game started and I'm now on the 4th replay. Even now, I still cannot get enough of its addictive gameplay and engrossing environments. Resident Evil 4 Remake is the perfect mix of horror and action that has yet to be matched in the series since the original. While Resident Evil 8: Village tried, the fourth installment's pacing here cannot be matched, especially in the remake. Once again, Resident Evil 4 rules the survival horror roost!
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a fantastic and unexpected entry in the Bayonetta series. It has all the hallmarks of an experimental title from Platinum Games but sadly lacks the over-the-top action they have become synonymous with alongside their genre mixing. What is on offer is a charming tale with a unique art style, an addictive world to explore, and acceptable combat. It may feel initially daunting to series fans, but will soon warm to those willing to take a gamble on a Bayonetta title that feels more like a different title, wrapped in Bayonetta lore and namesake.
Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has always been seen as somewhat of a black sheep of the series as the only title that hadn’t seen an international release. Now that it has, when compared to the other main titles in titles it just feels a little uninspired in the gameplay aspect. That said, it is held together by one of the stronger narratives presented in the franchise. It has some rough textures and an even rougher opening few hours but once you wade through them it’s a textbook Project Zero title almost to a fault. For series newcomers, I would suggest starting with this one and then going into Maiden of Blackwater due to the many gameplay improvements you'll find there. But as a standalone title, it’s a slightly above-average game with a fantastic story.
Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe feels like a comfortable game. Offering plenty of additional content for anyone who has played the original release, it's a mighty fine time for Kirby fans new and old alike. This is the best 2D Kirby game available on the Nintendo Switch, even if it doesn’t quite match the originality of Kirby Planet Robobot from the Nintendo 3DS. It’s a great title for families and provides that lovely little dopamine hit that the series is famous for. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a brilliant break from the gritty world of first-person shooters, tactical RPGs, and fighting games.
Metroid Prime Remastered is the gold standard when it comes to “Remasters”. It doesn’t add anything of significance, but it’s not a remake nor does it tout itself as one. Instead, it takes all the iconic aspects of the original title and makes sure they are of a standard that matches the current gaming standard. The game remains to be a gritty, fun, and immersive experience. While the combat isn’t quite as good as the exploration, it still provides a must-play package not only for fans of the original but also for people who may have joined the series a little later. We can only hope that Metroid Prime 2 and 3 aren’t too far behind!
Dead Space Remake is a title I couldn’t enjoy more if I tried. I love Sci-Fi, I love horror, and this game just reminded me of why the original title turned as many heads as it did. It’s a labor of love and I couldn’t be happier to award an extremely rare perfect score to Dead Space Remake. It’s put every other game of 2023 on notice and will take something really special to dethrone as King of the Horror Mountain.
I wanted to love Wanted: Dead. It has everything I love about that charming AA middle ground from the PS2/3 era, but sadly even at its highest of highs, it still smacks of average. The game has a lot of heart but zero focus, resulting in it trying to do too many things and barely achieving any of them well. I've no doubt this title will get a cult following and I'd be down for a sequel, but as it stands I can't suggest anyone gets involved unless you're craving something a little different wrapped in average and bland paper.
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider has a steel-like focus on its demographic: people who either grew up with titles like Shinobi and Strider or people who have taken the dive into retro gaming and want the thrill of something new that feels authentic to the time period. The short run time, use of a lives system, and difficulty that some may feel is cheap may deter some gamers. That said, all in all, the developers have knocked it out of the park once again with some high-octane ninja action with intuitive controls, smooth gameplay, and the kind of pick-up-and-play style hook that the loftier AAA games just don’t have.
One Piece Odyssey manages to not only be the finest One Piece title released, but it also stands on its legs alone as a damn fine JRPG adventure. It’s riddled with all kinds of franchise fan service, but that only carries a game so far and I don’t think I would have enjoyed playing through the game’s 40-hour+ story if that was all it had. The game managed to smash every expectation I had. While it had some wonky pacing and played it a little safe at times with the genre tropes, I felt fully invested in the game from start to finish. It’s to such a point that this game has rekindled my love of the franchise which had been ebbing to the point I was happy to just play the Musou titles for a story recap. It won’t convince anyone who actively dislikes or shows no interest in One Piece to get invested, but if you have a slight curiosity and a love for JRPGs, the game offers enough to entice and entrap players. If you’re a fan of Luffy and Co, then this is the easiest game recommendation I can make. This is the game I wanted from One Piece: World Seeker and has cemented itself as the absolute gold standard of Anime tie-in titles: no more cheap arena fighting games, please!
I love Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, so much so that I continue to go back night after night and get stuck in that “1 more” loop that is a true testament to a great game. Yes, I haven’t been able to perfectly follow the narrative and I’m not playing it under the most ideal of circumstances, but I still cannot get enough of it. With that said, it’s not going to be for everyone. It is still at heart a horde, team-based shooter. The more single-player-focused gamer is going to get bored much sooner than others. It’s the bloody marriage of the combat, the random missions, and the sheer presentation of the levels that makes Warhammer 40,000: Darktide such an easy game to recommend to anyone who enjoys shooters. It's an essential purchase for those that “Praise The Emperor”. I love this title and the constantly evolving nature of it means that it is only going to get better!
Having the chance to play one of my favorite Final Fantasy experiences, with updated graphics, tweaked combat and in 60FPS on the Playstation 5 and Steam releases was an offer I just couldn’t wait to take up. I’m so happy that it has turned out, for the most part, better than I expected. Due to the original device limitations, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion was always going to feel a little different than a traditional title. This is helped somewhat by Crisis Core always having gone beyond the average handheld title. Surprisingly, it isn’t held back at all by the disjointed gameplay loop and instead presents an addictive and fun condensed adventure with real heart and some wacky Square Enix writing to boot. Dodgy voice dub aside, it’s fantastic that this title is now more wildly available to gamers. Whether you missed it the first time around or played the original, you owe it to yourself to step into Zack Fair’s boots and take the fight to Genesis one more time.
From the second I launched the game to my current second playthrough of the title, I cannot get enough of this game. I had a feeling this would be a special sequel with how unexpected the original was, but I wasn’t ready for just how good this title would be. I’ve often mentioned the fact to anyone who would listen to how much I love River City Girls from its unique style to its addictive and smooth combat. With this follow-up, WayForward has decided to completely dethrone the first title. This is frankly the perfect sequel. It adds enough while still retaining what I adored about the original. Funky performance and loading issues aside, I can’t find any faults with the girl's latest outing and anyone who may have been burned by the release that was River City Girls Zero should ignore that and join the girls and their cast for what is frankly my personal game of the year, a contender for best in the genre, and just an outright bombastic and fun adventure. Pack your bag River City Girls, you’re getting evicted by the River City Girls (too).
Front Mission 1st Remake is a bizarre title. It is a true remake rather than a remaster, but all the effort has still gone into the visual side of things rather than tweaking the gameplay to make it more in line with the modern era of gaming. It’s a slow-paced title with painful RNG that really isn’t too interested in providing more than a basic SRPG experience with customizable mechs. It’s great to see the series back once again. With a remake of further titles planned, I can only hope this serves as a stepping stone to provide players with a much more fun and engaging title in the future. Unfortunately, as it stands, Front Mission 1st Remake is a pretty title that while offers some fun, really doesn’t stand out in any real meaningful way compared to its many, many peers.
Signalis is as traditional survival horror as Resident Evil 1 to 3 and Silent Hill. It has a unique art style and a different camera angle, but the result still hits just as hard. It has a compelling mystery, interesting puzzles, combat that works within the genre, and tension that at times is frankly astounding. Signalis is an essential horror title for anyone who loves a good scare, with just enough science fiction in it to keep fans engaged.
I needed to love Gungrave G.O.R.E. It's exactly my kind of thing as a sequel to two of my favorite "AA" titles from the PS2 era. Full of shooting and over-the-top anime action scenes, this game was penned to be my niche experience of the year. Unfortunately, it lacks the soul of the previous games. Instead, it has been padded out to an unenjoyable slog, where the endearing jank because egregious and the simple yet engaging gameplay is spread that thin it reaches new levels of repetition and annoyance. Fans of Gungrave will find enjoyment here. It just needs to be in small doses. Otherwise, the realization that this is kind of a cheap, soulless cash-in kicks in too quickly and you're left wishing the series hadn't been resurrected.