Alleef Ashaari
Star Ocean: The Divine Force isn't a bad game at all. I enjoyed my time with it thanks mostly due to the D.U.M.A. mechanic. The experience of playing this game makes me reminiscent of my memories of playing PS2-era JRPGs. A lot of them weren't polished or even that great, but I still had fun playing them.
Gotham Knights don't offer anything new or interesting in terms of actual gameplay; most of the game's mechanics have been done better elsewhere. The only saving grace of the game is that it features members of the Bat-family as playable characters in an action game, which is something that's extremely rare and should be done more often. The combat can also be sort of fun if the game wasn't so grindy and if it runs more smoothly.
Signalis is worth playing for fans of horror and sci-fi, especially for its visuals, aesthetics and overall atmosphere. That's not even mentioning the music and how much effort the developer put into the artistic side of the game. However, the game lacks a lot of accessibility features that make the experience more frustrating and annoying than it should be.
Scorn is certainly not for the squeamish or those not familiar with body horror, I can tell you that. However, if you're into Cronenberg and body horror, you'll love Scorn. Scorn is best experienced with no prior knowledge or tips because that's how a game like Scorn is meant to be experienced.
If you're hankering for a new SRPG to play, The DioField Chronicle barely scratches that itch but there are worse ways to spend your time.
My verdict is this; if you've ever played the original The Last Of Us and The Last Of Us Part II, there's not much of a reason to immediately grab The Last Of Us Part I. Naughty Dog should have put more effort and resources into updating the gameplay mechanics to be more similar to The Last Of Us Part II. Improved visuals alone don't really justify the full price tag of RM299 if the rest of the experience is mostly the same. That being said, The Last Of Us Part I is definitely perfect for those who's never played the original game.
Tiny Roar was too ambitious while making XEL. The scale of the game should have been smaller so that the team could make a more polished product. Instead, they’re in over their heads. Maybe with time and further updates or patches, it’ll be closer in terms of quality to the game franchise it aspires to be but right now it doesn’t hold a candle to The Legend Of Zelda or even to other recent Zelda-like games like Death’s Door or Hob.
Dolmen really has lots of potential. It could have been a decent first effort from Massive Work Studio, if not for the jankiness and bugs. Some of the progression system and mechanics (like the crafting system) might be worth looking into, but as of right now, they’re underdeveloped and not well explained.
If you like XCOM and other turn-based tactical strategy games, then Warhammer 40000 Chaos Gate Daemonhunters is still recommended. The gameplay is solid, the visuals are awesome, and it’s accessible even if you’re not familiar with Warhammer 40K lore.
If you're a Metroidvania/Search Action fan and you're looking for something familiar, Cathedral will do more than enough to scratch that itch. You'll likely happily spend 20 to 30 hours exploring what this game has to offer. However, don't expect this game to be easy or feature innovative new gameplay mechanics. It's a pretty good experience if you're here for more of the same.
Many of the Coromon creatures might also look derivative if you’re used to Pokémon designs. Even so, the game is still worth trying. Coromon is not a ripoff of Pokémon, and if you give it a chance, you’ll enjoy the game.
In a world that's already saturated with open-world games, it's disappointing that Ghostwire Tokyo doesn't do much to distinguish itself and instead relies on tired tropes. Add simplistic combat and annoying mechanics to that mix, and the game doesn't have much to stand on. The only saving graces are the flashy visuals and aesthetics, as well as attention to detail in other areas such as environments and creepy monster designs.
Polyphony Digital has definitely succeeded in making a racing simulator that even a casual gamer can enjoy. It still has a few issues, but if you're willing to put some effort into your racing skills, the game can be enjoyable and satisfying.
Before you think about getting Total War Warhammer 3, just know that this is a game that will ask a lot from you, in terms of time and effort. It's demanding and stressful, with the most hectic and chaotic campaigns in the franchise to date. However, the sheer variety, diversity and aesthetics of the game can make the experience satisfying and rewarding.
Horizon Forbidden West doesn't really do much to revolutionize or innovate the open-world genre. However, it's a mighty exhilarating game with a great story, fun gameplay, beautiful graphics, and meaningful improvements over its predecessor, essentially adding way more to an already surefire wonderful experience.
If you like space adventures as well as the bicker and banter of Star-Lord and the gang, Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy is definitely for you.
As anime games go, Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba The Hinokami Chronicles is a relatively good one. It’s not remarkable, nor does it do anything new, but it’s first and foremost catering to fans of the anime and manga anyways. It seems like developer CyberConnect 2 has put a bit of effort into this one, compared to other barebones and horrible anime games like My Hero One’s Justice 2.
In the grand Far Cry pantheon, I’ll put this slightly above Far Cry 5 since it reiterates and improves an already surefire open-world action game, adding in a much-needed new locale & flair.
[Lost Judgment is] quite a slog, to be sure, but ardent fans should appreciate it better than the majority of people expecting a shake-up like Yakuza: Like A Dragon.
Rustler is not a bad game. The writing and setting can be fun and entertaining, but the shoddy controls and janky mechanics make for an unsatisfying experience. I enjoyed the game but couldn't really bear to play much of it one sitting.