Even seven years after its release Torchlight II still knows how to please, the game has aged well. The typical loot system works wonderfully on the home consoles. The porting is successful except for the equipment area. The story cannot convince one hundred percent with the few twists and surprises, but it doesn't have to. Since the story is finished after a good twenty hours, in the end game you only concentrate on the optimal equipment anyway. Torchlight II can still be played today, as long as you don't have elaborate textures or detailed graphics.
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Paper Mario: The Origami Kingdom is definitely not an everyday RPG. You can argue whether the new combat system is innovative or disruptive. I didn't like the fact that in the end there is no reward for winning battles. The coins earned can be spent in the store for various accessories, but these are soon bought up. That's why the normal fights are disturbing and you try to avoid them later in the game. The absolute highlight remains the setting, because the gorgeous colors and the character sprites are shining like hell. Also the search for the toads is motivating and lets you enjoy the whole game world. Finally, it remains to say that Paper Mario: The Origami Kingdom unfortunately can't hold a candle to its predecessors. The story around Mario and Origami ruler Olly is well done, but the stressful fighting system makes the game fun to play.
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I had an enormous amount of fun with New Pokémon Snap. That's especially because it's so wonderfully decelerating. Just turn on the Switch and dive into the tropical forests for a few hours and look for the perfect picture of Arbok. Since the game concept doesn't overwhelm, even children will have their fun with the title. Of course, it should not be forgotten that the gameplay is very repetitive and almost doesn't change at all from the beginning to the end. It also leaves the bland aftertaste that you only move along predefined routes. All in all, it's a good remake of the original title. If you can get excited about the likes of Animal Crossing, you'll definitely enjoy New Pokémon Snap.
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Ys IX Monstrum Nox is a role-playing pearl that I wouldn't want to miss. The ninth part also convinced me with its battle system and story. Especially the plot is, in my opinion, the best story of the series. Unexpected twists combined with exciting character relationships have me under their spell. The graphics are, as in the other sequels, unfortunately outdated and could use a beauty treatment. With 20 to 30 hours and six different difficulty levels, you can spend quite some time in Balduq. The New Game Plus mode also invites you to collect forgotten items and explore all the secrets of the prison city. All in all, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a solid JRPG title that you won't regret buying.
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Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a homage to the entire series. The background music has always been an essential part of the franchise. That's why I was all the more pleased when this game was announced. The story sections are told in their most essential features, which is good for newcomers, but simply too little for veterans. Also the scope is exhausted relatively quickly and the other modes are nice, but it doesn't have a real added value. The enemy types are also exhausted after a while. The real highlight is and remains the music, because every single track reminded me of the wonderful events around Kingdom Hearts. If you want to remember such moments, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a must buy. If you don't have any nostalgic memories of it, you will have to think twice about buying it.
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Alvastia Chronicles offers a story with ups and downs, unexpected twists and turns and surprise. You wouldn't expect this title to show that, but I was well entertained throughout. I especially liked the wealth of characters that can be recruited. At every corner of the world, you can find more friends. This feature indirectly forces you to deal with the world. It should be noted that there is no synchronization of the characters, so everything has to be read. Here you have to unpack your English knowledge, because there is no German translation. I also enjoyed the variety of the different characters. If you want to make friends with barrels or trees, this is no problem in Alvastia Chronicles. The fights are well designed throughout, but the random fights are just annoying from a certain point on. It feels like there are just too many in too short a time. A nice side note is that towards the end of the game, you're pretty overleveled, so the end boss shouldn't be a problem. If you're looking for a solid JRPG with collection factor, you'll have a lot of fun with Alvastia Chronicles!
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Underhero is a lovingly designed indie title with lots of attention to detail. If you look at the conversations around the colleagues of 745, it is fun to listen to them. It doesn't seem to be a burden to talk to all monsters, no, you want to talk to everybody and get to know the world around the Underhero better. The bouncing passages are the shortcoming of the game. Not only once did the inaccuracy of the jump drive me crazy. But in the end I kept going until I mastered the last jump, even though it took me several years of my life. The fights were a lot of fun. I immediately remembered the Paper Mario parts where dodging and learning the attack patterns was part of survival. If you want to play a mixture of platformer and roleplaying game, spiced with a fun and exciting story, you definitely won't go wrong with Underhero.
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Super Mario 3D All-Stars shows the young generation what the evolution of Nintendo's mascot has looked like. Starting with an edgy 3D representation with camera problems, up to a wonderfully designed plumber, who is looking for his princess in space. Even nostalgics will enjoy the collection. You may return to your childhood and experience Mario again. You only have to give deductions in the implementation of the games. That in Super Mario 64, no 16:9 aspect ratio was inserted, is a sad fact. Also the price of 60 Euro was chosen very high for a remaster which was not really remastered. All in all, you will have fun with Super Mario 3D All-Stars, no matter if you accompany Mario on one of his 3D adventures for the first time or if you have already experienced them several times.
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It's been a long time since I've been so torn when it came to rating a game. Mario Party Superstars has a lot of good points, such as the different co-op options and the mini-game mountain with a selection of the best games in Mario Party history. But exactly the second argument also brings a disadvantage. With the given number of mini-games, the air is out very quickly. I also find it a shame that you no longer have to unlock the games or boards. This means that the replay value is quickly lost, especially if you have played through all the boards. With the coins won from them, you can still go shopping in the Toadshop, but these things have no relevance in the end. All in all, Mario Party Superstars is a good game if you want to indulge in fond nostalgic memories. As long as you are aware of this fact and don't expect any too important innovations, you will have your fun with the title.
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You can see in Dark Deity that the developers have a great love for classic SRPGs like Fire Emblem. Even if the story and presentation aren't overwhelming, the battle system does a lot right. Starting with the active abilities, which really add something and aren't just a decorative effect. Then there are the different classes, which gave me the opportunity to customize my squad the way I wanted. Finally, to the little things, like the battle animations, which add a lot of charm to the game. In my opinion, if more had been invested in the story presentation in addition, the title could have reached a wide range of players. Thus, Dark Deity remains an insider tip among SRPG fans that can be bought without hesitation.
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Bravely Default 2 convinces with its gameplay mechanics in all cases. Even though you have to be aware that the difficulty level is already hard as nails on the normal setting. You don't need to have played the predecessors for this spin-off, since the game tells its own story. It takes some time for the story to pick up speed. But once you reach this point, you won't want to turn off the console. If you liked Octopath Traveler, you'll definitely enjoy Bravely Default 2. If you are not a fan of turn-based, lengthy JRPGs, you should reconsider the purchase.
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Rune Factory 4 Special takes the player into a magical world full of adventure and challenges. If you want to fill your virtual existence with fieldwork and explore the story of Selphia, the game will not disappoint you. The learning process is slow and steady, so that the player is not overwhelmed. When you've had enough of gardening, you swing on an animal and ride through the wilderness, beating up some monsters. The fighting could have been a little more challenging, but Rune Factory 4 Special doesn't want that. The title shines with a mix of simulation and RPG elements. This appeals to people who may not otherwise be involved with JRPGs. The new features are well done, especially the synchronisation is impressive. The developer would have liked to add some more graphic elements. The sprites look partly not well ported. If you feel like a fine mixture of Harvest Moon and JRPG, you will definitely get your money's worth.
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My time in Portia was longer than I thought, because the game captivated me. The mixture of exploring and working on the field has become optimal. In My Time at Portia you don't have to watch the fields all the time. Because of the time gained, I was able to focus more on exploration. The world of My Time at Portia offers so much to discover and I wanted to see everything! The story has been well integrated into the overall game structure. You can't see the post-apocalyptic scenario in the game, but if you delve deeper, you can see the former world at every corner. What you can give credit to My Time at Portia is the fact that the game has been completely translated into German. Here and there there are gaps where there are still English text passages, but these are rarely seen and don't disturb the flow of the game. Also you can see the game's PC past, because the gamepad controls are very spongy in some places. You can also see this when you search or select something in the menu. All in all, My Time at Portia is a wonderful game with a few quirks. If you want to play a solid simulation game with an exploration factor, My Time at Portia will definitely give you a good time.
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Fell Seal Arbiter's Mark - Missions and Monsters is a tactical RPG like no other. Lots of professions that can be mastered and different skills. The story is quite predictable and the twists and turns are predictable. Also the graphics is not the strength of the game. But what is definitely convincing is the completely customizable difficulty level. Is the level too difficult for you? No problem, a few sliders moved and poof, the fight is already easier. Also the gameplay is fun in itself. The commands of the characters are intuitive and you won't find a nested menu navigation. If you look at the DLC, you can get an enormous extension of the game fun with about 10 Euro. New classes, a guild system that makes sense and tameable monsters. What more do you want? Tactical roleplayers who had their fun with genre representatives á la Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea will not be able to avoid a purchase. Even newcomers will be able to dive directly into the game action without having to experience too many frustrating moments thanks to the customizable difficulty level.
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Yes, I love the game! Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster does so many things right that a Japanese role-player would want. First, an exciting story that takes a bit to get going, but picks up tremendously as the game progresses. With a total of six different endings, you can dive more than a hundred hours into the game. Secondly, the combat system, despite its age, is not boring. No two battles are alike, and in the most marginal fights you have to be careful not to die. Only by cleverly using the press-turn system can you survive. But this level of difficulty has been greatly alleviated with the "Gracious Mode". This means that a wider audience can now have fun with the title. Only the annoying random battles dampen the euphoria. Last but not least, the collecting urge is more than satisfied in the title. With far more than a hundred demons and monsters, there are endless possibilities to put together your dream team. Also, many monsters can evolve as well, giving a real "Pokémon feeling". I'm confident that Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster will be a big seller. Perhaps this will see more Shin Megami classics get a re-release on the current generation of consoles. Also, this spin-off is the perfect preparation for the hopefully soon to be released fifth part!
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A thirty year old game hasn't looked this good for a long time. The remaster of Langrisser I & II is a perfect success. The new character designs fit wonderfully into the modern game landscape. But if you want to have the original feeling like back then on the Sega Mega Drive, that's no problem either. With about 70 hours of different story paths, you have a lot to do with the bundle. Since the gameplay changes depending on the way you play, playing through the game several times is not boring. You have to endure the frustrating moments with the sometimes really stupid NPCs, but in the end you will be rewarded with an exciting story. There are not many strategy games that can hold a candle to Fire Emblem, but Langrisser I & II is definitely one of them. Strategy fans can take the titles with confidence.
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The remake of Trials of Mana has remained true to its origins. The story, good versus evil, is classic and twists and turns are not to be expected. Through the six protagonists, six different perspectives can be seen in the interwoven story. This allows the title to be played through six times. With a playing time of 20 hours per character, you get a lot from a game. Unfortunately not much can be experienced apart from the story. With almost no side quests, you are "only" busy with the main story. Also there is no local co-op anymore, which could disturb one or the other. If you played the original 25 years ago, it's definitely worth playing it again. New fans have to be satisfied with a roleplay without a lot of gimmicks. But if you get involved, you get a wonderfully animated game pearl.
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Banner of the Maid is a well done SRPG. The battles are crisp and hard, but once you have successfully completed the mission, you are even more proud of your performance. It is also pleasant that no fantasy setting or completely exaggerated story elements were chosen. The title reflects the French Revolution in its main features. One gets to know authentic characters like Napoleon Bonaparte, Marie-Antoinette or Maximillien de Robespierre.
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NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... will be able to build on the success of Nier Automata. With the incredibly exciting story, fantastic characters and the nimble battle system, every action RPG lover will get their money's worth. However, there are definitely deductions for the unnecessary waiting times between the areas. Also, the boring side quests (with a few exceptions) are not up to date. What is also not up to date is the graphics. Since this hasn't been pimped, you have the same presentation as it was on the PS3 back in the day. All in all, you can spend a lot of time in NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139.... The different endings let you see the story from different perspectives. There is also a completely new ending that can only be found in this version.
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As a long-time One Piece fan, I am thrilled with One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4. The story goes all the way to Big Mom Arc and in just under 20 hours you get the main points of the story. The fighting system remains true to a Musou game. You fight your way through a level with a pirate of your choice and defeat several thousand enemies. The special abilities available to you are the graphic highlight. Each character has four attacks typical for the series. Also the innovation with the shield bars and the giant enemies brings fresh wind into the series. Unfortunately, the biggest criticism is the long waiting time for the loading screens. This aspect takes so much dynamic out of the game that it sometimes seems frustrating. Also the level of difficulty is not really demanding. At the highest of the three levels, there are isolated sections where you have to take more care. All in all One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is the best part of the series. If you have fun in the One Piece universe and own a console or PC, the title is an absolute must buy.
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