Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero revitalizes the Tenkaichi series with nostalgic charm and complex mechanics. The game offers a dynamic experience with a vast character roster and an engaging combat system. While it has some issues with camera angles and balance, it's still a highly enjoyable entry in the franchise.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster revitalizes the beloved zombie-infested game from the 7th generation of consoles. It uses Capcom’s RE Engine for improved graphics and quality-of-life updates while maintaining the original gameplay and humor. With time-based mechanics, customizable weapons, and a visual overhaul, it's a great return for fans.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a nostalgic tribute and a well-packaged bundle of timeless arcade fighting games. It has a sleek user interface, customizable gameplay options, and appeals to both long-time fans and newcomers.
Visions of Mana masterfully captures the heart of traditional JRPGs with classic elements and stunning visual artistry. The main storyline and combat system shine with engaging characters and smooth gameplay, but the lack of meaningful side content and occasional performance issues hold it back from perfection.
Star Wars Outlaws offers a fresh take on the franchise. While it has great visuals and solid gameplay, it relies on familiar open-world tropes, which may not appeal to everyone. The protagonist, Kay Vess, and her companion, Nix, offer enjoyable interactions, but some missions and stealth elements can feel repetitive.
The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection revitalizes the beloved series with a focus on investigative prowess, updated visuals, and expanded gameplay mechanics. The shift to crime scene exploration and clue gathering breathes new life into the series, making it accessible to both long-time fans and newcomers. This collection stands as one of the strongest entries in the franchise, blending nostalgia and innovation for lovers of the detective genre.
Tomba! Special Edition brings back the beloved and quirky PS1 classic, delivering a delightful blend of nostalgic charm and thoughtful modern enhancements. While the game is primarily an emulated version, Limited Run Games has enriched the experience with behind-the-scenes content, a new OST, and widescreen support, making it more than just a simple port. Despite its age, the game’s unique art style and engaging Metroidvania mechanics hold up well, though the controls can feel dated.
SteamWorld Heist II is a grander sequel that retains the core gameplay elements while trying to offer innovations. For fans of the original, it is a worthy sequel.
SPY×ANYA: Operation Memories, a spin-off from the popular anime SPYxFamily, focuses on the charming antics of Anya, providing a lighthearted and visually appealing experience.
The 20th Anniversary Edition of Beyond Good & Evil revives a beloved classic with enhanced visuals and character models while keeping the original gameplay and level design intact. The improved graphics make it worth the higher system requirements, and new missions and quality-of-life features enrich the experience. Fans of the original will appreciate this remaster while awaiting the long-promised sequel.
Capcom has revitalized the original Monster Hunter Stories by releasing it on PC and making it compatible with the Steam Deck. While it may appear lower-budget compared to its successor, its excellent combat system and engaging RPG elements make it an enjoyable experience.
The release of Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece on Steam is a significant improvement, especially for Steam Deck users, offering better compatibility and performance without the need for extensive tweaks.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is an impressive sequel to the cult classic game. It features an ambitious open-world and a more engaging storyline that combines nostalgia with innovation. Although the game has a few design quirks and occasional performance issues, especially on PC, it compensates with a rich narrative, an expansive world, and an engaging combat system. Players who are willing to dive deep into its universe will find it a rewarding experience. While it does not redefine the action RPG genre, it successfully captures the essence of adventure and exploration, making it appealing to both veteran and newcomer players.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth serves as a worthy continuation to the Final Fantasy VII Remake project, building upon its predecessor's foundation with vast maps, refined combat, and a compelling narrative. However, the game is not without its faults, as it suffers from technical performance issues in its visual-focused mode. Despite this, the game innovates with semi-open world exploration, improved gameplay mechanics, and an engaging story, setting a high standard for the series.
Shiren The Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is an excellent addition to the franchise. It combines narrative and roguelike dungeon crawling to offer a challenging yet rewarding adventure. Unlike other games that rely on tutorials, this game doesn't hold your hand and is enjoyable for both veterans and newcomers. This latest installment introduces a captivating new setting and multiplayer modes, and also refines the gameplay with quality-of-life improvements. Additionally, the game features a dynamic online rescue system, making it stand out in the mystery dungeon genre. It is a must-play for fans and newcomers alike.
Initially perceived as redundant, Persona 3 Reload transcends its predecessor by integrating the artistic flair and gameplay sophistication of Persona 5, presenting a visually and mechanically enhanced version of the iconic title. This remake revitalizes the original's darker narrative and roguelike dungeons with significant aesthetic upgrades and gameplay innovations, offering both veterans and newcomers an immersive experience that arguably surpasses even Persona 5 Royal in visual and interactive depth.
The Apollo Justice Trilogy is an extension of the critically acclaimed Ace Attorney series that brings new life to the courtroom drama genre. It combines humor, nostalgia, and innovative gameplay mechanics to maintain the essence of the series. The engaging storytelling and dynamic courtroom battles remain intact, while new gameplay elements like Apollo's lie detection and Athena's emotion-reading abilities are introduced to enhance both the gameplay and narrative.
Tekken 8 not only meets but exceeds the high expectations set by its predecessor, Tekken 7, by delivering a refined fighting experience with new features like the Heat Gauge. It sets new standards in visual quality, single-player content, and character customization, offering a comprehensive and engaging experience that is both visually stunning and rich in gameplay variety.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising brings substantial updates and new content, making it a standout in its genre despite the lack of an upgrade path from the original. With its expertly developed gameplay, expanded character roster, improved RPG mode, and innovative multiplayer options, it offers both accessibility and depth, catering to both newcomers and seasoned players in the fighting game community.
Echoes of the Fallen, the first expansion for Final Fantasy XVI, extends the main story with a new quest and enriches gameplay, but its short duration and segmented narrative set the stage for the more anticipated expansion, The Rising Tide.