Final Fantasy XVI, with its shift towards a more action-oriented approach, offers a mature and dark narrative that is both captivating and contentious. The game's combat system, which echoes elements of Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, is commendable, although its RPG elements appear somewhat diminished in the quest for action. Despite some irregularities in the distribution of experience points and variable quality of cutscenes, the game's epic fantasy action, dramatic set pieces, and well-crafted characters make it a standout installment in the franchise. However, the polarizing ending may leave fans with a range of reactions.
The Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection remasters the first three games of the series for the Nintendo Switch and PC, maintaining its unique dungeon crawling gameplay but struggling with the transition from dual to single-screen. Despite some compromises in the mapping function, the collection offers improved visuals, auto-battles, and remains an engaging strategic adventure, particularly on handheld devices.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor excels as a sequel with refined gameplay, stunning visuals, and an engaging story. With customizable difficulty and appearances, the game appeals to all fans. Despite some pacing issues and initial technical hiccups, this action-adventure is a captivating addition to the Star Wars universe.
Live A Live is a captivating anthology of short JRPG stories with diverse settings and unique gameplay mechanics. Remade in HD-2D, it offers an engaging grid-based combat system and a fantastic soundtrack. Despite some complexity and convoluted storylines, the game's multiple endings and quality-of-life improvements provide a satisfying experience for classic JRPG fans.
Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster breathes new life into classic games with meticulous retouches, improved artwork, soundtracks, and quality-of-life changes. The series stands as the definitive way to experience these timeless stories, characters, and gameplay mechanics. A must-buy for Final Fantasy fans and newcomers alike.
Creed: Rise to Glory Championship Edition delivers a potent VR punch, plunging players into Rocky's spin-off universe. Despite a lightweight campaign, its stunning visuals, intuitive controls, and exhilarating multiplayer make it a true VR boxing champion
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is a nostalgic compilation of the Battle Network series, featuring ten games with turn-based card combat and RPG elements. While some games haven't aged well, and exploration can be daunting, the enjoyable combat, charming art style, and added online features make it a worthwhile purchase for fans and newcomers seeking hours of entertainment.
Atelier Ryza 3 excels with its expansive world, refined gameplay, and dynamic combat. Despite pacing and character development issues, the game offers an engaging experience for both newcomers and dedicated fans, featuring captivating alchemy and numerous improvements.
Resident Evil 4 (2023) remake delivers a stellar gaming experience, exceeding expectations with its improved story, mechanics, and graphics. Despite some cut content, the addition of new features like haptic feedback and additional boss fights makes for a satisfying and immersive experience.
Moss and Moss Book II offer a unique and immersive experience for players on the PSVR 2, with some minor flaws in navigation and combat. Overall, they are must-play titles for adventure game enthusiasts on the platform.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is an on-rails shooter with multiple paths but has subpar visuals. It offers immersion through haptic feedback, 3D audio, and eye tracking, but the puzzles can be frustrating, and it requires patches to fix technical issues before being recommended.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners - Chapter 2 is an outstanding sequel that has improved on its predecessor with exceptional gameplay, despite some technical issues and a weak story.
WWE 2K23 offers a vast roster and abundant content, making it one of the best wrestling games in the past decade, despite minor animation issues and suboptimal online performance.
Before Your Eyes is a narrative-driven VR game that uses eye-tracking technology to immerse players in the life story of Benny, offering a short yet emotional experience, but with graphics that may not satisfy everyone and a narrative that could be more developed.
Pistol Whip offers an immersive and enjoyable gameplay experience, making it a fantastic addition to anyone's gaming library. Its excellent use of PSVR 2's features and its diverse soundtrack and cinematic scenes make it an exceptional game that stands out among other arcade-style shooting games.
Overall, Jurassic World Aftermath Collection is a decent VR game that offers a fun experience for fans of the franchise. While it has some flaws, such as repetitive gameplay and limited environments, it provides a budget-friendly option for PSVR 2 users.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse's English localization has cleaned-up visuals, effective Camera Obscura gameplay, and gyro aiming support on PS5, but the grainy look, confusing story, and dated controls are drawbacks.
Tales of Symphonia Remastered is a decent remaster of a classic game, but it lacks innovation and new content. Despite noticeable flaws, it remains an enjoyable experience for those new to the game or looking to relive the original. Its strengths lie in its improved visuals, engaging story, and memorable cast of characters. However, in comparison to recent remasters, it falls slightly short.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a great addition to the Final Fantasy rhythm game series, featuring enhanced gameplay, a vast song collection, and an immersive experience that pays homage to the franchise's rich history and iconic soundtrack. Despite a few small issues, it's a love letter to fans with limitless replay value.
Forspoken is a promising game that has the potential to provide hours of enjoyment through its open world and various side content. Despite this, it falls short in terms of pacing, an underwhelming story, and mediocre graphics, which greatly detract from the overall experience.