Stephan Adamus
Overall, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a phenomenal experience. It has truly unique gameplay wrapped in a Triple A Kingdom Hearts presentation. The music featured is among the most memorable scores in video game history, and the amount of content will keep players getting much more than their money’s worth. If you’re at all curious about Melody of Memories, rest assured that it’s a must buy.
I really hope Tamarin’s issues are addressed with patches. It’s possible, as the game was constantly pushed back from its original release date. But right now it’s almost unplayable, because of its camera pulling. It’s not possible to recommend Tamarin for anything other than the music at present.
The more I played Minoria, the more I liked it. This became a game I was rooting for, and that’s a great feeling. It sets a high mark for the Momodora series and stands tall about the slew of other Metroidvania options out there.
What we have in Ys: Memories of Celceta is a game that has dated graphics and an okay presentation, but phenomenal music and gameplay. This is one of the finest action JRPGs I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. Don’t let its immediate blandness fool you, this is a must play that should stand by giants like The Legend Of Zelda and Final Fantasy series. It’s only 2/3 the price of an average game, and comes with a soundtrack and art cards. What more could you ask for?
It’s not hard to recommend Shinsekai: Into The Depths as a very good Metroidvania.
If you’ve never played a musou game before, then One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is a fantastic one to start with. If you’re not a One Piece fan, however, your enjoyment of the game’s story may be limited. But if you like One Piece, and/ or like Dynasty Warriors, then you need this game in your life.
If one accepts Re:Mind for what it is, it should be a real treat for hardcore Kingdom Hearts fans.
Although Shinobi likely isn’t going to gain any new fans from this release, it is a comprehensive, well put together, package for the original game. It contains every modern enhancement I could think of, and for only its low asking price, it’s a steal for all Shinobi fans.
Fantasy Zone is an excellent, and difficult shoot ‘em up. For fans of any Gradius-style game, I highly recommend you play this classic that still holds up. Its cartoony visual aesthetic gives it a charm, and its difficulty will keep fans shooting for a long time.
SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions is a SaGa game through and through. Unfortunately, that means it’s not for everyone.
I love Star Ocean: First Departure R. It’s a must-play for JRPG fans, and gaming historians.
Realistic monster truck physics are unique to be sure. But what’s here is just so bland, and unfun that the end result will provide about as much playtime as a demo would.
With all of these upgrades and extra content on top of an already rock-solid game, picking up Romancing SaGa 3 for many is a no brainer. Granted, the combat and leveling up might not be for everyone, but if you are a fan of Western and Japanese RPGs I highly recommend jumping into this classic that took way too long to make its way out west.
Planescape: Torment and Icewind Dale are isometric western RPGs with pre-rendered backgrounds. If this style of game is your cup of tea, then these are both classics, especially the creative, dialogue-heavy Planescape: Torment.
I will be very interested to look at WWE 2K20 a year from now, after some massive updates, and featuring all modes. It’ll probably have the same ugly graphics, but let’s hope that this is a wake-up call to 2K games that they need to release a polished product. Some of us still like having our games on disc when we buy them.
Two classic platformers and more extras than you can shake a stick at! Disney Classic Games: Aladdin And The Lion King is the new benchmark for how to release retro games in the modern world.
If you’re a fan of PS1 classics like Crash Bandicoot, or Spyro, but would like a heavier emphasis on action, then MediEvil is just what you’re looking for, especially if you want an old school challenge with some new school tweaks. If you’re not into retro gaming, however, MediEvil won’t be the game to convert you.
Tangle Tower is a very excellent presentation of a very short game. It feels like a mobile game, and has a very short play time of 5 hours, with no incentive to replay. If this was a $5 game it would be a lot easier to recommend, but as it stands,
The player will be doing a lot of the same in Contra: Rogue Corps. Although the progression systems and multiple modes are welcome, the game is just ok, and it definitely doesn’t feel like Contra. If the price was less it would be a good budget title, but for Konami’s newest Contra offering, it just doesn’t cut the mustard.
Ni No Kuni is a timeless masterpiece of a JRPG. The only reason to not own it is if the JRPG genre is just not your cup of tea. But if it is, you’ve got up to 100 hours of engaging game ahead of you, and those hours will not be forgotten.