It may have the Fate name in its title, but it doesn't present itself like a Fate title. The Umbral Star tells a bonkers story that only a Fate franchise can produce. The game itself is fun and features some awesome animations, but it’s instantly dragged down by terrible team AI and almost no sense of accomplishment.
Mother Russia Bleeds is a welcome addition to a genre that has been forgotten for decades. Its combat is fun and brutal but be warned It's a game that will drive you up the walls and probably see you break your controller, hopefully you won't break it of your friends head if he's sitting next to you.
Hollow Realization is the best Sword Art Online game to date but that doesn't mean it's great by any means. If you're a fan of the franchise this game is a no brainer as it’s packed with so much content you can put as many hours into it as you would an actual MMO. It’s just a shame that a lot of that content is as Hollow as its name suggests.
While playing World of Final Fantasy, all I wanted to do was jump into the world of Grymoire just so I grab and hug the adorable characters. Sure it may not look like your typical Final Fantasy but it’s got the depth of a Final Fantasy. In a way, World of Final Fantasy is a celebration of the franchise, and I personally feel like it’s a thank you from Square Enix to its fans.
Yomawari: Night Out is the definition of survival horror, trapped with nothing to defend yourself with against horrors that await around every corner. Yomawari may be light on jump scares but the creatures, sound design, and atmosphere is enough to creep anyone out.
Traveller's Tales Games has once again showed why their games continue to sell millions. The Story Packs are a great move forward to expand the Dimensions franchise and a great way to tell a story of a movie or TV show on a smaller scale and its battle arena additions are sure to ruin some friendships.
Taking a formula made famous by Minecraft and refining it in every possible way is what makes Dragon Quest Builders a fun and enjoyable experience through and through. The only thing holding it back is your own lack of imagination.
I personally enjoyed Zenith, the story and writing kept me going though all the various issues it presented. The amount of bugs, glitches, and technical performance issues just can’t be overlooked, especially for a casual gamer.
God Eater 2: Rage Burst is the perfect alternative to a game like Monster Hunter. It may take a while to get into and a lot of information is thrown at you right from the start to turn off any player, but for those who stick with it will find a very rewarding experience both for hardcore and casual players.
Slain: Back from Hell is a stylish 2D side-scrolling action game that borrows from the best in the genre. It's wonderful pixel art will have you in awe more than once throughout your adventure. Striking down your enemies is brutally fun but also frustrating when you’re getting hit because of faulty hit detection. I just wish there was more to do after the single playthrough.
The Final Station is yet another example of an Indie title with great ideas but not the best execution. The world is well crafted and its simplicity can allow anyone to get into it. But it's more important features like maintaining your train feel shallow and are a definite missed opportunity.
Even the most hardcore Gundam fans will find it hard to say they enjoyed VS-Force. It may look and sound like a good game but it doesn't play like one. Poor controls, pointless story, and some crazy difficulty spikes leaves VS-Force missing the mark in almost every way.
Lifeless Planet's stark simplicity belies its heartfelt message. Its environmental blandness countered by a compelling story
Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force added much needed and requested changes, but not everything seems to have been addressed with this re-release. The different paths you are able to take add more depth to the already well told story. Compile Hearts has once again crafted some great characters and a good combat system that allows you to customize your own move sets and attacks. It’s just a shame that the game’s graphics haven’t been improved from its initial release and don’t even get me started on those terrible side quests.
Adr1ft has a great concept behind it, but like many others it fails to execute it quite right. The game's lack of urgency makes it hard to believe that I'm struggling to survive in the vastness of space. It's bare bones gameplay may be fun for most,but its lack of interaction and simply drifting through the vastness of space is just simply boring. It can be beautiful to look at and its score is delightful when it's there. Adr1ft just doesn't bring enough to the table to make it a great outer space survival experience.
Assault Suit Leynos is a fun game and a decent remake of a title that a lot of people may not have even heard of. It oozes with retroness with its great soundtrack, character designs, and overall feel. It’s just unfortunate that its exploitable boss fights and confusing controls (which will take you the entire hour length of the game to learn how to use) hold it back. Keeping a game’s purity is always a plus in my book, but the lack of content once finished will make you question the $19.99 price tag.
With its enjoyable narrative and fun quests, The Technomancer is certainly worth playing, even with its bland visuals.
Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness excels in areas like combat and crafting but not in narrative or characterization. It has enough gameplay options to bring any JRPG fan to the table, but not everyone will leave content.
Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- is easily the king of fighting games released up to this point, at least in this generation. It's not only accessible for new players but keeps the hardcore players satisfied as well. Arc System Works has outdone themselves with their fantastic art and animations. The additions of new and old characters are welcome to the already vast and unique lineup of fighters and it's awesome and daring story mode is what makes -REVELATOR- my favorite fighting game to come along this generation.
It may sound like i'm being too hard on Anima: Gates of Memories but the truth is I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. After getting used to the camera and the awkward lock-on system I found a lot to enjoy, and the Arcane Tower hides many secrets and additional side quests to expand your playtime. Gates of Memories’ fantastic world building made me want to invest in the actual pen and paper game; in fact, I’ve already gone ahead and ordered one of the books. The great boss fights and incredible music brings its mystical locations to life even though some of them can be bland.