Overall, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster was more of an average experience, especially for a newcomer to the series. It’s by no means a terrible game, as the unique story with multiple endings is interesting enough to follow. The demon recruiting system even had the same drive to catch them all, allowing you to tailor-fit your party to deal with the various fiends throughout the game.
At the end of the day, Guilty Gear Strive is a masterful effort from Arc System Works, proving time and time again that they’re one of the best at what they do. The slightly simplified game mechanics should make it easier for casuals to dive in and hopefully get better the longer they play but is still an insanely deep and technical fighter that will take veterans hundreds of hours to fully master.
Anchored by a fun and engaging combat system, Scarlet Nexus puts the emphasis on action, which offers stylish combos and flashy visual effects. Features like SAS and the Bond Episodes show the willingness of Bandai Namco to expand their repertoire and are put to great effect here. Sadly, repetitiveness bogs Scarlet Nexus down, especially towards the end. With a less than compelling storyline to go through, battles will tend to feel routine, and this is further weighed down by some bits of uninspired level design and excessively large areas that take you around in circles.
NEO: The World Ends with You stands strong among a sea of releases, and is a worthwhile entry whether or not you’ve played the first game from 2007. The story of a game organized by Reapers is interesting enough, but the fun combat system and catchy soundtrack wrap it up in a fantastically presented package that is nothing but a treat to play.
After a drought of 5 years, Tales is Arise makes a stunning return and thoroughly sticks the landing. This latest entry in the series is a solid outing that we can't recommend enough and should prove to be a must-play for longtime fans and even newcomers to the series.
Sonic Colors: Ultimate may not offer anything groundbreaking and may feel average by current gaming standards, but to longtime fans, it’s definitely a return to form for a beloved fast running, ring snatching, wise-cracking, and robot smashing video game icon.
Just like the original from over two decades ago, Diablo II: Resurrected proves to be another great outing from the folks at Vicarious Visions. Not only were they able to keep the charm and feel of the original game intact, but they also introduced very sensible upgrades that fully realize the vision of Diablo II.
Ubisoft has tweaked the formula to a reasonable degree, but Far Cry 6 remains a familiar game. Newcomers will surely find a lot to see and do, but veterans know full well what to expect. This is not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination, since it mostly means a polished, playable, and relatively fun game where the one question that looms over their head is how long into the game before it gets tiresome and repetitive.
Demon Slayer The Hinokami Chronicles is a case of a game that will certainly appeal to fans of the anime but may not pull in a wider audience. The overall content of the game feels sort of shallow, considering the anime is still only in its second season, opening the game up to the possibility of adding more fighters via DLC. That said, if you’re in the market for a simple game that’s based on one of the most popular animes in recent memory with fantastic characters and an interesting storyline, Demon Slayer The Hinokami Chronicles is certainly one title to consider.
Eidos Montreal has managed to take the appeal of the MCU's Guardians and crafted an alternate universe that is just as interesting, and easily worth expanding on for future installments. For their latest adventure, this dysfunctional team of superheroes has definitely made a splash and we're definitely all in for more adventures with Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.
Elden Ring is the logical evolution in the trademark souls formula, borrowing the best features from previous titles and blending them into a finely-tuned mix of intense combat and high-pressure precision. While veterans will surely enjoy the punishment that comes with it, newcomers are treated to what could arguably be one of FromSoftware's more approachable titles to get into. The Lands Between is vast and full of danger at every turn but heavily encourages exploration, offering handsome rewards for those who choose to face the dangers head-on. Capped off by a beautiful open-world brimming with mind-blowing monster and level design, Elden Ring easily rises to the hype and exceeds expectations.
Putting things simply, WWE 2K22 is an improvement in almost every way, surpassing 2K20 in aspects that matter to merit a definite return to form. Some things like MyFaction and MyGM could be fleshed out a bit more, but it does mean that Visual Concepts has finally steered the ship back on track and could build bigger and better experiences based on this outing.
Despite its rather straightforward platforming mechanics and forgiving gameplay, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga succeeds in recreating the mainline films in a package that is enjoyable for even the general audience that isn't a fan of LEGO or Star Wars. Fans, on the other hand, will get a kick out of the game, taking them on a wild ride across the galaxy in a comedic retelling that's oftentimes funny and mostly entertaining. Iconic characters and locations make an appearance here and most, if not all, of the classic scenes from the movies are faithfully recreated brick by brick.
Sonic Origins is a fun romp and a trip back in time to when things were simpler. Getting some of the best Sonic games out there in one package is a sweet deal, and that alone should be worth the purchase. You’re also getting an Anniversary Mode to go with it, which adds some nifty features that shake up the gameplay experience. If anything, Sonic Origins is a good compilation of Sonic games but is a bit pricey for what you get. Adding insult to injury is the fact that the Deluxe Edition locks players out of some bonus items that really should have just belonged to the base game. Still, Sonic Origins is a great time for fans and newcomers alike and is a worthwhile way to experience the adventures of the terrific trio.
Klonoa was an iconic character for a reason. This fun platformer combined with catchy tunes and lovable characters made for some memorable experiences, and the Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series lovingly brings all of it back to life for current systems. Including both of Klonoa’s classic titles, the Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is the best way to experience the classic and is a triumphant return for the character. The game is very simple to pick up and play, but also offers enough variety and challenge to those looking for a test. Despite some minor complaints, you could even consider them as nitpicks, the Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is a treat for fans and is the closest thing we have (for now, maybe) to a modern Klonoa experience.
Digimon Survive is the latest entry in the series that takes a surprising twist with its setting and visual novel/strategy RPG hybrid. The result is a fresh take that’s fun, challenging, and a familiar treat for those who like monster collecting. Longtime fans should definitely give this a shot, and newcomers who haven’t played any of the previous Digimon games shouldn’t have a problem following the story or any of its proceedings. Despite the unfortunate delays that the game has experienced over the years, Digimon Survive is another worthwhile entry in the long-running series that won’t disappoint.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is a fantastic installment and a great update to the classic fighting game from almost 10 years ago. It’s made even better thanks to changes that should appeal to both fans of the source material and those looking for competition. Newcomers looking the use All-Star Battle R to get acquainted with the series will be out of luck, as the closest thing to a story mode in the game will expect players to already be familiar with the characters and their stories. That being the case, this shouldn’t stop newcomers from enjoying a fun and solid fighting game.
Soul Hackers 2 is a solid JRPG that manages to be fun, challenging, but also overly familiar. It’s easy to dismiss it as a Persona clone because of a lot of borrowed elements, but it doesn't take away from it being a fun game despite its lack of originality. The game shines because of its story and characters, both of which are interesting enough to give it a life of its own. You’ll find them endearing during the more lighthearted moments, but at the same time, root for them at their darkest, which will really compel you to see the story through.
TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection certainly deserves its title as a collection that’s as awesome as the franchise itself. From classic games to nostalgic side content, this is a dream come true for longtime fans. Konami has gone above and beyond to make this package worth it, filling up the Turtle’s Lair virtual museum with enough material to justify calling itself a museum. Concept art, advertisements, guides, and even retail boxes are here for players to enjoy. A collection like this will mostly appeal to fans such as myself, but objectively speaking, the value in the collection is immense. While newcomers may find the games dated, TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection can easily offer hours of mindless fun for everyone.
Valkyrie Elysium is a very rough time, which is a shame considering its pedigree. Despite a few bright moments like its fast-paced combat, the game is bogged down by questionable design decisions and repetitive gameplay that sour the whole experience. The fun combat system can only do so much to carry the weight, but alas, everything else feels average and fails to live up to its storied past. A deep sale is recommended before even trying it out.