Despite some nitpicks, Fate/Samurai Remnant is still a worthy new entry in the long-running Fate series as well as the Musou genre. The elements like Masters and Noble Phantasms the Fate series are well incorporated with the Musou-style gameplay. Not to mention you’re treated to a memorable story with enough twists and turns that it may stay with you for a while, or until the next Fate entry.
If there's one thing that can sum up our adoration for Granblue Fantasy: Relink, it's that Cygames has made the long wait absolutely worth it. The game feels like a product that was delivered with love and care for the franchise, highly evident in its stunningly gorgeous visuals and equally mesmerizing audio. Combat is a highlight, offering fast-paced and slick battles that get the blood pumping, accented by visual effects that may be a bit too much at times. Still, there's a lot of fun to be had, and the gameplay loop feels addictive and rewarding.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a fine collection of games that surely merits a purchase for any gamer who wants to be challenged in terms of their analytical skills and enjoy some exciting courtroom drama, which the Ace Attorney series offers in spades. For that, we have no objections! Newcomers don’t need to worry too much about starting their attorney journey with Apollo Justice, as the collection is strong enough to be an ideal entry point for a new protagonist in the series. You won’t need to know Phoenix Wright’s long history as an attorney, as the games present just enough information to let you know who he is, and it could serve as a reason to revisit the past titles, which are also available in compilations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As a fan of the series, I really looked forward to Gungrave G.O.R.E but was left disappointed by the experience. While the DNA of Gungrave was present, it really lacked some of the crucial aspects that made the previous games fun and entertaining. Gungrave G.O.R.E isn’t exactly a bad game, but there are some decisions here that make it feel frustrating and stuck in the past, which is sad because there’s much that could have been done here thanks to the advancements in technology over the years.
I can see why Tales of Symphonia is considered a favorite in the series. Like other entries, it’s a solid experience with fun combat and a compelling story, but it shows its age in the modern gaming landscape. It doesn’t help that the remaster is quite a lackluster effort that could have made this outing much more worth it. Don’t get us wrong. Tales of Symphonia Remastered is not a terrible game by any stretch, and it does tick all the boxes of a fun and solid experience, but we’re saddened by the feeling that it does deserve much more than the remastering effort that we got. With so many games out on the market today, check this one out if you’re hankering for an old-school experience.
This was a very tough call. Considering this is a collection of some amazing games in an iconic videogame franchise, we would want you to rush and get them right away. That is, if, and only if, you’re a complete newcomer to the series. For longtime fans who have likely bought and already lived through these games during their release, we can only recommend them if you have a really bad Metal Gear itch that you want to scratch. These are practically unchanged from the originals, so if you have the previous iterations, then you're not really missing out.
Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is another serviceable entry in the series, and while it doesn't break or tread new ground, players can expect a fun but shallow outing with some of their favorite ninjas in the Naruto series. Even with over 130 characters, the game is bogged down by a lack of modes, lackluster English voices, and a new story that felt predictable. While it did have some high points and some emotional moments, it doesn't stand out too much, which might be a disappointment.