Marcus Estrada
It's repetitive in its continuous swarms of enemies, challenging in the constant flurry of bullets headed your way and ends up sapping most of the potential fun out of itself. Bedlam may suit your needs if all you need is a trip down FPS memory lane, but you're better off seeking any number of similar titles which actually offer compelling gameplay.
Much of Putty Squad's design decisions seemed steeped in the early '90s. Beyond actual platforming, you've got stars to collect as well as special stickers.
This game was reviewed via a digital code received by the publisher.
ERICA stands as an intriguing example of connecting players with a game through touch controls. It succeeds primarily as a technical feat and less so as a deeply-engrossing video game. If the storyline were given more time to grow then maybe it would have blossomed into something special. As is, it's akin to a murder mystery popcorn flick. There's fun to be had solving the mystery, but not quite enough to create a memorable experience.
The Bell Chimes for Gold starts out as charming and fun to play.
Some folks are really into slice of life tales, and for others, it makes reading a visual novel a total slog. If you're interested in a slightly mystical take on the genre then perhaps A Butterfly in the District of Dreams will excite you. For most, however, it's an average tale which plods along with no real meaning for the majority of it. There's nothing harmful about this, and there's far worse you can play on Steam, but your hours of reading time might be better served elsewhere.
Japanese School Life is not a new idea in the visual novel space – Go! Go! Nippon and the confusingly similarly named Tokyo School Life both offer a similar plot.
Virtual reality is an incredibly exciting technology. Unfortunately, The Assembly follows safely along the path of other VR games with a functional, but absolutely cumbersome, movement scheme. The good thing about this is it isn’t likely to get players motion sick. On the other hand, it’s unwieldy and undesirable when compared to regular old adventure/exploration gameplay. The storyline and characters prove intriguing, but gameplay fails to support them. As it currently stands, playing The Assembly in VR simply made me yearn to jump to the non-VR version instead. That’s not what gamers should be thinking in the midst of the PSVR launch.
There's something to No One But You once you make it through the average slog that is the first half of the game. Had there been more time put into fleshing out the characters and ensuring that the complete game was as exciting as the latter portions, it's possible this could have become a great visual novel to suggest to newcomers. As is, No One But You is a game with some intriguing moments and great artwork but overall feels too disjointed.
Laserlife had immense potential. Choice Provisions created a game that only they could make, but they did so in a way which doesn't feel complete.
Infinity Runner has a fun, unique concept that isn't utilized to the fullest. Dodging obstacles would be more rewarding if the difficulty ramped up alongside story mode.
It's both an astonishing and exciting time in gaming to see Nintendo willing to dig into their archives and bring back a retro adventure title.
Her Story is a tough act to follow, and unfortunately, Telling Lies does not hit the same emotional highs that Barlow's previous game did. Opting to use the same barebones video player both does not make sense for this storyline and introduces an annoyance that players are forced to deal with. The story is still intriguing, but not to a binge-worthy degree. Telling Lies is worth playing for Her Story fans, but can't quite hit those same high notes despite its best efforts.
Momoiro Closet is a strange game to recommend because the all-ages version lacks so much content due to sexuality clearly being the focus.
Chuusotsu! 1st Graduation: Time After Time is a mostly cutesy visual novel following the lives of three chuusotsu.
Visual novel readers who enjoy relaxing with a slow-paced, sweet tale may find A Sky Full of Stars a worthy next read.
Yukie: A Japanese Winter Fairy Tale is a relatively short and unusual narrative tale that most players should be able to complete in three to five hours.
Lily of the Valley is best enjoyed in a single sitting on a quiet day.
Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1 is just a small bite of the new world of Phantom Trigger. Clocking in at just a couple hours, some may feel it takes a few missteps at truly utilizing its short gameplay length fully. Still, players should easily find themselves wrapped in a militaristic world that is both intriguing and a bit frightening.
Players can absolutely see the incredible potential of Friday the 13th: The Game. When the game works without issue, it provides a fantastic, tense experience unlike other asymmetrical horror games on the market.