I love a game where you can literally pick up and play for a few minutes and put it down without consequence. I love being able to sink close to an hour at a time, doing the same rewarding actions, and then walk away without needing to get another move, another turn. It’s the most ideal way to casually enjoy a game, and Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition keeps players locked in for the most viciously enjoyable cycle that I could imagine. If you loved it the first time, you’re going to adore it the second.
Enthusiasts and collectors will want to grab the physical version of Sonic Wings Reunion, and players determined to make it to the top of the leaderboards first are probably already in poll position when the game goes live on console. But, for the choosier player, the shiny graphics and silly nature of some elements might not be enough to retain engagement, at least not at launch. It’s a decent shooter, but I’ve played dozens of decent shooters, and my memories of enjoying an SNES title isn’t going to keep me hooked into something that’s just “decent.”
Candy Rangers falls solidly in the middle when it comes to on rails shooters. It’s got plenty to do and it’s inventive in the execution, which kept me locked in for exciting fights and the arcade mode. But needing to repeat myself simply to justify the lack of margins of error was exhausting and, frankly, unfun. I’d much rather do a level again because it was thrilling or because I want to challenge myself, not because the game won’t let me go out to play until I clean my plate.
Classic anime fans and roguelike survivors who want something different are going to discover Wander Stars as a fantastic expedition. The story goes in amazing directions, the engagement of crafting the best “deck” never gets old, and, when it’s running well, it’s a smooth and enjoyable expedition.
Once everything is said and done, Blippo+ may only run you about six hours of “play” time, but it’s one of the most honest and unique titles in the last decade of gameplay. It’s an FMV without any game, and it works in a spectacularly bizarre fashion.
An RPG where I love the game, hate the story. Never thought it possible, but here we are.
If you must get this game, then you must, and Godspeed to you. Maybe you loved the original PSP versions. Maybe you need to play every dungeon crawler available on the Switch. Or maybe you hope that supporting this title will lead to the 3D sequels getting a Western release. Whatever the case, do your thing, but, for players trying to find a new title that goes toe-to-toe with Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society or Boyfriend Dungeon, Class of Heroes 3: Remaster is simply not the right class to audit. Drop it, and go take literally anything else.
Shuten Order is the most ambitious title that Kodaka has ever created. It’s got hallmarks of brilliance and longevity, and will be examined by game developers for years to come as a blueprint for what the future of gaming may look like. I won’t call it perfect, and I was severely disappointed with what didn’t work, but the vibrant and explosive sections resonate deep within me.
Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening is a tie-in game with no current projects to tie it to, and that’s more than okay. It’s a great reminder of something that’s retro and fun, but there’s no need to relaunch the entire franchise again. There’s plenty of ways to view the classic Cobra media, both from the 80s and the 2000s, and we can all enjoy it to different degrees. I think the game is worth a spin, particularly if you love a solid side scrolling power fantasy, but don’t expect it to supplant your GOTY. It’s a great cartoon, and it’ll last you one fantastic Saturday morning, just like it did years ago.
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a marvel and a dream wrapped up in a promise kept to fans the world over. Keeping the original game alive and delivering it, even decades later, shows a dedication to their fans that WayForward continues to delight.
OFF is everything I thought it would be and more. It drags you by the eyeballs into a story of blind faith and utter despair, and does so with the single minded frankness of a serial killer confessing his sins. It convinces you to ignore the warning sides and drive towards the dead end of the road at full speed. You are shown, never told, what is truly at stake, and then allowed to do with that information what you will.
Personally, I think the new House of the Dead 2: Remake is heads and shoulders and legs and bleeding torsos above the first game’s port. This one is playable, enjoyable and does a decent job of capturing the feel of the game’s core tenants. I don’t have an obvious solution for how to fix the gyroscopic problem, but players who have time and dedication will land on the right settings to make the game feel as fluid as possible. In the meantime, it’s still fun, it’s still gory, and it’s still a trip to enjoy in today’s modern gaming era.
You don’t watch Titanic hoping the boat will survive; you need to see Jack and Rose sharing a moment, however brief, in this dark, cold life. That, more than anything, is what you can take away from Iwakura Aria. Perhaps you’ll find the ending that I couldn’t and discover a happy ever after for everyone. But, even if such a thing doesn’t exist, the fact remains that the love is there, and, however fleeting, it’s real, and it burns and it chases shadows away.
Sunset High is a day late and a buck short. Having to repeat the same nonsense again and again to slowly unlock some new information doesn’t feel like I’m gradually learning more, it feels like I’m stuck in a Tik Tok that’s mashing up Twin Peaks with Sixteen Candles but trying to keep it modern.
Overall, with that one odd exception, Fiz and the Rainbow Planet is a great example of a snack video game that’ll be a fun jaunt for fans of pixel art and platformers. The cohesion is solid, I enjoyed how the characters interacted, and nothing particularly crazy happened with play or controls.
The concept is tepid at best, the graphics are generically cute and the delivery is just a mess of a golden goose situation. The day to day on the free version is hatefully slow, and, once you drop the ten bucks, you’re just turned loose with no sense of accomplishment to help you along. There’s no middle ground between “drip feed content” and “whatever, here’s a bucket.” This is the biggest brand in the world, and Pokémon Friends lashes out at each and every fan to say “you’ll pay us because we expect you to, so pony up.” Don’t be surprised for the Pokémon Center to start selling these yarn versions in the next two months, and for them to be thirty dollars a pop. I knew you were in it for the money, Pokémon Company, but this is disgusting, even for you.
Even if you’ve never touched AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES in any capacity previously, this is a solid entrypoint that might even be better thanks to pacing and plenty of extra reading to catch up on previous events. It’s captivating, it’s complex, and it’s riddled with intrigue and mystery. The moments you live are the moments you remember, and, though he is exhausted from lack of sleep, Kaname Date very much feels alive.
If you are all in on Bustafellows already, if you adored CollarXMalice or Code:Realize and can pick up the general information, then you’re in good company. Bustafellows: season2 has plenty of excellent voice acting, quirky romance beats and a couple of great developments that made me appreciate Shu so much more than the first title. But if you’re coming into otome games or visual novels in general, this is not a great place to start.
Overall, Irem Collection Volume 3 is charming and fun, but it really doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking to the table. These aren’t the classics you would recognize, nor would I call them undiscovered gems that never got localized. It’s a good preservation, but, after your curiosity is slaked, you may never find yourself opening them up to play again. But at least you have the option, and that, more than anything, is the purpose of keeping these titles alive.
In a world where games can be patched and updated till they barely resemble their original form, Front Mission 3: Remake still could not grow into a better and more satisfying sequel. Clean up the graphics, tweak the AI and make the missions load faster, and you’re still left with bland combat and unlikeable leads. I doubt this’ll be my last time with the franchise, but, in a world where even the best games can be left behind in a blink, I have no choice but to eject from Front Mission III immediately to save myself.