I can see What Lies in the Multiverse becoming a well liked puzzle game for a wider audience with just a little bit of exposure, and I hope it does. It’s got the heart, the mechanics are simple but solid, and the handling allows for enjoyment even on the Nintendo Switch. It never reaches the level of complexity that I found with Braid or Fez, but it kept the narration moving in a way that let me dive into the puzzles while still feeling satisfied and activated.
My final thought is that Gal*Gun: Double Peace is the best one I’ve played out of the series, and I don’t know what that says about me, the world, or anything else. It’s perfectly encapsulated: a full game from start to finish takes a little over an hour, you unlock a ton and it really challenges you to be a good shot.
For Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol. 2, I think we have a better showcasing of what NIS is capable of in both good and bad servings.
Freshly Frosted isn’t going to be recognized for blazing new game trails or crafting mind-blowing narratives that make you think about the human condition in a blistering reality. I’m just making donuts, and I don’t know or care who they’re for. It’s going to be there for me until I don’t need it or want it anymore, and that’s perfectly fine. Sometimes, you just need to focus on what you can control and what makes you feel happy in the moment. I feel happier knowing that I can make donuts sometimes, and, for someone else out there, maybe that’s all you need for today.
Full of side quests for more coins and cards, a pretty kickass metal soundtrack and plenty of replay value, Overrogue is what I was looking for in a contender versus Slay the Spire. No, it isn’t very serious, and I’m sure the people who enjoyed One Step From Eden or Ring of Pain will complain that it’s too easy or just not engaging. But this is a game that has clear mobile shades while still being fully fledged, engaging, funny and full of content.
I think that Birushana sits comfortably as one of the best otome titles I’ve ever picked up, and it’s a strong contender for the best visual novel I’ve grabbed this year. Anyone curious about the genre or anyone who wants a bit of love intermingled with 85% accurate historical moments should grab this game. Also, if you’re really interested, get the soundtrack and all the other goodies with the limited edition before it’s gone: Birushana honestly feels like a title that will be remembered for years to come.
It’s a beautifully put together package, and this isn’t the lackluster ending of a trilogy gone off the rails. This is a tight, enjoyable and absolutely true embodiment of what Inti Creates has been building all these years. For fans, it’s everything they could want. And for first timers…well, maybe pick up the Cliff’s Notes on what’s happened. It’s a lot, but it’s worth it.
I was skeptical when I first picked it up, but now I’m positive: Justice Sucks is a surprising hit, and I’m glad for my time with it.
Players ready for the second or third choices need little else to bring them into the experience. However, if you want to piecemeal Samurai Maiden, you’ll lose steam quickly and get distracted by long dialogues between fights and stages. Personally, I went right down the middle, and I think that’s the best course for everyone. It’s fun, it’s funny, and it keeps me coming back for more, and that’s all I want in a game.
There’s a real good reason that Nintendo’s House of Indies featured Melatonin, and that it reeks of everything that makes a Nintendo game a Nintendo game. It’s taken a simple idea and sharpened it till it can split atoms, and then put it in a visually noticeable package. You could take Melatonin and port it to every platform imaginable, but I’m thrilled that it exists on PC and Switch alone, the sweetest pairing of choice and accessibility.
As a huge fan of Shin Megami Tensei in general, Persona 3 Portable cannot be ignored, and should not be. It spawned the series as we know it, and the updated version, though not as magnificent as it could be, is still leagues better than the original Playstation 2 version, and it has the additional character and bonus content that helps this title dominate a large block of your time.
It’s a captivating tale, and it’s told in such a remarkable way that it does credit to its inspirations and to those it may inspire. It’s a perverse take on empowerment and justice in a world devoid of either, and it won’t sit well regardless of how you swallow it down. I don’t know what I felt in the end, about Loretta herself, but I do know that Loretta is affirmed in what she did, even if it tears her apart on multiple levels.
Fans of Fairy Fencer F should get in on this title and get in now. Drink deep of this lore and excellent scripting before it becomes bloated with extra noise, and enjoy it as such. If you’re scared by the change in approach, don’t be: a good IP can wear any hat as long as it fits. Refrain Chord wears the helmet of SRPG well, and players will honestly feel so much better being able to enjoy this new storyline without also wondering when their console/PC is about to crash.
For most people, getting Etrian Odyssey II HD means purchasing it in a triple decker sandwich with the predecessor and the sequel. You can enjoy the first one and then use that to expand on what’s great about this game, namely that everything is better while still being similar. It’s not nearly the departure that comes in subsequent games; it’s almost like playing a fan mod of the first with QoL improvements from basement devs. If you’re not looking for something that changes your life but does make it a little more fun, then Etrian Odyssey II does a fine job of being a fantastic dungeon crawler.
But, for the most part, Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine does exactly what it needs: it tries something new with the Super Meat Boy franchise and does it well. It’s tricky, it’s gory, it’s exciting and it carves new thinking pathways. There’s fun to be had and it’s got gorgeous animation, a bopping soundtrack and is perfect to pick up and play here and there.
Kingdom Eighties seeks to create a standalone experience for newcomers and longtime fans alike, and it achieves this in some facets. It’s beautiful, it sounds amazing, and the animated cutscenes and character archetypes fit the 80s bill to a T.
Get a few folks together, harass the horse host as a group, and then fight in some really good natured, simple ways. This is that lower tier of gaming that many of us didn’t expect out of Nintendo, but they delivered it with the genuine polish they add to everything. It’s glossy, appealing, accessible and inoffensive. It’s got a better entry barrier than some and a much better retention power than others.
If you enjoyed Mugen Souls, you’ll want to play Mugen Souls Z. It’s just more, but better, and the power leveling, the insane equipment hunts and the endless parade of grinding opportunities never relents. If you didn’t like the first one, you might still want to consider Z because it is better, both technically and dynamically.
Players will have a blast with this fully formed deckbuilder, both in terms of replay and strategy, not to mention incredible load times. Here’s to hoping that makaroll adds some Steam overlay and achievements in the future, because it’s too grand a game not to flex when you truly get into the haunting and compelling storyline.
The core of what made this game such a legend still exists and thrills me to no end. I wish it was a bit better handled with some extra flair, but I can’t complain that it feels exactly how I want it to be.