The idea that ACE Team's less-appealing efforts are those that feel too conformed to expectation best surmises why The Eternal Cylinder is as successful a new IP for the Chilean studio as it is.
Coming away from any title in the Yakuza universe, to remark glowingly about its story and all the many characters and spots of exposition that entails, has become somewhat of a given.
Arguably one of the original Aragami's greatest strengths, it's nice to see Lince Works broaden the scope of their level design.
On the surface, Recompile might look and sound like an interesting, potentially unique, proposal.
Even in its most tepid of opportune changes, WRC 10 still finds ways to vex and test in ways that are both punishing but enjoyable to see through.
For a game so favorably-regarded and closely-monitored in its build-up to release, it's hard to shake off the minor disappointment and frustrations that Cris Tales generates in its final form.
Though there may be a whopping fourteen year gap between the first and second game, NEO: The World Ends With You makes easy work of slipping into the role of seemingly-direct follow-up to the events prior.
Without the unique interpretation and translation of combat, Fallen Flag should already take comfort in the knowledge that their crafted series of boss fights are at least visually and mechanically-attractive enough to warrant a punishing trudge through to the credits screen.
Clearly The Forgotten City is a game that speaks to those who revel in conversation. Those RPG fans who’d prefer not to fight or lash out, but converse and take a more steady, expository approach to finding a solution. It’s no exaggeration to say that the mythos Modern Storyteller both utilize and borrow from here is both surprising and satisfying with where it ends up heading. And while the narrative’s conclusion can come off too immersion-breaking or plain ridiculous for one’s taste, the caliber of writing for the most part is no less impressive for a game of this physical scale.
Boomerang X isn't the lengthiest venture and for a game whose attraction lies solely in its gameplay, so one's enjoyment will naturally come down to how embedded in its mechanics you end up becoming.
Though Minute of Islands is far from bland or unoriginal on the visual side of things, it's the game's lack of an equally-committed drive to its gameplay or even its delivery of a narrative where Studio Fizbil's efforts falter as a result.
Who's to say what the real, developer-side cause is for Scarlet Nexus' failings.
Time will tell if Sumo Digital can iron out the many creases prevalent in Hood: Outlaws & Legends. Providing that the early player-base is patient and/or willing enough to stick around for what's coming.
As satisfying its exploration is, the most striking take-away from Biomutant is just how astonishingly well it pulls off its intended tone.
The bloodshot, eye-widening surprise may not be as extreme here, but Pac-Man 99 is just as tense a competitive prospect its Tetris counterpart was in 2019.
While the short run-time of around two to three hours isn't inherently the root of the problem, one can't help but note Godstrike is in dire need of a better, fleshed out experience than the one provided.
At its best, there's certainly moments of appreciation and respect for the artistic detail Narita Boy lavishes in, with its pixel art and generally-eery vision of cyberspace run amok with corrupted foes.
But even with these brief spots of imbalance - when the Lemming-like behaviour of minions can feel a little too brain-dead or uncontrollable - Evil Genius 2: World Domination is still an impressive revival of a decades-old philosophy on strategy games.
There's no doubting the similarities and equally-familiar ground Everhood is treading here and of its intentions to pull the rug from out the player's feet.
Looked at through the nitty-gritty of its stat-based party management, Bravely Default II is a commendable third outing that at its best reaffirms just how joyous the IP's approach to both RPG gameplay and nostalgia remains all these years on.