River City Girls has a fair amount to offer, it just is a bit rough around the edges. I had enough fun to see the value and the sprites and overall look is certainly nice, it just has some negatives that hurt it. Between the lack of online and sometimes difficult gameplay situations, it might frustrate less skilled or more casual players. This can be overcame through grinding, items and gear, but that isn't the most fun. So, if you're looking for another Castle Crashers this isn't it but it is a good beat 'em up if you're a fan of the genre.
In the end, I stand by it being one of the best titles last generation and strongly suggest it to anyone, especially those troubled by the looming threat of adulthood. For what it is, there are few games like that and this more than makes up for a bad choice here and there.
One of the struggles with Control is how to rate it. As amazing that so much of the experience is, more intense fights result in performance issues. And I had more issues figuring out where to go than people did with The Surge, yet I still walked away amazed. Having done hundreds of these reviews for Just Push Start, this is easily one of my favorite experiences and one I still strongly suggest to anyone looking for a unique experience or seeing just how interesting a shooter can be. Sure, it’s not perfect and it absolutely won’t appeal to everyone, but I wouldn’t let these things stop you if you’re remotely interested in what you saw going into Control.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood is a weird experience. The shooting mechanics could be a lot better and the RPG mechanics could be dialed back and it would be an amazing experience, but it isn’t.
The hard thing about KILL la KILL – IF is, it really isn’t a bad game or even a simple game, though it feels so rudimentary in practice it can be easy to lose interest.
Enjoying Keepers of the Void comes down to what you like about Darksiders III. It's almost entirely puzzles, most of which rehash the same concept of moving blocks to progress. This can make it rather bland, assuming you want more variety. However, given you're getting a fairly large area to explore, new weapons and even some additional story content, there is enough here to see the value in it. At least beyond what The Crucible offered.
Unsurprisingly, Void Mirror Prototype is meant for fans of the base game. Returning players will be reminded of what they dislike, just this time it plays a little different. For some this will be enough, though others might want a bit more. Considering we have two more expansions set to release sometime in the future, hopefully they do more than just add a slightly different version of existing content.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 accomplishes what it needs to do. Everything is presented in a simple and easy to understand way, that allows enough freedom to prevent the dreaded feeling that it is holding your hand. Toss in some cute visuals, comical characters and the ever popular world that is Dragon Quest and you have a winning combo. Whether you're looking to fight enemies, build an empire or just mess around, it's the type of adventure that is easy to get hooked on and enjoy. So, if you love building or just Dragon Quest in general, I strongly suggest giving this one a go or at least checking the demo out.
For the most part, Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle is the best you could hope for in an expansion.
For better or worse, Samurai Shodown comes down to your ability to read your opponent. You don't need fancy combos or memorize a bunch of things to be good. In fact, a lot of attacks have universal inputs and a lot of moves use the same basic input. If this isn't a turn off, odds are you will enjoy Samurai Shodown. However, if you love mastering combos and getting off some truly impressive feats, this simple isn't the game for you. Once you have the confidence in your ability, it's all about who can read their opponent better.
Overall, there is little wrong with Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Some of the sections have a trial and error feel, meaning you might lose and that will cost you progress, though the overall game achieves what it wants. As a fan of those games, I got a similar impression of this as I did with Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. If you're up for looking around every corner, work on your moves and invest in the story, it's hard not to see the value of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
While I could see this review of Dragon Star Varnir coming off as overly critical, I'd say it's more safe than anything else. There is nothing wrong with following a commonly used story, sticking to what you've done in the past and trying your best to make each experience a little different. I don't know if I'd say Dragon Star Varnir will stand out besides the lovely character designs, but it's a game that, if nothing else, fans of their previous work will likely enjoy.
Blades of Time feels less like a loving remaster that we can now take on the go and more like a last chance at redemption. With frustrating elements, dated idea and less depth than a current Dynasty Warrior title, it's hard to understand who this remaster is for.
Unruly Heroes has a lot of charm and is certainly fun enough to give it the time of day. Sure, the story is nothing new and the gameplay isn't going to turn heads but every game doesn't need to stand out in every way to be fun or entertaining. With a lovely art style and solid combat, it's easy to see the value if you enjoy platformers or games with simple combat systems.
Team Sonic Racing is ultimately a double edge sword. The concept is cool and the mechanics are there, it just won’t appeal to everyone. It’s hard to win a race and still lose, just like it’s a lot of fun to not have a last second mistake take away an obvious victory. If anything, it just changes where the source of frustration is. I wouldn’t say this is enough to ruin the experience, just that it’s less of a fix and more of a different experience.
If you’re not looking for a deep adventure, engrossing RPG mechanics or foes that test your builds limit, then this is a fantastic choice. Otherwise, you might be a little underwhelmed, though I’d argue there is still more than enough to get your moneys worth.
Life is Strange: Episode 3: Wastelands is going to ultimately appeal to long standing fans. Instead of worrying about narrative or pushing the brothers closer to Mexico, it's more about the characters and their lives. This allows some of the characters, namely Daniel, get a moment to explain their feelings though it doesn't do much for the overall experience. Given the path thus far, I don't know if it will be satisfying or if they'll make the most of the supernatural elements but at least the characters are strong enough to endure the storm.
The best way to explain Fade to Silence is that its designed with a specific player in mind. You need to have that desire to deal with micromanaging and drive to pick up, use and explore every place. If you're looking for a more combat or story driven adventure, this likely won't appeal to you, even if the events leading to this situation are eventually revealed. Because, at the end of the day, Fade to Silence does survival phenomenally well, it just isn't terribly interesting or check enough boxes to appeal to a wider demographic.
It's hard to find fault with Cytus Alpha. There are some good and bad songs, with enough variety to give players plenty of different experiences. When you consider it's the type of game anyone can get into but very few can master, it makes the progression from newcomer to pro a little more accessible. Sure, it lacks videos and some of the things found on other rhythm games, it's still the type of game I could see pulling out in the airport and enjoying or booting up once in a while for a quick play.
Mortal Kombat 11 looks great and manages to make things fascinating to watch. With the ability to interact with people and tons of new and comical finishing moves, it has a lot to delight fans. Even if fatal blows and the unlock system need to be reworked, it's still a good fighting game. At most, I'd say it's something to be cautious of and certainly see what, if anything, changes in the future, it just hinges on what you want. Those looking to fight people online or just love the franchise will likely have a blast, it's those who really care about cosmetics that might take a hit.