Explore a supernatural RPG with stylish summoners and dark dangers lurking under the neon lights of a cyberpunk Japan. It is up to the agents of Aion to decrypt destiny and save the world from apocalypse! PS4 version reviewed. A dungeon crawler strung together by a flimsy story, but serves as a good entry point for SMT fans.
While there is a simple and undeniable pleasure in the simple act of raising parameters and figuring out the best way to schedule Chilia’s time, Lair Land Story hasn’t aged gracefully. Its combination of raising sim and visual novel works in theory, but not in practice due to the overwhelming and frankly shoddy story, and lack of emotional beats to keep the player hooked. Individually there are two good tastes to be found in this game, but their combination ends up lesser than their sum.
Stretch your legs, clean your whiskers, and dive into Nine Noir Lives. Enjoy a "point-and-lick" comedy-noir adventure, full of humour, crazy characters, and intriguing locations. A punny detective game with visual novel elements and a surprisingly earnest core beyond its snarky exterior.
Like comedy, horror is subjective. Some people prefer the thrills that come with a jump scare, whereas others prefer a slower and more psychological horror. In that sense, Yomawari: Lost in the Dark can satisfy both camps. The majority of it is atmospheric, building up dread as you explore eerie locales. Then, right when the tension starts to reach a fever pitch, it throws you into fast-paced action sequences during which a second of hesitation can cost you your life.
A pleasant and aesthetically pleasing way to pass the time, though it suffers from some pacing and quality-of-life issues that prevent it from being fully relaxing. Switch version reviewed.
RWBY: Arrowfell feels empty and one-note, which is a far cry from the stylish action-packed show it draws inspiration from.
A group of documentary film makers receive a mysterious call inviting them to a modern-day replica of serial killer H.H. Holmes ‘Murder Castle’. But on arrival they soon discover they’re being watched, and even manipulated, and suddenly there is much more at stake than just their ratings. A brutal season finale with surprisingly palatable characters, but some issues with the narrative and buggy graphics keep it from its full potential. PS4 copy reviewed.
Despite its ridiculous premise, the plot of Raptor Boyfriend is so cliched and serious that it drags down a lot of its promise.
Paranormasight is a well-crafted mystery-horror that leans more into the mystery while keeping things light with a snappy script.
Wildfrost is a challenging game that suffers from some balance issues.
Labyrinth of Zangetsu is a uniquely beautiful dungeon crawler with interesting lore, but can occasionally feel shallow.
It is a very aesthetically pleasing game with a very simple story on paper. But its execution is interesting enough that the various twists and ending remain satisfying.
An ill-conceived parkour game with aged graphics and gameplay, but with an undeniable thread of lost potential underneath that makes me wish the development team had spent more time in the planning stage. PC version reviewed.
Despite its lovely aesthetic and heavy worldbuilding, the messy plot and inability to show nuance or interesting developments make this an ultimately dull experience.
A fresh breath of life for an old classic, Ghost Trick remains a quirky and strong narrative with lots of creative puzzles.
A unique story in a fun setting and with a really addictive gameplay loop, Master Detective Archives: Rain Code feels really original while retaining a familiar formula.
Let's School is a cute game that makes organizing timetables and classrooms fun, but the charm doesn't last long before it becomes a monotonous routine.
2037. Nakano, Tokyo. Pollon Takaoka is caught up in a tangle of plots as a result of his encounter with the mysterious girl Momo and faces major events that shake the world. Live the experience with Pollon, help him hack the myriad branches of reality and "load" the ending that saves the world! An exciting and suspenseful visual novel that maintains its momentum from beginning to end. It's a story that relies on its medium for a complete experience.
I admittedly went postal a bit the first ten minutes when I was hopelessly lost. Nintendo Switch version reviewed.
An emotional yet whimsical adventure that focuses on the themes of self-acceptance and the inter-generational immigrant trauma experience.