One Last Breath looks great from a distance but that notion changes very quickly when you start playing it. There’s endless potential and it needs a ton more polish before it can really take off but even then, there needs to be more intrigue to hold anybody’s attention. The minimalist story is what might make this game forgettable and it’s a sad fate for any release, however, not all hope is lost yet and we might still see more get added to what could be a great game to possibly rival a similar release known as After Us.
Gigantic: Rampage Edition is an obscenely rare sight on the MOBA scene and it looks like it might take a spot among the great MOBAs currently out there. The hero pool might be limited but with how much versatility is on offer with skills, it’s fair that the pool is rather limited but customs builds will also expand just how much is on offer. Aside from the server issues, the only big issue is the possibility of microtransactions possibly ruining another great release.
Broken Roads is setting itself up to be a great RPG, between the story that’ll definitely draw you in and the Moral Compass, you’re in for quite a treat. The use of the classic DND style rolls for different actions is a nice touch and it plays well into the narrative-driven environment, all it needs now is a little combat balancing and it’ll be damned close to perfect.
Lightyear Frontier is a cozy delight that’ll have you exploring a lush new world and taking a ride on the more creative side of life. With the visuals and background music working so well with each other, you’ll find yourself losing hours while building your new homestead away from home. Maybe even a village with several massive farms. There’s endless potential for this Early Access release and even though it’s already great, it can only get better going forward.
Open Roads is a brilliant change of pace for those who want just a story and a little mystery after some intense gaming. However, this might not appeal to everybody due to how slowly the story progresses, giving you only the smallest pieces to run with. If you can look past that and the minor issues with the voice acting, you’re definitely in for a treat with how this story unfolds and getting to see how Tess and Opal build a new bond.
Rise of the Ronin is turning out to be a great souls-like with endless potential and a brilliant story to match. There’s a beautifully detailed world to explore and the unforgiving combat that all hardcore gamers crave, but there’s also so much room for improvement, and a lot of pruning is needed. The cluttered map and the neverending junk loot are two of the biggest factors that dull the experience, but if you can overlook those issues, there’s a massive world to see and a lot of new challenges that await you in Japan.
Alone in the Dark is definitely turning out to be a masterpiece that needs to be experienced by new players and those looking for a blast from the past. Between the world and character design, along with the brilliant voice acting, you’re in for a hell of a ride while possibly running for your life at times.
Outcast – A New Beginning has endless potential, and it’s a pretty solid game to begin with, but it also needs some work before it really shines. There’s already a great story, a beautiful open world to explore, and an interesting combat system, and let’s not forget about the fully voiced world, but a little bit more polish would do wonders for this release.
Contra: Operation Galuga might have been an unexpected remake of an ancient classic, but it’s definitely a remake we needed. For those who want to relive their childhood or want a little blast from the past without being there, this release might be the best remake we’ve had in years. Between the upgraded visuals, new cinematics, and voice acting, Contra: Operation Galuga will most likely take a spot next to its predecessor in the Hall of Fame for years to come for both new and old gamers.
Stolen Realm has so much potential to be great, but it needs a lot of polish and fine-tuning before it can really make a mark. The lack of story is somewhat balanced out by the combat mechanics, but that also needs a bit more work to keep things interesting. While the music leans more toward the monotonous side of things, the voice acting is the saving grace in that regard. However, what really shines above everything else is just how well implemented the low poly world is and how it interacts with the hex block design for combat strategy.
The Thaumaturge is one of those incredibly rare gems that looks incredibly deceiving in some aspects but ends up blowing you away with what it has to offer, putting extra emphasis on Wiktor’s abilities as a thaumaturge and showing that the truth is usually just waiting to be uncovered. Between the already captivating story, breathtaking visuals, and drool-worthy soundtrack, we seem to have one of those rare masterpieces that need to be experienced, but it also leaves us somewhat curious if Fool’s Theory’s next release will be just as great.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is trying its hardest, but it comes off as a messy science project dressed up to look pretty, and we all know it doesn’t really do what it needs to. Sadly, a lot more polish is needed if there’s going to be hope of this release lasting longer than a year as a live-service title because, as we all know, they’re usually driven by the fans and a constant stream of income from microtransactions… Though there’s already a scarcity of pre-teens with a ton of money to burn, only time will tell.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is a somewhat solid remaster with some interesting improvements, but the issues mentioned earlier can still cause what should be a fun experience to come grinding to a halt. While there are some interesting improvements and new features, it feels like this remaster could’ve been handled a lot better or instead turned into a remake to really reignite an old fandom that has long since moved on.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is yet another masterpiece from Don't Nod, with a captivating story, stunning visuals, and even voice acting to help drive the nail home. This game is definitely worthy of the title, and even though it has that one slight issue during the initial start, it's nothing when you compare it to the experience you're in for as you take on the role of a Banisher in a land plagued by ghosts. Another thing to note is the replayability when you consider the two paths at the start and how they affect the entire story as you progress, possibly making Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden a game that might build a fun little cult-style fandom.
The Inquisitor has nearly endless potential to be great, but it’s so damn hard to get into the story, even if is based on a set of stories from a Polish author. It’s got a solid base, interesting mechanics, and brilliant voice acting, but the execution seems to need some work, and this detracts from the game in all the worst ways. However, if you have the patience or several shovels of salt, there is some good intrigue to the story that might keep you interested. Sadly, without a major visual and story overhaul, there might not be much hope for this release.
Persona 3 Reload is a lot more than just a remake; it’s the reimagining we all needed and got. With the game getting a lot of polish and some new features, there’s never a dull moment when you’re jumping between school life and the Dark Hour, and the nostalgia might just make you want to dust off your old consoles to binge through the Persona series again. While Persona 3 Reload can be a bit slow to get off the ground, it’s well worth the wait simply because when it eventually takes off, you might not be able to keep up with everything going on.
Enshrouded is one of the greater Early Access games to release, with how much there is to do and see. The story might not be as linear as you’d expect at first, but everything slowly unfolds and becomes clear as you explore Embervale, and that’s also what drives the plot forward. You’re not just trying to survive; there’s a driving force through the story that gets better as you go, and the same can be said for the crafting side, as well as, this also expands as you progress. Enshrouded might not be as hyped as it could be, but it is definitely a must-play for gamers who like a good survival game.
Lil’ Guardsman is one of the better deduction games that takes on a very cozy approach with its art style and voice acting, but it keeps you hooked on its story. Fans of social deduction games will definitely enjoy this strange release for its incredibly strange and whacky events, but they’ll also be pleasantly surprised at just how deceiving looks can be.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a great release for the franchise, and the story has a lot of depth that will keep you going for hours on end. All this, combined with the visuals and sound design, builds into a great game with a familiar atmosphere we all know and love, but from a critical point of view… The AAA price does not detract from the fact that it’s still an indie side-scroller. However, if you’re willing to pay the piper, it becomes a matter of perspective as to whether or not it’s worth the price.
Sovereign Syndicate is one of those games that you need to experience for its incredible charm, ambiance, and, most importantly, its amazing story. While three different stories might be a bit confusing, they all come together indirectly and build on each other to bring you a unique experience that just keeps giving. This might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it’s well worth a go if you’re a fan of anything RPG-related, even more so if you’re always on the hunt for a good story.