At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the prospect of a chapter that took a step back from the high stakes that both Chapter 3 and 4 introduced. Yet, once I realized that this was to be the last reverie that both the characters and players would be able to experience, I appreciated the change in tone even more. I have no idea what’s going to happen next in Deltarune‘s story. I don’t know where certain characters are going to end up or the solutions to all of the game’s mysteries. However, considering all of the quality we’ve gotten from the Deltarune story thus far, I can confidently say that when it finally ends, we will be left with a game that can only be described as “generational.”
Deltarune isn’t just Toby Fox’s best work to date, but it is looking to be one of the best games of the 21st century so far. I can’t rate it just yet, since for all I know, Fox could completely drop the ball with chapters 5-7. That said, with how chapter 4 concludes, I can’t wait to see what he’s got planned next and to see how he continues to deliver on a game that is already a masterpiece.
Code Violet is the worst game I've ever played. The narrative lacks any substance, and all of the characters are devoid of any personality. Further, all of the female characters are written to be mere objects designed for nothing more than sex appeal, which goes double for the protagonist. The gameplay and presentation are also extremely lifeless and boring, with neither having any redeeming qualities. Considering the game is $50, all I can say is this: do not buy this game.
Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition is one of the worst Nintendo Switch 2 ports to date. The visuals are rancid and ruin the best parts of the original game, like the exploration. Worse still, it makes the worst parts of the original even more frustrating, as the combat feels monotonous at best and unresponsive at worst, alongside the overabundance of technical issues. Considering the lack of an upgrade pack and new features, it's hard to think of any reason to buy the Definitive Edition whatsoever.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed is a broken mess. The story lacks the depth of most other entries in the franchise and the gameplay constantly stutters leading to a nauseating experience. Further, the loading screens are egregiously long and because of the lag, the game became completely unplayable. All this combined with a rough visual style makes Mutants Unleashed is an experience that is impossible to recommend.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance unfortunately falls flat in continuing such a cult classic franchise. While some of the writing and visuals still match the quality of its predecessors, the narrative feels forced, and the gameplay is often deeply frustrating and rife with issues. Overall, if this is indicative of the direction that the Legacy of Kain series could go in, then perhaps the series is better off being forgotten.
Snow Bros. 2 Special doesn't earn its return after over thirty years. While the game has a unique premise that is somewhat enjoyable at first, the lack of any meaningful gameplay adjustments, an uninteresting story, and insufficient replayability options make it more infuriating than fun. Combined with the lack of any interesting additions, a three-hour long runtime, and a $30 pricetag, Snow Bros. 2 Special is a hard game to recommend.
While Among Ashes has a great premise and takes advantage of it through interesting gameplay choices, the bland story, excessive puzzles, and numerous glitches make for a flawed experience that I wouldn’t recommend spending money on until some of the issues are fixed.
Apartment Story is a game that falls short of any and all expectations. There is a lack of any true tension in this horror game due to an uninteresting antagonist and lackluster resolutions, the gameplay is glitchy and gives the player no room to experiment, and the story is uninteresting due to a short runtime and a lack of any character development for its characters. As such, it is unable to fulfill its potential as a thrilling narrative experience.
Big Hops is an experience rife with frustrating flaws. While it has elements that work well, such as the gameplay mechanics and narrative premise, it is undermined by a lackluster presentation, worlds that feel barren and empty, and numerous technical glitches. Further, because of these problems, I never wanted to find any of the collectibles. At the end of the day, it pales in comparison to other 3D platformers, whether indie or AAA.
UNBEATABLE is a frustrating mess. While there's a great gameplay and narrative premise, it's often undermined by frequent glitches, strange writing, and a focus on random minigames, exploration, and platforming instead of the core rhythm sections. Even if all the bugs are fixed, I struggle to recommend this game for other players
Cronos: The New Dawn is filled to the brim with potential, which ultimately falls short in how it executes all of its concepts. While there is a great story foundation and some interesting mechanics, the lackluster conclusion to the narrative, combined with irritating combat, frequent glitches, poor pacing of traversal, and repetitive gameplay scenarios, makes for a product that fails to capture the quality of other entries in the genre.
Despite Obsidian's incredible history with the RPG genre, Avowed unfortunately comes up short compared to their previous games. Even if the gameplay foundation is very addicting, the lack of any meaningful story, dialogue, narrative decisions, and an overabundance of necessary XP grinding and technical issues lead the game to embody the worst parts of the genre. Sadly, it fails to stick out in comparison to games such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Baldur's Gate 3.
The Stone of Madness is one of the most frustrating games I've ever played. Despite its beautiful art style, great characters, compelling narrative, and unique gameplay, the obtuse puzzles, absurd difficulty, lack of accessibility, and numerous technical glitches make this experience absolutely not worth it unless you want to feel as stressed and insane as the game's characters.
Gundam Breaker 4 has a really frustrating gameplay loop, a wide variety of bugs, and a story that often feels cliched and predictable. While the characters are interesting and the customization options are brilliant, the entire experience feels far too monotonous and clunky to be worth paying $59.99 for.
While Mario vs. Donkey Kong has a charming concept and visual direction, the twenty-year-old puzzle platformer shows its age through frustrating level design, bizarre controls, and very little content that improves upon the original. Further, with its $49.99 price point, it's hard to justify purchasing the remake unless you're a die-hard fan of the original GBA title.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is a huge disappointment. While I did have fun with the overall gameplay mechanics, and the Neo-Noir narrative is a massive treat, the lack of the dynamic immersive sim features that made its predecessor so special means that it lacks the same sandbox and freedom that the immersive sim genre is known for. Unlike other entries in the genre, I sadly have no desire to replay the game any time soon.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Order of Giants is another Indiana Jones adventure, at a cost. While the new exploration and puzzles are fun to go through, plus the narrative and central mystery of the titular order of giants is deeply compelling, the overall package lacks any meaningful substance. The DLC lasts only four hours, there are no new shake-ups to combat, and once you complete the quest, you get nothing for your efforts. Considering the $20 price point, it's hard to justify purchasing the DLC unless you're truly desperate for more Indiana Jones action.
Donkey Kong Bananza's DLC, DK Island & Emerald Rush, is a complicated package. On the one hand, it is an utter treat being able to revisit DK Island and observe all the hidden details. On the other hand, the new addition lacks any substance, plus the Emerald Rush mode isn't particularly enjoyable. Considering the price of $20, it's hard to recommend the DLC for anyone other than a die-hard fan of both DK Bananza and the roguelite genre.
While Wild Hearts has a compelling visual style, aesthetic, and gameplay concepts, the actual execution of those concepts can be frustrating and make for a mediocre title. Further, the Wild Hearts S port for Nintendo Switch 2, despite its impressive visual quality, features numerous glitches and performance/quality problems that make it a hard game to justify, regardless of whether you're a fan or a newcomer.