Allisa James's Reviews
Crusader Kings III is a one-of-a-kind experience that mixes intrigue, the ambrosia of victory, and the devastating bitters of defeat.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy channels some of the best attributes of JRPGs without falling victim to its worst tropes.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is several steps in the right direction for the series.
Despite a few hiccups here and there, Deconstructeam has weaved together a solid title that will resonate with players long after the experience is over. As long as you're willing to put in the substantial effort, of course.
Despite Star Fox Zero's relatively brief story mode (around 4-5 hours, absent the branching paths), the game remains a great value, with Guard's inclusion giving even more incentive to pick up this title.
Two worlds collide in Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and they collide quite well. Great pains have been taken to ensure that the combination works as a cohesive unit, and for the most part it succeeds (with some minor hiccups along the way). There’s more than enough content for old fans of either franchise and new players will find this game as a more than welcoming entry point to both games. Those that enter the world of Labrynthia will thoroughly enjoy their foray — just mind the witch trials.
Tales of Hearts R doesn’t have the most original story and the characters are mostly well-meaning but occasionally stereotypical. The game’s localization feels a bit lacking without an English dub as well, considering the amount of work that was clearly poured into the translation. However, the beautifully remade visuals, stellar combat and development system and on-point voice acting more than compensate for the admittedly superficial shortcomings. If you own a PS Vita and are on the lookout for a great new game to add to your library, Bandai Namco has a lovely polished gem for you to purchase.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered brings a classic to the current-gen. But how does this enhanced version stack up?
Layton's Mystery Journey for Nintendo Switch is the latest foray into the Layton franchise, but is this brand new port worth investigating?
Snack World combines a tongue-in-cheek story with dungeon crawling, a loot system, and roguelike mechanics to make one surprisingly fun package.
The latest entry in the Shantae series, Shantae and the Seven Sirens, is every bit as beautiful and fun to play as the previous titles.
Trackmania has finally launched for PC and despite being the latest entry in a rather niche franchise it still manages to deliver a robust experience.
It's quite the surprise that one of the most poignant WWII stories comes from Warsaw, an RPG and strategy title from indie studio Pixelated Milk.
Set 700 years before the first title, Ys Origin expands on the franchise's lore with a combat system that blends both style and substance.
Per Aspera is a haunting sci-fi simulation in which you play as a lone AI tasked with terraforming Mars for human colonization.
Despite a few shortcomings, Corpse Party (2021) is a great horror game with some nice new bonus material.
While some gamers might be put off by the relatively low amount of content and all-around simplicity, for its price, including the aforementioned cross-buy, the title is worth its value in stars.
While the title does hit rough patches here and there (expected of a series hitting uncharted waters), players can expect to experience a decently polished third-person shooter that extrapolates well on the mythos of Danganronpa, particularly the on-goings between the first and second title, and is well worth the price of admission for fans of the series.
Despite a few hiccups along the way, Trials of Mana is a worthy remake of the original and also serves as a great entry point for new fans.
Natural Doctrine is not meant for the faint of heart. You must be prepared for unyielding and at times near hellish combat that only rewards careful planning and the use of intelligent strategy over brute strength. For those who enjoy these elements in their strategy RPG, however, this title will not disappoint.