Pixel Byte
HomepagePixel Byte's Reviews
This brings us to Ys X: Proud Nordics, and that’s where the conversation gets complicated. If this were some AAA juggernaut franchise, we probably wouldn’t be here. But it isn’t. There are probably a lot of players who haven’t enjoyed the standard release, or even played a Ys game, and there is nothing here that stops the franchise from delivering everything fans love about it. It’s just unfortunate that those fans are the ones it’s hardest to justify this title for.
There are some imprecise controls in Romeo Is A Dead Man that would hold any other developer back. With a Suda 51 and Grasshopper Manufacture game, you are probably well aware of what you will get. For the trade-off, you get epic action and fast-paced gameplay that never fails to be fun. You get a bizarre story that gets more engaging the further into it you delve, and tons of replayability along with that
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, as we know, but thankfully Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass go the mile to not simply be a carbon copy of its predecessors. Its catchy music, sarcastic remarks, and overall shocking story that keeps you on edge throughout make for a solid JRPG.
Dynasty Warriors Origins tries plenty of new things, though not things the team at Omega Force is unfamiliar with, to breathe new life into a series that has been going on since 1997. For the first time, though, I really didn’t feel like I was playing just another Musou, just another Dynasty Warriors. Yes, it’s just as fast-paced as it has always been and just as zenning if you let it, but no longer will it just let you have your way on the battlefield. It bites back, making the process more engaging.
Every element of Fairy Tail Dungeons has a certain charm to it, bolstered by the retro indie aesthetic that harkened me back to the classic era of anime games. The charms quickly fade, however. The turn-based mechanic is interesting, but it quickly drags on in the repetition of trying to bolster my characters for the coming boss fight ahead. The boss fights feel like the absolute worst example of card-battling RNG.
There is a lot in Formula Legends that I could see why it is appealing. The reason I was interested in it is that it didn’t look like your typical racing experience. For the most part thats kinda true, though not in the way that was desired on my end. The game is extremely punishing, even on its easiest setting, and it can be weirdly selective on when it wants to really force you into a sim experience and when it doesn’t.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is a fun game once it starts going. This has been an issue with the series since the start, though. A slow beginning that bombards you with names you should know, events you probably should have seen, and important narratives that will require twenty or so hours to become relevant can become fatiguing. Thankfully, great lore building and enjoyable performances make even the slower points manageable, especially when you know what’s eventually coming.
The movement and possibilities shown within Big Hops feel like a real jolt the genre needed. With high potential to become a speedrunner darling, the foundation Big Hops sits on is one ripe for exploration. It’s clever veggies, each with unique moves that let Hop float, swing, and zip through levels, making not only for an incredibly satisfying experience but, most importantly, for fun.
Warhammer 40,000 is often described as a grimdark universe. It is most palpable in Rogue Trader, where genocide, sacrifice, and abuse are often shrugged at while everyone moves on with their miserable days. What drew me to this militaristic entry is not that, but the power as a new, unexpected entity creating meaningful change in a Kafkaesque world where that seems impossible.
that Ghost Town is “so deftly presented that it is one of those games flatscreen players feel jealous about.” I stand by those words. In my social media interactions, I have seen people reach out and wonder if they would ever convert this unique thriller into a flat version for more people to play, and the truth is that the immersion is part of the experience.
There is a pervasive thought that to have a breakthrough you must push someone to their limit; this could not be further from the truth. As much a top-of-the-line metroidvania as an emotionally charged cautionary tale, this is one of the most beautiful games of all time, both literally and figuratively. Its exquisite hand-drawn art style and delicate portrayal of burnout paint a masterful picture.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 fails to fully delight with its story; this much I’m hard-pressed to deny. The interesting twist to the formula is that the form of the hallucinogens leads to some interesting outcomes, but not always rewarding ones. It is also used far too often to harken back to Black Ops 2, which invites constant comparison to a game that is objectively better designed, with a much better villain than the one on display here. All this being said, the story has some bright points, like the open world you eventually unlock, and the ability to level through its tight gunplay.
Rue Valley is an isometric narrative RPG that triumphs in its magnetic writing. Every succinct conversation feels like it was made for an exquisite novel. Certain dialogues, with Eugene or otherwise, ring sincere to the point of making you invested in these characters’ lives, even beyond the current predicament the protagonist is in.
Is it aesthetically wrong to classify Morsels as the strangest game I have ever played simply because of its focus on designs based around garbage? I don’t think so, but it at least makes it stand out over the sea of games releasing every day. A seemingly straightforward game, Morsels has some of the most creative ideas I have seen in a roguelite in a very long time. Weird in the best of ways, fans of the top-down shooters and quirky offbeat games should give it a try, because, as they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
There are a lot of ideas at play across Demonschool, and a lot of inspirations that really don’t act as a backdrop but are fully apparent. They are never used as a crutch, though, serving to build a great game rather than trying to invoke another. The story, which could very well be my favorite thing about the experience, plays to both horror and comedy and lets both have their moments without sacrificing the others while managing to tell a collection of coming-of-age stories set against an impending demon invasion. Mixing this with the puzzle-based combat takes the best aspects of a turn-based game and somehow doesn’t use them to that end at all is just crazy.
A retro inspired triumph, the politically charged story laid out will move even the most jaded of players. With well-thought-out level design, imposing boss battles and clever puzzles, there’s a lot to love here. Gigasword, in its proud 8-bit NES design, is not for everyone, but it doesn’t need to be. Seasoned players who have found themselves rejecting modern sensibilities will find a home here. One for legendary heroes whose time has yet to pass.
Atelier Ryza DX Trilogy could come off as dated for its time, especially when compared to other Japanese franchises in the genre. Coming into the trilogy, it was still finding its own footing, and the popularity the series absolutely deserved. More importantly, though, Ryza is just fun. It has a great combat system mixed with the best version of alchemy that the series has seen both before and after.
Like opening a classic fairytale book on a cold winter night, there are morals to this story that go beyond a straightforward survival game. Making it through the night is part of it, but not the most important thing. Looking out for each other, reinforcing connections, and making sure no one gets left behind are among the thoughtful lessons this game reminds us of. Winter Burrow is not only a kind tale of a mouse who could, but a reflection of our tenacity to keep going even when the night is darkest.
Riddlewood Manor is a terrifyingly great puzzler with a just as haunting, memorable narrative. A horror adventure doable in less than an hour for puzzle pros, plenty of secrets reward those curious enough to explore every possible avenue the house has behind it.
If we are going to compare Ninja Gaiden 4 to its predecessors, it is a strong return to form. It never hits like 2 did, but compared to 3, it is a much more genuine experience that players have been waiting years for. At its heart, it is competent, and the fact that the combat is so good detracts from most of the negatives throughout, though with traversal, they forced me into it so often that it just can’t.