Loot_Lab

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth builds upon the already magnificent remake of the trilogy's first installment—and manages to take things to an even higher level. The open world, visual presentation, and musical score combine to create a fantastic title for the Nintendo Switch 2. Added to this are main and side quests that are both varied and engaging, set within a multifaceted game world. Technical quirks are barely noticeable, as they detract from neither the flow of gameplay nor the overall enjoyment. The forty hours spent on the main story feel like time truly well spent, and I will likely continue working through a few remaining side quests with Cloud and company to explore every last corner of Gaia.

Review in German | Read full review

Although I have been a Monster Hunter fan from day one, my exposure to the Stories series had been sporadic—until now. That is about to change, for with Twisted Reflection, the spin-off reaches a level of quality that is simply impressive. Whether it’s the consistently cohesive — and at times bombastic — presentation, the characters bursting with heart, the gripping storyline, or the deep progression system — it all comes together beautifully. Add to this the combat and crafting systems, which wonderfully translate the core Monster Hunter feel into a turn-based RPG format. All of this is delivered on a scale vast enough to keep you glued to your screen for months on end. While you have to look hard to find its flaws, they do exist. In particular, if you have an aversion to grinding, the final 5% of the story can become a true test of patience. Furthermore, many side quests are absolutely tedious, and the dialogue can sometimes be unnecessarily long-winded. However, since these elements can largely be ignored or skipped, I am more than willing to overlook this minor shortcoming. For these reasons, I can wholeheartedly recommend Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection to any JRPG enthusiast —and especially to fellow Monster Hunter fans.

Review in German | Read full review