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That all being said, Princess Maker 2 is a game worthy of your time, if you’re interested in gaming history but also if you want something that has held up as being genuinely fun and compelling 30 years later. It’s certainly not for everyone, but as a menu game enthusiast I enjoyed myself thoroughly and will keep playing, if only so I can finally make my character into the Princess the title suggests.
A.T on the Nintendo Switch, it represents a potential top tier contender in the genre, trailing behind GRID Autosport. The current pros outweigh the cons but as time goes on, it will be interesting to see what gets added. If all of the small gripes get cleaned up, Hot Lap Racing could just take the pole position.
Much like the Darksiders games, Splintered Fate may be borrowing elements from other games, but it has its own identity. It's absolutely worth a shot, especially if you have the ability to play multiplayer regularly. It's good to see the Turtles in a game that's not ostensibly a brawler, and I was surprised by how well they took to the roguelite genre.
There was basically never a moment where I didn't find the game fun to play, and choosing to make my way through its story over the course of a week rather than all in one sitting alleviated the potential repetition of its gameplay. The aesthetic of SCHiM is fully complementary to the experience, and I find myself being unable to stop thinking about the game after rolling credits. In SCHiM we have another example of how less can definitely be more, a fitting title for the summer season and all of the shadows and shade we're sure to be seeking out.
Overall, The Land Beneath Us sports huge replay value and strategic roguelike gameplay that can be challenging but immensely rewarding. I would highly recommend any fans of the turn-based roguelike genre to take a look underfoot at The Lands Beneath Us.
I did not closely follow the pre-release period of Darkest Dungeon II, but my expectations were just that it would be an enjoyable but derivative sequel. I’m thoroughly impressed that the reality of Darkest Dungeon II is much more ambitious than that. This is a game that does not supplant the original, but instead stands next to it, offering up an experience that is familiar but very different. I wish more sequels of this type took the relatively big swings that Darkest Dungeon II has made. The meticulous pre-planning prevalent in the first Darkest Dungeon is incredible, but so is greater focus on in-the-moment reactions in the sequel. Darkest Dungeon II is an impressive, well-crafted game that will absolutely pound you into the ground with death and detritus, but also will reward your strategy and perseverance.
It has a pleasant and engaging set of systems fueled by deck building that feels complementary, not shoehorned in. Difficulty is reasonable, and provided meaningful experience that informed each future run. Some fiddly controls couldn't deter my enjoyment, and this'll stay in my rotation for some time.
It's a serving of lite fare if you're in the mood for something that won't overly tax your brain (but still might make you feel a wee bit clever); ultimately, though, it's a lot of putting round pegs in round holes. While the pixel art is nice to look at, the text font is decidedly not. As a palette cleanser, it did the job for me, but I can't say it will linger on my mind for more than a night.
DarkStar One's greatest strength is in its open (though not seamless) world and its RPG mechanics. Its space combat is passable and enemies are reasonably fun to fight, but it was somewhat simple compared to its contemporaries in 2006 and remains so in 2024. Still, if you enjoyed classic Wing Commander Privateer games or more recent genre standouts such as Rebel Galaxy Outlaw, you're likely to find something to enjoy here.
That's not a good feeling. In a space where there's games like Hades or even classics like Enter the Gungeon, I can only recommend Metal Mind as a budget intro for people who want to poke at the genre and not dive in head first. Metal Mind might be better for players new to the genre, but the roguelike enthusiasts will likely need to find their fun elsewhere.
But the base game, Beyond Good & Evil, is still a great time. Parts of its design feel dated today, sure, but considering this game is 21 years old, it holds up remarkably well. I was happy to be reminded of one of my favorite GameCube games and its eclectic cast of characters, and I can only hope that they will live on in some future Ubisoft game.
It's not a game that will appeal to the "Need for Speed" crowd but it's quick and easy to pick up and put down, which means a lot in this world of overly complex racing games that become a time suck that a parent of 2.5 children can rarely afford. Keeping in mind the goal of the game and not comparing it to modern racing sims or Street racing smash-fests; Neo Sprint hit the target it was aiming for, retro Arcade action in a world full of VR and AI noise.
Little Kitty, Big City may not be a high profile hit with huge accolades like Stray, and it doesn't aspire to that kind of photorealism, but what you do get is a breezy, cute, colorful, and fun sandbox to explore. The animal friends are diverse and expressive without having a lot of physical facial expression, which is a testament to the writers' skill. This cartoonish game is uncomplicated in the best ways, and while there's a little stumbly-ness in some of the movement, it doesn't detract from this brisk, entertaining experience.
If you're looking for a fun mechs-vs.aliens narrative to enjoy on your Switch, Megaton Musashi W: Wired absolutely rocks. But if you're here solely for robot combat, you're best looking elsewhere.
The love and care with which it has been remastered deserves calling out. Tantalus has done an incredible job here. The original work of Next Level Games really shines as their animation and underlying art direction remain unchanged. This is easily the best way to play Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon.
Van is a charming and vocal protagonist who gives as good as he gets, and rest assured, he isn't shy about giving a loving head patting when the opportunity arises. Those who have played earlier Trails games will enjoy the returning characters, mentions, and nods to earlier events and people, but even if you're an RPG player unfamiliar with the Trails games, you'll find plenty of reasons to sink your teeth into this latest one. It's no surprise that the hero of Daybreak has a proclivity towards indulging in cakes and pastries; he happens to star in one hell of a sweet adventure.
This was, of course, during a time when degree of difficulty was a positive thing. I don't think they hold up particularly well, but perhaps I should be grateful that they're being preserved somehow, a window into the 16-bit era that I grew up with, but have mostly left behind. I suppose if you've been itching to revisit Sparkster's adventures, this is the best way to do it.
The failures of Banana Mania have not been repeated, and the high skill ceiling of the spin dash combined with the extensive replayability of the optional objectives means that I am probably going to be playing this game for the next twenty years just the same as the GameCube classics. Even as the modern descendant of Super Monkey Ball's original developer Amusement Vision, Ryu ga Gotoku Studio has outdone themselves here. This is not simply a return to form; this is proof of the bright future that Super Monkey Ball might have.
Visually in particular, but also the trappings of the narrative adventure game that can get a tad repetitive over time without too many moments that shake up the gameplay. This all does not subtract from the astonishing writing and performances in 1000xRESIST and I urge those who are looking for boundary breaking storytelling to truly dive into this world blindly. It may even help you find the strength in these times to learn what it means to resist.
That said, Echo Generation is a fun, unique way to spend 8 or so hours, and I don't regret my time with it at all. It's a charming experience full of engaging gameplay and fun secrets to discover, and should a sequel ever come out I'll be first in line to discover those secrets as well.