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Before beginning to play Akiba's Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed, plans to write a screed defending the game while poking fun at the pure stupidity of the gameplay were already in motion.
Death's Door is a gem of a soulslike game with a nice and meaty level of challenge and a world filled with lovable characters and loads of secrets to uncover.
Boomerang X isn't the lengthiest venture and for a game whose attraction lies solely in its gameplay, so one's enjoyment will naturally come down to how embedded in its mechanics you end up becoming.
Skyward Sword was already a fun title for those that were able to play it, and now it's become even more accessible with the movement away from the forced motion controls.
Cotton Reboot! is a fantastic re-imagining of a classic side-scrolling shooter.
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is a fantastic metroidvania.
Indigo 7: Quest for Love's puzzle formula is engaging and manages to be a mix of easy to learn, but tricky to master.
While Codemasters seems to have added a good amount of content to F1 2021, it still feels like the same experience at its core.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a great game that maintains enough elements of previous Ys games so that longtime fans will feel at home while the Monstrum gifts breathe new life into the gameplay.
Monster Hunter Stories was one of the most brilliant spin-off decisions in the series and this sequel does its best to improve upon what the original started and does it well.
Though Minute of Islands is far from bland or unoriginal on the visual side of things, it's the game's lack of an equally-committed drive to its gameplay or even its delivery of a narrative where Studio Fizbil's efforts falter as a result.
Overboard! is one of the year's most delightful surprises so far, a terrific reverse murder mystery with several twists and turns around every corner, and one that can still put up a notable challenge as you try to figure out every possible step towards getting Veronica off the hook and on the path to a life of luxury instead. A mix of sharp writing, clever puzzles and simple yet effective gameplay results in a killer experience that will leave you coming back for more.
Mario Golf: Super Rush strengthens the core gameplay with its faster pace and strong fundamentals, but the barebones package will likely leave players wanting more.
As Disgaea: Hour of Darkness was the first game I ever reviewed nearly two decades ago, I have had a long and beloved history with Nippon Ichi's franchise, so it breaks my heart to play Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny. The story is bland with few jokes that actually hit, and the cast of characters do not help the cause with uninspired backstories and personalities.
Who's to say what the real, developer-side cause is for Scarlet Nexus' failings.
Legend of Mana was already a fantastic experience when it first released, and this brand new HD release has helped make it all the more endearing.
While the content is short sighted with Chivalry 2, the improvements over its predecessor make it a much better experience.
The sole piece of new content, Episode INTERmission, provides a decent 4-5 hour adventure starring Yuffie. While INTERmission doesn’t push the overarching VII Remake narrative forward, it’s a fun slice of content that delves deeper into VII Remake’s world. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade won’t make the wait for Final Fantasy VII Remake Part II any easier, but it does at least make its best moments look and play better than before.
Musicus! might not be the best game from Overdrive, but it's high on the list.
Edge of Eternity is a love letter to classic Final Fantasy and Xenoblade games.