DualShockers
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The lore and vibe are still incredible, but the moment-to-moment gameplay can sadly be a downright slog. You'll already know if this remaster is for you, and I think you'll enjoy it if that's the case. Curious newbies should just watch a playthrough.
While the esoteric plot and Kojima’s frequent self-indulgent references and inserts might be distracting and immersion-breaking for some people, the gameplay, visuals, and ambience are its strongest aspects. DS2 is most certainly a GOTY contender, and is truly a work of art that must be experienced if you’re looking for an atmospheric game about traveling through breathtaking views.
Unfortunately, the few bosses and enemies present here are quite bland, and though the environmental puzzle-solving is initially unique and rewarding, it eventually stalls out in creativity and challenge. Overall, Ruffy ends up feeling a bit inconsistent, but it's still a cute, enjoyable indie that has me looking forward to future efforts from Zockrates Laboratories.
Bravely Default may not have aged well, but there's still plenty of enjoyment to be found. Sadly, if you're already familiar with how the adventure goes, there's little to no reason to pick up the Flying Fairy HD Remaster unless you're a true, diehard fan.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is the definition of a solid 7 out of 10 game. Everything it sets out to do, it delivers, but in the modest way possible.
I thought for all the world that this game would be a championship contender, but as it turns out, it's just relegation fodder.
Although most of its rewarding features add variability to custom loadouts, there's not much else here that, unfortunately, makes it worth spending an effort on. I'd much rather see a sizable number of differences in the job variety, missions, and power fantasy elements that actually heighten the sense of being an FBC operative who's exterminating the evil corruption of the Hiss.
's sincere, hilarious, and honest, and is probably one of the most enjoyable indie games I've ever played. As a debut game, Sassy Chap Games knocked it out of the park with this sandbox dating sim. If you appreciate the talent behind voice acting, weird dating sims, and most of all supporting indie studios, then Date Everything! is the perfect game for you.
The Alters is a unique and atmospheric survival game that riffs on the existing 11 Bit Studios blueprint in a meaningful way. Offering a superb sci-fi story that is equal parts somber, surreal, and silly. The economy, base building, and Alter Management are the highlights, which are somewhat dragged down by the rather mindless exploration that feels like a means to an end. But overall, The Alters is a brave and bold step forward within the survival genre, and one that will make you question your life decisions more than any other.
Free Roam is a major disappointment, but Mario Kart World is still an excellent game that helps justify purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2. It's the console's day-one killer app backed by an incredible soundtrack, well-rounded roster of characters, and addictive gameplay.
Dune: Awakening has impressed me at every turn. Stunning cinematics showcase an immersive story inspired by Dune's award-winning lore and set the scene for a thrilling adventure, focused on exploration, survival, base-building, and politics. In a time full of unfinished, bug-ridden game launches, Dune: Awakening is setting the bar higher for what the release of video games should be.
Lost In Random: The Eternal Die is a slightly more accessible entry into the Roguelike genre that's a blast to play and rewards you with meaningful progression after each and every run. The charm of the original Lost In Random's gothic storybook meets Tim Burton movie is alive and well in The Eternal Die, though the narrative never really reaches anything special or poignant. Ultimately, however, this is still a pretty addictive and extremely replayable Roguelike that manages to bring fresh and interesting ideas to the party, and I always had a very good time with it.
Atomfall’s DLC is a notable accomplishment for one big reason: it successfully adds a story expansion that almost seamlessly integrates itself into an incredibly delicate, immersive sim-like storyline. While it may not fix any of the issues with the base game, the added lore and questlines put another profound spin on the Atomfall world. More than anything else, the ambiance and beautifully distinct aesthetic of the new expansion should be a massive reason for fans to give this DLC a whirl.
Camper Van: Make it Home shares a main principle overarching in all video games: losing yourself in something. But the no-stress approach means that although it still requires concentration and effort, it's something you really want to do rather than something you have to do. In that context, the visual design is excellent, and the audio is almost perfection. Have a go, and like me, you might be surprised how quickly the outside world drowns out - and thus, in its own context, how fantastic of a game it is.
Overall, I really enjoyed the 15 hours it took to finish Dragon Is Dead. With more chapters, characters, equipment, and difficulties promised with V1.0 and beyond, I’m looking forward to continuing my adventure.
For me, it's a brilliant weekend RPG—a laid-back game that will keep you playing "just one more day" for hours. If Zelda plus Stardew Valley sounds fun, I recommend Guardians of Azuma. If that combo doesn't excite you, give it a pass.
Overall, if the main objective of a puzzle game is to provide you with ‘eureka’ moments as you work out the puzzle, this game succeeds about 50% of the time. Other times, I’ll complete a level, still not entirely sure how I did, or having to have a break from the next level, as I don’t want to do the manual scout work at the beginning of the level in order to get my bearings. There are moments of a good game here, but it's all underneath a frustrating layer of bugs, mediocre puzzles, and design choices that I would have taken another look at during testing.
The weapon-forging minigame is a slog, NPCs are overly annoying, and losing weapons upon death isn't nearly as impactful as I had hoped. It's clear that MercurySteam has a good concept on its hands, but the execution could have been better in some parts. Perhaps these ideas will be better executed in a sequel.
Sadly, the repetitive nature and balancing issues also can make it feel like a series of the world's longest Soulslike runbacks ever—over, and over, and over.
The visuals, score and overall presentation have been elevated beyond recognition, and yet, the things that made the original great remain intact. The abundance of gameplay mechanics and variety via the different islands and time periods is a standout feature that makes the endless grind paletable, and while every action in the game borders on basic, it never crosses the threshold to be considered boring.