DualShockers
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For some, it may not reach the same tightly crafted heights as Little Nightmares, but it successfully captures that same uneasy magic that made those games special. It isn’t perfect, much like all things in this vast expanse of the medium or the horror genre, but it’s a bold and unsettling co-op journey that shows Tarsier’s signature style is still very much alive.
Super Bomberman Collection is a must-own for anyone who has ever enjoyed this franchise. With a grand total of seven games, including many that are reaching US shores for the first time, snappy presentation, and tons of behind-the-scenes goodies, you really can't go wrong.
No matter how dense it all gets, there’s always a method to the madness, a consistent, player-friendly path forward that ensures you can keep making progress at a steady clip, even when the game gets notably difficult. Any complaints I could make are nitpicks at best; if you also love Suda’s works, you owe it to yourself to play this one, and if you’ve never played any of his games before, this is an excellent one to start with.
As someone who deeply adores the original Yakuza 3, this remake constantly left me torn between appreciation and disappointment, because it’s occasionally brilliant yet so undeniably polarizing at some levels, serving as fine evidence for me that not every black sheep in a series needs to be remade.
Through Gordy’s self-destruction, absurdist mini-games, and riot grrrl-fueled soundtrack, Dead Pets tackles feminism, mental health, and societal expectations with surprising nuance and bite. It doesn’t always stick to every gameplay note in my eyes, but emotionally, Dead Pets lands hard—proving that even on the worst days, there’s still music to play and jam to, friends to lean on, and another morning to stumble into headstrong after being a drunken mess.
Nioh 3 is an incredible game that expands on the core gameplay of its predecessors and drops players into a vast world where they can unleash their combat potential to their heart's content. It's a huge step-up for the series as a whole, and I'm excited to see where it goes next.
The game still takes its sweet time to show its cards, though. JRPGs are a genre that demands patience and Dragon Quest VII Reimagined asks for a tad more. Still, if you can embrace the episodic storytelling format and make the most of the Party Chat and Vocation system, you'll find that your journey through time was well worth it.
Although it isn't perfect, what makes it special is the combination of all the different elements to make something that can be meaningful to almost anyone. In the end, the game asks the most important question of all: what is your summit?
There are some moments of greatness, especially in its stealth gameplay and paranormal environments, where the exciting nature of the survival horror genre shines through, but those moments are quickly fleeting. I do recommend I Hate This Place to survival horror fans if there is nothing else to play and they're on a budget, but I wouldn't go into this game expecting the next big thing.
Don’t Stop, Girlypop! fits a very specific niche that has been ignored for far too long: a game like DOOM or Unreal Tournament to be played while wearing a pink bow and long nails. This game is for people who want to play classic shooters but are tired of the drab visuals, and there is no better way to replace that than with a Y2K-inspired hyper pop pink space glitter fantasy.
The gameplay itself and point-and-click puzzle mechanics can feel a bit finicky and frustrating at times in light of how much everything else shines so vividly, but that's still not enough to diminish the whimsical, nostalgic spark this game provides.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition isn't going to break any new ground or change the world, but if you're looking to get a spiffy upgrade for your new machine, it's potentially worth diving into. If you're tired of the desert island theme, though, there's absolutely nothing here that will remedy that.
Blightstone has a solid, strong foundation in terms of its combat and battle mechanics. The use of environmental hazards and interactive battle arenas is what helps the game stand out. The rest of the game feels like something of a slog, however, with some harsh RNG and an inconsistent pace that makes Blightstone feel like it can't get out of the blocks. There's something fun hidden here, but it is sadly overshadowed by a game that feels more interested in punishing you for simple things than allowing you to learn.
Time passes equally for everyone on this planet, but it feels like ages have passed since we got a good, encyclopaedic antiquity simulator for PC. Strategos looks and feels like a finished product that can deliver engaging, realistic battles for you to flex that armchair general muscle on. The minuscule budget is on display at times, but Hannibal was primarily concerned with winning his battles instead of smelling the flowers. Strategos delivers where it matters most and has all the hallmarks of a real-time strategy classic.
MIO: Memories in Orbit is a dark, challenging Metroidvania Soulslike that perfectly understands what makes this genre so much fun. Combat feels precise and weighty, with fantastic enemy design and one of the most enjoyable Metroidvania maps seen in years. Traversal is incredible, and you'll be in awe of its wonderful music. Sadly, MIO also continues to use outdated Soulslike mechanics, including long, arduous boss runbacks, and the upgrade system is interesting from a thematic standpoint, but ultimately pretty dull.
With a forgettable story and not one memorable character, Philna Fantasy sticks to the basics of an action RPG, offering a gameplay loop that feels all too familiar for anyone who has ever played a dungeon crawler.
However, the shortfalls in its awkward gameplay, lackluster sound design, and noticeable UI blips stagger that experience to a degree, and it probably could have used more time in the oven on those fronts. Nevertheless, if you're a fan of hand-drawn animation in games, especially of the Ghibli variety, I would say to give it the chance it deserves.
While Trails Beyond the Horizon excels especially in its combat and RPG systems, it also succeeds with its main story and side content, such as the Grim Garten, character relationship system, and side quests that all tell unique stories worth listening to. Trails Beyond the Horizon is a game that deserves recognition and is up there with some of the best the genre has to offer.
The best way to describe Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is that it’s a product of a different time. It’s not a bad game because someone threw out a piece of unfinished trash. It’s bad because it comes from a much less refined era. While the changes in the Special Edition do alleviate the annoying parts, you’re still better off playing one of the many other better Metroidvanias on the market.
On the one hand, I can see it being a great way to introduce people to the Metroid genre in a way that's more accessible than, say, Metroid Dread. On the other hand, Metroid Prime Remastered is right there. Ultimately, Metroid Prime 4 is a game that's worth playing, but it could be so much better.