DualShockers
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Most of you have probably already made up your mind about Metal Gear Survive. I think Survive has some redeeming qualities and, had it focused firmly on its multiplayer, I may have enjoyed the experience more. As it stands, there are just so many better titles in the survival genre, it's hard to recommend this game to anybody. I'm sad to say that Metal Gear Survive has squeezed any ounce of hope I had for this series I only recently got into.
Subsurface Circular is the brunch of gaming fare on Nintendo Switch — abbreviated, filling, and definitely worth the price. Anyone who finds some joy in futuristic techno flair will fall in love with this indie darling, and the narrative is short enough that it will leave you wanting more — for better or worse.
I enjoyed most of my time with Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet but I felt that it could have been a better experience with improved dungeon design and controls. Thankfully, this is a great new direction for the SAO series to be headed. Hopefully, the next video game installment will continue the trajectory of Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet and make this series the best it can be for fans.
As a game devoted to the art of storytelling itself, Where the Water Tastes Like Wine shines with its powerful writing, exceptional voice-acting, and its visual and aural elements that bring players back into the time of tall tales and endless stretches of road to explore. While its gameplay structure might be a bit loose for some players, the tales and characters that Where the Water Tastes Like Wine introduces make the journey to the promised land that much sweeter, even if there is no telling what is on the horizon.
Simply put Bridge Constructor Portal is a great puzzle game. It's fair but challenging, it includes a ton of levels, and best of all it feels like a part of the world of Aperture Science, while at the same time feeling like it's own separate entry in the franchise. At $14.99 I can absolutely recommend it to both hardcore fans of puzzle games and Portal, as well as casual gamers. It's certainly no Portal 3 (and I don't really think anyone was expecting it to be), but there's no doubt in my mind that this title is worthy of the Portal name in every way, and I can't wait to see what other creative ideas developers can do with the license in the future.
If you are a huge racing game fan that is interested in what the game is trying to do, it may be worth checking out, as it's not a poorly-made game. Otherwise, I'd wait for a price drop before adding this to your collection. Gravel does have a lot of room to expand for a sequel, so I do hope Milestone gives this type of racing game another stab with more memorable results.
Zoink Games' Fe may be occasionally rough around the edges and gameplay derivative, but failure to look beyond that is missing the forest for the trees. The exquisite audio direction and artstyle help build on a world to create mystique across the board. Even better, a hands-off approach to gameplay allows those willing to invest the time an avenue to organically explore and fix the broken world left behind.
If you can get past the somewhat janky visuals and combat, you will find a decent action-adventure game that does an excellent job exposing new people to an intriguing culture and mythology. If you are a fan of games that infuse history or different mythologies into the experience and have not heard of the Tarahumara people, Mulaka is definitely worth checking out. It is vital to preserve smaller and somewhat ignored cultures through things like storytelling, so I'm glad Lienzo choose to do so for the Tarahumara people in an interactive way with Mulaka.
It's sad when a video game title based on an anime/manga series is unable to capture the magic and fluidity fans of said series rightfully expect. Unfortunately, The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia manages to disappoint in just about every category and fails at capturing just about anything that makes the series memorable. If you've been itching to have a go at this game, I'd recommend that you just wait for a price drop. Unfortunately, I can't say that The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia will be as fondly remembered as many of the older anime games that came before it.
The only positive thing I can say about Past Cure is that I've taken this hit and played the game for you so that you don't have to. In a time where I believe games are better than ever, I implore you to spend your hard-earned free time cozying up to literally any other game — even Superman 64. Past Cure is not just the worst game I have played over the past few years; it's now on the shortlist of worst games I've ever played in my life.
Even though both games are coming well after players enjoyed them on several other platforms, the Bayonetta games remain near-perfect examples of pure, unfiltered action and spectacle. Both Bayonetta games seamlessly blend escalating action with imaginative design and a combat system that toes the line between accessibility and making you feel like a true badass, and rewarding players with careful timing and experimentation. Bayonetta‘s over-the-top action and style may not be for everyone, but for Switch owners looking for a bit of blood-pumping action to have on-the-go, it's easy to recommend having Bayonetta show you a good time.
Dandara is more than the average Metroidvania and is a game worth your time. Although its unique stop-and-go gameplay may have you stumbling at first, movement turns into an art form as you get accustomed to it. And though not everything about Dandara stands out, the titular character is executed so masterfully it is hard not to be impressed with the folk-lore based heroine.
The developers kept the physics, systems, and gameplay almost identical to the original Secret of Mana and I'm overjoyed that they did. With Secret of Mana being grouped up by so many gamers as their favorite game of all time, it was important for Square Enix to deliver as close to that same experience for a new generation, and they did that just that. Some features might not have aged well or should have been added in for good measure, but this release of Secret of Mana is the same adventure that I remember, and I couldn't have asked for more.
Sprint Vector may have a lot of problems; however, I think the pros outweigh the cons, especially when you consider that Survios has redefined VR movement with its “Fluid Locomotion” movement. The real issue is whether or not Survios was able to tackle a big problem in VR gaming successfully: in a reductive way yes — yes they did. Several of the cons found in the game can indeed be fixed in future patches, however, the most significant risk that the game tackled was in-fact the game's movement. A prime example of high-risk, high-reward, Survios's Sprint Vector is a game every VR owner should certainly consider.
After playing The Fall and seeing the words “to be continued” scroll across my screen, I was interested, but not excited. It told a good story, but its questionable gameplay and puzzle design left me cautiously optimistic. After my time with The Fall Part 2: Unbound, I am not only intrigued but eager for the series' conclusion when the third part inevitable releases. The sequel does exemplify some of the gameplay flaws of its predecessor but tells a fantastic sci-fi tale and builds a world that I never imagined it would.
While combat remains exhilarating and fun in a way that will feel familiar to veterans of the series, Dynasty Warriors 9 isn't just one versus a thousand anymore. We're part of a war that unfolds all around us, with plenty of allies in need of help and enemies begging for a healthy beating. It's a bold step in the right direction, and while Omega Force may have overextended in certain aspects, the fun outweighs the jank and the experience remains one that I am eager to return to and to see improved and further evolved in Dynasty Warriors 10 or Samurai Warriors 5.
With its debut project, Fourattic has serviceably captured and recreated a period, with nostalgia and passion bursting through every seam.
There's no doubt in my mind that most Final Fantasy fans will appreciate the attention to detail in regards to every character, map, costume, and weapon. I believe that Dissidia Final Fantasy NT has the potential to grow its audience if the developers evolve the game based on community feedback. Right now I think it's a bit bare bones compared to other fighters on the market, but if you're looking for a new, quirky competitive fighter to get into, you may enjoy Dissidia Final Fantasy NT a lot more than you expect.
The Longest Five Minutes is almost the standard definition of an RPG, brought to life with one of the most exciting storytelling techniques for any Switch game. It's a good entry point for those looking to try out NIS America games or RPGs, and interesting enough to keep the attention of more hardcore fans. But without leaning too heavily into the novel flashback dynamic, The Longest Five Minutes doesn't bring much more to the RPG table.
Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology is more than fans could ask for in a remaster of an already great game. If in any case, you happened to have looked over Radiant Historia in the past or just kept it in your backlog all these years, it's time you give Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology a try. Because ultimately, those who have not played Radiant Historia are in for an adventure with the best version of a timeless RPG.