DualShockers
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I found immense enjoyment in watching some of my favorite Fire Emblem characters fight hordes of foes in 3D, as it something we have never really gotten with the series before. While the game is let down a bit by mediocre AI and underwhelming voice acting and story, Fire Emblem Warriors delivers with enjoyable gameplay that blends mechanics from both Fire Emblem and Warriors games into something unique and unlike anything else on the Nintendo Switch. I hope Koei Tecmo continue this collaboration with Nintendo, either on sequels to Fire Emblem and Hyrule Warriors, or another IP like Xenoblade.
Yomawari: Midnight Shadows has everything a horror game needs, engaging story and characters, creepy town, and scary spirits. Most importantly, it shows a significant improvement over what the previous entry in the series offered. Sadly, the game lacks more explorable areas and also a more extensive variety of enemies, who end up overstaying their welcome in the later parts of the game. With that said, Yomawari: Midnight Shadows caused me to scream out of fear multiple times and, at the same time, kept me excited for whatever was coming next.
ECHO is a game with a singular gameplay mechanic that it delivers on with precision. Its setting is a spectacle, and its plot is well-developed despite some slight details that feel glossed over and an ending that barely wraps everything up. Those looking to invest a little time into one of the more unique and stylish titles of the year will find a great experience. If you're hoping to spend a bit more than eight hours into ECHO, there aren't additional gameplay modes, but the option for increased difficulties unlocks after the first playthrough, and there are plenty of collectibles available to keep the avid achievement hunter busy for a while longer.
Raiden V: Director's Cut offers a wide variety of weapons and difficulties that are sure to keep players busy for some time. I could have used a few additional modes, ships, and weapons, but what's provided was enough for me to have a blast. Hopefully, the success of Raiden V: Director's Cut opens the floodgates for the bullet hell genre on consoles in the west.
WWE 2K18 is an upgrade from the previous iteration. It improves on the game's core gameplay, graphics, and creation tools giving wrestling fans a fun experience they will enjoy. However, like previous iterations, the game poses a ton of excellent ideas that fall flat. MyCareer, Road to Glory, and Universe Mode are all fantastic features on paper, but lacks the depth players would want. This is a game built for the WWE Universe; it is for fans of all generations. However, if you play WWE 2K18 without an appreciation for the sport, it would be hard to convince you that it is entertaining.
Rogue Trooper Redux might have been a strange game to remaster, but I had a decent time playing through the story again. I enjoyed taking advantage of the limited enemy AI as well as taking them out with my arsenal of gadgets. Although I would have preferred a reboot or sequel to the series, this provided a nice trip down third-person shooter memory lane, but that might not be enough to gauge enough interest from modern gamers.
All in all, South Park: The Fractured But Whole is a fantastic game. While there are some minor flaws, I couldn't put my controller down. Aside from being one of my personal favorite games of this year, it also holds a special place in my heart as one of the best Ubisoft games I have ever played. If you are a fan of the TV series, as well as The Stick of Truth, I highly recommend purchasing this game; it is well worth your time, and it is worth every penny of its purchase price.
There is something about Hob that I really enjoy. I'm not quite sure if it's the cartoonish art style, clever puzzles, or an amalgamation of the two, but my overall experience was quite pleasant. However, frequent frame rate drops, mindless combat, and its open-world facade hindered my amusement and often relinquished any feeling of consequence while exploring the game's dangerously portrayed world. Similarly, the unspoken and symbolic mystery that unfolds begins as an interesting tale, but quickly becomes shallow when there are no other factors to create a meaningful and emotional conflict. Hob boasts a lot of promising ideas at the outset, but ultimately fails to fulfill those promises by the game's end.
Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth is another great game in the Etrian Odyssey series, and is one of the few games that needs to be played on a Nintendo 3DS.
Project Nimbus makes a great attempt at capturing the mech action genre that rarely comes West. Fans will find a lot of what they want from mech action, but the lack of motivation to complete missions could potential hurt the chances of them completing the game. For a small indie game, Project Nimbus hits all the right ques to be a great action game, but dated visuals and
The LEGO Ninjago Movie Videogame is by means going to be my pick of the season, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't keep my thumbs busy for a few days and a smile across my face. Filled with light-hearted comedy, the game is a breath of fresh air for those looking for lighter fare in their Fall lineup. And while the game certainly feels limited due to it being so tied to the underlying movie it is based on and technical issues, the game is a solid purchase for both children and children at heart.
I hate to sound like I didn't enjoy my time with the game. There's a lot to love about Dark Arisen, but it's hard for me to ignore some of its more glaring issues. If you're an action RPG fan who has been looking to sink their teeth into a meaty game before the end of the year, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is definitely worth checking out.
Chaos;Child is a visual novel that needs to be taken slowly and digested over a few days. There are still scenes that I can't stop thinking about because of how graphic and powerful they were. Steins;Gate sets the bar really high for me and Chaos;Child is the first visual novel in a long time to come so close to that emotional of impact on my mental state.
Bad Apple Wars explores the afterlife in a way that is sure to grab the interest of visual novel fans, especially those who are already fans of Angel Beats!. However, the inconsistencies in character routes and a few dull events involving Rinka's pathetic attitude holds the game back from being a great otome. There is plenty to love of Bad Apple Wars, but to me it doesn't stand out when compared to some of the better otome visual novels available.
Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online made me excited for this series' potential again. I took a break and came back to find that, outside of Unreal Engine 4 graphics, the biggest changes were in gameplay and story progression, but the cast of characters, which I feel is the heart of the series, is better than ever in this entry. With solid controls, a variations of quests, multiple dungeons to explore, and many hours of items collecting and level grinding, Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online will provide that Nep-tastic adventure that fans have been waiting for while at the same time slowing down in certain parts for new fans to jump in and acquaint themselves with the Goddesses.
However, when a game is purposely difficult solely due to the amount of overpowered enemies it can throw at you, it makes for an unsatisfying experience. This blended with clunky gameplay only amplified my disappointment. I would not be surprised if someone stopped playing twenty minutes into Ruiner with its uninviting gameplay. Despite my outlook, if you're a fan of dystopian sci-fi revenge stories, Ruiner may be worth checking out.
I really enjoyed my time with Samurai Shodown V Special, I just wish it had given me a couple more reasons to come back in the future. After a few runs in the arcade mode there isn't much else to do on the single-player side of things. I hope we'll get the opportunity to see this series return again someday.
Shadow of War finds its success in perfectly expanding upon everything that made Shadow of Mordor so great. Despite the game's slow start, once you get into the weeds of Shadow of War's systems, you'll find yourself engrossed and addicted to its satisfying gameplay loop for hours on end. This increased depth along with the much larger scale of the world and battles within Shadow of War make it a far better game from top to bottom than that of its predecessor.
Ultimately, we'll have to see how Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite develops as far as expanding its character roster with its (forthcoming) DLC, and how the hardcore community takes to the game after spending more time with it and learning its deeper mechanics. While it may not quite match the blend of style and substance that Marvel vs. Capcom 3 provided in the last generation, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite still provides an enjoyable romp with Earth's (and video gaming's) mightiest heroes, warts and all.
Forza Motorsport 7 is a fantastic game — as a whole, the series has managed to tweak a near-perfect racing series to provide the best sim racing experience year after year. If you are a die-hard Forza Motorsport fan, I can assure you this game is worth its purchase price. For all you novice sim racing fans or casual gamers out there who are looking to get into the Forza series, this title is one that you should definitely start out with. Or, if you are looking to invest in one of the best looking games you can play on the upcoming Xbox One X, Forza Motorsport 7 is a must-have.