Niche Gamer
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If you are looking for a side-scrolling shooter, then you could give Ra Ra Boom a chance if you and three other friends want to chip in five dollars for a game to play with one another on Stream or on a rainy day. Otherwise, the game is skippable and is something to pick up during a Steam sale or something that you get as part of a bundle.
Varlet isn’t a game I would recommend to anyone. Even for Japanese high school game enjoyers, there’s just not enough content or reward behind said content to really motivate interest in its pursuit. Every feature in the game feels half-cooked, with the combat system being the only interesting thing, but ultimately falls hard on its face since there’s really no feeling of reward or satisfaction.
Do not listen to day one reviews, and do not be attached to nostalgia. It will fail you as a consumer and a gamer. This is easily the weakest Legend of Zelda game in the last 20 years, and some simple design choices combined with the time to QA correctly could have produced the best game in the series.
Silksong isn’t perfect, but you won’t find a better modern metroidvania out there. This was a labor of passion made by people who refused to settle, and you can feel it every step of the way. Everyone working on it was on their A-game, and they held nothing back.
Wild Hearts S is a fine port, and released at a very good window for those in need of a good progression-based game on the Nintendo Switch 2. Sadly, it won’t likely get any support if the original release is anything to go by, so don’t expect it to be the most long-term solution for multiplayer. Aside from that, and some poor texture qualities scattered throughout the game, Wild Hearts S is a hunt worth taking, especially for those who did not play it in the initial release.
Everyone gets their moment to shine, and connecting with each one to try to probe them leads to some amusing situations. It’s a bit long-winded at times, but it’s fitting since Rei is trying to rush to solve a mystery and can’t let anyone know what’s going on, which in turn puts the player in the same headspace. Considering its pedigree, Shuten Ordern should have been a lot better, but its limited resources and ambitious promise hamstring it.
Fans of Dead Space will be thrilled by the parallels, but Cronos has more to offer than superficial similarities. Fans of PS1 and PS2 era horror games will adore the level design and tasteful throwbacks. It’s old-school where it counts, yet modern enough to feel fresh. The classic survival horror gameplay will pull you in, but you’ll stick around for the intriguing story and characters.
While the game could benefit from a map to view where you have been for the constant need to backtrack, there’s not too much to detract from this well-polished and delightful adventure platformer game. I question the decision to clash pixel with HD art. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a game I would recommend to not only fans of the series, but to people interested in having their wish granted for a good adventure game.
Grinding seems to be completely absent, which might be seen as a gift or a curse. Combat, while almost at its most simple approach, feels balanced and fun, though some level of tinkering in character progression would have made this nearly a masterpiece. With that being said, Quartet is an exceptional RPG worthy of any RPG maniac’s time.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a great way for old fans to replay an undisputed classic. Newcomers will appreciate the added features and smoother playability. The story and gameplay are rock solid, with tons of features and unlockable things to mess around with that will keep players busy longer than ever.
Granted, this game being a turn-based RPG isn’t necessarily the point of its enjoyment; it’s more about the memorable, strange, but curious experience itself. OFF strikes out, however, with its poor party member designs. At least it’s very short.
Gradius Origins is yet another superb collection of some of Konami’s classics from the 80s and 90s. Including a new game was like a massive, glistening cherry on top that might even steal the show for some fans. The ports all run excellently and even retain some of their old quirks, depending on which version you choose to play. Even when playing on easy, these are still monumentally difficult games.
Wild Dogs is a fun and varied take on the Contra blueprint. Unique elements like Teddy’s stealth and vehicle sections diversify the gameplay; however, it comes at the cost of co-op. Wild Dogs is a great pick for indie fans or those wanting a brutal Contra-like fix, just be ready to go into it alone.
Despite some minor issues, the adventure itself, in its full package as Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition, is one I’d still recommend to any DnD player.
Donkey Kong Bananza is a beautiful technical marvel that revels in letting players unleash their inner animal and get crazy, but still takes the time to create situations where you must stop and think before you leap.
This legally distinct take on one of the most misunderstood entries proves just how ahead of the curve Castlevania II’s ideas were, while executing them with forward-thinking and intuitive design.
All and all, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers isn’t perfect but it’s more interesting than Black Myth: Wukong was in my opinion, and with a little bit of refinement, this game could wind up as one of the most beloved non-FromSoftware soulslike games.
There are so many shoot-em ups out there that you couldn’t possibly play them all in a single lifetime. Exo-Calibre is as milquetoast as they come. It’s merely functional and adequate, without any guts to stand out.
Girl Genius: Adventures In Castle Heterodyne comes close to greatness but falls short due to its finicky combat and rigid mobility. When Agatha is left to explore the impressively atmospheric castle and tinker with its mechanisms, it’s firing on all cylinders.
The gameplay is a standard rhythm game that works as promised and is made exceptional due to its eccelctic music choices. For its price, you are at least getting an impressive album of a style of music you probably would have never heard before. Kovox Pitch may not hold interest for long, but now I’m curious about this style of rock.