Niche Gamer
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Overall, Shadows of Change is a mixed experience. It has possibly my favorite character from the game, the Changeling, but it also brings two rehashed additions into the game, in the form of Yuan Bo and Mother Ostankya.
If you like edgy humor? Great. If you just want to be a hot girl trying to solve hot girl problems. This is the game for you. It’s crude, it’s funny, it has fantastic voice acting, and despite what little there is to find fault with; I had the most fun with a Western VN I think I’ve ever had. I just wish there was more.
At the end of the day, the game’s poor gameplay and dragging dialog outweigh the game’s narrative. If you are looking for a vampire tale or want to revisit the game, it would be better to watch a YouTube playthrough than spend your time or money on this game. For the game itself, we give it a 4; if we were to doc points for censorship, we’d drop it to a 3 maybe a 2.
Players that don’t like typical Bethesda RPG tropes like the combat, the skill system, the exploration, or the questing will likely not enjoy Starfield because it’s definitely more of the same. However, if you enjoy Bethesda RPGs and have been itching for them to finally do a sci-fi game, Starfield is quite a fantastic ride.
Gunbrella represents a commendable initial attempt at the concept. It maintains a tight pace without overstaying its welcome. With some refinement and improved character art, a sequel or successor could truly excel.
Players who aren’t into soulslike games will likely check this out on Gamepass and find themselves enamored with a whole new genre of games to explore. It’s tough but it’s rewarding and I’m happy to report that even with my middling feeling after playing the demo, Lies of P is one of the best games I’ve played all year.
The mechanics and visual presentation of Bomb Rush Cyberfunk are unbelievably refined. It truly looks and sounds the part of delivering a spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio Future. However, it is held back by an underwhelming gameplay structure and some of the worst combat implementations in a 3D game.
Hopefully Rune Factory 6 will be a return to form for the franchise but in the meantime, Rune Factory 3 Special is a spectacular remake that will delight fans who have never gotten a chance to try it, and will tide over old fans of the series. The future looks bright for Rune Factory.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a proper return to form for one of the most beloved mecha game series. Everything in the game has been carefully looked at, designed, and fine tuned to appease both longtime fans like myself and newcomer pilots as well. I couldn’t put the game down, every bit of the game is fun – Armored Core VI is a love letter to mecha action.
Unfortunately, Atlas Fallen is entirely forgettable. It lacks polish, featuring sloppy and tedious combat, along with a boilerplate story and characters that won’t resonate with anyone. While riding sand dunes with friends provides amusement and a sense of freedom, gamers are better off with Forspoken, where its annoying characteristics at least leave an impression.
Sea of Stars understands what fans of Chrono Trigger have been longing for. It tastefully incorporates homages and exhibits greater originality than might be initially perceived. Sea of Stars is a masterful artistic achievement in both visuals and audio, featuring utterly engrossing turn-based combat that showcases air-tight design.
Although Fort Solis may be a pretty game to look at and listen to, its core gameplay mechanics and rendering issues hold it back. At its price point, it is more a flavor of the month with a big name rather than an interactive experience that many will enjoy.
Compared to Friday the 13th: The Game, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a dramatic improvement in its polish. Some minor things don’t make sense like Grandpa’s powers, but the core experience is thrilling and distinct from the other asymmetrical multiplayer horror games.
Considering the game’s emphasis on flexible character development and multiple endings, the necessity to start from scratch each time poses a significant inconvenience. This results in rendering the pursuit of alternate endings an intense burden and not worth the time and effort.
It isn’t the biggest or the best game I’ve played all year, but Immortals of Aveum has been one of the most fun experiences I’ve had. If I had any real complaints, it’s that the story continually urges the player forward without any assurance that you’ll have time to explore later.
At the price point, it is worth picking up, but if you have a tight wallet and want a game with a ton of hours of gameplay, then it is better to wait until it goes on sale. Unless you hate puzzle games, you will most likely enjoy this game and enjoy the variety of puzzles.
Whether or not Quake II‘s ties to the original are somewhat loose doesn’t really matter. It might only carry the Quake name for marketing purposes, but that could have also influenced fans’ expectations. At its core, Quake II is more aggressive, faster, and larger in scale than its predecessor. It doesn’t replace the original; instead, it confidently stands beside it.
Overall, Eternal Return is a very unique battle royale; it has a lot of good ideas and fantastic characters with really diverse playstyles, but still falls for some of the trappings that other games from the genre do, especially when it comes to matchmaking.
Ultimately, Baldur’s Gate 3 is virtually everything I’d want out of a tactical RPG. Like the Divinity series it ditched the live-combat in favor of more interactive tactical combat, it remains rooted firmly in the lore of Forgotten Realms, and it’s not afraid to be gritty with its depictions of violence, dark magic, and the brutality of life in the near lawless life of a fantasy adventurer.
Pikmin 4 is an enchanting and expansive adventure, perfect for kids and kids-at-heart alike. It sets the bar high for young players, offering an easy-to-learn gameplay experience that promises endless fun. Like most good Nintendo games, it backloads the substantially challenging content after the credits, but even before that, gamers are going to have a fun time getting to that point.