Niche Gamer
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Long Gone Days has a lot of heart to it, but it is sorely lacking in its mechanics. This is not much of an RPG but is more akin to a visual novel with some tense sequences that are expressed in the style of retro RPG battles. The simplistic sniping sequences make more sense and are executed much more effectively at conveying the themes of the story and fit the gameplay better.
Players are left to decipher the path to these endings with little to no guidance from the game itself. This lack of direction will lead players to seek guides to uncover these elusive alternate endings. Even when armed with the knowledge of what actions to take, the solutions often lack coherence and may fail to provide players with a satisfying understanding of the game’s narrative twists and turns.
Despite its current caveats, My Hero Ultra Rumble is one of the more interesting battle royales out there, and I really hope that it improves in the future. Bandai Namco does seem to be listening to feedback, so things aren’t looking very grim.
Although Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty offers players a good bit of new activities to do, the lack of new quaint romantic partners or a happy/satisfying ending leaves us feeling unsatisfied. If this is truly how CD Projekt Red plans to end Cyberpunk 2077, they are doing the fans a massive disservice.
Ultimately, Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless is a game made for… well it’s made for Disgaea players. There’s nothing quite like this franchise and over time Nippon Ichi has refined what it does well, and focused on what the fanbase loves.
It could just be that I’m masochistic and want some of the unreasonable difficulty present in the previous game to return, though. Even if it doesn’t scratch the itch the previous game placed in me, I do recommend Blasphemous 2, possibly more than the first one, as it’s a very polished and enjoyable experience.
The simplistic JRPG gameplay was charming, even when it was first released, but it’s clear that this was designed for 90s gamers who simply wanted to experience a wholesome anime on their PlayStations. It’s unfortunate that the otherwise solid localization didn’t include English singing because the musical segments are a highlight in both games.
If you are new to Fate and you want to have fun battling armies of monsters or thugs, then Fate/Samurai Remnant is worth a look for the satisfaction of the thrill of the fight. Just be ready for a lot of reading. If you are already a Fate fan, then Fate/Samurai Remnant will be the ultimate Fate experience.
Ultimately Silent Hope is a refreshing return to form for Marvelous. Cute characters, great voicework, fun (and grindy) beat’em up combat. It’s a distillation of Rune Factory combat with simplified crafting and no conventional farming mechanics (there is a farm though).
Paleo Pines is a great game for young gamers just starting out with farming/life sims, but it lacks that all-ages appeal.
Each year, I want to give Madden a chance and the benefit of the doubt. Each year since 2014 it has continued to disappoint me and feels like it is only getting worse. The game has become stagnant and outside of updated rosters and minor improvements to the graphics, Madden has done the bare minimum to stay relevant. Madden 24 tries to revitalize the franchise with a new precision throwing system, new celebrations, cross-platform gameplay, and the return of the training camp minigames, but at the end of the day, it is EA Sports putting a fresh coat of paint on something and calling it new.
Although the sluggish gameplay and unresponsive action have always been open to question, with the right mindset, it’s possible to adapt to its crap-factor. It’s worth acclimating to them because Red Dead Redemption is more than the sum of its parts.
Separate Ways is a welcomed and excellent addition to one of the best games of 2023. While it is too bad that it couldn’t have been a part of the package back when the core game was released, the wait has been worth it. Separate Ways is easily some of the best material that Capcom has produced since the real Resident Evil 4 and outclasses the original Separate Ways.
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.