Niche Gamer
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Gloomy Eyes is a low-cost, entry-level adventure game that’s perfect for kids who have just gotten into video games. It looks amazing, and it probably would have been better off as a film, but there is no denying that using two characters to solve puzzles is always fun, no matter how average they are.
I pray more games take the initiative to follow Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter’s example in not only preserving difficulty and challenge, but everything else it promises. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is an unforgettable experience with great characters, an engaging story, and enjoyable gameplay.
Koei Tecmo and Gust added yet another page of fantastic alchemy goodness to their long list of ateliers, not just for ongoing fans, but maybe a few new ones looking for another good JRPG to enjoy.
The parkour is some of the smoothest and most reactive ever executed in any first-person game, and Castor Woods is one of the more fun settings in the Dying Light games yet.
It has side quests that you can easily screw up and permanently fail, highlighting Nathan’s futility and hopelessness. It’s a game that is hilarious as it is soul-crushing, making it a hard sell for normie gamers. This is one for players who crave something unique and interesting. The ambient music that sounds like wildlife hip-hop and naturalistic voice acting gives it a bespoke texture that isn’t like anything else out there.
The game has a higher skill ceiling than it would appear at first, so it can be easily recommended to both veterans of the original trilogy as well as newcomers to the series.
This is the true fifth Silent Hill that fans deserve after The Room. It’s a fascinating and haunting exploration into new territory; a dark take on the “coming of age” drama that’s distinctly Silent Hill, with visceral and challenging combat and diabolical puzzles. Silent Hill is back… we just had to go to Japan to get there.
Forgotten Land was already a gorgeous-looking game, and this Switch 2 Upgrade makes it look and play even better. The Star-Crossed World campaign was a bit of wasted potential, resulting in something merely adequate, but the superb original core game remains one of the most enjoyable Kirby games of all time, which is fun to play at any age.
The best aspects of The Awakening are the fact that it is, in fact, a genuine Cobra product. It looks like Cobra, smells like Cobra, tastes like Cobra, sounds like Cobra, but plays like a platformer that needed more time.
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.