Niche Gamer
HomepageNiche Gamer's Reviews
Terra Nil is good for what it is, but it doesn’t go beyond that in any meaningful way.
I was initially hooked by 9 Years of Shadows, and I still have nothing negative to say about the game’s music or visuals, but then I realized that the game didn’t have anything interesting to show me after the Poseidon armor. The predictable level structure, meaningless upgrades, uninteresting enemies, mechanically boring boss fights, and stale combat make it a repetitive slog to go through.
Atomic Heart is an impressive first game from a new studio. It has lavish production values and a really good soundtrack that utilizes real Russian hits. The sense of humor in the game is a highlight that makes it stand out from other shooters in the market and the gameplay that shifts from high-octane combat to cheeky puzzles is stimulating.
So in closing, Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & The Secret Key is a wonderful addition to an enjoyable franchise. The characters are fleshed out nicely and fully developed with long-lasting and strong relationships.
Assault Suits Valken Declassified is a thrill ride with a lot of big action and with an impressive spectacle that holds up. The kinesthetics give the mech a suitably weighty feel when stomping around and being able to blow up almost anything- even the floor, makes it stand out from most 16-bit action games from its time.
With a bit of time, Moving Pieces Interactive might be able to smooth out the combat and improve the frame rate. Hopefully, the developers can inject some personality into the characters and maybe flesh out the lore and story too.
Tchia is a beautiful tropical painting given interactive form, and is a fantastic way of getting lost and immersed in a new culture.
You can easily set aside a few hours to go for a run and enjoy the ride night in and night out. Not only is the core gameplay loop satisfying in The Last Spell, but there is a ton of content streamed in that’ll keep you coming back for more.
Resident Evil 4‘s remake does what the first Resident Evil remake does for the franchise. It expands upon an incredible foundation and creates fresh material while remixing existing scenarios that were sacred. Capcom was very careful with the changes and has delivered another excellent experience that honors the original’s legacy.
Patch Quest manages to be very competent both as a roguelike and bullet hell, but compromises some of the qualities that both genres have.
There is a profound sense that the developers learned a lot of lessons from the criticisms of Octopath Traveler. This sequel addresses every single one of them and at the same time, they got so much more creative with the characters and writing. Octopath Traveler II may not reinvent the wheel, but it is one of the best and most reliable wheels around.
Whatever happens to Fatal Frame, at least one of the best entries finally came to the west. Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has some of the best material the series has in it and Suda51’s contributions can be felt with very subtle homages from his work on Moonlight Syndrome. If you can adapt to the unconventional and sluggish controls, then expect to have a frightful time with Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse.
With expectations checked, The End of YoRHa Edition still manages to impress by being a technical achievement. NieR: Automata was a game that struggled to run on much more powerful hardware and the fact that it can run as well as it does on Nintendo Switch is nothing short of a miracle.
With a little bit of loot system reduction, refinement to the morale system in regards to player level, removal of sociopolitical nonsense, and tweaks to make spirit attacks a bit more useful, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty could have a sequel that goes from pretty good to superb. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty isn’t perfect, but it sets a great baseline for what could become a terrific franchise much like Nioh did before it.
The most defining aspect of his game is the signature Boku no Natsuyasumi atmosphere. The Shin-chan elements take a back seat to support the lazy summer vacation ambiance, so don’t expect any elephant dances or jokes about Misae’s butt. If anything, the Shin-chan connection holds this back from being all it can be, so it ends up pleasing nobody.
All in all, Scars Above is good for what it is. While it doesn’t top out other recent AAA launches, it’s also not a AAA launch in the first place, so it comes with a lower price tag to match what it offers. However, it’s also absurdly short for what it is and replay value is lacking. Scars Above is more for those looking for something new and aren’t particularly looking for the next game of the year.
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe is another feel-good hit that has a lot of variety in a very lean package. It looks and sounds excellent, and offers many amusing side modes to partake in with young gamers who are learning how to play. You may not get all the bang for your buck, but if you are still hungry for some more breezy action after The Forgotten Land, then this will give you what you need.
Hogwarts Legacy is a great way for those who have never watched a Harry Potter movie or read the books to experience the universe. Fans of the franchise will be able to express themselves and live out their own magical fantasy. We definitely recommend picking up this game if you like Harry Potter or love RPGs.
With a more energetic soundtrack, funnier dialogue, better GUI, and a more useful super move, Grim Guardians: Demon Purge could be one of the best. Even with these nitpicks, expect another excellent Inti Creates game that is on par with some of the classics it is inspired by.
EA, this ain’t how you move units. This series need to take a cue from the unique styling of the visuals and either needs to revamp the feeling of playing NFS in the next one, or someone needs to put this damn thing down behind the barn like Old Yeller and let Criterion get back to making Burnout games (which is really what we all want anyway.)