GBAtemp's Reviews
The Eternal Castle is a fantastic experience with a stunningly unapologetic appearance that evokes strong retro vibes and has a very modern feel under its hood.
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a wonderful remake that still manages to keep the charm of the original. It might not be the biggest release this year but it's one that's worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of the series, the original or the genre.
This was a rollercoaster of a review, through no fault on my own. This is the first time I've ever done a complete 180 mid-way through writing, but I suppose that it's only fair if the patches didn't just fix small issues, but rather fundamentally changed the way the game plays. The score has to be indicative of the product the consumer is going to buy, and as of right now, that product is a 6/10 - an average game in every respect, but also one that gets an extra point for being exceedingly faithful to the license it's based upon, and thus likely to please long-term fans of WH40K. It pleased me, at least.
With its gorgeous aesthetic and intriguing plot, Backbone has a lot going for it but suffers from pacing and execution issues.
Perhaps I don't appreciate it as it should, but I found this game a woeful yawn-fest. If you want a slow-paced mystery filled lateral-thinking inventory collect-a-thon; this might be up your alley. But if you want thrills and spills and any level of endorphin promoting action; save your time and your money.
Overall, if you liked the Ninja Gaiden reboots, you should pick up this collection. While the PC port is not worth bothering with, the games themselves certainly are on other platforms and get a big recommendation from me.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister leaves me conflicted; as a long time Dungeons & Dragons fan, I think it's an absolute blast and I love how faithful and accurate everything is to the tabletop experience. But limited customization options, a poor story, and unpolished character graphics keeps me from loving this game as much as I want to.
I'm a huge fan of the fighting and action games, but not so much of the shooters which all feel very samey. If there were a little more variety here I think this would be a glowing review, however the niche 3 genres it covers, though authentic and as you would expect from Capcom doesn't quite give everyone something to play.
I want to love this game, but I don't. It's an exquisite piece of design with a beautiful aesthetic that just needs a little more sense of direction in my honest opinion. Explorers and puzzlers will grow to love this game, but casual players looking for a coffee time headscratcher will probably grow tired of the scale and endless searching around for something to do quickly.
Biomutant is less of an experimental game and more of a formulaic open world adventure. You know what you're getting into from the start, with few surprises along the way. Thankfully, the otherwise mediocre mechanics are carried by a beautiful world, a good crafting system and a mountain of loot to collect. It provides pleasant reprieve from the sea of brownish, boring RPG's by taking you to a somewhat unusual setting with an unusual protagonist, topped off with a splash of colour. Based on that alone, it earns a recommendation from me, if narrowly so. If you're looking for something different, but not "too different", give Biomutant a shot.
Cannon Brawl is a fantastic mix of resource management, farming and fighting. I particularly liked the frantic race to gain supplies to outgun your foes. I would normally have looked the other way with this kind of game, but I had an incredibly good time playing this and the hours just flew away whilst I was completely absorbed.
Valeting might not sound very interesting of a premise for a game but Toyful Games subverts expectations with a fun couch co-op title that can be easily picked up and played in short bouts that inevitably turn valeting into parking chaos.
As an all-in-one package with quality of life improvements, Mass Effect Legendary Edition gives ample reasons to (re)embark the Normandy as Commander Shepard for memorable intergalactic missions, but still leaves wanting on certain fronts for a truly legendary experience.
It has to be said that even as a bare-bones online military shooter, Alvo ticks all the boxes for me, and offers rewarding, realistic, ultra-fast gameplay that really puts you under the pump and forces you to think fast. The scope of possibility for Alvo is sky high and I really look forward to the next round of tweaks and additions, from a developer that seems to really listen to its community. If you're looking for an online shooter with a definite penchant for gritty action; Alvo is your game without a shadow of a doubt.
Outriders delivers fun, varied and fast-paced combats in a pseudo-Earth that merges intriguing sci-fi and fantasy elements; provided that you have a stable internet connection to boot and don't mind overlooking some of the game's bland elements.
Overall, New Pokemnon Snap is a decent game, and a mostly worthy successor to the N64 classic. If you were a fan of the original, you'll be a fan of this one for sure. It's a little rough around the edges in some places, and the grind can be unreal sometimes, but it's still modern Pokemon Snap which is good enough for me.
It's that good.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is clearly chopped down and squeezed into portable form, but where sacrifices in framerate, draw distance, pop-in, LOD and resolution have been made they're relatively minor and entirely forgivable in the overall collect-a-thon fun-fest you're able to play on your TV and on the move!
It Takes Two is a brilliant co-op game that keeps throwing fresh, fun and inventive mechanics throughout its duration that make for one of the most memorable gaming experiences in recent years.
Narita Boy is a commendable effort for Studio Koba's first title with its gorgeous presentation and a gameplay that's kept fresh, although some aspects could evidently have been improved upon.