Reno Gazette-Journal
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All in all, Shining Resonance Refrain is a solid effort that ticks off a lot of JRPG checkboxes. Admittedly, it has a by-the-numbers feel and doesn't have that uniqueness seen in heavy hitters such as Persona 5. Its fetchy, repeating side quests also feel a bit long in the tooth. At the same time, I appreciate the game being brought over to our shores, which is hopefully a trend that continues as the genre sees a resurgence. The more JRPGs make it to the West, the better it is for fans.
It's-a back? Mario Tennis Aces on the Switch gets the series back on the right track after the less than stellar Ultra Smash for the Wii U. It admittedly has issues with balance and the campaign could be more fleshed out. Fun features, however, combined with solid base mechanics, a nice roster list and Nintendo's efforts to patch and address problems post-launch make Aces a worthy addition to Nintendo's tennis franchise. Series fans will definitely want to check it out.
Family? Friends? What are those? Super Bomberman R brings the fun and cutthroat rendition of the classic Bomberman formula, not just on the Switch but other consoles a year later. Positives include a story mode with crazy boss fights plus hectic online and local multiplayer with up to eight players. However, input lag and latency, which was an issue on the Switch release, continues to negatively impact the experience on PS4, particularly when playing online. Despite that, the game is still a blast, especially when you get four people together in your living room or with mics online.
Veemo! A new Octoling hero combined with a bevy of new challenging stages makes Splatoon 2’s Octo Expansion a fresh and welcome addition for fans of the series. Do be warned that the levels can be quite tough, likely making this expansion too difficult for younger or less coordinated fans. For those looking for a challenge that tests their mastery of Splatoon 2’s various weapons and mechanics, however, you’ll definitely wanna grab hold of this sucker.
As an avid robot fan and someone who enjoyed the last game in the series, I really wanted to like New Gundam Breaker. Stiff controls, however, combined with a broken parts system and heavy use of tired MMO-style side quests make this new entry in the series fall hard like a space colony on Sydney. This game made me want to go back and play its predecessor Gundam Breaker 3 instead, which has an English-subtitled version, by the way. I suggest you do the same.
Just like its director speaking onstage at E3 2015, the game isn’t perfect. Certain aspects of the controls could be better and playing the game solo can feel repetitive and a bit of a drag at times. Unravel Two, however, makes up for its faults with its earnest disposition and likable charm. Co-op play especially enhances the experience, turning it into a fun and hilarious exercise even when you're failing miserably. If you’re a puzzle-platformer fan who's looking for a game to enjoy with friends, your kids or a significant other, Unravel Two is one needle that you’ll definitely want to thread.
If you’ve played the previous versions before, there really isn’t a big, overarching new feature in Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, so there’s less incentive for you to double or even triple dip unless you want the ability to play on the go with a bigger screen. If you’ve never played it, though, this is literally the definitive version of the game and is the one you should get. For fans of the Warriors-style of games, Hyrule Warriors is easily one of the best takes on the Musou formula.
With a protagonist seeking to balance his dark instincts with his remaining humanity, it's interesting how Vampyr faces an inner struggle of its own. On one hand, the storytelling is excellent, delivering another great narrative from DONTNOD that forces players to make tough choices. On the other hand, the combat is a bit uneven and doesn't quite reach the same heights. It certainly has promise, though, and hopefully marks a return by DONTNOD to making games that add action to its narrative touch.
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time is a tale of two games. The storytelling is excellent and top notch, featuring the exact kind of humor and charm that fans of the series adore. The gameplay, however, lacks polish and can feel cumbersome, which is a bummer. While it won’t be for everyone, fans of the series who are willing to go through less than perfect gameplay likely will still enjoy it for its original story, which definitely does justice to the source material.
Tropical Freeze is easily one of the best controlling games I've ever played. If you get stressed out by bottomless pits, disintegrating platforms and precision jumps, then get down on all fours and run away from this game as far as you can. If you welcome such challenges and love old-school platforming and goofy characters and bosses, however, then you'll go bananas over Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Funky Kong's addition to the Switch version is also a nice touch that makes things a bit more manageable.
Detective Pikachu is certainly a game out of left field. I mean, who would have thought that you'd ever play a game with a crime-solving Pikachu who sounds like a middle-age man? Admittedly, the preponderance of QTEs and lack of a battle system worthy of the Pokemon name feels like a missed opportunity. Its characters also feel a bit too vanilla. If the idea of a Pokemon-inspired Ace Attorney or Professor Layton type game intrigues you, however, then Detective Pikachu is a family-friendly title worth investigating.
There will be people who will absolutely love Sea of Thieves and the unbridled freedom it provides. Others, however, will be left wanting more. Although the game looks great and has a solid foundation, it's missing key pieces to bring together its more solid elements. It certainly has its flashes of brilliance and can be a blast when played with a group of friends. A poor solo experience, however, combined with a lack of diversity as far as things to do, make its waters seem shallower than initially expected.
After a long absence, Kratos manages to beat his toughest opponent yet: loss of relevance. Kratos' latest adventure takes risks by re-imagining what a God of War game is supposed to be, ultimately rewarding players with a wonderfully, refreshing take on the longstanding franchise. The changes in combat and perspective will admittedly be polarizing to series purists. If you get beyond that, though, God of War is not just the best game in the series, it's one of the best games ever made, period.
The fittingly titled “Yakuza 6: The Song of Life” gives beloved protagonist Kazuma Kiryu his swan song as the Dragon of Dojima picks one final fight. The new combat will admittedly be hit or miss for folks and the story doesn’t quite stack up to the series’ best. Despite that, however, Yakuza 6 remains a stellar entry in Sega’s open-sandbox, crime drama formula that also manages to retain the the franchise’s charm, heart and — more importantly — tacky karaoke stylings.
Far Cry 5 hits the scene with arguably the best open-world experience of the series in quite some time with a large region to explore backed by solid combat and Triple-A production values. Its narrative, however, can be quite polarizing and its selection of endings can leave some people questioning the effort they invested in guiding the protagonist toward the story's conclusion. So do you value the journey or the destination? Ultimately, the satisfaction you get from Far Cry 5 rests on your answer to that question.
As someone who loves Monster Hunter, Phantasy Star Online and the Lost Planet spin-off E.X. Troopers on the 3DS, I found “Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet” to be surprisingly enjoyable. It still lacks polish in some areas and its anime-style look and story won’t be for everyone. If you’re looking for an MMO-inspired third-person shooter with old-school loot hunting and grinding plus online co-op, however, Fatal Bullet just might hit all the targets in your brain’s pleasure centers.
As helter-skelter as the game can be at times there will be folks who will love The 25th Ward. I mean, I personally tuned out of Evangelion toward the end but there are folks who love that series' confusing and, at times, raw and disturbing style. If you love games with an aesthetic and plot akin to an M.C. Escher lithograph, The 25th Ward: The Silver Case will be right up your alley. Or inverted stairs.
After feeling a bit underwhelmed by the first game, I found The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 to be surprisingly enjoyable. Granted, the dungeon combat can feel clunky and repetitive and the English localization seems to be trying too hard to be edgy at times. A nice mix of that Nippon Ichi charm and humor on top of its darker, witchy elements, however, makes this worth sampling from your gaming cauldron, particularly if you like more niche JRPG titles.
The beloved pink puffball returns in Kirby Star Allies, this time with the ability to recruit friends into battle. As a Kirby game, this one is accessible as ever and the addition of couch co-op as well as extra modes is welcome for families. It’s a still a bit too easy as far as platformers go and the AI can be inconsistent at times. For Kirby fans, though, Star Allies delivers another charming platformer that will suck your time. It's an adorable, family-friendly romp for the young and young at heart.
Frantics carries on the tradition of party games with its kooky cast and sabotaging shenanigans. The mobile device requirement adds an extra element to gameplay but also serves as a barrier to entry. The final minigame competition for each set of challenges can also feel unfair at times. That being said, Frantics offers a solid selection of activities for you to undertake against friends and family. If you love the minigame genre and engaging in friendly sabotage, this’ll be worth checking out.