Reno Gazette-Journal
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Destiny 2 is a welcome follow-up that rights several of the wrongs that tripped up the original game when it launched. The grind can admittedly be draining at times and its treatment of microtransactions will disappoint some players. It's rock-solid gunplay, however, combined with a more fleshed-out narrative and a nice selection of online activities to tackle either solo or with teammates, brings the series closer to realizing its own destiny — pun so totally intended.
Resident Evil Revelations on PS4 is a solid representation of the second-generation of games in the franchise that gets new life once again on current-gen consoles. Folks who never played the game before will get the most mileage out of this. If you only played it on 3DS, it might actually be worth picking up again as the experience feels different in the dark on the big screen. Those who already played it on PS3, meanwhile, really don’t have much reason to take this trip once again as it doesn’t really offer much that’s new. As much as I loved the original on 3DS, playing it a third time admittedly blunts its impact.
NHL 18 builds on the foundation of the last few games while adding a fun and fast-paced 3-on-3 mode as well as a much welcome training mode for new or rusty players. Admittedly, the changes might not be enough to shake off that “been-there, done-that” feeling for some veteran players of the series who are looking for more. If you’re a new player or someone returning to the series after a long absence, however, NHL 18 serves as the perfect entry point.
“Metroid: Samus Returns” is essentially a love letter sealed with a bright red and orange kiss mark for old-school fans of the series. Featuring excellent visuals that take full advantage of the 3DS’ three-dimensional effect, lots of Metroidvania-style exploration and arguably the best combat to grace a 2D Metroid game, calling this a remake honestly doesn’t do it enough justice. It’s a nice return to 2D form for Nintendo’s popular bounty hunter.
All in all, I found Knack 2 to be a curious experience. It certainly has the ingredients for a successful action-platformer from a production and mechanical perspective. Like a dish that does not quite come out perfectly, however, its various elements don’t mix as well as they should have. The platforming is solid for the most part and certain aspects of the game are definitely impressive on a technical level. That being said, the lack of an emotional connection to its characters made me feel like I was playing an extended technology demo at times.
Monster Hunter Stories is a refreshing take on the popular series that is a surprisingly fun romp. Certain aspects can feel repetitive and drawn out and the campaign can feel rushed and tropish at times. A fun monster-raising mechanic, however, combined with plenty of stuff to do, makes this a solid JRPG for folks of all ages. If you like a more RPG-ish take on Monster Hunter or enjoy games like Pokemon, this is one spin-off game that you’ll want to ride on.
The tale of the unlikely hero Haku comes to its much-awaited conclusion for series fans in Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth. A story-based game at its roots, it’s best to think of Mask of Truth as a visual novel that happens to have combat to get the most out of it. As such, it’s not really for folks who want a traditional RPG gaming experience that involves heavy adventuring. But if you’re a visual novel fan who likes some battling added to your narrative experience, this is one game that will scratch your narrative itch with its tale of intrigue, friendship and love.
Mario + Rabbids delivers a fun and refreshing take on the Mario experience that only scratches the surface of this new tactical shooter's potential. Difficulty can vary wildly and the inability to save mid-battle might frustrate some folks while also making the game a bit tough for a younger audience. Its combination of humor and solid tactical gameplay, however, makes the game exactly the kind of title that Nintendo needs from third-party developers to build up its new system's library.
Yakuza Kiwami is a welcome retelling of the original that helps bring in new folks to the fold while giving fans another opportunity to enjoy the game that started it all. Some aspects of the game haven’t aged quite as well even with the new coat of paint. A compelling story and setting, however, combined with memorable characters and an affordable price to boot makes Kiwami a welcome blast from the past that arrives just in time.
A solid base mechanic with potential and affordable price make Flip Wars an intriguing proposition for party game lovers. Its lack of content, however, reduce the mileage you might otherwise get from the game, especially in solo play. If you like to see a different take on Bomberman-style games and can round up folks to play with you, however, this budget title can still be worth flipping into.
Sonic Mania is a love letter thoughtfully crafted for fans of the series' early romp in 2D, which the game follows to perfection. Admittedly, some of the game's mechanics have not aged well and might be cumbersome for some. If you love the classic gameplay, however, and want to experience it through larger areas littered with multiple paths and secret nooks and crannies, you'll want to spin dash your way to this one.
The gameplay leans a bit on the easy side and doesn't quite have the meatiness to keep you coming back for more. It retains much of the charm of the series, however, while getting rid of its more stressful elements. If you're a fan of Kirby games, this lighter, two-dimensional take on Pikmin is the gameplay equivalent of snacking on cotton candy.
It's admittedly simple and repetitive. The game, however, oozes charm and high comedy depending on your real-life relationships with the people your Mii characters are based on. It's basically like Thanksgiving with relatives, minus the stress.
“Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age” brings back a pivotal title in the series' modern period that has proved to be ahead of its time. It's like a time capsule that bridges the transition from the series' classic roots to its more modern iterations. Like the original game it's based on, the game is not perfect. If you love JRPGs, however, this is one history lesson you'll want to take.
Splatoon 2 returns with all the charm and quirkiness of the original plus some new features that make it an even more polished experience. Difficulty for the story mode bosses leans a bit on the easier side and the online experience has some minor hiccups. An engaging campaign that harkens to old-school action games as well as full-fledged online multiplayer that now adds horde mode, however, makes Splatoon 2 avoid the dreaded sophomore slump by serving up an even fresher experience in the shooting genre.
Drifting Lands is an entertaining take on the "shmup" genre that adds roguelike elements to spice up the old formula. Backgrounds can be confusing and enemy scaling can feel a bit brutal at times. All in all, however, this is an excellent take on a classic genre.
Despite some promising elements, mismatched expectations and an unsuccessful attempt to set things right cause this Valkyria Chronicles spinoff to crumble under its own weight. Ultimately, Valkyria Revolution is a game that suffers from an identity crisis and ends up not being quite sure of what it wants to be. I just hope that the Valkyria franchise gets another chance to do what it does best and deliver a new entry that's more faithful to its roots.
Ever Oasis is one of the pleasant surprises of the summer, delivering a fun action RPG with an extra helping of city building and oodles of charm. It leans a bit on the easy side and gathering can get a bit grindy in the first half of the game. Overall, though, it hits a lot of the right spots, especially for fans of old-school action RPGs. It's essentially one of those games that you didn't know you wanted until you play it.
Great artwork, amazing sound and a tough challenge make MidBoss a great game to jump into. It'll cause you to watch time just simply melt away while you keep telling yourself, "just one more run." It is hampered a little by empty levels but will still provide lots of enjoyment if that issue isn't a big deal to you. I highly recommend MidBoss to anyone out there who is a fan of old school gaming or rogue-like games in general.
Oraoraora! ARMS is a fresh and welcome entry in the arena fighting genre that features interesting characters, solid fighting mechanics and one of the best implementations of motion controls that I've seen for any system. Admittedly, the campaign mode could have benefitted from a more robust story and the inability to remap your buttons is a bit frustrating. Despite its issues, however, ARMS is a wily knockout fighter that dishes out lots of fun and entertainment for the young as well as the young at heart.