Reno Gazette-Journal
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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.
Deck 13 serves up a fun alternative to Dark Souls in the Surge, featuring the same type of deliberate combat and punishing difficulty in a more sci-fi package. It's a bit short and could use more diversity in its foes and environs. If you're looking for a different take on the Souls-like genre, however, this one's worth taking a stab, hack, slice or bludgeoning blow at.
Ultra Street Fighter 2 looks like a love letter to fans such as myself who spent tons of time and even more quarters at the arcades during SF2's heyday. While classic mode remains fun and modern mode looks nice, a lack of extra features and a poorly implemented first-person mode with waggle controls sours what should have been a celebration of Street Fighter 2's legacy. It's still a solid title but also represents a missed opportunity.
Those crazy Mishima boys are at it again in Tekken 7, which spices up its volcanic, dysfunctional family drama with some new mechanics and one “Raging Demon.” Admittedly, a few more extra modes certainly would have been nice to have. A full-fledged campaign combined with rock-solid mechanics, fun customization and that flashy Tekken style, however, makes this game another hard-hitting entry in the popular fighting franchise.
Overall, Superhot VR is a game that every VR system owner should have. This is the definitive VR game out there right now and an easy one to load up and show your friends. With a huge library of potential VR games, Superhot VR should make the top of the list even if you have no interest in a shooting game. It's just that solid overall.
Disgaea 5 Complete returns with devilish hijinks and the deepest tactical system in the series to date while throwing in all the DLC extras for free from the original PS4 version. The game can feel overwhelming for newcomers and requires some serious grinding to fully enjoy everything it has to offer. Tactical RPG lovers, however, will love its depth while the ability to play on the TV or on the go makes it arguably the best version of Disgaea 5 out there.
“Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception” is a well-done visual novel that features a chunky narrative as well as some tactical combat to help add diversity to the mix. Its incredibly long walls of text won't be for folks who are more interested in a dedicated tactical RPG. If you're looking for a polished visual novel experience with likable characters and a sprinkling of battling for diversity, however, Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is one amusing and entertaining journey that's worth embarking on.
Part Spirited Away and part Tim Burton-style narrative, Little Nightmares serves up an intriguing suspense-horror platformer with great visuals, a nice dose of mystery and a compelling narrative. The game is a bit brief and leans toward the easier side of the difficulty scale. That short experience, however, is definitely sweet and will tickle fans of Limbo, Inside and other games in the genre. All in all, Little Nightmares is a sleeper hit.
Like a loaded hero sandwich, Injustice 2 serves up a stellar fighting game that is not only mechanically solid but also packed to the gills with plenty of "fixins." It still has some uncanny valley moments and the dark, insufferable versions of Superman and Wonder Woman are starting to wear a bit thin. Thanks to a deep combat system, a chunky narrative and a plethora of collectibles and unlockables to collect, however, Injustice 2 is proof that fighting games can be full-fledged experiences that aren't one-dimensional.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia provides the best of both worlds by serving up classic tactical gameplay in a modern, more visually pleasing presentation. Some fans might decry the absence of the Weapon Triangle and romance options. All in all, however, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia does a commendable job in re-imagining an old game for today's times. It's a great example of a remake done right.
Like a lovable blast from the past, The Disney Afternoon collection brings back six 8-bit games based on beloved franchises while adding a few twists. These include a neat rewind feature as well as a Boss Rush mode for getting into the big action right away. The games can feel dated and might not hold up for folks who don't have any attachments to the original versions or the franchises they are based on. If you enjoyed the games as a kid, however, they provide a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Having played all those other Lego games in the past, Lego City: Undercover feels like a retread, despite its solid design and mechanics. If you're a newcomer to the series, Lego City: Undercover will be loads of fun, especially when played with a sidekick in your living room. If you're someone who played the Wii U version or many of the games in the series and are looking for something new, however, Lego City: Undercover will likely feel like more of the same despite being one of the best incarnations of the Lego formula.
Sci-fi survival horror can have a been-there, done-that vibe but Prey manages to add another worthy entry to a genre that has seen its fair share of titles. Thankfully, the game manages to strike a good balance between action and tension while weaving a narrative that encourages you to discover what's next. Certain aspects of combat can feel clunky and loading times can be annoying given all the backtracking you need to do. Overall, though, Prey is a pulse-pounding addition to the survival-horror genre.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe puts the pedal to the metal by creating the most accessible racer in the series, or any racing game for that matter, to date. Smart steering and auto-acceleration lets little kids join in on the fun without being too overpowered. The return of a full-fledged battle mode also makes it a more complete Mario Kart experience. It might not have enough new features to entice folks who still own the Wii U version. Overall, though, this is arguably the best Mario Kart game to date.
The Caligula Effect features a nifty concept as well as some notable minds behind its story, music and character design. At the same time, the PS Vita JRPG is also the victim of bad timing as everything it does, Persona 5 does much better. If you haven't played the latter, then I recommend getting that instead. Otherwise, if you're looking for a more old-school Persona-style game, then The Caligula Effect can be worth checking out.
Groundhog Day meets Cluedo in the fascinating murder-mystery game, The Sexy Brutale. At times charming and other times poignant, this spin on the classic “whodunnit” formula in a mansion features an interesting time travel mechanic as well as a likeable cast of characters. The game and puzzles are admittedly linear and repeating time can get, well, repetitive at times. Overall, however, The Sexy Brutale is a fun murder-mystery romp, regardless of what time it is.