Reno Gazette-Journal
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Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 represents a positive step forward for the franchise. The more fleshed-out story mode makes it feel more like a complete game and the retro events add an extra dose of fun and whimsy to the title. Admittedly, events can be hit-or-miss and the campaign can feel a bit fetchy at times. Overall, however, Mario & Sonic 2020 feels like a breath of fresh air for a franchise that was feeling a bit stale in recent years. It’s arguably the best game in the family-friendly Olympics series to date.
Astral Chain is everything that’s right about Platinum, reflecting the fresh, quirky, gunslinging mentality that the studio displays in its best works. Part Bayonetta and part Pokemon with a heavy sprinkling of police sci-fi in between, Astral Chain is a breath of fresh air in an industry typically dominated by sequels and familiar formulas. Free time sections could be a bit more dialed down and the Legion combat can be a handful at times. Overall, though, Astral Chain marks a promising start to what will hopefully be a new franchise.
Contra is one of my favorite video game series of all time. Which makes giving Contra: Rogue Corps a low score extra painful for me. I really wanted this game to do well. But while it has some good ideas, they’re pretty much buried in an avalanche of poor gameplay decisions. From overheating guns to poor camera angles, playing Rogue Corps feels like you’re fighting the game a lot of times instead of the aliens inside it. I just hope it doesn’t spell the death knell for a franchise I love so much.
Daemon X Machina is a solid game that boasts a great foundation but could use just a bit more polish in some areas. While I appreciate that it at least tries to craft an intriguing narrative instead of just putting in a throwaway story, the dialogue is admittedly a bit rough around the edges. The game could also be grindy, particularly if you want to get the best gear. Even with its issues, however, the excellent core combat makes this game worth a look, especially if you’re a mech fan. Hopefully, it does well enough to warrant a sequel as I’d be interested in seeing what this team can do a second time with the solid foundation it has set.
Calling Code Vein a Dark Souls clone is a bit unfair as it certainly adds its own unique spin to the genre. It doesn’t quite nail the purposeful gameplay that’s perfected by Dark Souls and Bloodborne. At the same time, its anime-style visuals combined with its more free-form class swapping makes it a fresh alternative for folks hungry for more Soulsborne-style games. All in all, Code Vein is a solid first effort that establishes a promising franchise.
Nintendo could’ve just taken the easy way out with Link’s Awakening. Instead, it brought back a gaming classic by remaking it from the ground up while keeping all the wonderful things that made games such as the original a bonafide treat. The new look won’t be for everyone and the Switch struggles at times when there’s too much going on. But those are minor quibbles for a game that reminds us why the top-down Zelda games were so beloved in the first place. Link’s Awakening is a charming remake done oh-so right. One last tip: don’t steal anything. Seriously.
Borderlands 3 doesn’t introduce any massively revolutionary concepts that completely change the game. Sometimes, though, people just want more of a good thing and Borderlands 3 delivers on that front for fans of the series.
Knights and Bikes isn't perfect, but it makes up for its hiccups with charming visuals, two adorable protagonists and a moving story that reminds us of some of our deepest, strongest fears and insecurities as kids. At the same time, it also reminds us of a time when we were filled with youthful optimism and were positively certain that we would make a difference in the world around us, no matter how tough things get. After putting in time in the game, one thought comes to mind. I wanna ride my bike.
Death is never a comfortable topic. Oninaki, however, doesn't just address it but wholeheartedly runs with it. It doesn't always succeed but it does make you think about the meaning of mortality — perhaps a bit too much as people die left and right. The combat also could be a bit tighter and the story overstays its welcome a bit. Beautiful visuals compared with a haunting score, however, make the game a treat to behold. Here's hoping Tokyo RPG Factory further builds on this for their next new JRPG IP.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses marks another stellar entry in a beloved series that continues to find ways to keep the experience fresh even after three decades. From its improved presentation and solid voice acting to its deep combat system and compelling narrative, Three Houses serves up a lot of meat that fans of the long-running franchise will gobble up. The main character admittedly can feel wooden at times and the school life part peters out a bit toward the end. Nearly 30 years after its humble beginnings, however, Three Houses is proof that Fire Emblem's flame continues to burn brightly.
Monster Hunter World Iceborne builds on its excellent predecessor with a plethora of new and returning monsters as well as some fun new mechanics to boot. The Clutch Claw is an especially fun addition to the game while Guiding Lands helps flesh out the endgame for folks who felt World didn't do quite as good a job in that department. Admittedly, certain endgame aspects can be a bit too grindy and some of the side stuff like Lynian picture taking can be wonky at times. Overall, however, Iceborne proves to be a better Monster Hunter World for fans of the series.
Super Mario Maker 2 is like a side-scrolling trip down memory lane for Mario fans minus the kids yelling "are we there yet" in the back seat. The sequel not only tickles your creative fancies but also adds a bevy of fun features not present in the first game, such as a new story mode, even more tools and the Super Mario 3D World style. Admittedly, the 3D World portion is a bit limited and isn't quite as feature-complete as the other styles. If you love designing levels or want to check out the Super Mario Maker 2 community's crazy concoctions, however, this game will have you exclaiming "Mama Mia."
Super Neptunia RPG features great music, wonderful visuals and that kooky Neptunia storytelling and dialogue that fans of the series know and love. Unfortunately, the overall experience is taken down several notches by the gameplay, which features pretty basic platforming, a multitude of fetch quests and combat that could be more fleshed out. Newcomers will probably not want to nep to this particular beat but hardcore fans will still enjoy its very Neptunia-ish writing and dialogue
Dragon Quest Builders 2 takes the original’s solid formula and turns it into an even more enjoyable building exercise, thanks to new additions such as farming and combat sidekick Malroth. Existing elements from the previous game also get a lot of polish, with NPCs being more plentiful and more entertaining as well. Add a greatly improved narrative and DQB2 is an example of a sequel done, er, built right. If you loved the original or are pining for a Minecraft-style game with more action and storytelling, you’ll absolutely adore this one.
Like reincarnated divinity, SolSeraph tries to rekindle the flames of cult classic ActRaiser by merging side-scrolling action with town building. The result is an homage that recaptures some of the old magic, even if it doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of its original predecessor. Some spots are admittedly rough and could use extra depth or polish. SolSeraph’s high points, however, remind you why the first game was so beloved among its fans and the Yuzo Koshiro soundtrack sounds heavenly. As such, I’d love to see Ace Team take another stab at the formula now that they’ve got this under their belt.
Citizens of Space is a fun old-school-style RPG with a nice recipe that improves on Citizens of Earth, but could’ve used a bit more time in the oven. The Paper Mario-style combat is a strong point, especially with the plethora of strategies you can use to mix things up. The alien and enemy designs are also interesting and look great visually. The game’s reliance on fetch quests and RNG encounters, however, can get taxing and its attempts at humor also can be hit or miss. Add some issues with glitches and you have a game that’s solid overall but doesn't quite reach its full potential.
Cadence of Hyrule is a unique take on a beloved franchise that combines old school Legend of Zelda with an indie vibe. The base action can be a bit too simple and exploration could be more fleshed out. Its unique rhythm mechanics, however, combined with its Zelda inspired look and sound just might make skeptics sing a different tune once they try it out. It could very well be music to your ears.
What is this strange familiar feeling that I’m experiencing, I wonder? Oh, that’s right, sore thumbs! As someone who counts the first two games as my favorite in the series, the new Samurai Shodown is a much welcome blast from the past. Don’t worry about the jump to 3D, either. This new iteration plays just like a SamSho game and looks great to boot. Folks who prefer later games in the series or more modern fighting games might not like the back-to-basics approach. If you pine for the golden age of fighting games when SNK and Capcom titles ruled the arcade scene, however, the new Samurai Shodown is bloody fun, pure and simple.
Part physics simulation, tower defense and Monty Python-esque historical satire, Rock of Ages 2: Bigger and Boulder finally rolls its way into the Switch. While the game remains fun and being able to take it on the road is great, the Switch version, unfortunately, suffers from a lack of local co-op. Thankfully, you can still play against others online but you might be better off getting it for other systems for the full experience.
Journey to the West meets Rayman in this reimagining of the classic Chinese tale. Unruly Heroes features gorgeous, fluid visuals and creative character designs that impress. Some of the tougher sections can feel a bit cheap and the lack of online co-op is a bummer. If you’re pining for a classic platformer with modern touches, however, this journey just might scratch that itch.