Reno Gazette-Journal
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Origami King — even with its imperfections — is a bold attempt at reimagining the franchise. Fans who pine for the series classic RPG mechanics will likely be disappointed in the game’s combat system. A colorful and imaginative open world, however, combined with witty dialogue and poignant storytelling, make Origami King a welcome addition to the Paper Mario fold.
SpongeBob Square Pants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is akin to a time capsule, not just of the golden age of the SpongeBob cartoon but the 3D action genre that was popular two console generations ago. When it works, you can’t help but have a stupid smile on your face. When it gets bogged down, the mechanics can feel dated and the pacing a bit too long. For fans of the original, however, it’s worth a return trip for the nostalgia alone.
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva MegaMix is the kind of rhythm game that does wonders for your confidence. And by that, I mean you’ll be wondering where all your confidence went after the game grinds it into boba tea powder. Visuals continue to be a strong point and its nice selection of songs both old and new will have you tapping your feet unconsciously. Just be ready for a fight, especially in its harder modes, as this game definitely hits back.
All in all, Resident Evil Resistance and its various concepts certainly show promise. Heck, it can even be an adrenaline rush when things go right. As it is now, however, the lack of content prevents it from reaching its true potential. It’s not dead on arrival like Umbrella Corps was. Unless it gets more fleshed out, however, Resistance is more akin to an ambling zombie that’s holding on to life.
Sometimes, I feel like I was pretty much dragged kicking and screaming into this age of DLC and microtransactions. With its on-point, classic gameplay and plethora of easter eggs and unlockables, Streets of Rage 4 reminds me that you can punch back and maybe throw a Grand Upper or two to reclaim those good old gaming days from before. It’s just a joy to be able to happily walk those familiar streets once again without having to rage about what was once lost. From one old-school gamer, well played Streets of Rage 4 dev team. Well played. Now go and remake Guardian Heroes.
Sakura Wars doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights set by its predecessors but it remains a worthy attempt at not only resurrecting the long-dormant franchise but also modernizing it for a new audience. Despite its flaws, there really are no other games like it, and I think the developers should be commended for releasing a game like this one despite the risk it entails, especially when compared to more popular genres. If the idea of fun interactive storytelling mixed with a nice helping of steampunk and robot hijinks sounds good to you, then Sakura Wars just might blossom into your kind of game.
If you loved the Animal Crossing games of the past, New Horizons will definitely scratch your itch for the series and then some. And if you’ve never played the game before, now is as good a time as any to start. Admittedly, Animal Crossing isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re the type who craves more heart-pumping action. If you want a charming, laid-back game that tickles your creative fancies, however, this latest entry in the Animal Crossing series just might expand your horizons.
Final Fantasy VII Remake does the impossible by not only building on the original but surpassing it in some aspects. Admittedly, it has its fair share of stumbles due to uneven side quests, some shaky dialogue as well as pacing issues. Its excellent presentation and combat, however, combined with a more fleshed-out narrative that shows the developing bonds between its characters, make this a wonderful take on a timeless classic. I can’t wait to see what the series comes up with next.
Persona 5 Royal remains an excellent rendition of the classic 3D JRPG formula and all that entails. If you felt burnt out by the first game, this likely won’t change your opinion. If the original P5 left you wanting more, however, then Royal just might steal your heart again. And if you never got the chance to play the original but love JRPGs, then get this new version for sure. For fans of the genre, this is about as good as it gets.
U.A. High School’s heroes and their villainous rivals return for another round in My Hero Justice 2, complete with a bigger cast that builds on the fun combat of the first game. Unfortunately, the story mode remains bare-bones, which represents a big missed opportunity for a game whose roots lie in storytelling. It’s still a fun anime fighter that’s easy to pick up and enjoy. But it also could have been so much better.
Overall, I quite liked my experience with Langrisser I & II. Granted, certain aspects of the game might feel dated to folks used to more modern tactical JRPGs. As someone who remembers playing games like this as a kid, however, those same classic aspects make me feel warm and comfortable — just like slurping a hot bowl of chicken stew. If you’re a fan of old-school tactical games, the Langrisser I & II remake just might fill you up.
Its platforming and minor issues aside, Darksiders Genesis provides a fun hack-and-slash experience that further fleshes out the world’s lore at the same time. The addition of Strife to the mix also provides a nice change of pace over his more serious brethren. If you love Darksiders or are looking for a different take on the Diablo formula, Darksiders Genesis is worth a trip to hell and back.
Cindered Shadows is a nice addition to the Three Houses experience, especially for folks who have played the game heavily and want more or just need some extra variety to add to their replays. The difficulty might frustrate more casual fans and it would have been nice to have more class options for your crew. If you’re looking for an excuse to travel back to Fodlan, however, Cindered Shadows just might be your ticket.
The premise behind Arc of Alchemist’s world and its story is a good one. The implementation, however, could be better and the game feels incomplete due to its uneven combat as well as its awkward interface and systems. Given my affinity for old-school JRPGs and cute character designs, Arc of Alchemist should be a game that I absolutely love. Instead, I now find myself wondering what could have been.
Azur Lane Crosswave is a tale of two games. On one hand, you have the story mode, which features a chunky, entertaining narrative that also doubles as a visual novel with nice art and excellent Japanese voice acting. On the other hand, you have the 3D combat, which starts out promising but eventually feels a bit sparse and shallow. That being said, I still enjoyed my time with Crosswave. It won’t be for everyone. But if you love the lore behind Azur Lane, it might be worth dipping into this pool for the story mode alone.
Nearly four years after its original release, Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore holds up well even today. The switch to the Switch, pun so totally intended, feels surprisingly natural even with the loss of a second screen. The first game was criminally underrated so now’s a good time for folks who missed it to experience its unique flavor as well as all the extra post-release content. The game also adds some new features to entice fans who played the game before. In fact, I selfishly want folks to support if that means we get a chance for a Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE 2. Pretty please for reals, Sega/Atlus and Nintendo?
Dragon Ball Z Kakarot starts out with a lot of potential thanks to the addition of RPG touches to the expected fighting mechanics. The adventure portion feels like it was taken out of the oven a bit early, however, and we’re left with a Dragon Ball game that feels closer to what came before instead of being something completely new. If you love the previous Dragon Ball games before this, then Dragon Ball Z Kakarot is another worthy title to add to your collection. If you were expecting a different Dragon Ball game with highly polished adventure and RPG mechanics, however, just falls a bit short of reaching a new power level.
Fallen Order is exactly the kind of game that the Star Wars gaming community needed after Battlefront 2. You have a game centered around you playing as a Jedi, exploring as a Jedi and fighting as a Jedi. It’s something that feels like a no-brainer but somehow got lost in the shuffle somewhere. Throw in the fun combat, solid narrative and nice production values and it seems that the Star Wars gaming franchise just might have a new hope.
As an old-school gamer, there’s just something about Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout that checks a lot of boxes for me. Maybe it’s the game’s colorful visuals and fantasy setting. Perhaps it’s the ability to use alchemy to craft all sorts of gear and items from the materials that I gather from the field. Or it could be its likable cast of characters. Regardless, there isn’t quite anything out there like the Atelier series and Ryza builds on a lot of the things I like about the franchise. Give this game a shot and you just might find your own alchemical romance.
Even with the controversy surrounding Dexit, I still find Pokemon Sword and Shield to be a fun romp. While certain features still feel like they’re not quite fully fleshed out, I appreciate all the quality-of-life improvements as well as the new things Game Freak added to change things up. Pokemon Sword and Shield feels fresh and new, something I haven’t felt in the series since Diamond and Pearl. It may not be the very best like no Pokemon game ever was. But it’s promising, which makes me look forward to what comes next for the series.