Reno Gazette-Journal
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Cereza continues to age well as "Bayonetta 1 + 2: Switch Collection" brings Platinum's high-octane franchise to Nintendo's latest system for new players and series fans alike. Folks who already own both games might not have much reason to get it unless they want to experience the Bayonetta series again on the go. For action game lovers who never played either game before, getting this is pretty much a no-brainer. Now bring on Bayonetta 3.
After the underwhelming Valkyria Revolution spinoff, Valkyria Chronicles 4 marks a long-awaited and much welcome return of the series' classic tactical gameplay. The strategy portion still has an unrealistic emphasis on speed and the dialogue has some occasional hiccups. A fun combat system combined with that familiar Valkyria storytelling centered on camaraderie and the gray areas of war, however, make this an excellent addition to the franchise. It's a must-have game for any Valkyria Chronicles fan.
Masahiro Sakurai certainly deserves a well-earned break after this one. With a roster spanning every character in the series plus some new additions as well as the return of a new adventure mode, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is easily the most comprehensive and feature-packed entry in the series to date. Online is, sadly, an uneven experience and could use its fair share of improvements. Overall, though, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is arguably the new standard-bearer of the franchise.
Like a Datsun 240Z with a new engine, Octopath Traveler is a retro JRPG homage done right. This love letter to fans of old-school JRPGs is a great example of how to bring the classic JRPG formula to the present and make it look fresh instead of feeling old and tired. Admittedly, the narrative could be more cohesive and the level grind could have been done better. At the same time, its warmth and charming style is a nice change from the cold, factory-like approach adopted by games sometimes. It's definitely a delight.
Dead Cells is the perfect representation of a genre that once seemed dead but has come roaring back to life. A Metroidvania-style rogue-life game, Dead Cells boasts excellent mechanics and punishing difficulty that forces you to "git gud." It's admittedly on the short side and can be repetitive after a while. A sturdy foundation based on solid core mechanics, however, make this one fun romp that bears repeating.
Devil May Cry 5 represents a much welcome return to form for the franchise that'll likely make your cheeks ache due to the stupid smile that it constantly puts on your face.
Die twice, my butt. You'll definitely die more than a couple of times in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Despite its pedigree and punishing difficulty, this ain't Dark Souls either — and thinking it is can be a recipe for frustration if you try playing it with old habits from that game. It doesn't have the class and weapon diversity of Dark Souls and forces you to play a certain way, which some might not like. If you like the old Tenchu games, swift and agile movement, and challenging parry-based combat set in a hauntingly beautiful Japanese world, however, you'll want to sink your fangs into this one-armed wolf.
There was a time when I thought I was done with Resident Evil games. Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil 2, however, showed me that the franchise not only has enough left in the tank but possesses even more possibilities that have yet to be tapped. Resident Evil 6 felt like a lost zombie searching for its soul and grasping at anything it could hold onto. The Resident Evil 2 remake, on the other hand feels like, well, a Resident Evil game. As someone who loved the earlier entries in the franchise, that’s the highest compliment I can give it.
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince doesn't have the best puzzle and platforming mechanics nor the longest adventure. What it does have, however, are unique, charming visuals and a story filled with so much heart, everything else fades into the background. Throughout my short journey I smiled, laughed and cried — sometimes with joy. Maybe I'm just a sentimental sap. But this game is a wonderful reminder why I fell in love with video games.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Just when you think you know the answers, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim changes the questions as you’re left guessing with how its sci-fi mystery unfolds. Admittedly, the game’s non-traditional narrative approach can be confusing and its reliance on popular science fiction themes can also make it feel derivative at first. Stick with it, however, and you just might find an unexpected treat. Add some fun giant robot tactical combat to the mix and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim actually lets you have your peach tart and eat it, too.
It’s time for some alchemical romance once again as Atelier Ryza 2 builds on the positive elements of its predecessor while also addressing previous issues. A skill tree helps make crafting more intuitive while improved map design and new field actions make exploration seem like an actual adventure. Combat is also more enjoyable thanks to even more opportunities to chain actions. Side quests can be fetchy and the game still has its share of chores that feel like busywork. Overall, though, Atelier Ryza 2 is an improved and polished follow-up that’s even better than the original.
Capcom could have easily just mailed it in when it came to creating a new Monster Hunter game for the Switch. Monster Hunter Rise, however, goes above and beyond expectations by serving up a visual and technical masterpiece on Nintendo’s hybrid portable console. Rise builds on the new gameplay foundation introduced by Monster Hunter World while adding even more features and quality-of-life improvements. My only wish was that it had more content as the game felt a bit short.
If there’s one thing that Tales of Arise teaches its players, it’s that a little empathy goes a long way. It’s a lesson that would serve all of us well in today’s deeply divided and highly politicized landscape as well.