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Alien: Rogue Incursion is a frighteningly impressive game that nails the tone of the series and is the title that could push the common perception of VR forward. The save system is a bit harsh, but the sheer immersion and fear that the game specializes in makes this a VR must-play.
Ballionaire is a peculiar little gem that deftly mixes pachinko with roguelike elements to keep you playing run after run. It can be a bit frustrating when you’re hit with bad luck given the nature of Pachinko, but the good playthroughs make up for this with their unique and addictive fun.
Fairy Tail 2 throws you right into the action of the final chapter of the Alvarez Empire Arc but does little to help out anyone who might be unfamiliar with the series outside of the games. Along with several bugs, performance issues, and strange UI decisions, unless you’re a fan of the series, Fairy Tail 2 can be skipped.
Disney Dreamlight Valley: The Storybook Vale is a pleasant expansion for the Animal Crossing-like title. Catching Snippets and crafting new objects and meals with characters like Hades makes for a good time, even if it takes a while to complete certain quests. If this continues to be the quality of DLC going forward, then I’m excited to see what else is added in future updates. (Dare I dream of a Tron expansion?)
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind is the perfect beat ‘em up to play with a few friends, as you jam along to the series’ iconic theme song and relive that Saturday morning cartoon fun.
Your appreciation of Metal Slug Tactics is really going to hinge on how open you are to its genre change, and it being a rogue-like on top of that. Get over that hurdle and you’re in for a good time.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a massive and immersive adventure. From exploring the Vatican in full to ancient tombs, every sequence feels right at home with the films and is a blast to play. The large action set pieces are fun, but the quiet exploration and puzzle solving is special, allowing you to feel like an archaeologist making a big discovery. Pair that with delightfully cartoonish villains and a massive historical mystery, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers in full.
I think the audience for Fantasian knows what they’re looking for and they’re going to find it in Fantasian Neo Dimension. I sure did.
If you’re looking for something straightforward or with a long, detailed story, this isn’t the game for you. But if you want a short, surreal sequence of puzzles in an adventure game format, Follow the Meaning should get you thinking. It aims to do something specific, and it does it well, even if it might not be to everyone’s tastes.
It’s good when it works, and if your machine can handle it.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a shining example of what RPGs are capable of and what stories are. Why they matter to us, and why we keep coming back to them.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an exceptionally polished game with an extremely satisfying combat system, lovely and interesting companions, and a stylistic new look that gives this long-running series a much-needed fresh coat of paint.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership has some strange choices that take away from the title, but the gameplay and characters are as snappy and charming as ever. It’s not the best game in the series, but fans of Mario & Luigi likely won’t regret giving Brothership a chance.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake accomplishes its goal of bringing a decades old game to modern standards, offering a gorgeous art style and some quality-of-life additions. The tactical nature of the combat still works, although the lack of tactics during boss fights is disappointing. A chunk of battle animations could have used more love as it doesn't feel like complete remake. The story isn't as compelling as more focused modern RPGs, but it does still offer satisfying world-building and a few emotional beats. That said, the pros outweigh the cons for this remake, even if the remaking could have gone a bit further.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a great roguelike that takes full advantage of both the popular genre trappings and the massive franchise it’s based on. Outside of runs becoming a bit repetitive over time, the game is a fantastic combination of two excellent ideas that fans ought to check out.
Slitterhead may be a bit rough around the edges, but the core concept and story are intriguing enough to make this worth trying. There really aren’t many games like this, and I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in strange and dark titles.
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is fun if you’re looking for an entertaining horror game. It has a lot of fun mechanics that add a lot of nuances to each level while throwing in fun death mazes for you to navigate. But being said, the Death Angels AI isn’t the best, and many of the story beats aren’t as heavy-hitting as their movie counterparts.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a complete and spectacular package, offering a fun and varied campaign, lightning fast multiplayer, and a return to round-based zombies that lives up to the hype. It doesn’t fully reinvent what Call of Duty is, but it’s far more varied than previous entries and everything included feels like it got the love and attention it deserves, making it a must-play for anyone who has fondness for Black Ops or Call of Duty.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure is an incredibly beautiful game with interesting time mechanics and strong narrative hooks that eventually lead to a dissatisfying ending.
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a fantastic package that features a great remaster and an excellent all-new story that takes the best lessons from Sonic Frontiers. If 3D Sonic games going forward are like this one, it’s going to be a bright future indeed.