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Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls isn’t the next MvC, and that’s okay. It’s doing its own thing, and it’s doing it pretty damn well. There’s a lot to love with what ArcSys is doing with Marvel Tokon, and I can’t wait to see how the game evolves from here.
Sister Other Paranoia might come across as edgy, especially as it pulls you into the paranoid mind of its main protagonist, but it raises interesting questions about how we see the world and perceive the people around us. Bleak at times, depressing at others, it nevertheless holds onto a spark of hope that makes it an enjoyable, albeit strange and unsettling, journey.
Feed It may not last long, but it hits hard while it lasts. The visuals and sound do a lot to make it uniquely unpleasant (in a complimentary way), while the intense themes are properly portrayed throughout the fast but harsh narrative. This is a solid little horror experience for those in the mood for something upsetting and with a couple of hours to spare.
The Sinking City 2 is a strong move into the survival horror genre for Frogwares. Although I wish it were possible to backtrack to earlier areas and found the wave battles to be too action-focused compared to the rest, I enjoyed my perilous journey through Arkham.
Duskfade was meant to be an homage to 3D platformers and PS2 classics, and I'd say it succeeded. It's a blast to play, and I loved losing myself in its levels to search for collectibles. If you're a fan of this style of game, there's a lot here for you to enjoy.
Pokémon Pokopia just keeps getting better with the release of Bubbly Basin – the first of three DLC areas that has set an exceptional standard for those yet to be released. There’s lots to explore and more charming narrative content, as well as a strong selection of Pokémon to befriend. If you enjoyed Pokémon Pokopia’s base game, you’d be missing out by passing on Bubbly Basin, and I can’t wait to see what the next area is like.
Halo Studios has proved that you can still teach an old dog new tricks with Halo Campaign Evolved. It faithfully expands the story, all while staying true to what made it special in the first place. But the lack of competitive multiplayer and Firefight makes the game feel a bit empty once you’ve completed the story.
ReStory is a relaxing game that combines the laid-back sense of accomplishment from repairing things with a well-designed gameplay loop that keeps you coming back for more. It’s almost hard to believe that scrubbing down metal frames and twisting screws could be such a pleasant activity, but I can’t stop doing it to unwind. If you’re in the market for a chill game that scratches your brain in a totally unique way, you cannot miss ReStory.
Ambrosia Sky Act Two is a fitting conclusion that introduces enough new twists to set it apart from the first act. There are a couple of navigational issues, but the oddly relaxing sensation of spraying down fungus combined with the many mechanics surrounding that central conceit are certainly worth experiencing. If you want to power wash some dangerous growths in a melancholy sci-fi world, I think Ambrosia Sky: Act Two will be right up your alley.
Beast of Reincarnation is a serviceable action RPG, with a ton of depth in its abilities and skill trees. Its post-apocalyptic narrative plays a few too many familiar notes, and it's all delivered in a tone that would make it perfect for falling asleep to. I wasn't completely uninterested in Emma and Koo's adventures and relationships, but the sleepy tone and predictable story beats all make for a fine, if forgettable experience.
Splatoon Raiders tries something new with one of Nintendo’s somewhat more recent long-running series, to largely great success. Though a bit more variety in terms of missions and character customization options would have been ideal, the numerous weapon and gadget combinations and unique approach to Splatoon’s core gameplay craft an exciting spin-off that’s worth your time.
As much as I wanted to like Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World, the experience didn’t deliver on the premise’s fun. Shallow gameplay that doesn’t evolve paired with a bland narrative makes even this short experience feel like a drag. It’s not actively offensive, nor is the gameplay awful, but it simply doesn’t have enough to support its already simple premise.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok brings more of what’s in the base game, and not much else for new or returning players. As a co-op experience, I could see Endless Ragnarok as a group of up to four friends game of choice, especially with crossplay implemented, but the generic fantasy characters, repetition to a fault, and lack of any clear guidance make this hard to recommend. The accessibility features still put the responsibility in the player’s hands, making me question why this is even offered beyond as a tool for players looking to learn bosses. I don’t consider binging CBS’s Cold Case while keeping a hand on the controller to grind for hundreds of hours a peak gaming experience anymore, but maybe you need a new podcast game, and Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok might be a good fit.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is a budget package, but Gameplay Group International clearly knew exactly where to target in order to make one of the best Avatar video games out there. While the more casual or novice player may not get much out of Avatar Legends, I do think even the most fly-by-night of Avatar fans should consider the game at least. On the flip side, this is one of the strongest fighting game entries this year, with some titillating ideas waiting for players to discover and exploit. While the game is in good hands, I can only hope that, along with the Year 1 DLC, they also expand it to support offline and solo options.
Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD is better than ever on the Nintendo Switch 2, and I’d be remiss to not encourage anyone who has yet to play these games to do so on the Switch 2 thanks to its helpful gameplay features and sharp visuals. Though the lack of ability to upgrade from the Switch and the inability to skip cutscenes are a bit disappointing, this is an otherwise magnificent collection of two all-timer RPGs, and I hope its extra features somehow get patched into the other versions of the remaster.
River City Saga: Journey to the West is a fun little expedition into something different for the franchise, but it never really hit the heights I was hoping for. If you need a decently priced roguelite adventure to tide you over until the next big thing, you could certainly do worse than picking this up. Franchise fans will get a bit more mileage out of it than others, I think, but I would like to see more things covered by “River City Saga,” and hopefully we get co-op then.
Turning a train into a rollercoaster that does Tony Hawk skateboarding tricks is a pitch too good to not deliver, and luckily Denshattack does just that. The balancing act of combo chaining and obstacle dodging creates a high-energy game of reaction and improvement, delivering non-stop excitement.
Disgaea Mayhem has its stumbles as it fuses Disgaea’s iconic systems with frantic hack-and-slash gameplay, but it’s a largely worthwhile venture for series fans. Jumping between the different weapon types and leveling yourself and your items to crazy heights make for a solid base, and the charm the series is known for is certainly intact, even with its short playtime. Essentially, if you like the Disgaea series and action RPGs, you’ll likely have a good time with Disgaea Mayhem – so long as you know it won’t be too long a time.
D-topia is a pleasantly laid-back puzzle game that examines the idea of an AI-made utopia in thought-provoking ways. There are a couple of small things that could be smoothed out, but the unique vibe and enjoyable puzzle-solving are enough to make it worth your time. If you’re looking for a thoughtful but relaxing smaller title to spend some time with this summer, D-topia could certainly be the perfect pick.
Even though Beatspell falls a bit short of the mark, Rhythm Heaven Groove is still a triumph through and through, offering up some of the best rhythm-based antics the series has seen to date. I can only hope that Nintendo doesn’t decide to lay it to rest for another couple of console generations before it decides to revisit this criminally underrated franchise.