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Epic Mickey: Rebrushed fixes many of the issues the original game had to craft a much-improved version of the hidden gem. A few irritating issues persist, but for the most part, this is the way Epic Mickey was always meant to be experienced.
Have squirrel, have gun, will travel
Funko Fusion is a slog to play. The puzzles are uninteresting, and the third-person shooting is tedious. It uses its mature movie franchises in strange ways, adding glood and violence to old-school slapstick comedy, creating a tonal mess.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is, for the most part, a strong revisit of one of Capcom’s classic titles. The new improvements are excellent, and the small problems aren’t enough to derail the experience. The original game is still widely accessible on current consoles regardless, but I recommend checking out Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster if you’re fond of the original or looking for a unique new experience, as there’s nothing quite like it.
The Plucky Squire is a fun & fresh take on a classic game style, full of heart with a great message for all ages. Just because a story seems simple, doesn't mean it doesn't matter.
Although Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club has some strange pacing choices that lead to a lack of excitement in early chapters and a lessened emphasis on solving the case through detective work, it makes up for it with an excellent presentation, fun attention to detail, and a dark, emotional story that answers all its questions in the end.
Wild Bastards adds strategic depth to the roguelite game but sacrifices depth in its shooting to do so. The result is a game that has fun characters and great strategy, but the shooting sections become stale over the course of the campaign.
Astro Bot is nothing short of magic, applying fun and fluid platforming to a creative love letter to video games. The quality of detail in Astro Bot is only rivaled by the passion its developers so clearly have for video games.
Yars Rising gives you a straightforward experience with enough side content to add layers to customization without giving the player too much power in the end. It was a great experience and I had a really great time playing Yars Rising.
Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is a blast of a retro platformer for Rugrats fans and NES fans alike. The length is a tad bit short, but what’s here is so fun and pleasant to listen to, and look at that I can’t help but want to replay it despite having only recently beat it.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is as stellar as it gets when it comes to classic rereleases. Not only are these some of the best fighting games out there, but they’ve been revived with such excellence that it’s worth applauding. I hope this leads to more Marvel vs. Capcom games, as this collection serves as the perfect reminder that there’s no crossover quite like it.
I loved Vampire Survivors on release but with everything added since Vampire Survivors is just as addictive and enjoyable as it was on release and well worth the buy now that you can enjoy it on any platform of your choosing.
The Castlevania Dominus Collection is a brilliant compilation of some of the most creative Castlevania games there are. The Nintendo DS functionality is translated perfectly to modern single-screened consoles, and the bonus features go a long way in making this an especially worthwhile collection. If you’ve got a hankering for exploratory platformers, you can’t do much better than this.
Demon’s Mirror didn’t vibe with me, and while I appreciate the effort to mix up these two gameplay styles, the friction between the two left me annoyed and drained.
Start to finish, Space Marine 2 is a complete blast, with all the hallmarks of being a big action blockbuster. Titus continues to be a compelling character and we’re lucky we got to see more of him; it was a long wait but damn was it worth it.
Playing these two games back-to-back is a fascinating glimpse into the shift the series saw over time. Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth has the snappier, fast-paced approach of the earliest games in the series, while its sequel Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit takes a longer, wordier direction like the later games and delivers one of the best stories. Having the two available on modern platforms, with Investigations 2 being translated at last, is fantastic. While it might not be the best place to start the series for newcomers, the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is an easy recommendation for Ace Attorney fans.
Overall, I have to say I’m pretty disappointed with Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Party Dash. The game is quite good looking and has a lot of fanfare for fans of the Uma Musume series but provides an extremely hollow experience full of basic UX missteps and a complete lack of depth. Golshi’s Grand Adventure 2 isn’t enough to save this game and the price tag for what’s being provided is absolutely absurd.
Gundam Breaker 4 is exactly what I wanted from this franchise after Gundam Breaker 3, and I’m happy to say we can all forget the “New” moniker because we are BACK BABY. Fans of giant robots, fans of customization, and fans of games absolutely bursting at the seams with content can all find something to love here, and I can’t wait to see what this team brings us next.
Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn is a snazzy platformer beat-em-up that combines satisfying combat with a dazzling setting and visuals. The occasional clunky aspect does stand out, but for the most part, this is an exciting and well-made remake for anyone fond of the beat-em-up genre.
Black Myth: Wukong delivers incredible boss fight with stunning visuals, but the in-between moments don't reach the same heights. Technical hiccups and poor level design hold it back for greatness, but the boss battles make it all worthwhile.