VGChartz's Reviews
While Storm in a Teacup's about-face from mechanical simplicity is audacious, Steel Seed is something I'm more compelled to admire than recommend.
Last Defense Academy has a lot of disparate parts working simultaneously, but it never creates any sort of disharmony. If anything, the visual novel, turn-based strategy, resource collection, and relationship management aspects complement and reinforce each other, creating a product far greater than the sum of its parts.
With so few positives across both tapes, Bloom & Rage easily ranks as one of DON'T NOD's worst albums.
Still replete with Metroidvania elements and satire, this sequel offers more of everything from the original.
Though still capable of fun co-op experiences, Monaco 2 is the perfect example to remind us that bigger doesn't always mean better - sometimes it just means busier.
Débutant developer Sandfall Interactive mixes French culture with elements from Persona and Dark Souls, and the results are incroyable.
In the end, South of Midnight's dividing line is the contrast between its artistically-inspired choices and pre-packaged gameplay.
How ironic that Behind the Broken Mirror's most impressive accomplishment is shattering my subterranean expectations.
Shadows shines brightly in terms of presentation, as well as some combat and progression elements, but overall feels like a “jack of all trades” and a Samurai master of none.
All the things that made the game special in 2015 — extraordinary world-building, impossibly deep role-playing systems, an obscene amount of content, and a unique gameplay loop that at times straddles the line between RPG and MMO — are present here, along with new story elements, mechanics, and quality-of-life updates.
Wanderstop's absolute-tea intriguing meta introspections add some unique flavor, but certain design & story fumbles leave a conflicting aftertaste.
It doesn't compare favorably to the better run-and-gun and shoot-'em-up titles from the fourth generation. That said, it's an absolute work of art from a technological and artistic point of view. If you're interested in the history of game design, especially in SNES assembly coding and pre-rendered 3D graphics, and you love tough-as-nails 90s-era shooters, this new release has a lot to offer.
After finishing Hazelight's latest smorgasbord of co-op creativity, I had only one recurring thought: "why the hell aren't there more games like Split Fiction?"
By shamelessly blending visceral and garish elements, developer à la mode has crafted a weird survival-horror game that's tough to put down.
Some of the warts from the originals remain, but they don't detract significantly from the overall experience. If you're even the slightest bit serious about 90s-era role-playing games, you need to add this package to your collection.
While this version isn't perfect — it carries over the original's limited interactivity and introduces some new localization issues — it remains required playing for visual novel aficionados, due to its mysterious storyline, heady science-fiction ideas, lovable characters, huge replay value, extraordinary voiceover work, and evocative music. Even those lukewarm on the genre should give it a try.
If you're looking for a mysterious visual novel with shocking twists and provocative ideas about science, technology, and what it means to be human, you can't go wrong with Ever 17.
While Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land further moves the series away from its roots, it adds some welcome novelties in return.
Monster Hunter Wilds delivers the best action in the series, but some may find the reduced challenge a turn-off.
Though several lackluster design and storytelling decisions harm the appeal, swearing fealty to Warhouse Studios' sophomore effort is still ultimately worth it.