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Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a big step forward for the series, making massive strides in both the production values and the way in which it has built upon the already vast number of systems with its compelling town-building hook. There is still room to grow and add a little more depth in both the combat and dungeon design, but as one part of a much bigger whole, the lack of significant growth in these areas doesn’t take away from the overall experience too severely. Whether you’re holding out for the Switch 2 version, or jumping in on Nintendo’s current hardware, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a feature-rich package that fans are likely to lose hundreds of hours to, while also serving as a tantalising taste of the direction the series may be headed in the future.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a compelling, atmospheric RPG that punches above its weight in narrative ambition and gameplay depth. Unfortunately, the PlayStation 5 port of the game suffers from some extremely rough technical edges and UI frustrations, and needs a lot more time to bake in the oven. That being said, the game’s dark storytelling, rewarding exploration, and flexible combat might make it a worthwhile experience.
Despite that, Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer is easy to recommend to fans of the genre. It offers an excellent story that ties back to the original game while expanding Kathy’s world a great deal. There are definitely elements here which feel like they could have supported additional exploration, but what’s here is well-made and slickly presented. Just make sure you play the original game first.
Overall, I still enjoyed my time with StarVaders. I just wish the game wasn’t so punishing for those who want to experience the entirety of the adventure. As someone who managed to fully beat Slay the Spire, I expect difficulty in roguelike deckbuilders. But I also need it properly balanced. That said, if you enjoy tactical mayhem and need something fun to play, you’ll probably enjoy this adventure from Joystick Ventures.
The best parts of Spray Paint Simulator may be derivative, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t excellent. Painting here still feels really good, even if some of the things around it can’t quite keep up with the game’s core mechanic. It’s ultimately held back most by its lack of content, but there is enough here to keep players busy for about ten to fifteen hours. If you really love PowerWash Simulator and need more of that to hold you over until its sequel comes out, then Spray Paint Simulator may be worth a look, especially if you can explore it on Game Pass. If you haven’t explored everything PowerWash Simulator has to offer yet, however, then Spray Paint Simulator gets a lot harder to recommend.
Pocket Trap and PM Studios haven’t just given us a lovingly crafted adventure with unique mechanics and memorable characters. They’ve given us one of the best games of the year. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a great reminder that indies are blazing a path for everyone to follow!
POPUCOM is a beautiful and fun game that feels just right with the cooperative gameplay that adds to the charm of the colorful world with every turn. The first area’s puzzles teach you about what’s to come, while still adding just enough challenge to not frustrate the user early on, but prepare you for later. This was a wonderful surprise to play, and I can’t wait to spend some time with it to continue. The story is charming and cute, and the cooperative play gives me the same type of joy and puzzle-based challenge that I felt when playing the co-op mode in Portal 2. Hypergryph has a hit with this game, and I can’t wait to see what they have to come!
If I were to score Captain Blood based on emotion, I would probably give it top marks based on the dedication shown by the developers and publisher in putting game preservation first to see this storied development cycle through to completion. Looking at this objectively, however, even in comparison to the games that would have been considered its contemporaries had it been released in 2010, Captain Blood is a barebones exercise in frustration that is difficult to recommend. There are faint glimpses at what could have been in the ship combat sections and the breezy narrative, and the short runtime does help mask some of the frustrations that plague the experience, but on the whole, it’s difficult to argue that Captain Blood wouldn’t have been better left in the depths it was salvaged from.
It may take a while for the true depths that Monster Train 2 holds to become apparent, but once you really dig into the minutiae of each deck, the options that present themselves in front of you seem almost limitless, and that’s my impression having only spent a substantial amount of time with two of Shiny Shoe’s fantastic new decks. For fans of the original, or newcomers who didn’t stamp their ticket for the first trip aboard the Monster Train, climb aboard Monster Train 2 right now. And, get comfy as I suspect you won’t be disembarking for a while.
After spending sufficient time with the game, I’m fond of Cooking Companions, even if I don’t feel it reached its fullest potential. It’s a dark, unsettling VN with uncomfortable subject matter, told skillfully and subtly. While the Switch version of the game is occasionally a bit laggy and some functionality doesn’t seem to work properly, I’d still recommend fans of dark stories check the game out, even if it’s on a different console.
As a fan of horror, especially classic examples in the genre, I really loved the attention to detail and world-building in Labyrinth of the Demon King. Unfortunately, the combat in the game is uncompromising and will make life unbearable for the vast majority of gamers. Combined with randomized enemy placement and mind-scratching puzzles, this is a game that will push you to the limit.
I really wanted to give Into the Restless Ruins a rosier review. But I’m a longtime deckbuilder addict, and I call them as I see them. The deckbuilding itself is unique and neat, but it could do more to streamline the placement of cards. That said, the game is far from horrible and should provide a robust experience for those willing to put up with the unsatisfying combat.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a somewhat strange collection. There are six legitimately great games here, and the other two are at least mildly interesting, but they don’t necessarily feel like they’re targeting the same audience and it’s easy to see how a Power Stone fan or a Capcom vs. SNK fan might look at this collection and only see two games that are really for them. The extras here, like artwork and soundtracks, are standard fare, and while they’re not unwelcome, they aren’t going to excite many fans. Despite some strange omissions, however, there’s enough quality here that anyone interested in the genre as a whole and not just one specific title will find plenty to excite them.
Bionic Bay succeeds at being about as pure a platformer as players could ask for. With plenty of challenge, but a wise decision to not make that challenge punishing, this is the sort of game that helps players get better at platformers while having a great time as well. While its atmosphere may not offer the transcendent experience that could have taken Bionic Bay to the next level, any fan of the genre should have a great time with it.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may not be perfect, but for a first game from the team at Sandfall Interactive, it’s a remarkable achievement that tells a wonderful story while offering incredibly engaging combat and worldbuilding. This is an RPG I won’t soon forget and one that lapsed fans of the genre should absolutely check out.
Oblivion Remastered brings a Bethesda classic into the modern age with great success, while still retaining the core of what we all loved upon first adventuring across Cyrodiil many moons ago. Visually, it’s stunning, and creates a sense of immersion that just wasn’t possible on older hardware, and it speaks to the strength of Bethesda’s original work that all that was needed was a new lick of paint to leave Oblivion Remastered feeling like a wonderfully playable experience that I’ve loved dedicating hours of my life to all over again. The Elder Scrolls VI may be a while away yet, but for now, The Elder Scrolls VI fans rejoice, as you’ve now got a hell of a consolation prize to tide you over for the next few years.
While I did find the game’s balance off at times, and was frustrated by some of the quirks I encountered in the game, I’d still recommend folks check out Knock on the Coffin Lid. It’s clear to me this is a work of passion from a group that loves the genre. If nothing else, it’s a compelling tale with wonderful artwork and solid musical design. Just maybe don’t be afraid to play it on the lowest difficulty, because even on Normal, this deckbuilder will kick your butt.
Old Skies isn’t a transformative work for its genre. It does an excellent job of streamlining the genre and keeping the parts that matter while making it easy to enjoy for modern players, but ultimately, what makes it work so well is its fascinating story and intriguing characters. With the notable exception of one chapter, it has a strong sense of momentum that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Fans of the genre absolutely should check out Old Skies.
The more I dug into Amerzone, the less the awkwardness of playing it on a controller bothered me, and the more I was able to focus on the moments of beauty contained within it. That awkwardness never went away, but I find myself torn because while I would have preferred to play this one on PC, I don’t regret playing it, and I think those who don’t have the option to play it with a mouse should still consider this beautiful adventure. Maybe some of those genres that were once considered a mistake on console are worth playing there, but you’re still better off checking them out on a PC if you have the option to do so.
Even with those small missteps, Shotgun Cop Man is an incredibly diverse, creative, and silly adventure that will appeal to any fans of absurd humor or platformers. I’m glad to see DeadToast manage to switch things up in this adventure, and hope they’re able to keep things fresh in the future.