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While not as technically impressive as its predecessor, Monster Hunter Rise succeeds as a follow-up by focusing on getting players into the hunt quickly and comfortably without compromising on challenge.
A compelling murder mystery plot, a cast of likeable characters, and key refinements to the original game make sure that your stay in the rural town of Inaba is a comfortable one in this 2023 version of Persona 4 Golden.
Persona 3 Portable on PS4 doesn't do much at all to enhance what was already there to begin with, looking like a sharpened version of its former self. Regardless, there's a strong entry here, exploring some darker concepts than the modern mainline games. It may not have the same style as the newer entries, but it sure delivers on concepts.
It's not every day you get to play a video game based on an anime or manga designed to utilize every aspect of the source material to make a great game, rather than simply cashing in on its popularity of it for a quick buck. One Piece: Odyssey tells a good story that spawns many of the franchise's various arcs allowing you to experience the vast One Piece lore in a brand new way. Its turn-based combat is simple but addicting and fun, utilizing each and every member of the Straw Hat crew to the best of their abilities.
Children of Silentown doesn't have the best pacing for a point-n-click game, but it does have an enthralling world filled with interesting characters that help push you through its foibles. Using folklore and the perspective of children to amplify its horror credentials allows it to stand out.
As far as visual novels go, Witch On The Holy Night stands among the best in the genre. Strong writing, great characters, and stellar world-building make this a memorable experience. While chapter length is all over the place and some plot points feel a bit forced, Witch on The Holy Night keeps you well-invested and rewards you with a strong body of work from beginning to end.
Firefighting Simulator: The Squad has significant flaws with the single player AI who are practically useless at anything other than menial tasks, and there's a distinct lack of urgency involved in the missions once you realise the people inside can't die and the building never razes itself to the ground. Despite these glaring issues, it's actually a really enjoyable and rewarding experience with a zen-like quality akin to vacuuming a filthy carpet. There's a great deal of satisfaction to be had in extinguishing the wide variety of different fires across the city map, and completing the objectives with friends (or strangers) online only enhances the sense of achievement.
Gris on PS5 is an absolute marvel, because it truly delivers an experience that cannot be had anywhere else. Nomada Studio's excellent incorporation of the DualSense's feature-set amps up what is already an emotionally charged time to new heights, and made my first experience of Gris even more beautiful than it could have been on any other platform. Whether you've played it a hundred times or not at all, PS5 is the place to best experience Gris.
Sky: Children of the Light may not be as triumphantly impactful as Journey, but it still stands out as a very distinct online experience that gave me many of the same feelings thatgamecompany's 2012 classic did. At the starting price of free, it's hard not to recommend this game to anyone seeking an antidote to the combat-led arena of multiplayer gaming.
With its bewitching fairy-tale presentation, satisfying combat, enticing exploration of a beautiful world and a narrative that is lovingly inspired by dark Slavic fables, I really enjoyed my time with Blacktail. Though the various gameplay systems are very much inspired from what we've seen in similar games already and the platforming side of things isn't quite as polished as I might like, Blacktail nonetheless is a thoroughly enjoyable action RPG that serves as a stellar debut effort for Polish developer The Parasight. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.
Neon White is overall a very good, even exceptional game, with addicting, thrilling, and wonderfully crafted gameplay. The characters are all incredibly endearing in their own way, even if the overall narrative doesn't break any molds. It's easily one of the best 3D platformers today, and one game from 2022 that is not to be missed.
It's not every day you get to experience a game like Chained Echoes. With an incredible story, excellent writing, characters you can connect with and a combat system that takes a traditional turn-based system and turns it into a strategic, thought-provoking experience. What's not to like about that?
If not for a rather significant bug that dragged back my progress, Marvel's Midnight Suns would have been an absolute joy from start to finish. A nice twist on the RPG format that lets you get up close and personal (platonically) with some of the biggest names in the Marvel universe.
Not everything is perfect in this current-gen upgrade, but the additions, new choices, and improvements make this version of the game feel complete. Despite the oddities that come with the new camera option, the presentation across the board just feels superb. It even lets those who missed the expansions jump right into that content from the jump. Such a great update to a beloved game comes free with the PS4 version, leaving this as almost a requirement for everyone who even remotely has an interest in playing it again or experiencing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for the first time.
Very little about Samurai Maiden makes the game appealing. When you combine overtly simplified and imbalanced combat with slow attacks, fast enemies, and an incredibly humdrum storyline, a bad time is unavoidable. Unless you want something with mindless anime girls and half-baked gameplay, Samurai Maiden is not the game for you.
Shedworks has created a gorgeous throwback of an adventure game that settles the player in for a leisurely, minimalist voyage of self-discovery.
It's not the most accomplished platformer available on the market, but Kukoos: Lost Pets has that magical formula of generally decent platforming, co-op play and impressive presentation that could make it a favorite this festive season.
A fantastic remaster of one of the best Final Fantasy spin-offs. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is the definitive version of a game lost for fifteen years. With a masterful visual and audio upgrade and a combat system that, in my opinion, outshines Remakes with its fluidity and ease of use, Crisis Core shouldn't be missed; it's just a shame that the writing remained unchanged, and side content is just as repetitive as it was fifteen years ago.
First out of the gate in what will be a bevy of survival titles in the coming months, The Callisto Protocol is a solid maiden effort from developer Striking Distance Studios and one that has laid the groundwork what is hopefully to come.
Visually astounding with a weighty handling model and some super clever design, Need for Speed Unbound is easily the best Need for Speed in years. Though the single-player story campaign is a little less inspiring than it needs to be both in terms of its plot and content, Need for Speed Unbound nonetheless sets a resoundingly solid foundation for the Need for Speed franchise to evolve into the future and is essential for fans of both the series and the street racing genre at large.