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While Ys X: Nordics might not light the world on fire by itself - and certainly has some core issues that could do with refining - I found that most of these issues slid into the back of my mind as I kept on playing. The story of Adol, Karja and the Griegr is enough to keep the game moving forward and the character moments that flesh it out were good. Ys X manages to demosntrate the key strengths of the franchise but unfortunate balance and shaky new mechanics hold it back from being a homerun.
Neva is a stunning game with incredible art and visuals that showcase a Nomada Studio team that's much more refined since it's last game, "Gris." The much-improved gameplay experience on offer in Neva paired with a deeply emotional story that's expressed in the art, the score, and the wonderfully detailed animations hit deep within you, charging you towards the credits until you're weeping while watching them roll. It's more simplistic puzzle-platforming and combat design do leave something to be desired, and a pacing deficiency dampens the mood, but those issues don't stop it from being a must-play game and one of the best indie's in 2024.
EA Sports NHL 25 fails to deliver on the promises it sets in the new features that EA swears are improvements. It's another example of an entry into an annualized sports game series that doesn't feel like it's doing anything differently from the last year, but at least in this case last year's (and by default this years) game is fun to play.
Silent Hill 2 Remake is bleak, grotesque and utterly compelling in its retelling of a horror masterpiece, with superb visuals and performances, and an immersive narrative that is just as hard hitting as it was over 20 years ago. A couple of missteps here and there do not deter from Bloober Team's masterful remake of what is, for my money, the greatest horror game ever conceived.
There's no denying that Throne and Liberty is a visual treat and certainly one of the best looking MMORPGs to come along in some time. Furthermore, though its massive world event battles impress, as does its innovative take on shapeshifting traversal, Throne and Liberty's flair-free combat, banal quest design and cluttered UI all weigh down a genre effort that deserves better.
Showing a tonne of promise, Selfloss just fails to hit the landing in many places. With a lack of polish in some key areas, this one will leave you questioning what might have been.
In more ways that one, Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit is a first for the series. A new direction and a return to the classic horror roots that began the series serves as a reminder that these games can actually be a tense experience if they want to be. Doing away with the fluff that has shifted the focus, I enjoyed my time exploring these dense environments, when I could do so without interruption. Despite the clear passion and direction here, the experience of playing the game was far clunkier than it should have been, with some downright tragic bugs plaguing the experience during the review process. While I can see a great survival horror experience under the hood, I have to take into the account the issues that I had with the game. I really hope the team can address these in the coming days.
FC25 is an improvement on the previous entry, moving in a positive direction. Ultimate Team continues to be egregious, but Rush is refreshing and fun. Refocusing its gameplay to a more deliberate and slower paced brand of football, that takes tactics into account, makes for a more enjoyable game. With some minor updates, its potential can be fulfilled. FC25 has found its form, and is the best an EA footie title has been in years.
Some decent changes help elevate NBA 2K25 from last year's release, such as a more consolidated experience in The City as well as even more gameplay animations to enhance the gameplay experience. Learn 2K even helps you get back into the swing of things. However, menu input lag, incessant microtransactions, and clunky standard movement show how much room this franchise has to grow, even after all this time.
Beyond Galaxyland tells a fantastic tale full of colorful characters in a vast world full of surprise and wonder. It's a shame that its combat system is locked to an ability system that seems to hinder you more than help. Though its world is grand, the game's lighting gets in the way, making dark areas impossible to see and the light regions blinding the eye.
There is a lot to love about Bloomtown: A Different Story. Thanks to the game's fantastic writing and characters, I quickly fell in love with the town and its residents. Its soundtrack is brilliant, and the pixel art style really catches your eye. It's just a shame that some parts of its questing and combat hinder it from truly rising to greatness.
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus is an absolute blast. Each mystery kept me on the edge of my seat as I franticly tried to solve the case with my team of colorful, though sometimes insane, fellow detectives. There is a lot to love about Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus, and fans of mysteries and the Danganronpa franchise will fall in love with it.
Epic Mickey is a stunning-looking game packed with memorable locations, a cast of unforgettable characters, and solid gameplay. The paintbrush mechanic is satisfying and feels right at home in the Wasteland without ever coming across as too gimmicky. There's a few annoying hiccups here and there, but overall, Epic Mickey is an adventure worth your time.
Castlevania Dominus Collection almost flawlessly brings back a collection of games that were previously trapped on hardware that was tough to bring to new platforms. Extensive effort has gone into making sure that they suit the form factor of a home console and the effort is admirable to say the least. Some incredibly mild and brief frustrations with the remaining touch controls isn't enough to properly dethrone this game from being essential for Castlevania fans to invest in, especially with the deep cuts included here.
Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis retains the same commitment to bringing the original game to a new generation, but unfortunately ends up remaking the same mistakes that make this epilogue such a divisive experience for players across the board. There are some memorable character moments here for players looking to spend that little bit of extra time with the team, but I finished this DLC questioning if it was truly worth the tedium of the dungeon-crawling, even if the combat is fun and the production values are still off the charts. While Atlus' dedication to bringing the old game to a new audience is commendable, I think this epilogue deserved a little bit more of a rework than it got.
All told, Jot's maiden adventure is a resounding success, a confident melding of mechanics, personality, and charm, all executed with a degree of confidence that few developers can match for a first release. The seams of its ambition are seldomly seen, certainly not to the degree where it would overly detract, and as result within the eye-catching pages of The Plucky Squire lies a story that everyone should give a read.
Everything you enjoyed from Dead Rising is here and the flurry of meaningful enhancements to the core game make it the complete package. Sure, some lingering quibbles remain from the original game like the time-sensitive gameplay, the pop-in, and bosses that repeat the same predictable attack patterns, yet this remaster refines many of the drawbacks of the original game, and fine-tunes it for a game befitting of the year 2024. Now get out there, snap photos, mow down zombies, and savor all the juicy lunacy Dead Rising has to offer - cos it's a real treat.
Evotinction is a solid stealth adventure that explores what could happen if friendly AI assistants turned into deadly AI assailants. Take that idea and expand it into a facility once filled with just over 2,000 scientists, with one man determined to save the day for himself and everyone else, and you have a recipe for a fun time. It succeeds as an engaging narrative, atmosphere, and with fun gameplay, making it an easy recommendation to anyone looking for something to scratch that stealth action itch. It is Metal Gear meets Watch_Dogs in the best way.
Vampire Survivors is a thoroughly addictive and beautiful-looking game that is packed full of content to unlock, with the levelling system ensuring you will put tons of hours into it without a second's thought.
I certainly enjoyed my time with Wild Bastards. The blended Wild West and sci-fi settings, together with hybridised strategy and roguelike FPS approach, all make Wild Bastards feel a lot fresher than many of the shooters on the market right now. Sure, the nuts and bolts of its face-blasting might not rub shoulders with the genre's best in the purest sense and the visual presentation is lacking somewhat, but the level of design ingenuity and rough-shackle charm that is on display here ably makes up for such shortcomings.