GearNuke's Reviews
Tales of Arise is the best game in the series so far and I’m so happy with how the developers managed to modernize one my favorite series. With Tales of Arise I feel the series can finally go into the mainstream and get the respect it deserves. It does almost everything right; the story is handled well, the gameplay is amazing, the pacing is on point, the music will tingle your heart strings and the game systems will keep you coming back for more.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster is dated, has technical issues and unforgiving however its also one of the most fun games I've played this year.
All things considered Trails of Cold Steel IV is one of the best JPRG experiences you can buy and a must buy if you're invested in the Trails franchise.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a fantastic return for a series that has been stagnant for far too long.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is overall a great game and a good port.
SnowRunner is a love letter to driving simulator fans and it's one of the best games the genre has seen to date.
Animal Crossing: New Horizon is a breakthrough for the series that has made the franchise every more accessible than before.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is one of the most satisfying JRPGs released this generation and a great example of how to deal with a series while changing its genre to something completely different.
It's hard not to recommend Scholar of the First Sin to newcomers and veterans alike. For newcomers, this latest version provides hours and hours of fantastic content for a great price. Meanwhile, the remixed encounters and items, the ramped up challenge, and the much-needed improvements to the multiplayer ensure that veterans also have plenty of reasons to pick this up.
Overall Tales from the Borderlands Episode 2: Atlas Mugged is a very good followup to the first episode. If you haven't gotten the season pass yet, certainly consider getting the second episode.
Zer0 sum is like an impressive pilot to greenlight a TV show. Hopefully the rest of the season is just as good.
Compared to previous episodes, Tales from the Borderlands Episode 3: Catch a Ride is a bit slower till the third act but sets up a lot on the game's background story and character development. By the looks of the things Episode 4 will up the ante as the stakes get even higher. If you've been keeping up with the series then the third episode is a must buy.
Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance also gives you the ability to dispatch your unused characters on expeditions, so that they don't go to waste while you're away on story missions. It works a little like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's Motherbase dispatch missions; you select a number of your characters and send them off to various planets or stars. Upon their return, they present a battle report to you, which outlines the enemies they defeated and captured as well as the skills and items they gained. It's an interesting metagame that adds an additional layer of depth to the core game.
An underwhelming ending doesn't mean the whole series is bad though, till the final moments I had a splendid experience with Life is Strange. The game is now available at a discounted rate in a bundle packing all 5 episodes which I would defiantly recommend buying. Life is Strange is a unique and realistic adventure game that does most of the things right and that it enough of a reason to get the game.
Overall Life is Strange is another solid episode and could have been the best yet if the pacing towards the middle of the episode was a tad better. So far Life is Strange hasn't disappointed, if the next two episodes keep the pace then Life is Strange could easily be one of the best Adventure games of all time.
All in all, Broken Age is a fun, well-executed adventure game with a gripping storyline and tons of humor, marred only by its cumbersome puzzle design.
Overall I'm pretty impressed with the first episode of Life is Strange titled Chrysalis. The story has me hooked and I can't wait to find out what happens next. For the price checking out the first episode is a no brainer.
My main problem so far with the game is that we know very little about the overarching story and the mysterious figure. I hope that Telltale Games closes all these important plot points they've brought forth in the finale as the story deserves it.
Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited is a game that perfectly compliments the PS Vita. After playing games such as Persona 4 Golden and VLR, longer RPGs are just a much better experience on portable consoles. The same case is with Disgaea 4, for me even though I was playing through the game a second time, I never felt bored. I played the game whenever I wanted, sometimes while waiting for class in 10-20 minute sessions to quickly level up a character or for hours on the weekend. Trust me when I say this, Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited is one of the best games on the PS Vita and if you’re even remotely interested in RPGs you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is an excellent platformer that has a great level design and fun puzzles. It might not offer much for those who are double dipping with this game, but as a part of the Switch’s library, it is a worthy addition.