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Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings knows what it wants to be, and for the most part, it delivers. Those looking for style and substance will only find the former in abundance, but there's just enough of the latter to keep Lydie and Suelle's adventure interesting enough to explore deeper. Just don't expect to become too invested in any of the game's story or characters. For a world that's built on the notion that the sum can be greater than the whole of its parts, Atelier Lydie & Suelle never becomes more than its addictive gameplay and two-dimensional protagonists, for better or for worse.
For both better and worse, Far Cry 5 is a far cry from those that came before, though it's still a lot of fun to play.
World of Warriors attempts to cast off its past as a mobile title, and in that regard it mostly succeeds. The new control options available thanks to the simple inclusion of a proper input device means that combat is tighter, and combos are easier to pull off. At about $20, though, most people might be inclined to keep playing the mobile version without a killer reason to pay money for something that's free elsewhere. For some, local co-op may be worth the price of admission, but for those without others to play with, the asking price may be a bit too steep at launch.
The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 improves upon its predecessor, and should appeal to fans of the first game. The story may put some off given its plodding pace and numerous quirky side stories, but most people who are interested in this game likely enjoy exactly that kind of storytelling. New Tochkas and new active abilities for the Hundred Knight give more battle options to players, though the camera angle may create a few missed opportunities to finish a sweet combo or get a surprise attack on enemies. Additional graphics options are a welcome surprise, and ultimately summarize the general feeling of The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 – improved where it counts.
A Way Out is a true achievement in game design. Not only does it manage to take players on a true journey of emotion, it does so in a way that is only possible through the medium of video games. It manages to do something truly special by making two players to cooperate for an extended amount of time, and the discussions that happen on the couch or over voice chat can be just as revealing as the game itself. Josef Fares and Hazelight have undoubtedly raised the bar for co-op gaming.
But even after all my criticisms with the game, the ending was both surprising and fitting. I won't spoil it, but what I will say is that it reminded me of why I love this franchise so dearly and I would be lying if I said that I didn't get a little emotional. It doesn't stop there though, as Assassin's Creed Rogue is full of small surprises for long-time fans that are better left explored. If anything can be taken from the release of Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered, it is that the series has come a long way in a short period of time. Unfortunately, Assassin's Creed Rogue is on the wrong side of that timeline.
I don't want to slam Assault Gunners too much, as I'm sure a lot of time and love went into its creation, and the game may certainly be someone's jam. Yet this is just one mecha-anime dream I want no part in.
Ni no Kuni II is pure magic. It consistently surpassed my expectations, being bigger than I could have imagined. New pieces were constantly fitting themselves into place, and just when I thought the puzzle was complete, the border would expand. More than 40 hours later, the edges were still unfolding, both in narrative revelations and expanding gameplay capabilities. It's easy to get lost in every face of this perfectly-paced multifaceted gem. I felt welcomed into Evan's kingdom of Evermore, and I made it my new home as took part in the unfolding adventure. Ni no Kuni II is a near-perfect RPG and deserves every bit of the attention that it demands.
Surviving Mars isn't simply SimCity set on our red neighbor Mars. It's a resource management game with a heavy emphasis on survival, involving lots of death and brutal mechanics. At the same time, its systems are designed to teach the player how best to strategize and learn from past mistakes. A potential play time of 100+ hours to see each mystery play out also ensures a ton of entertainment return on a meager investment of ~$40 USD. For those who love the city-sim genre, this is a no-brainer.
While it's slightly disappointing to see so many members of Yakuza‘s great ensemble cast take a back seat in Yakuza 6, it ultimately works out for the best. Song of Life is Kiryu's story and focusing on something larger would only be a disservice to one of gaming's most fully realized characters. It's only fitting that he bows out in Ryu ga Gotoku Studio's most mature and focused game.
Everything considered, Attack on Titan 2 is an improvement on the first game in every way, but retreading old ground makes it hard to justify the “2” tacked on to the end. It's a great opportunity for anyone who missed the first game to get a far more comprehensive Attack on Titan experience, and there's definitely more content and improvements for those who did play it. I worry that its billing as a sequel may put off potential players, but you don't need to have any knowledge of the first game to get into Attack on Titan 2. It thoroughly covers the narrative line from the beginning from a slightly different perspective, and it's clear the development team took feedback from the first game very seriously. Whether you loved the first game and wanted more out of it, or are just getting curious about the series, Attack on Titan 2 is worthy of your attention. I just hope we don't have to play through the entire story again in number three.
Players who ran through the game on PlayStation 3 or elsewhere will be put off by the lack of meaningful upgrades, and that's entirely understandable. The problem is that nothing here really adds to what already existed. The saving grace is that things haven't gone the other way, either. Burnout Paradise holds up, and if nothing else, you can now experience one of the top arcade franchises in the business on your PlayStation 4.
DJMax Respect continues in the series' tradition of offering a challenging rhythm game that is packed with content. Seeing a lot of classic songs from earlier games on the big screen is sure to please many fans. Still, people who have never tried the franchise will likely feel a bit overwhelmed, because there is not much in the way of help for those who are getting their feet wet in the DJMax series. Progression in the Missions mode will remain slow for those players, unless they have the intuition to practice songs in the arcade mode. DJMax Respect is the culmination of over a decade of rhythm action, and deserves a look for series and genre fans.
If you were to boil TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge down to its essence, it does a fantastic job of recreating the storied event in fantastic detail.
The Council's first episode is a promising start. The Mad Ones builds the framework for what can be a wild narrative ride, but it's not clear yet how far this game will go in terms of its branching paths, or if the narrative will remain interesting throughout. I'm excited to learn more about the deceptive world of The Council and what Louis will uncover in upcoming episodes.
Armored Warfare is a decent tank game, but whether it can retain any semblance of longevity on a console flanked with free-to-play games remains to be seen. While World of Tanks may remain the king of tank games simply due to an already entrenched player base, Armored Warfare is a good match for those who prefer a slightly more arcade-like experience. Since the game is free to play, those interested should definitely give it a download.
If you're strictly concerned with comprehending a story then you can probably skip The 25th Ward: The Silver Case. However, if you're down to take some glimpses into a strange world that doesn't operate under the same rules as our own then you'll be treated to some of the sharpest dialogue and scenes seen in any game. I may not understand everything about The 25th Ward, but that's by design. After all, sometimes it's important to quit worrying about the minutia, and take time to appreciate the bigger picture.
If you played through Kyoto Winds then you largely owe it to yourself to finish the story here in Edo Blossoms. The story's finale isn't quite as interesting as its beginning, but the romantic fireworks that occur are certainly a payoff. It's just too bad that the best way to experience Hakuoki is through two awkwardly split in half releases.
Bravo Team's third-person camera movement system snatches control away from the player far too much, creating a jarring and unfriendly experience. I'm still baffled at why this was thought to be a good idea after numerous play tests. Movement is just the peak of myriad problems in Bravo Team, including tracking issues, AI goofs, and just plain bad and boring game design. Endless waves of bullet-sponge enemies in one boring location become more endless waves of enemies in another boring location, and dealing with Bravo Team's other issues means it's not even a boring waste-of-time type of shooter. It's altogether a bad game with few redeemable aspects that doesn't represent the best of VR or Supermassive and should be avoided at all costs.
For those looking for a fun party game, Frantics fits the bill nicely. It's not the deepest game out there, but then again this is targeting the casual demographic.