Gamer Escape
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Arknights: Endfield is a unique beast. It is a very fun game that I found very hard to play. I do want to reiterate that I like this game. The best part about games as a service is if what I found frustrating proves to be a sticking point for others, then those issues can and will be addressed. I also think Endfield is a game that can give you as much back as you want to put in. Engaging with ALL of its systems isn't strictly necessary. In that sense, free-to-play is a damn steal! I, personally, am going to try and engage my big boy brain and continue to play Endfield. I want to see where it goes. If its post-launch support is anything close to the effort that has been put into building this game, I think we're all in for a treat.
There will be a lot of familiar elements to those with prior metroidvania experience, and while they’re all implemented serviceably, they simply don’t do as much heavy lifting as the platforming, world building, and music.
The visuals do leave a little to be desired, and the gameplay is nothing crazy, but this is a solid game for fans of the genre. You will find what you’re looking for here, I promise. I end my review by saying that if this is what we’re in for, I’m liking the direction Idea Factory is moving with their otome games. I’m hoping their future titles are filled with as much depth and content as this one.
UNBEATABLE is an excellent experience, and one that I'll likely be playing far into the future through its included Arcade mode. The vibes are immaculate, and I'm pretty well satisfied with the overall package. But a bit more time expanding the story and fixing up some notable issues could easily have taken this game from "great" to "spectacular."
I can’t say enough good things about Demonschool. From story to graphics to mechanics, the game is absolutely riveting. The more I played it, the more I liked it, and the more I thought about it the more I liked it, too. I’m glad the game got delayed because I hate to think of it launching and getting buried by another very good game… but launching now, you have a chance to get into it after you’ve already played the other big indie titles released this year.
News Tower is a return to form. It feels made for fans of a genre that’s become lost in the Steam Early Access muck. It also feels like a great entry point for people looking to do more than stock virtual shelves.
I’d say with confidence that Mizuguchi and the Enhance team have once again knocked it out of the park here. If you’re looking for a way to drop some blocks whilst wringing emotion from your heart, you can’t go wrong with this one.
The sheer number of games included in tandem with their now trademark storytelling approach makes this an easy recommend for me. While not every game here is a winner, the documentary portion once again steals the show.
Persona 3 Reload remains one of the best JRPGs out there, and what I encountered here does little to deter me from that sentiment. Switch 2 owners might not be getting the best version performance-wise, but they’re still getting a version that’s worthy enough to play on the go. Those who care about smooth framerates will be better served playing it on more powerful platforms. But if you’re looking for a solid enough port on Nintendo’s shiny new Switch, you can certainly do a lot worse than this.
After nearly 30 years, Final Fantasy Tactics remains a timeless classic. Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles knocks the rust off the original, shines it up like new, and makes lots of subtle changes that only enhance the classic. And if you want a version without any changes, that’s here too, just as grainy as you remember. I couldn’t have hoped for more.
It may have taken me a long time to get here, but I have to admit that I’m so happy I did. Falcom did an amazing job with this game. The characters felt authentic, the story was engaging, and the battle system was a lot of fun. Repackaging something older in a way that appeals to newer audiences but manages to retain its original charm is harder than it sounds, so hats off to them for the success of this remake!
If your feelings about this genre are anything other than negative and you like what you see, what you’ve got here is an incredibly solid beat-em-up with a fun cast, a great soundtrack, wonderful presentation, and plenty of replay value. And that’s without getting into the fact that it’s an absolutely perfect game for sitting down with a friend or two as a team venture.
Sometimes, the best scenario lines up for the best possible outcome. I already had some reasonable expectations going in with this game because of what it is and who’s behind it. But it’s always a satisfying thing to see when your expectations are met in the way you expect. I do have my nitpicks, but this isn’t a game I would look over in favor of others. The Game Kitchen shows once again that they’re a very skilled studio, and their efforts in handling a franchise like this is a testament to their own skillset.
It is trying to be a visual novel that has an RPG inside of it, and I also think it needs to be judged on that basis. Do I think that it is quite as good at either of these things as it could be? No. I’m sorry, but I don’t feel like it’s a surprising triumph in that regard. However, I feel like it is instead just a regular success in that department. This is a fun game, and while you can definitely tell that it’s not quite a full RPG in its own right, I still enjoyed it front to back.
Overall, No Sleep for Kaname Date was a charming and enjoyable return to the world of AI, a world that I never expected to actually return to. While I would have preferred a full third entry, this side game still retains every bit of the personality and storytelling deftness I've come to expect from the series, even with a new writer at the helm.
I don’t think the game is truly atrocious, and I think if you’re in need of another roguelike game and you have played all of the offerings out there, this will… perform as advertised. But I can’t really recommend it to others.
Exo’s adventure is well worth a playthrough, and fans can breathe easy knowing that this romp in the Arq Grid is an experience worthy of the TRON name. Jumping into this Grid is a perfectly acceptable entry, but you might want to go in with tempered expectations.
I like The Alters. It sells its premise in a way I wish more science fiction games would. We need more of them. But the watering down of its gameplay elements makes it hard to recommend. If you’re willing to slog through tedium and gameplay filler there is a wonderfully fun story to experience. I’m debating if I want to push through a second time and see how my journey plays out.
If you’re a VA geek, Date Everything is an absolute must-play; I don’t think we’ll ever see another game with this many high-profile performers together in one package. Recognizing the voices of the Dateables you find is a core part of the fun here, in my opinion. But even if you’re not well versed in modern voice performers, this game is still a fun and often hilarious romp.
The truth of it is, you’ll probably have more to do in this game than you’ve had in any previous Rune Factory title. But that comes with the understanding that the journey may not be as fun, and the scripted moments not as emotional. For die-hard fans like me, that can come with disappointment.