Gamer Escape
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GRIDbeat! has all the components of an excellent rhythm game: A unique aesthetic, addictive gameplay, a respectable difficulty curve, and (of course) a positively bumpin’ soundtrack. All of these qualities make it a relatively easy recommendation for fans of this genre, but each of them also has a depreciating caveat that lessens the experience.
While it slightly suffers from a few odd decisions about its default control scheme and the direction of the voice acting (though the acting itself is top shelf), you’ll definitely find the adrenaline rush you might be craving in Screamer. It absolutely oozes quality in almost all aspects. If Mario Kart is too silly and Forza is too serious, this might just be the perfect in-between for you.
If you get a kick out of Starship Troopers’ brand of satire and enjoy a good old-fashioned throwback shooter, Ultimate Bug War! will be a comfort food kind of game for you. It’s simple fun, uncomplicated in exactly the way a shooter of this ilk should be, has a noticeable appreciation for its source material, and doesn’t overstay its welcome besides. Does it bring anything new to the table that might cause someone not fitting this description to go out of their way? Probably not, but in the wide, chaotic world of video games based on movies, this one is worth checking out for prospective citizens.
This is an easy thumbs up for me, and those looking to fill their evening with a solid beat 'em up experience will surely find that here. Sometimes, it can be worth the wait.
Some people are going to give this game a shot and bounce off it hard, and I think that’s valid. But I think that if you enjoy the game it’s going to be something you keep coming back to, and it’s definitely a game I would encourage people to buy on Steam because if you decide it’s not for you, hey, you can figure that out within the refund window. It’s either going to be very much not for you or very much for you, and I think some people are going to realize that this is their game in a way they wouldn’t have if it hadn’t sort of swept in from nowhere.
It’s all about slowly learning the ins and outs of its systems as you play. Whether you’re sitting down for a single run or locking in for a longer session, optimizing your play style while uncovering new synergistic combos through passives is the special sauce that keeps you playing.
The game's sheer complexity and overwhelming mass of systems and stuff makes it a bit hard to recommend, and there were definitely times when I was pulling out my hair in frustration in the game or finding myself unclear on how I was supposed to proceed. I feel like a smaller and more balanced game would have likely been an overall better experience. But at the end of the day, Nioh 3 aims big. While I can't say if it's going to satisfy series fans perfectly, this one is definitely earning a thumbs up from me.
It takes a lot to be noticed in this sea of remakes and remasters, and Dragon Quest VII Reimagined mananages to stand out in the crowd with relative ease. This game easily stands above its original release and its 3DS remake, and gleefully succeeds at modernizing itself while also staying true to its roots.
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.