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NEO: The World Ends With You feels as slick and stylish as the original, with the enjoyable combat and fantastic narrative pulling everything together. There’s plenty to love about the world, its characters, and the challenging situation they find themselves in, whilst the many twists of the story will keep players enthralled until the end. Add to that the intuitive pin system, the variety of tasks to complete, and the gorgeous visuals, and it’s clear that NEO: The World Ends With You is a very impressive RPG. It took fourteen-years for a sequel to The World Ends With You to release, but you know what? The wait was worth it. Hopefully we won’t have to wait quite as long to play the Reaper’s Game again next time around…
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD improves upon the original massively, with its new control scheme and impressive visuals making it feel like a whole different game. It was already one of my favourite games in the series anyway, but playing it with more traditional controls at 60fps was astounding, whilst the new quality of life improvements go a long way in streamlining the overall experience. It really is a brilliant game. Admittedly, some aspects of the game haven’t aged all that well – the repetitive fetch quests particularly stood out, whilst there were some aspects of the world that felt vacant when compared to modern titles. Between all of the enhancements, the engaging narrative, and the brilliant dungeons that have stood the test of time though, it’s easy to recommend The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD to newcomers, existing fans, or just those who were simply put off the motion controls the first time around. It’s another must-own title for your Nintendo Switch library.
Eldest Souls is a frantic and tough boss-rush experience that features slick combat, entertaining battles, and a beautiful yet desolate world to explore. Basically, it’s everything you’d expect from an indie Dark Souls title, which is exactly what it wants to be. It’d be a discredit to say that Eldest Souls doesn’t find its own ways to innovate though, with the Bloodthirst system and deep upgrade mechanics offering some cleverly implemented ideas that complement the gameplay. At its core though, this really is a game made for fans of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s famed series. If you enjoy that sort of melancholic world and gruelling gameplay that punishes the player, you’re in for a treat with Eldest Souls – it really is a hell of a lot of fun to play. If you prefer games that aren’t so punishing, though? You might want to play something easier.
Unbound: Worlds Apart is a charming 2D adventure that doesn’t only offer some neat portal-based puzzling but is also really pretty to look at. There’s plenty of variety to be found across the world thanks to all of the different portals players can use, whilst some clever level design and tricky boss encounters will ensure the journey is never TOO easy. It was a little disappointing to see some frame rate hitches when playing on the Nintendo Switch, but hopefully it’s something the developer can fix in the near future. Thankfully, it didn’t stop Unbound: Worlds Apart from being a lot of fun to play and an easy title to recommend to fans of the 2D puzzle-platforming genre.
Like all franchises that use a tried and tested formula, you could accuse Samurai Warriors 5 of being much of the same that we’ve seen in previous entries. And perhaps there’s some truth to that, but it stands to reason that I’m still playing these titles twenty years on without any sign of letting up. Yes, this is a traditional Musou title at its core, but it follows that formula in an engaging and entertaining manner whilst making enough improvements to keep the title fresh. There have been some additions to this entry which show clear indication that the series is constantly evolving and I’ve no doubt that they’ll keep on improving the formula in the future… Samurai Warriors 5: Empires soon, anyone? Add to that the slick and vibrant visual style and it’s clear that Samurai Warriors 5 isn’t only a lot of fun to play, but it’s also taking the Musou genre in a very positive direction.
I was looking forward to playing Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed, but it’s just a bit too clunky and dated in design to really enjoy. I was a fan of the narrative and how weird it gets, but everything else about the game just felt unsatisfying and not a lot of fun to play. With the awkward combat, poor visuals, and technical issues, it really is difficult to recommend the game. To Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed’s defence, it did start life as a PSP game. However, with so many better remastered titles releasing these days, there’s no excuse for it not to have made some refinements to make the game more fun to play. It’s certainly not the worst game I’ve ever played, but it’s hard not to see Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed as anything other than a disappointment.
Last Stop is a fantastic story-driven adventure that ties together elements of the supernatural with real-life situations in an impactful manner. I was totally hooked into each character’s tale, and whilst some chapters hit a little harder than others, I simply HAD to see how everything would unfold by the end. Add to that some brilliant writing and a wonderful soundtrack and it all comes together to make for a very memorable experience. There are some missteps along the way, with some iffy character models and animations as well as a few missing pieces in the story, but they don’t stop Last Stop from offering a gripping adventure. I was already a fan of Variable State following their work on Virginia, but Last Stop feels like a real step up for the team.
Cris Tales utilises traditional RPG mechanics but applies a wonderful time-manipulating twist across all facets of its design. The narrative, the combat, exploration – everything is based around altering time and it really makes for a brilliantly unique experience. It also just so happens to look beautiful too, which is always a plus. There are a few things that let it down, such as the unforgiving save system, the high encounter rate, and the loading times. Thankfully, these problems don’t stop Cris Tales from being an utterly engrossing RPG experience and one that I certainly look forward to re-visiting again in the future.
F1 2021 continues the trend of superb racing from the team at Codemasters, though the improved Career Mode and narrative-focused ‘Braking Point’ really take it to the next level. There is something for everyone here across all game modes, whilst the varied difficulty levels and diverse selection of assists ensure anyone can feel comfortable speeding around in a Formula One car. It just so happens to look outstanding too, especially on the PlayStation 5 where the DualSense is also taken advantage of in an immersive way. It really is a special game. The only caveats come with the lack of Sprint races, the missing tracks, and the fact that the main driving formula hasn’t been evolved upon that much from previous entries, but it doesn’t really matter. This is still the best that the F1 series has ever been, with enough varied content on offer to suit both newbies and veteran fans.
Out of Line’s puzzling escapade is certainly a neat one, but a lack of challenge and obtuse storytelling do see it falter behind similar titles in the genre. It’s a shame too, because using the spear felt good, with plenty of neat ideas introduced throughout the adventure. The world is gorgeous too, with some wonderful sights to be seen across the hand-painted world. It just needed to pack a bit more punch when it came to the narrative and the difficulty. It’s all well and good having creative puzzle-design, but when they’re so easy to solve it becomes harder to appreciate them. Regardless, Out of Line has enough strengths to make it a worthwhile venture for fans of the genre – just don’t be surprised if you’re left wanting a bit more by the time you’re done with it.
Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a unique and charming experience that’ll appeal to both younger and older gamers. I had a whole lot of fun exploring its selection of beautiful environments, whilst the sheer level of interactivity each one offered ensured there was plenty for players to discover. The only real problem came with how easy the game could be, though it’s hard to hold that against Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective too much – especially since the gameplay itself is meant to be simple and appeal to all ages. With the gorgeous visuals, abundance of collectibles, and charming world, there’s plenty to love about this whimsical adventure. Whether you’re looking for a fun little game to play with your kids or just fancy exploring some mazes yourself, Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is definitely worth adding to your Nintendo Switch library.
Watch Dogs: Legion – Bloodline is a fun blast to the past with Aiden Pearce and Wrench making a return, with both proving to be a lot of fun to play as. The missions are slick and the narrative intriguing too, with plenty of loose ends from the previous games coming full circle. It’s just a shame that there wasn’t more done to revamp the experience, with everything taking place in the same London setting and utilising the same style of missions seen in the base game. It’s hard to complain too much because Watch Dogs: Legion – Bloodline certainly offers an entertaining experience over its roughly six-hour runtime, whilst the fixed protagonists make the story feel more meaningful when compared to the base game. It’s just a shame it couldn’t do something wholly unique to make it stand out more, especially when compared to the expansions Ubisoft have already released for their other open-world titles.
Legend of Mana is a thoroughly enjoyable RPG that has stood the test of time, but a lack of direction might make it rough for genre newbies. I’ve admitted myself that I had to use a walkthrough to get the most out of the game – I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it quite as much if I didn’t. I did though, and it really allowed me to appreciate the intricacy of the world, all of the little zany quests it has to offer, and the enjoyable action-orientated combat mechanics. Legend of Mana does something different with its old-school RPG offering, but it comes together to make for a good time. Just don’t be afraid to look for a walkthrough online when you’re playing.
Scarlet Nexus is a thrilling action-RPG that offers a surprised-filled narrative, slick action-packed combat, and stunning visuals… what more could you want? It really ticks all boxes as far as the genre is concerned and, outside of some repetitive moments here and there, rarely steps a foot wrong throughout its meaty adventure. It’s just thrilling throughout and offers some of the best combat I’ve seen in an action-RPG in some time. Bandai Namco have set the bar high for future action-RPGs in this generation of consoles, with Scarlet Nexus proving to be one mighty fine release in the genre.
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance is a lot of fun to play with friends, but it has enough issues to see it fall short of co-op greatness as it stands. A sketchy camera, dumb enemy AI, and some balancing issues can hold the experience back, especially when playing solo. It’s a shame too, because the combat of the game is enjoyable and collecting loot is really rewarding. Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance just needs a little bit of fine-tuning around the edges before it can begin to feel like essential playing.
Curved Space is a slick sci-fi shooter that is a lot of fun to play, but that lacks that special *something* to keep players coming back for the long-term. It’s not that anything is bad in the game at all, because I really had a good time blasting through the campaign. I just wasn’t all that interested in spending too much time chasing scores afterwards. Still, there’s no doubting that it’s a really enjoyable game, whilst the vibrant presentation and clever anti-gravity traversal gives it a unique identity. It will just probably appeal the most to those who like to spend hours chasing high scores and seeing their names light up the leaderboards.
Overboard’s unique take on the classic murder-mystery is a blast to play through, with the constant experimentation making for a really fun time. There were so many occasions where I thought I’d pulled off the PERFECT crime, only to come undone by one silly mistake… it might sound daunting, but it just made the whole experience all the more enjoyable. Twelfth time is a charm, right? It can be guilty of getting repetitive here and there, but it doesn’t tarnish what is otherwise a splendid little experience. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a sleuth (but one that works in reverse), you will REALLY want to give Overboard a try.
Whilst it has its flaws, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX still offers an enjoyable platforming adventure that’s very old-school in design. It’s tough and can often be unfair, but it also features some solid level design, neat boss fights, and fun vehicular sections – basically, it’s got everything you’d expect from an old-school platformer. It’s a shame that the developers couldn’t fix some of the obvious issues that didn’t stand the test of time, but with the excellent visuals and introduction of new levels and modes, it’s hard to complain too much. Fans of the original will undoubtedly love the adventure whilst newcomers will probably appreciate it too. Just be warned: it’s still as challenging as you remember (and you’ll need luck on your side)!
Metro Exodus on the PlayStation 5 is more than a simple upgrade, but instead takes advantage of everything the console has to offer. Excellent visuals and performance? Check. Immersive DualSense functionality? Check. Activity Card features to keep track of everything in each area? Check. It really has it all (and I haven’t even touched upon the improved loading times). Whilst the gameplay remains the same (and still has some of the same flaws in places), the new innovations and improvements brought with the PlayStation 5 version of Metro Exodus really take things to the next level. Whether you have played through the adventure before or this is your first time exploring this desolate and broken world, the PlayStation 5 offers the best way to experience it.
Final Fantasy VII Remake was already an outstanding release, but Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade SOMEHOW makes it even better. Whether it’s with the improved visuals, the smoother performance, the faster load times, or the additional content that fleshes out the Final Fantasy VII Remake universe further, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade offers something to please everyone. I don’t care if you poured hundred of hours into the base game already… this is one PlayStation 5 port that you simply should NOT ignore. And by the way, Square Enix… I’ll NEVER stop pronouncing Yuffie’s name as yuff-ee.