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Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is by far, the best entry in the series.
I have no doubt most Destiny 2 players are simply fans of the gameplay, raids, and social platform (not to mention loot grind). But anyone who is curious whether Bungie made a stronger effort to build a narrative, the answer is yes, with the understanding that it has been structured in a way which runs askew to most narrative traditions. I'm inclined to give them leeway on this, since game stories must sometimes follow their own path in order to synchronize with a particular gameplay framework. Promises of rich, cinematic storytelling still seem unfulfilled, but the developer has made strides in at least providing a narrative foundation for everything you are tasked with doing in-game (and there are many). Much of the Destiny 2 story brought me back to Halo, both in theme and tone. And while the plot devices are overworn, and more than a bit over-the-top, they do create a sense of consistency and encourage more exploration in the post-game. This, at least, provides the potential to tie disparate story threads together with details found as rewards for immersing yourself in the game world as a whole. While this may solidify the existing player base, many who felt disappointed with the first game will probably feel that way again, just to a lesser degree.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 takes the already high bar set by its predecessor and somehow dead lifts it to even greater heights. Larian has proven that it knows exactly how to make THE GAME that everyone wants, because they are the GAMER everyone else is. Divinity: Original Sin 2 doesn't do anything complicated or confusing, it simply delivers what players want in a game: challenge, creativity, freedom and of course the ability to share all that with your BFFs. As it stands now Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the front runner for RPG of the Year. For 44.99$ this game is vastly under priced and is perhaps one of the few games out there that actually justifies a 59.99$ price tag.
Ark Survival Evolved is a unique open world survivor game pitting players to overcome a harsh ecosystem. They may choose to do so solo or with friends; in addition to playing against other gamers in a showmanship of the most advance hunters. Level opposing villages or work with them in an exchange of services. Ark gives you the opportunity to grow a garden, tame mystical and ancient beasts, and much more; the power of this lies in your forearm and your ambitions.
Absolver seems to be a conflict of two games. In one corner you have the "Souls-like" world to explore cooperatively or competitively with other players, that seems to be the original idea of the developers. And in the other you have a hardcore fighting game that doesn't need a rich open world at all in order to be successful, which seems to be what Absolver evolved into. Many players will feel short-changed that the former was sacrificed to make way for the latter, and I anticipate that this game will have an extremely niche player-base. For 29.99 USD Absolver is slightly overpriced, but if you really enjoy a good fighting game, then this one is right on the mark.
Aztez misses the mark on delivering any narrative depth, even in consideration of the genres it calls home. That aside, a pretty good Turn Based Strategy game meets a really good Beat 'Em Up and delivers a solid experience. A unique setting makes this title stand out and will hopefully inspire more explorations into the history of that region.
Those looking for a narrative focused experience or breathtaking visuals will probably come away disappointed. However, Immortal Planet translates the SoulsBorne world into a small isometric package and runs with it. For every Souls feature it misses the mark on, it makes up for it with an innovative twist on the formula with marked improvements in some ways. Immortal Planet manages to capture the strategic adrenaline rush of the Soulslike, while forging its own identity along the way.
Albion Online is fun sandbox adventure game with complexity but some UI issues. If you can make your own story and don't need a quest line to follow, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this if you're into MMORPGs where you chart your own destiny. While there are a few interesting ideas here, there's nothing that will shatter your expectations, but that doesn't stop it from being a pretty good game overall.
Sundered is an overall excellent entry into the Metroidvania genre and should be a strong consideration for fans of this style. The cycle of exploration devolving into button mashing (then death) could be frustrating for some, and stands as the largest blemish in the title. However, outstanding presentation and a compelling world highlight Thunder Lotus' vision. Memorable bosses and a narrative embedded in the deepest corners of the game create a very satisfying experience.
Should you buy this game? If you are a fan of the shmup genre, then yes you should. Drifting Lands is a solid shmup that belongs in the collection of any fan of the genre. A few odd design choices and a distractingly bad story hold it back from being excellent, but it is a fun game in spite of it. Just be aware that if you're looking for a danmaku, you might be left a little wanting. If you've never tried a shmup before, this is still a good purchase, though you might want to start on Easy to make the game ease up on the perma-loss aspect. The game does have a demo, so if you're sitting on the fence, download that and see for yourself. Now if you'll parden me, I need to get back to looking for a straight laser drop.
Stories sets a very high bar for writing and story in a video game. Similarly, while many games tout that player decisions matter, Stories truly delivers. Visual design would rate well alone, and audio/narration is nearly perfect. The price of admission is a good deal, with gameplay developing new wrinkles through about a dozen stories to keep it fresh, which would land you about 6-10 hours of gameplay. Some players will get tired of combat sooner, some will persist for the stories. Completionists looking for platinum will likely get tired of killing ravens. Replayability's only blemish is that the game is so fast to "complete" that you pretty much need to go through a few times just to start grasping the true nature of the game. This is a small nitpick to be sure, and players will likely stick with this game for a bit to see what Reynardo will do next.
Overall, Dead By Daylight Special Edition is a fun and challenging asymmetrical horror game pitting a killer and four survivors in an enclosed area. There's plenty of customization players can undertake in terms of powers, perks and attire, so break out your fashion ideas. Included in this special edition are several DLCs that were released on the PC version. Given the already low price of the game and how it compares to similar games within the genre, Dead by Daylight is a hands down win.
Abzu does change the formula in important ways, but these fun and exciting additions are not enough to move it out of Journey's shadow. Considering just how much of the emotional journey is taken from the first game, Abzu is not groundbreaking, but it is a masterpiece that deserves to be remembered.
I found the gameplay engaging and challenging so the lack of story isn't a critical issue, but having something there to help encourage me to clear missions would have been nice.
Overall Illusoria is a game that can conjure up old memories of a genre that is underappreciated and often overlooked in today's modern video game landscape
For a game whose namesake implies a certain standard of tactics and strategy in an RTS, Dawn of War III is a bit of a bait and switch. While Dawn of War III on its own is a good game, you have to be completely objective in order to see that and many long time fans of the series won't. It remains to be seen if this iconic branch of the Warhammer 40,000 franchise is heading in a new direction entirely or if this was just a bad judgment call, but I believe many players will be skeptical of a future release and Relic may not be able to rely on their brand alone to sell their next installment, should one ever be developed.
Between Lords of the Fallen and now The Surge, it has become increasingly clear that Deck 13 has both the talent and know-how to make a fantastic RPG, but for some reason keeps falling just short of a homerun. While The Surge is a good game, and definitely one of the best currently available in it's genre, things like lack of character creation, no multiplayer or any multiplayer interaction of any kind, and very little in terms of unique elements that only their game possesses are holding them back from being at the top of their class. The gaming industry has raised the standard of Action RPGs since Lords of the Fallen, and although Deck 13 has raised theirs as well, The Surge is likely to struggle in a market with games like: Nioh, Nier: Automata, Bloodborne, Horizon Zero Dawn and Witcher 3. If you don't already own those games, it will be harder to justify the 59.99 price tag for this game, especially when you can get any of those above for much less. If, however, you have already played those games, then The Surge is the next step in your RPG journey.
Little Nightmares is an evocative and very creative game. It's clear that developer Tarsier was invested in making this not only a game but an experience. It explores themes of childhood and some of our deeper fears, although it's lack of story context does leave it a bit more abstract than it needs to be. The gameplay of the puzzles are well designed and escaping to the next is a harrowing and rewarding experience. Although it's short, the experience is tense and meaningful. There is enough to ponder here philosophically to merit a look. If unsettling yourself for a few hours is your thing, there are much worse ways to spend $20.
Moonfall, Overall, is a hack 'n' Slash game with basic combat and exploration, and simplistic RPG elements. While its hand drawn art style is gorgeous to look at and it's, every other aspect is just….average. Not bad, just, average and plain. And considering that there are other games like this that exist online, in some cases for free, for its price point, Moonfall's only worthy selling point above other games of its kind is its artwork. Besides that though, if a 2D hack 'n' slash or beat em' up is what you're after, there are plenty of other games out there. You can do worse, but you can also do better.
Half visual novel, half dungeon crawl, all awesome. 100 hours of actually meaningful content, a unique (and sometimes uniquely brutal) combat system, excellent writing, and extremely unsubtle social commentary, all wrapped up in a very stylish package. Definitely not for everybody, but if you've spend the last 10 years wishing they still made JRPGs like they did in 2006, and you're willing to put in a lot of time, then this is probably the game for you.