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Monark has a solid combat system that combines great tactical elements with turned-based action. There is way too much grinding throughout the game that may turn off players who aren’t fans of the genre. But as a whole Monark does present some great ideas that will intrigue newcomers to the genre but nothing groundbreaking for JRPG veterans.
Rise of The Third Power is a charming retro-inspired JRPG, that offers an entertaining plot, a great cast of characters and a unique battle system. However as good as it is, it doesn't offer something new within the genre and borrows a lot from its predecessor. But fans of the genre should still look to pick up this 35-hour rollercoaster as it's a solid JRPG.
Outside of the boss rush mode and speedrunning there just isn't much replay value I'm afraid. However, Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is a great homage to the source material and fans will relish the experience.
Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX retains all the features and content that made them such unique titles when first released. However, after the long wait, I feel this revival is slightly half-hearted as it still features dated graphics, dated audio and the lack of aspect ratio options is a big miss. It's great that they have been revitalised after so long, but I feel this one is solely for the fans as there is too much choice within the monster tamer genre for this to stand out.
It's like a short gym session for your brain with easy to manage mini-games to test you. However, it can get very repetitive and is far less fun in single-player, a true online multiplayer not being included seems like a strange omission but challenging yourself to climb up the ranking is fun. The simplicity and great multiplayer are really what sets this apart from something like Dr Kawashima's Brain Training released in 2019. But if you enjoy puzzles or have family members who do Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a logical choice.
It's a stunning homage to the original comics that will excite fans whilst being a great way to introduce newcomers to the series. The game is lacking some much-needed depth, and even though it's a good length, there are still many missing features that are synonymous with the beat 'em up genre.
A Boy and His Blob retains all the charm that made past games such precious titles. There's a good amount of replayability with this title, especially for newcomers, but there really isn't anything new other than the portability for returning fans. The Nintendo Switch version improves the performance of the Wii version, so this is probably the best way to play the game.
Other than the flashy combat there isn't really enough here to attract non-fans with something different from what's already out there. But fans will relish being able to play as the Senran Kagura characters after a long time even though there aren't a lot of them they are well realised.
The story and music are the best standout points with the amazing attention to character development only matched by the genius sound design. Although The Caligula Effect 2 doesn't really sway from its roots or present many new ideas within the genre, if you're a fan of JRPGs, it's a solid title.
The Hinokami Chronicles isn't complex enough to challenge fighters like Dragon Ball fighterZ or Guilty Gear, but it is a fun title that will really please fans of the series. The stunning cutscenes, filled with original music and voice actors have led to one of the most faithful video game adaptations of any anime. I really look forward to any future games that come out from this series.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is a fun fighter that still requires some fine-tuning. Outside of the fun combat, the game really falls short with dull unlockables and the lack of voiceovers that were really needed. The developers do have a strong foundation for a great follow up game.
There are a few issues that stop it from being an amazing experience like the huge difficulty spikes or lack of quality of life features that JRPG fans have come to expect from the genre. But Astria Ascending for the most part is an exhilarating experience that could be the starting point for something spectacular.
There is also a wide range of modes in NBA2K22 that will allow players to do more than just play basketball and experience the different aspects of the NBA. But the game is plagued with a lot of microtransactions that may not fully hinder your experience but should just be toned down and not shoved constantly in your face.
Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol. 1 is a great throwback for fans of the original games and the ability to take them on the go is an added bonus. Although I just don’t think enough has been done to improve on the originals with a lot of the lingering issues still present.
Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions! Is a fun arcade game that’s really easy to play. This probably isn’t the game that die-hard boxing fans have been waiting for but being able to play as characters from across different generations of the franchise has its obvious appeal. Fans of the films will enjoy unlocking all the characters for the chance to play their friends in versus mode during an afternoon session of gaming but without online mode, I don’t see it going beyond that.
Shadowverse: Champion's Battle is a meaty game with so many layers to it, the game does a good job at getting new players accustomed but there's quite a bit to learn.
Samurai Warriors 5 is a fun addition to the Warrior franchise, its rebooted story mode and re-imagined visuals feel fresh making this a great entry point for newcomers. However, for fans who have been playing these games since the first one, it will feel like the same hack and slash affair as before. Nonetheless, the new emphasis on character development is its saving grace by giving the players more to think about. Overall it’s still a solid Musou game that could be the starting point of a cool new direction for the series.
It has all the makings of a great fighter but just feels slightly sluggish in several areas. Although this is a nice first step in what could be a promising series from developers nWay and I look forward to what they do next with this franchise.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is an addictive action RPG the fans of the series will relish. It doesn't quite hit the highs of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, but the slight change in approach is fully welcome and I'm looking forward to where Adol's adventure takes him next. The Nintendo Switch version is filled with performance issues that really hinder the experience, however, the game is incredibly fun and fans of the genre should still pick this up.
This may please fans of the series but other than the overhaul in graphics I feel it plays too much like its predecessors. That being said, this is still a great starting point for those wanting to experience the Disgaea franchise or those looking for a solid tactical JRPG.