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Knuckle Sandwich is a charmingly absurd and lovingly crafted RPG adventure that delights in surprise. Its wonderfully nostalgic, SNES-like glitchcore visual and audio design constantly shifts style, and its rollercoaster of a plot happily sets up player expectations, subverts them, and then subverts them again. Unfortunately, the game is let down by a frustratingly restrictive inventory and some game balance issues leading to lengthy, repetitive boss encounters. However, Knuckle Sandwich's charm and dry humour shines through at every step and is sure to leave you chuckling.
Coral Island takes cues from the best games in the business to create a mix of farming and lifestyle gameplay, and so it gets most things right. It's lacking in a bit of unique flavour and the first few seasons play a bit like a Stardew Valley clone, but it comes into its own soon enough. I wish the more interesting ocean gameplay hadn't been relegated to the 2024 roadmap, but what's here is just as addicting as any great farming sim. It's only going to get better, and it's an easy recommendation for genre fans.
Fashion Dreamer is a game that tries to do too much at once and fails to focus on making the game satisfying in the first place. With all the different forms of currency, different ways to get free clothes, gacha games and bingo games, it is completely unfocused and doesn't put enough effort into the important stuff: the fashion and a tangible sense of growth as you become more and more popular. There are plenty of older and much better fashion games out there, so Fashion Dreamer really shouldn't be at the top of your list.
Worldless is a captivating 2D platformer with a cosmic aesthetic and seamlessly integrated turn-based battles. Traverse spaces, confront challenging combat, and navigate platforms, all while embracing the joy of exploration. The game's inbuilt difficulty helps create huge satisfaction once you master the combat and the minimalist design brings a harmonious gaming experience, even if it's to the sacrifice of detailed guidance. The game won't be everyone's cup of tea, though, at its core, Worldless still delivers a thoughtful, consistent, immersive, and enjoyable experience.
Come for the time-loop mechanics and Undertale inspirations, stay for the beautiful, heartfelt and guttural story. In Stars and Time is an artful indie RPG that explores a found family's battle with time. With this, it explores complex topics with grace and utmost reverence. Though it's a little long in the teeth and could have been a bit tidier in how you unravel some of its mysteries, within is a magical world much worth exploring, backed by fantastic chip-tune music, a sense of place and some real good vibes. Unlike protagonist Sifrin and his problems with memory in the time labyrinth, your foray into In Stars and Time won't soon be forgotten.
KarmaZoo offers a unique cooperative platformer experience, that actively engages players to experiment and work together. Its colourful graphics and original game mechanics are incredibly charming, and the variety of levels and character forms means no two runs ever look the same. Additionally, thanks to the game's structure, runs are short and engaging, making it a perfect title to unwind to while catching up with friends. That said, players who are completionists may find that unlocking every possible form can feel like too much of a grind, as that process comes with a hefty karma price tag. But, if you're looking for a casual title to dip in and out of for a long time to come, KarmaZoo is certainly worth picking up.
Despite many issues dragging down the experience, I would not say that I had a bad time overall with The Last Faith. The combat is genuinely thrilling and impressively varied when it functions well, and I was impressed with many of the game's locations, boss fights, puzzles and enemy designs. However, The Last Faith feels like a particularly inelegant mixture of many different elements from popular Metroidvanias and Soulslikes without quite executing them as neatly. With its obtuse-for-the-sake-of-it narrative, occasionally stodgy combat and platforming elements and a lack of its own identity, Metroidvania fans will have an enjoyable enough time with The Last Faith, but there are better examples of what it has attempted to execute out there.
Spin Rhythm XD is a groovy good time, seamlessly combining intuitive controls, challenging levels, and an electrifying soundtrack. Visually, it's a neon-lit spectacle that responds to dynamic beats, incorporating trippy and vibrant aesthetics while still offering accessibility options. Boasting over 60 tracks from dreamy future bass to intense dubstep, it's a fun, multisensory journey.
Maintaining what made the original so special, Super Mario RPG provides a glow-up to an absolute classic RPG experience, with smart tweaks to combat bringing it firmly into the modern era. It's an utterly charming experience that sucks you into its gorgeous, colourful world. Still, in sticking firmly to its roots, it just doesn't provide the challenge or open-world gameplay to elevate it to the next level. If you're keen on a breezy nostalgic RPG with simple yet satisfying combat, the iconic Italian in a red hat has you covered.
The Lords of the Rings: Return to Moria has some very solid ideas. A game set in the Fourth Age is incredibly interesting and exciting. This is why it's such a shame that Return to Moria is not a success. There is a lot of heart in it, sure, but the core gameplay loop just isn't engaging enough to make the game worth buying over other survival titles, even if you are a big LOTR fan.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III attempts to rekindle the fire but falls short, particularly in its disjointed campaign. The multiplayer, drawing on iconic maps from series history, excels with responsive controls, intense gunfights, and revamped loadouts. Yet, the biggest letdown is the lazy reskin of DMZ into a zombies mode, undermining the essence of what fans loved about it. Modern Warfare III shines in multiplayer but offends with its campaign, zombies, and blatant money-hungry tactics, leaving fans still yearning for the franchise's former glory.
Persona 5 Tactica is another successful voyage for the Phantom Thieves. Little is better than the warm feeling inside of revisiting this cast of characters I've come to know so fondly and intimately in a new, but familiar style. There are small ways Atlus could've made this a more blown-out affair, but it's never too much of a bother when the game is this solid and satisfying to play.
Cuisineer invites you to savour a unique blend of roguelite excitement and restaurant management. With over 100 recipes and dozens of ingredients, you can craft your own culinary experience in a customised kitchen, all while serving the diverse residents of Paell. While the village may feel overwhelming at times, the warmth of the townsfolk and the variety of quests create a cosy, immersive experience. Despite a few quirks like the lack of a UI tracking system and loading screen inconveniences, Cuisineer shines with its adorable anthropomorphic art and a gameplay smorgasbord that blends combat, cooking, and questing into a truly enchanting experience. So, don your spatula, savour the joy of culinary chaos, and let Cuisineer whisk you away on a journey that's enjoyable and heartwarming.
EA Sports WRC is definitely not a let down and is a more than worthy successor to Dirt Rally 2.0. Even though I had some concerns about a new game engine and wondered if that gameplay would translate, thankfully those fears were unfounded. Make no mistake, this is a solid racing game featuring plenty of cars, plenty of locations (plus loads of stages within them) and excellent gameplay be that via wheel or pad.
While Song of Nunu tells a story set in a pre-established League of Legends universe, players who have never played the MOBA won't be lost in this magical journey. There are some issues throughout the game including glitches and framerate, but the musical score and voice acting is superb. A healthy amount of accessibility options also helps to ensure Song of Nunu shines for all gamers. It won't change the landscape of the League of Legends brand, but it does elevate and diversify, bringing something non-fans and fans alike can enjoy!
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name more than justifies its existence. It creates fantastic points of tension and a real constant threat in Kiryu's attempts at anonymity as he butts head with the Yakuza and some mysterious, shadowy figures. Always keeping me on the edge of my seat, it's a heavy-hitter in the narrative, having me actively weep at the conclusion. This kind of magnificence is the payoff of years upon years of hard franchise work, entirely rewarding for longtime fans though boldly unapologetic and unforgiving to the newcomers. Slamming enemy's heads into walls and getting emotional over the franchise-long angst and baggage our beloved protagonist holds has truly never felt this good. Despite now hosting more than a dozen entries, Gaiden proves the Like a Dragon name is still endlessly valuable to this day. Bring on the next dozen, I say.
There wasn't much to improve about the original, but Croteam has succeeded in creating an incredible sequel in The Talos Principle 2. The puzzles are better, the world is larger, and the narrative is even more thought-provoking. Top it off with a breathtaking environment and a moving soundtrack, and this just might be the puzzle game of the year.
Football Manager 2024 gives you more control over a football club's operations than ever before. You'll talk to players individually, plan game strategies, and snap up talent while retaining your own. Every club is different and it's up to you to figure out the best path forward. There are a lot of systems to learn which can be intimidating if you aren't familiar with club management. You also won't see the outcome of your decisions until a good amount of time has passed. But nothing beats the feeling of everything coming together when your team holds the championship cup.
Survivor: Castaway Island takes one of the most popular TV shows in history and turns it into a boring, repetitive video game with very little in the way of redeeming qualities. Trying to strategise with tribe members sucks, challenges are lame, the production values are subpar and the game even goes as far as to make changes from the TV show that make the experience even worse. I've kept hoping and praying that one day somebody would capture the feeling of Survivor in a video game. Today is not that day.
My Time at Sandrock is a cosy yet action-packed farming simulator that has you not only building up a dying town, but uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the quaint lives of the inhabitants. With every new update, the game has been getting stronger and stronger. And while admittedly there are some shortcomings with accessibility and glitches, My Time at Sandrock still manages to be a title fans of the farming sim will absolutely love.