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Somerville relies on its fantastic animations and settings to tell a story of a father trying to reunite with his family. But without important story fundamentals such as exposition, you have no idea what is going on. Coupled with the fact that the adventure consists of simply solving puzzles while walking around, it is hard to immerse yourself in the story or even care about what will happen. Solving puzzles can also be difficult because you are expected to fumble around and discover what can be interacted with. There's no guidance or assistance, which leads to frustration when you have no idea what to do next. There's a good attempt at telling a story here, but it's difficult to find yourself wanting to reach the end.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a very good remaster of an absolute classic. So many lines in-game are raw and palpable and feel like utter poetry, leaving me perplexed at how they could be written by another human. Re-recorded tracks add to the grim but boisterous realities of the universe's war. Plenty of granular investment and min-maxing is on offer to create a timeless and incredibly realised tactical combat experience. However, I can't help but sometimes want more from its vague storytelling and opportunities for more quality-of-life improvements. Concessions absolutely could've been made for more difficulty and saving options, doing away with the feeling of hitting roadblocks. Still, this is a genre experience that's as true as they come. Tactics Ogre has once more cemented itself as one of the tactics giants, and a bloody momentous one at that.
Pentiment is a remarkable achievement in storytelling. If I were to play again and make different choices I'm sure I would discover new dimensions to these characters I've come to know very well. Thanks to the game's aesthetics, its meticulously researched writing, and the pedigree of its development team, the story of Andreas Maler is well worth experiencing. The game gracefully balances serious themes, soap operatic twists, and some very funny moments, revolving around a large cast of diverse, complex characters. Obsidian may have taken a risk making a game so unlike anything else they've made before, but the gamble has well and truly paid off. It's not just a game for lit nerds.
Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch is a sad tale for the much-needed resurgence of equestrian-focused video games. Littered with poor design choices and endless amounts of bugs, every attempt to seep some joy out of the game was hindered. This comes as a shame. The bones of a good game are in there from the exploration of an interconnected world to a good start in both horse gameplay and town management and restoration. Boiling down to more than just a game released too early, Horse Tales also is a game too ambitious for its own good and not what was expected or needed. Take this one out to the pasture, they're done.
While it may not appear as glamorous as Scientology, Honey, I Joined a Cult is deceptively addictive. Its alluring capacity to let you micro-manage down to the tiniest detail, its swathe of customisable components, and its cheeky writing will leave you obsessed and indoctrinated (if only for a few hours). It takes a fair amount of grinding to build up a cult worth following, but those with the patience to stick around will find a decent amount of management-sim goodness to worship here.
Modern Warfare II is exactly what it says on the tin, but this time around it's a different mixture inside said tin. While the game could be accused of continuing series tradition, I believe this game out of all the most recent Call of Duty titles is the most honest of its inspirations and its intention. This is the Call of Duty that tries and succeeds to recapture the spark that lit the gargantuan fire that is the Call of Duty franchise we know today. The original Modern Warfare trilogy started an empire. MW2 has ensured that its fall won't happen for a good while longer, thanks to unparalleled multiplayer action and pure campaign spectacle. While there is always room for improvement and a desire from some sections of the fanbase to try something completely different; Modern Warefare II proves itself to be a spiritual sequel and a rebirth for the series moving forward into this new and exciting console generation.
The Chant storms out of the gates with a kooky but intriguing concept of cosmic-horror, but simply isn't able to live up to its own ambitions. It has some good ideas if you look hard enough, but the clunky combat, milquetoast puzzle solving and forgettable story firmly plant this one in the category of B-Grade horror, which, to be fair, is definitely the vibe the developers seem to have gone for. Even with a few good foundational ideas with the use of prisms and a couple of cool boss fights helping The Chant slightly redeem itself, the biggest misfire is that it's just not that scary, and without that, this cosmic-horror is just a cosmic-snooze.
A Little to the Left is a fun puzzle game for all ages. The depth and variety of puzzle is good to see, with extra replayability allowing certain puzzles to shine. A daily puzzle delivered to each player provides a unique touch. While the game is great, there aren't a lot of accessibility options such as a colour-blind mode or arachnophobia filter. However, the nature of the game is still easily approachable with beautifully stylised art and music bringing great pleasure. A Little to the Left is pure wholesome and cozy fun.
Put simply, Sonic Frontiers is the best 3D Sonic game ever made, and a fantastic step in the right direction that bodes very well for the future of everybody's favourite blue hedgehog.
Yomawari: Lost in the Dark is perfect for amateur-level horror players wanting to dip their feet into a game scarier than what they're used to. The dim lighting, disfigured monsters, stealth mechanics, and creepy atmosphere-all wrapped up in a beautiful (but really terrifying) 2D world-will be all the training you need to take on even scarier games. And if horror doesn't phase you, then the well-crafted and deeply folkloric setting will reel you in. Be warned though, the final act is both monotonous and disappointing.
God of War Ragnarök is more of the epic God of War that we loved in 2018, but it builds on those foundations in every single way to create a compelling and addicting adventure in its own right that improves across the board. Combat is furious and intense, exploring every nook and cranny of each Norse realm is captivating, and clever puzzles are seamlessly intertwined with abilities that change, evolve, and make you feel like a master of all crafts. Narratively, the heartfelt and fascinating story is supported by incredible writing that makes its whole cast of characters shine, and the production values are through the roof, with a gorgeous soundtrack and visuals that push the limits and stun at every turn. Santa Monica Studios have again managed to create something truly memorable and entirely special.
DRAGON BALL: The Breakers is a good idea held back by Pay-to-Win practices and outdated design decisions. While the game could have a bright future ahead of it, it has a long way to go before it can be considered a truly great title, and really ought to sort out it's current issues before the developers look ahead to Seasons 2 and beyond. The fundamentals are there, and the gameplay is solid; if these can be polished and modernised, then Breakers would easily go from a niche oddity to a raging blast.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force will likely win back fans unimpressed with Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness. With its fun cast and expansive narrative, I found the game easy to get invested in, despite the predictably tropey JRPG melodrama. The mobility upgrades and combat overhauls make it the most fun Star Ocean game I have played yet. It's a shame that the awkward character models, ridiculously small text size and sluggish level up mechanics may prove a roadblock for some. If you're not already a Star Ocean or JRPG fan, Star Ocean: The Divine Force might not be that easy to get into. However, if you are willing to overlook some of its shortcomings, and want a fantasy action-RPG with a sci-fi twist, it is worth checking out.
Overall, The Valiant offers an engaging strategy experience that, while not offering anything ground-breaking, will keep RTS fans entertained. While the single-player campaign is presented in a traditional run-of-the-mill format, its multiplayer modes are sure to delight both old and new strategy fans. For that reason alone, the game is worth picking up.
Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County is a sweet ending to the investigative series. Playable by all audiences, it’s a clever, humourous experience that plays with and parodies the adventure genre tropes incredibly well. Plenty of whimsical characters and interactions await thanks to the writing chops provided. This is further exemplified by true mood-setting in the colourful environments and masterful music work from Dan Golding. The final reveal may be a little predictable, but who cares? The series’ final chapter is closed ever so intricately and they even managed to add a ridable scooter. Farewell Frog Detective. I’ll miss you.
The Last Oricru is a fun storytelling experience told through the eyes of the Souls-like genre. It's great to see everyone working for their own ends, and not being able to identify who is good and bad from the start. Focusing purely on what you think is most advantageous creates a story that fits your own personality well. But everything else is a regular Souls-like experience from top to bottom. There are attempts to stand out, but other than the story, they don't have the impact that really leaves a positive impression in a player's mind. The Last Oricru takes some risks, some of which pay off and some that don't. It's perfect for those who like their Souls-like games to have a good story, but if you're not a fan of the genre, you're better off staying away.
The voxel creations and freedom that Dual Universe offers are pretty impressive. It's a concept with a lot of potential. However, the failed execution and many bugs leave this game dead on arrival with honestly no reason to play unless it ever receives a resurgence in players and a massive gameplay overhaul.
SIGNALIS never stops feeding you a truly terrifying experience. Something could scare you around every corner, and there's nothing you can do to push that feeling away permanently. Enemies are constantly on the prowl for you and will show up when you least expect it. Loud sounds are rare but pierce through the normally quiet setting. There's a non-stop source of terror and it creates a fantastic horror experience. SIGNALIS' story isn't the strongest, and it could have benefited from investigating characters more often. Although despite the narrative shortcomings, SIGNALIS presents a horror experience you won't soon forget.
Do you want more of Bayonetta 1 and 2? That's Bayonetta 3! It keeps the heart and soul of the first two games in every sense, but adds even more fun ways to pound your enemies into the dirt with style. Its chock-full of action set pieces, each more ridiculous than the last - it stays at 100% almost the whole time. Our favourite witch is back in black!
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed succeeds when it suits you up as a Ghostbuster for the first time. You relish the thrill of capturing your first ghost and learning how to hunt them down. Playing as a ghost is equally fun, learning how to haunt and scare everyone out of the building. Unfortunately, playing this game by yourself will quickly become boring, as the single-player experience grows dull quickly. With friends or other players, the true fun of the game comes out. But even that will be short-lived if played too often, as a lack of variety and objectives to achieve will dull the fun.