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Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life manages to toe the line between the core features that made the original great while adding and improving upon aspects that needed a little love. If all the systems had been completely modernized, it wouldn't maintain the charm that made the game so beloved in the first place. The differences between Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life and most other modern farming games will likely be somewhat jarring and divisive among players, but it's a unique journey unlike any other, and one worth going on for veterans of the genre especially.
Park Beyond feels like a throwback to the tycoon games that crowded shelves twenty years ago, intent on recapturing the more manic elements of a genre that sobered up over time. Players interested principally in simulating the management of an actual business might find that Park Beyond's quirks could drag it behind competitors. For gamers looking to scratch the imaginative itch, however, the game rises to the mantle admirably, encouraging the devious designs and flights of fancy that other games might reject. A little more polish could make Park Beyond great, but even with some rough edges, its charm is largely irresistible.
Centering around simple minigames and slice-of-life stories, Fall of Porcupine isn't an incredibly complex title at its core, but it still manages to feel meaningful. This year is full of games billed as cozy and wholesome, but this one manages to set itself apart through an interesting healthcare focus, quaint aesthetics, and impactful characters. Although it's not perfect, Fall of Porcupine is a great option for players looking to have a unique and emotional journey that may very well make them shed a few tears.
Layers of Fear is a game that will strike a chord with players, in one way or another. Bloober Team and Anshar Studios take what strong foundation had already been laid with the first three titles, and improves upon it substantially with fresh, impactful mechanics, excellent visuals, and a brand-new, overarching tale that spans the length of all artists' stories. For both new and loyal fans alike, Layers of Fear is a worthwhile venture back down the rabbit hole.
Here's hoping Star Trek: Resurgence leads to more Star Trek video games. With such a rich history, the world of Star Trek has so much that could be explored. For a series based on exploration, Resurgence does not allow the player to explore much beyond the designated path of the story. With a story as good as this one, that hardly matters, but future Star Trek games may want to consider a different approach. If storytelling and characters like the ones in Resurgence were incorporated into an open-world Star Trek game, for example, it would likely have a much wider appeal. Still, the future for Star Trek gaming looks promising. Star Trek: Resurgence gets Star Trek, embracing the optimism and hope that sets the franchise apart, and celebrating humanity at its best.
All in all, Killer Frequency is a clever slasher puzzler that is well worth the time. Horror fans will get a lot out of its knowledge of the genre as a whole, and its fresh take on telling a slasher story means that even within its tropes there's still something to find. It doesn't always land, and the Switch version does have the odd issue, but Killer Frequency is bloody good fun.
Though We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is certainly not a game for everyone, with its occasionally wacky mechanics and bizarre at times story, there is no doubt that those who choose to pick it up will be pleasantly surprised by its quirky, colorful, and addictive style. Not to mention that hanging around after the credits will allow players to complete a very satisfying final Katamari level that ties up the game beautifully and will leave players with overall satisfaction both in terms of narrative and gameplay.
As far as survival horror games go, Greyhill Incident is capable of delivering some intense moments. With more fleshed-out characters and aliens as intimidating as Greyhill Incident's atmosphere, the game and its empty world would be much more exciting to interact with. As it currently stands, however, this is one best left alone unless someone is desperate for any alien content, no matter how rote its mechanics.
Speed Crew's developers have already announced they are working on planned updates and DLCs that will include new levels and game modes for players to enjoy. There are some customization options for characters and vehicles in the game as well, which is a fun extra touch. The game was completed in solo mode in about 10 hours and that timeframe could easily shift when played with friends, depending on their ability to cooperate effectively. There were no technical issues observed over the entire course of the game, and its process of slowly ramping up the difficulty felt smooth and natural. Overall, Speed Crew is a very fun game that would be a great addition to any group of friends or family looking for a new party game to enjoy.
Above all else, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is an interesting game. A blend of visual novel and magical relationship adventure, it's an intriguing mix that for the most part works extremely well. It may start to struggle when its simple design approaches fail to match the intricacy of its plot threads, but overall it holds its own.
Perhaps the one saving grace of In Tanta We Trust is that it's visually impressive. Forspoken runs well and looks incredible; its DLC is no different. For those that did enjoy Forspoken, the US$12.49 price point may be worth it, but they should go in expecting a much smaller experience. Forspoken: In Tanta We Trust is at best a neat aside, and at worst almost confusingly pointless as an expansion.
Homebody is truly a wonderful debut from the mind of Jory Griffis, with features reminiscent of notable classics such as The 7th Guest, Silent Hill, and Clock Tower, that are sure to leave devoted survival horror fans engaged and enthralled.
Amnesia: The Bunker is not for the faint of heart. Frictional Games courageously breaks free of its own formula to examine what truly gets the blood pumping and the brain racing, and the result is a challenging and nearly unmanageable combination of stress and fear. While it misses the mark somewhat with story and atmosphere, The Bunker makes up for it through engaging and one-of-a-kind gameplay, which stretches the limitations of the horror genre.
The most unfortunate aspect of Company of Heroes 3 Console Edition is the text size, an issue with no solution. The settings have an option to increase cutscene subtitle size, but the same is not available for the many, many text boxes in-game. It frequently makes for a frustrating experience when playing from a couch, and is a constant reminder that Company of Heroes 3 is first and foremost a game built for PC; it's perfectly playable and more than enjoyable on console, but is still often cumbersome and awkward.
Ultimately, though the Etrian Odyssey games do not feature much story, they are incredibly fun dungeon-crawling experiences. The featured ability to draw maps of the dungeons as the party progresses through the game can become somewhat tedious if played in docked mode using a controller, but with the touchscreen in handheld, it can be quick and very satisfying. The Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection is a well-crafted remaster of the original games and offers hundreds of hours of fun for dungeon-crawling enthusiasts.
While the puzzle difficulty here won’t send most players to online guides, they’re still fun to tinker with, and opening up more of The Tartarus Key’s mansion soon becomes its own reward. Combat mechanics or other challenge elements may have added more spice to the experience, but the game serves as an accessibly light adventure game which is even more fun played alongside a friend to call out puzzle tips or clown on the script. A great ending sequence rounds out the experience, making The Tartarus Key a worthy throwback that doesn't waste time.
Ultimately, Diablo 4 is a must-play experience for any fan of dungeon-crawler ARPGs.
With everything that Street Fighter 6 includes, it's set the bar incredibly high for future fighting games. Online matches played flawlessly during the review period. The Battle Hub is an example of how online multiplayer game lobbies should be with a space where players can interact and even play other games together. A well-balanced roster of characters and new control options helps Street Fighter 6 stand tall as an excellent entry point for fighting games, while also containing the depth and precise gameplay that pros expect.
Overall, Return To Grace is a solid narrative game set in a wondrous sci-fi location. The core plot will be enough to drive many players for its short run time, especially given its unique setting and visual design. Over time this might lose a little of its luster, but the secrets here are certainly worth uncovering.
Nightdive Studios' System Shock remake is the definitive version of the classic 90s PC title whose influence is still felt in today's sci-fi shooters.