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What Obsidian has here is a reinvention of narrative gaming, however, and one that asks a question of the player everyone should at least attempt answering. Whether or not the question is too inscrutable doesn't really matter - it's how Andreas, and the player, responds. Pentiment is the kind of masterwork that Andreas chases early in the game, and it's equally as flawed, biased, subjective, and captivating as the pieces he's inspired by. Play it and decide for yourself whether it's worthy of that kind of comparison. That's the point.
It's a one-of-a-kind experience, and an easy recommendation for anyone open to some cheap laughs in a world where the points don’t matter.
Overall, Floodland is an absolute must-play for fans of the survival simulator genre. The game runs smoothly, controls well, and has enough depth in it to keep players coming back for more. The bleak world of this post-climate change disaster is immersive and beautiful looking, and Floodland is also a great beginner-sim for players who may be new to the genre, with its classic research trees, simple mechanics, and well-crafted tutorial are easily understood at any skill level.
Overall, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Galactic Edition is a strong game in the series. Those who didn't pick up the Skywalker Saga normal release earlier this year will find some enjoyment at the inclusion of a new set of characters, particularly those from Star Wars TV shows, although it's nothing essential for those who already own the game. The changes to the LEGO formula are a bit hit and miss, but in general land well - hopefully there will be a tweak to how the co-op works for future releases, though.
Harvestella is a game full of immersive environments, beautiful music, and an engaging and meaningful narrative for both its world and main characters, which is enough to redeem the game's more mediocre elements. There are several areas of Harvestella, like it farming, animations, and social simulation elements that would have greatly benefited from more depth and care put into them, but despite these flaws the game manages to be incredibly addictive. It's easier to notice these issues when comparing Harvestella to games like Rune Factory, but standing on its own Harvestella is a fairly strong title that's worth players' time. It may not be perfect, but it's very easy for players to fall into a "just one more day" loop in Harvestella nonetheless as they uncover the mysteries of its universe.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn has some great updates over its predecessor, but some changes work to the game's detriment, and concepts like the level cap would have been better served as the basis for a higher difficulty mode. Tactics Ogre: Reborn can be a punishing and sometimes unfair experience, but those who rise to the challenge will find a lot of content to explore, an engaging story to experience, and a fantastic battle system to master.
Much like the "What Lies Below" puzzle from the base game, each level is made of several puzzle rooms that flow and connect to each other seamlessly while still managing to feel wholly unique from one another. Even the aforementioned puzzles standout in more positive ways than negative. The Anti-Escapist facility is brilliantly laid out and interconnected, while the final two levels, particularly the very last level, reach a level of creativity and spectacle that was wholly unexpected. Despite some minor pitfalls, the Escape Academy: Escape From Anti-Escape Island DLC is a wonderful continuation of the base game that makes every epiphany feel more satisfying and rewarding than the last.
Ultimately, however, Alina of the Arena is an absolute blast, and that's what counts most in a genre filled to the brim with games attempting to compete for the same niche audience. While it's unlikely to become the main deckbuilder distraction for players who frequent the genre, it's a great side quest, one that will take dozens of hours before growing old or stale. At just $14.99 USD, Alina of the Arena is well worth the price of admission.
Overall, A Little To The Left is exactly the kind of relaxing experience that it sets out to be. Some of its puzzles could have been better refined, but those after a meditative moment will appreciate what it has to offer.
With its gorgeous art and heartfelt characters, fans of the best visual novel games and dating sims will certainly find something to love within ValiDate. Those who are interested in the title, but aren't quite ready to swipe right, will want to keep a close eye on the game. Veritable Joy has announced plans to expand ValiDate, offering more playable characters and routes in the future. Although the game isn't perfect, ValiDate remains a wonderful choice for fans of dating sims seeking an experience that offers a more realistic take on the traditionally-romanticized genre.
God of War: Ragnarök sets out to improve every criticism of its predecessor, all while delivering a compelling story set in a highly reimagined saga.
Three different endings are available to those itching to give The Chant another spin, and our own playthrough took only about six or seven hours from start to credits. Even though there are plentiful elements where the gameplay sags, The Chant is a spirited survival horror custom-made for adherents to the genre’s quirks, and they’ll be delighted at the finale.
Overall, Football Manager 2023 is another strong entry in the series. It's unlikely to convert anyone who isn't already passionate about what it has to offer, but it is brilliant for those who do. Would-be managers take note.
To those who've been unable to play the BAFTA award-winning game on other platforms, or want to play locally without a split screen, It Takes Two on Switch is well worth its $39.99 price-tag. Additionally, the game's Switch port offers new voice-overs in Japanese, French, German, and Spanish, making this version an appealing option to native speakers of those languages. Others might be better sticking to PS4, Xbox, and PC, due to the game's superior graphics on those platforms. However, Turn Me Up Games has done a wonderful job of working within the Switch's limitations, allowing a new audience to enjoy It Takes Two's bombastic, harrowing, heartfelt journey.
Though Rusty Lake: The Past Within has many of the same themes of a horror video game, it's not an outright scary title. Its cartoony graphics make sure that nothing ever gets too disturbing, and some moments meant to be spooky actually look quite silly, but the game's soundtrack does a good job of setting a generally eerie tone throughout. The Past Within is quite short, with its two chapters clocking in at about two hours total, although there is some replayability to be had via the ability to choose between "Butterfly" or "Bee" mode, which changes the answers to the puzzles. Overall, at the price of only a few dollars, Rusty Lake: The Past Within will likely be a worthwhile enough experience for long-time fans of the series, but players not familiar with the story or those seeking a challenge should look elsewhere.
One final thing worth noting is that the music sometimes cuts out, leaving only the sound effects to fill the awkwardly empty void. This definitely feels like a bug and only occurred a handful of times, but it is still worth mentioning because the phenomenal soundtrack is relaxing, driving, and perfect for the game's aesthetic. When those songs were cut short, it felt like an integral part of the experience was missing. Thankfully, those moments were sparse and when the did happen, it could be quickly resolved. Overall, Tanuki Sunset is a wonderful game, especially for those looking for a simple, stylish game to play at the end of a long day.
If nothing else, Modern Warfare 2 and its return to the revamped gunplay of its predecessor is an assurance that Call of Duty is firmly within a new era. The relaunch of Warzone will undoubtedly only benefit the already solid package, one which deftly navigates the burgeoning crossplay scene with a slew of network features. Alongside such implementations, though, is a platform primed for its inevitable deep dive into live service monetization, which looks to begin in earnest upon the release date of Warzone 2 and the start of Season 1. The game will surely evolve over the next year or more, but at launch, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is a well-made entry in one of gaming's largest franchises, where innovation isn't necessarily expected, but would have certainly been welcome.
Overall, Ghost Song is a very enjoyable addition to the Metroidvania subgenre. It maybe lacks a little bit of originality to help it stand out from its contemporaries in a rather crowded market, but the game does provide a very enjoyable experience. With an atmosphere and story that are haunting and interesting to explore, there are plenty of reasons to delve into the dangerous world of Ghost Song.
The synthwave soundtrack by Jules Reves is also an engaging accompaniment to the combat, though it does drain enthusiasm after 12 hours on repeat. That estimation can be used to describe the wider game as well; Nitro Kid lacks the just-one-more-run qualities of other roguelites, whether it be a range of exciting progressive unlocks or a surprising gameplay curveball. The runs just quickly begin to bleed into one another. Nitro Kid’s foundational systems are definitely smart, but its emergent delights are slim, making it a tough recommendation when there’s so many fantastic, empowering deckbuilders to play.
Ultimately, Saturnalia is hard to call a must-play horror game, as it's likely to be polarizing both in terms of its presentation and its mechanics. A slower pace, somewhat minimalist gameplay, and mystery-laden narrative style will keep it from being everyone's cup of tea. Yet fans of exploration looking for a beautiful, atmospheric mystery (with just a handful of things that lurk in the dark) will find that Saturnalia is a wholly unique adventure that's well worth taking.