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At the end of the day, the value of Life Is Strange: Arcadia Bay Collection comes down to whether the Nintendo Switch release is a worthy and required port. If players haven't had the chance to experience Life Is Strange and the Switch is their platform of choice, then it is an obvious choice to go make - particularly as it's then a jumping off point to also enjoy the brilliance of Life Is Strange 2 and True Colors. Meanwhile, long-time fans may have a bit of hesitancy, as it's not an entirely necessary upgrade on the original games, but the portability of the Switch version could make it a useful way to play a much-loved game once again.
Paradise Marsh clearly communicates what it wants to say and the questions it wants the players to consider. Much like life, will players take their time and explore or rush through to see the ending? Will they swing their net methodically or wildly in hopes of catching something? With beautiful art, subtle sound design and music by Disasterpiece, and well-written poetry that shows a deep understanding of philosophy, Paradise Marsh leaves players reflecting on what they've experienced long after it ends and that is more than enough reason to recommend this game.
That leaves NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition on Switch in a fascinating spot. It's both the worst version of the game (now that the PC version of NieR: Automata is better) and the best, depending on the audience. It's a matter of preference - visual fidelity or ease of access? - and at the heart of the matter, it's simply about how players want to engage in one of the best video games of the past decade. There's no wrong choice, but it's certainly appreciated that there are now so many to pick from.
For better or worse, No More Heroes 3 is pretty much more of the first two games with a new coat of paint. All of Grasshopper Manufacture’s wild action, bizarre storylines, and offbeat characters are present and accounted for, as is the often-tedious grind needed to progress to the next high-octane boss fight. However, for fans of the series, No More Heroes III is still a fine send-off for Travis Touchdown and his supporting cast.
Overall, The Fridge is Red succeeds in creating a creepy atmosphere through the use of liminal spaces and excellent sound design. The world immediately pulls players in with its unsettling feeling and almost demands to be explored. However, The Fridge is Red misses the mark significantly due to the lack of consistent scares, often obtuseness of puzzles, and low-quality graphics. The Fridge is Red includes several great ideas, twisting the stress of everyday encounters into something surreal, but they never quite become fully fleshed out, and they become predictable when they all end in more or less the same manner. Players looking for a few hours of new horror content this October could certainly do worse, but The Fridge is Red lacks the depth and frights needed to contend with the best short indie horror games currently dominating the genre.
Fans who have continued to play Overwatch over the years grew hungry for the new maps, modes, and heroes that Overwatch 2 delivers on. At this point, it feels like the bare minimum fans need to keep enjoying Overwatch. As more maps and heroes are introduced, Overwatch 2 may start to feel more like a full sequel rather than a hefty much-needed update. If Blizzard had charged sixty dollars for what the game currently is, fans would be disappointed. The ten-dollar Battle Pass gives fans lots of content to unlock with the game's improved multiplayer action. Even though it will require some play time to unlock heroes behind the Battle Pass, it's an excellent time for new players to see what makes Overwatch as fun and charming as it is. Still, veteran players anxious for something new may want to wait until Overwatch 2 feels more complete.
Valkyrie Elysium is a lot of fun, and maybe that's good enough. It's a shame that a new Valkyrie Profile game isn't more than simply adequate, especially after all this time, but anyone looking for a quick and engaging action RPG will leave satisfied. It may not be a masterpiece, but Valkyrie Elysium is still entertaining and enjoyable.
When playing Guardian Tales, one can't help but wonder if a cute Link To The Past-style single-player game without all the gacha incentives would've been better, especially now that the title is on Switch. Still, personal preferences aside, Guardian Tales is a lot of fun. The gameplay, art style, and quirky characters are all highlights.
While players shouldn't go into Monorail Stories expecting a Telltale Games-level of branching storylines, it's a simple and charming title that despite its elements of conflict is an overall relaxing player experience. The replay aspect of the game ensures nothing ever feels too high stakes - if players make a mistake, they can simply readjust their approach the next time around. While the repeated playthrough element may not be for everyone, it's an interesting concept that's easy for players to jump into for short play sessions. Although sometimes repetitive, Monorail Stories tells a mostly engaging and charming story that seems to have a bright future ahead of it.
So far, it's looking good with FIFA 23.
As it stands, Dome Keeper is still left wanting for more content to flesh out its addictive gameplay concept. At the ten-hour mark, many players will have seen the breadth of its unlocks and will then decide if simply pumping more time into it for the love or leaderboard placement is worth it; a special “prestige” mode is specifically geared towards a risk/reward competitive score style. It’s hard not to simply want more weapons, base mods, and artifacts, even if the gameplay otherwise remains the same. With enough sales, maybe the game will come even more into its own, but Dome Keeper’s unusual mix of combat, time management, and resource-drilling is a magical combo.
Overall, Penko Park is a real joy. Although its simplicity may leave those after a more complex experience wanting more, it's an enjoyable photography game with a great setting. And above all else, its various creatures will keep players coming back for more.
Moonscars is an amalgamation of different ideas merged into one 2D Soulslike package, and while a few feel undercooked, the rest manage to tie everything together into an excellent action-RPG experience. The gorgeous visuals are also worth experiencing, as it's rare to see a gameplay pull off an art style as well as Moonscars. The dark world of the clayborne is a fascinating and deadly one, and like its clay protagonist, the player only gets stronger as each death reshapes them.
If players are looking for a sandbox game where they plan to solely focus on building, Hokko Life may be the answer. The customizable crafting elements of the game are strong, and players can even share their designs with other players online in the game's city center. However, if players are looking for a new life simulation experience, Hokko Life will likely not provide the depth or addicting fun they're looking for.
In the end, Shovel Knight Dig is more Shovel Knight. The basic gameplay and boss fights are the stars of the show, and they more than make up for the ways that the game struggles in its capacity as a roguelite. It’s got a healthy supply of that just-one-more-attempt magic, which should serve folks hankering for more shovel-swinging action just fine. The irony remains that Shovel Knight Dig is just not exceptionally deep.
With the presence of multiple pro skaters including Daewon Song and Samarria Brevard, as well as a semi-open world with legendary skate spots like Black Hubbus and FDR Park, Sessions: Skate Sim is a well-written love letter to the sport. While some may feel underwhelmed by the lack of customization and find the controls too difficult to adjust to, players that have a love of skating and are itching to dive into a new skateboarding title will eventually feel right at home.
At its core, Wylde Flowers is much more of a narrative-driven social simulation game than a game about farming and other such activities. The surface-level nature of some of the game's elements could be a problem were it not for the fact that Wylde Flowers absolutely excels at the story it's trying to tell utilizing a brilliant cast of characters. With Wylde Flowers, players get an eclectic game where they can brew potions and cast spells while somehow also enjoying a fairly grounded, small-town life alongside unique characters. While it may not be the most complex title on some fronts, Wylde Flowers succeeds at telling a bewitchingly beautiful story.
Readers may notice the lack of story details in this review, and it's for good reason. The risk of spoiling parts of the story is high because it takes twists and turns the moment it begins, and the best to experience this story is going in completely blind. Overall, Beacon Pines is a fantastic game with clever systems that enrich its characters, world, and masterful storytelling. With a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass, this is a must-play for fans of narrative-focused games and leaves one excited about what Hiding Spot Games will make next.
In the end, HYPER DEMON is a fabulous evolution over the core concept of Sorath's previous game, but it won't be for everyone. The high level of difficulty and demand for skillful play, in addition to the slightly higher price tag of $15 USD, will keep many players away. Others will balk at a game that has only one singular mode to work through, and no amount of leaderboards, interactive tutorials, or its meaty replay and clip feature are likely to make much of a difference. But for HYPER DEMON's target audience, there's really nothing else out there that scratches the same itch, and it's balanced with every bit of the innovation, artistry, and design - to say nothing of the knife-edge precision - that made Devil Daggers such an underrated classic.
Thankfully, abilities and weapons like these become accessible in the mid-game and make later combat encounters much more manageable. Even then, Soulstice manages to maintain a good balance overall and while some hits may feel unfair, no fight ever ends that way. They all feel satisfying and exciting in a way that motivates the player to continue towards the next one. The moments of exploration between fights also encourages players to take in the stunning art design of the world and Briar's armor and weaponry, which look like they're lifted straight from the pages of Berserk; but this only scratches the surface of Soulstice. This is a challenging, beautiful, and engrossing game with a ton to offer and shouldn't be passed over.