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The only real issue with Trails From Zero is one that most other games in the series have, too - sometimes, exposition dumps can feel a bit tedious and some scenes overstay their welcome. Even with a story and characters as great as these, some parts just feel longer than they should be. Regardless, The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero is fantastic and continues Trails' trend of setting the bar incredibly high for character-driven narratives. It's also a wonderful feeling to finally have the Crossbell arc localized, but it was worth the wait.
Another potential hurdle for Akane is that it takes place in a single square level and requires players to defeat the same enemies ad infinitum, which runs the risk of getting stale. Thankfully it's an intriguing gameplay experience, so players may not play it for long sittings but the desire to jump back in later is strong. One impression that came up time and again while playing is that this game would be perfect for mobile, with its limited setting, simple controls, and "jump in and play" mentality. While Akane is unfortunately not available on mobile platforms, it's made a solid transition to consoles and is well worth picking up.
However, despite these frustrations players will likely still find themselves returning to Potion Permit for hours at a time - it's incredibly easy to get in a "just one more day" loop despite some of the game's duller moments, because the puzzling and progression elements like improving as a chemist, forging friendships, and upgrading the clinic are so satisfying. At its core, Potion Permit is a unique and cozy indie game that clearly has a large amount of effort and ambition behind it, which helps it overcome some - but not all - of its flaws. For players looking to sink dozens of hours into a different style of simulation title, brewing up a life in Potion Permit may be just what the doctor ordered.
Overall, Wayward Strand is an interesting game that explores humanity in a way that few games have, while its time limit to each day means choosing who to spend time with has an added importance. Technical issues hold the game back, alongside a lack of dialogue depth as the weekend rolls on. However, overall this is still an engaging game for players who want a more cerebral title.
As a hybrid game concept, both sides of the Sunday Gold experience don’t always feel fully fleshed out, and it’s better to look at the game as an experimental piece with a terrific aesthetic. Specific puzzles or moments absolutely stood out and felt like premium adventuring, with the turn-based combat pulling the shorter straw. For anyone waiting for a lovely point-and-click adventure that experiments with the genre and never wears out its welcome, Sunday Gold is absolutely worth a look.
Like 2009's Brütal Legend, Metal: Hellsinger is a love letter to heavy metal gamers rather than a game being made to pander to a demographic. Hellsinger is a lot of fun for any casual FPS player with even a vague interest in metal music. Even though the game feels on the short side, The Outsiders have achieved a beautiful hybrid of sound design and fun FPS gameplay that will hopefully inspire more combat rhythm games in the future. The music will get stuck in the player's head, and the levels are more than fun enough to warrant replaying.
Isonzo’s gameplay mechanics are simple and easy to pick up, despite the game lacking any real tutorial other than a quick and very easy-to-miss instruction video that plays before the player’s first match. On the other hand, the combat itself is brutal and unrelenting, meaning that would-be soldiers looking to dive into Isonzo’s historical battlefield will have to face constant deaths and reloads while touring through BlackMill Games’ latest history-based shooter.
The main critique that can be thrown at Justice Sucks is that the abilities are easily forgotten about while playing. Enemies move at a variety of different speeds and so much of the time spent in each encounter consists of figuring out which traps will do maximum damage and how to get the most enemies in those traps as possible. This doesn't detract from the fun in any way, but there's no need for anything other than the Dusty's best passive abilities since each level is filled with everything players need to deal damage. There's plenty more to be said about this game, such as its killer soundtrack and heart-warming story, but the most important takeaway is that Justice Sucks is simply so much fun to play.
Steelrising is a fast-paced Soulslike set during the French Revolution, with fluid combat and expansive levels to explore.
Splatoon 3 is consistently flashy and fun, and absent major innovation, it still feels fresh.
Whether players are looking for their next strategic obsession or just some steampunk circus fun, Circus Electrique offers an experience almost every type of tactical fan can enjoy.
For all its faults, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is an excellent way for fans to step into the shoes of their favorite heroes from the anime and manga's rich history. CyberConnect2 has taken a franchise brimming with potential for flashy, high-stakes battles and channeled it into a fighting game that's fun and dramatic, even if it doesn't rise to the level of contenders like Guilty Gear Strive and Tekken 7. While dedicated fighting game aficianados can find better alternatives, fans of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure won't want to miss it.
Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness is a good game marred by poor pacing and the inability to blend game mechanics with the story they came from. If this game was purely the "Deep in Abyss" mode, it would be a great action-survival game with elements of RPG mechanics and even some horror mixed in. However, the contrast between the game modes both in gameplay and presentation is shocking and leaves one wondering why "Hello Abyss" needed to be a requirement to access what feels like the "actual game."
If Way of the Hunter's $40 price tag feels too steep for a title with some bugs and balancing issues, or if one prefers games that require a little less patience, this game might not be worth the cost. However, Way of the Hunter has got enough promise to warrant a second look once it has a few major updates under its belt.
Despite these few flaws, Ooblets is an incredibly strong title that combines several genres into one deeply cute and satisfying experience that stands on its own. Ooblets is not a game to be strategically min-maxed or sped through, and the lack of stakes in the game - particularly the fact Ooblets can't die - is incredibly welcome, encouraging players to take their time. Ooblets is hands-down one of the most unique simulation games of the last several years, and offers a truly creative new take on cozy gaming.
The Last of Us Part 1 is a must-play game. However, for those who already own the remaster, the price tag may be too much to swallow.
Pac-Man World Re-Pac is a great remake of a good game. The visual overhaul of the graphics looks great and the new QoL features help iron out some of the rough edges that are present in many games of its era. The sameness of the stages and the short runtime are blows against the game, but it's still a fun experience, and worth checking out for fans of platformers.
Immortality is a stunning game overall. It's a truly effective mystery that has a great understanding of the kind of story it wants to tell and the kind of topics where it wants to peel back the skin. It certainly won't be for everyone, but it's a demanding and brilliant experience for those who want something a little more cerebral.
Overall, then, The Cowabunga Collection is a great look back at the Turtles games of yore. The franchise's stranglehold on side-scrolling beat 'em ups is fully on show with some of the best examples from the era, while the rest of the collection is still worth playing. A worthy selection for TMNT fans looking to delve into the past.
Ultimately, SD Gundam Battle Alliance feels like the sort of game that will appeal to those who haven't picked up a Gundam game in a few years, but it's not going to move the needle for anyone else. Standard and unexciting combat is combined with some strange meta-narrative decisions that make this feel like a cute spin on some of the series' most iconic moments. The RPG elements of the game are also very limited, which means arcade-style fighters like Gundam Extreme Versus Maxiboost ON offers more exciting action. SD Gundam Battle Alliance is solid and will definitely be a hit with dedicated Gundam fans, but it's definitely not a reason to dive into the property for those who haven't done so before.