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Legend of Mana is an experimental game, with lots of ideas and concepts mixed together in one product. The lack of a proper tutorial, as well as a number of smaller annoyances, make it an overall frustrating experience. There are some interesting and fun moments in Legend of Mana, but they can get lost in a product that tries to do too many things at once.
Overall, Dark Alliance needs a lot of work to truly warrant a playthrough and can only be recommended in its current state to massive fans of the book series who just want to know what happens in between books 1 and 2. The game itself is a masterpiece to look at, but falls short in the gameplay department, making this a tough sell for anyone who wasn't already going to pick it up and play simply based on its source material.
Ultimately, though, FF7 Remake Episode INTERmission doesn't shy away from its nature as a side story, and as a result it spends most of its time embracing the new characters and their experiences rather than trying to shoehorn them into the main narrative. While that might make the FF7 Remake DLC feel less important as a result, it also results in a tight, fun experience that doesn't take long to complete and firmly establishes another engrossing character in a FF7 Remake universe that has shown time and again it's capable of creating stars. FF7 Remake Episode INTERmission, then, is DLC that slots nicely into the gap between the first game and FF7 Remake Part 2 - it's skippable for those who aren't interested, but excellent for those who want more of the game's world before it progresses onward.
A pixel-based visual novel.
Ender Lilies doesn't do anything particularly new or inventive, but it doesn't need to. This is a game that knows exactly what it is and what it's setting out to do. This is a fantastic Metroidvania that will scratch the itch of anyone looking to slowly peel away at the secrets of a huge game world, and it stays fun every step of the way, even if a few of those steps are on less surer footing when it comes to enemy variation or attack animation implementation.
A short but wildly enjoyable puzzle game.
Journey through the jungles.
There's not much to hunt.
Errors aside, though, Roguebook is still an exceptionally fun experience. It's a very good deckbuilding game hiding within an innovative take on roguelike play, and the charm of its characters and the accessibility of its difficulty will go a long way in compelling people to give it a try. A deeper story, more variety in levels and characters, and some crucial bug fixes would go a long way in giving Roguebook long-lasting appeal, but it's still well-worth checking out for fans of either roguelikes or deckbuilders - as long as they can stomach a few crashes and don't mind a bit of an easier experience than they may be used to.
WoW TBC Classic hits the usual highs, but it's a timesink.
Light on puzzles, high on atmosphere.
Laugh at the face of danger.
Overall, Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is fairly whelming and often aggravating. For those looking to replay one or all of these titles, it may be better to buy the original titles on their own, simply because the quality of the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection experience doesn't match its price tag, while those who don't mind the cost will find only a serviceable group of titles in a series that had produced much better.
In short, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is simply brilliant. Between its thrilling gameplay, fantastic graphics, and charming story, it's a must-have for PS5 players everywhere. There haven't been many games to justify a step into the new console generation as of yet, but this is definitely one of them.
Melee mastery with a side of screaming.
Griftlands shines in unexpected places.
A spoonful of VR would help the medicine go down.
Overall, Guilty Gear Strive is a fantastic entry to the series and to the genre itself. For long-time fans of the series, the story and gameplay will only reinforce the parts of Guilty Gear that have kept them playing and following along. For both those new to fighting games and seasoned veterans, Guilty Gear Strive presents a satisfying system that balances accessibility and mastery with care and confidence.
Edge of Eternity is an ambitious game, but it doesn't quite live up to its scope. The game feels like a homage to the classic Final Fantasy games of old, but its enchanting world is let down by the lackluster events happening on its surface. The combat system and character customization are well-done, but they don't matter if there isn't a good reason to keep moving forward. While JRPG fans will likely find enough to like that its worth giving Edge of Eternity a shot, other players should seek more engaging options within the same genre.
Howard's journey ends far, far away from where it began and each step continuously develops the emotional investment for everyone in this world. While there are minor mechanical issues such as the "interact" input not always being immediately responsive, each element of Backbone is polished and expertly crafted. Backbone is a must-play GOTY contender that deserves every bit of mainstream recognition it receives, and exceeds the usual reach of its genre, making for a compelling experience that even those with little interest in point-and-click adventures will find difficult to put down.