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Further and further in, Ultros’ world seems one of creative, chaotic malleability instead of precision, opening up to sequence-breaking and weird shortcuts through experimentation. It’s a game about amassing the tools and time to carve a connective path with nature, learning the layout of the land, and collaborating with it to continue on. Ultros takes the common ingredients of the modern metroidvania, then transplants them into an utterly original DMT-infused Metroid fever dream, in the very best way.
Overall, Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden is an interesting and innovative action RPG with a few flaws here and there that stop it from being perfect. Its emotionally strong core story will keep players pushing to the end, while its key moral mechanic does have enough complexity to make players think about their decisions. It may have its clunky moments, but it's nonetheless something beefy for players to sink their teeth into.
Characters operating as power creeps in the majority of Penacony’s fights are not a good indicator, as HoYoverse needs to develop a way of continuing to challenge parties without simply boosting enemies’ Max HP. Overall, Version 2.0 is a fairly positive release for the game. While it does have some issues in combat and is occasionally lackluster in some aspects, it does offer a wide range of content and hits the nail on the head with its campaign, which sets the groundwork for another impressive year of stories told in Honkai: Star Rail.
There is so much good to say about Foamstars, with its quirky characters and cheerfully energizing feel. While at launch the matches do not feel entirely balanced, that will even out with time, yet the microtransactions look as though they could only get worse. Currently, Foamstars is free on PS Plus for anyone to try it out, but after March 5th anyone who does not already have the game downloaded will have to purchase it for $29.99. That price, combined with the costs of Premium Seasonal Passes and in-game store purchases can quickly add up and is overwhelming. Cosmetic items don't have to be purchased, of course, but to be faced with that many instances of trying to get players to spend money simply feels much dirtier than a soap-filled game ever should.
Because of the disappointing presentation and lack of engaging modes, Jujutsu Kaisen Curshed Clash is difficult to recommend to anyone other than the most invested JJK veterans. While the characters and ultimate attacks can look great with well-constructed animations, the gameplay fails to be addicting enough to entice players to keep coming back. The franchise is an incredible vehicle for a great fighting game, but unfortunately that potential has not been realized in Jujutsu Kaisen Curshed Clash.
Despite that, it would be wrong to say that Grotto doesn't succeed in telling a fantastic story and representing its core theme through its gameplay, frustrating as it may be. For anyone that has yet to play this game but is interested in its philosophy and ideas, definitely give it a shot because even though the gameplay didn't resonate in this review, it did for a great number of players and is a risk worth taking.
Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior is a curious combat-puzzle game, but solid aesthetics and worldbuilding can't rescue its stifling gameplay design.
A multiplayer game about killing the Justice League from the creators of the Batman Arkham trilogy fails to revolutionize an oversaturated genre.
For a free game that shows the first glimpse of what Konami is truly going to do with the franchise, Silent Hill: The Short Message is absolutely worth experiencing. That's not to say it's perfect. The "walk around and find the only interactable object in the room" gameplay brings nothing new to the table, and after being caught by the monster two or three times the escape room segments become far more tedious than they do scary (especially the final one). The dialog is a bit too on-the-nose, and all the social media references that seemed pretty important in the beginning are quietly shoved to the side once the real story reveals itself. That all being said, it's a far better start than it could have been, and it is undeniably the best new Silent Hill media since 2014.
The story of Granblue Fantasy: Relink may not be especially groundbreaking, but the combat is excellent and proves the game isn't getting by on just its good looks. It'll be interesting to see how the longevity of the game works in post-game and once more people are playing it and co-op becomes more viable. Even this early into the year, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is set up to be one of the best RPGs of 2024.
In an era where video game remasters are saturating the market, Persona 3 Reload is the epitome of what developers should be striving to offer their players. Those who choose to give this a chance are likely to be adding a new favorite to their list.
Anyone who previously thought about giving Like A Dragon a try will want to start here. It may be a lot to catch up on at first, but it's well worth it. For those already invested, it's hard to overstate just how important a landmark this is for the Like A Dragon series - a true passing of the torch, finally, and a game worthy of succeeding the action-based legend that preceded it. 2024 is picking up exactly where 2023, and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a game of the year contender and a tremendously high bar for the rest of the year to follow.
Each of the three games included in this remastered trilogy may feature the same story as their originals, yet the quality brought to the Nintendo Switch collection is worth a look. Those who may have missed the games the first time around, or who have never played any Phoenix Wright title will enjoy the narratives where each mystery is beautifully written and intriguing in its subtlety. The evidence suggests that the Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is well worth the many hours of gameplay included, and is only guilty of being a wonderfully remade collection of mysteries.
Though largely surface-level, a lack of depth isn't necessarily a detriment for a release intended to be this lighthearted. It's a game where players can steal thousands of dollars as a turnip in a ten-gallon hat using a gun fashioned from a frog, and that's enough in its own right. The series' foray into the roguelite and shooter genres is a largely triumphant one, and Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is a more than worthwhile way to spend an afternoon.
Even with consideration for all the fresh content, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's $50 asking price still feels a bit steep for series newcomers who have held off until now. The new additions themselves feel particularly geared toward returning players, however, and No Return alone is likely worth the $10 upgrade fee being offered. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is ultimately still The Last of Us Part 2 – it's one of the greatest narrative achievements in the medium repackaged with more gameplay avenues.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a great new addition to the Metroidvania subgenre that offers players unique combat and a good time.
Iron's Hot is something of a mixed bag. There's a lot of charm and a lot of promise, but a lack of variety and some unfortunate bugs and sloppy design hold it back from being a must-play. Those who enjoy a cozy game or are after a light-hearted fantasy will still likely enjoy it, but that recommendation does come with some footnotes.
Overall, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a title that is safe, accessible, but lacking in challenge. It provides a story-mode that players will likely love or hate, a narrative that is safe but predictable, combat that is impactful but inconsistent, and controls that are accessible and intuitive. For fans of the series or players that struggle with other fighting games, this is a fine title to jump into. However, for those more experienced in the genre and are looking for something new, this is not the one to pick up.
The list of problems with Arashi: Castles of Sin is long, but beneath them all there's a solid experience that can be genuinely fun to play. In a market with a surplus of better options, however, it's hard to say that Arashi's limitations are worth dealing with. Arashi: Castles of Sin - Final Cut is a frustrating package of a potentially good game, and by the time things come together in a way that's exciting enough to make its sins forgivable, the credits are already rolling.
Like The Teal Mask and the base games before it, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk is a fine experience that just feels like it needed more time to cook. The new features and additions make it an enjoyable DLC, but the performance problems occur frequently and are often distracting. The newest battles add a bit more challenge to Gen 9, and roaming around the Terarium to catch the latest Pokémon is still the biggest draw. Overall, the good outweighs the bad. There's no denying how fun it all is.