RPGamer's Reviews
Evil Empire’s Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse draws heavily from the lore, characters, story, and presentation, but the gameplay has shifted away from many of its RPG roots. This shift is met with tightly polished execution; however, there is a lingering sense that this isn’t what some fans were expecting.
Lunarium is a game whose individual elements work well and show a lot of promise. Combat is fluent and requires some skill to master, with interesting and challenging boss encounters that test players’ ability. The plot is intriguing at first, with quite beautiful writing and character moments, all brought to life through quality presentation values. Yet, somehow, it clocks in a bit short of its own capabilities. Some aspects have trouble gelling well together, with one element or another often seeming out of step with the others.
Ultimately, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is an absolute winner. Despite some clear evidence that somehow even more than what is currently in the game was planned, the game still feels complete, and the story is more than satisfying. The gameplay is some of the most refined it’s ever been, and the visuals are a massive step up from its predecessors, and the incredible soundtrack elevates the game even further.
In spite of the discrepancies between what the developers appeared to want this game to be and what actually made it to store shelves, The Blood of Dawnwalker is a pretty good time. The vision is present throughout the game and the obvious shortcomings often feel far more like a material consideration than outright mistakes.
In the end, Dragon Quest Heroes: Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon feels like a giant missed opportunity to properly celebrate the origins of the Mystery Dungeon series. Though the core original game is there, the updates mostly make the game look and play worse.
While the game takes some big swings in the narrative and soundtrack departments, ultimately a shallow combat system, poorly implemented roguelike systems both in and out of attempts, and severe issues of difficulty and repetition hold the game back quite a bit.
Ultimately, R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos is a game held up by the brilliance of its overall concept.
Through a very well-executed presentation, Forever Ago effectively communicates a deeply emotional tale of redemption, deploying some interesting twists and thought-provoking plot threads along the way.
Fans of Dragon’s Dogma 2 will find plenty to enjoy here, but those who struggled to connect with the original game may not find enough to change their minds. For RPGamers looking for a strong sense of adventure and an absolutely beautiful world to get lost in, Dark Arisen is worth considering.
Starsand Island is ambitious in size and scope, but it struggles to deliver consistent frame rates, with frequent glitches and strange bugs that are both funny and questionable.
Although there are a few good ideas here, the game is simply not much fun to play. RPGamers who want something different may find Qliphah worth a look, but it is ultimately difficult to recommend.
Nocturne manages a tight narrative in its ten-hour run, and the beat-rhythm aspect both helps to pad out the relatively small number of mobs in the game and keep things interesting. While the concept may sound like an odd mash-up, genre-wise, Pracy Studios makes it work.
The result is an extraordinarily original experience that excels atmospherically and visually while staying firmly in control of its plot and combat, even if the paranormal elements sometimes slip into incoherence.
RPGamers who prefer games with strong narratives and deep decision-making mechanics will find a lot to love in Sir Brante, but it comes with the warning that it will make you depressed, no matter the outcome.
Another Eden Begins does well enough at making for an experience that will keep players engaged for its runtime, but not really enough to stand out from the crowd. Combat is enjoyable and the base gameplay loop moves things along to prevent things from becoming too tired, though its side quests can drag things a bit.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is a well-paced, infectiously endearing, and astonishingly crafted adventure that is sure to leave its mark on the genre.
Lies of P: Complete Edition is an incredibly solid way to play the game, and RPGamers who own a Nintendo Switch 2 and haven’t played this on another platform can expect a great experience with this package.
It is a game that hides an aching, obsessive love story inside the shell of a bleak, blood-soaked mystery, and it never once feels the need to explain itself to players who aren’t paying attention.
The biggest takeaway is the game’s riveting, intense, and masterful combat design, which ultimately defines the game and, to summarize what Takamura says to Musashi regarding part of his reasons for fighting: “it’s just damn fun.”
Bit Reactor gives the genre a fresh identity while still getting the fundamentals right. The combat is deep enough to challenge longtime strategy fans, yet flexible enough to remain approachable, while the characters are well written and backed by compelling stories of their own. RPGamers looking for their next tactical RPG should have Star Wars Zero Company at the top of their list.