RPGamer's Reviews
With the lack of direction, the difficulty spikes, and the time it takes to upgrade skills and equipment, Rival Showdown is an exercise in frustration more than anything else.
The game isn’t without fault — greater variety in characters and levels along with more meaningful customization would be welcome — but most of the issues are minor in comparison to how much fun the game is to play.
The game marks a strong second title, and new players shouldn’t be afraid of jumping straight in here — though checking out the previous title certainly wouldn’t hurt. Signs are good that the developer will be able to make a fitting conclusion to the trilogy.
Another title filled to the brim with content, spectacular designs, and a fascinating story, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is almost impossible to put down and a perfect showcase for Nintendo’s latest hardware.
Though it’s not a bad game, uninspired gameplay and a lacklustre story and setting hold back Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon from ever being close to great.
The cleverly titled South Park: The Fractured But Whole builds on the legacy of the first game, improving on many elements but also taking a few steps backwards.
The interesting usage of all the aspects from the tactical RPG series certainly added to some freshness to the standard Musou formula, and it was great to see a lot of the characters given the high-definition treatment and the interactions between them are sure to please a lot of fans.
Though it can be argued that the game doesn’t provide anything overly new in its implementation of the game, even those who aren’t fans of the sport will find lots of fun throughout.
While Absolver seems to get the combat aspect of things down well enough, it fails to back it up with any meaningful direction and content for players, resulting in an entirely forgettable experience.
Mask of Truth takes what Mask of Deception‘s second half had finally started to do and gives the characters and story the telling they deserve.
Though some of the experience leaves a bit to be desired, the ideas combined with an enjoyable pace of play leads to a fun overall experience.
While not the most original game out there, Tokyo Xanadu nonetheless utilises its inspirations very effectively to provide a thoroughly engaging and entertaining experience.
When things finally get going in the second half, it suddenly becomes a much more engaging experience, but the change will come too late for many.
Sadly, The Caligula Effect really just amounts to a waste of time.
The game still provides many hours of enjoyment and lots of the good things that fans have come to expect, but those hoping the series uses this opportunity to take another giant leap may find themselves brought back to Earth with a bump.
Ys Origin is a great gateway into the Ys series, as well as another high-quality entry for those who are already sold on the series.
While hardcore fans will not find too much depth and challenge here, Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers is an entertaining title that successfully translates the key aspects of the Dynasty Warriors series into enjoyable strategy gameplay.
Hollow Realization shows no progress for a series that appears to be relying solely on its base franchise for sales.
God Eater 2: Rage Burst cements the series as the best alternative to Monster Hunter, and potentially surpasses it for those looking for a narrative within the gameplay experience both series offer.
While the gameplay fails to impress, the story at least manages to keep things interesting.