RPGamer's Reviews
The weaknesses in the combat prevent some cool ideas from ever fully taking off. The rushed ending, whether the result of running out of time during development or an awkward playthrough, means the plot trips at the finishing line. But the uniqueness of the setting goes a long way toward making the game an interesting sell and the characters are fun to spend time with.
For those looking to get into otome games, this is a great one to start with, as it offers memorable characters, with a story that will have you cozying up to every member of the circus, wanting to heal their struggles.
All in all, Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island provides a thoroughly enjoyable and constantly engaging adventure. It updates the presentation and online features of the series, while stubbornly sticking to the tried and true mechanics that have worked since the SNES era.
This is the textbook example of exploration and every point of interest begs to be found as it creates a cohesive and captivating experience that is a constant feast for the adventurous soul.
This is the game that delivers on the promise of the Final Fantasy VII remake project. It’s a fascinatingly familiar yet unknown journey that is breathtaking and unforgettable.
All told, one can do far worse than Oceanhorn for a shot of Zelda nostalgia. The basics are all present and accounted for, and the game offers good presentation values for a ten-hour-or-so stroll down memory lane. It may not quite nail the sense of charm we’ve seen in similar world design or exploration, but it certainly never goes so far in the other direction as to outright disappoint.
Banishers is not quite the unqualified win I wanted it to be, but it’s easy to appreciate on its merits. While the combat overstays its welcome and the exploration leaves a lot to be desired, there’s enough here to like for those who like strong narratives with great characters.
The presentation is high quality with gorgeous cutscenes, epic battles, easy to pick up combat, and vivid storytelling. There’s nothing that ever knocks the wind out of its sails and always looks ahead to the vast blue skies, wondering what other stories there are to find.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader successfully encapsulates the vibrant and rich universe, while falling short in other areas. Bugs, glitches, and loading times pad a lengthy, yet enjoyable, adventure to ridiculous levels. Patch work may be incoming, but it’s currently a fight against aggravating qualities rather than an experience that immerses players.
Although it might be hard for Atlas Wept to stand out among the flood of games currently available, it offers strong bang for its buck. The dozen-hour playtime is perfectly judged and fits in nicely with the depth of gameplay and breadth of its story. It’s a worthwhile experience, offering a touching tale that examines humanity with a vital spark of hope at the end.
The story is over-the-top bananas in the best way possible, and the twists and turns are definitely gasp-worthy. The fresh faces do a great job cementing themselves as new favourites, and the addition of Hawaii makes for a great setting change. While there is some recycling of assets and the collision issues are still present, it doesn’t detract from the overall experience. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is addictive, campy, and a game to easily lose oneself in.
The game has interesting ideas and only manages to land about half of them. Though admirably attempting to blend more expansive action and some cool movement options, nothing ends up being tuned quite well enough to bring it all together.
Crymachina is continually plagued by its imbalance. It takes too much work to get to the good of Crymachina and only those desperately itching for a sci-fi action RPG will enjoy completing it. It’s a shame because the concept it uses to explore humanity is an interesting one, but too many issues dampen its emotional punch.
Sovereign Syndicate provides a detailed, colourful, and visually redolent tableau of the Dockyards of London’s East End, where tenements are under siege by industrial expansion, women and children go missing in the dark of night, soot covers all and the cobblestones run wet with alcohol, fresh or recycled. It makes for a lovely take on the gaslamp fantasy genre, with the plot to back up the appearance.
This game is highly recommended for those who already love the property, but given my lack of knowledge of the series, I can also say it’s great for newcomers who love otome games with a sense of humour. Catarina Claes may be the best otome protagonist I’ve encountered yet, and I hope she gets another adventure on consoles soon.
Despite a weaker presentation than contemporary titles and a last third that meanders without the urgency of what came before, the game is a pleasing experience and one that those with even just a passing interest in the life and crafting sim genre are likely to enjoy their time with.
Super Mario RPG Remake is extremely faithful to the original game, with the biggest changes in the form of reworked graphics and a rearranged soundtrack. Featuring fun mini-games and a lovely story full of adorable characters, the game will surely captivate more fans while allowing returning players to enjoy the story of the seven stars once more.
I mostly adored my time with the game, but I won’t sugarcoat my frustration in having to constantly replay the same battles and dialogue. For those who stick with it, In Stars and Time is an emotionally engaging tale that is worth the effort.
While some elements didn’t come off as well as planned — world building and narrative fall flat despite obvious attempts to bring them more into the spotlight, for example — the overall package will still go down a treat for Metroidvania fans, and offers plenty to even bring new followers into the fold.
Larian Studios has shot for the sky in the creation of Baldur’s Gate III, and regardless of anything else must be celebrated for the achievement of rolling such an ambitious title out of the door after keeping the faith to do it properly.