RPGamer's Reviews
While there’s plenty of room for improvement in the main narrative and in establishing its antagonists, the content of the side missions ensures the game remains interesting throughout. Its ability to transport players into its supernatural Tokyo is not to be understated, and uncovering the different Japanese spirits while helping those unable to move on gives the game a thoroughly engaging loop that is hard to put down.
When I started this game, I was not expecting to find the best Atelier game of its generation, but the development team at Gust has proven with Sophie 2 that they can learn from experience, leveling up in knowledge and skill just as the alchemists do to provide a more polished product.
Rune Factory has always been a chill experience with some light action RPG elements to it, and that’s exactly what the newest title delivers.
Horizon Forbidden West embraces everything about its predecessor and makes strides in producing an even more compelling world to explore, with intense combat and story moments, and shiny new robo-dinosaurs to punch in the face.
For those looking for a fast-paced action RPG that doesn’t overstay its welcome, this is definitely a title not to be missed.
Simply put, The Cruel King and The Great Hero is a charming tale and world that is worth visiting.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a game for fans of the series who want an epilogue or a new way of interacting with these characters. Their return is welcome, providing a short but entertaining experience.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is nothing like its predecessor in general playstyle, but it shares the same sense of whimsy and wonder, the same motifs of sadness and redemption, and is a well-built game overall.
It’s a relatively short ride and well worth taking, as long as one’s expectations are dialed in correctly from the outset.
Its pacing and presentation makes for a relaxing and generally chilled experience that still comes with plenty of emotion in its bittersweet narrative. There’s definitely reason for Square Enix and Alim to return to the Voice of Cards world, and it may once again be sooner than expected.
Dying Light 2 is a delightfully fast paced game, which has a few persistent issues bogging it down.
Monark is an unrefined gem, but it is definitely a game worth checking out. Despite some issues, it’s a good first attempt with plenty of room for polish in any subsequent follow-up.
It’s certainly not a bad title, and thankfully the issues that are there are such that they don’t create an active barrier to progress, but the entertaining parts are steadily diluted enough that the experience as a whole misses out on being something to be fully celebrated.
For those who enjoy adventure games with meaningful choices, sharp writing, and an over-the-top narrative, Not Tonight 2 is a surprisingly complex dystopia to spend a little time in.
With a quick jump into the action, an engaging gameplay loop, and oodles of freedom to progress forward any way the player wishes, Arceus creates an experience found nowhere else in the Pokémon series. For those willing to tolerate the mediocre presentation, an entertaining experience is here for the taking.
All these average systems lack any standout hook for the game to hang its hat on and set itself apart from the indie pixel-game scene.
Edge of Eternity will scratch the itch of those looking for a classic JRPG with a modern touch, but past that, it doesn’t provide enough to create a truly great experience.
With a simple, yet fun, combat system, party mechanics that encourage experimentation, and a highly memorable story, this is a throwback title few RPGamers will want to miss.
Mercenaries Rebirth: Call of the Wild Lynx achieves what it sets out to do, even if those ambitions are very grounded.
Melding real-time and turn-based mechanics cannot be easy, but Nova-111 does it deftly, with its gameplay being the top priority. Unfortunately, this interactive puzzle game has no story or substance to make it feel like more than a collection of mini-games.