Noisy Pixel
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No, I'm Not a Human is a haunting psychological horror experience that masterfully blends paranoia, morality, and surreal storytelling. Through tense decision-making, unreliable information, and eerie visual shifts, Trioskaz delivers a uniquely disturbing game that challenges your instincts and sanity, even if some mechanics frustrate.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a lovingly crafted remake that modernizes a beloved JRPG while preserving its emotional core, offering a vibrant, voice-acted journey through Liberl with standout character dynamics, rebalanced combat, and welcome quality-of-life updates that make it the ideal starting point for newcomers and a heartfelt return for longtime fans.
Hollow Knight: Silksong delivers a meticulously crafted metroidvania experience that refines its predecessor’s formula with faster combat, expressive storytelling, and brutally rewarding exploration, though some side content drags down the pacing.
Hirogami blends beautiful origami aesthetics with creative transformation mechanics, but its underwhelming level design and lack of polish keep it from reaching its full potential.
If you have been actively following the development of this title since its announcement, then I can undoubtedly understand the sheer disappointment you may feel. Yet, those not burdened with that level of expectation can vibe with Lost Soul Aside's messily ambitious combat-first heart.
It should always be lauded when a classic series is brought back in peak form, and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an ideal representation of that notion. Between masterfully woven 2D platforming and action combat that leverages the extraordinary movement in place, alongside commendable optional challenges, there's no shortage of meticulous quality for platforming enthusiasts to appreciate. If Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is indicative of the caliber we can anticipate from Sega's incoming classic revivals, then I believe it's fair to say that we're in more than good hands.
Fate/hollow ataraxia REMASTERED delivers a rich, emotionally resonant follow-up to Fate/stay night, blending surreal mystery, sharp writing, and expanded character moments into a deeply nostalgic visual novel experience. Though some dated mechanics and missing content hold it back from being truly definitive, its remaster is a heartfelt tribute to one of Type-Moon's most underrated gems.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater delivers a visually stunning and faithful remake of the stealth-action classic, blending modern enhancements with the iconic core experience. While the upgraded controls, camera, and animations improve accessibility and immersion, some of these modern features also reduce the original game's difficulty and tension, slightly shifting the balance that made it so memorable.
Earthion is a love letter to shmup fans and SEGA enthusiasts, blending Gradius-inspired mechanics with Thunder Force-style flair, stunning 16-bit visuals, and a nostalgic Yuzo Koshiro soundtrack. While some visual clutter hampers precision play, its clever boss battles, relentless level design, and authentic retro feel make it a standout in modern and vintage shooter circles.
OFF’s re-release reaffirms its status as a cult indie RPG, blending surreal storytelling, eerie visuals, and a memorable soundtrack into a uniquely compelling experience, despite combat that still feels underwhelming.
Artis Impact delivers a warm, character-driven RPG experience with charming worldbuilding and delightful side moments, but its unbalanced combat and uneven late-game pacing keep it from reaching its full potential.
Ashes of Elrant is a rich and rewarding expansion to Chained Echoes, offering fans a time-traveling narrative that deepens the lore and delivers challenging, strategically satisfying combat, even if its pacing and character focus occasionally stumble.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a triumphant return to form for the series, delivering tight 2D action-platforming, masterful level design, and thrilling boss battles, all underscored by stylish pixel art and an energetic soundtrack. Though brief in runtime, its challenge, polish, and replayability make it an experience that every action platforming fan should play.
s.p.l.i.t is a tense, minimalist hacking simulator from Buckshot Roulette creator Mike Klubnika that challenges players to navigate a terminal-driven psychological thriller. With no hand-holding and a deep sense of isolation, the game rewards persistence and experimentation, though its cryptic design may alienate those unfamiliar with command-line systems.
At a glance, Shadow Labyrinth may just seem like a startingly different take on Pac-Man for shock value, but it still follows the core tenets of the original game: mazes, creature consumption, player choice in navigation, and a power-up in the form of GAIA that effectively swaps the roles of prey and predator. Despite the gameplay systems needing some refinements, Shadow Labyrinth is a genuinely stellar action metroidvania that stands near the genre's best.
Ruffy and the Riverside is a whimsical platformer that blends clever puzzle mechanics with charming storytelling. While its unique element-swapping feature brings refreshing gameplay twists, occasional pacing issues and vague objectives slightly hinder the experience. A visually delightful and inventive indie gem.
Lies of P: Overture is a challenging and atmospheric DLC that builds on the original game's strengths with expanded levels, memorable boss fights, and a darker, more focused narrative. While occasional difficulty spikes and polish issues persist, it’s a must-play for Soulslike veterans seeking an intense, rewarding experience.
Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut retails for $50 USD, and I can’t say that doesn’t feel like a high asking price – like I said in my review of Ishin! a few years ago, that’s more than what it cost to pick up the entire trilogy of remastered PlayStation 3-only entries. I think it’s ultimately worthwhile because you’re getting a genuinely incredible game that now has an English dub and looks better than ever before, and it’s an absolute no-brainer for any Nintendo fan who has never experienced Yakuza before. As we look forward to Stranger than Heaven, it’s more worth it than ever to look back at this absolute action classic.
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 delivers an emotionally charged conclusion to CyberConnect2’s tactical RPG trilogy, blending heartfelt storytelling with refined combat mechanics. With its branching timelines, impactful choices, and upgraded strategy systems, it stands as a strong finale, though a few pacing and difficulty issues linger.
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo delivers a clever, challenging Metroidvania adventure with inventive mechanics, retro visuals, and a surprisingly nuanced narrative, making it a standout indie gem from Pocket Trap.