Noisy Pixel
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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.
Elden Ring: Nightreign takes the franchise into cooperative territory with a bold, punishing multiplayer expedition mode. While its demanding design may alienate casual players, the game delivers deep combat, rich class variety, and satisfying progression for veteran Souls fans.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered revives the 2012 Vita-exclusive with upgraded visuals, broader platform availability, and a satisfying loop of suit customization and solo missions. While it won’t convert newcomers unfamiliar with the SEED universe, longtime fans will appreciate its deep Mobile Suit roster and tactical combat system.
FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time delivers a charming and content-rich RPG experience, blending life simulation and action elements with Level-5's signature whimsy. While its narrative lacks staying power and some systems feel unbalanced, the game thrives on variety, rewarding exploration and patience with near-endless gameplay loops.
Monster Train 2 evolves the roguelike deck-builder formula with inventive mechanics, deep strategy, and massive content, delivering one of the most refined and replayable entries in the genre.
Throes of the Watchmaker is a free DLC expansion for Sea of Stars that deepens its turn-based gameplay with stronger character arcs, vibrant new locales, and a heightened challenge, though some pacing issues and a lackluster supporting cast hold it back from true greatness.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is the most well-executed entry in this long-respected franchise yet. Exceptional stage layouts, terrific implementations of player choice, and rewarding enemy design alongside the new shield and parry mechanics make this riveting FPS familiarly refreshing. Despite a few bumps in the road where spectacle overtakes ingenuity, DOOM: The Dark Ages is an undeniably must-play outing that can effortlessly appeal to prospective new and veteran returning DOOM fans.
Maliki: Poison of the Past blends whimsical storytelling with vibrant turn-based battles and light farming mechanics. Though its ambitious systems sometimes feel underdeveloped, its heartfelt writing, creative puzzles, and stunning soundtrack create a memorable indie adventure.
Clair Obscur is a genuine standout RPG, driven by courage, sacrifice, and the powerful bonds formed in the midst of tragedy. It pushes you to confront loss and hope in equal measure, resonating long after the credits roll. This is a beautifully tragic expedition that demands your emotional investment, repaying it with a story and characters that will reward the time it takes to develop the skills of not taking any damage in combat. This may be a divisive game within the community due to its skill-based combat system and a few questionable choices with the direction of the story, but all I can tell you is that this is one tragedy you’re going to want to see through.