Noisy Pixel
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It took me a while to pick up the game’s battle system due to my being a foreigner to this franchise, but once I figured out how to play the game, I got very, very tired, very very quickly. & seems to be a game made for fans who can get behind this battle system, but with no real characters or a reason to really play, I had no incentive to care once I’d cleared out the story battles.
Luna: The Shadow Dust is a nice nod to classic point-and-click puzzle games. Everything melds together beautifully, and it provided me with a solid puzzle experience. Despite my aversion to this genre, I found the experience pleasant overall.
Banner of the Maid is a decent tactical RPG that is as easy to follow as it is approachable. Hardcore fans of the genre might miss some of the more in-depth systems offered by other titles, but I believe there is enough here to satisfy any player, no matter their skill level.
If you have the base game, Arcade Edition, or are missing any of the DLC, the Street Fighter V Champion Edition upgrade kit is one that shouldn’t be passed up. If you are new to Street Fighter V, you will be insanely surprised by the amount of content that is here, especially for the price.
Crimson Shadows is the extra add on to Fire Emblem: Three Houses I didn’t know I needed. It’s a perfect blend of additional tasty gameplay (with some challenges for those who want it), a fun story, and great characters. To top it all off, it gives you some tools to replay the original game in a new way.
Code Shifter is a game that had me extremely excited when I saw it but managed to not only dash my expectations but bury them six feet underground. Inconsistent hitbox placement, a lack of movement options, and a lackluster story made for a game with a whole lot of missed potential.
Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late|cl-r| is a fantastic fighting game that’s easy to pick up and understand with its simplistic yet deep tutorials that will set you up for slicing and dicing your foes in no time. It’s a title that has so much to offer in terms of style and presentation that its tough to not be having a great time while playing.
Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story is a must-play for roguelike fans. The game loop of earning money by day and fighting monsters by night creates a fantastic gameplay experience. Still, there are some features that could use some clarity and confusing menus do more harm than good to its accessibility.
Daemon X Machina doesn’t end up getting too creative with its mission structure, but it makes up for it with some incredible set pieces and systems. There’s so much here for fans of mech action games to customize and explore that kept me entertained for hours
Fans familiar with CD Projekt Red’s talents in storytelling won’t be surprised to read that the adventure and decision making in this game is impressive or even that this version of Gwent plays well. What is surprising is that is title blends three genres into a single cohesive piece, engineered to be the perfect combo without lacking too much in any particular way.
Infliction has some decent moments of storytelling, and the themes that it highlights are impactful. But my interest in those aspects dwindled every time I encountered a glitch or audio cutout. Infliction tends to fall apart shortly after it begins since it’s impossible to look past this poor quality.
There is a lot of excellent game design packed into the Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection. With the added Z Chaser, save assist, and casual mode, the series is now more accessible than ever with added modes for returning fans. Any of the shortcomings of one title is made up for in the other, which makes it easy to say that that this collection is 2D action at its finest.
Hero Must Die. Again is a unique non-linear JRPG that takes chances on players being capable of learning and navigating through its systems, without much handholding. Each playthrough enables the player to become more capable of handling whatever the game throws at them, even if that comes at the cost of dying multiple times.
Corruption 2029 is a tactical RPG that requires players to take their time during encounters. Meticulous planning and strategy are vital to overcoming enemies, but it’s this speed of gameplay that might deter fans of more in-your-face approaches to combat.
Persona 5 Royal is everything I could want out of a re-release. The game’s style and charm shine brightest in this version as it made an already great game even better. The balances and new additions were based on long-time fan criticisms, and it’s evident that the developers used it as a foundation to update this adventure while still throwing in some quality-of-life changes that I didn’t know the game needed, but ended up loving anyway.
Resident Evil 3 is a heart-pounding nightmare that blends survival horror and action elements perfectly with the help of its two protagonists. There’s so much to explore and discover during every moment of this thriller that it’s easy to forget about the horrors that await just around the corner. However, the limited puzzles and short length make it tough to justify the full price. But, like a zombie hungry for brains, I can’t seem to get enough of this game.
Final Fantasy VII Remake pulls no punches. The story feels complete as the entire story builds up to a fantastical ending sequence that has me running out of compliments. This game is something of a marvel to experience, which has me eagerly awaiting the next installment. It’s easy to see how much respect the developers have for this story and these characters during every minute of this adventure, which made it difficult to put down, even for a minute.
Trials of Mana is unapologetically traditional and, yet, still makes itself accessible to all JRPG fans, both new and old. The dedication that the developers show as they retain the fantasy appeal of this classic title with updated systems is what ultimately shines during every moment of this adventure.
Moving Out is a great game to pull out on family night or when hanging out with friends, though don’t blame me if this ends in an argument about how to get a couch through a door properly. Still, its cartoonish charm will easily entertain a group for a few hours. Even though the single-player offerings aren’t as enjoyable as the multiplayer mode, there’s plenty to enjoy through the optional objectives and zany environments.
Sakura Wars is an excellent reboot of the series and does right by the fans by subtly tieing in mentions of its predecessors without overburdening new players. The game is fueled by its strong narrative and passionate cast of characters who fight against-all-odds for what they believe in. Sure, some of the arcs don’t totally stick, and the romance can get a little messy, but it accomplishes the goal of giving fans a modernized Sakura Wars experience, without sacrificing what makes it unique.