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Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs: The Thrilling Steamy Maze Kiwami delivers a competent yet familiar dungeon-crawling experience, blending light-hearted anime storytelling with engaging roguelike gameplay. While the narrative is enjoyable and predictably steeped in anime tropes, the game's real strength lies in its challenging gameplay and strategic depth, particularly in its item management system and the unique Resonance Hot Spring feature. However, the game's themes and visuals lack innovation, and the PC port disappoints with its limited options and subpar controller support. Despite its solid mechanics and charming narrative, the game struggles to distinguish itself in a genre filled with more compelling titles.
Criminal Border 1st Offence offers a unique blend of engaging narrative and complex character development, set against the backdrop of a digital drug saga. The visual novel excels in subverting gender stereotypes and presenting a rich, glitch-inspired aesthetic with a fitting digital soundtrack. However, the game's heavy editing for certain platforms and its niche appeal for adult audiences may limit its accessibility. Despite these drawbacks, its deep exploration of human desires, moral dilemmas, and the unforeseen consequences of technology make it a thought-provoking title. Overall, it sets a strong foundation for its sequels, promising a continued exploration of dark and introspective themes.
I can’t recommend investing time or money into Crystal Story: Dawn of Dusk right now. In so many ways, it just feels incomplete. It feels more or less like a demo that you have to pay twelve dollars for. My sincerest wish is that the developer can polish this game into something greater because, for what it’s worth, I can see the love and the effort. I just think it needed a little more time to be a true indie gem.
Fans of the previous Reigns games will enjoy this new title, which improves on certain aspects of its previous entries and adds new mechanics to keep the series fresh. With new deeds and goals to reach, Reigns Three Kingdom will cause players to spend countless hours completing every task at hand as they live through the final years of the Han Dynasty... If they manage to live that long.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an unapologetically stylish and sleek Metroidvania action adventure that boasts magnificent movement and brilliant boss design. Aside from setting itself apart from other entries in the Prince of Persia series, it also stands toe-to-toe with some of the genre's giants. While the narrative isn't comparatively engrossing, this one-of-a-kind journey will undeniably satisfy both beginners and veterans of the franchise. The never-mundane gameplay loop full of ceaseless reward and discovery is one that shows clear, meticulous thought poured into it. At its core, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown redefines what Prince of Persia can bring to the table and proves that it can still shine in the modern age if given enough polish and opportunity.
Snowman Story is a delightful blend of touching narrative and engaging puzzles, set in a nostalgically pixelated winter world. Following Chris, a snowman on a quest to avoid melting, the game offers an emotional journey through beautifully crafted landscapes, with a soothing soundtrack that enhances the experience. This heartwarming, introspective adventure is perfect for a peaceful afternoon, resonating with its simplicity and emotional depth.
Trinity Fusion offers a fresh perspective in the roguelike genre, impressively blending elements from successful predecessors with its own unique twist. While the genre often faces skepticism, this game from Angry Mob Games manages to captivate with an addictive gameplay loop set in a narrative-driven multiverse. Players navigate different biomes with three versions of the protagonist, Maya, each possessing unique abilities and encouraging diverse playstyles. The game shines with its engaging combat system that combines rhythmic actions and strategic weapon choices, though it faces challenges in visual presentation and character animation. Despite some repetitive environments and occasional bugs, the game's rewarding upgrade system and varied enemy encounters keep the experience fresh.
Koumajou Remilia II: Stranger's Requiem offers a challenging yet rewarding experience for fans of bullet-hell action platformers. This remastered title on modern hardware maintains its tough gameplay, which may not appeal to everyone but certainly satisfies those looking for a demanding test of skill. The game's intricate stage design, coupled with the need for strategic combat and mastery of Sakuya's diverse abilities, including flying, provides a deep and engaging playthrough. Despite some frustration with enemy designs and a control scheme that takes time to get accustomed to, the game's quick checkpoint resets keep the action fast-paced and addictive. The pixel art and character illustrations add charm to the gothic setting, complemented by an immersive soundtrack. While the translation shows improvement, there's still room for refinement.
Even in such a crowded space, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a quality fighting game and comes in a generous package with no shortage of single-player and multiplayer content. It looks the part and performs remarkably well where it matters most. Whether it carves out a consistent online community remains to be seen, but even on its own, this is the next best thing to a new BlazBlue release.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a worthy resurgence for this beloved spinoff series. While the messy narrative pacing and poor framerate bring the adventure down a few notches, the addictive and rewarding gameplay loop with player freedom at its core more than offsets those flaws. You can spend countless hours making your ideal team to your heart's content and engaging with the post-game content after clearing the main story. Further, Dragon Quest IV fans will get more out of this journey than most, but newcomers who exhibit patience can still find themselves invested and enthralled. Ultimately, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince proves that this series can prosper, and with the promise that they'll continue, we're excited to see where it goes from here.
For some, the repetition of In Stars And Time might not resonate in the same way as it did for me, and I completely understand that. I feel as if the latter half of the game will lose some people, but regardless, I say it is worth having some patience for this one. From the charming characters, the excellent execution of the time-looping story, and the lovingly crafted visuals, In Stars And Time is a unique experience I never want to forget, and I do believe it to be an indie masterpiece.
WarioWare Move It! is a fantastic addition to the WarioWare series, adding a fun twist to the classic microgame formula. It’s all about using your Joy-Con controllers to mimic various poses for different mini-games, which is a blast but can sometimes get a bit confusing. The game’s story mode is short but packed with humor and voice acting, and the multiplayer mode is a real highlight for social gaming. Just a couple of downsides, like missing the mission system from previous games and some voice acting that doesn’t quite match up, but overall, WarioWare Move It! keeps the franchise’s quirky spirit alive and is a must-try for anyone who loves fast and crazy microgames.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a standout superhero adventure with terrific character writing that, at least in my experience, is heavily bogged down by unsatisfactory performance. Bugs and crashes drastically ruined segments of progression, even in story-heavy scenarios. If I only faced the occasional softlock or crash, I wouldn’t really care, but these issues being such a constant made them impossible to overlook, doubly so with the launch patch installed.
Slay the Princess is a game all about perspectives, secrets, about scrutinizing the information you’re given. It’ll worm its way inside your mind, and sometimes you’ll even start second-guessing your own decisions. But that’s the whole fun of it; it asks you to examine your own preconceived notions and your own ideals, and that makes it enjoyable to the very end. For fans of visual novels, unique narrative adventures, and even those outside those circles, this is an essential indie visual novel that is well worth your time.
Ghostrunner 2 embodies the epitome of a well-executed sequel. It doesn’t overshadow its precursor; instead, it leverages the original as a foundation for expansion and enhancement. The world-building and character development represent a significant leap in quality, and the unwavering pace of action propels it into a class of its own. The introduction of new abilities, expanded non-linear level design, and refined movement mechanics render this game a must-play for those looking to hone their 3D platforming skills.
No one asked for Gargoyles Remastered, and I can see why. While the 16-bit gothic graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay does not hold up regardless of what style you’re playing in. The combat is dull, the platforming sections are frustratingly difficult due to bad controls, the bosses are laughable, and the experience is over before you know it. Although the added modes and rewind feature are cool, I’d say this is a Remastered release for the die-hards only and not a reason to play a game that you think you missed out on.
Despite its few peculiarities and performance issues, Cities: Skylines II successfully upholds the legacy of its predecessor and raises the bar for the city-building genre. Whether you’re a seasoned city planner or a newcomer ready to embark on an urban adventure, Skylines II offers endless possibilities and countless hours of creative enjoyment.
Hellboy Web of Wyrd takes a notable step forward into the roguelike genre but fails to find its footing. While it successfully implements its gameplay loop and progression mechanics, it offers only a baseline level of satisfaction as a package. The distinctive comic-style presentation and impressive voice work contribute to the game’s appeal but fall short of igniting a strong desire for replayability. Fans of the Hellboy franchise may find deeper enjoyment due to their attachment to the source material.
Sonic Superstars is an adequate 2D Sonic adventure boasting great character control and stage theming alongside significantly improved boss battles. However, the peculiar implementation of the Chaos Emeralds and the only decent level design prevent this outing from really establishing itself as a must-play for veterans of the franchise or genre. At the very least, there’s a reasonable offering of supplemental content packed in replays and bonus modes to satisfy the fans awaiting an original 2D Sonic game.
Wizard with a Gun is an engaging action adventure that seamlessly blends roguelike and crafting elements. It initially feels slow in the opening hours, but players who stick with it will find themselves deeply immersed, enhancing their base and character. This game offers an enjoyable experience even if you’re not a survival genre enthusiast. Plus, its multiplayer functionality adds significant replay value, making it a well-rounded gaming choice. Don’t be deterred by a sluggish start; Wizard with a Gun has much to offer.