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Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake brings the first of the Erdrick trilogy to a modern audience, and it manages to do so with beautiful graphics and various nice quality-of-life improvements that make the ageless RPG yet again a must-play for newbies or even veterans to the Dragon Quest franchise.
Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire is a game with a lot of heart and ambition. It mildly revisits elements from JRPG classics like Skies of Arcadia while trying to bring new ideas into the fold. While the nostalgic appeal to the atmosphere, style, and gameplay has its merits, the game depends too much on it, making it a bit lackluster on many fronts.
Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream is a fun time that ultimately falls a bit short of its lofty goals. While the story mode is a good time, there are issues here and there that prevent this from being a great experience. Moreover, the game's multiplayer offerings are fun to experience with friends, but the dwindling player count leaves major concerns for the longevity of this title.
The remake of Silent Hill 2 is a genuine masterpiece. While there are some technical issues here and there, Bloober Team did an exceptional job with the resurrected title's story, voice acting, gameplay, and visuals. Additionally, the attention to detail on display throughout the entire experience makes it a must-play for both returning fans as well as those who are playing Silent Hill 2 for the first time.
Monospaced Lovers is a game with potential, but has some pain points, such as solutions to puzzles being rather obtuse, and some confusing game design decisions that may or may not worsen the experience, depending on the targeted audience.
Sonic X Shadow Generations delivers all the thrills you could hope for with almost none of the drawbacks. This is one of the most easily accessible and enjoyable 3D entries in the series, making it a must-play for anyone who's interested. I hope this is the standard for the series going forward.
Super Mario Party Jamboree is the ultimate return to form for the Mario Party franchise. While there's some stuttering while playing online and the process of unlocking boards may seem a bit tedious, the game is incredibly fun to play, especially with friends and family. The boards are the best they've been since Mario Party 8, the minigames are incredibly fun and addicting, and the variety of different modes will keep you hooked if you're looking for a new experience.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a fun look back at the seventh console generation. It sometimes feels dated, has a narrative I skipped over, and can be clunky. But I can't deny how much fun I had with it. It has a world full of creativity I wanted to see more of. Gameplay elements that elevate the core loop are a lot of fun. And some creative set pieces and bosses I greatly adored. At its best, it feels like playing a horror movie, and I'm already on my next playthrough.
Alan Wake 2: The Lake House highlights the best parts of the base game. While there are some frustrating choices with certain enemies and weapons, the gameplay loop, narrative, and visual design are all brilliant. Further, the fantastic thesis statement at the heart of the DLC, as well as the numerous allusions to what the developers have planned next, will keep many fans hooked from beginning to end.
Yakuza Kiwami comes to Nintendo Switch with good, solid port that faithfully brings the lights and sounds of Kamurocho onto a handheld. Despite some flaws in performance, Yakuza Kiwami on Switch retains its smooth and fun combat system, rich and compelling story, and all the content of existing console and PC versions.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a classic through and through. Not many games have such unique systems and concepts and choose to stick by them after all of these years. This is a remake done with the utmost respect to the original, featuring modern accommodations that increase the ease of play while not diminishing the experience. Battles are strategic and fast-paced, with many variables to consider, from formations to character customization. The freedom of SaGa is on full blast with the classic decision-making from the original, which determines the outcomes of quests, what allies you'll gain, and how the Imperial Dynasty will continue. This remake ties it all together with a variety of helpful menus that communicate integral details such as tech point requirements and quest tracking.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is a great modernization of the classic title, with a solid platformer for both new and returning players. History fans are in for a treat with rich historical lore to discover. Additionally, the soundtrack was a real highlight.
Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO delivers a massive 182-character roster that spans all eras of Dragon Ball but lacks representation from the original Dragon Ball series and certain fan-favorite characters. While the What-If story paths add intrigue, the overall story mode feels lackluster, skipping content from Dragon Ball GT and the movies, However, the game shines with its custom battles, in-depth combat system, and returning fan-favorite features like Chi-Chi's encyclopedia. This game, as a whole, makes for a fun, nostalgic experience for new and old Dragon Ball fans.
Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a delight that I can recommend to fans of the series. With no calendar system, play at your own pace with no need to rush. Help out the villagers, collect everything, and even compete in races. It's a story you can tackle whenever it feels pulled out of the anime. Beautiful visuals that make the price of admission worth it alone. Sadly, a critical save bug keeps me from recommending the PC version. While I wanted the game to do more, I can't deny that I enjoyed my time and hope it continues to improve.
Fear The Spotlight is a great first showing for Blumhouse Games and Cozy Game Pals. While the horror elements never quite create a feeling of long-term suspense and dread, the great narrative, endearing characters, and challenging puzzles more than justify the 20 dollar price point and the six-hour runtime.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed is a broken mess. The story lacks the depth of most other entries in the franchise and the gameplay constantly stutters leading to a nauseating experience. Further, the loading screens are egregiously long and because of the lag, the game became completely unplayable. All this combined with a rough visual style makes Mutants Unleashed is an experience that is impossible to recommend.
Ys X: Nordics is a crowning achievement for Falcom as one of its most vibrant and compelling action RPGs yet. The setting of the Obelia Gulf invokes a sense of adventure and mystery, while its characters, locations, and lore keeps players engaged. As the young hero Adol and the pirate princess Karja, players experience a combat system that sets the new standard for the franchise as well.
The Foxy's Way Home is a game that definitely does what it says on the box, but only that. It's more of a bite-sized game that you can punch through in less than an hour, and offers surprisingly little for its high sticker price of $15,99. If you're into the market for a simple game that doesn't take much time to clear, perhaps it's better to just...look for something else.
Rogue Waters is a very well-designed TRPG that has many customization options and does a great job of getting beginners involved by perfectly explaining everything so they can get to the fun factor much more quickly. Combine that with an interesting pirate tale, a great atmosphere, and great visuals, and you’ve got a fresh game worthy of the TRPG genre.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a clear labor of love, retouching and retooling the 2006 classic for modern audiences. The gameplay is a blast, with all kinds of different weapons to experiment with as you work your way through the hordes to save survivors and escape. RE Engine brings new life to the title with stunning visuals and fantastic animations.