Final Weapon
HomepageFinal Weapon's Reviews
Visions of Mana is a wonderful continuation of the series that completely understands the strengths and appeal of the series while knowing what to modernize and what to keep classic. The themes, structure, mechanics, and art all feel explicitly Mana to the point you could swear new main entries never stopped coming out for over a decade. While there are some technical issues, it's nothing that affected my enjoyment of the game. With the closure of Ouka Studio, the basis for what could have been an even greater sequel or the hope of patches to smooth the few remaining rough edges is nothing more but leaves scattered on the wind...
FAIRY TAIL: Beach Volleyball Havoc has a lovely pixel art summer vibe with a large roster of characters from the anime series to choose from. However, no native online play holds it back, and there are no single-player offerings besides the magic volleyball matches with AI players. On the upside, its sole mode is not only fun but keeps you coming back, thanks to the character's unique attributes and their magic spells. In short, this game may not be as grand as 2020's FAIRY TAIL or the upcoming FAIRY TAIL 2, but its arcade pick-up-and-play nature makes it a perfect companion to big games like those.
Hollowbody is a brilliant tribute to horror games released over the past thirty years. Despite some small glitches, a short runtime, and a gameplay/story that doesn't quite reach its full potential, the game manages to create a modernized spin on the survival horror genre with smooth gameplay, a horrifying atmosphere, and a premise that is likely to draw any longtime horror fans into its rich and terrifying world.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a phenomenal piece of work from Yoshio Sakamoto and Nintendo that sits as one of the best games of 2024. From the haunting story to the wonderful characters, this is a game I'll be thinking about for the rest of the year and beyond. I truly hope that Nintendo continues the Famicom Detective Club series, as it sits as a very special IP within the company's history.
Crossy Road Castle is a fun experience with plenty of substance. With all kinds of levels to discover, you never know what awaits beyond each door. The boss fights are fun and engaging, and I found myself easily engaged in collecting each character and hat. Overall, Crossy Road Castle is a great time, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a new platformer.
Concord is the definition of a "fine" shooter. The gunplay is fun, but there is nothing here to set Concord apart from any other game on the market. Between its lackluster modes, characters, and price, it's no surprise that Concord was unable to differentiate itself enough to find a player base.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II is a fantastic PvE shooter with a great story, brilliant level design, and multiplayer options that will keep you engrossed long after you beat the main campaign. The customization options are intricate and incredibly detailed and the game serves as a great jumping off point, regardless of how much you know about the broader Warhammer 40k universe.
Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku is an excellent rhythm and exercise game that keeps players coming back for more. Despite a lack of variety in its modes, the game still offers compelling content and rewards that will motivate you to keep moving every day. It's a very polished title on Nintendo Switch with very responsive Joy-Con controls and vivid visuals as well.
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection bundles together two wonderful experiences following Miles Edgeworth. While the first game was available in the West, this is the first time that Prosecutor's Gambit has been localized. The new additions are welcomed, offering a pleasant visual upgrade and a solid gallery mode to experience the music, visuals, and more. Overall, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is an easy recommendation for any fan of detective games or visual novels.
Bakeru is a love letter to Japan and its culture, ultimately culminating in one of the best platforming experiences I've had in years. With engaging combat, vibrant visuals, and delightful levels, this is one any fan of the genre should not pass up.
Gundam Breaker 4 has a really frustrating gameplay loop, a wide variety of bugs, and a story that often feels cliched and predictable. While the characters are interesting and the customization options are brilliant, the entire experience feels far too monotonous and clunky to be worth paying $59.99 for.
Princess Maker 2 Regeneration is a solid remastering of the second game in Gainax’s child-rearing simulation series. It’s still the same charming experience that was released in 1993. All of the depth is retained, and the remastered art is handled by the original director and artist, ensuring that PM2’s legacy is preserved 30 years later. Decision-making is the name of the game. The stats your daughter works so hard to gain mean nothing if she doesn’t have the proper guidance. Your scheduling and management are what will determine the future that awaits her. With over 70 endings, there are plenty of outcomes you can strive for.
Natsu-Mon! 20th Century Summer Kid is an open-world life simulator I had a lot of fun with. Live summer to the fullest as you explore Yomogi Town. Go climbing, fishing, bug catching, and even treasure hunting to collect everything. Talk to the town and make friends, even solve mysteries and play with spirits. A world of limitless possibilities await you in this nostalgic adventure.
Madden 25 improves in nearly every category over its predecessor. Superstar mode and Ultimate Team mode are excellent, giving players ways to interact with the game of football. But it still falls due to the common issue of feeling the same year after year due to the lack of significant new content and mode additions and some frustrating gameplay changes. It is a good football game, even if we have seen a majority of it already in the past.
Fate/stay night Remastered is by far the definitive way to experience Type-Moon's masterpiece visual novel, with updated HD visuals and official English support for the first time in two decades. The newly added quality-of-life features are outstanding, allowing new players to jump into the world of Fate like never before. This life-changing novel is one any fan of the genre or medium should aim to experience.
Elrentaros Wanderings, also known as Rear Sekai in Japan, borrows many elements from the Rune Factory series. The game excels in its combat mechanics, but the aspects that people most wanted to see - the farming and the social aspects - were left with a sour taste of incompleteness. Despite that, the game has a lot of charm and redeeming qualities that RPG fans can appreciate.
This re-release of SNK vs Capcom SVC Chaos adds great flare to the game with well-functioning rollback netcode, plethora of customizable features in the options menu, and a hitbox viewer. However, the base game remains unchanged, keeping its charming presentation, unique roster, and awesome gameplay mechanics, but not fixing its bugs or unbalanced characters. If you like your broken fighting games though, by all means, have at it.
SteamWorld Heist II is a turn-based strategy action game brimming with character. A game most players can find enjoyment in, either through the combat or narrative. Fine tune the gameplay to fit your playstyle, as experimentation is encouraged. Join the crew of Captain Leeway as you root for him to overcome his one insecurities. This is a simple but fun game, and it's a fine addition to the SteamWorld universe.
Thank Goodness You're Here! is weird, wacky, and fascinating. This is an incredibly fun title with dozens of secrets to discover and errands to complete. With vivid hand-drawn animation and a never-ending array of humor, you should absolutely jump into the town of Barnsworth.
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is a surprisingly fun collection, but it falls short of a satisfying single-player offering. This is a great tool for beginner speedrunners or those simply looking to dive back into some classic NES titles. I'm most curious to see how the game might evolve, whether through updates or with a new entry.