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The Invector series may have started as a tribute to a specific artist who had actually been part of its development, but I cannot deny that Invector: Rhythm Galaxy is the perfect follow-up for these games (as controversial as the idea for an Avicii-less sequel may sound), as well as the obvious next step for the franchise. It’s easily one of the best rhythm games released in recent memory, combining a fun and intuitive gameplay loop with an expertly curated setlist.
I ended up enjoying Testament: The Order of High-Human quite a bit, despite being a game suffering from a myriad of design issues. Thankfully, it didn’t suffer from a lot of technical issues. What we ended up getting was a decent first-person action adventure game with good controls, an interesting combat system, and a big emphasis on puzzle-solving, even if those sections go on for way too long at times. The overall game feel was just good enough to make me ignore the pointless story, poor voice acting (kudos for the effort, though) and loathsome boss battles.
Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg may be an oldie, but there’s absolutely no disputing that it’s a goodie. The ease with which everything functions is quite beneficial to children as it’s easily understood, allowing them to enjoy it suitably. It’s the ideal introduction to the franchise before embarking on those more involved.
If I could, I would develop my own 4K, dual screen handheld to cram this game onto, but I have no money and no talent, so here I am. Instead, I am imploring fans from all walks – the visual novel crowd, the detective crew, the Pomeranian fanatics – to come and take this ride. It’s charming, it’s complex, it’s lovingly crafted and it honestly surprises me that Capcom gave so much care to a game that seemed to slip under so many radars. It’s only till the sun rises, though, so make haste to take your time. You may only have one chance to find out the truth.
Raging Bytes is a bit on the easy side, and not at all scary for a survival horror title set in a zombie apocalypse, but I have to give credit where credit is due: I had way more fun with it than I could have ever imagined, and was really intrigued with its simple, but effective story. Its combination of JRPG combat and zombie apocalypse themes is something rarely, if ever, seen in games, so I also have to commend the developers for the game’s overall originality.
The excellent parkour mechanics, decent combat, and the option to actually limit the amount of quips coming out from Frey’s mouth (a character way more likable than I was expecting, mind you) more than made up for the actual quality of the quips and the incredibly bland open world and sidequests. Forspoken was fine enough. The quintessential “decent and worth getting at half-price” game.
Aliens: Dark Descent is one of the best Aliens games, period. That said, there are a few caveats. It perfectly recaptures the same action-horror vibes that made the original movies such a treat to watch. It’s a tactical, hardcore, strategy game that doesn’t hold your hand at all. If you are a fan of the franchise, this is an absolute must-play, but be aware that it is far from perfect and there are still some frustrating decisions here.
Still, it’s cute, it’s really chill compared to many games of this ilk, and it’s properly housed. Children won’t be spending extra money on it, and they can put it down at any time with no consequences that aren’t positive. Pretty Princess Magical Garden Island isn’t the game for me, but, if it’s down to this or Tom Nook breathing down my neck over bells, I’m putting on my ball gown and going fishing.
As is, the available activities are slim, and I reckon that it won’t take long before monotony sets in. I did enjoy the Career, but the Rogue elements turned me right off. When I realized my progress had been lost, yet upgrades were still recognized, I stopped playing and got straight to writing. My motivation was tapped out. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend buying at full price in its current state. The value isn’t there to justify $60, but if you find it half off or so, do it.
It’s just a very good compilation of fun, but overlooked bullet hell shooters. I did like RayStorm and RayCrisis more than RayForce, but all of the games included in Ray’z Arcade Chronology are leagues better than the vast majority of arcade shooters released back in the 90s. Add in M2’s godlike ability to remaster seemingly every single game they touch into ultimate improvements upon their original releases, and you know you’re in for a good time.
For better or for worse, this is now the easiest and most practical way to play Pikmin, and figure out why has this franchise managed to stand the test of time for so long. I particularly didn’t understand the hype. To me, Pikmin is average at best. It’s a game that has aged poorly, especially when it comes to these dated controls. The fact this wasn’t even a remaster, but a bare bones upscaled port of a game from 2001, certainly didn’t help. It did nothing to fix its many issues, nor did it receive improvements in its visuals, audio, or performance.
They say that interacting with dogs makes your brain produce and spread oxytocin, the “happiness hormone”, in your body. They also say that owning dogs improves your blood pressure and helps cure depression. This is why we can’t get enough of these adorable little creatures. Little Friends: Puppy Island doesn’t exactly reach that point, but even though this game is beyond simplistic, even more than Nintendogs itself at times, it makes me smile while playing it.
Players looking for an epic, sweeping romance or a bevy of boys just dying to be your arm candy should invest their time and efforts elsewhere. Instead, if you’re interested in watching a young woman pursue her dreams against all odds and actually being lifted up and encouraged in the process, then may I invite you to the curtain call of Jack Jeanne. It really is something to behold.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life likely deserves the praise it received back in 2004, but in 2023, bad decisions prevent history from repeating. Fortunately, a patch or two can address the bulk of my qualms. While I’m bewildered by the price increase, I reckon putting it on par with its former edition will bring the fun factor to its former self.
Crash Team Rumble features the solid foundations for a neat gameplay loop, as well as excellent controls and decent visuals… but this is something that should have been a multiplayer mode in a mainline game, not its own thing. I actually think that this should have been the better approach with this idea, as it is fun… for a few minutes at a time. The fact it’s a paid game with an additional payment towards a season pass just adds insult to injury.
It takes the ultra fast-paced and epic combat last seen in F.E.A.R., and dials that up even further. The game does features some of the best first-person combat I have seen since the original F.E.A.R. in terms grounded environments and glorious amounts of destruction. Whilst it does have some issues, Trepang2 dedicates itself to just being a huge amount of fun with as little baggage as possible, and I can gladly say it succeeded at that.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom proves once again that ESO is the most stable MMO on the market. Every year like clockwork, there’s more quality content released. New stories to experience, new worlds to explore, and new mechanics to play with.
Sludge Life 2 is basically Sludge Life, just on a new map. Were the original a good game, or even a passable game, I’d understand its appeal. But that’s not the the case. The original Sludge Life was a dour and pointless adventure game drowned in tryhard imagery and completely devoid of charisma… and the sequel is just that. Again. No fixes to visuals, controls, glitches, a dull gameplay loop, nothing. You are simply getting more of what you (don’t) love.
I don’t particularly think any of the inclusions in this package are game changers, be it the inclusions of new characters on older games or the many, many emulated ROMs of Game Gear titles, but the overall package is quite good. Considering the price tag and amount of content on offer, I’d say this is an easy recommendation.
Kingdom Eighties seeks to create a standalone experience for newcomers and longtime fans alike, and it achieves this in some facets. It’s beautiful, it sounds amazing, and the animated cutscenes and character archetypes fit the 80s bill to a T.