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Transporting players to 17th-century Europe, The Spanish Privateer brings forth a historical fiction that combines eventful seafaring life and heartening friends-to-lovers romance. Although the storytelling is dull at times due to too much telling and little showing, the story itself is filled with interesting and unexpected events that keep the momentum and curiosity going. The three male love interests you can pursue in this otome visual novel each has his unique personality and backstory. Regardless of who you choose to romance — the strict quartermaster, the eloquent lutist, or the genial captain — there is always somewhere new to be explored and something more to be discovered about the crew. The visual and audio aspects may not be this indie title’s top strengths, but if you enjoy historical pirate stories with romance brewing steadily over time, then The Spanish Privateer could be the port to your next fresh journey.
DNF Duel is a fine addition to the rosters of fighting games on the Nintendo Switch. I can only hope that crossplay comes in the future alongside the number of updates and support Arc System Works has promised the other versions. It's a bit of a niche franchise when compared to stuff like Dragon Ball Z and may not quite have the appeal for more casual fans. That said, fans of the genre who fancy an anime fighter with a bit of a difference will find that DNF Duel stands in its league.
Aside from its impressive hand-drawn animation, Curse of the Sea Rats is at its best a mediocre game that does little to stand out from the innumerable alternatives. At its worst, it’s tedious, grating, and unfun. Maybe if you love traditional animation and rats you’ll find something to enjoy here, but I’d wait for a discount before considering Curse of the Sea Rats.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a hefty and fun title. It's not only an essential purchase for gamers who have been dreaming of the series coming back, but also works extremely well as an introduction to gamers who may have missed out originally. If you've already had your fill of Fire Emblem and crave something similar or like the idea of the series but not its fantasy theme, Advance Wars has you covered. It has all the addictive charm of a Nintendo title with some great strategy gameplay. Sadly there isn't anything in terms of "new" content for returning die-hards and the graphics can be a little deceptive, but delay or not, this is another great experience.
If not for the still remaining translation quirks, I’d have been tempted to give this collection a perfect score. Mega Man fans have been clamoring for Battle Network’s comeback for a long time, and in almost every regard it was well worth the wait. Excellent online functionality and the restoration of lost content brings up each title featured to their definitive forms. With six RPGs featuring lots of content, it’s also an excellent value proposition. Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is undoubtedly a collection done right.
Cannon Dancer: Osman should feel like a celebration of unearthing a lost gem. Instead, the lack of extras and personality in its presentation outside of the game gives it more of a "shop-bought replica" feel. It's a fantastic way to spend an hour and longer should you want to challenge it to the one-credit clear, but I don't think there is enough there for people who aren't retro enthusiasts or have a history with the "Strider" games. I love Cannon Dancer: Osman, but it's a tough one to suggest outside of its niche. If you fall within that niche you're guaranteed to have a smile from ear to ear. Outside of it, it feels like an overpriced, flash in the pan.
If you have a hankering for a new shoot ’em up on your PlayStation 5 or played Final 2 and just really need 7 new stages and a selection of new customizables then R-Type Final 3: Evolved could be right up your alley. If you played but weren’t really into previous R-Type titles or had your fill with R-Type Final 2, then this is a bit of a tough sell considering it’s not really a sequel but more of an enhanced update. Confusing nature aside, I had my fun with R-Type Final 3: Evolved, but it didn’t quite do enough for me personally to stick around. After spending countless hours on the previous game, I felt like dipping out quickly after seeing the new stages.
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is well-written, thoughtful and explores serious topics through a fantasy lens. It's worth checking out. If you enjoyed the first, this is essentially more of the same, but with new characters and stories. This is exactly what I wanted from it.
While the tone is mostly light and there are plenty of jokes, Sabbat of the Witch uses touching moments and serious issues to develop characters and build an interesting plot. Not all routes are equal, and I’d not use words like ‘masterpiece’ that I’ve seen thrown around, but this is certainly one of Yuzusoft‘s stronger titles.
It’s hard not to get the sense that Process of Elimination is a game that’s only ever content with punching below its own weight. In the moment of play, it can be a reasonably satisfying and fun visual novel that pays great respect to its contemporaries. However, it never becomes more than that because paying respects is all it seems interested in doing. Any genuinely interesting ideas it may have are buried under a cliched, predictable, and rote storyline filled with character archetypes you’ve almost assuredly seen executed better elsewhere. It just never lingers in the mind. This title may wear its heart on its sleeve, but it’s at the cost of any semblance of style or identity.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is a bombastic remake of one of the best games ever made and it achieves greatness in the same way the original did. It doesn't replace the original but rather compliments it and feels like a natural continuation of the previous remake titles. I was hooked from the second the game started and I'm now on the 4th replay. Even now, I still cannot get enough of its addictive gameplay and engrossing environments. Resident Evil 4 Remake is the perfect mix of horror and action that has yet to be matched in the series since the original. While Resident Evil 8: Village tried, the fourth installment's pacing here cannot be matched, especially in the remake. Once again, Resident Evil 4 rules the survival horror roost!
Kunado Chronicles is certainly worth buying if you enjoy more of a focus on story and setting over romance. It takes an interesting world and builds it up well. Using this to then weave a plot with excitement and intrigue, the story dragged me in.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a fantastic and unexpected entry in the Bayonetta series. It has all the hallmarks of an experimental title from Platinum Games but sadly lacks the over-the-top action they have become synonymous with alongside their genre mixing. What is on offer is a charming tale with a unique art style, an addictive world to explore, and acceptable combat. It may feel initially daunting to series fans, but will soon warm to those willing to take a gamble on a Bayonetta title that feels more like a different title, wrapped in Bayonetta lore and namesake.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is a slow adventure that works perfectly as the culmination of Ryza’s trilogy. With tons of interconnected systems keeping things fun and a strong focus on the characters and dynamics between them, it’s a great experience for JRPG fans who enjoy slice-of-life – just make sure to begin at the start of this trilogy.
The game is fun. The story is fun. I like the characters a lot, and the gameplay systems have a nice depth to them, while not being overwhelming. However, the game is let down by a variety of smaller flaws: UI issues, translation quirks, and typos that occurred far more often than they should have. I could take or leave the H-scenes, but the game does have some fetish content that could definitely appeal to the right person. If you’re in the market for an H-game with a straightforward story and solid gameplay, I definitely recommend The Alchemist of Ars Magna–but I think you’ll enjoy it more if you purchase it on sale.
Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has always been seen as somewhat of a black sheep of the series as the only title that hadn’t seen an international release. Now that it has, when compared to the other main titles in titles it just feels a little uninspired in the gameplay aspect. That said, it is held together by one of the stronger narratives presented in the franchise. It has some rough textures and an even rougher opening few hours but once you wade through them it’s a textbook Project Zero title almost to a fault. For series newcomers, I would suggest starting with this one and then going into Maiden of Blackwater due to the many gameplay improvements you'll find there. But as a standalone title, it’s a slightly above-average game with a fantastic story.
I enjoyed the final chapters of Beta-Sixdouze and it certainly added to the lore of the series well, but it felt like a long and tiresome journey to get there at times. It has plenty of good moments sprinkled throughout, but between the technical issues and the moments of tedium, it’s difficult to outright recommend this visual novel. It did feel like somewhat of a letdown, as Alpha-Nighthawk was quite good.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty deserves praise as an ambitious title — one which tries to expand upon a formula that many thought could not be improved and a title that wants to pull in new players. You needn’t be intimidated. Wo Long can be played by anyone and it truly is the cleanest title Team Ninja have produced. Technical issues aside, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is challenging, tight, and focused. It’s a fantastic game, which will hopefully provide Team Ninja a foundation on which to develop even slicker games in the future.
Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe feels like a comfortable game. Offering plenty of additional content for anyone who has played the original release, it's a mighty fine time for Kirby fans new and old alike. This is the best 2D Kirby game available on the Nintendo Switch, even if it doesn’t quite match the originality of Kirby Planet Robobot from the Nintendo 3DS. It’s a great title for families and provides that lovely little dopamine hit that the series is famous for. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a brilliant break from the gritty world of first-person shooters, tactical RPGs, and fighting games.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is a sequel of higher highs and lower lows. I don’t think it’s as consistently enjoyable as its predecessor, but the game’s incredible emotional and gameplay highs bring it to something that I feel is on roughly even footing with Zero. I compared it to a roller coaster earlier, and I feel that’s an apt summation for the entire game. It’s bumpy and not all of it’s going to be enjoyable, but the thrills experienced make it absolutely worthwhile.