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River City Girls Zero is an awkward title. It's fun but it's also infuriating and relies on cheap tactics to see you through. At 3 hours tops for your first run, and with replayability being quite low on this title, it makes it a hard sell for anyone who isn't a die-hard citizen of the River City. If you are a fan of the franchise and go in knowing that this is just a classic title repurposed as a hype device for the upcoming River City Girls 2 then you should be fine.
The King of Fighters XV is one of the highest points of the franchise. It plays like classic KoF and looks just as good as it plays. It feels like SNK have taken all the criticism from King of Fighters XIV and Samurai Shodown and successfully created a game worthy of their legacy. Not only that but one but interesting and charming enough to tempt players over to the series again. Despite being a little thin on content for single players, the meat of the genre lies within its multiplayer. With the sterling netcode, it's never been easier and smoother to throw down with fighters all over the world. Move over Street Fighter and shove off Tekken, The King of Fighters is back and long may it reign.
KamiYaba: Destiny on a Dicey Deadline is essentially a story about love and getting closer to a heroine. Beyond that, it shows a touching friendship that grows between a group who at first just occupied the same space. While it won’t win any awards for the plot, there are some great characters who I enjoyed spending my time with – and that’s often what people enjoy behind this type of visual novel.
My 55 to 60 hours with Cupid Parasite were filled with much laughter and many tears. The character routes in this otome visual novel play like one fantastic rom-com show after another. Besides plenty of entertainment to be had, every story also leaves some food for thought. Furthermore, the incorporation of the six love types to expand each romance storyline’s depth is refreshing to see and helps give most love interests a deeply memorable identity and relevant love story. And with the striking art, spirited music, as well as a fairly good translation, my stay in Los York has been unforgettable. All things considered, Cupid Parasite is an all-around excellent production not to be missed, especially if one loves their rom-com stories topped with fantasy.
MONARK is one of those games that had everything in place for it to be something special and unfortunately either a lack of experience or budget absolutely crucifies it. Uninspired gameplay and poor graphics spend their time battling an amazing narrative and well-crafted atmosphere. You can see where the influences came from and the presentation of the game has some great aspects. But when it comes to the actual video game section of MONARK, you find it’s just middle of the road.
Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires isn’t the best game in the series, but it’s a solid entry that gets most things basically right. While there are certainly plenty of points to pick at, I still enjoyed taking over the country.
Ocean’s Heart is a charming adventure, even if none of its ideas are new. I would have liked a bit more polish and consistency in the mechanics, but Ocean’s Heart’s sense of discovery and whimsical fun was enough that I enjoyed my playthrough.
Powerslave Exhumed is the best way to tackle a cult classic game without changing anything in an egregious way. I can’t imagine anyone complaining about the fusion of both console versions or the fact it’s much easier to get running now than the downgraded PC port. The campaign is around 6 to 8 hours long depending on if you go secret hunting and the game has 2 endings to tackle. Beyond that, there are multiple difficulties for those who want a challenge; This means you’ll easily get the best bang for your buck with this one. Giving this title a second lease on life is a masterstroke. What may have released to average reception and eventual cult appreciation later on is now one of the most fun and unique experiences from the 90s, cleaned up and put on display in a public museum for the masses to enjoy and take in.
At this moment in time, Action Arcade Wrestling is a great-looking and fun title that feels like it’s still very much in early access. The lack of content for solo players is painfully obvious from the get-go and the fact the creation tools require a totally different format and separate download is a puzzling choice. As mentioned before, the bones of a great wrestling game are here, just currently that’s all it is. It’s a quick and fun time without substance and doesn’t really offer much that other wrestling titles such as Retromania Wrestling or Wrestling Empire haven’t already recently covered.
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon won’t be for everyone. This is not the Shovel Knight you know and love, but to be fair, neither is Shovel Knight at this point. If you like Puzzle games, then you can’t go wrong with Pocket Dungeon. Yacht Club Games have belted out another home run, and I look forward to their next project.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus wants to be the best – and it’s certainly the best there ever was when it comes to Pokémon games. It is slightly held back by the issues on the technical side, but the gameplay kept me invested throughout. I’ve been a fan ever since the original Pokémon Blue, but I’ve never had so much fun with this series before.
Hello Lady! - Complete Edition contains an excellent mystery. It unfolds slowly, builds up, and comes to a great ending – if we ignore the ‘true end’. The protagonist is a big personality who can overshadow other elements though, so whether a reader enjoys Hello Lady! may depend on whether they like him, rather than how much they enjoy the heroines as in some other visual novels or the mystery itself.
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2 doesn’t just fly, it soars. Its new mechanics, setting, English voice track, and visuals were not done for the sake of merely experimenting. These elements evolve the series and push it to heights it hadn’t yet seen until now. Among the pantheon of Inti Creates’ platforming hits, Luminous Avenger iX 2 stands tall and proud from the pack.
Breakneck City is the worst-case scenario of the above. It looks horrid, it plays badly, it's boring and it lacks enough content to keep masochists coming back after the game's paltry offering of an arcade run. Do yourself a favor; If you like Beat 'em ups or want to experience the genre, look at literally ANY other Beat 'em up. This game is just almost offensively bad at every juncture.
Not It: Spookiest Edition may not have told a spooky enough story but its CGs, background music, and voice acting can still satisfy some of those cravings for spookiness. For this horror visual novel, there are no nasty tricks but also no particularly sweet treats offered. I would say it is a decent title worth playing for its multiple endings if one is interested in a short game that does not shy away from blood and gore.
SNK Vs Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash represents exactly what I had hoped for when SNK announced they were porting a collection of old titles. It's an obscure and fun celebration that doubles up as a time capsule of one of the most exciting times in gaming. The lack of online does harm this title, but it's made up for slightly by the inclusion of both versions of the game. Hopefully, the 2nd volume of this collection also sees the sequel to this title amongst a few more obscure and fun titles from the little handheld nobody owned.
Dusk is a game I simply cannot praise enough. It has managed to capture lightning in a bottle, fill it with viscera, and force the entirety of Louisanna to worship it as a deity. It doesn’t just bring Boomer Shooters back from a long hiatus - it actively takes steps to improve upon them. This isn’t just a throwback to Quake and its ilk - it’s the next evolution - the replacement. What few flaws Dusk has are so minor I forgot they existed - if they even exist at all. Pure perfection.
I was surprised by Poker Club, because my initial impressions of the game were not very strong. I found the online challenges to be frustrating and the game’s overall speed to be tedious. But as I continued on, I had reconciled these problems without really even noticing. That’s not to say that these issues are not pervasive to the entire experience, but because I had merely grown numb to them. Much like taking a seat at the gambler’s table for the very first time, many frustrations will pass as you take in the easygoing, yet exciting atmosphere of this common pastime. Though it could be better, Poker Club is a charming and lovingly crafted recreation of one of the most popular pastimes around.
Gynoug is an experience. The gameplay is fine, it does the job and has just enough added gubbins to keep it feeling mostly fresh. The star of the show, however are the visuals. This game comes from a time long forgotten - where dripping, throbbing, scrolling, and pulsating was just an everyday occurrence. For that reason alone, providing the price is right, it’s worth a gander. Aside from that? If you are a fan of Shmups, then Gynoug should satisfy.
On the whole, Beyond a Steel Sky is a wonderful example of how that old-school puzzle adventure game can translate into the modern gaming landscape. It’s thought-provoking, good-looking, and fleshed out, all whilst retaining the spirit of the puzzler. Sure, it isn’t the most polished experience but it’s a well-crafted game with bags to offer for anyone who wants a story to engage with and some puzzles to stroke their chin at.