Lords Of Gaming
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Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar on the Nintendo Switch 2 starts slow, with confusing elements and underwhelming early events that might test patience, but it blossoms into a compelling experience. The quality-of-life features aren’t fully up to modern standards, but the game’s unique mechanics shine through. The rating system’s depth, the glider’s whimsical platforming, and especially the Bazaar’s addictive progression provide hooks that set it apart. Characters, while not the series’ pinnacle, grow endearing with solid storylines, and later festivals add the variety I initially craved. As a reimagining rather than a straight remake, it feels new and vibrant, ranking among the better Story of Seasons/Harvest Moon titles. It holds its own against competition, offering cozy escapism with innovative twists that reward investment. For genre fans, it’s absolutely worth the time; newcomers might appreciate its accessible charm once past the initial fog. Ultimately, Grand Bazaar delivers a bountiful harvest that, with a bit more fertilizer in polish and quality-of-life, could have been exceptional.
Art of Vengeance is a triumphant return for the series. Leveling up the formula with excellent traversal and combat. Its richly layered, hand-drawn backgrounds are as inviting as they are detailed. Lizardcube has modernized the series while honoring its 1987 roots, forging a fresh path for Joe Musashi that respects the lessons and legacy of their peers and predecessors. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is sharp, fluid, and pure, and a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern design.
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is a blast from front to end. There is so much to discover and fall in love with. Although this Director’s Cut port does not bring much new that may excite long-time fans, it is still a classic and is one of the best entries in the series. It serves as a great starting point for those who want to experience what these games have to offer. Yakuza 0 played a huge role in revitalizing the series in the West and showed Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku that we also deserve these games. The best part of it all, though, is that one of the best entries in the series is finally on a Nintendo platform, and it looks and runs great.
No Sleep for Kaname Date: From AI The Somnium Files is a delightful treat for fans, packed with the series’ signature wit, memorable characters, and great Somnium and escape room designs that shine on the Nintendo Switch 2. Rejoining Date, Iris, and Aiba feels like catching up with old friends, while newcomers like Hina and Akemi add fresh spark. The soundtrack, capped by a catchy final track, elevates every moment. Yet, the narrative lacks the depth and impact of mainline entries, feeling like a fun but fleeting side quest. Overly helpful hints sap the challenge from Somniums and puzzles, and the Switch 2’s cumbersome Mouse Mode frustrates. Newcomers will find the lack of onboarding daunting, while veterans might wish for a weightier tale. It’s a cozy detour that captures the series’ charm but falls short of greatness, making it a worthwhile but non-essential addition.
As an avid fan of the 3D platformer, the indie space is quickly growing into a thriving hot spot of the genre, with Ruffy & the Riverside joining the ranks of A Hat in Time and Poi. Utilizing a creative mechanic not seen in other 3D platformers, while having a strong identity and a striking art direction, Ruffy and Pip's adventure is a riverside worth visiting.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. While the combat and level design don’t always live up to their full potential, it’s still one of the better soulslikes available. That said, if you’re not already a fan of the genre, the game’s inconsistent difficulty might be a tough barrier to entry. For instance, I defeated the first four bosses on my first try—and the same was true for some mid-game encounters. But then, out of nowhere, I’d be stuck on a boss for hours. The difficulty swings too wildly, often feeling unbalanced in both directions
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time stands as an expansive evolution of Level-5’s brilliant formula, blending an array of differing gameplay systems into a captivating whole. Though not without flaws—a combat system and narrative that lack depth, a limited character creator, and interesting Life Masters that aren't utilized enough—these are mere blemishes on an otherwise radiant gem. On the Nintendo Switch 2, with enhanced visuals and a buttery 60fps, the game shines in handheld and TV modes. After 65 hours, with Treasure Groves and village projects still calling, Fantasy Life i proves its staying power. It’s a time-stealing triumph that balances nostalgia and innovation, making it a must-play for fans and newcomers alike.
Make no mistake, Rematch has an incredible and unique football gameplay loop that is unlike anything I have ever tried before. There are a lot of nuances in the animations and regular duels that make the game an irresistible package. However, it is let down by initial networking hiccups and a lack of modes and content. Luckily, it seems that Slopclap is in it for the long run, which should make Rematch a footballing star in no time.
I’ve always loved Lies of P, and in a crowded market full of Souls-like, it remains my favorite. While the Overture DLC isn’t perfect, particularly with its difficulty scaling, most of my other complaints feel like nitpicks. Some areas in the new zones can feel a bit linear, but that’s easily overshadowed by the gorgeous environments and creative level design. One moment you're battling wolves on a snowy mountain, and the next you're dodging flaming pins in a twisted, dark carnival. Also, the music was excellent and complemented the new content perfectly. The game ran flawlessly on PlayStation 5 Pro using the High Frame Rate/Quality mode. I experienced zero performance issues throughout my playthrough. Not every boss stood out, but the ones that did were excellent. The final boss fight, in particular, was one of the most memorable I’ve played in a long time. If you're a fan of Souls-like, I can't recommend Lies of P: Overture enough—it’s a must-play addition to an already fantastic game.
Welcome Tour is an interesting time. On one hand, Nintendo offers us insight into their past, and the thought process behind creating the Nintendo Switch 2. And at times, it feels endearing to get a peek at the hundreds of engineering years poured into the device. On the other hand, it feels very corporate and structured. I enjoyed aspects of the Welcome Tour, but I can’t say the entire experience was enjoyable. It feels like a gamified convention demo that lacks the soul of titles like Wii Sports or Nintendo Land.
Playing Sonic X Shadow Generations, I loved the experience. However, I felt awful for Nintendo fans, who were treated to a subpar version of the latest 3D Sonic adventure. Following a bad port of Sonic Frontiers and a lackluster version of Sonic Colors Ultimate, more powerful hardware was needed to offer the ideal Sonic experience. Now we have that hardware, Nintendo fans can finally enjoy a fantastic 3D Sonic experience on the go. I cannot recommend Sonic X Shadow Generations enough if you have never experienced this high-speed adventure.
After 50 hours, I’ve barely scratched the surface of the game’s vast content. While it doesn’t excel in every area, Guardians of Azuma delivers a cozy, immersive experience that’s easy to sink hours into. This is a must-play for fans of Rune Factory or cozy life sims, as it is a step in the right direction and needs a bit more cultivating to truly flourish.
Looking back on my entire experience, it’s difficult to recommend The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered in its current state. While there were moments of magic and true RPG greatness—especially when seeing the impact of my choices on the world—those highlights are overshadowed by persistent technical issues. Frequent crashes, performance problems, and quest progression bugs severely detract from the overall experience. I hope future patches and updates will address these issues, allowing Oblivion Remastered to reach its full potential for returning fans and new players.
Id Software has outdone itself with Doom: The Dark Ages. They reinvented the game to make it feel distinct, while familiar at the same time. The Shield Saw oozes satisfaction, despite the guns taking a somewhat backseat. Introducing cinematics is a breath of fresh air, even though the story is serviceable at best. The Atlan Mech and Dragon are nice ways to change the pace. But the run-and-gun gunplay remains as frenetic and brutal as ever. Truly, the legend of the Doom Slayer emerged from the Dark Ages.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, as a new IP from a brand new studio, feels like a miracle. The game’s storytelling, character performances, visual fidelity, and art direction either match or exceed most AAA games in the space. While the combat, exploration, and customization are all deep and layered that harken to the JRPG genre titans in their heyday of yesteryear. Sandfall Interactive created a rare and stunning achievement that is worth every single penny of its price tag. It will be a legendary classic that you owe it to yourself to play, even if you are not a fan of turn-based games, its combat system and story will grab you and not let you go until you finish it.
Accepting your past and moving forward after great loss are universal messages. Those messages are the heart of the adventure Once Upon a Puppet expresses. Drev and Nieve's journey, despite having some loose threads here and there, tells a powerful story utilizing solid platforming, strong presentation, and charming characters you grow to care for.
I was surprised how easily I rolled and jumped through jungles alongside DK and his buddies. Offering amazing platforming controls, tight level design that invites exploration, impressive usage of the foreground and background, and solid presentation that holds up generations later, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fantastic 2D platforming romp for everyone. While it doesn’t surpass the master class work Retro Studios created with its sequel, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, it’s still an adventure worth returning to.
Revenge of the Savage Planet takes everything from its predecessor and cranks it up to 11. Despite some technical rough edges here and there, the game is an absolute blast to play. Who knew that revenge is a dish best served weird.
Aside from a few gripes, I thoroughly enjoyed helping out in the land of Hyrule. The Legend of Zelda is all about the essence of adventure. It is about seeking, solving, and conquering. Putting your might and wit to the test and coming out victorious! All of that is present here in Echoes of Wisdom. Just this time around, instead of playing as the hero of time, we finally earn an adventure where we save the world as Zelda. And Echoes of Wisdom lives up to the excellent standards of the series' prior entries.
Nova Drift is a love letter to classic space shooters, modernized with rogue-lite depth and near-infinite build variety. Its tight controls, diverse enemies, robust Gear and Mod systems, and dynamic Challenge Modes—especially the game-changing Wild Metamorphosis—keep you hooked. Although the classic feel can sometimes be its downfall in some instances, with no global leaderboard curbing long-term engagement. It’s a niche game, even for a rogue-lite, but a must-play for old school fans or even gamers looking for a rogue-lite that doesn't have many comparisons. It isn't visually or sonically flashy, and it can get a bit repetitive at times, but it's a great game that knows what it wants to be and delivers a fair yet challenging experience that rewards skill and strategic build crafting.