Twisted Voxel
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Tales of Graces f Remastered makes a great comeback for an underrated game. This version brings back its heartfelt story and wonderful characters, showcasing the charm and depth that fans missed before. The combat system is engaging, and the nostalgic art style, similar to Tales of Vesperia, makes it special. While the older environments and common anime tropes might not appeal to everyone, the new features and smooth performance on modern platforms make it enjoyable for both long-time fans and new players.
A valiant return for the PS Vita classic, Freedom Wars Remastered transports players to a dystopian future with an engaging twist on the Monster Hunter formula. Despite the original's struggles due to the Vita's poor sales, this remaster brings back its intense resource-gathering missions and customizable characters with polished visuals for modern platforms. While the barren environments and thin story may not impress everyone, the solid combat system and intriguing multiplayer mode breathe new life into this forgotten gem.
A nostalgic trip down the survival horror lane, Enigma of Fear blends retro aesthetics with modern 3D animation, creating a visually captivating experience. Despite its charming art style, the game's interface and presentation can leave players lost and puzzled. With a focus on challenging puzzles and an eerie atmosphere, it demands keen observation and memory. While some aspects, like the navigation and UI, fall short, the solid writing and engaging combat make it a worthwhile adventure for old-school horror fans.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension masterfully revives classic JRPG elements. Originally an Apple Arcade exclusive, its transition to PC and consoles allows the game to shine. With a nostalgic yet fresh turn-based combat system, engaging narrative, and innovative Dimengeon mechanic, it's a gem for RPG fans. While the visuals may not impress, gameplay improvements like difficulty settings and voiceovers make it a must-play for the genre's enthusiasts.
Metro Awakening ventures into VR with mixed results. The game offers detailed environments and immersive sound design but struggles with performance tweaks and long load times. While it answers key lore questions and provides solid gunplay, its linear and repetitive gameplay diminishes the overall experience. Though it doesn’t match the heights of VR titans like Half-Life: Alyx, it remains an engaging spin-off for Metro fans.
Mario and Luigi: Brothership offers an enchanting adventure, combining exploration with captivating gameplay. The vibrant world of Concordia and its quirky characters bring fresh life to the series, despite a simplistic narrative. With intuitive mechanics and the classic charm of our favorite plumbers, it offers a delightful journey that's a must-play for fans.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake revitalizes a classic with a blend of retro charm and modern visuals. The HD-2D engine creates stunning graphics, though some aspects feel dated. Under Yuji Horii's guidance, the game balances nostalgia with modern enhancements, providing a refreshed experience. While there are instances of grinding and slow battles, it remains an engaging journey for both longtime fans and newcomers—essential for JRPG enthusiasts.
In The Rise of the Golden Idol, players dive into a web of mysteries, using sharp deductive reasoning to solve them. This sequel features a rich narrative and modern setting that makes each revelation satisfying. With engaging art and intuitive gameplay, it offers fresh challenges for point-and-click adventure fans, despite minor interface hiccups on platforms like Steam Deck. A must-play for enthusiasts of the Golden Idol series.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven revitalizes the classic SaGa series with modern accessibility and enhanced visuals. This remake of the 1993 original balances the needs of veterans and newcomers while showcasing a complex, multi-generational storyline.
Despite a few minor drawbacks, Black Ops 6 successfully breathes new life into the Call of Duty series by building upon fan-favorite elements while boldly introducing omnimovement, a mechanic that is transformative to moment-to-moment gameplay.
Sonic X Shadow Generations revitalizes a classic by combining nostalgia with fresh content. With enhanced visuals and a campaign focused on Shadow the Hedgehog, it offers smooth gameplay and rich character development. While console players will appreciate the upgrades, the high price for PC users might seem steep for just the new Shadow story.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure brings back Max Caulfield as an adult who faces both personal and supernatural challenges. Although her new powers hold promise, the gameplay tends to feel overly linear, and the pacing is inconsistent. Overall, Double Exposure is an engaging yet flawed continuation of Max’s journey, but it falls short of the series' best moments.
Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is an enjoyable sequel that doesn’t bring much innovation, yet retains the simple charm the franchise is known for.
Ys X: Nordics effectively combines classic Ys elements with modern gameplay, offering a rewarding action RPG experience. Centered on a younger Adol Christin, the game introduces the Duo Combat System and focuses on exploration via the ship Sandras. Despite some minor drawbacks in the early naval sections, it’s a must-play for both fans and newcomers, blending action, exploration, and character development seamlessly.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a new IP from Atlus that combines Persona mechanics with medieval fantasy elements. It features innovative systems like Archetypes and a hybrid battle approach. The narrative explores modern themes within a fantastical world. While the game offers depth and challenge in combat and exploration, it has some technical drawbacks, especially on the PC version.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero revitalizes the Tenkaichi series with nostalgic charm and complex mechanics. The game offers a dynamic experience with a vast character roster and an engaging combat system. While it has some issues with camera angles and balance, it's still a highly enjoyable entry in the franchise.
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred introduces enough new content to make it compelling for Diablo 4 fans at launch, despite concerns about potential endgame grind.
Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns offers new characters and guest fighters, but the high price is hard to justify with a short story mode and limited content. The unresolved gameplay issues and lack of replay value make it feel incomplete.
Reynatis was anticipated as a standout title but ultimately disappoints. Despite an intriguing dual-mode combat system and a blend of modern and fantastical elements, the game suffers from a weak narrative, repetitive gameplay, and uninspired presentation.
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – Reforged faithfully remakes the beloved point-and-click classic with improved animations, streamlined gameplay, and modernized features. The remake introduces a vibrant new art style while offering both a nostalgic Classic Mode and a newcomer-friendly Story Mode, striking a balance between honoring the original and welcoming new players.