Twisted Voxel
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Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a stunning technical showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2, delivering smooth 60 FPS performance and exciting combat that skillfully blends Zonai abilities with mechanics inspired by Tears of the Kingdom. However, its storytelling loses some impact due to repetitive, linear mission design and pacing issues caused by an overabundance of lengthy, though beautifully cinematic, cutscenes.
A lively and charming party game that captures the spirit of Mario Party while adding its own signature LEGO humor and impressive customization options. However, the small number of boards at launch, uneven Golden Brick balance that lessens late-game excitement, and repetitive minigame selection hold it back from reaching true party game greatness.
A solid and smooth port of a defining JRPG, Tales of Xillia Remastered delivers an enjoyable experience with its engaging co-op battle system and thoughtful quality-of-life improvements. The charming cast and vibrant world remain as captivating as ever, but the dated user interface and a handful of minor bugs hold it back from feeling truly modern.
Tormented Souls 2 is a faithful 90s horror throwback with excellent atmosphere, level design, and puzzles, but its promise is undermined by a clunky combat system, thin character development, and a muddled, poorly paced story.
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake successfully modernizes two foundational, aged RPGs with a unified, speedier battle system and essential quality-of-life upgrades, making them finally palatable for modern players. The package, which shines on the Switch 2 with its HD-2D visuals, delivers a definitive, streamlined experience, though the core narrative of the short first game remains simplistic.
Once Upon a Katamari successfully delivers the series' signature, quirky charm through its inventive time-travel theme, deep customization, and chaotic new multiplayer mode. While it retains the core, addictive fun, the familiar, clunky camera controls and the King's interruptions persist, making the nostalgic experience feel polished but not entirely modernized.
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is a faithful, nostalgic port that succeeds on the strength of its core cult classic gameplay and the excellent addition of local multiplayer and co-op support. However, the experience is hindered by repetitive late-game content and a poorly scaled, un-modernized UI that makes text nearly unreadable on a large-screen television.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A sets a new technical benchmark for the series, achieving a smooth 60 FPS on the Switch 2 while revolutionizing combat with an engaging real-time system. Despite its strong narrative cohesion and challenging boss fights, the adventure is slightly muted by the absence of voice acting and the overly simplified 'wild zones,' which remove much of the excitement of natural discovery.
Disgaea 7 Complete is the definitive, feature-packed edition of the tactical RPG, running exceptionally well at 60 FPS on the Nintendo Switch 2 with surprising graphical options. The sheer volume of version-exclusive DLC and quality-of-life additions is undeniable, though the practice of locking content and the high launch price may give both newcomers and veteran players pause.
Absolum brilliantly merges the slick, progression-driven feel of Hades with satisfying, visually stunning beat 'em up combat, offering a feature-rich co-op experience. Despite its gorgeous animation and responsive systems, the game suffers from noticeable enemy repetition and requires some tedious late-game grinding, slightly detracting from its otherwise stellar genre combination.
Little Nightmares 3 successfully preserves the franchise's haunting atmosphere and wordless, mysterious storytelling under new development, making for a compelling new entry. The innovative co-op design is hampered, however, by the glaring omission of offline split-screen and cross-play support at launch, making the otherwise intriguing experiment feel functionally incomplete.
Playtonic's Yooka-Replaylee is the definitive edition, successfully eliminating the original game's flaws with polished controls, a fixed camera, an orchestrated score, and doubled content. Yet, this otherwise successful, vibrant tribute to N64-era platformers is frustratingly held back by being locked at 30 FPS and suffering from noticeable performance dips on Switch 2.
A stellar remaster of two 3D platforming masterpieces that remain inventive and fresh a decade later. While the steep price and dated motion controls detract slightly, the stunning 4K/60 FPS upgrade on Switch 2 makes this package essential for newcomers and worthy of a return trip for fans.
A stellar JRPG that finally challenges genre conventions, offering an addictive monster-collecting loop and a surprisingly mature, engaging story. While the opening is slow and tutorial-heavy, and the aging engine and excessive DLC slightly diminish the experience, Time Stranger is a triumphant, must-play entry for the franchise.
A masterclass in restoration, FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles not only faithfully recreates the legendary SRPG but enhances it with exceptional quality-of-life features, stunning full voice acting, and a beautiful HD visual update. While some animations may feel deliberately choppy, this release—which even includes the original game—is the definitive, essential experience for both veterans and newcomers.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds takes the franchise in an exciting new direction, showcasing addictive, skill-based kart racing mechanics, excellent course design, and the intriguing possibility of collaboration across multiple franchises. However, the lack of a dedicated story mode and the limitations of the online netcode detract from an otherwise polished and enjoyable experience.
Silent Hill f is a bold, visually stunning new entry that successfully modernizes the series with a Japanese setting, an engaging narrative by Ryukishi07, and a robust, action-oriented combat system. While the fighting mechanics initially feel clunky and the late-game shift toward action may alienate purists, its deep lore, intricate puzzles, and strong character development make it a thrilling and rewarding experience.
Pac-Man World 2: Re-Pac is a colorful and faithful remake with improved visuals and tight controls, making it the definitive way to play the classic. However, it inherits the original's overly linear and repetitive level design, uninspired boss encounters, and barebones PC port, leaving it enjoyable but short of modern platformer standards.
Atelier Resleriana is a serviceable spin-off that succeeds with its engaging combat and deep alchemy system, serving as a good entry point for newcomers. However, its mobile gacha origins result in overly simplistic dungeon design, and the paper-thin narrative, weak character development, and excessive use of anime tropes hold it back from the quality of the mainline series.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky remake is a masterful modernization of a cult classic, with a big-budget presentation and combat that expertly balances turn-based depth with action. While the voice acting can be inconsistent and the pacing slow at first, it's a stellar entry that honors the original while providing welcome quality-of-life improvements for both veterans and newcomers.