Twisted Voxel
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Paper Mario: The Origami King is a fun-filled adventure that manages to keep things fresh, however, the puzzle-based battles tend to feel repetitive. Despite the repetitive combat, the boss battles are easily some of the best seen in the series.
For the budget price of $30, Wolfenstein: Youngblood is packed with a decent amount of content, marred by a few mundane design decisions.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has its fair share of flaws with a slow story mode. It might not measure up to a game that is internally developed by Nintendo. Despite this, the quality of minigames has never been better in the series and the different control methods make it much easier to enjoy them without any artificial hurdles in the way.
Hunt: Showdown takes the concept of survival horror into a new dimension by adding multiplayer. On paper, this idea seems hard to execute but the developers have managed to successfully transition it into a video game that is satisfying to play, especially with a group of friends.
As far as remasters go, this one is an incredible jump over the original game in terms of visuals, however, it comes with its baggage on the virtue of being an old game that suffers from outdated design.
Desperados III is a faithful return for the series, occasionally to a fault but often to great success. It’ll please fans of strategy games but won’t make a fan out of those that aren’t.
Destroy All Humans! is a refreshing remake that harkens back to the classic times when developers were more concerned with experimenting with gameplay and story instead of creating the next cinematic masterpiece.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake impresses with its visual upgrades and co-op mode, yet its unchanged gameplay and performance issues question its necessity for those familiar with the original. Best suited for newcomers, this visually enhanced journey offers little new for returning players, making it a beautiful but non-essential revisit.
Shiren The Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is an excellent addition to the franchise. It combines narrative and roguelike dungeon crawling to offer a challenging yet rewarding adventure. Unlike other games that rely on tutorials, this game doesn't hold your hand and is enjoyable for both veterans and newcomers. This latest installment introduces a captivating new setting and multiplayer modes, and also refines the gameplay with quality-of-life improvements. Additionally, the game features a dynamic online rescue system, making it stand out in the mystery dungeon genre. It is a must-play for fans and newcomers alike.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink transitions from mobile to console and PC, offering a balanced mix of action-oriented combat and deep storytelling that competes with top RPGs like Final Fantasy. Despite minor exploration and performance issues, its compelling narrative, striking visuals, and innovative blend of single-player and live-service elements make it a standout title in the RPG genre.
Lil' Guardsman is a standout indie game that combines humor, strategy, and point-and-click elements, presenting a compelling story of a girl guarding her town. Its gameplay is enriched with decision-making, gadgets, and a time-control feature, offering replayability and a diverse character cast set in a visually stunning world reminiscent of Disney's Gravity Rush, making it a memorable experience on portable platforms like the Steam Deck
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising brings substantial updates and new content, making it a standout in its genre despite the lack of an upgrade path from the original. With its expertly developed gameplay, expanded character roster, improved RPG mode, and innovative multiplayer options, it offers both accessibility and depth, catering to both newcomers and seasoned players in the fighting game community.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown marks a significant shift from the series' traditional 3D action and platforming to a Metroidvania-style game with cell-shaded art and side-scrolling combat. Despite initial skepticism from fans, its exceptional platforming, engaging gameplay, and return to the series' roots have made it an unexpected hit, offering a fresh experience while maintaining the essence of the beloved franchise.
Echoes of the Fallen, the first expansion for Final Fantasy XVI, extends the main story with a new quest and enriches gameplay, but its short duration and segmented narrative set the stage for the more anticipated expansion, The Rising Tide.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince presents an innovative twist to the Dragon Quest spin-off series, focusing on monster collection and battling with a unique progression system, although it falls short in narrative depth and visual presentation. The game shines in its engaging monster synthesis and combat mechanics, offering depth for enthusiasts of strategy and monster recruitment, but is let down by subpar graphics and an underdeveloped story.
Persona 5 Tactica emerges as a bold step in the Persona series, introducing a strategic RPG gameplay and a unique artistic direction, diverging from the main series' established norms. While it excels in maintaining the series' aesthetic charm and offers an engaging narrative, the removal of social elements and the focus on strategic combat may divide traditional fans. The game's success depends on embracing its innovative gameplay and fresh character perspectives, making it a distinct, if somewhat polarizing, addition to the Persona franchise.
Like A Dragon Gaiden links Yakuza 6 and Like A Dragon 8 with a focus on Kazuma Kiryu's life, featuring traditional Yakuza brawler action and a new gadget-heavy Agent style. Despite its engaging main story and memorable cutscenes, the game's side activities lack depth and innovation, falling short of series expectations.
Disgaea 7 marks a successful revival of the franchise's core strengths, blending its signature over-the-top gameplay mechanics with a fresh Samurai-themed narrative. While staying true to its roots, the game introduces new character classes and innovative features like "Jumbification," offering both long-time fans and newcomers a rich, strategically demanding experience that feels both nostalgic and novel.
ANONYMOUS;CODE offers a visually engaging experience and strong main character development but falls short in fully realizing its genre's potential. Despite these shortcomings, it remains a valuable addition for fans of the Science Adventure series and visual novels.
Depending on where one stands on the convergence of interactive and non-interactive mediums, Alan Wake 2 may be perceived as a work of art or as an experience where gameplay is overlooked in favor of narrative artistry.