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Stellar Blade is an unremarkable thrill ride, one with a forgettable story marred by predictable twists and a lack of compelling character development. While it's a visually stunning experience, it's let down by its lackluster cutscene direction and inconsistencies in the character animation. Fortunately, its combat is stellar, offering a rich and varied set of systems that feel endlessly fun. Similarly, exploration is rewarding, albeit a little clunky. If you're looking for a combat-focused experience, then Stellar Blade's 20-25-hour runtime will surely suffice. However, don't expect to come away having had a memorable time.
While it can be repetitive at times, Children of the Sun promises a thrilling and unique gaming experience for those seeking intense action and strategic gameplay.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is a masterclass in open-world innovation, a game that strives to truly shake up the genre and prove that there's plenty left still to say. Its gorgeous environments, coupled with its varied and exhilarating combat, rewarding exploration, and richly detailed worldbuilding, make for a truly engrossing experience backed by emergent gameplay that makes it feel as if absolutely anything could happen. Despite some minor shortcomings, Dragon's Dogma 2 is a remarkable game, one clearly made with so much love, passion, and reverence for the original that it makes for a wonderfully special experience unlike anything else.
Pepper Grinder is an enjoyable adventure brimming with excitement, challenges, and hidden treasures. Its innovative drilling mechanic, vibrant presentation, and engaging gameplay make for an extraordinary journey, albeit one that leaves players yearning for it to last longer. However, despite its minor flaws, Pepper Grinder stands as a thrilling escapade and a great indie title.
It's clear that South Park: Snow Day had all the right intentions when attempting to make an exciting roguelike experience. Unfortunately, it has one too many faults that let it down. While the hilarious narrative and engaging roguelike formula are always enjoyable, the repetitive combat and distracting audio and camera can make fights feel like something you actively want to avoid. Furthermore, the absence of the local co-op weighs down the title. Fortunately, its low price and gorgeous visuals make up for most of its mistakes, although if you're on the fence or not a South Park fan, it's not worth your time.
Bears in Space is a hilarious, enjoyable title that Broadside Games should be incredibly proud of.
"Rise of the Ronin treads too closely with games we have already experienced."
Berserk Boy offers a refreshing take with its blend of retro-inspired gameplay, vibrant visuals, and infectious soundtrack.
Skull and Bones falls short of expectations, particularly in its lackluster narrative and repetitive gameplay loop. The exciting ship combat, deep customization, and visually stunning world can't fix the emptiness you feel when sailing the high seas.
Minami Lane is a remarkable management sim that manages to perfectly balance its cozy atmosphere with its complex gameplay.
Diets & Deities bakes rhythm and cooking mechanics together but falls short in crucial aspects.
Dicefolk offers a unique and strategic experience with its dice mechanic and Chimera collection. However, short runs and limited enemy variety might hinder the experience for some. If you enjoy Slay the Spire and Pokemon and appreciate the challenge of roguelikes, Dicefolk might be worth checking out.
Persona 3 Reload is a remarkable remake, one that improves the majority of the original game while remaining entirely faithful to the source material.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth blends nostalgia with innovation, appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers. The game impresses with its enhanced visuals and storytelling, setting a high bar for the adventure ahead, and it impresses with its satisfying combat mechanics, abundance of mini-games, and memorable soundtrack. While it navigates through some questionable story changes and occasional clunky exploration, Rebirth offers a rich and immersive experience. It skillfully tells a great story, making it a compelling play as it gears up for the trilogy's conclusion.
Please, Touch the Artwork 2 is a gorgeous, meaningful, and terrifically fun hidden object game that explores both the phenomenal art of James Ensor as well as the world of art itself in an educational and thoroughly entertaining way.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden falls short of its potential. Its central protagonists lack the chemistry and development to make meaningful choices feel impactful. Its combat and exploration feel like they've been lifted from better games, barely iterating on established formulas and, in some cases, making them worse. While there are some enjoyable side quests and the occasional glimmer of hope in the main subplot, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden never reaches the heights it should.
Helldivers 2 offers players a bountiful amount of rich and engaging content, from varied and exciting missions to satisfying gunplay and engrossing progression systems.
Foamstars tries to bring something new to the table but has almost immediately been drowned out thanks to its repetitiveness.
Whether you're a fresh face to the genre or returning to settle old grudges, Tekken 8 is absolutely for you and easily the most robust fighting game of the year.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth successfully rises to the challenge of being the magnum opus of the Yakuza franchise. Its engaging narrative, complex combat system, and abundance of content, including optional options like Dondoko Island and Sujimon, contribute to a rich and varied gaming experience. Ultimately, the game stands as a love letter to the Yakuza series, offering an undeniably unforgettable experience that is a must-play for diehard fans.