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Overall, Atelier Sophie is a great addition to the Atelier franchise. Despite the story being quite weak, the character interactions made up for that, especially between Sophie and Plachta. I’ll be looking forward to playing the sequel game Atelier Firis.
Nier: Automata has not only become one of my favourite games of 2017, it’s become one of my favourite games of all-time. The story is stunning, deep and memorable, introducing us to some lovable and fantastic characters. Turn the sound right up, sit back and enjoy one of the best action games you’ll ever play.
Nights of Azure was quite the enjoyable game, but the main story was quite short and can be completed within hours. For completionists or achievement hunters like me, a lot of time will be spent in the game after the final boss fight in order to grind tasks and levels. Overall, while the game was enjoyable, it was not that immersive, thus I did not feel attachment to any of the characters in the game. Nonetheless, Nights of Azure is still a great game to play for those seeking a new and quick JRPG to play.
Fairy Fencer F Advent Dark Force is definitely a must-buy for fans of the original game as it provides players with new experiences and improvements on existing features. Nonetheless, the game may feel stiff at times with nothing too ground-breaking. Overall, the game is a standard JRPG which can be fun enough for many players but may not stand out to those looking for something unique. Nonetheless, I am hoping for a sequel as I did enjoy the story, especially with Fang’s interactions with Eryn.
Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea brings the Dusk Trilogy to a close and joins its predecessors on the PlayStation Vita. With the lack of a Time Limit system, Atelier has never suited the handheld device better than with this instalment. The pick-up and play nature of the device works brilliantly with this entry and I can’t help but love the game even more for that. While I may be new to the Atelier series I can’t wait for more and I’ll definitely be picking up some of the other titles available on the PlayStation Vita.
Tales of Symphonia was my entry game to the “Tales of” series and I’ve been a major fan ever since. To me, Tales of Berseria is another great addition to the ever-growing franchise. Not only that, it was a major improvement to its predecessor Tales of Zestiria. Allowing both series to be connected also helped bolster their shared world’s lore. With how enjoyable Tales of Berseria is, I look more forward to the next major “tale.”
7th Dragon III Code: VFD will not appeal to everyone based on its genre but within that genre, it is a solid title. Long-time fans and newcomers will find something to like within this game. It's simple and never over-complicates its features making for a very enjoyable experience. I feel that this game is likely to fall under the radar for many but if you get a chance then I definitely recommend giving it a go, you will not be disappointed.
Overall, I love this new BlazBlue. This might be the last one and I could see how much effort Ark System Works has put into it. It’s a wonderful game that is worthy to be this franchise’s last. Any problems I had with the previous games have been fixed in this one and I couldn’t be any happier. I give Central Fiction a 9.1/10. It’s an amazing fighting game that any fan or fighting game player should get if they are looking for well-made fun.
Final Fantasy XV no doubt has its issues and it’s far from perfect but it is one of the most enjoyable games of the year. The game opens with the statement “A Final Fantasy for fans and first-timers” and this could not be truer. The much needed and natural change in gameplay should definitely attract new players and fans alike. The planned updates should give players a sense of ease with regards to how well the game will be supported in the future. It should also give players even more reason to return after they have completed it. Give the sheer amount of content packed into the game is definitely a worthy investment and will keep you entertained for many, many hours.
Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization is, to put it bluntly, a little disappointing. I was expecting a lot more from it and the promises of improved combat etc… nothing really feels like it’s been changed all that much. Sure, it looks nicer and the maps have a lot more going on, but overall it just feels more of a chore to play than the enjoyable and fun Lost Song. Hollow Realization is far from a bad game it just didn’t resonate with me or meet my expectations, unfortunately. If you’re a fan of Sword Art Online and enjoyed Hollow Fragment and are looking for more of the same, then you’ll enjoy Hollow Realization.
As a Neptunia fan, I was pleased to play another hack-and-slash style game from the franchise. As usual, the comedy during dialogue was hilarious, especially with the sarcastic Blanc now at the limelight. This is definitely a game other Neptunia fans should play, or those looking for something to casually pass the time with.
BlazBlue takes some hits due to a sloppy end to some of its story threads and the ever-present patriarchy that cripples all potentially perfect examples of pop culture, but other than that, you will not find a better fighting game anywhere else on this planet. We are officially on the Blue standard.
Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2, despite its minor issues and some of my own personal issues, is a fun and enjoyable game that any Dragon Ball fan should look to own. The huge amount of content on offer and its super smooth 60 frames per second will definitely serve to please. If you're looking for a Dragon Ball game to get stuck into, then this is definitely the one to pick up. Fully customisable character creation, a huge roster of Dragon Ball characters and a different take on a classic story all awaits you.
Going into Root Letter, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I am glad I've been able to spend time with it. A thoroughly enjoyable experience and truly a treat for both the eyes and ears, PQube's Root Letter is one not to be missed. It speaks to the game's excellence that the closest thing to a fault I can find to mention is that minor characters aren't voiced - and that is hardly an issue when it amounts to literally characters with so few lines you won't actually remember being unvoiced. The rest of the cast of characters are brought to life with incredibly emotive voicework that makes an immersive story even more engrossing. I really hope that going forward, we see more games similar to Root Letter localised by PQube.
Yomawari: Night Alone may be short and repetitive but like with other survival horror games of this type, such as Corpse Party, the replay value is extremely high and encourages you to die a lot and explore everything the world has to offer. Rushing to the end may leave you feeling unsatisfied, but know that there is a lot more to get from this game. Visually simple but very charming and a masterful use of audio throughout, make sure you’re using headphone, Yomawari: Night Alone is the perfect pickup for this Halloween season.
While Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Daybreak Special Gigs does a lot right, it really does have too many negatives to warrant a total recommendation. It is a game that would be used to fill in a dry spell between other similar urban fantasy games, and it is certainly a unique experience once you actually teach yourself how to play it.
Superdimension Neptune is an incredibly enjoyable entry in the Neptunia series, and it's great to see the Sega Hard Girls co-starring, and producing the best character roster yet. The game retains enough similarities to earlier Neptunia games so as not to alienate fans while mixing things up enough to provide a game that feels new and keeps you coming back for more. The time loop mechanic may have been done before, but, for me at least, it's relatively fresh. Superdimension Neptune is probably the best game I've played this year, and I look forward to seeing what's next for the Neptunia franchise.
Overall, this is a very solid game, especially for those that want to play something on the raunchy side. Though the story could be fleshed out a bit more, for a lewd game such as this, it is more than sufficient enough. There are no complaints at all about the gameplay, with praise of its high replay value. For any rail shooter or anime fans, this is definitely a game to pick up.
Dragon Quest Builders, despite its issues, brilliantly marries the sandbox survival gameplay style with traditional Japanese RPG storytelling. Fans of the franchise will feel right at home with a whole roster of familiar monsters to fight and a nostalgia-filled soundtrack. Whatever your play-style, whether it be story progression or building to your heart's content, you can expect to pour countless hours into this game and continue to be entertained. Dragon Quest Builders is easily one of the best games of 2016 and quite possibly the most addictive.
Overall, I would definitely say this is a very solid game for minori. Although it may be lacking in the emotional impact compared to the company’s other installments, this is the first chapter of the Supipara series, after all. Despite it being somewhat short, this kinetic novel is worth every penny due to the richness in storytelling and visuals. As the first chapter ended with a very enjoyable cliffhanger, I look forward to the next release to experience more of Yukinari’s eventful life.