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There is absolutely no doubt that Re;Birth is a huge improvement on the original, which was an utter mess. It remains a very niche title, but those who are well-versed in Otaku culture will find plenty to like. Battles are fast-paced and stupidly fun, and side quests are enjoyable, although simple. With a fully voiced cast in both Japanese and English, these colourful characters will put a smile on your face throughout the 30+ hours it takes to complete the game, although there is still plenty to be done after you've beaten the story. Nep-Nep has returned better than ever!
The Disgaea fan base isn’t just made up of hardcore S-RPG fanatics, and that’s what makes the series so great, that it can cater to everyone. This is a really great addition to the series, and definitely not one you should pass up! Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited is out on August 29th on Playstation Vita in retail stores and on the Playstation Store. Make sure to check it out!
While the premise of the game is quite simple and the plot progression can be considered safe in its approach, there is a very solid turn-based RPG at its core, with each new element added to the battle system only helping to boost the enjoyment of the game. The dialogue is sharp and funny and the characters are likeable. The dungeon designs are rather bland, making the exploration aspect of the game forgettable, this is not a perfect game by any means, but if you love JRPGs then it's worth the time.
Unfortunately, when all is said and done, NAtURAL DOCtRINE simply doesn't provide an enjoyable experience. A difficult game like Dark Souls will reward patience and show steady improvement of player skill in-game progress, but this is purely hard for the sake of being so. It's too frustrating in today's busy age to spend 45 minutes at a time on the same mission, failing to make any progress for hours. Mid-mission surprises happen too often and the game's design only makes their appearance frustrating rather than tense. There's no saving halfway through a mission, a problem that's sure to annoy Vita purchasers. I haven't finished the main campaign, although I would estimate I'm over halfway. In-game timer reads around 20 hours – although this doesn't include the hours of gameplay lost to rage quits.
Akiba's Trip is made for the people who love otaku culture, the combat system is simple and fun but can be a bit irritating at times when crowds of enemies gang up on you, but for the most part, it's enjoyable and rewarding. With a wide range of weapons to use, clothes to wear, side missions to complete and multiple endings to view, there is a lot of reasons to pick it up even after you've finished your first play-through.
A groggy barrel full of laughs, despite the minor glitches.
If you've never tried a Tales game before, then this is a great way to introduce yourself to the franchise. The story is a little lackluster, but the interesting use of emotions and the colourful cast more than makeup for it. The battle system is fast, fun, painfully addictive and lets you feel like you're kicking a whole lot of ass. Tales of Hearts R is a fantastic addition to the PlayStation Vita's library, bringing a solid 40+ hour experience, that is worth both your time and your money.
While 2D Fighters are not my forte I'll admit, Arcana Heart 3: Love Max!!!!! Is definitely enjoyable and with tons of extra content, it's definitely worth the money. Visually it looks fantastic, it's great to see sprites back in action, as the jump to 3D characters in other franchises has not always been a good thing. Having the option of a portable version is also a plus, as it's the kind of game you can pull out and play in short bursts.
This could've easily been a lazy attempt for Atlus to make money, but thankfully Persona's first entry on the Nintendo 3DS is an engaging and satisfying one, that's filled with love for the superb cast of Persona 3 and 4. The fusion of Persona and Etrian Odyssey works well and is made even more enjoyable by the absolutely incredible soundtrack. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a deep and challenging experience, with dungeons to explore, shadows to annihilate and a great deal of replay value, this game is worth every penny.
If you really want to play Akiba's Trip, you've probably already picked it up. The PS4 version does improve, but the limitations of previous systems really hold it back from being the best it could be. If I could go, Basque, I would play this on a handheld, it just doesn't feel right on a home console. Is it a good game? Corset is! It just doesn't warrant a premium price for a portable game. It's still a great nod to otaku culture and is filled with both clever and not-so-subtle jokes, and if you can look past its flaws as a PS4 title you'll enjoy its depth and atmosphere.
An immediate sell to most 2D fighting game buffs, the developer French Bread has a great reputation going in. Combined with their relationship to Type-Moon this may be a gateway to pull in a new audience. With the fluidity and freedom during gameplay Under Night In-Birth EXE:Late goes further to improve the 2D fighting game genre and with the addition of the GRD mechanic, skill is very much rewarded. While the game may not be the most user-friendly for newcomers to the genre, it certainly deserves a look.
All said and done, Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart is a great game, whether you're in it for the Strategy RPG game-play or the Hyperdimension Neptunia story. And even if you're not either of those, it's a great starting place for both – an alternate reality for the story and a well-balanced game for the gameplay. Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart is very well polished and it's the small things here that set it apart from other SRPG's.
htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary is a gorgeous game and exudes an indie charm that complements its plot, but the countless brutal deaths and obscure puzzles only serve to frustrate. Even with the option to change the control input to the analogue sticks the gameplay is still very tedious and flawed. On a plus note, the game does suppose the use of PlayStation TV, even if you happen to own one this game will probably not improve in any way over its handheld sibling.
All that said, Xenoverse is a compelling game. I'm not a huge Dragonball fan, it wasn't a part of my childhood like it was for many but I still kept playing well past the end credits. The story is cheesy, the gameplay is dumbed down from its forebears, and the RNG is frustrating at the best of times but it still hooks you with its catchy opening video and pumped theme song. A curious combination of fighter, brawler, RPG and dice throws if ever there was one but one that has definitely sparked an interest in the brand behind the game.
With an emotional and compelling plot, combined with a fantastic battle system and an awesome soundtrack, this Final Fantasy will be one entry into the series that people will place among the best of them. Forgetting the annoying camera controls and some slightly iffy areas where the visual quality doesn’t quite match up, there isn’t anything not to like. Square Enix made a brilliant game that has been eagerly awaited and HexaDrive’s work bringing it to the PlayStation 4 has been near perfect.
Omega Quintet suffers in quite a few areas with a huge amount of dialogue filler, not much story progression to its visually dated look that for a PlayStation 4 title may put potential buyers off. For fans of Compile Heart’s style and those looking for a new JRPG experience will find a great amount of pleasure here. The battle system is crammed full of exciting and interesting features that make battles an absolute joy to partake in. The Promotion Video System, although missable, will entice fans of simulation that have been eager to try this style of game mainly confined to Japan. Overall, for a JRPG fan a very enjoyable experience with plenty to offer.
It cannot be denied that Neptunia U is a great addition to the Hyperdimension franchise, while the action may become repetitive after playing in long bursts; it’s an enjoyable and rewarding game. The characters remain charming; the puns continue to be hilarious and best of all the world of Gamindustri is still an absolute joy to return to.
J-Stars Victory Vs+ is a long-overdue game for the English-speaking world; that said, it is definitely worth the wait. An all-star character roster of fan favourites from Weekly Shonen Jump series, with stages pulled in alongside them makes for a very enjoyable game. There are few complaints to be made of the game, and even those of note don't impede enjoyment of the game much. One can only hope that any future Weekly Shonen Jump fighting games don't take as long to make their way over here.
Overall, the game is incredibly enjoyable, allowing one to sadistically torture enemies to death. The game is perfect for that, and will bring many hours of enjoyment, especially with the Deception Studio mode and user content being downloadable. Unfortunately, the plot itself is not as engrossing as the gameplay. If the Deception Studio mode did not require unlocking characters and traps in another mode, it is unlikely I'd spend much time on them. Despite this, the game is well worth the price of admission, moreso for newcomers to the franchise, to this sadistic playground.
Overall, Sword Art Online Re: Hollow Fragment is an enjoyable play, considering that it is a ported remaster of a ported remaster from 2013. Graphically we are a long way from Unreal 4 here, but with a strong plot, enjoyable character development and a bargain price tag it's very hard not to recommend it. Better be quick though, the sequel Lost Song will be here in November and this game has a bucket load of content!