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Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is a must-play game and whilst I’d recommend playing the others, you don’t need to enjoy this entry. You’ll likely find yourself going back to them though because the series has consistently been fantastic. Buy it, support it, and love it, because it’s worth your time and money, and it’s the perfect send-off for Kazuma Kiryu.
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is easily the best SAO game to date. Gameplay is fun and there’s enough on offer so don’t be worried if you don’t think you’d be getting your money’s worth. Fans of the franchise will be pleased with how well the source material is being treated in video game format, where previous titles might have been a letdown.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory is a fantastic update and addition to an already great game in Cyber Sleuth. The parallel plot threads have been masterfully implemented and made the game an absolute joy to play through and experience. If you’re unfamiliar with the predecessor then worry not as Hacker’s Memory stands tall as a great game in its own right and will only leave you wanting more.
Disgaea 5 Complete is a fantastic addition to the Nintendo Switch library since Nintendo's own flagship Fire Emblem series is noticeably absent on the system so far. You can see from my review of the PlayStation 4 version of the game that I love my time with it and found it even more enjoyable this time round, given the adaptability the Switch offers. If you're a Disgaea fan and own a Switch, then you should definitely pick up Disgaea 5 Complete even if you have played it already!
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.
A.O.T: Wings of Freedom has easily become one of my favourite games of the year and I’m really happy to be able to say that. Any concerns or worries that I had going into the game were blown away and my anticipation was met and far exceeded. The game is equally challenging and satisfying and I highly recommend it to anyone. Well done Omega Force and Koei Temco on yet another great anime based title and I can’t wait to see a follow-up game soon.
When I first got the game, I played through it non stop, experimenting with all the characters while also going through their stories in arcade mode. This is a game I would recommend for both fighting game veterans and newcomers alike. However, be warned that players in network mode can be very competitive so I would advise getting used to playing the game before trying out ranked matches.
Stranger of Sword City is definitely not the best dungeon crawler, but it still is one to recommend. Its style is quite unique compared to others of its genre and its high difficulty level can satisfy experienced players. Admittedly, grinding can be a tedious and time-consuming task, but it is a necessary evil that dungeon crawlers possess. The game can be overwhelming at first, but after getting used to the gameplay, everything will feel mostly natural. However, be sure to save often as one never knows when they might lose hours of progress due to a simple mistake.
Having missed out on Valkyria Chronicles during its initial release on PlayStation 3 back in 2008, I'm overjoyed that it’s now available on PlayStation 4 in the form of a remaster, boasting 1080p at 60 frames-per-second. This brilliant real-time, turn-based strategy fusion has quickly become one of my favourite games of the year. It’s been a real joy to play and I’ll be playing it to death for the foreseeable future. Now we just have to wait for the sequels to get remastered for PS4 too.
Ray Gigant is easily my favourite Experience Inc title and quite possibly my favourite dungeon-crawler RPG so far, a huge thank you to Acttil for bringing it to the west. Ray Gigant managed to excel in so many areas from plot, gameplay, visuals and sound which I find is a rare thing these days. If you’re a fan of dungeon-crawling RPG or just looking for a new title to try out on the Vita then Ray Gigant needs to be high on your list.
Yo-Kai Watch is a game that is probably going to be considered a Pokémon clone by many, but for me, it does things so much better. It’s visually stunning, with a deeper story than you might expect, as well as a much fresher take on the monster-collecting role-playing games that Pokémon made popular. If you’re on the fence about picking up this title, then I implore you to take the plunge and give it a go, you may just be pleasantly surprised. Yo-Kai Watch was an eye-opener for me and I’m glad that I got the chance to play this fantastic game. Fingers crossed we’ll be getting its sequels sometime soon!
If you are new to the Souls games, the third instalment is a great place to start. The opening tutorial does a grand job of telling you how to survive and then it’s up to you how you progress after that. If you’ve been told, or heard, these games are difficult, they aren’t lying. Just don’t give up and you’ll be rewarded with one of the greatest gaming satisfaction of this generation.
Overall, this is a fantastic game, doing justice to the Naruto franchise. It looks and plays beautifully, which is sure to please long time fans. It’s a shame on the story mode, but you can argue that starting at the 4th game in the series as a new fan wouldn’t be the best idea. If you want the full Naruto experience, then I believe checking out past games is the best option (or giving the anime or manga a try). CyberConnect2 have created a dedicated, passionate Naruto experience, one that this player will keep on enjoying for years to come. It’s a love letter to the fans, that are sure to be satisfied with what it has to offer.
Sword Art Online: Lost Song takes what Hollow Fragment made overly complicated, simplifies it, and makes it a much more enjoyable and fun experience. If you’re a fan of Sword Art Online, then you owe it to yourself to play this. The ALO story plays no real part in this game, so don’t let that dissuade you. The flight feature works brilliantly and you can have some really epic aerial battles or just take in the beautiful scenery. Sword Art Online: Lost Song is a really enjoyable game whether you play it alone or with friends.
A tried and tested formula that’s hard to beat, no new evolutionary additions in this instalment but a series of refinement that makes for one of the best Warriors sub-franchisees to date. Being the first title in the series to be released on the new generation of consoles, everything has been amped up to get the most out of the new hardware. One Piece fans will enjoy the story mode that goes back to the series beginnings, following it to the most recent story arc in the manga and the whole raft of new characters it brings. The series also hits Steam for the first time so there’s even more availability for fans of One Piece and the Warriors franchise alike, you wouldn't go amiss with this awesome title.
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.
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.
Toodee and Topdee is a fantastic mash-up of genres that’s not only a quirky idea but one that actually works, and works flawlessly. Describing how the game mechanics work really doesn’t do justice to the actual magic at play here. The fluidity with which you swap between the two characters is everything. It allows for creativity from both the developer and player that otherwise could not exist. The brother developer team dietzribi has created one of the best and creative games of the year!
Atlus says it's “two full-length RPGs in one package!” which should make this a must-buy for players of the original and newcomers alike. As a player of the original on the Nintendo DS, I decided to relive the event of the Septentriones scenario and I do not regret it. The story is brilliant and the battles are just a joy to play. If you haven’t experienced the first game, Devil Survivor/Devil Survivor Overclocked, and are worried about jumping in at DS2, don’t worry as the stories are completely separate. With essentially two full-length RPGs contained within this one release, you’re sure to get your money's worth.
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.