Infinite Start
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In so many ways Metaphor: ReFantazio brings the Persona formula to the next level. By blending a captivating narrative, deep characters that grabs players without letting go. This is furthered thanks to the Archetype, and Synergy systems, which add some much needed strategy. In addition to that, it's a Visually stunning experience that offers beautifully designed environments, and a stellar soundtrack. All of this makes for an amazing experience that RPG fans absolutely must experience.
While I wouldn't say Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream breaks the mold, it does a lot of cool things that are worth experiencing. The wide range of characters, coupled with a plethora of stats create an experience that encourages players to give it their all. This, coupled with thrilling modes like co-op quests makes it an experience that might not reinvent the wheel, but it is a lot of fun with plenty of room to grow.
Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 is the same alien-blasting goodness you have come to know and love cranked up to 11 thanks to the absolutely absurd cast of characters. It's sillier and more approachable than its mainline brethren, making for a welcoming jumping on point for anyone curious about these B-movie style guilty pleasures. World Brothers 2 not only stands comfortably shoulder-to-shoulder with the core series, but it's a spin-off that adds to that formula in fun new ways.
What made Dead Rising a classic was the ability to grab outlandish items, and use said item to defeat seemingly endless waves of enemies. Nearly 20 years later this still holds true. In fact, given how much the world has changed since 2006 there is arguably even more novelty in things like a CD store, or even the mall setting itself. It's a shame other areas highlight Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster age, but anyone looking to reexperience the delight that comes from putting a Servbot helmet on a zombie, and then killing it with a 2×4 will certainly walk away with a smile on their face.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a heartfelt homage to the Suikoden games, seamlessly blending nostalgia with fresh experiences. While it effectively captures the essence of Suikoden, offering familiar storytelling and visuals that resonate deeply with fans, the presence of bugs and occasional performance issues may detract from the overall enjoyment. Nevertheless, these minor setbacks do not overshadow the game's true strength—its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while delivering a new and captivating adventure. With its rich narrative and familiar gameplay elements, Eiyuden Chronicle feels like a true Suikoden game with a new title, making it a must-play for fans of the beloved series.
Grandia HD Collection is in a rather rough place. While the original experiences are classics, this collection is essentially the same games with a slightly fresher coat of paint. For some this will be enough, as the amazing narratives persist, though I fear the choice will limit its appeal. Even some of the more basic expected quality of life choices, such as save anywhere, are not present, and for this reason it's one of those experiences that will either blow you away, or leave you underwhelmed.
Despite Alone in the Dark's promising premise, and legacy, it ultimately disappoints. The game offers a mediocre experience, hindered by lackluster combat mechanics, a narrative that fails to fully utilize its potential by not offering multiple perspectives, and a wide variety of technical issues. Although it provides occasional moments of intrigue, particularly through its puzzles, and atmospheric setting, these are outweighed by its flaws. Consequently, Alone in the Dark may leave players feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied.
At its core I think Unicorn Overlord is a great experience. Between the amazing visuals, gripping narrative, and depth there is a lot to experience. It's unfortunate it makes some annoying choices like overbearing tutorials, but these are quickly forgotten long term. In the end enjoyment comes down to whether you like the gameplay loop or not. Some will love the quasi-RTS battles, whereas other people will find the lack of control annoying. Where you fall on this range will likely dictate how much you enjoy Unicorn Overlord.
The Thaumaturge is a rich narrative experience that contains a world awaiting the player's influence. Maneuvering through society's upper and lower classes, gaining insight into their specific struggles and desires as you pursue stunningly-designed salutors makes for a strong impression, even if the regular flow of on-screen text that begs to be read leads to periods of downtime. Even with the slow-burn pacing in mind, The Thaumaturge presents an emotionally engaging, morally grey trip through early 20th century Poland with a dash of mysticism and a heaping spoonful of inquisitive exploration.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth shines as a standout game of 2024, offering players an expansive and immersive experience that keeps them engaged from beginning to end. With a perfect mix of nostalgia and fresh innovations, Rebirth surpasses its predecessor in every way. From its stunning open-world exploration to its polished combat system and fun side activities, Rebirth sets a new benchmark for JRPGs. All these things combine to cement Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s status as a must-play game that will likely remain one of the year’s best titles.
Skull and Bones is finally a real, fully-launched product after several years of troubled development. While some components manage to pleasantly surprise, like ship buildcrafting and general ship-to-ship combat, the jankiness on the technical front, the exhausting live service components and the slim yet grindy endgame leave a lot to be desired. As always with live service titles, we can look towards the next year of seasons and additional content to see how it develops, but for now Skull and Bones is a middling recreation of the pirate fantasy.
It might be corny to say, but I look at Ultros as more of an experience. All the weak parts start to fade away as new locations appear, mysteries are uncovered, and a new location offers a fascinating new thing to see. Sure, it would be nice if some of the weaker points were more refined, but at the end of the day it's a 10 or so hour experience that will likely stand out for quite a while.
Perhaps the optimal approach to grasping Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is to view it as a high-investment endeavor. Initially, progress may feel sluggish, and the narrative might seem disjointed. However, with increased time and effort, the experience undergoes a marked improvement. Admittedly, transitioning from a lackluster encounter to a satisfactory expertise may not represent the most favorable exchange. Nevertheless, enthusiasts of ghosts, the occult, or dialogue-rich adventures are likely to discover it worthwhile.
This is a great example of a remake done right. Not only were there plenty of reasons to revisit this classic, the improvements were quite welcome. It's unfortunate it still occasionally shows its age, plus the lack of FES, but the overall experience really shows why later titles had so much momentum. So if you loved the original, or just want to see what the hype is about, I think you'll more than love Persona 3 Reload.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy features three great games that have been remastered for current-gen systems. It is from the visual novel genre, but the stories are engaging for most gamers to be interested. A must play for those that like to experience something different.
At the end of the day, I found that Granblue Fantasy: Relink captured the elements I love about this genre. There are several unique bosses, each with their own shenanigans, keeping things interesting. While I would appreciate changes to the build system, it doesn't detract from the overall engagement of the experience—especially for those who aim to overcome everything Granblue Fantasy: Relink has to offer.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth surpasses expectations with its seamless integration of compelling narrative, diverse gameplay mechanics, and innovative features such as tag team attacks, or Sujimon Battles. The meticulously crafted landscapes of Yokohama, and Hawaii, complemented by the return of beloved characters elevate the narrative, captivating both series veterans and newcomers alike. Positioned as a must-play, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth offers an unforgettable journey through vibrant worlds that firmly establishes it as an early standout among the best games of 2024.
What stands out the most about Tekken 8 is the effort to bring newcomers in. Even if someone isn't ready for online, there are many offline options to build your skills. This isn't just a brief overview and combo trials but a wide variety of options to polish practically any rough patch. This, combined with the great gameplay, solid online, and overwhelming customization options, make Tekken 8 a fantastic choice regardless of skill level or experience.
Overall I think Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a solid experience. It's far from perfect, as it can be surprisingly difficult/cheap/annoying, but most of the time it's a creative metroidvania. Add in some genuinely cool boss battles, climatic parry moves, and countless locations to explore and you have an experience well worth considering.
In a lot of ways, I find myself conflicted. On one hand, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is basically the base game with all the DLC and more, but on the other, it's a step closer to a traditional fighter. I don't think that is a negative per se, just a choice many fans might disagree with given the mobile game and previous version spoke to a wider audience than just fighting game fans. Regardless of where you fall on the casual side, the core gameplay remains good. Anyone determined to learn has more than a few options, plus a wide variety of offline modes to enhance your skill. So, fans of the fighting game will be happy, whereas RPG fans might walk away disappointed.