Infinite Start
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All things considered, Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is a good spin-off. It feels different enough to stand out, without it being so different to throw fans off. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite check every box. Combat could be a little better, gameplay a bit deeper, story a little less goofy and so forth but it’s a good first attempt. One that is worth giving a go if you enjoy either experience.
Overall, I would say I enjoyed playing through Ghostwire: Tokyo. Some of this might just be my love of the setting and overall culture, though it’s unique and often fascinating. It’s just a shame a wide variety of choices hold it back. Turning an open-world game into a long series of checkboxes is rarely good, with combat following an odd curve. It starts fun, then feels unsatisfying, followed by it slowly building back to being fun. Given it eventually becomes a satisfying experience I would say it’s worth considering, though it is absolutely not an experience I’d say is for everyone.
At its core Etrian Odyssey, Origins Collection are enjoyable games in this genre. Some will find the simplistic and mostly menu-driven adventure unappealing, though fans of it will likely be engrossed in the world. This, coupled with a different look than the overly detailed designs typically found here, helps Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection stand out. So if you’re looking for a new dungeon crawler, you’ll likely be happy.
Lies of P is an interesting game with some elements reminiscent of Soulslike titles. While it doesn't fully embrace the challenging yet rewarding approach that defines the source experiences, it also distinguishes itself by not attempting to be a mere clone. Notable differences can be found in its durability and weapon-swapping mechanics, as well as its more traditional narrative style. Consequently, players will likely have strong opinions about this unique approach. Although it isn't inherently flawed, there's room for improvement through thoughtful design changes.
I'd describe Ghostrunner 2 as a safe sequel. Those who love the original will almost certainly feel the same about this, just like those who hate it will probably find their opinion unchanged. If nothing else, it's a fun adventure that has a fair amount of replay value, even if some of that is simply figuring out the best way to cut down those who stand against you.
Vertigo Games has a strong zombie slaying VR title on their hands with Arizona Sunshine 2. It doesn't elevate the genre in any notable ways, reminding us that the initial entry led the charge in a much different VR landscape than we are looking at today, but it still manages to keep the fun factor intact. It may not be a massive evolution over its 2016 predecessor, but it still maintains an alluring experience (one that is improved by Buddy's presence).
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a surprising tie-in, masterfully building a world that's as exciting to view as it is to briskly navigate. Ubisoft Massive has painstakingly brought the Western Frontiers of Pandora to life, ensuring both casual and die-hard movie fans will appreciate the views. And while the game is able to match the awe of the movies at times, its success is partially stripped back by the all-too-familiar Ubisoft formula peeking out from underneath its beautiful exterior.
There is really only so much to say about Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. It's fun, designs remain fantastic, though at its core it isn't particularly deep. Those into the Dragon Quest brand will undoubtedly enjoy it, as will those looking for a good pick up and play adventure. It would be nice if there was a bit more depth, but even in its current form it isn't hard to get your money's worth.
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.
Even if Neptunia X Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars isn’t reinventing the wheel, it’s the type of experience that will speak to fans. The jokes are good, the setting offers a fair amount of new subject matter to explore and the gameplay is interesting enough to enjoy. What it lacks is some of the depth or sheer content you’d find in a similar game, which is somewhat disappointing. Still, fans of Neptunia will likely find themselves having fun seeing what trouble Neptune has gotten herself into.
Simply put, Unsighted won’t appeal to everyone. The core experience is fun and the puzzles engaging, but it’s also a rough game that prioritizes speed above all.
Tormented Souls is a love letter to the earlier years of the horror genre. The fixed camera angles, heavy reliance on puzzle solving, and claustrophobic mansion-style environments all combine to form a package heavily reminiscent of the titles spanning the fifth and sixth console generations.
To put it simply, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is in an odd place. The story covers what it needs to, giving it enough content to fill complete for fans and newcomers alike, it just feels hollow.
The tricky thing about Dungeon Encounters is that it’s an engaging game. I found myself saying I would do one more floor a couple of times before realizing I had to stop. But, by the same token, there are plenty of games with deeper mechanics and more to it than a board and boxes fighting one another. For this reason, I think it appeals to people who love the imaginative side of Dungeon and Dragons, but many RPG fans will likely find the lack of practically anything boring. After a while, you just realize you’re swapping numbers, with a team eventually winning or losing.
Unfortunately, Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water wasn’t perfect when it released on Nintendo Wii U, nor is does the remaster fix everything. While the flaws hold it back, the game succeeds by providing the horrific and eerie atmosphere that the franchise is known for. There is a lot that fans will appreciate, it’s newcomers who might not care for the dated approach. However, whether you’re a fan or newcomer, if you give Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water a fair chance, you’ll likely not be disappointed.
here are a lot of things going on in Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi. It’s a simple-looking game that relies heavily on a love of the tactical side of RPGs. There is also a strong story, one that does a good job hooking players quickly, though can lose them with frequent tutorials and vague answers. At its core, Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi does a decent job in the genre and certainly has its own perks, it just might not be enough to make it stand out next to similar titles or fall short of some of the better games in the genre.
In a lot of ways, I applaud the concept behind Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars. It’s different, commits fully, and absolutely captures the experience it wants to create. The problem is, a gimmick like that can make it a hard sell. Games as a medium have distinctly different advantages, as well as those games catering to different elements, making it more of a well-executed concept. Naturally, fans of Dungeons and Dragons will likely find the experience comforting and enjoyable, whereas most other players will see a unique-looking game that plays like a rather generic RPG.
At its core, Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord feels like a different take on the Neptunia formula. For this reason, fans of the franchise will absolutely enjoy this adventure. For everyone else, it’s a good strategy RPG with amusing dialogue. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s still a lot of fun. Especially if you take the time to do all the optional content.
Gunfire Reborn is a fun game that suffers from some pretty substantial problems. Online is simply a mess; regardless of where the fault lies, it results in a negative experience for all. Add in a lack of updates and questionable history on Xbox, and it’s a hard sell for Gunfire Reborn. Sure, it has good gunplay, charming weapons, and a lot of build potential; unfortunately, these issues exist. Perhaps things will improve now that more resources can be poured into the console side of things, but for now, I would stick to PC or Xbox via Game Pass.
At its core, Layers of Fear is a rather generic survival horror experience. Most of your adventure will be exploring locations for clues or solving rather basic puzzles. Eventually, you meet hostile forces; they’re more annoying than scary. For these reasons, it’s probably worth it if you love the genre, but you might want to look into something else for everyone else.