Analog Stick Gaming
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I had a lot of high hopes going into Ashes of Elrant, given I adored Chained Echoes. However, I simply didn't find much here to satiate my desire for a new adventure with this cast. The roster is wildly underused and the threat had zero stakes, given it takes place before the final battle. It's implementation via the main menu was also a sign it wasn't going to be impactful to the overall adventure. It's more Chained Echoes, so I can't be too disappointed, but I simply wanted much more for a self-touted “massive” DLC that didn't amount to much at all.
With some strong visuals and a fantastic soundtrack, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a title that has a lot going for it despite some very glaring shortcomings. A lack of combat depth, and even the ability to attack upward or downward, could have really elevated this to be a top-tier experience. While the dynamic between the two protagonists is extremely fun, it is unfortunately overshadowed by Kumori being incredibly sidelined. Ragebound is fun, even great at times, but it lacks the depth needed for replayability, as you’ll see everything the game offers far too early.
Robocop Rogue City: Unfinished Business is a wonderful follow-up and standalone experience that continues an expertly crafted continuation of Robocop 2. It makes a lot of smart choices to keep the action going, in a setting that works well for the character and the story. While the people element still looks dated, Unfinished Business is nonetheless a visually impressive and action-packed release that every Robocop fan needs to play.
Mario Kart World may not be the revolutionary upgrade fans have wanted, especially after the feature and content-rich Mario Kart 8, but it presents a scale the series hasn't seen yet. Should Mario Kart World add in new racers and even expand its courses, then I think the game will see a long life ahead of it. While the Switch 2 is currently lacking in first party favorites, Mario Kart World is still a no-brainer when it comes to having it for the new console.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers could have been this studio's Lies of P moment, but much of its design creates unnecessary friction toward the player that can feel off-putting and can leave you scratching your head on where to go next. The mixing of Skyborn Might with its spells and skills is another hurdle in utilizing all the game’s systems in a cohesive manner, making some battles a rinse and repeat of the same skills over and over again. While I certainly enjoyed my time here, despite these issues, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers lacks anything that truly makes it memorable or anything to really make it stand out from a sea of other Soulslikes.
My gripes were minor and not game-breaking enough to tear me away. The story, pacing, activities, and even the superb voice acting that gives life to all of your friends and villagers alike are all expertly done and draw you in with magnificent ease. While Guardians of Azuma does a lot to mainstream much of what has come before, the seeds planted throughout previous entries nonetheless bloom here in radiant splendor.
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster will certainly find its audience, but I'm unsure the dated design will cause new players to have the same appreciation for it that its established fan base already has. It's a shame Nightdive Studios didn't offer the same remake treatment of the original, considering how great the previous game’s remake played and the wealth of visual upgrades that greatly helped its trek into modern gaming. While System Shock 2 is certainly not for me, I can still respect what it did many years ago, even if it hasn’t aged particularly well.
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die may not live up to what it is clearly inspired by, the game itself is a shining example of how to spin-off from a previous entry and create something enjoyable as you approach the story and its world from a new perspective. While the requirement of playing the previous game is needed to understand the story, the context of what Aleksandra is fighting for, as well as why you should care about the game’s cast, the game built around those things is ultimately well executed and has made me excited to play the previous game to understand those relationships and the context behind them.
While its SWAP mechanic can feel limited at times, it is nonetheless a charming example of a passion project come to life. The world, its characters, and the general gameplay are wildly entertaining. There is strong potential for a sequel, one that could allow more freedom in how the SWAP mechanic is used. Regardless, Ruffy and Riverside is a fantastic time, and a game that can easily satisfy those wanting a trip down the Nintendo 64 lane, or young kids who want a fun alternative to Mario.
While a bit more structure and more challenge-types in single player would have been ideal, it’s a solid foundation for what could be a potential series. It has that Tony Hawk Pro Skater appeal, but does lack the format and presentation to really stand out. The customization for your character is solid, and the locations you’ll visit have some great variety. Rooftops and Alleys: The Parkour Game had one mission to achieve, and while it may ragdoll from time to time, it nonetheless lands its initial leap, at least with friends.
What Dead Mage has crafted here has incredible promise, but the full release at launch feels half-baked and designed around being a single-player experience that just happens to allow for co-op, without the instance loot and balance to pull it off. You can easily have a solid few hours of fun here, but I don’t see many players seeing it through to become the titular Wizard of Legend.
Despite an exciting trailer, Scar-lead Salvation is a huge miss for Compile Heart, despite a good premise. You are touring the same boring levels, enemies, and the few guns and passives you pick up don't shake up the repetitive nature of what Scar-lead Salvation is. While the breakable armor could have been an outlet for some impressive fan service, much in the same way it helped Steller Blade, here, it is such a miss that it is laughable.
Date Everything is a solid debut for Sassy Chap Games and is one of the better dating simulators I’ve played, down to some sheer creativity and some wonderful choices on the voice cast. It’s pretty hilarious to think about the amount of star power that is here, but when you have some clever writing, a great premise, and some gorgeous artwork and vast replayability, Date Everything is the perfect package to cozy up to and share some quality time with.
Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a fairly by-the-numbers remaster that offers us the best version of the game, despite some opportunities to improve upon what was already there. A completely new take on the voice acting would have done wonders, a la Persona 3 Remake, as well as improved character models wouldn’t have hurt as well. Still, the game that is here is still a really enjoyable entry in the series, and a reminder of some of the best Capcom has almost left behind.
Warhammer 40K: Speed Freeks can certainly feel limited in what is available to take on, but the extremely low price does make up for some of that. Still, additional modes, and even vehicles, should be added at a somewhat regular pace if they intend to keep its player base engaged. What is here is enjoyable, with the crunchy and weighty combat you'd want, all wrapped up in an aesthetic that feels perfect for it.
Monster Train 2’s variety and content does wonders for repeated runs, even back to back to back until you've lost track of time. The upgrades, equipment cards, and the synergies between the clans make for a very entertaining game, despite the forgettable story and character moments. Still, the core of the game is fantastic and is a fantastic addition to the greats of this genre.
Regardless of my issues with Revenge of the Savage Planet, Racoon Logic survived a studio closure to reform and return to this series. While Revenge makes some improvements over Journey, I certainly wanted more from it than what is here. The third-person perspective is ideal for this series, and there is a lot of potential for a third game. All in all, Revenge of the Savage Planet can be a great time in co-op, since the story is so in the background that you could mute it and not feel like you've lost anything in the process.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 has some of the best fighting games of their era in one amazing package. Nostalgia is certainly riding high here as the 3D visuals obviously don’t hold up, but they nonetheless are oozing with charm and personality, especially Project Justice. Powerstone 2 matches online have been wildly entertaining, and jumping in to get a few rounds of Alpha 3 has been a dream. As Capcom winds down on the available games to add into a future collection, this release has been one of the best, providing the first time many games have seen a release either outside Japan or in the past twenty-some years. If you need any more proof that Capcom is the king of fighting games, this collection is Exhibit A.
Doom: The Dark Ages is often a perfect successor to the rest of the trilogy, with some fantastic weapons, a great addition with the shield, and an absolutely breathtaking aesthetic. Still, the bland soundtrack and wide-open areas zap the energy out of most encounters, resulting in a game that, while extremely well made, feels less like Doom and more like Serious Sam mixed with Painkiller, which isn’t ultimately a bad thing if you like those games. Still, The Dark Ages is wildly enjoyable and does provide some satisfying combat with the best version of the Slayer yet.
Trident's Tale is a pretty fun time. It's a fun swashbuckling adventure that plays like a Saturday morning cartoon. The characters are fairly likeable with mixed performances, but the ship combat and fights our hero, Ocean, will have are likely where people are going to get the most out of this game, even if they lack polish and features to make them stand out.