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Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is truly fantastic, and the type of game I had wished Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound had been. It hits all the right beats for the genre, and its combat progression keeps Joe Musashi powerful without feeling unstoppable, due to some fantastic work with its roster of enemies and bosses. As Shinobi is the first step in Sega’s big ‘Power Surge Program’, it hopefully stands as a testament of the quality to come.
Other than a few gripes, Story of Seasons: The Grand Bazaar is a beautiful and chill experience. Something to relax to when you want to take an idyllic break from the hustle and bustle of life in general or hectic, combat-heavy games. Grand Bazaar is a well-crafted and charming story with gorgeous and colorful landscapes, ripe with vegetation swaying in the wind and populated with endearing folks more than happy to help or welcome you to their quaint, breezy town of Zephyr.
Echoes of the End was an extremely fun game that, while flawed in several ways, reminded me of why I love third-person adventure games. It joins the ranks of some of my favorite in the genre with some smart choices around its cast and the ways it attempts to keep combat and exploration fresh. Myrkur Games has a great concept here that does require some fine-tuning, but ultimately, I was very impressed by what was accomplished here.
9 Years of Shadows has some great ideas, but the health system is one that, while original, is flawed and can damage the momentum and pacing needed to keep you engaged. The initial wave of combat is impressive, but the game runs out of ideas to flesh out its combat systems to feel like you are progressing in your capabilities. That said, its strong visuals and boss designs are impressive, and do a lot of heavy lifting to a game that would otherwise be forgettable.
Ultimately, I was a fan of Death Stranding, but I was sceptical about Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. I just wasn’t sure the original needed a sequel after being such a unique AAA experience in a time where we don’t see much originality anymore. Thankfully, I was wrong, and Kojima Productions has delivered one of the best sequels of all time. While it may not have the complete originality of the first game, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is a better game in every way possible.
Fallen City Brawl has its moments, and much of what is here is sound. It does lack some presentation issues and its identity is simply not there. When the final boss fell, I frankly didn't even realize that was it, making its story and resolution to largely fall flat. I think a sequel with a bigger emphasis on its story, characters, and world would provide something to really make it stand apart.
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.