Qualbert.com's Reviews
Octopath Traveller’s world feels coherent, the characters compelling, the gameplay polished to a mirror shine, and the HD-2D visuals are nothing short of mesmerising. Every system complements the others, creating a game that feels both familiar and freshly ambitious. If previous games established the road, Zero reinforces it with legendary craftsmanship. It’s issues from being a mobile game originally don’t necessarily hinder the combat, but the story, characters, and visual pizzazz took something of a hit.
This is hardly a definitive version of Tomb Raider Definitive Edition. It struggles to capture the rather distinct art direction of the original and is missing details of the later definitive release. The visual cutbacks are too large for the Switch 2, which should easily have the full effects suite. However, for players who missed out on this adventure, this is a great, if compromised, version of Lara’s first “survivor” adventure and the best game of that trilogy.
Goodnight Universe reduced me to a puddle of tears and filled my heart with hope. Storytelling through the medium of camera integration pays off in dividends, and Nice Dream has expanded upon what made Before Your Eyes so great in this iteration. This is a game that will sit with me for a very long time to come, and one that stands high in the discussion of video games as an art form. Find 4 hours on a weekend and experience Goodnight Universe as soon as you can.
While Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is still well and truly a Musou game, it’s certainly the best Zelda spin-off yet. With a visual style aligned with Tears of the Kingdom alongside a compelling and canon story, there’s plenty of reason to play for those committed to the narrative. Unsurprisingly, this is hindered by bland and repetitive button-mashing combat. Aside from its fleeting Star Fox-style aerial rail shooter missions, Age of Calamity does very little to set itself apart from the legions of Musou games that have come before it.
This year marks the 20th consecutive annual release of Call of Duty, and it only seems to be getting worse. This may be the result of Activision getting Treyarch and Raven Software to put out back-to-back games, but regardless, the game really speaks for itself. Familiar characters and interesting actors are basically the only real reason to arm yourself with this new entry, but honestly, I’d just wait for the Black Friday sale…next year.
Ghost of Yōtei is best described as an emotional exercise in environment-first storytelling. Sucker Punch makes a clear and consistent choice to let the locations and environment tell the story. In a year filled with great action titles, Yōtei is a game that despite having brutal combat succeeds because of its quieter moments. It rewards attention, exploration and patience. Play it slowly. Let the gentle caress of the wind guide you towards your goals.
With all that said and even with the issues I had, did I enjoy my time with Borderlands 4? Yes, definitely. From a gameplay perspective, I think this is easily one of the best in the series. The open world and multiple ways to play the Vault Hunters gives players so many choices with just how they want their game to go. Couple that with the sheer amount of stuff to do and find, it’ll have players glued to the game for hours on end. Plus having crossplay brings the community together even more than before.
Syberia Remastered certainly is Remastered, telling the same story with some fantastic newly realised visuals. Unfortunately, it’s unevenly upgraded, somehow more technically unsound than the original and suffers from the lack of remastering afforded to video and sound.
Sbug Games deserve a lot of credit for taking a big step when going into a new dimension with Isopod. Taking the fun, cheerful elements of Webbed and putting it into a new place that feels familiar but so creatively fresh at the same time, it’s hard to dislike (unless of course you don’t like bugs at all).
Heart Machine has done a stellar job in trying to make it into the Metroidvania space. Whilst the art direction and combat are enjoyable, quite a few other things lets down this demonic extravaganza. Thankfully, it doesn’t outstay its welcome despite too much pointless discourse, but its characters and ending are well worth being trapped in Sanzu City. This won’t be your favourite metroidvania, but there’s plenty here for lovers of the genre to discover.
The year of 2025 has been banger after banger for indie games, with Clair Obscur, Hades 2, and Megabonk racking up millions of players. Add Dispatch to the list of feverishly insatiable delights; it’s a masterful tale of collaboration, immersion, and the tried-and-true question of “what does it mean to be a hero?” On top of that, it’s a resurgence of Telltale greatness with a Critical Role edge this time around, making for one of the best stories to experience in narrative gaming today.
Simplicity is Dice of Kalma’s key strength. Blending approachable gameplay with stylish minimalist design, Pepperbox Studios have created a roguelike that scratches the post-Balatro itch, even if just for a moment. While its gameplay loop may only be briefly entertaining for more skilled players, the concept holds great potential for further updates, and is well worth its price point. With three games under their belt in less than a year, there’s no denying that this niche Finnish studio is rolling the dice in their favour.
It’s not perfect and there are many issues, but Legends ZA is definitely the best Pokémon game in a while. I’m hoping that Game Freak will continue to tweak parts of the Pokémon games as they continue making them. I don’t mind the day/night cycle, but I think that they need to adjust it so that the cycle pauses when people are catching Pokémon or doing a quest at least. I look forward to seeing what the DLC has to offer early next year and what changes they make.
Beyond the visual splendour and musical reverence, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake carries a subtler significance, one that reaches beyond nostalgia and into cultural memory. They are monuments to a genre that defined generations. In an age obsessed with cinematic universes and narrative complexity, Dragon Quest’s simplicity feels refreshing. It reminds players that adventure doesn’t need convolution to be meaningful, it only needs sincerity.
As a reboot of the 2004 game with the same name, this is a pretty poor entry. Changing what players loved from an emotional story to a generic multiplayer shooter doesn’t offer the best of gaming. That’s not to say this game isn’t good, it was a tonne of fun and with friends, trying to beat the missions on nightmare, I can see a lot of gamers enjoying this. Luckily, its saving grace is the amazing visuals and snappy gameplay, whilst it may feel repetitive, kept me coming back for more. Some more mission variety would have been nice but for a cheaper overall price at $60AU/$40US, this is a solid multiplayer game.
Seeing how far the roguelite genre has come over the years, it falls short of what it could have been with the combat, platforming, difficulty and level design not being up to snuff. Hotel Barcelona may be worth a stay if you’re a die-hard fan of Suda and/or Swery and can muster through the lack of polish, but only at a discount. For anyone who’s wanting a more enticing roguelite experience should find it elsewhere.
Once Upon a Katamari is a gem. A bright star in the sky. A pickle atop a hamburger, begging for your teeth to unleash its crisp crunch and spread its flavour as your tongue screams in delight. It’s a poem written and performed by a madman, which might be beautiful to some and terrifying to others. And for all the weirdos out there, it’s a journey you won’t soon forget. It’s time to start rolling once again. The King demands it!
Is BALL x PIT destined to be the next roguelike addiction that will sweep the globe? Not quite. While this ball-flinging indie is a satisfying and creative genre twist, its reliance on repetition likely won’t capture players quite to the degree of other roguelike x greats. That’s not to say that BALL x PIT isn’t a well-rounded experience; in fact, it’s a game that most roguelike fans will find strangely relaxing and hypnotic. And if, like me, you’re nostalgic for the brick-breaking gameplay of yesteryear, then these balls are certainly worth grabbing.
The average Mario fan who wants something new or already has the Super Mario 3D All Stars version may be disappointed in this release. But for anyone who has never experienced Super Mario Galaxy, then this is definitely the best way to explore the stars.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist and the White Guardian is a truly fantastic game. It simultaneously takes the game design back a step, but in doing so, comes out as a far stronger experience than it might have had if it aimed too high. The turn-based combat and tweaks to other returning systems mean that there is a lack of nuance and technique to master, and it’s satisfying to do so. While it’s a shame players likely won’t see the previous game’s story, now that it’s offline, this is a brilliant new Atelier adventure with a mature narrative and characters.