Qualbert.com's Reviews
Currently, with the posting of this review, Forspoken has been out for 6 months and is at least half-price. With numerous patches and DLC content, now is possibly the best time to leap head-first into the magical world of Athia. If you can get past the less-than-perfect visuals and dialogue, you will love the intricate story with tons of lore that go effortlessly with all the fun fantastical parkour.
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE is an incredibly intriguing experience. It offers a solid set of mysteries and a fun and somewhat unpredictable overarching plot. The unique way the story is presented and the cool gameplay elements like piecing cases together and the battles really make this a fun time. It’s not perfect, but it is a solid recommendation for Switch owners looking for a dark and mysterious title that will make their brains work hard.
If you’re looking to get the same experience you got playing Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life 19 years ago, you’re going to mostly get that in Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. Plenty has been touched up and improved, but there are also some jarringly-different character models – so much so to the point that my partner didn’t recognize some characters. Newcomers like myself who’ve dipped their feet into this type of game should still have a good time, as there’s no shortage of content and there’s a lot of satisfaction to be had in making your farm as strong as it can be.
Final Fantasy VI has always been a masterpiece. Its rich and emotionally charged narrative, coupled with a cast of unforgettable characters and strong gameplay mechanics has cemented its status as a must-play game that simply cannot be missed. There are few experiences in the world of videogames as profound as Final Fantasy VI. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer to the world of Final Fantasy, this game is like a spiritual journey that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to embark on the definitive version of this unforgettable adventure.
Tears of the Kingdom is the crowning achievement of The Legend of Zelda, incorporating the best aspects of every single game that has come before it. Polishing and perfecting the Breath of the Wild formula and its expansive open-world, the addition of creative mechanics now places power in the player’s hands, allowing infinite possibilities to the game’s puzzles, exploration and combat. Through its compelling story, stellar cast of characters, and an unbelievably polished world, Tears of the Kingdom is a true Master Sword master piece.
Not only is this an incredibly charming, amusing adventure introducing an iconic cast of characters, but it’s also a sheer technical marvel when you remember that it was designed solely for the GameBoy Colour. Although it might not be Shantae’s most outstanding performance, fans of the series and retro gaming alike would be foolish not to at least give this excellent updated port a go on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, or PlayStation 5.
Although thought provoking with gorgeously dead landscapes and fun gameplay, After Us hits the highs way too early. With each area providing little to no new gameplay elements, it can get a bit repetitive. The puzzles and parkour are always great to figure out and the combat adds a bit more variety. Overall, the 8-10 hour story is nice but the game feels like it it’s missing something in its devoid of life atmosphere.
An iconic story deserves to be told on a proper platform, and this is an almost perfect one. Kakarot’s upgrade is a must for long-time fans but also newcomers that might struggle on where to start in the Dragon ball universe. Although a bit repetitive, if you delve into the upgrades and different moves, there is enough variety here, especially for a fighting game.
Dead Island 2 is an extremely fun game that doesn’t mess with the dumb gameplay of bashing around zombies. However, not every game is perfect. Between the rushed ending and the audio problems, it feels like they wanted to ship this game out ASAP. It’s always a little worrying when a game is set to come out of Development Hell, the vast majority of the time it’s either a glitchy piece of garbage or just boring. Dead Island 2 is definitely far better than most other games that have been through Development Hell, but I wish they had taken a little extra time to polish it up before shipping it out.
Smashing straight through the main story will take around 12 to 15 hours, though there are plenty of side quests and some post-game activities that can stretch gameplay by another 10 hours if you want to collect all of the treasure and fight some of the more difficult battles. The action battle system is definitely a highlight, mixing together the best elements of Secret of Mana (with none of the annoying charge/wait times) with Hades’ dodge-heavy movement. Overall, this is a game well worth the short time investment if you are looking for a smooth action-JRPG with beautiful presentation.
As a lifelong Star Wars fan and one that’s partaken in dozens of the video game iterations over almost three decades, I can safely say that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor sits at a close number two in the best of the best, number one going to 2005’s Star Wars Battlefront II. This is a Star Wars game that not only honors and expands its canon, but delivers a rewarding combat experience that will make fans of the source materials’ imaginations go wild.
I dove with both feet into the turn-based strategy genre with Showgunners and came out pleasantly surprised. This is a mechanically-sound, polished experience with a strong blend of challenge and gratification. It also never managed to be stale, as it introduced new enemies and upgrades at a steady rate.
Advance Wars – what is it good for? Absolutely everything. While the GameBoy Advance classics are turn-based gems, WayForward have magnificently modernised these military masterpieces. More than just a gorgeous visual style to bring beloved characters to life; gameplay, music, and accessibility have been revitalised for a new audience. So if you’re a strategy game fan, then head to your nearest recruitment centre and enlist in Re-Boot Camp today!
Over the several hours I played, I felt like I did everything I could in the beta, unlockable skins aside. Each match rarely took longer than 10 minutes and occasionally I had such a bad team it was over in 5. There is a real lack of depth here which is probably not that surprising, however I was hoping for something more than just a general multiplayer game.
Bramble is known as a rough and prickly shrub which has long thorny roots that generally grows different types of sweet berries. This is exactly what this game is, a rough adventure with a sweet message at its core. This game is heavy in its exposition and themes, so if you decide to open this book be wary but also you will get glued to the screen to see what happens next. Although only taking about six hours to roll credits, this is definitely an experience that everyone should enjoy.
Let me be the one to get the brew ha ha happening for Coffee Talk 2. Toge Productions have definitely served up some liquid gold here. If you are looking for a cute story with interesting characters and simple gameplay then this might be the game for you. Though it will be served up on every platform, the morning buzz is that Coffee Talk 2 is releasing day one on Xbox Gamepass – so anybody on that platform in particular has no excuse not to wake up and pour themselves a cup of Joe.
For a spin-off to stray so far from the gameplay of its source material is a huge risk, and yet Bayonetta Origins somehow delivers this in spades. Crafting a charming narrative exploring Bayonetta’s beginnings, this game does so with a delightfully unique visual style and unbelievably polished audio design. By blending fairy-tale style with intuitive single-player co-op that relies upon the relationship of its protagonists, Cereza and the Lost Demon is an origin story you won’t want to put down until you close the book on the final chapter.
Black Salt Games have certainly proven they can create something that is set apart from everything else. Dredge will reel you in with its addictive gameplay loop and beautiful landscapes. Whilst the story and music lack slightly, for a developer team size of four, this is an incredible feat for a first outing. If you love fishing in larger sized games as a side activity and want to play something solely focused on that, then this is the one!
It was a pleasure to return to the world of Tales of Symphonia and experience the fantastic story once again. However, it was not a pleasure to look at this version of the game. Maybe we are spoiled in this era of 4k / 60fps games, but I honestly found it hard to push through this one, even knowing the excellent narrative that awaited.
Like a Dragon: Ishin has a little something for everyone. A compelling story, mini games to suit all tastes, an easy to learn but repetitive combat system and plenty of side jobs to keep you busy. At first I found it all a little overwhelming but found myself soon running all over the city knowing I had so much to do. Even after almost a hundred hours in, I still haven’t finished everything. Though I have also heard that if you just want to stick to the story you can get everything done in as fast as four hours. Why you want to do something crazy like that though is beyond me.