Netto’s Game Room's Reviews
Even after all of these years, the Portal series remains a must play for fans of puzzle games, and those looking for an interesting and dark, yet funny, story. The inclusion of Portal: Still Alive makes this collection a must for long time fans who never got to play the Xbox 360 exclusive, and Portal 2 continues to be both an outstanding single player and co-op experience. This collection is the perfect way for newcomers to get into the series and see what all the hype was about, and it is also a great bundle for fans as well. It being on the Switch also means players can finally take these games with them on the go, and the puzzles really are perfect for the pick up and play style on handheld devices. Either way, Portal as a whole really is a series everyone should experience at least once, and Portal: Companion Collection is the perfect excuse to jump on in.
I really enjoyed my time with Ruffy and the Riverside. I don't think I quit smiling from the time I booted the game up until I finished it. Between the adorable characters, the intriguing story, the incredibly delightful world to explore, and the inventive and fun game mechanics, I think Ruffy is a very special game that absolutely deserves your time and money. I don't think you'll play anything like this again for some time, maybe until Zockrates Labs develops a sequel, which they definitely should. I believe they've maybe created the next indie gaming icon here. I think they should look into doing sequels and spin-offs, getting into RPGs, kart racers (or hay bale racers), maybe even a full-blown skateboarding game: Ruffy Hawk's Pro Hay Bale Riding. In all seriousness, I genuinely hope to see Ruffy become a full-fledged franchise. The game was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it.
Star Overdrive is an impressive game made by a really small team, but it is also a game that tried to bite off more than it could chew. The hoverboard action is so much fun, and honestly the only thing this game really needed to succeed! The board customization is great, the power ups are fun to use in combination with the hoverboard, and the gameplay itself is both fast and fluid. Sadly the rest of the game slows to a crawl the moment you are off the board, with clunky and repetitive combat, and puzzles that overstay their welcome.
Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is a solid experience. It's a little long for me, and there's some very annoying progress hindrance where they want you to revisit stages in order to move the story forward and collect more Golden Spatulas (this game's equivalent of Gold Stars/Shine Sprites/Power Moons from Mario games.) If you enjoy exploring this world though, it might not be frustrating to you to have go and complete more missions and see more of the game. It's a fun, lighthearted jaunt of a gaming experience, and I think if you can find it on a sale, you'll be in for a good time, especially if you're an established fan of the franchise.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is an impressive step up from the previously released Rune Factory 5. The streamlined farming and city building system, mixed with the greatly enhanced social elements and RPG aspects, makes this one of the best entries in the series to date. Those who are here for farming may be let down by this faster simplified system, but the rest of the game more than makes up for it!
Scar-Lead Salvation had the potential to be a really good game. Its core gameplay is fun, the first patch greatly improved the difficulty and bosses, both the character dialogue and story are interesting, the anime aesthetics are visually pleasing, and there are some fun customization options to play with! In theory this game should have everything going for it; however, it is greatly held back by extremely repetitive gameplay.
Space Marine 2 has been an absolute blast to spend time with. The game is graphically gorgeous, with a staggering amount of detail put into the world. The wild gameplay is like nothing else, truly providing the most fun I've had with a game in years. Everything about Space Marine 2 is the product of a studio who cares about authenticity and crafting a wonderful, action-packed thrill-ride of a game from beginning to end. I'm still pinching myself that this game even exists, and the fact that we're now getting a third one feels like I'm living in a dream.
Mario Kart World is an outstanding new entry in the long running series, and it is a worthy launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. Its unique gameplay prevents it from being a replacement for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and allows for both games to exist on the same console side by side. Anyone who enjoys Mario Kart should for sure give this one a chance, and it is the perfect introduction for new players as well.
If you are a fan of sci-fi post apocalyptic stories, and enjoy space management simulators, then IXION is a game you do not want to miss out on! It provides countless hours of fun, and serves as a great distraction from your everyday life.
Mostroscopy is a fun indie fighting game, with a very interesting art style and great character design. Every character is unique, and the simple combat system allows even newbies to fighting games to pick up a controller and combo like a pro. It has some rough edges, but it is a good start to something that has the potential to be great. It lacks in main single player content, and has a handful of smaller issues, but it is still a fun game to sit down and play with friends. If the developers continue to expand upon the game, then the series can easily have a bright future.
FUGA: Melodies of Steel isn't like other RPGs on the market. There is no exploration, no level grinding, and you basically spend the entire game inside of a tank. While it lacks other RPG standards, it more than makes up for this with its solid gameplay, great cast of characters, and interesting story that leaves you wanting more. It has a learning curve players will need to overcome, but once you do, the game becomes extremely addicting and trying out different character combinations is a lot of fun. While the gameplay might not click for everyone, those who enjoy deep strategics turn based battles will find a lot to love here. If this sounds like a game you'd enjoy, then do yourself a favor and check it out as soon as you get the chance.
Ghost Frequency is a mini horror experience that has some pretty good ideas at its core. I would love to see this be developed into a full title, as it feels more like a prologue to something bigger, but I can recommend it to any horror fan who has a little extra cash to spend on a few hours of entertainment. If you are looking for something more substantial, then there are a lot more options out there, but I personally liked what I played… It just left me wanting more.
The Abandoned Planet is a fun callback to classic PC adventure games, with a unique retro art style, and a variety of puzzles to solve. Each act throws something new into the mix, and by the end you will find yourself exploring larger areas with multi-step challenges to overcome. It is a little on the easy side, but it is entertaining from start to finish.
RuneScape Dragonwilds has a very promising base game even this early on. Despite all of my issues I brought up I have honestly had a blast with it and I am impatiently waiting for updates so I can adventure even further with friends. I would say though that if the game is worth in its current form and asking price heavily will depend on if you like this genre. However, if you're unsure I would say wait a few updates before you deep dive into it yourself, but I can definitely recommend the game as is already.
Cyber Sleuth and Hacker's Memory are fantastic games. I'd argue that as far as Digimon video games go, they're the absolute best we've got thus far (though I guess we'll have to see if Time Stranger takes its throne!) It's one of my favorite games of all time. The playthrough I did before writing this was my 8th one, and it likely won't be my last. There are some issues with story pacing as a result of it making you stop to do side quests, but that's nothing new, as previous games in the Digimon Story issue did the same. It improves upon previous entries in significant ways, having a much more engaging story and being significantly less of a grind. It shows its limitations a bit, the result of being a decade old handheld title, but I don't think that hurts the overall experience much. I'd absolutely suggest anyone who likes Digimon pick this up, and even say that it could be worth a play for someone who just likes monster collectors and JRPGs in general.
Dunk Dunk is a really fun party game, and that is exactly how it should be approached. It isn’t a game that expects you to play for hours at a time, but instead, it is one that wants you to simply jump into it from time to time when you feel like it. It is one of those games where you turn it on, play a handful of crazy rounds, and then move on with your day. Things can get very hectic, which it makes it a perfect party game with friends, and the handful of gameplay modes are more than enough to keep you busy.
Although Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is the black sheep of the series, each title is unique enough to stand on their own, and offer a different gameplay experience along the way. The Last Revelation is tomb raiding at its finest, Chronicles is a more relaxed experience with self contained levels, and The Angel of Darkness is a crazy twist of a story, with classic PC adventure game elements mixed in with its stealth gameplay; none of them are bad games by far, and they each offer dozens of hours of content to complete. While some may prefer the original Trilogy over it, others might be surprised to learn the second half is their true favorite.
There really isn't much more to say about the game. I don't want to spoil the twists and turns of the story, as it's already pretty limited. But. if you're a Sonic fan and you enjoy a decent visual novel, you should consider checking this game out. With it being free, you're not really out anything but your time if you don't like it. It's a cute game though and a fun idea for a Sonic spin-off.
I do understand that the developers wanted to make this into a cozy game with a slow pace, and I can see that being a pro more than a con for other kinds of gamers out there. As harsh as I have been with the game, I do think it is worth taking a look at it at least, but that depends heavily on what kind of gamer you are. It is possible you might enjoy a more relaxed and slower paced experience, so don't let my critique stop you from trying it out! With its very simple control scheme, I could see this game doing well on mobile devices, and it could be a nice experience to have while being out and about during every day life. Great for when you just need a small moment to do some cozy adventuring.
All in all I am a very big fan of Anode Heart. It's been quite some time since I enjoyed a game as much as this one, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone that's a fan of the Digimon World games, or of monster collecting RPGs in general. I've only given a very high level overview here since I think anyone interested should get a chance to experience it for themselves. But if you don't want to take my word for it, the game has a free demo, so go ahead and give it a shot yourself!