Netto’s Game Room's Reviews
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!
Although BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is not my favorite entry in the series, the game is easy to pick up, and simply a lot of fun. It has a great cast of characters, outstanding song choices for the background music, Rollback Netcode for smooth online play, and plenty of content for offline play as well. It is a fighting game that everyone interested in 2D fighters should at least give a chance, but it is not a replacement BlazBlue: Central Fiction, and that is important for fans to know before jumping in.
Looking past the toned back RPG elements, Final Fantasy XVI is a solid entry in the series, that also might not be for everyone. It has fun and addicting combat, the Eikon fights will leave a lasting impression, the story is interesting enough to keep driving you forward, and the New Game Plus mode gives players a reason to come back for more. Even so, some fans might have a hard time looking past it being an action game, and that will ultimately decide if it is worth playing or not. Still, it is a game I recommend checking out if you are interested at all, as there is in fact a lot to love here.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a game I really like, but it also has many missed opportunities. This is the first Samba de Amigo game that has been accessible since 2008, and instead of serving as a replacement for the original, it does something completely new. This is fine of course, but not seeing the vast majority of songs return is a bit weird. It is clearly a game that wants to fully stand on its own, and still allow players to enjoy the original release, but playing the original isn't as doable in today's world. Looking at Party Central as a stand alone entity, it really is a lot of fun! It has an interesting soundtrack, the gameplay becomes very addicting, and it is also quite the workout!
I highly recommend checking out Kingdom Rush, if you like tower defense games. The careful balancing act of rationing your gold, choosing your Towers, their locations, their upgrades and where to locate your troops to maximize your effectiveness, and then flawlessly navigating your way through a nail-bitingly tough level is insanely satisfying. I couldn't put it down until I got through the whole game and I'm literally thinking about booting the game up again right now.
Escape from Mutation Station is going to be one of those puzzle games I'll always remember playing, but it also isn't one I will be returning to anytime soon. Like with most escape rooms, once you know the answers, it does ruin the fun of solving it... And without randomizing puzzles, there isn't really a way to counter that. Even so, if you have a few dollars to spare, this is an escape room you will not regret playing. It is short, yet fun, and the puzzles are unique enough to help the game stand out from others. So do yourself a favor, and give it a chance when you can!
Gameplay is king, as the saying goes. That's the case in probably ninety-nine percent of games. It ultimately doesn't matter what the game looks like or how it sounds; people just want to know how it plays. Then occasionally, this phrase gets turned on its head by some game that is so beautiful or stylish that it almost doesn't matter how it plays. Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is one of those games.
Green Hell VR is a game I was very unsure of, but ended up having a lot of fun playing. While in the process of writing this review multiple major updates were released for the title, and plenty more are planned for the near future. This is an ever expanding game, and because of that I was unable to experience "everything" the game has to offer... And that is a good thing!
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is a classic 90s platformer through and through. This remaster didn't fully reinvent what we once had, but it did do a lot to make it feel like a modern platformer. Initially the levels are pretty short and straight forward, but the game quickly ramps up the difficulty and that alone greatly expands the playtime. Those who simply want to rush through the main levels are given a reason to go back and find all of the collectibles, and the challenge levels are even harder yet! While the game doesn't do anything too crazy by today's standards, that doesn't stop it from being a fun simple platformer from days gone by.
I really love RimWorld. It's a game I waited too long to play because of the price tag, and I am not usually that into colony management games in general. However, a friend heavily recommended the game for me, and now I am stuck! There aren't that many games that I can call "forever" games, or games I will come back to constantly like Terraria, but RimWorld, if anything, has enough content to last you for a long while depending on the kind of gamer you are. I strongly recommend you give it a chance if you can!
Monster Hunter Wilds is a solid entry within the Monster Hunter series, and a great game for fans and newcomers alike. Long time fans might be annoyed or put off by the on-rails story the game forces you to finish, but once you get to High Rank it is a return to form. Meanwhile this same intro is perfect for easing new players into this universe, and there are some interesting moments that really stand out. Is it the greatest story ever told? Of course not. But it was at least entertaining.
Overall I did enjoy Genopanic, and think it's a charming small indie game. It is a rather short experience that clocked in for me about 2-3 hours, and personally I like games being short and sweet experiences, rather than being bloated just for the sake of increasing its length; so I didn't find an issue with that. The developer has promised to add a bit more to the game, or at the very least the missing ending (and currently un-achievable achievements), so hopefully they do that soon to make it complete!
Macross Shooting Insight has a lot of missed opportunities, but it still manages to be a fun game with the content it does offer. There are better Macross games out there, but not in English, and there are better shoot em ups out there, that are in English. Even so, I found myself enjoying this game for what it is, and I will keep coming back to it for years to come. It has a lot I like, but it also has disappointments. I love the music, but I also wish they added at least a few more tracks. I like the characters, but I wish there were at least a few more. The stages are fun, but I wish we had more than just ten.
Robobeat does a great job making you feel like an action hero. Dying might be frustrating at times, but when you get a cool new weapon to go all out with, it is a complete blast!
Monster Meals surprised me, and hooked me with its unique twist on the whole restaurant simulation genre. Some of this was familiar to me, but actually going out to hunt food while managing the kitchen was a completely new concept to me! At first it was a bit overwhelming, as I've usually failed at memorizing in these types of games, but the game slowly eased me in and gave me the tools I needed to actually succeed.
Snowman Story is about the life of snowmen, the humans who build them, and an attempt to escape Spring. There are some surprisingly touching moments, and that ending completely caught me off guard. And I loved it!
The Exit 8 and The Exit 8 VR is a short experience. You can finish it in 10 to 15 minutes I'm sure, or you can be like me and spend over an hour in there. There isn't much to the game, but it is an interesting experience that tests your powers of observation. I can't compare it to other walking simulators as there isn't anything else quite like it, but those looking for a short puzzle will most likely enjoy it.