Netto’s Game Room's Reviews
Tales of Xillia is still a worthy JRPG all of these years after release, and fans really shouldn't sleep on this one. The battle system alone is what carries this title, but the great cast of characters doesn't hurt either.
Hades 2 is a fully worthy sequel to the original Hades, perfectly combining gameplay and story into an intense, fun, and fully engaging narrative that will continuously make you say, "just one more run!" This game was made with a lot of love and passion for gaming as a whole and perfectly shows the industry how to make a truly great game with a compelling story.
Although I wasn't initially sold on the open-world and the shift from giant robots to mecha suits, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a fantastic game. Its high-speed action combat, thousands of customization options, and addictive gameplay loop make it a title you can easily lose yourself in. Unfortunately, it is held back in a few areas, mainly graphically, but despite this, it's a fun experience that mecha fans will not want to miss out on.
I enjoyed my time with Full Metal Schoolgirl. Its simple, repetitive gameplay loop managed to hook me from beginning to end, and the pure chaos brought on by raiding an office building filled with robots was entertaining, to say the least. There were moments where I had to take a break and step away, but after a quick recharge I was back at it and ready for more. It might not be the greatest or most ambitious roguelite on the market, but there is still fun to be had here.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a fun action take on the classic Shin Megami Tensei series. It draws players in with its initial mystery and keeps them coming back for more as they dive deeper into this rabbit hole. It might have some rough edges, but it is still an unforgettable journey.
The Angry Video Game Nerd 8-Bit isn't just a fun retro throwback to days gone by; it is a legitimate modern-day NES game that captures what made these games special. Drawing heavy inspiration from Mega Man, it successfully blends the series' classic gameplay mechanics with stages and ideas from other NES titles, and the end result is a game all platforming fans can enjoy. While you do not need to be a fan of AVGN to enjoy this title, it is packed full of fan service that will put a smile on your face, and the live-action skits are nice to see as well. This game is in fact an Angry Video Game Nerd episode in disguise; it's just you are the one playing it this time, and not the Nerd. Either way, if you are a fan of retro platformers, and especially the classic Mega Man series, then this is a game you will not want to miss out on.
There's so much more I could say about this game, but I don't want to give away everything to prospective players. I will say that this is one of the better games in the series as far as gameplay goes. It doesn't have quite the same depth as Trio of Towns, but it gets pretty close, and it has you think about your farming differently than usual since you want to plan around not just the seasons, but the weekly bazaar. I like the characters, though I think I liked the ones in the 3DS entries better than this one. Overall I'm really enjoying my time in Zephyr Town and am looking forward to quite a bit more. If you like farming games, this one will definitely not disappoint.
Bye Sweet Carole ultimately leaves me disappointed. It had so much potential to be a modern classic but fumbled the writing so hard in the second half that it only made me laugh. The gameplay is at times interesting and intense but often feels unpolished and clunky. It is a truly beautiful looking game with an amazing soundtrack. However, visuals and music alone aren't enough to carry a game. It truly saddens me that I can't recommend it, because I genuinely wanted to love this game that reminded me of my favorite childhood movies.
Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga is a fun arena fighter that successfully blends the hectic boss fights the Ys series is known for with classic player-versus-player action. No two fights will ever be the same thanks to the game's vast customization options, and being able to play as fan-favorite characters is a real treat. The game will not be for everyone, but those who are fans of both series and are itching for something different to play should look no further. There is a learning curve to overcome, but once you climb that hill, you will be in for a great time.
This game is utterly fantastic. I went into it thinking that if it was even half as good as Cyber Sleuth, it would be amazing, but aside from my distaste for launch-DLC locking quests behind it, and the fact that I like the characters a bit better in Cyber Sleuth, this game exceeds it in every way. The story is great, the world feels alive, the visuals are vastly improved, and it has a lot of quality-of-life improvements that previous entries in the series lack. It's extremely approachable whether you're a longtime Digimon fan, or entirely new to the franchise, and it manages to be challenging at times throughout(unless you go overboard on grinding, which you definitely can if you want an easier experience). This is the definitive Digimon game, and I cannot recommend it enough.
Yooka-RePlaylee is still the same love letter to Nintendo 64 classics as the original release was, but in a much more refined form. The game contains roughly double the challenges as the original, there are hundreds of ways to customize the experience in unique ways, the controls have never felt better, and the quality-of-life upgrades really go a long way in improving the experience. This is, in fact, Yooka-Laylee in its best form, and it gives little reason for players to go back and play the original.
Elden Ring is a fantastic experience from beginning to end. I feel that it is the ideal jumping on point for anyone intrigued by the Souls genre. This game feels like what FromSoftware has been working toward and striving to achieve. While the game doesn't hold your hand, there are vast amounts of resources online for people that are confused or needing assistance. The game itself also tries to provide some features like summons or co-op to give struggling players a leg up. While I don't think Souls games are for everyone, Elden Ring comes the closest to being a Souls game that I think anyone could find some real enjoyment with.
Dreams of Another is not a standard game; it is a profound work of art. It immerses the player with its unique visuals, compelling soundtrack, and its one-of-a-kind "destruction for creation" mechanic, all while compelling us to step back and examine ourselves. This game is a meditation not just on life, but on the nature of existence, the true meaning of creativity, and the ultimate pursuit of leaving a legacy. While it won't appeal to every player, those who are willing to engage in self-reflection will find a far deeper, more meaningful experience here. The game is brief, but its message is powerful enough to last a lifetime. You may not fully grasp it now, but one day, it will undoubtedly resonate.
MEGABONK is an addictively chaotic and surprisingly deep game that appeared out of nowhere. While I've pointed out some of its current flaws, for a game this affordable, it delivers a massive amount of content and pure fun. The game practically dares you to break it, a challenge I don't just accept, but one I revel in. I'm here for the chaos.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3 quickly became one of my favorite entries in the series. It is a solid RPG with a great cast of characters, addictive tactical turn-based combat, and a story filled with twists and turns from start to finish.
You reader, might not enjoy the game for its difficulty, but for me, it respects my time, and wants me to improve. It doesn't hold my hand but rather guides me to seek mastery. Isn't that what makes games fun? Silksong reminds me and many others how much fun a game used to be. . . I am glad that there exists developers who also remembers those time.
If you're a Harry Potter fan, this is probably the game you've waited your whole life for. It fulfills the dreams that so many of us have had since first seeing the movies all those years ago. Between the exploration of the iconic setting, the phenomenal combat and the obvious care and attention to detail put into this game, you can tell it came from a team who wanted to nail it, and they did so in a spectacular manner. Even if you're not a Harry Potter fan, and you just like open-world action-RPGs, I really think that you'll find this game to be engaging and highly entertaining. Supposedly a sequel is in the works, and I can't wait to see what this team is cooking up.
The Devil is in the Details is a fun and unique take on the "spot the difference" genre. It throws you into a maze with dozens of objects to memorize, scares you with jump scares, sends ghosts and monsters after you, and often plays tricks to further impede your progress. To top it all off, as you attempt to survive all of these horrors, you still need to recall what changed perfectly, or else you fail and will be sent back to a previous checkpoint. The game is challenging as a memory game alone, but this added layer of horror is what truly makes it unique and a game players can return to time and time again. While the game itself may be short, its replay value is endless.
Lost Soul Aside is not a perfect game. There are rough edges, a slow introduction that doesn't accurately represent the rest of the game, and a lot of the story feels like moments thrown together the creator thought would be "cool." However, if you can get past the unrefined parts, you will discover a fun action game that is a full-on throwback to days gone by.
If you're curious about Souls games but have always been intimidated by them, like I was, I can definitely recommend Dark Souls III as a good starting point. It is a genuinely difficult game, but with a lot of patience and learning, and some likely necessary experience farming, you shouldn't have too much trouble.