ZTGD's Reviews
Even though it is much shorter and less ambitious than the other titles in the series, “No Sleep for Kaname Date” is a good time, albeit with the stipulation that it should not be the introduction to the series for anyone and strictly for the fans of special agent Date and his misadventures.
Robocop: Unfinished Business doesn’t reinvent the wheel; it just straps some spikes on it and rolls it through a burning tower full of mercs.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is another outstanding package of classic games that reignites my love for the series.
Wizard of Legend 2 is a smart sequel. It grows the formula, expands the world, and doubles down on build variety without losing the core “magic” that made the original stand out. Yes, the combat feeling has changed, and no, it’s not quite as tight. But the added depth, visual upgrade, and co-op potential more than make up for it, if the technical side keeps improving.
Combat could use more depth, the Glitch mechanic feels underdeveloped, and the world; despite its beauty it really lacks things to do. Still, for fans of Tron, isometric action games, or stylish sci-fi in general, this is a strong entry. I’d love to see Bithell take another swing at this universe. With more time and ambition, a follow-up could turn these sparks into something explosive.
The bones are solid; mechs feel powerful, battles look great, and customization is top-notch but the meat on those bones feels undercooked.
Lynked: Banner of the Spark doesn’t reinvent the roguelite genre; it just reinvigorates it.
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 isn’t just a continuation but a culmination. It takes what worked from the first two games, sharpens the mechanics, deepens the emotional storytelling, and delivers a strategy RPG experience that is as thoughtful as it is compelling.
The story has it all, humor? Yep. Trauma. Oh, it’s here for sure in some big doses. Even though I already know the story beats from Final Fantasy 7 but Rebirth still managed to surprise me time and time again in the best way. Come for the Queen’s Blood, stay for the excellent Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth tale.
It’s soccer by way of the fighting game genre: twitchy, intense, and one mistake away from disaster. For me, someone who isn’t a soccer fan, I can appreciate what this game is doing but for fans of this form of football I know you will vibe with Rematch.
The good news is that all these issues can be fixed, but if I’m honest; I miss the days when players could buy a game, take it home and play it with no issues from start to finish, I know digital is the way but it shouldn’t make these developers dependent on the ‘patch’ crutch. I don’t know, just an ‘old man shouting at clouds’ I guess but FBC: Firebreak is fun to play as long as you have a solid team and temper your expectations.
But for SEED fans, especially those who remember poring over the original’s menus with a translation guide in hand, this remaster is a nostalgic gift. For everyone else? It’s an old warhorse with a new coat of paint and a reminder that sometimes, the past is best visited with tempered expectations.
It was a lot of fun to revisit these games as I loved playing them in my youth. The new rewind feature makes the games much more playable, and the updated controls make the second and third game tolerable. Limited Run Games did a great job with this collection, and it is worth it alone for the interviews and extras. Hopefully we can see Gex return in the future, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. He was definitely a product of a certain time.
It’s not a game for everyone but for those willing to settle into its rhythms and forgive a few rough edges, there’s something special here. It’s the kind of game you come back to on quiet evenings not because it demands your attention, but because it earns your time.
For fans of the franchise, there’s nothing else quite like it. For MMO players tired of formulaic grinds and empty worlds, this is something richer, even if it comes at a cost. But be warned: if you’re looking for fast progress, you’re going to have a bad time. On Arrakis, everything fights back.
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The Alters is a unique, emotionally layered, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking game that will have you questioning your own life choices and then simulating alternate versions of them. It’s not just about survival or ‘tree-punching’ as Ken calls it; but it’s about identity, regret, and learning to cooperate with your own worst tendencies… literally. It’s like if RimWorld and Black Mirror had a baby, and that baby wanted to talk to you about your high school failures. The Alters is developer 11-bit Studios firing on all cylinders with what I feel is there best game to date. Do I recommend The Alters? Absolutely! Just don’t play it when you’re already existentially fragile. Or do. I’m not your Alter.
Blazing Strike is a very solid offering from a very small team. Being a fan of classic SNK titles, I really enjoyed my time with it and am glad it is now available on all platforms. I definitely recommend checking it out if you enjoy classic Neo-Geo brawlers. It has some limitations and a lack of depth, but it is extremely fun with some great characters. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this team does next.
TMNT: Tactical Takedown is a decent time if you love the turtles and aren’t expecting a revolutionary tactics game. It has heart, humor, and enough ninja action to keep fans entertained, truly my only issue is the writing in some areas but even its not enough to distract from how much fun this tactics game is; just like my first time trying pineapple on pizza, I was surprised with how much I really enjoyed this unique mash-up and wouldn’t mind another tactical Turtles game.
Look, in the middle of all this chaos, the world does have atmosphere. Gritty, creepy, and weirdly beautiful at times, it’s just so unfortunate that the graphic fidelity is so freaking inconsistent.