ZTGD's Reviews
ARMS is a truly unique experience that digs into my nostalgia with games like Punch Out! I just hope the free DLC will make it feel more fleshed out. Quality cannot be argued here, but content definitely feels far too light at launch.
The town of light does some really unique and innovative things for the horror genre but its adventure game aspects are simultaneously mundane and confusing. Still, its real-life horrors stick with you longer than the more fantastical and gruesome images that are commonly seen in other games.
While the concepts are interesting and really have something special in mind, the execution and technical issues really hold back Friday the 13th from living up to its own hype.
There is an enjoyable game in here, but it currently lives down the road. For now, however, Starpoint Gemini Warlords is a product that doesn't do any one thing well enough to justify its price point and the accompanying time investment it requires of players.
Portal Knights certainly takes inspiration from Minecraft, but does enough different to stand on its own. It's procedurally generated environments and visuals impress the most, which make for a nice laid-back adventure.
Tekken 7 feels like the return for the series. After some bumps in the PS2 and PS3 era this series really feels like it is regaining its footing. There is a lot of content here for casuals and solo players, and the hardcore will love the under-the-hood changes. There is something for everyone, which most fighting games fail to capitalize on. If you have been out of the Tekken game for a while, it is finally time to return.
It is just as competent as the heavy hitters in the dungeon crawling genre. The online works well, and with four player co-op, it can be a blast to play with friends. I highly suggest Victor Vran to any action RPG fan.
There is a creeping feeling that this glorified update is lacking in content, though the discounted full price and the option to purchase an upgrade for owners of Revelator makes it easier to recommend. Here's to a more substantial installment for the next iteration of Guilty Gear.
Rime is a beautiful game with some ugly drawbacks. Still, I recommend checking it out. The world is gorgeous and the adventure worth seeing. I hope the developers make an effort to clean up the frame rate at some point, but I also hope to see a follow-up with some of the issues addressed. There is too much beauty for this game to not return.
As someone thoroughly tired and uninterested in anything Musou, I can say without hesitation that Spirit of Sanada did very little in changing my opinion on the genre. Having said that, the focus on telling a tighter, more involved story along with the addition of a variety of RPG elements is a step in the right direction and deserves praise- hopefully pointing towards a renaissance for the genre.
There is little to complain about with Spellspire. It's a jolly little game, with a colorful art style and some nice touches of humor. But this is a word puzzle game; if you're not great with word games like Boggle or Scrabble, then it may not be the game for you..
The quality of Street Fighter II is unparalleled, and it is still one of the most balanced fighting games ever created. The addition of Violent Ken and Evil Ryu doesn't do much to the roster, and Way of the Hado is a diversion at best. However, the $40 price tag stings.
Even with these issues Shadow Warrior 2 is still incredibly fun and endlessly entertaining. Add in the fact that it supports 4-player co-op online and it is a no-brainer. The console versions turned out well, just not as good as they should have been. For those without massive gaming PCs though it is not really an issue. This is a technically sound port of an incredibly great game. Don't miss it.
Endless Space 2 has that special, addictive, one-more-turn quality about it. There is real style here, and a hell of a lot of substance to back it up.
Tango Fiesta has a few nice touches here and there, but nothing really in the way of originality. It's not the best twin-stick shooter out there, by a long mile. And it isn't even the best eighties action film inspired game either. If you like some couch co-op shooting action, then it may be worth a look, but wait until it goes on sale.
Injustice 2 is a lot more of what I loved about the first game. The gear really adds to the single player aspect. I find myself grinding characters and decking them out with the latest fashion. It is addictive, and will likely keep me playing for months. It is impossible to argue the value they packed into this game. Whether their style of fighting game is up your alley is another story. Injustice 2 won't suddenly change anyone's opinion of the developer's work, but it will thrill fans of it.
I look at Skylar and Plux as the Little Engine that Could, but it ends up being the one that just couldn't. I really wanted to like it, but with the glaring issues, it's hard to recommend without a significant price drop. The platforming and jumping works and is actually very tight. That's what kept me going. It's bland in most aspects, but there is something there behind the surface. If you can find it, you may get some enjoyment out of it. Even then, I would still wait for a price cut.
The Surge is a nice addition to the genre. The combat feels great even when the story and mechanics start to sputter out. The claustrophobic nature of the level design adds to the tension, and it feels good to have a game in this genre that isn't chock full of gothic horror themes. It brings new ideas to the familiar mechanics and executes on them well.
Despite having many of the series' staple complexities stripped away, Shadows of Valentia proves a thoroughly enjoyable adventure. Those who found the Fire Emblem series too intimidating due to its difficulty and overwhelming depth need look no further for their accessible entry point to the franchise.
There's not much I can say about Narcosis. It was too short of an experience to really gather a lot for it. At the same time, this was made for VR and I'm sure if I had played it in VR it would have had a bigger effect on me. Unfortunately, while this is supposed to be a horror game, I never once jumped or was creeped out.