Digitally Downloaded
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Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is the most polarising Digital Eclipse museum experience so far, in terms of the quality of the games that are in it to play, I also think that it’s one of the most compelling experiences from a historical perspective.
Tormented Souls 2 is the kind of horror game you like to see from independent developers. As a clear passion project that is willing to push back against “best practices” to maintain the creative vision, it’s here for people who have fond memories of the formative years of survival horror, while also looking very modern. It’s by no means perfect, but the clear enthusiasm that went into it – and the fact that it’s so atmospheric – makes it compelling.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is the best version of one of the greatest video games. This review was largely pointless in the sense that just about everyone knows that it’s a masterpiece, and yet, as of time of writing, there are “only” 2,500 user reviews on Steam. For the love of Hatsune Miku, please don’t let this be a “cult classic” a second time around. If we’re going to ever take video games seriously as an art form, it needs to start with games like this being part of the canon.
Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake achieves exactly what developers should always be trying to achieve with a retro remake: Breathe new life into something that fans love.
This Painkiller is a generic multiplayer shooter with a generic Christian horror-themed setting and aesthetics, and none of it is memorable.
Full Metal Schoolgirl isn’t quite as sharp as a satirical commentary (though it is there), and it doesn’t have quite the slick brawler action or memorable boss battles (though they are there). What it does have, though, is an excellent example of a roguelike formula largely done right, with great loot loops and an upgrade path that doesn’t make you feel like you’ve taken too many steps backwards every time you “die” and need to start a new run.
An invigoratingly original combat system, an almost surprisingly good narrative that covers real and important themes, and the same charming monster designs and aesthetics that continue to define Pokémon as one of the biggest media properties in history. Excellent work, Game Freak.
Ball x Pit is a very easy game to pick up and play, though it’s also one where the central gameplay conceit is very much present in the free demo; I could see some gamers bouncing (pun not intended) off it pretty hard, but if the demo intrigues you, trust me, there’s a lot more to come that does get addictive fast.
But, as I brace for the inevitable comment moderation job ahead, I gotta be honest and say I just didn’t care for any of it. Or the way it capitalises on the Japanese/Ainu setting rather than tries to work with it.
Perhaps Puzzle Quest really is back this time around, and the development team can use the momentum to finally deliver a second game that moves past the mistakes of previous efforts and builds on the heritage and prestige of the original.
Silent Hill f will – or at least should – make you uncomfortable, and it will haunt your thoughts long after you’ve stopped playing. And that’s the hallmark of a truly special horror game.
Perhaps part of the issue is that I played it on a Nintendo console, when I have the alternative sitting right there on the hard drive. On other platforms that don’t have a Mario Party, I can see this resonating more strongly. Unfortunately, though, I can’t see it being a particularly memorable experience for anyone in the long term.
I don’t know if Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is going to turn me into a fan of these mecha games, but I certainly enjoyed the combat and design enough that I’m keen to check out some more to see if I do like something about the genre after all. Just be aware that the performance is pretty suspect at times. If you can handle that, then this is certainly an ambitious and entertaining sci-fi game for on the go.
Ultimately, perhaps we do need to remember that this is FuRyu’s first self-published game, and the existence of Varlet at all is, itself, an experiment. We didn’t get the usual creative subversion that we’ve come to expect from the company behind the likes of Lost Dimension, The Caligula Effect, Crystar, and Reynatis, but in taking this step as a company, perhaps FuRyu will be able to protect its ability to continue to do those games in the future. Valent itself, unfortunately, is a game I wish I could love more than I did.
With dozens of characters drawn from the series and a full ten courses, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots does act like a celebration of the series to date. However, it’s also painfully clear that this game comes from a new developer trying to find their place with such a venerable series.
As a big-time Shantae fan, I’ve loved having the opportunity to fill in the gap for the game in the seies that we very nearly didn’t get. It’s more a curiosity than something essential – more recent titles in the series are definitely better, but if this continues to breathe life into the series, then I’m all for it.
On the other hand, this really isn’t a new game, and while it wouldn’t be fair to say the remake’s efforts were “lazy,” it’s also hard to shake the feeling that where the Silent Hill 2 remake was exciting by virtue of how new it was, this is just that game, that we’ve already played and loved to death, in a prettier dress. But hey, if you’ve somehow not played Metal Gear Solid 3 before, this is going to blow your mind.
Story of Seasons doesn’t exactly paint a picture of the realities of the life of a farmer. It is, after all, one of the hardest, if noblest, jobs. But the sweet utopia that the series offers is pristine escapism, and Grand Bazaar has one of the strongest concepts and executions that we’ve seen in the series. This game is a total delight.
Now, if we can just get Nightdive to give us a remaster of the original Aliens Vs. Predator from 1999, I really will be set. Yes, I know that there is the Aliens Vs. Predator Classic 2000, but I want Nightdive, specifically, to be on all these kinds of projects.
Even as it is, Iwakura Aria is better than 99% of the other visual novels out there. It’s essential as-is, and right on the cusp of being a masterpiece, and that’s ultimately why I’m disappointed that it doesn’t quite get there.