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Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Game Review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties ends up improving on the original experience enough to make it well worth the time of anyone that wants to check out this early chapter of Kazuma Kiryu's sprawling life story.―Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties presents theLike a Dragon franchise at an interesting crossroads. Now that the series has achieved a degree of mainstream recognition and success that its original fans...
Nioh 3 Video Game Review
For a lot of folks,Nioh 3 might sound like some form of divine punishment. For sickos who crave a truly hardcore descent into bloody hell, though,Nioh 3 is just plain divine.― I am a hardcore fan of theDark Souls games and their legion of siblings, cousins, and imitators, but even I have to regard theNioh franchise with a certain amount of dark reverence. TheDark Souls games have become legend...
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Game Review
A worthy remake of a fan-favorite Dragon Quest that newcomers will love—but oldtimers might want to take advantage of the higher difficulty mode...― You'd be forgiven for having some number of misgivings about Dragon Quest VII Reimagined; the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy isn't everyone's cup of tea, and while the previous Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past remake on the 3DS is app...
One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 Next Gen Update Review
The game moves at lightning speed, and this next-generation update helps oil up the gears to keep them chugging along with the action.― The Next Gen update forOne Piece Pirate Warriors 4 adds yet more reasons to play one of - if not the - bestOne Piece games on the market. If you are unfamiliar with the base game, let me bring you up to speed.One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 is another in the long-run...
Code Vein II Game Review
If the originalCode Vein is “AnimeDark Souls,”Code Vein II is “AnimeElden Ring.”― 2019'sCode Vein is very much a game built on theDark Souls foundation. It plays similarly in most ways, but two things set it apart from that series: its anime-inspired art style and its focus on plot and characters (more than on environmental storytelling and collecting brief snippets of lore from item descripti...
Elden Ring Nightreign The Forsaken Hollows Game Review
Despite its clear ups and downs,Elden Ring Nightreign The Forsaken Hollows is well worth the asking price of $15.― Since its release,Elden Ring Nightreign has had more than a few major updates. From harder versions of each boss (which basically add an entire new phase to each fight) to a new way of playing that not only increases the difficulty the more you win but also doubles the amount of chara...
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon Game Review
The beginning of the end of the Trails saga sets off for the only worthy setting: space!― Falcom'sTrails series represents a truly massive epic in the making: twelve RPGs produced over the course of 20 years that tell the ongoing story of personal, political, and industrial change in a fictional world. After 20 years, the series is making the jump to its final frontier:space. Being aTrails neophy...
Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights Visual Novel Review
Temirana is a light, sweet game that’s easy to pick up, put down, and play when you have the time and it’s long enough to feel worthwhile while also being short enough to feel like youcan play to completion.― How much time do you have to sink into an otome game? If the answer is “not tons,” consider picking upTemirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights. It's not a short game by any means, ...
Utawarerumono: ZAN Game Review
Utawarerumono Zan trades out the series trademark strategy with visceral action—does it stick the landing, though?― While theUtawarerumono series is best known for its strategic leanings,Utawarerumono Zan took the series into a more action-oriented angle when it released in 2018. After six years, Shiravune has brought it back to PC in America. While it has a few flaws in its formula, it's a nevert...
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Game Review
By and large,Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a shining example of everything I love about these games, and it makes for an immersive and satisfying experience that is perfectly at home on the Switch 2.― To say that the wait forMetroid Prime 4: Beyond has been a long time coming would be a massive understatement. It has been nearly two decades since Samus last graced a Nintendo console, and needless to ...
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Game Review
While you will still be slaying hundreds of enemies and using massive attacks to slay enemy leaders, you do have to pause and take your time to avoid being caught flat-footed.―Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is another strongWarriors title that provides plenty of enjoyment for Zelda fans and musou die-hards alike. As I like to do in my reviews, allow me to lay out my background before I get i...
Kirby Air Riders Game Review
Kirby at his zooming-est.―Mario Kart World—as in, not the millionth expansion forMario Kart 8, but an actual, brand newMario Kart game—andSonic Racing: CrossWorlds were already enough to cement 2025's status as a fantastic year for racing games. To getKirby Air Riders (KAR)—the long-awaited sequel to the widely belovedKirby Air Ride on GameCube—during the same year is just icing on the cartoon...
Romancing Saga: Minstrel Song Remastered International Game Review
IfRomancing Saga: Minstrel Song gets its hooks into you, you'll likely find that there are few other titles out there that scratch the RPG itch in quite the same way.― There are three facts that you probably need to know before reading much further into this review ofRomancing SaGa: Minstrel Song - Remastered International: 1. Aside from the newly localized scripts, this is the same game that Squa...
Milano's Odd Job Collection Game Review
This is a game that feels like it's doing everything that it wanted to do, but on the surface, it's very nature does make it hard to recommend to people.― Boy, kids were definitely built differently in Japan during 1999. Back then I was an annoying seven-year-old who could barely tie his shoes. But here? Milano is doing everything from making pastries to milking flying cows at the ripe old age of el...
Persona 3 Reload Game Review
Persona 3 Reload's bones are nearly 20 years old, but it easily competes with or beats many modern titles for sheer depth, beauty, and fun.― I have agonized over the review ofPersona 3 Reload like almost no other video game piece I have written, and as such, this review comes quite a ways after its release on the Switch 2. And why is that, you might ask? It's simple, really - what the heck do you s...
Octopath Traveler 0 Game Review
Octopath Traveler 0 has proven to be one of the best gaming surprises of the year.― I will admit that I was incredibly wary when I learned that this newest entry of theOctopath Traveler franchise was born from a free-to-play mobile game fueled by micro-transactions and gacha mechanics. I am perfectly aware that plenty of great and ludicrously popular titles have been forged in the merciless fires ...
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Game Review
It’s a very differentPokémon experience, for better or for worse.― Kalos is, by far, thePokémon region most deserving of aLegends game. WhenX/Y came out in 2013, it was the first new generation ofPokémon not to get a third (or in the case of generation 5, third and fourth) game. This would later become the new normal forPokémon of course, but that didn't even happen immediately followingX/Y, ...
Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack Game Review
Longtime fans can look forward to all of the improvements expanding the little island of Kurken like never before, while newcomers get to experience one of the sweetest coming-of-age stories you'll ever find.― TheAtelier series has long been beloved for its charming characters, down-to-earth tone, and engaging systems. While the other games and casts are beloved in their own right, it was the adve...
Once Upon a Katamari Game Review
The beloved series’ grand return is a raucous roll-er coaster!― Roughly twenty-one years ago, I was simultaneously bamboozled and bemused by a strange little game I'd plopped into my PlayStation 2. A fifth grader at the time, I'd been tasked with putting all the stars back in the sky alongside a tiny fellow simply known as the Prince...and we were going to do it with something called a “Katamari.” ...
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Game Review
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake strikes the difficult balance of providing a truly astounding amount of new quests and story details without ever betraying the simple and earnest heart that is core to the franchise's identity.― If you have ever taken the time to play the originalDragon Quest andDragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line, you know that these are the bone-simple ancestors of...
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Game Review
If you have been hankering to spend some time cruising the intergalactic highways and byways with Mario and Pals, these two games are essential experiences.― I missed out on theSuper Mario Galaxy duology back when they originally dropped because the Wii was the console that my younger siblings claimed as their own, and if I'm being honest, high-school James considered Nintendo platforms to be littl...
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & The White Guardian Game Review
I wouldn’t recommend it as your firstAtelier game, but franchise fans should have a good time.― How manyAtelier games have you played? I don't ask to establish credibility or as a form of gatekeeping, but rather because the designers ofAtelier Resleriana: the Red Alchemist and the White Guardian are counting on you having more than a passing familiarity with previous entries in the franchise. Alt...
Full Metal Schoolgirl Game Review
I can summarize Full Metal Schoolgirls thusly: it feels like a PlayStation 2 game, in the best of ways.― I can summarizeFull Metal Schoolgirls thusly: it feels like a PlayStation 2 game, in the best of ways. It's a simple concept, but one that manages to be plenty of fun, despite its workman-like execution. The concept is also charmingly high-concept: a schoolgirl rebels against an all-powerful cor...
DISGAEA 7 COMPLETE Game Review
What I want is a ridiculously big and endlessly customizable time-sink of a strategy/RPG that lets you fight for hours on end and build an absurdly powerful army. And on that front,Disgaea 7 Complete delivers in spades.― Oh, hello,Disgaea. It's been a while. So sometime afterDisgaea D2, I just… kind of decided I'd had enough ofDisgaea for a while. The games didn't get notably bad or anything—I h...
Silent Hill f Game Review
This game will cling to the darkest corners of my nightmares for a very long time to come.― I have been aSilent Hill fan all of my life, and I have just recently completed my project of replaying and recording every single game in the franchise (well, except forSilent Hill: Book of Memories, since my PlayStation Vita broke years ago). That said, for as much as I absolutely adore Bloober Team's re...
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Game Review
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds is hands-down the best racing game in the entire franchise.― Sonic's racing game history has been very mixed over the years, and that's being generous. You would think that for a franchise that focuses on a character that's faster than the average mascot platform, we would have better and more beloved racing games throughout the past couple of decades. I have not played ever...
Digimon Story: Time Stranger Game Review
What evenis a Digimon, anyway? You're sure to learn as you play Time Stranger - and you'll have fun doing it!―Digimon fans have waited a long time for a video game adaptation that truly succeeds at doing justice toDigimon's expansive world. TheDigimon games have always struggled on that front, with even games within the same sub-series having wildly different mechanics and settings. The good new...
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Game Review
This game is a true labor of love fromFinal Fantasy Tactics' original creators, and it delivers a superlative refinement of one of the franchise's best entries.―Final Fantasy Tactics holds that rare honor of being a relatively niche spinoff to a blockbuster gaming franchise that many fans would argue outdoes some of the series' most beloved main entries. Even 30 years ago, RPG fans knew that there...
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster Game Review
The greatest JRPG ever made, now in HD.― I first realized thatBravely Default was a game that would forever change the JRPG genre during a battle with the Jabberwock, which is a dragon whose name is a direct reference to Lewis Carroll'sJabberwocky poem. Though this boss fight was optional, it was part of a side quest to gain entry into the foreboding Vampire Castle, and getting into a place called...
Varlet Game Review
It's above-average dialogue in a below-average, uh, everything else.―Varlet is a game that is more than the sum of its parts, but it still feels undercooked and overpriced. The core pitch is going to seem familiar if you've played any RPGs of the last few years. It's a school-based RPG with a split between the battle/events and structured downtime. The battles are turn-based, largely traditional co...
The Villainess is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom Game Review
The Villainess is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom is the sort of game you buy on sale.― It used to be that anime series would be licensed without a whiff of possibility of our ever getting the source manga or light novels to read, to say nothing of the visual novels. But now we've come to the point where we're likely to get at least one version in English.The Villainess is Adored by th...
Dragon Ball Genkishin Squadra Game Review
I wish the character selection didn't feel so random or that the rewards were actually worth the grind. It makes me wonder exactly how long this game's shelf life is going to be.― There have been a lot more of these real-time strategy action games popping up in the past couple of years. Honestly, it's a little shocking that it tookDragon Ball this long to jump on the trend. Having a simple team-bas...
Shuten Order Game Review
Two-thirds of it range from good to excellent… but in a 60-hour game, that still means around 20 hours of mediocre-to-bad gameplay.― Update: Following a Nintendo Switch patch released on September 19 to rectify translation issues, reviewer Caitlin Moore would like to update her review ofShuten Order. The rest of the review in its original format begins after the line break. Spike Chunsoft announced...
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion Game Review
The sheer variety on display is catnip for people who love tinkering with robots, and you'll have plenty to chew throw once you have your perfect mechanical soldier.― The originalDaemon X Machina was a fun mech battle game, but it unfortunately passed by most audiences without much notice. Developer First Studio took stock of the situation and did everything in their power to ensure that their sequ...
Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact Game Review
If you're getting intoHunter x Hunter: Nen Impact, then you have to know you're doing it purely for the love of the game.―Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact is a frenetic and often fun fighting game experience, but the mix of modern and classical fighting game sensibilities makes it such an acquired taste that it is likely too unique a brew for most people to enjoy. While this review experienced a slight...
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Game Review
If you've never played a farm sim before,Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar might be a great place to start.― There's a major difficulty when it comes to reviewingStory of Seasons games: they're slow. Moment-to-moment gameplay is repetitive (you're doing the same tasks daily over and over), the game can take a long time to throw new wrinkles in the formula at you, and even fervent playing means that i...
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Game Review
This a must-play game for both existingShinobi fans and newcomers alike.―Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is the perfect balance between modern sensibilities and nostalgia, making it one of the best action-platformer games of 2025. This will inevitably gain comparisons to Koei Tecmo and The Game Kitchen'sNinja Gaiden: Ragebound which was released last year due to both utilizing similar ninja archetypes,...
Iwakura Aria Game Review
If you're a fan ofThe House in Fata Morgana orThe Dark Maidens, this is a game you'll want to play.― We tend to view the past in either a rosy light or a gently-tinted sepia one. Yes, bad things happened long ago, but it was still a simpler time – no internet, no constant assault by phones, just a world that seems not quite real, if not better.Iwakura Aria, an original visual novel from MAGES, ab...
Donkey Kong Bananza Game Review
There is no such thing as a perfect work of art, butDonkey Kong Bananza gets about as close to perfection as possible.― One of the first video games I can remember playing as a young tyke was my dad's copy ofDonkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest on the Super Nintendo. When I was old enough to get a Game Boy Pocket of my own, one of the first purchases ever made with my allowance was a copy of ...
Shadow Labyrinth Game Review
HasPAC-MAN come a long way sinceSymphony of the Night? I’m not sure.― As 2024 came to a close, Prime Video'sSecret Level threw viewers for a loop withCircle—a strangely dark reimagining of video game forefather,PAC-MAN. Not long after, Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed that the animated short was a stealth teaser for an upcoming Search Action title,Shadow Labyrinth. Since the announcement, ...
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 Game Review
This game drags its feet so hard you would think it had 2 ton weights strapped to them.― Man, I was so excited when this game started up because it really just throws you right into the swing of things. There's no extended prologue or even much of a summary. One of the first screens you see once you boot up this game for the first time is you're thrown into a fight with a simple command list in the ...
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Game Review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings the gory franchise back to its 2D roots in a fun way.―Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound feels like a game straight out from the 1980s and 90s, especially with its story and higher difficulty threshold. The game's plot is rather one-note, with Kenji vowing to take revenge on the demons and Kumori attempting to double-cross the Demon Lord. Eventually, both Kenji and Kumori develo...
Tamagotchi Plaza Game Review
It's a little ridiculous that a game meant for such a young audience wouldn't be a lot more clear and direct with its instructions.― When I first got ahold ofTamagotchi Plaza for my Nintendo Switch 2, I was shocked to see the little doodads I used to carry around in those plastic egg toys as full-blown video game characters. My surprise made more sense when I realized that I wasn't just utterly out...
Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy Game Review
Surely, there are better dungeons to delve somewhere out there.― Did you know that those cute little slime-things from thePuyo Puyo puzzle games originate from a series of dungeon crawlers from the early 90s? If you didn't, I don't think anyone could blame you, since the franchise has only ever had a single western release in its decades-long history. It was calledSorcery Saga: Curse of the Great ...
No Sleep for Kaname Date – from AI: The Somnium Files Game Review
It would be best for fans ofAI: The Somnium Files to manage their expectations.― If you have not playedAI: The Somnium Files, I do not recommend you pick up the new side story,No Sleep for Kaname Date – from AI: The Somnium Files. I don't recommend you do anything other than go into the eshop of your platform of choice and purchase the absolute masterpiece that is the first game of the series. If...
Yakuza 0: Director's Cut Game Review
Unfortunately, for all of its improvements and refinements, this Director's Cut cannot truly be called the definitive version ofYakuza 0.― Going back toYakuza 0 after all of these years was a fascinating experience. On the one hand, this is a decade-old entry in a franchise that has since exploded in its popularity and ambitions, all of which is thanks in large part to this particular prequel's su...
Persona5: The Phantom X Game Review
I found the originalPersona 5’s story to be particularly resonant and engaging, so this is an unbelievably disappointing downgrade so far.― Love them or hate them, games featuring prominent gacha mechanics are big business. While initially more the domain of mobile platforms, we've moved on technologically since the heady days of (decade old!)Fate/Grand Order's one billion US dollar annual earnin...
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered Game Review
It's incredibly easy to load up, blow up a few robots, drop the points in your robot, then do it all again a few minutes later.―Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered is a fun enough title for what it is, but it struggles to feel like more than a solid port of a decent game.Battle Destiny Remastered is a port of the original PS Vita title, launched back in 2012. The original title was o...
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Game Review
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is the gold standard that all PS2 remasters need to adhere to.― Originally a spin-off of theShin Megami Tensei series,Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army separates itself from Atlus's other games. One aspect is that the story's tone sits betweenShin Megami Tensei andPersona's. It's not as apocalyptic asShin Megami Tensei, but y...
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Game Review
Series fans will definitely appreciate the evolution of long-time mechanics, and newcomers will enjoy the cast and building mechanics.― TheRune Factory series has firmly established itself as more than just a mere "FantasyStory of Seasons. However, with every series—and every season—there must come a time of growth and experimentation.Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma notably avoids counting itsel...
Elden Ring Nightreign Video Game Review
Rather than being a game about “getting gud”—slamming headlong into a big boss over and over again till you learn every tell and attack pattern,Nightreign is a game about “getting fast”.― InElden Ring Nightreign, you pick one of eight unique characters and are dropped into the land of Limveld along with two other players with the nebulous goal of defeating the Nightlord. The map is full of locati...
Rusty Rabbit Game Review
If I had a friend who was curious about Metroidvania-style games, this would probably be at the top of my list of beginner games to recommend to them.― When I picked up this game to review, I thought it was a match made in heaven. Do you mean to tell me that I get to review a Metroidvania-style game with cute mascot characters in a story written by the man who has written some of my favorite anime o...
The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy - Game Review
Neither Uchikoshi nor Kodaka are strangers to being experimental and telling rich stories with twists and turns aplenty. But even by their standards, this game is exceptionally ambitious.―~This reviewer's headcanon of how this game was conceived~ Japan, late at night. Kotaro Uchikoshi and Kazutaka Kodaka—the creative masterminds behind theZero Escape series and Danganronpa respectively, among plen...
Battlefield Waltz Visual Novel Review
I've been playing otome games for quite some time, and I feel confident in saying thatBattlefield Waltz is the most difficult I've encountered.― I've been playing otome games for quite some time, and I feel confident in sayingBattlefield Waltz is the most difficult I've encountered. Before picking it up, I had (foolishly) thought that otome games like the ones that form the basis of the manhwa se...
Lunar Remastered Collection
This version of the PS1Lunar games is the most accessible way to experience these classics.― A standout series from a time in the video game scene where Japanese RPGs and aggressively anime-styled games weren't consistently brought over in English, theLunar line carved out a historic niche for itself. That legacy can make it easy to initially fixate on what thisLunar Remastered Collectiondoesn't...
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection Game Review
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection shows that it can be fun to revisit the past, but we also have to acknowledge that sometimes the past can be awkward.― I loveYu-Gi-Oh!. Whether it's the anime or the card game, I always find myself coming back to this franchise and its incredibly overpriced cardboard. It still exuded a charm I couldn't find anywhere else since my childhood. The franchise has gone thr...
The First Berserker: Khazan Game Review
There's a new soulslike on the block. But does its lore-filled world and fluid combat system offset the crazy difficulty spikes?― In recent years, the long-runningDungeon & Fighter franchise has been breaking into new genres—first with the fighting gameDnF Duel and now withThe First Berserker: Khazan.The First Berserker is an action-heavy soulslike. Expect labyrinthine dungeons, massive castles...
Him, the Smile, & Bloom Game Review
AlthoughHim, the Smile, & Bloom wouldn't be the first otome game I'd recommend, it's still a good time.― Although it's not unheard of (Norn9, anyone?),Him, the Smile, & Bloom isn't an otome game where you're forced to choose between romantic interests. Instead, when you pick which route you want to follow, you also pick which heroine you're playing – each love story unfolds between a specific coup...
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land Game Review
I can wholly vouch forThe Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land as a fun, breezy title perfect for ringing in the springtime.―Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land is a competent RPG with fun characterization and mechanics that falters slightly in a few areas, but nevertheless makes up for its shortcomings with its charm--not unlike the many ditzy alchemists that sta...
Never 7 - The End of Infinity andEver 17 - Out of the Infinity Game Review
The times, they are a-changing: visual novels have a niche but robust international following, and Uchikoshi is a recognized name within that.― It's a good time to be an English-speaking fan of esteemed game writer Kotaro Uchikoshi. While he may be best known internationally for theZero Escape andAI: The Somnium Files series internationally, he first made a name for himself with his work onInfini...
Macross -Shooting Insight- Game Review
While the storied franchise has finally taken flight around the world, this shoot ’em up seems to be drifting out of formation.― During Otakon back in 2023, I narrowly missed my opportunity to play an early build ofMacross -Shooting Insight-. However, impressions were generally positive (if not a touch mixed) from those who did get a little hands-on time with the game. After a handful of delays, th...
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Nintendo Switch Port Game Review
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is the gold standard of combining style and substance.― Suppose you're not super into fighting games. In that case, you'd be forgiven for guessing that fighting game players would probably love the Nintendo Switch—after all, what community is known more for feeling passionate about finding a way to make a tournament work anywhere at any time than the fighting game community? The...
Monster Hunter Wilds Game Review
Wilds is a solid evolution of the franchise, and while its innovations don’t change too much of the core experience, sometimes it's fine to just get a bigger version of what’s come before.― For a long time,Monster Hunter was one of those franchises that looked cool, but felt a bit too intimidating for me to actually get into. I dipped my toes intoMonster Hunter Tri on the Wii back in the day, but ...
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Game Review
This is the mostfun I've ever had playingLike a Dragon, and that is saying something given the series' pedigree.― God bless Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. It has been an incredibly wild ride this past decade to watch the mad lads from RGG take their cult franchise of weird little crime adventure games to the upper echelons of gaming's most respected institutions. I remember when I first discovered these ga...
SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada Game Review
This model of repeated actions on similar environments can work if the quality is there – I’ve certainly enjoyed such games in my time – but usually for some combination of meaningful extrinsic and intrinsic rewards.―SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada is a game which makes a strong first impression before almost immediately nose-diving into humdrum monotony. The bones of the setup are strong enough to support ...
AI2U: With You 'Til The End Game Review
A computer can never create, therefore computers must never make creative decision.― To paraphrase IBM's slide from a 1979 panel: a computer can never create, therefore computers must never make creative decisions.AI2U: With You 'Til The End prides itself upon using generative AI as a focal point in its game, powering the basic intelligence of its three protagonists as you interact with them. In ch...
Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos Game Review
I had a decent amount of fun riding around power-sliding through goofy dog slimes and the game never takes itself too seriously to get upset about the shallow plot or simple visuals.―Neptunia Riders vs Dogoos is one of the stranger games that I've reviewed here for ANN. As far asNeptunia goes, it's something of an institution at this point. Starting back in 2010 on the Playstation 3, the series fo...
Genso Manège Game Review
All of the routes are very enjoyable, bittersweet in good ways, and even the ones I didn't expect to like, such as tsundere Serge, I ended up enjoying.― You have to speak two languages to understand the title ofGenso Manège, but there's no denying that it suits the game well. “Genso” in Japanese roughly means “dreamlike,” while “manège” is French for carousel, so the title can be translated as “Dre...
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Game Review
Donkey Kong has finally returned…again!― Donkey Kong has finally returned…again! Come to think of it, he's returned a few times hasn't he? While Donkey Kong hasn't exactly had a new mainline game in quite some time, it's nice that Nintendo is doing their best to make sure that some of his best games are available on current generation hardware.Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was one of the fir...
Hello Kitty Island Adventure Game Review
Even if you’re not a Sanrio fan, it’s easy to get pulled into the gentle world of the game, and if you enjoy the cozy exploration experience, this is a good choice, no matter what your age.― Traveling to a tropical island resort is the dream of the winter months for many people living in colder climates, andHello Kitty Island Adventure is very well aware of that. The story invites players to join H...
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero Game Review
If any of you are outsiders sitting on the fence, take it from me: This game is pretty neat!― I've always wanted to dig into the beloved-but-niche JRPGs from Nippon Ichi Software (a.k.a. “NIS”), especially theDisgaea games, but I've always been intimidated by their reputations for containing complex and finicky systems that require a real commitment to number crunching and min-maxing. When the oppo...
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete Game Review
Pocket Camp Complete is perfectly designed to be playable in bite-sized chunks, a relaxing experience when you just need a brief moment of escape.― I am not, by and large, a mobile gamer. I'll play games on my clunky old Galaxy A03 every so often, but it's rarely my first choice of platform. That's important to mention becauseAnimal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete was a game I found myself coming ba...
Fantasian: Neo Dimension Video Game Review
Fantasian feels like a game from a different timeline where theFinal Fantasy games kept their turn-based roots but still innovated within that framework in creative ways.―Fantasian: Neo Dimension is the newest (and perhaps final) game to spring from the mind of Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father ofFinal Fantasy. It is a love letter to the classic 8 and 16-bit games in the series, most notablyFinal F...
Touhou Spell Carnival Game Review
Touhou Spell Carnival is a unique blend of strategy and shmup gameplay with ample amounts of charm and depth.― This was my first exposure to theTouhou… franchise? Expanded universe? Mass hysteria? I'm not sure if any of those terms are correct, or perhaps it's all three. In any case, I have never ventured into theTouhou waters before. Other than knowing it was a bullet-hell shmup series featuring ...
Death Note Killer Within Game Review
From a technical standpoint, this isn't a terribly well-put-together game. It's not tearing at the seams, but its shortcomings are as numerous as they are apparent.― If there was ever going to be an anime-flavored online social deduction game,Death Note was always the obvious choice for an IP to tie it to. Not only is it super popular, but what isDeath Note if not one long social deduction game? ...
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection Volume 1 Game Review
The first volume ofValis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection arrives on Steam. Is this groundbreaking series the stuff of classics or just a history lesson?― What place does theValis series have in the history of video games? Well, it didn't create a new field or become a worldwide phenomenon, but in 1986, the originalValis: The Fantasm Soldier indeed blazed a trail for games that sold themselves chi...
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Video Game Review
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake takes an already-seminal title and makes it one of the must-play games of 2024.―Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation is already a seminal title among Japanese RPGs: a pillar of the genre whose influences run wide and deep across Japanese pop culture. Countless games have come in its wake, all inspired by that original game and its many creative decisions. The decis...
Sonic X Shadow Generations Video Game Review
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a strong contender for one of the best 3D Sonic experiences― Shadow is so damn cool, guys. There are a lot of positive things I'm going to say about this game, from the narrative to the replay value to the level design. But if there's one major thing I took away from this game, it's that Shadow The Hedgehog is one of the coolest characters ever to come out, and it's bee...
Yakuza Kiwami - Switch Version Game Review
The Yakuza brand of stylish combat and badass special movies is just as fun today as it was nearly a decade ago.― This review of the brand newYakuza Kiwami port for the Nintendo Switch is going to basically be split in half to serve two different audiences. The first group that I'll be talking to are the folks who have never had the chance to dig into Sega's venerated crime-drama beat'-em'-up saga ...
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake Video Game Review
You can always find a new avenue to explore, new storyline to uncover, or new battle to be waged across the campaigns included, and the breadth of options makes summarizing the game somewhat challenging.―Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is a grand strategy game of overwhelming scope and possibility that makes a lasting impression. I have never played the originalRomance of the Three Kingdoms...
SINce Memories: Off the Starry Sky Game Review
If you enjoy a slow-burn visual novel, this is going to be right up your alley.― TheMemories Off series of visual novels first debuted in 1999, and it's only now in 2024 that we're finally getting one of them in English. In fact,SINce Memories: Off the Starry Sky is the first new entry in the franchise since 2015, and while one or two characters from the earlier games pop in as bit players, this i...
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Game Review
Like any great game with immersive sim elements, Echoes of Wisdom feels like you're getting away with something anytime you solve a problem with anything other than the most obvious solution.― How do you even review aZelda game? They're some of the most overtly influential video games in the medium's history and are directly responsible for the art form's growth several times over. It's impossible ...
Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town Game Review
More anime should have cozy tie-in games. We need more un-serious, Animal Crossing-esque fun. And that’s where Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town comes into the picture.― More anime should have cozy tie-in games. If we could convert gachas and musou games into an energy source, they could single-handedly take care of the energy needs of the entire globe for years to come. What we need is more un-ser...
Silent Hill 2 (2024) Video Game Review
TheSilent Hill 2 remake introduces a fun gameplay experience that pays proper respect to its iconic predecessor.― The originalSilent Hill 2 is a horror classic. In terms of aesthetic and psychological intrigue, not only was it groundbreaking when it came out, but you could argue that it inspired an entire generation of horror games. There's just one problem: it is tough to play the 2001 version at...
Ys X: Nordics Game Review
Ys X: Nordics follows Adol Christin once again as he sets sail on a new adventure, but the game harkens back to olderYs games with a charming PS2 look.―Ys X: Nordics is the latest entry in the action RPG series,Ys. Over the past several entries, theYs series transitioned to featuring party-based combat like many other modern Japanese RPGs likeFinal Fantasy VII Remake,Metaphor: ReFantazio, and ...
Metaphor: ReFantazio Game Review
By building upon and reflecting on everything that Atlus' veteran developers have learned over the past twenty-five years,Metaphor: ReFantazio doesn't just stand tall and proud beside its forebears—it may very well surpass them.― After bringing Atlus some of its greatest accolades and global impact ever with the release of Persona 5 in 2016, legendaryShin Megami Tensei andPersona director Katsura...
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO Game Review
After seventeen years, we finally have the long-awaited fourth installment in theDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi series. One thing remains true after all these years: if it ain't broke, don't fix it!― It's here, guys! After seventeen years, we finally have the long-awaited fourth installment in theDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi series.Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is one of the most hyped-up gam...
Hookah Haze Game Review
I get it – the point isn't a challenge; it's vibes. And I must confess, Hookah Haze's vibes are impeccable.― Not to sound judgmental, but some of y'all out there arereally into the aesthetic of anime girls blowing clouds of smoke. If you number among them, I have good news!Hookah Haze is a game about watching anime girls exhale billowing clouds of smoke. Based on my social media feeds, that alone ...
Reynatis Game Review
Reynatis is a high-flying action RPG that stands on its own, but it has a rather shaky stance.―Reynatis is a high-flying action RPG that, to its credit, has a solid identity and visual aesthetic. A lot of comparisons have been drawn between it andKingdom Hearts, and while they're not uncalled for, it's worth pointing out that about allReynatis has in common withKingdom Hearts is a teenaged prota...
DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia Game Review
DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia doesn't serve as a good entry point to see whatever positives the series has to offer, and this title is best reserved for more dedicated fans and true believers.―DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia is one of the most difficult games I've had to review. Not in terms of actual difficulty but more in trying to sort out how best to quantify my experience playing it. I was walking into ...
Sunsoft is Back: Retro Game Selection Game Review
Sunsoft digs up three lesser-seen Famicom games for a Retro Game Selection. Are they classics or better left buried?― The NES and Famicom era is a fascinating period, especially in terms of what was or wasn't released outside of Japan. The Nintendo Entertainment System was a 600-pound gorilla in North America during the late 1980s, and Japanese publishers and their American branches made it a curiou...
Fate/Stay Night Remastered Game Review
This is a great way to experience one of the most iconic—and certainly long-awaited, in the case of the English-language market—visual novels of all time.― It's very interesting that theFate franchise has been so successful in the English language market without the official release of its source material: the 2004 visual novel by Type-Moon,Fate/stay night (FSN). I get that in this market, visual ...
MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Game Review
There’s room for improvement, but as a whole, this release feels like a win for both players and game preservation.― Few fighting games have proven to have the staying power of theMarvel vs. Capcom series. And while it's easy to hear that and be reminded first and foremost ofMarvel vs. Capcom 3 (and for good reason), the popularity of the #FreeMVC2 movement is testament to how this applies to its ...
BAKERU Game Review
BAKERU is a fantastic game for kids and kids at heart.― Late last year,BAKERU's initial Japanese release seemed to spark what could only be described as “pure, nostalgic joy” among those who played the 3D platformer. Particularly, a nostalgia for theGanbare Goemon series and its Nintendo 64 installment,Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon. Which makes a lot of sense when one considers thatBAKERU's dev...
Shadow of the Ninja Reborn Game Review
Is Shadow of the Ninja Reborn a sharp remake of a semi-classic NES game? Or is it something much more?― The originalShadow of the Ninja had its moment, but it wasn't very long. Critics and players rightly saw it as a well-crafted and harshly challenging side-scroller back in 1990, yet it arrived in the busiest time for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was rapidly swept aside without gaining se...
Gundam Breaker 4 Video Game Review
Even the mecha-on-mecha battles ofGundam Breaker 4 come second to the real core gameplay hook of collecting thousands of plastic parts to smash together to create the ultimate Gunpla figure.― I loveMobile Suit Gundam, and I have relished the dozens upon dozens of hours I have spent learning to build my own Gunpla model kits over the last few years (it was the nerdy and time-consuming new hobby tha...
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