Simon Ordell’s journey through the Scottish town of St. Amelia in 1996 is not without its shortcomings, but the experience is an affecting one buoyed by the first-person perspective.
Simon Ordell’s journey through the Scottish town of St. Amelia in 1996 is not without its shortcomings, but the experience is an affecting one buoyed by the first-person perspective.
Building on the already-great remake of the first game, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter masterfully updates the gameplay and timeless story, adding up to what is now the Trails series’ defining entry, and one of the best RPGs of the year.
It’s evident NHL 27 is a leap year for the franchise as it doesn’t innovate on the modes and immersion already present. Instead, it soft-launches patches that barely pass as a winter update.
Building on the already-great remake of the first game, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter masterfully updates the gameplay and timeless story, adding up to what is now the Trails series’ defining entry, and one of the best RPGs of the year.
Moving in Blood Dungeon is fun and it sets the game apart within the genre and demands enjoyable skill from the player, but some balance annoyances keep the game from soaring.
Rhythm Heaven Groove is not my favorite in the franchise, but it makes me just as happy, proud, anxious, and angry as all the previous games in the series.
Despite its fantastic core battle system, poor game direction and an overbearing free-to-play structure keep Pokémon Champions from reaching its full potential.
Mina the Hollower looks like a nostalgic throwback, and it undeniably is, but its thoughtful design and larger sensibilities make it play and feel like a contemporary video game – one that has taken the right lessons from the medium’s history.
If Bubsy 4D is an attempt to bring new players to this 33-year-old franchise, its poor level design, characterization, and platforming will ensure it won't.
Inkonbini: One Store Many Stories is neither narratively nor mechanically engaging, and though protagonist Makoto seemed to enjoy each shift, I rarely did.
Vampire Crawlers elevates an otherwise simple but highly entertaining card game with sensations more reminiscent of a casino or the blinding blue light of doomscrolling late at night to create a retro-inspired diversion that's hard to put down.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire's smart, humorous writing and enigmatic characters play into hardboiled fiction cliches in amusing ways that kept me hooked throughout the dozen or so hours it took to reach its high-stakes finale.
Much like a perennial contender, even when it’s not the best the franchise has looked, MLB The Show 26 is once again lined up for another winning season.
Tribute has become skilled at creating visually nostalgic beat ‘em ups, and its return to the Scott Pilgrim franchise is no exception. It is, however, light on surprises or mechanical innovation.
Taking cues from the likes of Hollow Knight and Ori, this punishing platforming and exploration game is well worth your time if you're up for a big challenge.
