Astral Chain is the latest and most accomplished model of PlatinumGames' ability to combine stylish action with player agency and accessibility. Exhausted storytelling and haphazard platforming also continue to underline their limitations. If Nier: Automata sought balance between power and ambience, Astral Chain finds power in power. It's a pure, grandiose spectacle.

Overall, I think the longevity of the gameplay might be a bit grind-y for a mainstream audience. If you can accept that grind, then you have a good story waiting for you with a beautifully woven tapestry led by leveling and a competent upgrade system, which helps keep the gamer motivated to continue. Is it a perfect game? No, but it’s a damn good one, especially with friends.

Overall, Erica is a unique undertaking in the FMV world that worked out well and has set new standards for the genre. It brings an engaging story to life with superb acting, and enough interactive choices for the player to make it a cut above the rest in its genre. It does waste time in unnecessary interactions on occasion, but nothing too detrimental to take away from the mystery and intrigue of its narrative.

Final Fantasy spent a decade constructing idols and Final Fantasy VIII demolished every one of them. Its elaborate, extravagant, and chaotic parade of ideas marched toward an evolutionary dead end and ensured there would never be another game like Final Fantasy VIII. Even by Remastered’s distressing modernization, Final Fantasy VIII’s paradigm shifting idiosyncrasies still showcase one of the most fearless and contemplative models of its medium. Final Fantasy VIII is a classic for people immune to the charms of classics.

Flaws and shortcomings in Control are utterly few and far between, while the gameplay is highly satisfying and fun. The world Remedy created is full of intrigue from the get-go and stays enthralling throughout. Barring any major surprises, Control is my personal game of the year for 2019.

Catherine remains a talented caricature of a hysterical, impossible man’s moral frailty and romantic insecurity. Characters and complications introduced by Full Body, however, lack the connective tissue and social maturity to support its expanded ambition. A (now optional!) tower-climbing puzzle game fused with a supernatural infidelity meditation, even in its spiraling convolution, still survives as a provocative oddity.

The developers have outdone themselves and crafted a wonderful addition to Season of the Dragon. The DLC release also brought along Update 23, a quality-of-life update that brings some wonderful improvements to some core mechanics of The Elder Scroll Online.

The Blackout Club manages to wedge itself into a crowded cooperative space with the use of clever tricks and an approachable atmosphere. But unless the developers build off this initial offering with new content to slice through repetition, it will soon get lost in the dark.

The simplicity of Knights and Bikes lies within its need to revisit your childhood and remind you how much fun life can be, even when the storms are intense. It brings a great narrative to the table, throws some fun puzzles in the mix while delivering beautifully playful visuals that request you go on an adventure with a good friend. The game’s intentions of stupid fun might outweigh its execution, but it succeeds in capturing the imagination and delivering a fun experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

I’m pleased, though not surprised, to say that M2’s typical sincere effort in preserving and re-presenting these Sega classics is on display here. Everything from the digital manual, menus, menu music, optional display filters, numerous border art, unlockables — it’s clear that M2 has created and maintained a reputation of excellence for themselves and they should be proud of it. The only thing I would have liked to have seen would have been the ability to invert the joystick (as is, you have to press down for Harrier to fly up) and the Master System version of the game included. Nevertheless, M2 are offering a lovingly and expertly crafted Space Harrier experience here like none other available that is easy for me to recommend.

Oninaki is an abundance of compelling ideas enveloped in a fog of stammering expression. An extensive progression system, myriad combat options, and a sincere and original premise aren’t enough to overcome the rote execution of its world, characters, and basic combat. Oninaki’s only viable curiosity is what kind of game it may have been with more time, budget, and expertise.

As long as you know what your’e getting into with Ion Fury, there’s not a whole bad that I can say about it. There is some repetition and a little bit of button-hunting and I didn’t care for some of the raw simplicity of some of the bosses, but all in all, I had a great time. So I think it’s fair to say that with Ion Fury, you really get what you probably came for — an old school FPS experience with a few modern refinements that make it a standout game. That goes for both for genre newcomers as well as veterans looking for a blast of nostalgia. Plus, with the budget price of $25, it makes it very affordable.

They Are Billions' crucible of experimentation and failure molds players into rugged survivalists. The RTS-style resource management and tower defense test the ability to aptly devote time to the bare necessities that will fend off countless hordes of undead. Harder to master console controls may add an extra layer of tension but living another day remains the sweetest of rewards.

While the original Puyo Puyo’s festive brand of falling-block puzzle-action is a known quantity, M2’s tireless determination to blend accuracy with accessibility persists as the best way to enjoy a classic game in 2019. The SEGA AGES line continues to be the Switch’s secret-best asset.

Overall, The Wizards creates a nice environment to explore and provides a short adventure to draw gamers into a magical land. Unfortunately, the unpredictable VR controls frustrate gameplay and are a distraction from totally enjoying an immersive wizard experience.

Gravity Ghost imagines the maelstrom of adolescence further complicated by its protagonist’s untimely death. As an elliptic platformer, it’s concerned with reaching a neat-and-tidy series of goals. As a narrative experience, it’s consumed by normalizing the despondency of its cast. Gravity Ghost’s kinetic novelty may have ebbed since its 2015 debut, but its resolution, which seeks idyllic healing from an enormous tragedy, still creates a powerful statement.

Metal Wolf Chaos XD is a time capsule from 2004 that allows its recipient to survey the United States’ enthusiasm for boisterous violence and blind patriotism. The President stomping around in an eight-gun mech suit and delivering outrageous dialogue while suppressing a coup is nakedly hyperbolic, but it’s also a lens to an outsider’s interpretation of mid-aughts American culture. Metal Wolf Chaos, in addition to presenting a clumsy but capable action caper, has only improved with age.

It is what it is — a reasonably priced spin-off of the series that is not bad, it’s just limited in its scope and replay value, though your mileage may vary greatly depending on who you have to co-op with.

Overall, Madden NFL 20 updates and adds some interesting attributes to its football structure. It polishes up the story mode and gives it focus while maintaining the entertainment value of the series steadily. It needed a bit more with regard to content, but what it has is still good.

After spending several years on mobile devices, Growtopia is bringing its seemingly limitless worlds to consoles. In a game where everything grows on trees, young players will gobble the chance to punch and build while those looking for depth may come up short without searching for intricately crafted worlds.

While most collections are products of profit and/or preservation, Collection of Mana advances the Western Mana canon with its surprise inclusion of Trials of Mana. This feels like a minor miracle and, despite the collection's austere packaging, sparks hope that Square-Enix may disentomb more of their perceived gems that never made the voyage westward.

F1 2019 is a fantastic racing title whether you're a fan of the sport or not. Despite my reservations and perceived lack of improvements I've been proven wrong at almost every turn. Codemasters have done the licence and series proud and look forward now to next year's edition and what it might bring especially with new consoles on the horizon.

Warhammer: Chaosbane is an incredibly entertaining game but at this point in time, that fun lasts as long as players continue to be invested in the repetitive nature of an ARPG. Right now, the pool of enemies, while aesthetically cool, begin to feel tired after awhile. It takes a considerable amount of time before modified enemies show up and the variety of equipment might not be enough for some players to invest the time it will take to soar to the highest echelons of skill.

I could go on and on about this game, but just know that games like Sea of Solitude are important. It personifies Kay’s journey with mental health issues, and brings to light different types of situations that people suffering from MHI might encounter. It also brings with it perspective that some people absolutely need should they know someone going through MHI and potentially a starting point when it comes to getting help for that individual.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a marvelous upgrade to its initial brethren. It offers up a bigger world, well thought through RPG construction, and keeps you exploring and building.

Lucah: Born of a Dream is a neon crash of allusive storytelling, deliberate top-down combat, and distressed, manic ambience. Its indirect means of expression risks losing the player in its internal contradictions—it’s hysterical and tender, it’s demanding and soothing—but tenacious pandemonium is also its objective. Lucah: Born of a Dream seeks an audience that can relate to its world without needing to make explicit sense of its features.

Warlocks 2: God Slayers is a tedious action-RPG that will certainly satisfy those who seek out a challenge on the Nintendo Switch. It’s not necessarily the first game of its genre that I would recommend for people who are interested in the genre, but it’s certainly not the last. The tedious button mappings on the JoyCons with the slow moment-to-moment gameplay makes it an action-RPG that’s fun to play in short bursts, but not for long periods of time.

Overall, Catan on the Nintendo Switch is a treat. The inclusion of a large campaign helps to sell this game easily. The addition of strong AI makes the experience valuable and challenging. If the menu system could improve, then you’re looking at one of the best versions of the board game to ever grace a console.