The sequel does exemplify some of the gameplay flaws of its predecessor but tells a fantastic sci-fi tale and builds a world that I never imagined it would.

Dynasty Warriors 9 does a very good job of making you feel part of a larger war that is happening all around you.

The video game equivalent of eating your favorite childhood junk food as an adult: not as good as you remember, but heartening.

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT’s soundtrack is fantastic.

The Longest Five Minutes is almost the standard definition of an RPG, brought to life with one of the most interesting storytelling techniques for any Switch game.

The updates in Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology are phenomenal.

The Deer God may be a great visual experience to unwind with, and it has a spiritual message to match. But when it comes down to the actual gameplay, the game just feels too stiff and uninteresting. Despite an almost enchanting presence, the actual mechanics of The Deer God will do as much as possible to push you away.

I would say that Zwei: The Arges Adventure is best played by gamers with an eye for charm and adorable characters that you’d want to spend hours with exploring dungeons and going on adventures. Sadly, the decade-old dungeon design and repetitive action don’t hold up as well as its sequel, but it’s still a game that Falcom fans will enjoy until the end, I know I did.

To put it simply, Dragon Ball FighterZ is stunning in motion.

Shadow of the Colossus is now easily the biggest achievement that the studio has ever had and stands as arguably the greatest video game remake of all time. The legacy of Shadow of the Colossus has never been in question, but this PS4 edition has just further solidified its place amongst gaming's masterpieces.

The Red Strings Club isn’t afraid to stop you in your tracks with its dialogue — to challenge your ideas and principles — but in the pursuit of this it too often fumbles.

Of Mice and Sand -Revised- is a positively charming title. It’s a cute and entertaining world that I would love to come back to if Arc System Works could find a way to make a second trip more compelling with additional gameplay options.

The gameplay was kept interesting and entertaining throughout, with every boss fight feeling fresh and none of them feeling like repeats.

I did not get what I initially expected out of Celeste, but I got something much more fulfilling and rewarding. While I do have a few complaints when it comes to the use of strawberries and Assist Mode, gameplay is fluid, tight, and satisfying. It is pretty easy to learn, but challenging to master, and the level design remains fair no matter how wacky the situations get throughout the whole game.

Capcom has created an immersive living and breathing world, allowing players to fully enjoy the charm of the titular monsters within a credible ecosystem. Combined with solid improvements in story and gameplay, Monster Hunter: World is a must-have game for veteran fans and novices alike.

More importantly, each character has left a lasting impression on me and the growth that they experienced during the story makes the game feel even closer to the timeless stories of early RPGs. Legrand Legacy: Tale of the Fatebounds expertly brings the PlayStation era RPGs to 2018 with an attention to detail that brings the genre to modern consoles and satisfies that nostalgic itch.

Since finishing Lost Sphear, I can’t stop thinking about it.

Romancing SaGa 2 presents many unique systems to unpack since the game is told over multiple generations of the kingdom of Varennes.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm Episode 3: Hell is Empty offered a nice companion to the Life is Strange universe, but the shock of the conclusion is lost when compared to the superior Episode 2.

If you are a fan of pixel art or Amiga-style twin-stick shooters, you will probably have a nice time with Tower 57, especially if you are playing with a friend.

In the same way that Counter-Strike‘s early days led to it dominating the competitive scene and Minecraft‘s years of beta access led to it becoming a game that defined a generation, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds isn’t necessarily the first “battle royale” game out there, but it is the one that’s leading the charge on making players fight to survive, and it’s thrilling in every way.

Overall, L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files is far from a perfect game, but as a virtual reality title I found it to be an ambitious as well as a good first virtual reality title for Rockstar Games.

I had hoped for some more originality to be seen in the game’s mechanics or level design, but the lack thereof doesn’t hinder the quality of the experience. Nothing in A Hat in Time is going to change how you think about 3D platformers, but if you know that ahead of time and are still looking for an enjoyable, cute collectaton, there are definitely worse options to choose from.

Nine Parchments, though wielding action RPG elements, works best as a party game. There are chaos and comedy to be had when you have three other friends sharing the screen, combining spells, chucking heals, and being sure not to stand in the fire. All of these mechanics combined with a lighthearted story lend themselves to a laugh-filled-couch-co-op game that should not be played alone.

Floor Kids for Nintendo Switch is not without its faults, thanks to gameplay that puts a little too much faith into in-game exploration. However, it shouldn’t be lost in everything else that Floor Kids has to offer, namely a distinguished art style, a fresh take on a genre, and beats to mash it up. If you are a fan of passion projects, Floor Kids is going to be right up your alley.

The beauty of its terror is that it is not earned cheaply.

Okami HD is a fantastic game that I cannot recommend enough; at its $19.99 price tag, that is practically giving the game away.

2MD VR Football was slightly underwhelming from what I initially was anticipating; however, this game is fun in bits and pieces. If you are looking for a cheap sports game and you just happen to love American football this is the game for you.