Both Bayonetta and Vanquish were amongst the first games released by PlatinumGames, and they both show just how strong the studio was from the get-go. These remasters open up the opportunity for newcomers to the studio, whether from Nier: Automata or Astral Chain, to check out the studio’s origins on modern hardware.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an impressive iteration for Team Ninja. It’s a more accessible title without sacrificing the challenge intrinsic to its success, it features one of the developer’s most satisfying combat systems to date, and it accomplishes this in levels that sport more verticality and exploration than ever before. It falters more than it probably should with regard to storytelling and graphical presentation—a somewhat consistent shortcoming in Team Ninja games—but it’s an exceptionally easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys more tasking action RPGs.

Necrobarista is just a plain wonderful experience. The story is entertaining with powerful moments, the characters feel fleshed out and realistic (or as realistic as the plot allows for), and the presentation is stunning (although the character design may not be attractive to some).

I’m not going to be subtle here. I loved this game. I can never walk away from any game in this franchise unsatisfied, and I feel that even with my nitpicks and misgivings that this is a worthy successor to what many have seen as an interesting distraction to the main series. Lost Judgment stands upon the shoulders of its forebears with ease, is a joy to play, tells an intimate story with a (mostly) deft hand, and knows how to value add with the best in the series. This is not only a great sequel, it’s also a great addition in any gamer’s library. Period. Saying this is a must buy is an understatement. It’s a shining example of what a great Yakuza game can be.

Part II is an unavoidable achievement in so many ways. The few things it doesn’t get right don’t bog it down as many seem to think. Collectively speaking, this game subverts expectations in ways that make it stand out head and shoulders above the rest. For that reason alone, you should feel confident that the money you drop on this game will be money well spent. The PlayStation 4 couldn’t have received a better swan song.

Brushes With Death may not be as big and sophisticated as the main scenario, but for being a post-launch DLC, it packs a lot of fun and value for its price point. Add to that the other extra content its patch brought alongside it, and there could hardly be a better time to get into Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, except maybe after the remaining story DLCs come later in the year. If you enjoyed the game but hadn’t given thought to the game’s DLC pass or even just this specific one, this content is most definitely worth the price of admission. You may even find yourself re-loading previous saves to explore the different ways you can approach it.

It may have taken me a long time to get here, but I have to admit that I’m so happy I did. Falcom did an amazing job with this game. The characters felt authentic, the story was engaging, and the battle system was a lot of fun. Repackaging something older in a way that appeals to newer audiences but manages to retain its original charm is harder than it sounds, so hats off to them for the success of this remake! If, like me, this is your first time playing a Trails game, or if you’re an old fan and just want to re-live a good gaming experience in an updated way, please pick up this title. It will not disappoint you. In fact, the only thing disappointing me right now is that the remake for the sequel isn’t out right now! Hurry up, Falcom, thank you!!

Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles knocks the rust off the original, shines it up like new, and makes lots of subtle changes that only enhance the classic. And if you want a version without any changes, that's here too, just as grainy as you remember. I couldn't have hoped for more.

Whether you’re a retro-head with a weird interest in the PC-98 like myself, a fan of old-school graphic adventures, a visual novel fan poking their head into something similar, or just into 80s mecha, Stories from Sol is a tale that is worth your time.

While some of the improvements may not seem noticeable, the ones that are, are great. Saves from the PS4 can be saved and imported into this new version using in-game options, so you can carry over your progress and trophies if you decide to jump back into the game. Coupled with the new INTERmission DLC, fans get to live in the city of Midgar for another four hours or so and play with another character as we eagerly await news on when we can experience the rest of Remake’s story in future releases.

Ultimately, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is a better version of Final Fantasy VII Remake. While some of the improvements may not seem noticeable, the ones that are, are great. Saves from the PS4 can be saved and imported into this new version using in-game options, so you can carry over your progress and trophies if you decide to jump back into the game.

If the game can be accused of anything, it might be that it plays things a little too safe… but even that feels a little disingenuous. Yes, it’s more of an evolution than a revolution, but it’s easy to forget that the series slowly embraced “action RPG” in its path from being a pure stealth-based series. This is definitely the most hack-and-slash-y of the titles yet, but it feels natural, and it does still feel like it deserves to be called Assassin’s Creed. So… yeah, this game is darn good, and if you’ve liked prior installments you’ll almost certainly like this one. Darn it, I really like it. Oh no, I get to really enjoy this viking game. Quelle horreur.

For those of us that love engaging with punishing mechanics and feeling a tangible sense of improvement with each failure, Kill Knight is simply excellent. It offers a constant barrage of split-second decisions for the player to make, greatly rewards both heat-of-the-moment reaction time and preparedness in remembering which enemies are coming up next, and wraps it all up in an atmospheric pixelated hellscape. The result is an addictive twin-stick shooter playing out at a breakneck pace, and one very much worth your time if you’re looking for something that will let you notice tangible improvement with every attempt to clear its difficult stages.

Yeah, it’s a small release and it is unlikely to take all of the air out of the room in a year that has already seen some incredibly strong RPG releases, but if you love this genre? Get yourself in to Demonschool. I give it full marks and a fair helping of extra credit, but I still want it to see me after class because it impressed me.

While it slightly suffers from a few odd decisions about its default control scheme and the direction of the voice acting (though the acting itself is top shelf), you’ll definitely find the adrenaline rush you might be craving in Screamer. It absolutely oozes quality in almost all aspects. If Mario Kart is too silly and Forza is too serious, this might just be the perfect in-between for you.

Three Hopes is really good. Really, really good. If you’ve already loved Three Houses, this is beyond a worthwhile purchase. If you haven’t, then here’s another point of entry to a world I love. And considering how different this game is from its predecessor, it makes me happy to see that the game’s setting and characters can hold up even in a very different context.

So at the end of the day, despite everything that made this look like it was going to be a disaster, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is not just an alright game. It’s a really good game, a delight in terms of action RPG gameplay, and easily a title that you can start sinking a huge amount of time into whether you know this crew or not. I’m excited for the prospect of more, from more characters to more stories. And if you’re looking for a new RPG to sink your teeth to at the start of the year, you already have a strong example.

Unsighted is awesome. More people should know about it and play it, especially considering that the game goes out of its way to be accessible even to people who usually find Souls-like titles too hard, or people who dislike the timer mechanic but still want to experience the game, or even people looking for a harder ride. This is a good game and you should go play it. It’s not quite for everyone… but it’s as close as any title I’ve reviewed comes to being a must-play.

Ultimately, the new narrative in The Witch Queen is absolutely worth checking out, and the game still features what I think is the best gunplay in any game I’ve played- and now it has glaives!

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is well worth the wait, a welcome addition to the series that keeps everything that made the old games great while adding new elements to keep the series feeling fresh. The change in time and setting also forces it to rely less on familiar characters, and while long-time fans may miss series stalwarts such as Maya Fey, Miles Edgeworth, or Detective Gumshoe, it makes it an excellent place for newcomers to hop into the series. Whether you’re an old fan of the series, looking for a fun visual novel about courtroom intrigue, or just saw a few of the series memes flying around and want to know what it’s all about, you owe it to yourself to pick up The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles.

Final Fantasy VI does an incredible job of re-creating a game that for some is a cherished classic, while also helping to bring it to new audiences (and people like me that simply never got around to it). The game is as good as its ever been (apart from that atrocious font) and I wouldn’t disagree with anyone who says this is the best version of this game. Personal thoughts surrounding the opera scene not withstanding, the Pixel Remaster version of Final Fantasy VI truly feels like it is the best way to experience this game.

For SRPG fans clamoring for games of a more “classic” style, this title comes highly recommended, especially with the replayability afforded to it through its custom campaign options. I know for sure I’ll be loading this up on the regular for a long time to come.

Riven is a game that demands your full attention, occasionally to its detriment. If you aren’t locked in and focused, it is easy to lose the trail the game is gently leading you on. But if you can give it your time and attention, it will take you on an unforgettable ride.

I’d say with confidence that Mizuguchi and the Enhance team have once again knocked it out of the park here. If you’re looking for a way to drop some blocks whilst wringing emotion from your heart, you can’t go wrong with this one.

If you’re a hardcore Ninja Turtle fan or someone looking for a fun as hell beat ’em up to play with friends on a pizza-filled Saturday night, you’re going to have a lot of fun no matter what crowd you find yourself in. It succeeds in bridging the past and present, and knows how to hit the mark for any fan. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is a worthy follow-up to an arcade/console classic, and a game worthy of counting itself as one of the genre’s best examples of how to do a beat ’em up right. This is Turtle Power at its absolute best.

While the slate of classic content here might not be as dense as other compilations in Digital Eclipse’s Gold Master Series, everything included in Tetris Forever easily justifies its more than reasonable asking price. This compilation is easily one of the best I’ve played and experienced in quite a while. Which makes for an easy reccommendation for anyone interested in doing a deep dive into one of the premier lynchpins of the industry. It’s not a perfect compilation, but it’s damned close.

Stellar and surprisingly customizable combat, a masterfully written and engaging storyline, and beautiful audio visual presentation. It's a nearly complete package, but with a few annoyances that keep it from being the perfect game…That said, even with those frustrations in mind, Final Fantasy XVI is an absolute return to form for the mainline franchise, and easily a reason to get yourself a PlayStation 5 if you've yet to.

Inscryption is an amazingly well-put-together piece of work. The atmosphere presented…well, I’ve already doted on it multiple times. And I’ll do so again: it’s unsettling, occasionally oppressive, and always keeps the player on their toes. It could easily carry the work on its own, but luckily the card game mechanics are solid and sound as well. It’s easy to pick up, but with a ton of variables to allow customization and multiple viable approaches to the challenges provided. If only it didn’t stumble literally right at the finish line, I’d call this a near-perfectly designed game. Unfortunately, that last moment soured me on the experience…not enough render the whole thing moot (a la Mass Effect 3), but I just can’t shake it off. Despite that, Inscryption is a game that I can recommend highly. Even if you’re not typically a fan of deckbuilding games (just as I used to be), if you want some unsettling vibes for the season, this is your game right here.