As upset as I am about the censorship thing, I still can’t help but love everything that’s going on overall. The Chaos;Head Noah/Chaos;Child Double Pack is an enthralling, terrifying, and occasionally humorous double-dose of Science Adventure goodness. You’ve got to take the bad with bad with the good, and trust me when I say the good outweighs the bad by a considerable amount in this case.

McPixel 3 is an intensely fast and fun time. It’s that point and click adventure game that us 80s/90s kids would have talked about on the playground alongside Mortal Kombat, swapping stories about potential fatalities and gags to discover and giggling at the crude humor. I’m struggling to think of who this game wouldn’t appeal to — a labor of love that just about anyone will find interesting (or at least funny). If you’re ready to save the day — or die, die again trying — the titular hero in McPixel 3 could certainly use the help (before he explodes… again).

I’ve really enjoyed some of DON’T NOD’s games and found a lot to love in Harmony: The Fall of Reverie. Beautiful art, a fantastic soundtrack, two interesting worlds, and an intricately designed system designed to really make your choices matter are all worth exploring. Ultimately though, thinly drawn characters and too often feeling like I was being forced down a specific path instead of getting to enjoy the choices the game is designed around kept me from falling in love with Harmony.

No More Heroes 3 dazzlingly outshines its predecessors in many respects. The combat is vastly superior, the overworld map makes a triumphant return, and the art styles and music are so brilliantly executed to the point where I want to buy the entire dev team a round of drinks. In the team's eagerness to return to a clearly beloved franchise, I think a lot of fantastic storyline ideas came together in a way that didn't always fit perfectly, but No More Heroes 3 was never anything less than a total blast. If you've already played the other three games in the series and loved every second, I have no idea why you're still reading this article -- go get No More Heroes 3 already.

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army may not be a true classic, but it is a very solid action RPG with strong combat and an interesting story. Investigative work may not be a strength, but it gets to be less of a focus as the game goes on, mostly for the better. Shin Megami Tensei fans who missed this one late in the PS2’s life cycle will have a good time exploring an underplayed part of the franchise, but those who have already experienced this story won’t find a ton new to grab their interest.

For fans of Suikoden, playing Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was always going to be an emotional experience given Murayama's passing. Thankfully, however, while we continue to mourn the loss of an industry legend, we also get to celebrate his life's work in the best way possible through a remarkable JRPG that retains everything people loved about Suikoden while building upon it to create an incredible end to an equally incredible career. Looking back on my notes as I sat to write this review, I wasn't surprised in the slightest to realize that the vast majority of what I had written down was positive given the immense joy I felt while playing through Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Any faults are minor, so minor to the point where in the grand scheme of things, they matter little and cannot even come close to overshadowing everything this game gets right. Playing through Nowa and his companions' journey feels like a true celebration - a celebration of how incredible JRPGs can be when done right, a celebration of a legend's career, and the celebration of the birth of a new franchise that I cannot wait to see expanded upon for years to come.

Demon Turf is a stylish and challenging platformer that brings some interesting ideas to the table. And while they may not all live up to their full potential, I can appreciate developer Fabraz taking a chance at shaking things up. If you’re a die-hard fan of the genre and are looking for something new to scratch that itch, Demon Turf probably won’t dethrone your favorite platformer. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any fun to be had here. However, if you don’t fall into that category, you’ll probably want to consider hoisting your flag elsewhere.

As someone who was left wanting more after completing Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, I found the new levels offered in The Baron is Back to be the perfect salve to soothe my bubble-bursting itch. The addition of a few more power-ups to go with them would have been nice for sure, But really, that’s just nitpicking. At the end of the day, this update succeeds in making Bubble Bobble 4 Friends feel like the game it should have been when it was initially released earlier this year.

This episode is again quite short though. I finished it in under an hour and a half. If all five episodes end up being similar in length, then we’re only going to have so many chances to move the plot forward, so it does feel strange that we have an entire episode that does so little to advance the game’s main story. Perhaps the third episode will throw things into full burn, but right now, I’m left wondering if there’s even time for this to be a truly deep plot or if, in the end, The Expanse: A Telltale Series will end up telling a fairly straightforward and minor tale. Either way, I’m definitely ready to see what comes next which is always what you want in an episodic game.

While the Switch may not be the best place to play The Outer Wilds, it still offers an experience absolutely filled with wonder on Nintendo’s platform. Switch owners who still haven’t had a chance to explore its mysteries now have one less excuse not to do so.

My complaints with Forestrike are ultimately quite minor, though. It’s an incredibly unique action game that requires a great deal of planning and foresight to see your way to the end. If you aren’t able to slow down and approach a game with patience than it won’t be for you but if you’re willing to meet it where it is you’ll find a compelling game which feels entirely singular.

Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes is not a game I can really recommend. Whether you’re a fan of rogue-lites or pinball games, there are numerous options out there that will provide vastly better experiences for your money. Whilst it does have an admittedly interesting concept, a complete lack of balance and poor optimization completely squanders any potential this unique hook might hold.

There’s no mistaking it: Ghosts ‘N Goblins: Resurrection is challenging like many of the games in the Ghosts ‘N Goblins franchise. But the reasons for this level of difficulty become apparent when you consider the history of this franchise: like all classic arcade games it was a total grind, created to chew up tall piles of quarters. The creators have delivered on their promise of reimagining this game and have remained true to that aspect of it, so I can certainly appreciate and respect this game on those merits. I also don’t stress the difficulty level of this game to deter anyone from purchasing it, as the whole point could be to challenge yourself as a scroller-platform gamer! Despite my grumbling I must have a hidden masochistic side to me, as I thoroughly enjoyed every clammy-palmed minute of gameplay, in spite of the high degree of difficulty.

Ultimately, Ara: History Untold is a collection of good ideas that don’t harmonize well. The game feels unfinished, with many mechanics feeling half-baked or monotonous. The overwhelming micromanagement and lack of distinct playstyles reduce the desire to replay, as each session starts to feel like a repeat of the last, mired in the same frustrations. The game doesn’t do a good job of highlighting what’s important, despite having a comprehensive in-game encyclopedia and tooltip system. Important information gets lost in the clutter, and the lack of smooth gameplay flow makes it difficult to stay engaged. For players who enjoy deep micromanagement and have the patience for an unwieldy interface, Ara offers some enjoyment, especially in the early game, where glimpses of a rewarding strategy experience shine through.

EA Sports PGA Tour lays the foundation for what could be a really strong golf game, with a lot of content, deep mechanics, and excellent presentation. Its UI issues, though, are a significant problem that shouldn’t have made it into the final release, and its swing mechanics, while easy to pick up, never feel particularly comfortable. In future years there’s definitely potential to win the tour, but for the moment, I still think the competition offers a more compelling experience.

The quirky caveman Tomba stands out with his pink hair and green shorts, tackling the world with vigor and primal fury, carving through pesky pigs to get his grandfather’s bracelet back and vanquish the evil swine. The world-building is just as vibrant as our wild protagonist, and the music to accompany it will have you humming all day long. With the newly implemented rewind feature, an entire museum filled with behind-the-scenes goodies, and anytime saving and loading, this retread of a PS1 cult classic is a masterful example of video game preservation done right.

There are so many different metaphors that I could use to describe El Shaddai‘s leap onto the Switch. It’s a bit of Heaven and a bit of Hell. It’s a rose with plenty of thorns. It’s a… well, you get the picture. Regardless of how many metaphors I throw out, the best way to sum this game up is to say that El Shaddai Ascension of the Metatron HD Remaster is a visual masterpiece that is, very unfortunately, bogged down by shallow combat and mediocre platforming. It’s too bad that they never made a proper sequel to this game. I’m sure that they would have perfected things eventually, given enough time. Ah, well. Maybe someday. Maybe someday…

Even with these minor complaints, Hotshot Racing is an excellent example of nailing the 90’s arcade experience. Both in graphics, gameplay, and even sound.

The Thaumaturge is a thought-provoking and haunting RPG that expertly combines gameplay and narrative, leading to one of the most unique RPG experiences you’re likely to play this year. Its stunning setting and choice-driven narrative will undoubtedly stick with me for a long time as I reflect on the tough decisions I made with Wiktor as he comes to terms with this dark, fantasy-filled version of Warsaw. The combat arguably takes too long to reveal its riches, but once that initial barrier is overcome, it offers the same level of depth and choice present in other aspects of The Thaumaturge.

Minor control and performance quibbles aside, you don’t need a keen sense of echolocation to see that Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials is an exceptional addition to the Switch library. With killer presentation, an exciting world to explore, and a unique approach to its puzzle-solving mechanics, it’s a must-have for any fan of the Metroidvania genre. If you’re even remotely interested in these types of games, I can’t recommend picking this one up enough.

Please learn from your mistakes in this game, Compile Heart. Death end re;Quest 2 shows that you’re truly capable of making a great horror game, but also that you aren’t there just yet.

Altogether, I really enjoyed playing Bahnsen Knights, and feel it’s a good way to end this current Pixel Pulps trilogy. Though it’s not perfect, and makes some of the same missteps as previous games, it’s still well written and full of angsty sights and sounds. I highly recommend playing it on Nintendo Switch, since it’s the closest you can get to replicating the feel of holding a book in your hands and choosing your own adventure. A rousing apocalyptic finale well worth your time.

Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator is hands down one of the cleverest games on a mechanics level. Players will truly feel like they are crafting brews while connecting to the magical whimsy of the medieval era. Although I wish I was able to get more involved in the world of Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator, either through story or exploration, the mechanics alone kept me entertained for 40 hours so I can’t complain too much. Even if the rest of the game is a bit shallow, Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator’s gameplay is something to write home about. Here’s to hoping the dev team can concoct more content in future updates.

While I do think it would have benefitted from minor improvements and wish it had some additional modes to keep me playing, it’s still a ton of fun. This is the perfect start to the Summer gaming season. Now I’ll just wait with bated breath for Blastmode to announce they’re working on an even bigger sequel.

I can’t pretend the glitches I encountered in 9 Years of Shadows weren’t frustrating, especially as a backer. I can only hope that Halberd Studios and Freedom Games take my complaints to heart and does everything they can to patch these problems as quickly as possible. Because underneath all the glitches, there’s a truly fantastic adventure, and one I still really enjoyed. If you’re a fan of Metroidvanias, definitely put this one on your wishlist. Just maybe wait on pulling the trigger until the developers have had a chance to make some necessary fixes.

Some of the same problems that the original had are still present here. However, with a far stronger story featuring a fantastic tone and better characters, they’re a lot easier to forgive. It definitely works best after playing the original, but if you only want to play one of these titles, jump right to The Girl Who Stands Behind. It’s a story well worth your time, even after all these years.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is essential as a complete narrative package. It takes the heart of the series, Kiryu’s struggle to find peace, and gives it the presentation it deserves. Dark Ties puts the spotlight on an underutilized and misunderstood antagonist in a campaign that is over all too soon. If you don’t mind some of RGG Studio’s choices regarding casting and delisting Yakuza 3 Remastered, then I’d say this is a must-play.

Overall, Video Game Fables is a solid RPG experience, and is even more impressive when you consider that it was made by just one person. It’s quirky, it’s cute, it’s addicting, and it never takes itself seriously. Even if you’re burnt out on turn-based RPGs, I think there’s still a lot to enjoy here. While not a perfect game, it’s an undeniably enjoyable and delightful one.