While I really disliked 428's mocking attitude towards women's bodily autonomy, I did like just about everything else. The nonlinear, vignette-based narrative is a perfect fit for the Sound Novel format, and few scenes are wasted. I frequently laughed out loud at 428's script, while at the same time I was hooked to find out what would happen next in its twisty, turny tale. 428: Shibuya Scramble may not be perfect, but it's a title that even the staunchest visual novel skeptic can get a lot of enjoyment out of.

Sure, the music is infectious to the point where I'd find myself humming it days later. Yes, the dialogue is stunningly well-written. Meeting and experiencing the varied cast is a delight, since you never know what will come next. And okay, yeah, there are countless little touches and fleeting moments that would make me stop and appreciate what was happening. And that's the real secret about Undertale. There isn't one thing that makes it special, because everything makes it special. It has a heart, a soul.

Frankly, this is not a great visual novel. There definitely are noticeable flaws, and overall, the script needs one or two solid overhauls. But the game contains some potential, and it managed to hold some of my interest. While I cannot recommend Part 1 as a stand-alone entry, Perseverance may be able to reach its missed potential in Part 2.

Several times during my playthrough of Torna, I found myself thinking that, in some ways, it might actually be a better experience than Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which is perhaps a shocking thing for me to say because I very much enjoyed the original game. The more mature tone, focused cast, and refined gameplay are definite pluses, and even though the scope of both the world and the time you spend in it is far smaller, this can play to the game's strengths. Those who liked the original game will almost certainly like Torna.

Octopath Traveler is unapologetically old-school, and would not have been out of place if it had released back in the golden age of JRPGs.

Dead Cells is an absolute blast when the stars align, but that only happens every four or five runs. Everything else feels like a waste of time. I truly don't understand the phenomenon behind this game. Compared to its ilk, Dead Cells is just less.

Mary Skelter: Nightmares varies nicely from your typical turn-based JRPG. With a darker atmosphere than most games, the art and music is really what defines it. If you can overlook some of the repetitive combat and dialogue, this game has a lot to offer and provides an overall great experience.

Though it comes with some bugs, ample load times when entering or leaving a dungeon, and an English localization that shows some evidence of the developer's Spanish roots, Moonlighter presents well. While some may shy away from the repetitive formula, I am certain fans of the roguelike genre will find a lot to play with in Moonlighter. That being said, the scant story is not so demanding that players need commit fully to it in one continuous playthrough. Thus, Digital Sun has developed Moonlighter into something that feels as timeless as its role models and will welcome back players delve after delve.

My initial reaction was that the series may have just gone off the rails, but I've come to accept that The Council requires a healthy suspension of disbelief to extract maximum enjoyment. Beyond the myriad of revelations and confrontations, Ripples forces the player to make what may be the most important choice of the series to date. I really don't know what to expect next from The Council, and that just may be its most alluring quality.

The most refined and fun Yakuza experience to date, though you may feel a bit left out if you skipped the original.

Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii deemed DQXI the culmination of the series' thirty years of tradition. I'm more than inclined to agree with him, as it embraces and enhances almost all of the virtues that make DQ such a beloved franchise. It remains unabashedly true to its roots as a JRPG fan's JRPG, and fans of the series are in for a treat at a scale of epic proportions. The best DQ games embody the spirit of grand adventure. In Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, Square Enix has delivered to us the grandest Dragon Quest of them all.

The game looks pretty yet cheap in places, but the simple presentation is easy to digest, especially with the sometimes-deeper concepts addressed in the story. I may not be the right audience for this, but as I watch my daughter delight in playing, it is easy to take a page from the story and appreciate the title for what it is instead of what it is not. Despite all of its issues, it is oddly delightful to spend a day playing in the old LDC helping friends, cooking new recipes, or exploring with a dragon!

Despite (or because of) Attentat 1942's short duration, there's nary a slow moment. A small thread quickly expands to a tapestry of narratives that weaves around the protagonist's grandfather. For those who love exploring history or simply resolving an investigation, Attentat 1942 provides a fascinating intersection between history and gameplay. Given that there's still plenty of room for more games like this to emerge, I look forward to seeing what else the Czech Academy of Sciences concocts in the future.

Episode 1 is a good indication of where the season and series are headed, and while I've thoroughly enjoyed it, when titles like Life is Strange and Before the Storm are released and compete with the franchise, one has to expect Telltale to up their game. What was great back in 2012 is no longer great in 2018, and maybe that's why Telltale is putting the cap on the series with The Final Season.

As far as throwback RPGs go, Towards the Pantheon may not reinvent the wheel, but it does offer its own distinct personality. I am glad I played this game because my 12 or so hours spent with it invoked the vibe of a turn-based Zelda. Towards the Pantheon might not be for everyone, since it requires players to put in the work to get the most out of the experience, but it is loads of fun for those willing to make the effort.

I don't have too much more to say about this game: it's extremely short, with an incomprehensible plot and frustrating puzzles, but also has quite a bit of charm and a wonderfully gothic ambience. Because of this, I'd probably only recommend it to a hardcore fan of the Gothic Lolita style or Alice in Wonderland. I spent approximately $2 during a Steam sale to buy this title, as I generally enjoy the aesthetic; Alicemare was worth every penny, though not a whole lot more. Alas!

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition shows its age when compared to recent Warriors games, but for Zelda fans, there is no better way to experience a Zelda crossover with your favourite characters.

It's a visual treat, but underneath that style, State of Mind is lifeless, too wrapped up in its own ideas to even try and push the boundaries of the genre. I wanted to come away from the game with questions, but instead I came away feeling almost nothing.

Yakuza 0 is a lot of Yakuza, showing a great deal of excess, brilliance and occasional frustration in equal fashion. There's lots and lots to do, a great story to breathe in, and wonderful characters who play well off each other. At the same time, 0 lacks some of the innovations and gameplay conceits that came with later titles, and it's also just as frustrating in places as some of the franchise's more egregious offenders.

The PC version of Ys: Memories of Celceta polishes the blazing fast combat, rocking music, and fun-to-explore environments of the original to a shine and is a must play for fans of the series.

Chasm's procedural dungeon, though a technical marvel, ends up woefully underutilised and results in a title that does little to set itself apart from its peers.

This is a tight trilogy with so few slow parts that I could barely tell I had sunk 13 hours into the third episode by the time I was finished with it. I could easily see myself returning to the series at episode one just to experience the story from an entirely new perspective. If you've played the first two games, I have to wonder why you're reading this. Quickly, save the world from the dark! Or you know, some other choice betwixt saving the world and desolation.

In short, Zwei: The Arges Adventure may not be the most polished or compelling experience, but it's a fascinating look into Falcom's past, and a quite loveable one to boot. Those looking for a rollicking action RPG should stick with The Ilvard Insurrection, but enthusiasts interested in Falcom's trajectory will no doubt find a lot to love here.

The very definition of mediocre, Shining Resonance Refrain fails to stand out from the crowd in another packed year of RPGs.

If you can get past the heavy-handedness with which Detroit: Become Human approaches some of its story, you'll find that it is possibly Quantic Dream's best effort yet.

This field trip to Luna Nova is more frustrating than fun, though fans of Little Witch Academia will likely find more enjoyment than others.

The Last Sacrament builds upon the prior material in the right ways by fleshing out the already intriguing worldbuilding, lore, and characters presented in the Echoes of the Fey mythos. With engaging characters, gripping storylines that contain hefty choices, evocative music, and challenging gameplay that goes above and beyond the visual novel norm, Echoes of the Fey is a visual novel series that genre fans should definitely check out.

Fallen Legion has some innovative ideas that shake up the action RPG formula a bit, but the lackluster execution fails to capitalize on its promise.

Ys VIII's smooth combat, amazing music, and fun-to-explore environments make for a memorable and rewarding experience. Unfortunately, you may want to steer clear of a Switch port that mars that experience with technical and localization issues.

Following a god-statue just doesn't inspire me the way being hit in the face with an ever-present catastrophe that devastates families did. Yes, Deadfire has fascinating themes of imperialism, cultural preservation, and politics, but those are secondary to the godly pursuit the Watcher and friends engage in. Despite this weakness and the relatively lackluster combat, Obsidian's writers showcase why they're the best in the industry and help lift Deadfire above its lesser qualities.

If you enjoy horror and mystery in your visual novel, you are bound to enjoy Sound of Drop, but it is unlikely to become your favorite.

In a market saturated by AAA titles, Vampyr is an excellent example of why we need more AA games. It's not the prettiest or the smoothest experience, but then again, it's really not trying to be. What Vampyr wants to do is tell the story of a newborn vampire who holds the fate of post WWI-London in his hands; the focus is on story, atmosphere, and making hard decisions that have hard consequences.

Seven combines parkour, stealth, and larceny with an intriguing setting to create an incredibly enjoyable isometric RPG experience that's slightly dampened by perpetual glitches.

Cultist Simulator is a posthumanist spiral that, like its endless card combinations, is greater than the sum of its parts.

Although Detective Pikachu unequivocally has a charming lead, it's ultimately a few sparks short of being a true bolt of brilliance.

While FFXV is at times engrossing and beautiful, it can also feel like a pretty, hollow shell. The last quarter of the game feels rushed, as if the developers had to wrap things up under pressure, and that's after waiting over a decade for this to come out. While it is not the stellar titan we hoped for, it's certainly Final Fantasy, and we can all be thankful for that.

If players invest the time in exploring the island thoroughly and figure out how to adequately manipulate the many gameplay systems, they will have a really fun and rewarding time.

The best parts of The Council, namely the skill and Social Influence systems, are still strong. The slower pace and mediocre puzzles of Episode Two degrade the experience a bit, though.

A perfectly proportioned adventure in a colorful land where you are the only one who can solve the mystery of the end of the world.

A beautiful, chaotic adventure, Dragon's Crown Pro is worth a go if you've never played the original.

Quality of life improvements over the already good Megadimension Neptunia VII make this the best Neptunia game to date.

A very promising start to a series with an intriguing story, interesting setting, and a unique spin on choice-based narratives.

An enjoyable romp that gets me interested in the past and future of this series.

There's very little to love here, and I'd struggle to recommend the game even to fans of the original. Nippon Ichi is capable of much better than what they've cooked up here.

Despite its terrific combat, The Alliance Alive is far from a spectacular experience. With the 3DS having such a vast catalogue of RPGs to choose from, it's not enough for Alliance to simply be passable. It's hard to truly recommend the game to anyone except those who have already exhausted their options on the system.

You better be a hardcore fan of the series, or you won't find much to like in Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet.

A much more realistic take on the Elder Scrolls formula which will delight some fans of that series while frustrating others.

The tired jokes, excessive grinding, high battle encounter rate, laborious progression, and unappealing graphics became unbearable after one weekend. I also have nothing to say about the utterly forgettable music and sound effects. A clever concept can only take a game so far, and unfortunately Healer's Quest lacks the accoutrements to rise beyond mediocrity.

Gone Fireflies is less of a game and more of an engrossing interactive movie that I gladly experienced multiple times, despite a few hiccups. With an engaging story, sharp visuals, stirring music, and price tag less than half of a movie ticket, Gone Fireflies is something that fans of plot-driven software should definitely check out. After such a compelling debut, I look forward to seeing what Quiet Bay Studio comes up with next.

Dim Bulb Games' debut is so close to being a truly great game. Where the Water Tastes Like Wine stands tall as a paragon of world-building and writing, and its unique approach to storytelling is something many developers should take note of. What's holding it back is its obsession with being a game as well as an interactive book, and it struggles to balance the two mechanics perfectly, so much so that many of the journeys, despite the rich writing, don't always feel worth it.

A novel, thematic conceit is the most interesting element of this repetitive experience; the rest is weighed down by crybaby characters and vague, unsatisfying gameplay objectives. Atelier is overdue for a revamp.

Batman: The Enemy Within is an excellent Telltale Games title in story and execution, but probably won't change the hearts or minds of players who want more choice efficacy in their adventure games.

The 25th Ward has a few cool ideas, yet they're almost always held back by outdated ignorance and rampant misogyny, turning what could have been a powerful avant-garde adventure game into a frustratingly juvenile monument to phallocentrism.

For those of you with strong attachments to the 80s, Crossing Souls is a sure cure for your nostalgia; for those without, Crossing Souls simply feels like a game that's trying too hard.

A sweet, whimsical adventure in a faraway land you'll love getting lost in.

With SoM, Square Enix failed to leverage modern game design concepts and technology to improve on a treasured JRPG. Instead, they opted to do the bare minimum, and that's a damn shame.

There's murder, intrigue, babysitting, and thoughtful contemplation on what it means to be a man and a father in these changing times.

The long and short of this review is that if you enjoyed Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds as much as I did, then playing Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms is an absolute no-brainer.

Those who couldn't get enough of Tokyo Xanadu's combat will no doubt be pleased with the extra content here, especially a robust post-game that takes place during Halloween. Everyone else, however, is better off passing this one up. eX+'s additions are so flimsy and superfluous as to actively detract from the original game, dragging out an already thin premise to another 25 hours.

For fans of the genre, VV is a must-play, as it has refreshing ideas that are implemented well. If not for what feels like padding, this game would appropriately find itself shoulder-to-shoulder with the titans of the genre.

The amount of heart and soul Last BeNeVoLeNcE put into his entire Tales of the Elements project is readily apparent. There is simply no denying this game's eccentric vibe and excellent soundtrack. Unfortunately, clumsy controls and grindy gameplay marred my overall experience. Game aside, I wholeheartedly recommend lending an ear to Last BeNeVoLeNcE's soulful music on Bandcamp and taking in his evocative rhymes and lyrics. Tales of the Elements is a one-and-done game for me, but I totally see myself grooving to Last BeNeVoLeNcE's music over and over again.

In the wake of Labyrinth, The Eden of Grisaia is somehow able to end the series on a positive note, but it is still a disappointingly mixed experience in the grand scheme of things.

Lost Sphear is Tokyo RPG Factory's latest attempt to capture that golden age nostalgia, but its lackluster story and bloated systems aren't quite up to the task.

If you enjoy LucasArts' games, you should definitely play Full Throttle after so many years of not having the option to do so. If you haven't played their games but enjoy the genre in general, I'd still recommend it, as long as you're willing to accept occasional help from the internet when you can't find the right stupid rock to kick.

Labyrinth might slake the thirst of players coming straight from Fruit, but it ultimately fails to live up to the standards set by its predecessor.

There were a few times where I genuinely enjoyed Dissidia Final Fantasy NT — the online mode can be great, the game looks amazing, and I loved getting to grips with new characters. But at the same time, I've never come away from a game feeling as vexed and frustrated as I did with this one. I kept pushing through battles trying to find something to hook onto, something that I'd really fall in love with. This makes Dissidia NT an exasperating experience; so much of the game sounds good on paper, but in execution, it falls so far short that it left me feeling angry rather than satisfying the Final Fantasy and fighting game fan in me. If Square Enix are serious about making this truly competitive in the world of esports, they've got a long way to go to make this an enjoyable romp. I'm keeping my hopes up, but I'll be much more cautious if I return to battle.

Monster Hunter: World is a remarkable game. It's a rich, worthwhile experience that you'll sink hundreds and hundreds of hours into thanks to incredibly fun multiplayer and engaging gameplay. The new additions and simplified mechanics couple well with the buttery smooth combat, making the game accessible and enjoyable to both new and returning players. By breaking the traditional Monster Hunter mold, World successfully thrusts the global status of the series from beyond the niche and into the mainstream.

Full Metal Furies is full of charm, life, expert design, and few missteps. The story won't revolutionize the industry and the controls could be crisper, but the sheer quality in gameplay sets a higher bar not only for the genre, but for puzzle design. Period. Given Cellar Door Games' work on Rogue Legacy and FMF, I cannot wait for the next title they come up with, as their excellent game design is something they not only offer to the gaming community, but to the industry as well.

The Longest Five Minutes does well with its unique premise, but falls short in providing a fun gameplay experience. Most of the gameplay is a waste of time and only serves as an obstacle to experiencing the story. Flash Back's adventure is only worth it for the good art and final revelation.

When we hear the word masquerade, we usually think of a social gathering where people wear masks and other fancy attire. But this word is much more than a mere event. As a noun, a masquerade can also signify a false pretense or show. And as a verb, a person who masquerades is a person who pretends to be something they are not. With definitions like these, masquerada is a truly fitting title for this game. Underneath its guise of political machinations, Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is a mirror depicting the ever-present shadows in society while also reflecting the societal masquerade that humanity subconsciously participates in.

Time is such a fascinating concept. Ever since its conception, it has been a fundamental aspect of our lives. But because of this, we also experience its crippling effects. How often are we shackled by the past? How often do we fear the uncertainty of the future? Maybe that's even why Atlus opted for a more definite ending. Despite my seemingly endless list of complaints, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology is a better manifestation than the original of humanity's ultimate wish — a wish for more time.

There's a lot I really like about Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth — Hacker's Memory. The core game is still as solid as the previous entry, and the extra Digimon sometimes make all the extra grinding worth it, but this is another 60 hours of what is essentially the same game. Die-hard fans will love it, and it's still way better than most other Digimon games out there, but as a sequel it only just hits the mark, and that's mostly down to the great foundations laid by the first game. Hacker's Memory is more of a remix than a brand new release, and there's nothing wrong than that.

Though Farabel possesses quite a number of interesting ideas, the end product isn't as polished or complete as it could be. I enjoyed the short venture I had through its rewinding war, but I'm in no hurry to try again. Perhaps the developers will be able to take the refreshing concepts in Farabel and push it two steps further—I would love to play that game.

I found Legrand Legacy an exceedingly tough game to score. Although it clearly has its flaws, I enjoyed the roughly 40 hours I spent with it all the same. The small but immensely talented development team may simply have tried to do just a little too much here, possibly to the detriment of character development and script writing. There are things it does well, including its great audiovisual quality, but it doesn't truly stand out in any meaningful way. SEMISOFT wished to create a love letter to JRPGs, and perhaps it did that in a most unintentional way. Legrand Legacy manages to capture much of the indelible charm of the JRPGs to which it pays homage through its rough-around-the-edges execution.

Romancing SaGa 2 is equal parts fascinating and frustrating. I've barely scratched the surface with some of the novel features this game offers you, so if you're thinking of playing it for the first time, I really encourage you to do so as there's a lot to love about this SNES remaster. Yet I also want this review to act as a warning on the difficult journey ahead, and while I've enjoyed my time with it for the most part, the obtuse nature and tough gameplay weren't always for me. If you love this series, you know what to expect and you'll enjoy every second. If this is your first SaGa, please don't go in blind: I didn't, and I'm glad I took the time to do some research and go through the game prepared.

If you don't already like the Neptunia series, you will probably be hard-pressed to like this game. It's a pretty typical action RPG, with a ho-hum story. However, as a Neptunia fan, this game does what the Neptunia series is best at: having fun with its cast of characters. For once, these characters are taking a relaxing break from the toils of their daily life and not worrying about getting thrown out of their country by evil forces or thinking about how to best serve their citizens. Gaming has always been one of the great pillars of the Neptunia series. It's just a shame the gameplay in this particular game isn't the best.

Episode Five is a step back for the series in multiple ways, leading to a conclusion that feels rushed and minimally fulfilling.

Eselmir and the Five Magical Gifts is a good start for graphic adventures in 2018. Perhaps if enough people check this game out, it may open the gates for the Pirin trilogy of novels to be localized. Familiarity with the books would have more viscerally connected me to the game's world, characters, and lore. Regardless, it is clear that much love was put into this project, and I'm sure players will pick up on that when they play Eselmir and the Five Magical Gifts.

This HD remake brings all the beauty and fun of the original to several new platforms, and while there are a few issues (such as the camera and the annoying voices), the strength of the overall package makes it easier to ignore them in favor of all the things the game does right. Whether you're a fan of the original PS2 version or someone who has never played the game before, Ōkami HD is absolutely worth adding to your library.

Describing The House in Fata Morgana as "entertaining" isn't exactly accurate, as it's a much more introspective experience than its contemporaries. In that regard, more visual novels should take a page from Novectacle's book — The House in Fata Morgana eschews genre tropes in favor of a style of experimentation that is deeply literary, and the result is incredibly refreshing.

Assassin's Creed: Origins is the best game in the series, but it's a mediocre action RPG at its core. In this sense, it both succeeds and fails at being a much-needed franchise shakeup.

Misao may not be a filling portion, but sometimes all you need is a bite-sized parody.

Funny, sad, and with the sharpest teeth, Doki Doki Literature Club is one of the most pleasant surprises of 2017.

Abstraction Games have done a great job emulating Kemco's MacVenture ports, just know going in this is a package that knows its audience.

A sad but moving piece that will make you think for far longer than the time it takes to experience it.

Finding Paradise is a memorable experience that may last me a lifetime, like a good book or film. The care placed into each scene is one of the reasons why Finding Paradise is such a masterpiece. Each string of dialogue, each reference to other games, every joke, and every pixel — they all feel deliberate and labored over, yet also so smoothly executed, as if effortless.

You're getting a lot of game for your buck, and a great story to boot, but be prepared for some repetition.

In spite of its imperfections, I enjoyed playing Summon Night 6 because it displayed traits that reaffirm why I'm into this series. I'm not the biggest SRPG fan, but I've enjoyed playing Summon Night 5 and 6 enough to venture calling Summon Night my favorite SRPG series. Unfortunately, the charm that initially won me over couldn't completely save Summon Night 6's storyline from its dependence on nostalgia for something largely unfamiliar to Western gamers. That being said, spending time with Summon Night 6 makes me want to play the Summon Night games we did not get in the West more than ever before.

As someone who really enjoyed Chaos;Head, I really, really wanted to like Chaos;Child. And there are a number of things I do like about it: the cast is fun, the core mystery is gripping, and the level of gore, while not for the faint of heart, is on par with a Sion Sono flick (nasty and weird, but not wholly distasteful). However, its preoccupation with padding its length with the same tired tropes and non-consensual sexual fantasies makes it tough to recommend to any but the most devoted Science Adventure Series fans. Please 5pb, hire a copy editor.

Creeping Terror feels like your typical horror movie that one would watch to get a cheap, quick scare but proceed to forget about once it's over.

A charming throwback to 32-bit era JRPG aesthetics, Zwei's quirkiness and polish make it worth playing in spite of the repetition at its core.

The combination of engrossing story, fabulous music, expansive world, and complex yet rewarding battle system make XC2 one hell of a grand adventure.

If you must eat, you can eat a Big Mac. And if you must play a traditional RPG, you can play Galaxy of Pen and Paper. In both cases you are also likely to get your money's worth. What you are less likely to get is something truly memorable.

Probably best reserved for the most diehard fans, but even they should enter with caution.

The marriage between the Warriors and Fire Emblem franchises has yielded one of the deepest and most engaging games the Warriors series has done to date.

In my review of Chapter Two, I praised the developers for learning from what wasn't great in Chapter One, and I'm happy to see that they followed through in the final chapter. It took a long time for this story to finally see its conclusion, but I'm really glad that it did. Now that it's complete, I can definitely recommend this series to fans of point & click adventure games. If you haven't played Chapters One and Two, make sure to do so before you play Chapter Three; as of this writing, you can get all three for just $30, and that feels pretty fair to me.

Despite some pacing issues early on, The Fruit of Grisaia is an unforgettable experience, and a hallmark of romance visual novels.

I had a blast playing Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs despite some of its shortcomings. With amusing characters, a relatable story, solid combat, fantastic music and voice acting, and meaningful choices, it's definitely worth checking out. I look forward to seeing Pixelated Milk's next project!