While Crisis Core’s remaster is a fantastic appetizer to the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake series, it falls flat in a lot of ways. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoyed my time with it, and having all of the narrative freshened up for me is a fantastic strategy on Square Enix’s part, but Crisis Core would have benefited from some substantive changes, not just a face lift. If you’ve never played Crisis Core and want to see what the hubbub is about, this is the definitive pick for you, but remember that this game was developed fifteen years ago.

In ways both positive and negative, Under Pressure is more of the same for Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy. The relationship-focused decision trees continue to be interesting yet opaque, while the interactive aspects leave much to be desired in terms of quality and player engagement. I've knocked down the gameplay score (and thus the overall score) a tad to reflect both its stagnation and lack of creativity, but there's still room and time for improvement.

As I watched the credits of Emio role, my heart sank that I didn’t love the game as much as I’d had hoped and would need to convey as much in a review. I enjoyed both of the remakes and want to see Famicom Detective Club and other obscure Nintendo franchises thrive. Thus, I can’t overstate how elated I was with the barnstormer of a bonus chapter the game subsequently greeted me with, enough so that it single-handedly increased my opinion of the story and overall game. Still, it can’t overwrite how Emio’s bloat makes it a bit of a wet paper bag before that glorious final hurrah. Emio’s by no means a bad visual novel, but it’s also not worthy of waking its franchise from a 35-year hiatus.

Pillars of Dust reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously. The developers certainly don't, which is to the game's credit. If you can accept the style of storytelling and the snappy, simple gameplay and presentation at face value, you're guaranteed a good time. Retreaux Games has played it safe here, but they've also pushed boundaries in small, subtle ways to establish a foothold. They're in a good place with their first RPG, so the future bodes well for them and gamers alike.

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.

A ridiculously compelling opening that turns into a tragic waste of potential.

Lag was an acceptable issue in games up until five or so years ago. At this point, most high-quality online experiences are relatively lag free. That's why I have to say that RMG is not a high-quality experience, but not just because of lag; Realm of the Mad God suffers in its simplicity.

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.

Some hardcore D&D fans will be disappointed by the things left out of the 3.5 ruleset, but any tactical RPG fan who doesn't know about what's been left out or doesn't care will enjoy Dungeons & Dragons Tactics.

Phoenix Springs is not for everyone, and I’d venture to say most people won’t care for it; that’s also the benefit of strong visuals, though. No one’s going to look at screenshots or videos of this game and complain that they got ripped off thinking this was Gears of War. If my rambling and the feeling you get looking at Phoenix Springs doesn’t get you licking your lips, then this might be a pass for you. Others: enjoy food for your artsy fartsy soul.

Maliki: Poison of the Past feels to me like a bouquet of flowers, with the occasional thorn hidden within its attractive exterior. With the air full of the enticing aroma of blooming petals, you easily forget the one or two moments of discomfort you suffer to appreciate its best qualities. Load it up, take a deep breath, and enjoy.

I can't really fault Duodecim for being what it is: a title that's meant to be played by longtime Final Fantasy fans who really just want to see all their favorite characters together. However, it's undeniable that the game is broken in many ways – incredibly uneven difficulty, obtuse systems, and control issues both in and outside of battle.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection Vol. 2 is overall the weaker half of the series, with Mega Man Battle Network 5 being the gem of the bunch. This collection is fine, offering more of the same excellent core gameplay from the first three games for those who can’t get enough. But none of the new additions are strong enough to make these games stand out individually. I’d still love to see Mega Man Battle Network: The Liberation Missions someday. But for now, it’s time to jack out.

Hero of Leaf Valley is by far the best offering on the PSP to date. It's too bad it is marred by some awful load times and another cookie cutter story without any novel ideas to keep even that afloat. Interestingly enough, the gameplay is tweaked in just enough ways to warrant this game an overall winner.

Holiday Star is possibly the only game that contains a pheasant weaponizing the delusional fervor of otaku. Established birdie lovers will find a lot to love in Holiday Star, but fledglings should start with the prequel.

It's very unfortunate that everything in Baten Kaitos did not come together to create a truly great gaming experience. The shallow battle system becomes boring quickly, and the voice acting's poor quality drops the game to a simply average level.

The story is tragic and hopeless at times, only to turn around and become hopeful and positive seconds later. The combat is exciting, and I never thought I would be so engaged with the DRPG subgenre after years of not clicking with it. It’s a game that I’m certainly glad that I played, but I do find it difficult to recommend without a few caveats. If you decide to take the dive, be prepared for a notable time investment.

Uncanny Valley doesn't always get it right, but still manages to be an effective horror adventure well-worth your time.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister takes the mantle of the “most” Dungeons & Dragons video game out there, if not quite the best. Though the game has a modular adventure setup that strongly suggests there will be more stories, this one falls too flat for its 40- to 50-hour length. However, the combat system is merely a few tweaks short of perfection, so I’d still be interested in sending my heroes on another adventure in the realm of Solasta.

7'scarlet is an enjoyable otome work that provides an intriguing mystery, but it isn't the strongest visual novel offering on the Vita or PC.

Despite my complaints, Outriders makes for a solid, if slightly underwhelming, experience. Several elements left me scratching my head, and there are some bizarre glitches. But going god-mode with your abilities is good fun, even if battles can feel repetitive. Your enjoyment of the game will stretch further if you have a buddy or two to bring along with you for the (out)ride. People Can Fly threw a lot at the wall, and some of it definitely stuck. With DLC and updates surely to come, the Outriders crew will hopefully hone its focus on the parts that work. There is a solid core already, but I hope Square Enix and People Can Fly will take steps to freshen up the gameplay and story so the momentum doesn’t die out the way humans did back on Earth so long ago.

At the end of the day, no matter how many glossy coats of paint you put on it, this is a game from another time. It feels old, outdated, outmoded. However, within this game is an amazing history lesson or two about game design and excellent storytelling, something that Brian Fargo and his inXile team have been offering up time and again for all of us to enjoy. Does war never change? Wasteland Remastered doesn’t use the trademarked phrase explicitly, but there is certainly something timeless about this game. It may only be valuable to hardcore Fallout fans or gaming history nerds like myself, but the journey is still worth it. Good luck, rangers!

Dreamfall is relatively short, about ten hours, but chances are you'll play through it a second time to get some of the references you missed. Quite simply, if you like an excellent story in your games, go out and pick up a copy of Dreamfall for the PC or Xbox.

A slump in a promising series, Episode 2 still contains emotional highs and thoughtful choices.

There are some circumstances where I wouldn’t hesitate at all to give Iron Danger a strong recommendation, and others where I would advise to wait for more in the series or another entry from the same team. For people who have a strong appreciation for SRPG gameplay and love to overthink challenging battles, this is your game. If you really need a game with the sparse, bleak feel of a Norse epic, you’ll find that here. And definitely, for anyone who knows the Kalevala or spends inordinate amounts of time discussing different representations of mythology or old folklore in games, this is especially your game, and I’ll be wanting to talk to you about how the game represents Lowhee and Ilmarinen.

Mass Effect: Andromeda presents plenty of great ideas, but these tend to be either aped too closely from its predecessors or buried under issues that are surmountable, yet frustrating all the same. It excels most keenly at crafting environments that drip with atmosphere, suffused with rich color and ambient, spacey sound. Though this new setting lacks the depth and texture of BioWare's Milky Way, would-be explorers and romantics will find their odyssey to Andromeda sufficiently enjoyable.

While flawed, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a grand and ambitious adventure and an impressive adaptation of a popular tabletop RPG. The eclectic characters feel alive, though the thought of that literally being true is terrifying. In some ways, it feels like too standard a CRPG; in others, it stretches the conventions of that subgenre in fascinating directions. The amount of writing here (and pretty good writing at that) is astounding — it’s a rare case where the sheer quantity is a positive, each quest another strand in your character’s tapestry, even if they don’t always hit. As such, if you only play one game you missed out on from last year, it might be this one, as it might be all you have time for. But that decision is less appealing in the shadow of the abuse accusations.

Despite its shortcomings, Shivah is a worthwhile exploration into religion and one's convictions.

If you're an Uchikoshi fan, you're going to play this. And you probably should. Just don't expect the heights he's reached in the past.

Geneforge 2 – Infestation brings to life comfortable RPG memories of clustering around your CRT monitor in the small hours, deciding to investigate one further map area for that clue or NPC you are looking for. The game provides an engaging world with a unique setting and outlook despite its graphical and UI foibles. Slipping back into this level of retro comfort will be easy for a core part of the game’s audience. For the rest, the frayed edges and old holes might just be enough to put you off committing to this particular brand.

Celestian Tales: Realms Beyond probably isn't a game for everyone. However, for those who enjoy shorter RPGs with more mature, personal, and slower-moving narratives that focus on world-building and politics, they might do well to give the title a look. Celestian Tales: Realms Beyond is a game with not only a gorgeous cover, but surprising depth within its plot as well.

Minecraft: Story Mode continues to make strides toward a respectable gaming experience for its targeted audience.

YIIK is an impressive piece of art despite its ludological deficiencies.

While Death of the Reprobate is not a perfect experience, this brief journey doesn’t overstay its welcome. I’m a Joe Richardson fan, and I can’t wait to see what he does next, even if it’s nothing like his previous works. Clearly, he’s a talented individual who deserves success. If unique experiences are your wheelhouse and you don’t mind some potty humor to go with your high-brow language, then please support this developer.

Overall, Doraemon: Story of Seasons is a standard entry in a long line of farming sims with just a touch of the Doraemon franchise to differentiate it from the competition. It hits all of the typical farming sim notes, if sometimes in a basic way, which makes it a suitable entry point for those who may be younger or having their first go at this sort of game. It would likely be enjoyed by more experienced fans of the genre too, with the Doraemon elements providing a new element. The fact that the game is on a versatile console like the Switch counts for a lot too.

If you can persevere through the first 5-10 or so confusing, trope-ridden hours, there are some great character relationships and an absurd/epic story to discover.

If you like the turn-based strategy RPG genre (such as Fire Emblem), you're almost guaranteed to enjoy this game. Be prepared to do a lot of reading, a lot of thinking, and a lot of losing. With that mindset, you can really enjoy this entry in Banpresto's long line of mecha SRPGs.

Kathy Rain may not be an exceptional point-and-click adventure game, but it’s far from mediocre. The five or so hours of playtime provide you with a compelling story, interesting characters, and some very nice pixel art. I enjoyed my first playthrough back in 2016, and I enjoyed my playthrough of the Director’s Cut today. Though there isn’t a massive amount of new content, the additional gameplay polish, voice acting, widescreen backgrounds, and puzzles make this the definitive version to play. If you’re looking for a shorter-form adventure game (and as I’ve said in the past, not every game needs to be a 30-hour epic), then Kathy Rain: Director’s Cut is a solid choice!

7th Dragon III Code: VFD rewards those who are dedicated to its unique brand of role-playing and feeds the rest to the dragons.

Chapters is a solid game, but the gameplay rarely engages and the ending of the story leaves too much unsaid. Still, there is plenty of intrigue and a fantastic cast of characters driven by a superb script and delightful voice acting.

The difference from the first game to the second, in my experience, is like the difference between cheap pan-Asian food sold in a mall and an expensive Japanese sushi restaurant. No more greasy egg rolls: it's time for some blue-fin tuna...except, it's from Europe.

Best Month Ever! has an important, unique story to tell that charts the course of a dying mother and her beautiful young boy. Like the road trip itself, however, bumps occur along the way that detract from the experience. While checkered with flaws, the story hits home and meets a satisfying, albeit sad, conclusion. Some folks won’t be able to see past the jankiness, while others will appreciate the experience for what it is.

It's not flawless, it's not too hard, and the genre change may put off fans of the original game, but it gets a lot of little things right, and the whole ends up being greater than the sum of its parts.

I walked away from Backbone puzzled about the ending, and in truth, I was a little disappointed. The game kind of squandered the excellent setup it spent hours developing, but because the setup is so good, I don’t feel totally let down. I still enjoyed my time in this dystopian Vancouver populated by animals, and I would almost certainly play a sequel if one were ever developed. But there’s the rub. Backbone feels like it needs a sequel. The story just doesn’t feel complete right now, and given that the game is pretty short (you can probably beat it in about 5-7 hours), it’s hard for me to enthusiastically recommend it. If you’re still interested despite the issues I’ve outlined, make sure you’re prepared for an abrupt conclusion. If you’re on the fence, well… maybe wait for a sale.

Flint: Treasure of Oblivion has many sound strategic ideas, and its commitment to pirate themes runs deep. The combat revolves around using the terrain and ganging up on folk in all the underhanded manner you’d expect from a rag-tag bunch of criminals. The comic strip storyboards work really well, and Flint and the main characters become real personalities throughout the journey, which is a credit to the story design and artists. It’s a shame the game combat and crew systems are not well-explained and that its difficulty and progression systems can be frustrating as they currently stand. For those who like a challenge and don’t mind taking the time to learn some obtuse systems, hoist the mainsail and raise the Jolly Roger: it’s a pirate’s life for you.

While the ending is fitting in wrapping up this story, it feels presumptuous that it’s clearly pushing for a sequel, especially as some aspects of The DioField Chronicle feel underdeveloped. I think there’s still potential for this to become a series, but any sequel would need to go far above and beyond what’s here in the first entry. As much as that statement sounds like it’s looking ahead, it also indicates my feelings. The vast potential is still there, but it’s as yet unrealized, and the battle is far from won. The DioField Chronicle joins the vaunted Square Enix SRPG canon, yet it’s only just there.

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.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Champions of the Continent, and its high quality outweighed its flaws. So long as you don’t mind not having “the best” party composition, completing the main story Paths without spending a penny is feasible. Regardless, I wish it had been a ground-up premium experience: an Octopath Traveler 1.5. The original Bravely Default had a “half sequel” in the form of Bravely Second before the numerical mainline sequel Bravely Default II. That kind of approach would have worked wonderfully here. For what it offers, I’m not sure Champions of the Continent would be appealing to people who aren’t already fans of Octopath Traveler. However, as far as mobile titles go it’s an easy recommendation and delivers an enjoyable experience that will keep fans busy until Octopath Traveler II.

The gameplay can be cheap, but it does have a good degree of challenge. Technical aspects are weak, but there is some style going for it.

Each of Anuchard‘s chapters takes roughly an hour or so to complete if you do everything before clearing it, and my playtime was about 12 hours when all was said and done. This is a shorter game that still manages to feel like a complete experience, and it ends up providing many activities for players to enjoy. Anuchard isn’t exactly breaking the mold as far as action RPGs go, but those looking for a solid gaming experience whose narrative leaves a little room for thought might want to give this bell a ring.

Lord of the Rings: Tactics is a solid, albeit totally ordinary strategy RPG released in the first six months of the PSP life cycle.

Grand Bazaar is by far the best game in the series to hit the DS. The problem? It just doesn't do enough new.

The game's sound isn't going to knock your socks off, but it takes care of business, at least for a while.

Shadows of Adam is clearly inspired by the classics but falls short of being a classic itself. The lovely gameplay, with its exceptional balance and enjoyable exploration, kept me engaged, despite the flaccid story and characters.

Even though Luminous Arc 2 is a pretty extensive handheld title (40 hours, multiple endings) with a bonus OST, I cannot recommend it to you. If it was March or April and you were dying for a new game, I would say to buy it cautiously. But we're in the middle of the Christmas season and there are so many games out there.

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.

If you’re looking for a simple, fun, family-friendly Pokémon spin-off game, Detective Pikachu Returns is a fair option. However, among all Pokémon games available on the Nintendo Switch, I would recommend virtually any other game in the Switch library over this one for any player desiring for some level of challenge.

Those really jonesing for a game centered around Japanese mythology or those just wanting a solid SRPG experience could very well find something to enjoy here.

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.

Love it or hate it, there is no denying that Maneater is a game that stays true to its unique vision. Its difficulty level can be daunting and play does get repetitive, but it's an interestingly presented game where you get to be a shark in a reality TV show. Maneater was a welcome taste of something different from my usual RPG diet and I'm glad I got to play it, but can only recommend it if you're willing to overlook its flaws.

Overall, Echoes of Aetheria is enjoyable but rarely engrossing. Combat can become rather tedious once the player figures out an optimal strategy, and the story is just not the underdog epic to which it aspires. However, the characters will keep many players coming back for more, just to see how everything plays out for them. This is essentially the perfect game for a night in while binge watching your favorite Netflix series. Not every game needs to be Persona 5; sometimes it is enough to do a few things really well and deliver a couple dozen hours of solid gameplay. That is what Echoes of Aetheria has to offer.

If you’re looking for a game that pulls you in for the long haul, Muv-Luv is the game for you.

It's hard not to be charmed by OZMAFIA!!'s out-there concept and larger-than-life characters. It's got a beauty contest in which you compete against a sunhat-clad duck, for goodness' sake.

It's clear that Akash: Path of the Five was a labor of love by all involved, and their joie de vivre is quite palpable throughout the game. I liked its 3D polygonal environment design cues and hope to see more developers use this technique to craft more visually dynamic and less flat visual novels. Although it's not the most original game, Akash: Path of the Five is an enjoyable romp whose killer art direction exudes a refined cool. I look forward to seeing what the artists at Truant Pixel come up with next.

Sunday Gold is a moderately successful experiment that could use further tweaking. The style, characters, and dialogue are cool and fun enough to lift a more familiar story. Mashing these two genres could be a worthy cause; though Sunday Gold makes a valiant attempt, it doesn’t quite kickstart the revolution. It may not be the top dog in the King’s League, but Sunday Gold is a contender.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order doesn't do much wrong, save for its camera angles, especially if you're just looking to have a fun time with some friends in the Marvel Universe. Overall, it is a decent action RPG that I had fun with while it lasted. However, if you aren't someone with a passing fondness for Marvel lore in general, there are other action RPGs on the Switch that you might want to try out instead.

While later games in the series may better realize the cowboy flavors of the setting in terms of visuals — trading 2D sprites and 3D chibi renderings of our heroes for new casts and new Filgaias unique in all but name — Wild ARMs stands as a unique gem nestled in the shadow of PlayStation JRPG giants, waiting to be explored by the more patient of players. For all its constant availability across five generations of PlayStations, Wild ARMs deserves the quality-of-life enhancements of its peers to make it feel like less of a chore.

Atlas Fallen isn’t a terrible game by any stretch of the imagination, nor an exceedingly memorable one. Still, I did enjoy the time I spent playing it and think it serves as a decent diversion, if nothing else. I don’t recommend buying at full price, but I could see it being a game one might purchase at a discount later and have fun with. With the shifting of sands and the passage of time, Atlas Fallen can become a pleasant surprise for those who might eventually unearth it.

An enjoyable and short-ish adventure game, Whispers of a Machine is well worth a thoughtful playthrough.

Excellent game, subpar port.

The decision to make a season-specific game deserves recognition, even if the gameplay and script might lack the imagination required by my favorite holiday.

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

While not a hardcore gaming experience, Dredge certainly sates the thirst for Lovecraftian vibes. Though the game can get a bit repetitive by the end, the majority of Dredge is enjoyable enough to warrant a purchase. I left a few mysteries unsolved in my playthrough, and I may jump back in to check those off in hopes that I can hit “snooze” on the elder gods’ alarm clock.

Overall, there are not many negatives regarding The Chapter of Seign. As far as the current two Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes DLC expansions are concerned, it’s the stronger one if only by a slim margin. I enjoyed it more than I initially thought, enough to lament it being far too short. Grace, in particular, is an excellent addition to the cast, even though it’s disappointing that she joins the main game so late. While I’m still unsure if it is worth the current price, The Chapter of Seign is one DLC I could see picking up at a discount. It’s certainly a step in the right direction for Eiyuden Chronicle‘s story expansions. I can only hope that the third and final one will be even more of an improvement.

Some people may view Doggins as a lovely piece of childlike art-gaming. Others may view Doggins as a pretentious piece of "hipster" art-gaming.

It's a relatively inoffensive JRPG.

Since the in-game graphics are weak, and the music is bland, the only chance this game has to win fans is its gameplay.

All in all, there were elements of Marvel’s Avengers that I greatly enjoyed. I found that the single player campaign was largely entertaining, and I greatly enjoyed Kamala Khan in particular as a main character. Still, logging through the game’s multiplayer is currently a chore. Until further DLC and updates come along, the ten hours of single player content is arguably the strongest element of Marvel’s Avengers, which makes me hesitant to say it is a must-buy at full price. If you’re a Marvel fan—particularly if you’re a Ms. Marvel fan—then odds are good you’ll find at least a few elements to enjoy here. However, I’d probably advise waiting for a sale before diving in to Marvel’s Avengers completely.

The Crimson Flower that Divides: Lunar Coupling isn’t a perfect otome. It certainly shows its age with some of its more problematic story tropes, the lack of an actual story map is annoying, and the fact that you unlock a lot of routes through what amounts to trial and error can be pretty frustrating. Throw in a less-than-stellar English translation, and the game can sometimes get downright awkward. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the title, as several character routes are compelling once they move past their initial narrative discomfort. I don’t recommend this VN to newcomers to the otome subgenre, but those willing to look past some clumsy awkwardness could still find investing considerable playtime in The Crimson Flower that Divides: Lunar Coupling worthwhile.

Overall, Blue Dragon offers an above average, traditional RPG, though only the superb gameplay puts it over the mark of the uninspired and average.

Overall, Penny Blood: Hellbound presents a world I’m eager to make my home address in (at least in a video game sense), with neighbors I’d like to get to know better while remaining utterly terrified the entire time. The roguelike gameplay can be fun, but its best features are yet mired in balancing issues. Though its personality is magnetic, as a roguelike, it doesn’t stack up well against others like it. If the point of releasing Penny Blood: Hellbound was to whet the appetite for Penny Blood, then it’s served its purpose. That’s good for now, but once Penny Blood proper is released, I suspect Penny Blood: Hellbound will ultimately be for completionists.

The gameplay has been innovated in certain areas but falls short in others, but fans of "Disgaea's" goofy story and "Phantom Brave's" more complex experience system will both find something to enjoy in Makai Kingdom.

Overall, I found this nine-hour jaunt to be superior to Cat Quest II, which already wasn’t a bad game. As I suggested earlier, all the developers had to do was beef up the game slightly, which they did. This is the definitive comfy game that you can play with a spouse, friend, or child. If this trajectory is any indication of what the developers can accomplish with the series, I’m eager to see what they do next.

In short, Magnacarta 2 is a competent, if forgettable, RPG.

Regardless of version, I think Riviera: The Promised Land is a decent JRPG, and it marked a great comeback for Sting.

Starlight Legacy is a game I needed to spend time with before its unique subtleties grew on me. Overall, I enjoyed the experience but was left wanting more. I wanted more world-building, lore, and character development. In addition, several gameplay flaws are difficult, if not impossible, to overlook. Starlight Legacy is not for everyone, but the robust Steam demo provides a good metric to determine whether Starlight Legacy is your kind of game.

It has all but perfected the farming mechanics, and its cast is colorful and cheerful; but ultimately, there's not enough innovation to make it stand out against recent entries in the series.

Storyteller isn’t a game that’s going to capture your imagination for long, but its atmosphere and unique game design make each bite-sized adventure the kind of short-term joy you might be looking for. Not every game needs to be a steak dinner; sometimes a cookie is the fix we need. Just hope an angry lover hasn’t poisoned that cookie.

While it was nice to see some new things for the Harvest Moon series, Innocent Life just didn't give me the thrill I was hoping for. There were some good ideas, but they were poorly executed.

Those who go in expecting regular horror fare will be pleasantly surprised.

There isn't much here that has not already been done in Japanese RPGs before and if you keep up with the Naruto manga or anime, there is nothing you haven't already read or watched before.

If you can learn the system down to your bones, then this will be a fulfilling adventure.

Sovereign Syndicate is a game of highs and lows. If there is to be more to the story, the gameplay portion would need some rethinking to make it work. But on the positive side, I loved the world and characters, and I’d be excited to see more of them. If you’re in it for those elements, then Sovereign Syndicate shouldn’t disappoint. After all, everyone loves a sharp-dressed minotaur.

Echoes of Time is the most robust game in the Crystal Chronicles series and has more longevity than many RPGs on the system.

It is a good RPG for the casual gamer and maybe for the Lord of the Rings modern-media fan, but anyone who seriously enjoyed, say, "Xenogears" will have an incredibly difficult time enjoying this little scrap of meat. It's pretty, it sounds nice, and it has all the trappings of a Lord of the Rings product, but it ultimately lacks substance.

Episode 3 has left me wondering what's going to happen, but passively so. I couldn't imagine feeling this way when I began the season, but obvious setbacks for the team have likely hindered inspiration and execution. I want to laud their efforts and sing their praises, especially considering everything that has happened, but the facts are that Episode 3 has only given the series buoyancy, which is hard to accept at this point in the season. While it is a positive experience, I can't help but feel lukewarm about poor Clementine's fate in this harsh world.

Star Story: The Horizon Escape possesses an indescribable "cool factor," but I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. I felt like the variety of gameplay styles and creative ideas should have kept progression fresh, but instead the game was a more casually paced affair that I couldn't play for more than 5-7 minutes at a time. Perhaps it's just my personal taste, but when I'm playing a graphic adventure, I want to be engrossed to play a marathon session like I'd be engrossed in a book that keeps me up past my bedtime because it's such an incredible page-turner; unfortunately, the thin narrative of this game lacked the punch to keep me coming back for more. Star Story: The Horizon Escape is not a bad little game and it has some good ideas, but I want to see Evil Corporation's future projects take this game's concepts to the next level.

If you like to ruminate and piece together the details of a story, this one's for you.