Coridden, while lacking polish, also shines like a diamond with its wealth of ideas, theming, and creative setting. Almost better as a proof-of-concept, my intention isn’t to steer the developers away from success, but to highlight that the hard part’s been done: good game design. All that’s needed is some QA. For you, reader, you may enjoy seeing what’s being chewed on here, but don’t go in expecting a crisp experience.

Tell Me Why is kind of a fascinating experience. It feels personal and down-to-earth, even if it can at times be a little dull. The struggle of its twin protagonists to come to terms with the death of their troubled mother is relatable, even if the game never definitively answers their questions about her. Tyler’s experiences as a trans man feel genuine, and the game treats him with respect, even though it also capitalizes on his trauma to move the plot along. In the end, memories can only reveal so much, particularly when they conflict with someone else’s, and the only peace you can really have is the peace you choose to make for yourself.

Capcom deserves credit for preserving these games in a complete package. All versions are here, faithfully presented. For longtime fans, that preservation alone may justify the collection. But I cannot, in good conscience, recommend it to newcomers. The games are intact, and with them come all of their limitations. Once, it felt like an ambitious handheld experiment; now it plays like a trilogy stuck between ideas. Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is an honest time capsule, capturing a series that never found its footing.

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.

Though its aesthetic qualities are somewhere between poor and average, the game has excellent gameplay and control, and the game's plot and characters are decent enough to get excited about.

Chroma Squad, while not perfect, is, undeniably, the best Super Sentai-based game around.

RAIDOU Remastered somehow manages to thread the needle of creating a more polished version of a cult classic without compromising the mysterious, singular identity that made it memorable in the first place. It succeeds in offering new content that enhances the overall experience, all while honoring the original’s legacy. I can only hope Atlus will continue this effort.

Playing Shenmue I & II is a treat for die-hard fans as well as an accessible way for newcomers to experience these renowned titles, though they won't be for everyone. Even though I enjoyed both games, I really struggled to look past the clunky dialogue or even fully invest in Ryu's story, and the controls sometimes made walking around a nightmare. They're seminal products of their time that deserve to be celebrated, and this port does a great job of delivering that authentic Shenmue experience.

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.

Morteshka’s deal with the devil has paid off, as Black Book delivers a captivating story and engaging gameplay full of strategy and variety that should keep you busy for over 40 hours. Being in league with Satan usually comes with a great price, but players should be able to overcome any curses handed down to them. With strong character development and narrative, this wicked book is a page-turner that’s worth a read.

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

It won’t matter as much once all five episodes are available, but it’s hard for me to think that an hour of game time doled out every two weeks is substantial enough for most early adopters of The Expanse. Still, the ending of Episode 2 left me tentatively optimistic for the remainder of the series, as things are heating up in many ways. I hope the thrills will be more thrilling and impactful, and I’m looking forward to seeing how my decisions affect Camina’s reputation as a leader. And I can’t wait to find out how merely breathing might upset Khan again.

Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated is a delightful remake of a good game. The original Breath of Death VII is a favorite among indie game fans for a reason, and this version is even better. With lovely graphics, solid gameplay, fantastic music, amusing writing, a manageable length to fit into any busy schedule, and a satisfying RPG experience for half the price of a movie ticket, Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated is worth your time.

Despite my gripes with the game, AI LIMIT ultimately was an enjoyable experience. Its faults only peeved me as much as they did because I was having a genuinely good time for most of my 20-hour playthrough. However, the cracks in its gameplay run deep, with aspects like encounter design being persistent issues to the very end. If these aren’t dealbreakers for you, AI LIMIT is a worthwhile time sink; otherwise, it remains a cautious recommendation for anyone else.

A visually appealing but ultimately trite series of references to much better games.

Tokyo Xanadu is a good example of a developer pulling together the best parts of beloved franchises but not quite following through completely. I'd wager that Falcom pulled back a bit on the Persona-inspired mechanics to avoid a 100-hour saga that already struggles with a paper-thin story. As a result, we're left with a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging battle system wrapped in an uninspired package with little originality. To put it plainly, Tokyo Xanadu is a painfully average experience that still manages to be worth your time.

Neo Cab is a short but altogether engrossing and clever game that offers players a lot of replayability. Lina's journey in Los Ojos was ultimately very fulfilling once I reached one of the game's better endings, and I regretted none of my time behind the virtual wheel. Those who crave an original cyberpunk setting might find this creative, independent title worth playing.

This episode flew by at the swiftness of a baseball bat or bullet. While I hesitate to say that this was worth the wait because I do not want to encourage Telltale's practice of delayed releases, the fact of the matter is that I love this new season as much as I have seasons 1 and 2, albeit in slightly different ways. The series has matured nicely alongside Clementine — I just wish Telltale's release schedule would do the same.

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.

Chrono Cross is not just a personal favourite, but also a deeply personal game, and I have many emotional ties to it. Having the opportunity to play it on modern consoles, even in a flawed form, is a tremendous boon. I hope this remaster will satisfy other fans and bring in new fans that might not have had the chance to play it before.

It's starting to feel stale.

There’s nothing like Actraiser Renaissance‘s seamless genre-blending, and the surprising depth in each facet makes the game all the more timeless. The extensive main campaign is followed by newly added post-game content that keeps the surprises coming, including an additional area to develop and a score mode. The ways to approach Actraiser Renaissance are as boundless as the content it provides, making it a revival that is well worth experiencing.

If the updated look and feel gets you to play this classic for the first time, it was a worthwhile endeavor.

The ideas that could have made this a great game are often undermined by the actual clicking feeling subpar.

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.

A Vampyre Story is a fantastic graphic adventure that evokes the spirit of those bygone LucasArts adventures while also adding its own unique flavor.

Much like the rest of tri-Ace's games, Radiata will certainly form a hardcore cult following, but it might not catch on in the mainstream. There are many unique touches to Radiata that the rest of the role playing genre, or even all games, could learn from, but not everything is executed perfectly.

Foretales easily fits as al so-much-potential game to me. The skeleton’s there: I love the branching paths, the core game design and how the cards are used, the presentation, and how well-hidden secrets appear to be, but there’s not enough flesh on those bones. Whether trying to create a tight, controlled experience that doesn’t get away from them or just not having enough resources to add a huge variety of cards, Foretales suffers. This title has the trappings of a phenomenal, top-tier experience but is just far too repetitive and slow.