This is definitely not a game for the impatient or easily frustrated, and if you can look at the game's foibles as endearing "retro-chic" quirks, then there is joy to be found in Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled.

A lovingly-crafted though flawed adventure in the Sierra mold.

You can get through a single town in one sitting, making it one of those perfect games to play when you've got a half hour or so handy. Many times, that "half hour" turns into far longer, which is really the best compliment I can give a game.

Tengoku Struggle is a good, but not outstanding, game. It plays with all manner of expectations, with some successes and missteps, resulting in an above-average experience. Its memorable high points don’t reach the same heights as other otome titles, so it doesn’t feel quite like a must-play game. But it’s a good enough experience for those interested in its core concepts, which feature a fun blend of lightheartedness and earnestness with modernity and tradition. Playing with expectations and mixing together unlike elements can have a great payoff when done right, but Tengoku Struggle -Strayside- falls just short of greatness. It doesn’t leave you disappointed so much as it leaves you wishing the story had followed its own inclinations a little more. If it had either balanced out the romance and action or went all-in on the romance, it could have risen above the sum of its parts. Despite its shortcomings, it’s still an enjoyable experience as unique as the disparate elements it tries to unify.

Aether & Iron rises above its quirks with sheer creativity and artistic expression. I love the hand-drawn world, the characters I wish I could engage with far beyond the credits, and the struggle Gia and New York City’s citizens engaged in. A story worth telling, it’s a cliche noir tale told from an entirely different angle and elevated by a cast that stands above most others. My hope is that we see more tactical RPGs with imaginative systems like this, with their creative visions better realized.

Ultimately, Cognition is a good start, and at its core, a quality adventure game.

The long answer is that Chantelise is a fun indie RPG that just needs a good polish.

Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is lacking a fair bit of polish in some areas, and it isn't the easiest Final Fantasy to recommend to everyone, but it's a piece of history in Square Enix's storied life. This is easily the best and most accessible version of the game you can get today, and I'm so glad it's finally getting a bit more love and attention. FFVIII embraces its weirdness and quirks to full effect, and it's definitely worth giving a shot if you're curious. With this release, I hope a lot more people realise this game is better than many made it out to be back in the day.

If you can look past the so-so music, retro visuals and somewhat sluggish interface, Resonance is a good graphic adventure.

Calamity Angels is most excited to direct you quickly to its unique combat, which the game supports by investing heavily in your fighters. When I say it’s experimental, I don’t mean it’s half-baked; in fact, it’s refined and confident in itself. There have been other games where your party members don’t do what you want them to, but I can’t recall any other case where that was this fun. Here, it’s so exciting that it feels like opening your eyes to something new and special. It’s frustrating to see how a little more here and there outside of combat could have built Calamity Angels up into a classic. You know the item was sold “as is,” but you get what you paid for. At least it delivers on its main draw.

Darkest Dungeon is fantastic for the first twenty or so hours.

Dragon Quest Heroes II is one of the most flexible Warriors games on the market, full of nods to its dual lineage for better and for worse.

Blyts' first graphic adventure holds immense promise for the future.

Mato Anamolies is an appropriate name, as the game is something of an anomaly itself. I want to rate it higher than I have here regarding its overall presentation and solid first and middle narrative portions. Yet the final segments and how they contrast everything that happened beforehand hold me back. It’s frustrating, as I genuinely enjoyed my time with the game in its first two-thirds and could easily see it being a good fit for those looking for a compelling cyberpunk plot or an RPG with a similar tone to Persona. I wouldn’t mind revisiting Mato one day. I hope the next visit’s outcome isn’t so bizarre an unraveled experience.

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.

Drox Operative is something entirely different from its peers among whom I'd count Diablo, Torchlight, Path of Exile, and Titan Quest. It's something familiar and it's something bewilderingly new.

Serpentcoil Island, for all its systems and quality-of-life features, can feel stale after a while. At the end of the day, this is a roguelike on the simpler side. If you’re like me and love meaty, dense, and complex systems in your roguelikes, this isn’t it. That said, it’s still fun and engaging when played in spurts. I praise the developers for making an accessible yet strategic roguelike because this subgenre often has a steep learning curve and barrier for entry. While I’ve beaten the game, I can tell that I’m going to do my routine 90% completion on this game, even after investing 20 hours. The post-game is the game.

Dream Tactics is an enjoyable journey, and the tactical nuances and the promise of new cards and equipment kept me interested throughout. The aesthetics are pleasant too, and the little details and animation really bring to mind the glory of its retro inspirations. The dream does begin to fade with the boss battle difficulty, and over time, the sheer number of cards and equipment becomes difficult to sort and a frustration to manage. For those of you who like card-based systems and aren’t afraid of a clunky UI and spotty difficulty spikes, this pixel adventure might be just the thing to spend the evening with. Sleep well!

It's a little tropey, and it could've been better balanced, but Lord of Magna is a surprisingly competent SRPG that exceeded my expectations.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks brings little new to the franchise, and that would be fine if what it did introduce wasn't tedious and clumsy. The train is an abomination. And, while there are good puzzles and fun dungeons, everything seems a little tired, brief, and empty.

If you’re looking for a bite to tide you over until Bloodlines 2 is released, or if you just want a good narrative game where you get to play as vampires, then Swansong might just be worth sinking your fangs into.

Indeed, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a JRPG through and through. But does it live up to its most obvious inspirations? Absolutely not. It lacks the heart and soul of the series that most obviously inspired it, and it’s messy around the edges. But it’s not all bad. The base building, character recruitment, and vibes, as the kids say, are right on. So, while Hundred Heroes might not have lived up to my admittedly sky-high expectations, if you’re looking for an old-school JRPG experience with some modern conveniences, this is the place to go. Just don’t expect greatness like I did. You’ll just be disappointed.

Dead Island Riptide is essentially what the original should have been. It's lighter on bugs, it's more playable, and it's got prettier graphics. If you were a fan of the original game, have at the sequel, but know that it's not much more than "more Dead Island."

The game delivered quite strongly in its presentation in a way that sets the stage for the franchise to continue into future generations, but at the same time the lack of real gameplay and story innovation could endanger some of that staying power, especially among longtime fans.

As a long time Pokémon fan, Let's Go has warmed my cockles and brought me the same joy I experienced when I first picked up Yellow all those years ago. With Generation 8 on the horizon, there are many lessons these upcoming entries can take from Let's Go, although the entire format should always remain separate. I'll always want the mainline games, and I don't see myself continually coming back to Let's Go like I have done the standard entries, but as a gateway for newer, younger players, I can't think of anything more perfect that Let's Go.

As a long time Pokémon fan, Let's Go has warmed my cockles and brought me the same joy I experienced when I first picked up Yellow all those years ago. With Generation 8 on the horizon, there are many lessons these upcoming entries can take from Let's Go, although the entire format should always remain separate. I'll always want the mainline games, and I don't see myself continually coming back to Let's Go like I have done the standard entries, but as a gateway for newer, younger players, I can't think of anything more perfect that Let's Go.

Rainbow Moon is a game that I couldn't help but come away from with pleasant feelings. It's not revolutionary, but it's well-executed and knows exactly what it wants to be. There is a certain type of player out there who is going to absolutely love this game, and get hours upon hours of enjoyment out of it. The only question you have to ask yourself is if you are that kind of player. If not, at least try it out for the sweet music!

I have mixed feelings about System Shock. The historical significance alone made this worth my time, and the remaster is stunning in several ways. Keeping to most of the original’s design was probably the right move, as it allows today’s audience to achieve an authentic experience. Would I have complained if the gunplay was improved upon and the puzzling streamlined a bit? No, but I can’t blame Nightdive Studios for making the call. While not the best gaming experience I ever had, I have a greater appreciation for games made today by virtue of knowing firsthand what System Shock did for us. Regardless, I enjoyed myself, and I hope we see System Shock 2 remastered by the same team.