No game, including other horror titles, looks as good as Layers of Fear 2, yet it falls incredibly short in design. Even the story, which I personally enjoyed, is needlessly enigmatic and overly "artsy." Layers of Fear 2 isn't for everyone, but for those who want to dive into a visually stunning, off-putting environment, this will sate.

All in all, LEGO Horizon Adventures is a cute and fun experience that I think both LEGO and Horizon fans will enjoy. The story is an amusing adaptation of Zero Dawn’s plot, the characters are often hilarious, the gameplay is entertaining — if a little repetitive — and it definitely nails the feeling of playing in a large Horizon-themed LEGO set. It is fairly short, and there aren’t a ton of things to do once you finish the main content, so your mileage may vary regarding how much you feel it’s worth the $60 price tag. But if you’re really into LEGO or Horizon, you will probably find plenty to like about this unexpected but welcome spin-off.

Like the Atelier games before it, it may appeal to a somewhat limited audience, but Atelier Ayesha is a quaint, relaxing adventure that provides a refreshing contrast to high-stakes JRPG melodrama.

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.

The way Legends: Z-A pulls from the traditional mainline games and Legends: Arceus but ultimately doesn’t incorporate the best elements of either is similarly unsatisfying. Still, a vacation must be truly catastrophic to be considered “bad,” and Legends: Z-A is plenty fun with its real-time battles and Rogue Mega-Evolved raids. Yet the game’s itinerary feels like it isn’t making the most of what the Legends sub-series has to offer. Instead, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels like yet another in a long line of Pokémon game with growing pains. With the commonplace around every corner, you may feel the experience is one big tourist trap, but it’s still a trip worth going on and making the most of while you’re there.

An unlikeable, frustrating, and boring JRPG dungeon crawler.

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.

Although still intended for kids, the beginning promises more creativity.

Despite some minor flaws, I rather enjoyed Boyfriend Dungeon. At around five to eight hours long, it might be a bit on the short side for those expecting the lengthier content of most dungeon crawlers, but I felt the length was perfect for conveying the story Kitfox Games wanted to tell. Fans of outright challenging games might want to look elsewhere, but those more interested in story and narrative choice with enjoyable-albeit-simple gameplay might want to give this game a look. Getting attached to your weapons takes on a whole new and surprisingly welcome meaning here!

If you're looking for a different spin on the Soulsborne series, Bandai Namco offers up their take with gameplay that feels inviting rather than punishing.

Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan is an incredible game in several respects. It is ambitious in scope and succeeds for the most part with just a few hiccups here and there. The gameplay is polished, both the graphics and musical score are stunning, and the story is thought-provoking. You can easily tell the developers are video game fans and that they put a lot of care and heart into the title. That is a legacy I sincerely hope carries on.

I simply cannot recommend Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York, because it's asking full price for what feels like half a game. I wanted to like this game because its graphics, sound, and general vibe reflect the kind of vampire story that appeals to me. Unfortunately, what I experienced was a massive heap of squandered potential that left me feeling cold and dead inside. I hate to say it, but Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York earns the dubious distinction of being my biggest disappointment from 2019.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like RPGFans are stuck waiting a little longer for a killer app on the Vita. Conceptually sound but riddled with technical flaws and a lack of polish, this game is a perfect example of the adage "good idea, bad execution."

Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX polishes and modernizes two classic RPGs that are somehow more fun and engaging now than they were 20-odd years ago. Monster Rancher 2 is this collection’s crown jewel, but both games’ core gameplay loops of monster raising and collecting hold up remarkably well today and make up for some mediocre combat. Fans of Pokémon or other monster-collecting games: don’t sleep on Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX! It offers you dozens of hours of heartwarming entertainment that’ll leave you mourning the premature death of this cult-classic series.

Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground is a mixed bag. Rather than randomize everything, it allows players to create their own world, which is both its biggest draw and biggest flaw.

It certainly has its unique charm.

No matter how much I enjoyed The Indigo Disk from moment to moment, the flaws from the base game and the painful BBQ gameplay loop prevent me from considering this DLC as something “better.” It is different content, and it is more content, but it is not fundamentally improved content.

At the end of the day, Elderand feels more like a game you play in between big releases or to scratch a certain itch, more than a title you might get excited to play. The individual flaws of the game might not be absolute dealbreakers, but they undoubtedly muddy the waters and noticeably drag down the experience. A sale is the only time I would recommend people try out Elderand, but with genre giants like Hollow Knight and Ori and The Will of the Wisps all at a similar price point, Elderand remains a hard sell.

Yo-Kai Watch was never about combat even from the onset, yet lighthearted scenarios that parody the mundaneness of life or silly little mini-game diversions can only carry a meaty 30-hour RPG so far. Until Level-5 can figure out how to make the battle system something more than an unwieldy, AI-controlled mess of ghost cats and otherworldly misfits, it seems like Yo-Kai Watch will have to settle with being one of those niche "big in Japan, and Japan alone" fads.

If you’re looking for an introduction to isometric RPGs Ember might be the game for you, but if you’re looking for a deeper, more memorable experience, I recommend looking elsewhere.

What Bit Kid does with Chasm is ambitious. I'm impressed that the procedural generation is so well executed. The problem is the procedural generation, on its own, does nothing to distinguish an otherwise relatively bland and by the numbers take on the Metroidvania genre. Add to that a few frustrations with the control and lack of variety in the game, and what we get is a game which might be worth checking out if you're really looking for a new game in the genre, but you'd likely be better off checking out the myriad of superior options which have been released in the last few years.

Card-en-Ciel spoofs so hard, it spoofs itself, and doesn’t have much left to give after that. There’s plenty of entertainment to be found in the game, but it comes at the cost of not having much to offer as a game experience. While hints of cleverness pop up here and there, they’re scant cover for the emptiness in Card-en-Ciel‘s soul. There’s something to be said about self-awareness of one’s limitations, but that doesn’t erase the limitations themselves.

Code Vein II is a game that’s in equal parts frustrating and entertaining. I spent hours on several challenging boss fights and sometimes, admittedly, wanted to cry from fruitless efforts to beat them, but the compelling narrative and characters kept me invested all the way to the end and even prompted me to take on optional fights to see things through to the fullest. It’s not perfect by any means, and it certainly isn’t the best Souls-like game out there, but it does show the heart and potential Shift puts into their games and has me hoping once more to hear about their future endeavors. If nothing else, Code Vein II is worth more than a cursory glance if it happens to catch your eye.

While this game will not end gamers quest for an irreplaceable Nintendo DS RPG, it can certainly entertain them for 15-20 hours.

Erica Reed is an engaging character: flawed but good-hearted, and learning as she goes along — much like the game named for her. This was a trip I'm glad I went on, and one I advise any fan of adventure games to take for a spin.

Sacred 2 is definitely not a game I can recommend to anyone and everyone. Only particular players are going to enjoy this game, while others will log a few hours into it, and quickly lose interest. It's a shame because it has been a long time since we've had a strong console hack-and-slash game, and while Sacred 2 will provide you with something to fill the hack-and-slash void, it will not leave you entirely fulfilled.

Overall, Pokémon UNITE is a MOBA with a lot of potential. It’s already great as a casual game with friends, but I believe with some tweaking to Zapdos and removal of the “pay for held item upgrades” option, a strong competitive MOBA lives in Pokémon UNITE. Until then, it’s hard to call it much more than an above-average entry in the crowded MOBA space.

A story every Playstation owner should experience.