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.

A messy, bland RPG that might attract some for its nostalgic powers.

Saltsea Chronicles was a bizarre experience for me. I admired the quality of the writing, maturity in language, and world the developers sought to craft, but I was frequently bored and eager for something to happen. I couldn’t even call this game slice-of-life, which one could argue is a genre where nothing ever happens by definition, but at least slice-of-life stories are poignant and heartfelt. Saltsea Chronicles just felt flat to me, but I am certain this game will hit some beautiful notes for folks who are tired of melodrama and intensity.

I can appreciate developers wanting to add more realistic touches to games, but to me realism does not always equate to fun.

It isn’t yet retirement time for the Blade Runner game, but as enhanced versions go, this one takes a solid game and sadly weakens it, much like a Replicant’s limited timespan tragically does to them.

This is my dilemma with Haven, then: as a chill-out RPG with a beautiful world to explore, it’s a pleasant experience that really helped me relax in the evenings after a rough day. But it has a story, a story with a real threat that is swept aside, and a central couple that, while sweet and believable, never grow beyond their typical “hot-headed girl” and “meticulous research boy” characteristics. Even as I was rebuilding my ship and growing plants, I didn’t feel like I’d gained anything or learnt anything new about the characters. If I were to return to Source, it would be to give my pet lizard Oink a little scratch on the chin, or to see the breeze blow through the grass and experience a brief moment of calm in this currently chaotic world.

Legasista is a strange thing with an equally strange name, full of great ideas that almost always come hogtied to an opposing force. It's a game's game, but that's all it can ever be. A lukewarm story will do that to you. While the systems in place promise an endless descent into addictive, loot-driven madness, it's just too hard to prop up a game that's been tempered with bean sprout inspiration.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War is a mobile game with mindless, monotonous fun in short gameplay bursts. I wouldn’t recommend playing it for long periods simply because you start feeling the drag pretty quickly. It’s disappointing that the entertaining Northern War side story is such an average game. Lavi and company’s journey deserves the proper treatment of getting a mainline The Legend of Heroes: Trails game. Given the script’s lackluster translation, it’s difficult to recommend this title to anyone because, aside from the Trails fanservice and high-quality new character art, this story has been presented better in another media format. I suggest watching the anime adaptation first, as you’ll get the same story but with actual subtitles that make sense! It’s still the ideal way to experience The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War.

Granted, Dungeon Explorer lacks some of that proper execution, particularly with the graphics and the storytelling, but overall, it's not a bad game.

This is still a huge, fun to play, absolutely sprawling game in the tradition of classic RPGs of yesteryear, and is really only one of a very few of its kind available on the iPad.

Realms of Ancient Wars is a game. It's not particularly buggy and it's far more playable than last year's Daggerdale debauchery– in fact, you may even enjoy it for a piece of brainless weekend entertainment. But that's it, completely. It's a game. There's nothing memorable about it and you'll likely finish it and forget about it just as quickly as I have. You might pick it up if you can't find something else to play, but that seems unlikely given the flood of similar, better releases.

Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend didn’t have the same impact on me this time around, about that there is no doubt. Once again, my nostalgia deceived me. I’d find myself getting distracted and annoyed at various turns through all three games. Nonetheless, with the clarity of time, the sheer ambition of these games is all the more obvious. For that, this package should be celebrated. Add to that the ability to speed up all three games, and Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend is a package worth picking up for those who have an interest in the history of the SaGa series, or just want to harken back to a (sometimes) simpler time.

If you really enjoy SRPGs and don't have anything on your plate at the moment, Spectral Force 3 is a decent buy.

The game is absolutely gorgeous to look at, but an absolute slog to experience.

Xuan-Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond the Mountains is a rather interesting game to review. On the one hand, I am perhaps too lenient towards the English translation by rating it as I have, but there’s still a solid RPG experience at the game’s core. I admit to being entertained by the English script for all the wrong reasons, but I became engrossed by it. The clues of “something better” within the plot proved both frustrating and enough to keep me speculating. It’s a shame the game couldn’t have been translated more adequately because I can see where the title could have appealed to those wanting a thoughtful, solidly set-up traditional RPG. Despite this game’s flaws, I still want to see more Xuan-Yuan Sword titles released in the West. But, of the ones that have gotten localized thus far, Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is the more substantial title despite its action RPG leanings. Unfortunately, some things are lost in translation in this remaster, making the journey to the East a conflict at best.

Filled with quirkiness, wonder, and exploration, Burly Men at Sea is certainly a niche game targeted more towards children and adults who want to be kids again. Not everyone will find it a pleasant journey, but I suspect more will be surprised by its charm than not — even if it does not last.

A portable dungeon in your pocket: innocuous, if not particularly inspiring.

Though the beautiful anime-style art may entice fans of traditional JRPGs, the game has more in common with management sims. The meat of the game is in managing resources and building up your fleet, while the story and characters leave much to be desired. If intricate systems and pouring over market predictions are your cup of tea, then climb up on deck. Otherwise, I recommend keeping your feet planted on solid ground.

Lulua is an exceptionally safe Atelier title that feels less like a return to form and more like an achromatic stroll down the rugged cobblestone of memory lane.

However, the game never really delivers much of anything. It feels more like an experiment in narrative presentation than an actual video game, and while I think there is no inherent problem with the design philosophy of The Starship Damrey, the reality is that it just isn't very exciting to play.

As a massive fan of Blade Runner, Studio Ghibli, and Monkey Island, I was let down by the derivative nature of Encodya. What’s most disappointing is that it’s obvious how much care and love went into its development. The visuals look spectacular, the central character relationship is touching, and the developers’ affection for the source material is evident. Unfortunately, the game not only fails to rise to its inspirations but seems to pull from them without an understanding of why they worked in the first place. That said, if you’re looking for a heartwarming story to scratch an old-school adventure game itch, then Encodya might be a good match! Just try not to expect anything overly original.

Monark isn’t a great game. I am not even sure I would call it a good one, but if it weren’t for the transphobia and atrocious pacing, I would likely be enthusiastically recommending it to the right sort of player. There is an earnest quality to its themes, characters and stories paired with an inventiveness to its combat. These qualities build a solid foundation a follow-up title could improve into something truly special. As is, if you have read my review, watched the trailers, played the demo, and still have interest in playing Monark, there is probably a good chance you would find some joy in playing it. For anyone else, you are likely best off waiting for the next Persona or a Monark 2.

Cross Tails may not be one of the best tactical RPGs I’ve ever played, but it is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for a developer and publisher who are often accused of churning out generic, by-the-numbers games lacking in creativity. A dime-a-dozen plot and poor translation let the story down, but Cross Tails makes up for it with unique mechanics and a solid battle system that provides a moderate challenge.

It’s endearing how hard Piranha Bytes tries with Elex II, but its head and heart are much too big for its body. It takes too long for the combat to become bearable, and the story, while ambitious, doesn’t quite reach the heavens it aims for. If you’re already enamored with Magalan, Elex II offers enough to re-immerse you in that world to make a second visit worthwhile. But everyone else should probably stay home.

I have very mixed feelings about Fuga: Melodies of Steel. On the one hand, I’m glad to see that the Little Tail Bronx series still has life in it. On the other hand, this latest entry is largely unimpressive and doesn’t hold a candle to the rollicking good times that Tail Concerto and Solatorobo were. If you are already a Little Tail Bronx die-hard, then you’ve already decided to buy Fuga: Melodies of Steel. If you’re a newcomer, I think you’d have a more enjoyable time with Tail Concerto or Solatorobo.

Final Fantasy Explorers offers a lighter alternative to players intimidated by Monster Hunter, but know going in that it's a very light experience indeed.

London Detective Mysteria is far from the worst otome out there, but I wouldn't call it one of the best either. Huge otome visual novel fans will likely get some enjoyment out of this title, but other gamers or those new to the genre might just find it tedious.

During my time with Crimson Alliance, I was left with a hollow feeling - the game never did anything to capture me.