Loop8 is a game full of great ideas that never come together. The most fascinating hooks in the premise fall flat upon execution, and I can imagine how much better of a game this would have been if it didn’t even try to be a time loop game at all. I can see a hypothetical RPG in this setting that hones in hard on the vibes, but that is not what we got here. There are few things I like less than a boring game with no substance and a lack of respect for the player's time. Loop8 is the epitome of this.

When Element Space is bad, it’s bad to the point of having to fully close the game and lose anything from a few minutes to a few hours of progress. When it seems good, I began to wonder if it only felt that way because almost every other part of the port feels unfinished. Overall, I appreciate parts and pieces of Element Space, but it cannot hold its own within the genre. Element Space has potential, but potential often isn’t enough.

New Gundam Breaker is a tremendous disappointment on many levels. Newcomers to the Gundam Breaker series should be wary that this latest entry is not representative of how awesome the series can get. I love the Gundam Breaker series, but this is one of the saddest attempts to reinvigorate a franchise into a new direction. Even if the delayed PC release of New Gundam Breaker were to eliminate all the performance issues, it can’t fix the fundamental flaws that have been embedded into its core systems.

Poor performance is bad enough, but let me put it as simply as possible - the port in this state should not have been allowed to release. It's an embarrassment and Idea Factory clearly knew what a stinker the game was with the haphazard axing of the game's originally planned English dub and NA physical releases. Arc of Alchemist is the worst game that I have ever reviewed, and I sincerely hope that Idea Factory takes the time to really consider how this game came out the way that it did. I know they can do better than this.

All in all, the PC port is simple but sufficient for a first person dungeon-crawler. Performance at windowed resolutions might be problematic for some but hopefully NISA can investigate those issues. Picture Gate implementation is a fun addition that probably should have been explained better.

Resette’s Prescription benefits from its endearing art style and ability to tell a meaningful story in its limited time. I could talk all day and expand upon why the game nails nearly a perfect formula for chronicling the adventures of Resette and her ornery companion, but would do so at the risk of spoiling how it unfolds. Regardless of the times it faltered, Resette’s Prescription ~Book of Memory, Swaying Scale~ is still something I would insist is well worth the time dedicated to it.

I had a good time with Criminal Girls: Invite Only. The dungeon crawler gameplay is entertaining, and I found the vibrant and emotive chibi sprites appealing. Both the Japanese and English dubs are solid, which helps when the game is fully voiced. Yes, the anime tropes are severe and it has a heaping helping of fanservice and BDSM activity on top. Those bothered by that type of content will want to stay away. If you’re not concerned with that, you’ll find plenty to appreciate here.

All-in-all, Operation Abyss' PC port is nothing fancy, but it doesn't need to be. It's a solid an functional port that gets the job done with a couple odd quirks.

As a dungeon crawler, Operation Babel is basically more-of-the-same. It's a competent entry into the genre, even if it's not a terribly interesting one. Fans of dungeon crawlers won't mind adding it to their collection, but it certainly doesn't stand out from the rest.

Birthdays is particularly disappointing in that I really enjoyed the concepts and ideas it brought into the game, but the poor execution does it an injustice. It feels over within an hour of play, but with the various modes and challenges it drags on and on. Birthdays the Beginning is an idea I don’t want Wada to give up on, but until the formula has time to be polished and expanded upon, I would rather sit out on any further celebrations.

Emotional experiences like this are why art exists. Art is subjective and sometimes we love a piece of art not because it is objectively the best, but because it has resonated with us in a way we could have never predicted. I might have said farewell to them, but Max and Chloe will stay with me for years to come, and I’m cautious but excited to see where the series will go now that it has said farewell to Arcadia Bay.

If you like visual novels Bouquet of Rainbows is undoubtedly worth picking up. Don’t let the fact that this is an otome game and there being dateable men scare you off, as the plot stands well on its own, and the romantic elements are not the main draw here. Granted, if you’re not much of a reader, or prefer some gameplay with your exposition, you’ll not enjoy this tale of the gentleman thief and his gang of misfits. Otherwise, give this otome a shot.

Steins;Gate 0 is worth reading on PC just as much as it was worth reading on consoles. If you're a fan of the original, you owe it to yourself to truly finish the story; it's just a little disappointing that the PC version couldn't have been just a little bit better in the end. Instead of being by and away the best option for fans and newcomers alike, we've got a port that's only a little bit better than the console release.

Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings offers little that I would consider enticing for newcomers. While I am still madly addicted to the crafting system, there is just not a whole lot here worth recommending to those interested in getting into the series, or even for those that are fans like I am.

At the end of the day, Nepenthe is charming enough to invest an hour or two playing it and just experiencing its strangeness. It’s doesn’t feel quite complete in places and is far from perfect, but it has moxy, and moxy is what is going to entertain you some weekend afternoon in the future.

Lucah: Born of a Dream is a breathtaking adventure filled with well-crafted characterization that doesn't pull any punches in what is otherwise a linear experience. In delivering a very haunting atmosphere with an oftentimes depressing narrative that features multiple endings to unlock. Thanks to its esoteric world design and a satisfying combat system that gives you plenty of room to customize to your liking, this is one game I would highly recommend checking out.

It recieves such a score and such praise because of how confidently it tackles its premise. There's nothing else quite like it, and if you’re a fan of visual novels and creative storytelling in video games you definitely shouldn't miss 428: Shibuya Scramble.

All in all The Witch’s House MV is an okay indie horror experience but nothing spectacular, especially given other similar games with more compelling narrative that have since then been released to better effect. However, those familiar with The Witch’s House’s original release may enjoy the slight graphic upgrades and those looking for a short, quick scare might also enjoy this re-release.

All in all, The Forgotten Sanctum is a strong way for Deadfire, and possibility Pillars of Eternity in general, to end-- at least for the moment. It lacks a certain level of gravitas that perhaps would usually be expected out of a proper conclusion, but its strengths lie in the same places that Deadfires' always have - motivated character writing, a solid sense of cohesion between gameplay mechanics and narrative, and the events within hold proper sense of significance as part of the world put forth. Fans of Deadfire who have been let down by lackluster additions so far should definitely not let that steer them away from this final entry.

If you're going to read Chaos;Child, which you should, despite my issues the Steam release is the best way to do so unless you're specifically pining for it on a portable platform. While I'm not sure if I'd recommend it as anyone's first Visual Novel - it's a long one, with particularly graphic content - if you're looking for a work with something powerful to say, Chaos;Child is more than worth your time.

Wintertide Miracles just feels like the light fluffy snow on Christmas Day--pretty and charming, but ultimately fleeting and a pain to move through. If you’re really wanting more time with your favorite Code: Realize characters after Bouquet of Rainbows, then Wintertide Miracles might be worth your time. However, don’t expect anything of the same caliber as the previous games.

If you've never read Steins;Gate, or even a Visual Novel in general, due to Steins;Gate Elite's unique take on the genre I can't think of anywhere better to start. Steins;Gate Elite managed to combine the best parts of the original VN and its anime adaptation in a way that I genuinely thought was impossible, surpassing the original title in innumerable ways. While the original VN still has its place due to the much more organic inclusion of the phone trigger system, for every other purpose Steins;Gate Elite is now the de facto definitive version of the story. Even if you think you've already had your fill of the story, you might be surprised just how much the changes in Elite elevate the experience.

If you're going to play Death end re;Quest, then I suppose this port is technically the best version of the game as of right now - but that's by a very, very slim margin. You're not really gaining much from this port, other than the option to play it on your computer, and with keyboard and mouse if you can manage to memorize your mapped controls and can deal with the infuriating mouse camera. As a port it's incredibly disappointing, but at least PC only users can play it, and if you were only planning on playing it with a controller at 1080p/60FPS, you're probably not going to notice the ports glaring faults. The port performs well, and I'd wager for 90% of users the state of it will be enough. It's just disappointing that it launched in such a barebones state.

Going through Baldur's Gate for the first time is a reminder of what makes a classic RPG -- It’s hard to miss the ways it influenced the genre two decades years ago and how its impact can still be seen in games today, but as a modern experience, it does require a new player to meet in the middle a bit in terms of quality-of-life and the slightly-dated presentation. Despite that, this is the perfect game for a fan of the genre like me to finally play and having an updated version of the game available to a wide new audience is an opportunity for new fans to see exactly why it remains so highly regarded to this day.

SaGa Scarlet Grace is an RPG that took a lot of risks, to be sure, but the end result is a fascinating RPG that you won't truly find anywhere else - one that you owe it to yourself to play. Even SaGa's normally obtuse nature isn't nearly as much of a barrier this time around, as the game comes included with Tips that can help you get started with the world. Scarlet Grace is easily the best RPG I've played this year, and might just be the most memorable game that I've played in a very long time.

It's still Utawarerumono, and if my experience playing the games on Vita are anything to go by - blurry graphics probably won't ruin your experience - I still have to hope that these issues will get patched up in the coming weeks. I certainly hope they do.

It's still Utawarerumono, and if my experience playing the games on Vita are anything to go by - blurry graphics probably won't ruin your experience - I still have to hope that these issues will get patched up in the coming weeks. I certainly hope they do.

As flawed as it may be, I find it impossible to hate Hero Must Die—I just hope that the developers can have another chance to make a follow-up. They more than proved that the concept could work, and there are some real makings for a truly fantastic RPG. What we’re left with here might not be a must play in its own right, but is absolutely the type of unique experience you won’t likely forget. My time with Hero Must Die was always fated to be short-lived, but it will certainly live on in my memories.