This sweet experience is one that can be enjoyed by newcomers and veterans of the Harvest Moon series, as Rune Factory 3's positives definitely outweigh the negatives.

The game has bit of a slow start, but despite this, I thought the pacing was mostly good, especially compared to Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. Despite a few other issues like the frame rate and some mild frustration with muscle memory, Brothership is one of the better games in the series. It’s fun, it’s engaging, it’s creative, and it’s even full of heart. It may not be as laugh-out-loud funny as prior games, but for the first time, this game went for an overarching theme and a good but basic message of bonds and connections. It certainly warmed my heart. If Acquire were to continue developing Mario & Luigi games, I’d say it’s in good hands.

While there are issues, the nostalgic feel that exudes from this collection is nothing to find fault with, as it perfectly serves its intended purpose of being a retro collection. If paying for Final Fantasy IV again isn't enough and the fan service-filled After Years holds no appeal, then pass on this. If you loved Final Fantasy IV back in the 90s and are looking to relive that experience along with some new content, then Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection might just be a good fit for you.

A better version of Othercide exists in another universe, one that doesn’t take the least interesting aspects of roguelikes and runs them into the ground. At its core is an interesting tactics game, but its constant need to repeat itself does it no favors. While not a long game, Othercide drags out what little there is to it and then does it all over again. The progression proceeds linearly, throwing few curve balls. The ones it does throw soon become routine, like everything else, as the same missions are repeated on the trip back to the boss. Like the Daughters themselves, players are forced to fight the same battles again and again in the hope that maybe, this time, things will be different.

Another Crab’s Treasure doesn’t reinvent the Soulslike wheel by any means. Rather than adding its own twists to the well-established formula, it instead doubles down on what has already been established, adopting a parry-heavy combat formula and pairing it with tried-and-true environmental exploration. It does, however, establish some unique ideas. Not only does the shell system tie in well with the game’s unique aquatic setting, but it also adds a good amount of flexibility for players to overcome obstacles. Allowing players to tweak many of the settings inherent to the genre further makes its otherwise fairly challenging campaign accessible to gamers of all skill levels. Coupled with a charming presentation and cast of characters, this could very well be the game that will bring new RPGamers into the Soulslike fold, making it a game that is well worthy of checking out for anyone with even a passing interest in the genre.

If I am being frank, I was expecting a fan-servicey mess from Dragon Quest Heroes. What I got instead was a game that borrowed the Dysnasty Warriors formula and transformed it into something that is distinctively Dragon Quest in so many ways.

By bringing in a new cast with Inazuma Eleven GO, Level-5 gave the series a much needed freshness, with Chrono Stones carrying on well despite its slow start.

Overall, Solasta faithfully recreates much of the experience of a fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons adventure with a focus on satisfying combat. It also takes a fresh approach to some of the common tropes, though most of them clearly needed more time and focus to reach their full potential. The game provides an excellent introduction to not only its pen-and-paper counterpart but computer-style role-playing games as well. In the end, Solasta provides a fun, if somewhat short, ride that most will enjoy.

Tails of Iron 2 is the poster child for a game that’s going to have a hard time winning over anyone who wasn’t already sold on its predecessor, not due to any lack of quality but because it essentially is its predecessor. It looks and sounds identical, and has nearly the same narrative, despite its new protagonist and setting. It also plays much the same, though the introduction of elemental magic is a welcome bonus source of dishable punishment. Returning players will know to expect a considerable challenge, as the game’s default settings don’t extend a helping paw (though both easier and harder modes are available and can be switched to at any time). All of these elements are what made the first game such a treat, so getting more of them is great, even if it means the game isn’t moving forward in any noticeable way. Unfortunately, some of this excitement is undercut by the new beast hunts, which feel like rather uninspired ways to pad a few extra hours into the game’s runtime. A retread of a fun game isn’t a bad thing by any means, but returning players should be aware that they’ve seen what’s on offer here before.

World of Final Fantasy is an easily misleading game. It appears to be nothing more than a Final Fantasy-flavored monster-collecting knock-off, but turns out to be much more than that. Beyond the appeal of collecting familiar monsters and creatures, the world features enough series characters, locations, and music to satisfy the most ardent nostalgic. There is a ton of content, and it is all wrapped up in a package that is as beautiful to look at as it is to listen to. Still, not everything is perfect. The combat system is skewed towards grinding, menus are unwieldy, and the main story takes an awfully long time to ramp up. However, there is very little reason for gamers to not give World of Final Fantasy a serious look. While it may resemble Final Fantasy Jr., it offers more than enough for veterans of the series to sink their teeth into.

However, for what it is, Van Helsing II provides another very fun way to spend some evenings reducing numerous monstrous creations to their component giblets.

Those looking to play a title reminiscent of classic JRPGs could certainly do a lot worse.

Blue Reflection: Second Light is a solid second step for a new series. It is visually charming throughout and turns out to have an intriguing story with engaging exploration and a simple yet fun battle system. Aside from the fact that the girls are over-sexualized, with odd interactions and some improper looks for their age, the game is surely recommendable. The series looks promising, and surely many players will be looking forward to a third entry.

The Class of Heroes series remains a solid, enjoyable option for gamers who want simple Wizardry dungeon and combat mechanics without the difficulty of Labyrinth of Lost Souls, The Dark Spire, and similar titles, and the sequel is an improvement, however small, over the original.

So, in the final analysis, we have a game that works hard to be more than the sum of its parts, which is especially important when one of those parts isn't up to par with the industry of today. The result is a package that would have wowed audiences twenty-five years ago, and which holds up decently (but not spectacularly) today. Since Zeboyd Games has shown itself capable of learning and growing from every experience in game design, its next game will hopefully be twice the level of awesome.

Short, thoughtful games — including Signs of the Sojourner — are necessary, so it’s easy to look at a call for more with suspicion. Do the mechanics and dev-hours support the variety that a call for more locations, more characters, more stories would entail? Where does the call for more feed into the call for excessive commodification of personal projects? Despite these concerns, more Signs of the Sojourner would glorify an already compelling game. By the time its rhythms fall into place, the game is already over. Teasing out its secrets enhances its replayability, but it’s exciting to think of a future with more opportunities to jam out in Aldhurst and be a catalyst for social change.

There’s a lot of love in the story presentation of Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader. It is a blast to see how dark and depraved the world can get and how each of the companions build their journey. There’s just a ton to do, with an exhausting 100+ hour experience made longer with glitches and ridiculous loading times. These issues are constantly undercutting the core experience and making even the joyous parts feel like a chore. Maybe there’s a day where the chores are only a distant memory. That time isn’t now though.

Fans of the first Phantom Brave know just what to expect with the sequel, and it delivers on those grounds. Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero brings the best gameplay mechanics from the first title and lightly refreshes them for a new era, with crisp graphical updates and slight improvements that are sure to delight fans of the genre or developer. While the story lacks the narrative depth of its predecessor, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a sequel that knows what it is good at, and leans into it, delivering a sharper and more refined experience.

Ultimately, Tales of Graces f Remastered is a game of peaks and valleys. For some, the combat alone will be enough to carry the experience while they ignore the narrative. For others, the characters will carry an otherwise average and unsatisfying plot. Thankfully, the game gives players as many tools as possible to make their playthrough as accessible as can be, making this an easy starting point for those who haven’t played a Tales game and potentially a fun retread for those who played the PS3 release.

Dungeon Defenders is unlike any game you'll find on the market, and that is what makes it such a triumph. It's not without its few pitfalls, but it creates an enjoyable atmosphere that has yet to be replicated by other co-operative RPG experiences.

Considering the game sets out to recreate a classic experience, it's hard to find any real faults in Etrian Odyssey III aside from the graphics and music.

Overall, Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden is a similar experience to previous titles. The great artwork and music offer strong groundwork and there are signs of revision taking place, with new mechanics doing some work to differentiate the experience, but they are under-baked and the straightforward gameplay doesn’t offer much excitement. Ultimately, the game works best taken as a chill switching-off experience, but doesn’t do enough to stick long in the memory.

Soul Sacrifice is a noble first effort from Inafune and company to fill the Monster Hunter void, but it can't quite match the addictive depth of that series.

If you had a brother or sister growing up, then Costume Quest will speak to you whether you like it or not, much like that pesky sibling. Not only does it capture the spirit of Hallowe'en, but it perfectly encapsulates the brother/sister relationship into a short, six hour period.

Megaton Musashi W: Wired offers plenty in terms of a dumb, fun giant robot game. While story issues and performance issues on Switch hold it back from reaching greater heights, the depth of the mecha customization and combat is entertaining overall. The entire package is a bit of a mixed bag, but it’s one with just enough not to feel disappointed.

While I was expecting to turn tail and run during my experience with World of Horror, I am happy to report that I couldn’t put the game down. I adore the dark elements in the game’s presentation and storytelling, but the experience forced me to confront some of my personal thresholds, reminding me that pushing boundaries is what I signed up for. Although I wasn’t incredibly keen on the game’s combat and UI, I cannot deny how often I kept crawling back to my computer to play just one more round. World of Horror is a compelling game that begs the player’s attention, providing an addictive experience that one cannot easily run away from.

Avowed is a surprising title, less in how entertaining it is and more in the ways it is entertaining. Obsidian set out to take the Pillars of Eternity franchise in a big, dumb action direction and largely it succeeded. It’s a blast to play, reducing a lot of the friction in the RPG mechanics while gaining strides in the action department. It feels good in the hands in ways that its contemporaries don’t, zipping the player all around the map. Even with a less-intriguing script, the decision-making doesn’t feel compromised. Every other issue with the game feels as though it can be addressed without having to crack the foundation open, leaving curious thoughts of what a sequel might be able to accomplish. Ignoring that, Avowed is still absolutely an adventure worth the time.

It's quite possible that I would have been even more taken with this game had plenty of friends been in the area so that we could cooperatively slaughter the forces of evil. Even as a solo experience though, Dragon's Crown is a blast to play. Fiddling around with all of its inventory is sometimes bothersome but it never overshadows the entertaining thrill ride of smashing things to a bloody pulp. Whether it's this original or the enhanced one coming in 2018, anyone with an affinity for beat-em-ups mixed with RPGs who hasn't tried this should do so poste haste.