Magna Carta is a gorgeous game with enough creativity in its story and gameplay to distinguish outside the genre. However, to really appreciate this game be prepared to put in fifteen hours into it because it probably won’t suck you in at the very beginning.

It doesn't improve on its own formula, has archaic graphics and a sloppy camera. All of this puts a damper on the gameplay experience, but it doesn't mean its not fun. Gungrave OD is fun, but its fun for only a short while.

The addition of an extra dimension makes King of Fighters: Maximum Impact something different from the yearly remakes of the game. SNK zealots will dig this game and fighting fans looking for a 3D alternative from "Capcom vs. SNK 2" will also enjoy this game.

It's fun for a short period of time, easy to beat and doesn't have a strong multiplayer mode. A solid rental, but there are better games out there.

The same as it was ten years ago. Capcom did make a few improvements like added a much needed save feature instead of a password system to the game to make it more portable. There are also Game Boy Advance exclusive levels, which add some value to the game. [JPN Import]

The game gets boring fast just playing with a friend or even a friend and two computers. The other problem with the versus mode is the camera. Opposed to the player following camera in the single player mode, the camera in versus mode pans out a wide range in most levels. While the camera does give a wide screen view of the battlefield, it rarely zooms back in when all the players are close together.

Isn't quite the RPG it originally promised to be. However, the great fighting engine and deep character customization makes Virtua Fighter Cyber Generation [Virtua Quest] stand above the average 3D brawler. [JPN Import]

Isn't quite the RPG it originally promised to be. However, the great fighting engine and deep character customization makes Virtua Fighter Cyber Generation [Virtua Quest] stand above the average 3D brawler. [JPN Import]

When it shines, Space Marine 2 can be really good but there’s just a few too many irritating flaws to recommend it as much as I want to.

I just wish there had been more romance to it, with more fleshed out characters, especially Sachsen since this is his moment.

Wander Stars is interesting and tells a Dragon Ball type of tale, especially considering its novel combat system that uses words to construct every action. The aesthetics are fantastic. It’s clearly a labor of love and tribute to shonen series. The issue is there are some bugs that can hamper the experience, especially if it softlocks and you find yourself losing progress due to it only automatically saving at the outset of every map. A few patches should help things along and I think it is neat, but I do think the execution and bugs might keep it from being for everyone. I recommend checking out the demo first.

I really appreciate the chances that Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost takes, in terms of gameplay, because it is a solid rhythm game! The track listing is fantastic. It’s drawing from all the amazing Touhou Project music we love. I just wish the story was either handled better or more approachable for those who aren’t familiar with the series, as that’s going to be quite a barrier for most people to overcome if they give it a chance. Knowing you need to go through that to even unlock your songs is a lot.

How much you enjoy Raccoin: Coin Pusher Roguelike will depend on how you feel about luck determining the course of every run instead of skill. It is a roguelike, but the influence of RNG in so many ways can make it feel like it’s all up to chance instead. Because even though you are gradually unlocking new characters, coins, prizes, and such via hitting milestones, the very nature of it means that builds might end up feeling meaningless unless factors outside of your control align. It will still be fun, but it means accepting how little influence you can exert over each run.

I enjoy Knights in Tight Spaces, but also feel like the game could use a few balancing patches and updates before it hits that roguelike sweet spot. With a few adjustments, this could be a sequel that is the equal of the original Fights in Tight Spaces. For now, it’s just an entertaining game that might put you in a situation where you can’t excel or, in some situations, really win.

The Palace on the Hill feels like the sort of game where Niku Games wanted to tell a specific story, and the farming, shop management, and life sim mechanics surround it to propel you forward. They aren’t taxing. They won’t hold you back. However, they do provide a sense of ambiance and let you know what life might feel like for Vir in India at that time. You’re experiencing a brief moment in his life, and I do mean brief as I finished in under eight hours. However, it definitely feels like your time is well-spent.

Pocket Mirror: GoldenerTraum is a beautiful blast to the past that hearkens back to the glory days of the indie RPG Maker scene. What makes it shine is in its cast of colorful characters and its heartwarming message. Though I commented that its vagueness is detrimental to emotionally connecting with the story, it does linger with you as you ponder upon its meaning. Video games are art, and Pocket Mirror: GoldenerTraum is one of those games that can prove it.

Bloodrayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites does have a great tension in its combat, as well as a fantastic variety of moves that will have you carving through a gorgeous castle of monstrosities. It’s when you start slipping around, tumbling off cliffs, stumbling into enemies, or scrambling to jump to a platform just overhead that the game starts to wear your patience down quickly. It’s still enjoyable, but it feels like everything is made more annoying based on a handful of elements.

Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord was a great time. The gameplay was very entertaining, every battle felt like a fair challenge and I ended up taking on almost every quest both for the rewards and just for the sheer fun of it. The story has its ups and downs but nothing that made me abandon the game completely, on the contrary, it felt the high points mattered the most. And finally, the characters made it all worthwhile, it was refreshing to follow the adventures of friends that don’t feel heroic in a standard way, yet still completely endearing all the time.

Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends is a sweet and cute game with an easy gameplay loop that keeps me coming back for more. With all the customization options, as well as so many different recipes to max out, there’s quite a lot to do even if you’re not interested in the story. Just make sure you have the number of your local sushi shop on speed dial! You’re going to want a plate of nigiri or two while playing this game.

Riven may not be perfect on the Meta Quest 3, but the VR version is worth experiencing if you love the game and series. Considering what needed to be done to bring it to life, it feels incredible to actually be walking around the Age of Riven’s five islands. It’s enough to make me forgive the smaller technical issues and shift to character models from FMV. However, it can be more difficult to play due to it not being as easy to keep track of what you’re doing and work out solutions in optimal fashions, especially since the nature of the medium could mean you’ll have some trouble finding what you are looking for or interact with to proceed.

I wish I could recommend Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus more. Its presentation is immaculate and when the game is focused on combat, it’s incredibly satisfying. But the inconsistencies that drag down the platforming segments sour the whole experience.

If there's one thing Harmonix always gets right, it's the vibe. Whether it's Rock Band or Dance Central, Super Beat Sports or DropMix, the studio's games feel distinct and cool from the jump. Fuser, Harmonix's latest work, is no exception.

From a preservation standpoint, Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend does everything people would need. You have all three games easily accessible in a single compilation. You can hop in without much effort, go through each one, and perhaps go through things a little more swiftly than you normally would. The three titles haven’t all held up as well as you might remember, but they were from a different era. It’s a way to honor the past, though only die-hard SaGa fans and people who played them when they were fresh and new might get the most out of the experience.

With amazing visuals, a fun story, and short bite-sized stages, this is a game you can easily pick up and put down.

I’m glad Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is accessible after everything it went through, but you can see its struggles. It’s a fine adventure. It helps build up the timeline and backstory. I feel like it’s just a tad short and features some pacing issues that really highlight that this was a game that ended up being picked up, canceled, returned to, and had these halts in development.

Forestrike features an interesting concept and aesthetic I appreciate, but can feel unbalanced. I happened upon many situations where I felt like I couldn’t win, which was even why it took longer to prepare this review. I like the story and the way some of the martial arts movesets work. I just wish it didn’t often feel like chance so heavily affected my odds of success.

WiZmans World Re;Try isn’t the most exciting JRPG, but it is great we finally get to experience it after about 16 years. The Anima Fusion system is interesting, and there’s some pretty intricate spritework involved for some characters. The game is something of a grind though, so be prepared to work for your best combinations and to take down some bosses that appear in later dungeons.

Monster Hunter Stories remains a vibrant anime romp through a world that fuses Monster Hunter elements with Pokemon-esque creature collection and training. It can feel a bit dated compared to the sequel, and the direction may make it more welcome to younger gamers. However, it’s a colorful, entertaining romp and this iteration feels like the definitive release.