Touken Ranbu Warriors is made for a very specific audience. It feels meant for people unaccustomed to Musou games, what with its easy control option, small levels, and focused tasks. The grinding elements even seem to be less taxing, with simple minigames and Honmaru area placement to garner experience and such while you’re doing other things. (Just like in the Touken Ranbu Online browser game!) Touken Ranbu Warriors also very much focuses on its characters, showing them interact with one another and pointing out characteristics showcased in the original game, anime, and other spin-offs. This means that while Touken Ranbu Warriors is a Musou game with the trappings we know, it might not be the best choice for someone looking for a new entry to play.

We really like the premise of Wilmot Works It Out, and don’t mind a shorter experience! But the game really only hits its stride in the final chapters, leaving us wishing it expanded its later offerings at least a bit. Still, it’s charming, and if you want to really dig into the Marathon post-game, it could be worth checking out.

While the Iron’s Hot is an interesting take on a blacksmith simulator, but it feels like the game can be a tedious chore sometimes. I enjoyed it, but only if I also took regular breaks, made sure I did absolutely everything, and tried not to get rid of any items that had any chance of being useful down the line. I appreciate the concept, but the execution isn’t quite there.

I like the concept behind SCHiM and the artistic direction, but certain elements of it frustrated me after I got about 30 levels into it. I found myself wishing for more of a challenge or a story that left me less annoyed at the person I was trying to track down. I imagine it’d be more entertaining if played in shorter bursts. But marathoning it might make you feel a bit depressed as you see yourself constantly just miss someone who just won’t sit still.

I don’t regret the time I put into this game. A lot of it was predictable but entertaining nonetheless. If the puzzle levels were just a little more balanced. Perhaps a tad shorter and with better riddles to solve, maybe tightened up those issues I mentioned, I’d feel more comfortable recommending this. So much attention went into the overall storytelling. And I don’t mind the predictable parts when the journey makes up for it. World’s End Club fell just a little short of being a really solid experience for me, however I am still excited to see what Too Kyo Games does next.

KarmaZoo has a noble goal, but the situational nature of things means the stars essentially need to align for things to work perfectly. You need to either get a good group of friends who all own the game together or hope your random session is filled with people who both are serious about working together and unlocked helpful characters. It’s too easy for things to not be exactly ideal, and I’d say about two thirds of all my gameplay sessions were fine as a result.

Pretty Princess Party might feel more like “interior designer party” sometimes, which might make it more fun. There are a lot of options here, new customization items unlock at a steady pace, and it isn’t difficult to earn the Lumina needed to unlock requirements and acquire new recipes. It can be very simple and doesn’t demand too much, but people who let themselves get carried away could probably create some pretty cool castles.

In the end, Gargoyles Remastered exists mostly for those who were either fans of the animated series or played this game when they were younger, but doesn’t really have much to offer beyond a few hours of gameplay and a mild sense of completion once it is finished. For a fan of Gargoyles like myself, it was nice to finally experience this piece of history for a series I hold fond memories of, but I also don’t feel like it was worth waiting 28 years to experience. For fans of the platforming genre who might have had a passing interest in Gargoyles Remastered, they would be better served playing something else with better levels and character control.

The complex combat system and menus are off-putting, the visual "upgrades" are lacking, and yet I still found myself coming back to see what's next. Saga Frontier 2 Remastered is a tough recommendation for those unfamiliar with the series, but its concept and storytelling method have undeniable appeal. If you can push through its flaws and steep learning curve, and perhaps partake in a little external reading, there's a solid game beneath its flaws.

It may seem like I’ve been unduly harsh to Creatures of Ava, but that is because there are some excellent ideas here, but the execution has missed the mark. Nothing is wrong with a creature-taming title stepping back from a traditional combat system and embracing a pacifist approach. If anything, exploring this avenue can provide an opportunity to craft a distinctive identity in the genre, but you need to make sure other aspects of the gameplay are compelling. I often found myself going through the motions rather than wanting to see what was next. Strangely, I think the game tried to be too smart for its own good and backfired. It packed too many ideas, and there was little thought on how these mechanics would benefit one another. If you like some of the concepts that Creatures of Ava dabbles in, you will find some redeeming characteristics which might be worth your time. However, I don’t think I’ll return to Creatures of Ava anytime soon.

Lego Voyagers is a visually gorgeous game and generally pleasant, but I wish it controlled better and involved more challenging scenarios. There are some fun ideas here, and the design concepts are solid. It is absolutely cute. I’d even say it can be a relaxing way to spend an afternoon or evening. But the constant locking in while platforming, ease of difficulty, and few opportunities to really do more in the space can be discouraging.

I appreciate the gimmick and the talent Sassy Chap pulled together for Date Everything. The character designs are inventive and look fantastic. It’s entertaining, especially when it discusses not-Amazon and AI. My issue is I really didn’t want to talk to all of these characters. At most, I wanted to see the full storylines for like 1/10th of them. But because it doesn’t feature typical visual novel quality of life features and basically forces you into conversations with cast members, you’ll be stuck getting to know folks even if you don’t want to. Especially when it gets into the evening in-game and things get to be difficult to see.

Ultimately, RPGolf Legends could be a suitable distraction for those who have been waiting too long for a game like Sports Story. It’s forgettably pleasant and largely inoffensive, a stopgap for those who need it. If ArticNet continues to work on the franchise, we’d really like to see a focus on mechanical depth in the next installment.

The overall execution is clumsy and in need of patches.

Despite my gripes with the lack of closure in its narrative, and referential writing, Harvest Island can be a fun horror RPG/farming sim hybrid. The gameplay loop is simple, perhaps to a fault. However, the character writing and moment-to-moment story beats evoke the vibe of classic RPG Maker games, such as To The Moon, The Witch’s House, or Ao Oni. While Harvest Island is a flawed game, it shows a lot of promise in developer Yobob Games, particularly when the game is focusing on telling an original story, and exploring a detailed and engaging environment.

The Devil in Me is a great game for horror fans, as well as those who enjoy true crime. As soon as I recognized H. H. Holmes from the prologue, I felt excited about what was in store. Its characters are inoffensive — some may consider them bland — but the plot helps to make up for them for the most part. With its relatively short play time, it’s an easy game to loop in order to achieve the best ending. Or, perhaps you can channel your inner Holmes and attempt to kill them all. Like the Curator says in the beginning, the choice is in your hands. You’re culpable for who lives and who dies.

There’s something appealing about that. I really appreciated The Smile Alchemist being I could play for a few minutes to get that boost of positivity, then completely step away knowing it’s fine and I don’t need to get too invested. It can get repetitive and the localization is a little rough, but it has heart. It’s like what if we distilled what made an alchemist simulation down to its most base qualities, ensured it was completely colorful, and rolled with it? The result is this, and it’s a delightful diversion in small doses.

Olympia Soiree ends up feeling awkward for many reasons. The class system, the focus on getting the heroine married and pregnant, and the information dumps get to be so much. Once you do finally get to a route, the pacing improves, but before that it is just so much to take in and process. I do think some people might end up enjoying Aksys’ newest Switch otome game, as there’s a solid localization and some characters are lovable. But I feel in the long run it will end up being one of the company’s more forgettable localizations, like Period: Cube or Bad Apple Wars, rather than a captivating and memorable one like Code: Realize or Collar x Malice.

The idea of Aka is fine, but the execution isn’t there. It is a pretty and relaxing enough game when it works. However, it often isn’t behaving as it should, which really gets in the way of taking it easy.

Neptunia Sisters VS Sisters is a surprising return to form for Hyperdimension Neptunia, a game that seems to show fans that Compile Heart still remembers what made its little franchise so endearing in the first place. It’s just a shame that a lack of care for spaces threatens to undermine that sense of renewal.

Redemption Reapers is an engaging, if somewhat niche, tactical RPG experience. Its strong moment-to-moment battling emphasizes a sense of hard knocks and desperate victories, but a thin story and slogging early stages risk alienating potential fans before they get a taste for its atmosphere.

Even though the execution in Everafter Falls isn’t great about getting you adjusted to the farming sim and I wish it leaned more into its premise and mystery from the start, it isn’t a bad game! It has its moments, with the card-based skill acquisition and multifunctional pet both being highlights. Like most games in this genre, I really did find myself getting absorbed in it for hours once I got settled. I just wish it did more to stand out.

SINce Memories: Off the Starry Sky has its good points. The production values haven’t been skimped on, the setting is well-realized, and some of the characters are very interesting to get to know. Sadly, the writing on the whole is very uneven, leading to a lot of routes that don’t pay off properly and a couple really poor characters. There’s some potential here but the game ultimately fails to realize it, despite taking a very long time to get everything into position. It’s an inauspicious Western debut for such a beloved franchise.

I won’t say Fae Farm isn’t satisfying in some ways. Ticking boxes in many of the main and side quest checklists did prompt a response in me that made me want to keep playing. I did enjoy the ambiance and some of the ideas and concepts are sound. But the best way I can describe it is that it feels like Phoenix Labs decided it wanted to make a farming game, but then somehow made it feel like farming, ranching, and connecting with the community aren’t the focus of Fae Farm. I often felt it seemed like an action game that just so happens to include these farming elements as you’re engaging in crafting to head into the next dungeon.

As a mindless game about beating folks up with cool ninja powers, Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is pretty solid. I can also see someone enjoying this game if they’re interested in just messing around with the massive roster. However, as a fighter with depth, a compelling story, or a snapshot of years of Naruto history, it’s weak and struggled to hold my interest. If I want to turn my brain off and mash buttons, it’s something I can see myself playing again, but that’s about it.

Calamity Angels: Special Delivery isn’t bad, but it can be a tedious game and the sugoroku don’t enhance the JRPG. Instead, it can feel like it drags it out more in a way that doesn’t add anything to the experience. It’s not bad, but quickly falls into a somewhat boring and unexpectedly bland routine even with the board game and inventory management elements.

I really appreciate Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure and everything it sets out to do, as the concept is great, the story fun, and some puzzles thought-provoking. I just wish that it wasn’t so rushed, concepts were better explained, and that new puzzle elements weren’t abandoned as swiftly as they are introduced. You don’t get time to appreciate all that Jemma can do or the situations around her, and you’re left to stumble into new abilities or possibilities. If there had been a few more puzzles and framework, it’d been a stronger game.

I think I’d have appreciated A Storied Life: Tabitha more if it was only about packing things up and didn’t include the jumbled narrative. It being a puzzle game, rather than a simulation, is absolutely fine and not the issue. What category pieces fall into is very clear. The thing is that the story doesn’t end up feeling satisfying due to that Mad Libs element. The words you get result in some really boring takes on Kettlewell’s life. And if you do go in initially not completely committing to one direction or genre, then the ending is atrociously bad and unfulfilling.

There is absolutely a fun and maybe even great experience somewhere in Mineko’s Night Market, but right now it is hidden behind balancing issues and Switch performance problems. I could absolutely see Meowza perhaps patching it and making any criticism I have for the title irrelevant over the coming weeks and months. But at launch, it can end up feeling a little too tedious and costly.

While this Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons puzzle game can be an entertaining and challenging diversion, it was rare that I would deduce what I was looking at as I completed each of the nonogram puzzles.

Drawn to Life was, at best, a game of mediocre quality to many but it did resonate with some. Writing this review feels like delivering bad news to this latter group, which has had to wait over a decade for a new game. They had to weather the collapse of THQ, the now defunct publisher of the original Drawn to Life games. On the plus side, the game released at the low price point of $9.99 and there is, arguably, ten dollars’ worth of solid content hidden amongst the more questionable choices. Unfortunately though, Drawn to Life: Two Realms lacks the freedom and novelty of its predecessors, and even though it takes strides to create a satisfying new experience, the end result feels unimaginative.

Ultimately, I came away from this new Carmen Sandiego game feeling frustrated. The strong basic mechanics and presentation are let down with baffling progression and repetition. You’d be better off playing the original in a browser for free. At least you might learn something there.

Fans of Utawarerumono should still consider giving the game a shot, as the strength of its story and characterization makes the trip worthwhile. Everyone else, though, would be better served by playing the previous games first before they take the plunge.

Labyrinth of Zangetsu is a very well-balanced dungeon crawler that weaves its narrative right into its aesthetic. Despite how impressively modern the game looks, there were a lot of factors that made it a lot more reminiscent of a bygone era. Aside from how little strategy the battles required, it also had an incredibly monotonous soundtrack. Personally, it was a little difficult to get into the game because of these issues. This game is definitely one that dungeon crawler fans should play, but it is also one that I could only recommend to fans of the genre. What makes Labyrinth of Zangetsu stand out is in its sumi-e art style. So once the novelty of that wears off, it feels as hollow as a fountain pen that’s run dry.

I love parts of Mad Rat Dead. The music is incredible. It looks fresh. Even the concept and the questions it asks get you thinking in a good way. But it can really be frustrating. I think perhaps if the time limits weren’t in place, it might have felt more manageable? Maybe if I could have chosen my inputs, to create something more comfortable for extended gameplay sessions? There are lovely elements to it, but sometimes its gameplay gets in the way of really enjoying the ambiance.

All of the story is forgettable. Maybe it's the flat voice acting or that it's so convoluted. Thankfully this doesn't deter from the game's strongest point, which is sheer action. [JPN Import]

The story and characters lack meaningful depth.

I have to hand it to Nintendo for making another creative product, but it's more like a mini game than a complete DS title.

If you're just looking for a goofy, mindless, let's-waste-some-time type of fun then you'll enjoy Futurama.

Even with the unique setting, the game is way too easy to complete and too repetitive to make it an outstanding title. Although, action aficionados will appreciate it.

A single player Mario Party isn't really a party and there aren't enough mini games to even put this title in competition with games like "Wario Ware Twisted."

The Casting of Frank Stone is an interesting attempt at feeding Dead by Daylight fans more lore through different means. I think there’s a lot of potential there, but so much of the game could have just remained on the cutting room floor, tightening up the tension and overall experience to make it a more engrossing B-horror flick. Because there isn’t anything wrong with bad or corny, it just isn’t enough to be so bad that it’s good. It’s just kind of there, and it’s a game I won’t be playing again.

While there is so much to see here, rarely does anything work properly to make the experience feel worthwhile. I do believe there is a solid farming sim RPG in the making with SunnySide, but it could take a long time and plenty of updates to reach that potential. For now, I don’t recommend giving it a look unless you’re okay with quite a lot of grievances.

Touhou: New World is an experiment in trying to create a mixture of bullet hell and action RPG that undercooks both sides of that equation. The boss fights may have some charm, but they’re not worth the rest of the tedium that makes up everything else. Players who enjoyed Scarlet Curiosity might find something to love here. However, the challenge isn’t there to recommend it for fans of Touhou’s difficulty and it’s so under-designed as an action RPG that I can’t recommend it to fans of the genre either.

Overall, Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos is a strange game, and not necessarily in a good way. The concept is fun but poorly executed thanks to muddied visuals and unsatisfying driving mechanics. Fans may enjoy the character interactions but may still be put off by how much of a departure it is.

Zoids Wild: Blast Unleashed isn’t setting any records or making innovative strides into the fighting game hall of fame. We’ll never see it any sort of formal competition. But even so, there’s heart to it. It tries to stay true to the the source and does offer some degree of variation to it. It is just made for a very small, narrow audience.

The Crimson Flower that Divides: Lunar Coupling is the equivalent of the tawdry romance novel you pick on sale or at a second-hand store. You probably won’t proudly admit you enjoy it or read it in public. Instead, it becomes your problematic secret you’ll sneak off to play. You’ll find a favorite character or characters and savor certain segments. Just know going in that this is absolutely a “mature” story with triggering themes.

It isn’t necessarily that Tamagotchi Plaza is bad, as I do think it could be fun for kids or someone who really loves Bandai Namco’s virtual pet line. There are just some awkward decisions made that make it a little uncomfortable to play at times. And even if you do overcome that and work things out, it can feel like there’s not too much to do. Especially since you can’t even bring it out as “the early Switch 2 multiplayer minigame collection” due to how few games actually involve more than one person. For the right person, it could be fine, but it caters to a very specialized (and probably forgiving) audience.

I like the idea of I-Chu: Chibi Edition, as having a one-purchase version of a mobile game that grants you to access to almost everything is appealing. However, the way it forces you to unlock everything, the awkward localization, and the still frustrating gacha system hold it back. The music is good! The rhythm game element is pretty solid! Once you get some decent cards, you can make some strong teams! It’s just all of the other stuff surrounding it bogs it down.

If you need a farming-and-fighting fix, Rune Factory 5 is an option. It just isn’t the best one out there. It’s living in the shadow of its far superior siblings.

Seven Pirates H might just be the weakest of the localized Genkai Tokki titles. Part of this could be the transition from Compile Heart to Felistella. It also could be due to a shift from 2D to full 3D. The lower monster girl count, decreased difficulty, and general direction mean Seven Pirates H is a much shorter and simpler game than its predecessors. People who want it for the fanservice and envelope-pushing content will find exactly what they are looking for, but it is a stripped-down experience compared to past titles.

It really is heartbreaking to see that My Time at Sandrock on the Switch is My Time at Portia all over again. There’s potential here. The setting and worldbuilding is fantastic, and it’s a large game with plenty to do. But this version just doesn’t feel ready yet. Perhaps in a few months or a year, it will be in a good place. For now, it’s better to wait before making the move.

While the open ended gameplay is a good concept, it falls flat because players often end up lost or on an incorrect path. Romancing Saga almost focuses entirely on being open ended and it neglects all the other RPG mechanics like a solid story.

Endless Ocean Luminous lacks heart. It’s a shallow take on a franchise with a lot of potential to be special, especially on a handheld console like the Nintendo Switch. If you’re looking for a chill way to pass the time or if you have a child who is interested in learning about marine life, I’d recommend trying it out. But you may be disappointed if you’re looking for anything more than that.

Survival Kids feels really generic on the Switch 2, and it features none of the personality of the Lost in Blue series. I think I might have enjoyed it more had it not been burdened by that pedigree. Had Konami and Unity released this as, say, “Treasure Kids: Search for Harmony Stones,” I think I’d maybe appreciated it more. I’d go in understanding it is a new IP made for kids who like the idea of survival games or puzzle adventures, but might not be ready for titles with greater challenges and in-game consequences. But here, we go in expecting a certain type of storytelling and adventure, then wind up with a repetitious, uncomplicated routine.

Haven is a game that tries and sometimes succeeds. Its gameplay loop allows for ease of access when picking up and putting the game down. However, it doesn’t break any kind of mold or improve on any story that hasn’t already been told. While the narrative may resonate with some, others may bounce off of it hard. The artstyle will please those who have an eye for cel-shaded character models and environments, and the combat will be satisfying for those interested in something a little more interactive. If you’re looking for something to fill the space between upcoming releases, Haven might just be what you’re looking for.

Varlet suffers from a lack of originality and meaningful activities, and the JRPG relies too heavily on concepts from Persona 4. It’s so bland and hollow compared to other Furyu games, with even The Caligula Effect titles doing a better job of telling a story, offering engaging gameplay, and showing off original characters and concepts. The battles are boring and involve repeated types of enemies. Most characters feel like folks we’ve seen before. There’s no real sense of exploration, as the SSS activities are basic, and I didn’t feel like I connected to anyone in its version of “social links.” Even if you enjoy Furyu JRPG releases, this might be one you may want to skip in favor of replaying one of The Caligula Effect games again instead.

Somehow, Root Film has two competing problems that turn the whole game into a narrative mess. It’s incapable of telling a compelling mystery, always bogging the player down in needless exploration and conversations to get a single character’s full dialogue. Which leaves it feeling like it deliberately wants to extend its length by wasting the player’s time.

I personally think that every single gameplay choice they made went in the opposite direction of what I’d consider fun to play. But, they wanted to make a live-service game, and they made one. This is of course the prerogative of Rocksteady Games and Warner Bros to do so. To bookend my analogy from the beginning, plenty of people enjoy saltine crackers and cheese! However, It’s just disappointing to see a studio known for innovating the super hero genre make such a bland and uninteresting game.

Earth Defense Force 6 is a joke that outstays its welcome. The writing definitely has its moments of brilliance, but it tries so hard to be “so bad it’s good” that it just ends up bad.

I didn’t dislike my time with His, the Smile & bloom. I had no strong feelings towards it whatsoever. I didn’t feel emotional, or care about the characters, but I wasn’t bored either. Playing this game is like eating a chocolate bar – not your favorite chocolate – but one you wouldn’t say no to if offered by a friend. You enjoy it while it lasts, but you’re not sad it’s over, and you won’t be thinking about it for the rest of the day.

Dragon Takers is an RPG that is aggressively okay. The story is serviceable, but offers no surprises or interesting twists.

Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge is a letdown, as it doesn’t feel compelling or rewarding to collect frogs, acquire money, or build up the frog sanctuary. I got more out of games like Usagi Shiima, even though it featured no quests and less “gameplay” to it. The thing is, it’s easy to see how it could have been better. More unique frogs, eliminating the tedious minigames, and making specific pieces of furniture feel more important could have all fixed it. As is, it feels like a boring job instead of a relaxing game about cute frogs.

Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World’s greatest sin is that it is simply adequate. There’s nothing earth-shattering about this remake. It looks fine, but isn’t nearly as striking as Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap. It plays okay, but there are times when you feel the frustrations and limitations of Asha’s moveset. It is okay and people who loved the original will probably appreciate it being freshened up. But as far as remakes go, it’s nothing special.

Keylocker was a frustrating experience. There’s some solid writing and a world that I’d love to explore further. Sadly, it’s buried under an unintuitive combat system and poor plotting for it to realize its full potential.

The thing is, I can think of ways Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy could be fixed. Give everyone immediate access to all characters, and make the Character Tickets unlock the additional costumes. Fine, have the Abilities on the gacha banner, but perhaps offer an option to outright buy the four unique skills for each character in the shop. Instead of making the story feel so reliant on going through multiplayer battles, instead tie them to the Challenge mode so we don’t need to wait around for a full party or invest in a competitive mode we might not enjoy. Focus on making it enjoyable and not so reliant on other people and RNG to succeed. Of course, the amount of retooling means we’ll probably see the title fail, rather than get adjusted and relaunched as something that feels far less greedy. But hey, at least we got some great music and fantastic character designs!

Record of Agarest War is a generic take on a generational RPG. The experience feels dated even for 2007. While combat can be fun, the game is a slow burn, and it is difficult to ignore its more questionable content. Considering the price mark for a game that is sixteen years old, and the overwhelming length of the game, I would only recommend it to someone interested in a crunchy, slow combat system, looking for quantity over quality. Considering that the game received a prequel and two sequels, it surely has enough public.

In this interactive fiction game, you will revisit the 90s and play an elementary schoolboy who lacks the courage to give a card to his favorite classmate. In the endless loop of the last day of 1999, you find out the secrets of your classmates, your friends, your family, and help everyone to have their “perfect day.” Nintendo Switch version reviewed.

On a PC, I imagine Eiyuden Chronicle might generally be fine, but on the Switch it is a mess.

A gimmick game without the gimmick. Without that, it’s a weak dungeon-crawler in today’s landscape.

I think the problem is that Best Friend Forever is trying to do several things at once and isn’t really doing any of them well. It wants to be a pet simulation with a narrative element and dating, but the story of your adjusting to life in Rainbow Bay feels like an afterthought and the love interests could have used a little more, well, love. The simulation elements are interesting, and I liked that you had these dog events while going through the story, but you better be playing in Handheld mode on the Switch because it can be really awkward otherwise. Also, it frankly needs at least one patch to be ready for prime time. I loved the concept, but it’s rough around the edges.

After spending time with Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia, I can see where WayForward tried. It attempted to create a world for players to inhabit, one alive with both Bakugan brawls and more common activities. It tries to offer customization options, both for our avatar and the characters in the party. It even attempts a competitive scene with online matches. I’d imagine fans of the anime adaptation or toys in general might be really pleased with this direction, especially if they’re on the younger side. Like Pokemon, but Bakugan could be a thing fans would eat up. But it isn’t for people who are older or aren’t involved in the scene.

Sugardew Island is an almost entirely forgettable farming sim. The dated visuals, lack of responsiveness, and awkward gameplay makes it hard to recommend. That said, there is still something special in the shop management system, which is a (brief) joy to use. It’s a shame the rest of Sugardew Island fails to match the shop’s level of enjoyment.

I think Drag x Drive is interesting, and this wheelchair basketball game really highlights Joy-Con 2 mouse controller capabilities. It can be fun if you get a group of people who are invested together. Unfortunately, I don’t think it offers enough of an incentive to get invested. Maybe if Nintendo included some sort of campaign, more customization options, or some sort of league features, I’d feel differently.

There are times when Sports Story can be fun. The script can be quite humorous. The sprite work is fantastic. The concept is generally sound. Golf Story, only more seems like a winning prospect. It’s that being overambitious undid any goodwill here. I wouldn’t be surprised too if there’s an element of it all being rushed, with the proper amount of time not being dedicated to eliminate issues and more cohesively tie everything together. With patches, there could be something here! While it wouldn’t hit the heights of Golf Story, I think Sports Story could still eventually be an enjoyable game. It will just take two or more months for that to happen.

Garden of the Sea attempts to be a laid-back life simulator as you roam around a deserted island. But, the absence of structured tasks or rewarding objectives may lessen its appeal over time. This is further not helped by gameplay bugs, which make some of these tasks more bothersome than they should be. Ultimately, I don’t know why you would choose to play this title in its current state over hard hitters in the genre, like Stardew Valley.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian feels like a more simple entry, and it sadly looks bad on the Switch.

I appreciated what Johan Vinet accomplished with Castaway, as it really does capture the same vibes as a GBC Legend of Zelda game would, but just wish there was more to it. The adventure mode feels like it cuts off way too quickly, with no resolution. The Tower is entertaining, but focuses on the weakest part of the experience and strips away the light puzzle solving and boss fights. It feels like Castaway is a teaser for something bigger. What’s here is fun, but strangely unfulfilling.

There is just a lot to do in The Good Life, which means that players can potentially sink upwards of forty-plus hours taking pictures or running mundane, everyday tasks. And while I like life simulators, I don’t like them when they can barely run at over 3 FPS. With a story that lacks focus and with these elements largely feeling like padding, The Good Life doesn’t stand out in any significant way.

Akiba’s Trip: Undead and Undressed is not a game that has aged well. Its combat is repetitive, its map is too restrictive and its dialogue sometimes leans into the worst tropes too sincerely to be called parody. However, it’s clear that there is an audience for this out there, or it wouldn’t have gotten this remaster. If you can put up with the game’s many issues, it may be possible to lose yourself in the absurdity of its concept and enjoy its more successful satirical moments.

Pastel Parade is such a hit-and-miss game. It’s clear Pastel Parade Project wanted to make a game along the lines of Rhythm Heaven and the aesthetics are there, but there are so many moments and minigames that prove it just doesn’t get some of the biggest takeaways. The repetition, execution of some challenges, and way the actual music doesn’t seem to matter means that, while it looks cute, it never compares to Nintendo’s series.

Since the game does provide some laughs and is fun when a friend is over $20 isn't too bad for the game.

Since the game does provide some laughs and is fun when a friend is over $20 isn't too bad for the game.

There is nothing offensive about the story in Little Hope, and nothing immediately sets off warning bells or narrative decisions I would tell players to consider before going into it. At most, the game is just boring and uninteresting.

While Samurai Maiden’s characters may be cute, the gameplay is completely unsatisfying. At its best, it is a bland beat’em up sending you slashing through skeletal specters. At its worst, it is infuriating. Samurai Maiden isn’t like Ed-0: Zombie Uprising, which is in early access and only costs $19.99. This would be a far different review it was. It is a disappointing game in a sorry state, and there are far better fanservice-filled beat’em ups out there.

When it comes down to it, The Hundred Year Kingdom’s greatest failing is that it doesn’t make you think. Each session ends up feeling the same.

The game doesn't look great, the AI is poor and the special powers are worthless. Even if you take away these problems you're left with a basic first person shooter that is nothing special.

The game doesn't look great, the AI is poor and the special powers are worthless. Even if you take away these problems you're left with a basic first person shooter that is nothing special.

Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed is far from perfect. It doesn’t look great and you’re constantly running into annoyances that result from bringing a budget PSP game in 2021. But I suspect that the people who might pick it up will be willing to overlook that. This is about completing a set and seeing the inspiration for other titles. If anyone would want to experience this particular series at its best, I’d point them to Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed in a heartbeat. But this release, flawed as it is, does give people who enjoy the series a way to see how it all started.

Super UFO Fighter could have been a great, fun sandbox in the vein of Stick Fight, Duck Game, or BombSquad. Using a tractor beam and weird objects to accomplish varied tasks? Yeah, great! But as it is, the game lacks the creativity to try anything other than its one trophy grab idea. (Actually, there’s a hot potato mode too, but it’s very easy to break and not worth discussing.) Committing to one game type can work too, right? But that one mode has to be full of nuance and competitive depth. And this game simply doesn’t have that either.

I very much wanted to care about Open Roads, as it seemed like my “thing.” But there’s just so little to it, and it becomes near impossible to care about Tess, Opal, and their trip together as a result. People who often play visual novels will be let down by the narrative (or lack thereof). People who wanted this to be like Gone Home will despair in the fact that it isn’t fun to pick through these people’s things. It’s just a disappointment.

MultiVersus could have been a fun multi-platform answer to Super Smash Bros, but the choice to adopt a free-to-play model with staggering costs for characters locks much of the fun behind paywalls or extensive grinding. While it succeeds in delivering whimsical, cross-franchise battles that players love, the free-to-play model makes it all feel worthless. This mishandling results in a game that I feel, despite its potential, won’t retain players once they realize the hassle.

The game doesn't look great, the AI is poor and the special powers are worthless. Even if you take away these problems you're left with a basic first person shooter that is nothing special.

A Tear of Vermillion does have a rich world to explore and an interesting cast. But with out an original story to tie the entire gametogether or great gameplay Legend of Heroes isn’t legendary at all. [JPN Import]

At launch, HoloVillage: Our Cozy Days is too broken and limited to recommend to folks looking for a Hololive Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley sort of experience. There’s too little interaction with Vtubers. The grind is real. The game might just freeze or break on you. For a game that should be packed with personality, thanks to all the performers represented in it, it’s instead incredibly bland. Maybe in a few months, patches could improve some of the issues and you might be able to play without fear of being frozen in place. But it is not at that point right now.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is a release held together by sentiment and atmosphere, partly because that aspect of the game is so good and partly because the remainder of the game is so devoid of merit. Like NES Remix before it, it lives in a liminal space between viable gameplay ideas. If it were supposed to be a punishing speedrunning challenge, it would give players one try in the weekly championship and offer more long events. If it were a WarioWare-like fun time, it’d have a faster pace and a lot more variety. If it were a weekly Nintendo Switch Online diversion, it’d be a lower-commitment free download built around a real-time experience. And, well, it’s none of those.

The Callisto Protocol feels like a retread of the PS3 era of survival horror, but perhaps in the worst way possible. It’s clear that this title was made with Dead Space in mind, as it shared the same creator, but it’s also a look at how the genre has evolved since Dead Space was relevant. And while The Callisto Protocol’s narrative is lackluster, the gameplay could have been something great and ultimately redeeming about it. Instead, it feels trapped in the past and a worse iteration of what inspired it.

As Redfall lacks any actual depth in terms of narrative or gameplay loop, it’s a hard game to recommend. But who knows, maybe six months to a year down the line, it could be a completely different and more engaging game. That’s just the time we live in.