Tales of the Shire sounds like an interesting take on a Middle-Earth game, with its priority on the mundane rather than the grittier aspects of the world’s history. However, it’s just kind of boring, which is a shame since a cozy Hobbit game sounds like it should’ve been a home run. Maybe the game would have gotten more interesting as I unlocked more areas and befriended more characters, but since my progression has stalled thanks to some bizarre bug, I guess there won’t be a Shire for me anymore.

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

The appeal of WitchSpring3 Re:Fine is having an entry in the series on the Switch. The concepts behind it are fine. I had an okay time playing it, even if I didn’t feel terribly motivated to explore what the post-game had to offer. Some of the UI decisions don’t exactly feel comfortable, the localization isn’t great, and it isn’t terribly memorable. It’s not bad and people interested in the series will probably have a good time. But those with a passing curiosity may want to look at the more reasonably priced mobile versions instead.

The game shines graphically. Capcom uses a clever mix of 3D textures and cel shading. The backgrounds are full of vivid colors, the explosions are clear and there are even some neat shadowing effects.

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.

It’s strange to say that I will more than likely continue to play NieR Re[in]carnation, despite already understanding that I could potentially cultivate an unhealthy relationship with the game. The story has drawn me in, in a way that no other mobile game, or even console title, has in a very long time. I love learning about these characters and I love this world, even if I’m barred from progression. However, there is no doubt in my mind that this game will become exceedingly difficult for new players to get into once the double rate up banners and experience point boosts disappear. If you’re looking into playing NieR Re[in]carnation, for better or for worse, now is your time.

It's a unique take on the FPS, RPG and action genres, but at the same time Dirge of Cerberus doesn’t execute either of these genres extremely well. If you’re willing to be patient with the game’s controls Dirge of Cerberus offers a new experience and more background on the Final Fantasy VII universe. [JPN Import]

The only saving grace this game has is for Ninja Turtles fans, but during a time when there are so many better games released you're not getting the same bang for your buck.

Ultimately, Goblin Slayer Another Adventurer: Nightmare Feast was an odd one. While I did enjoy the battles and most of the character interactions, it also didn’t do much to make itself stand out. It certainly has appeal for fans of old school RPGs, but I can’t help but feel it could be doing a lot more.

Foamstars is a mixed bag of a game. The gameplay is fun, elevating itself above the inevitable Splatoon comparisons and doing something interesting with the concept. But the bland aesthetics and aggressive monetization are huge turn-offs that prevent this from fully reaching its potential.

Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs is rather boring. There’s no adrenaline rush when I manage to make it into the final groups of players. The cosmetics are fine, but I didn’t feel a drive to unlock specific maze designs or items for my Pac-Man. While it is designed to feel competitive, it seemed like more people I faced were more concerned with dealing with the ghosts and eating pellets, rather than gunning for the top spot in any way. I honestly had the most fun when I’d play through Elimination or Ranked like I would any other Pac-Man game, without engaging in maze invasions, which probably defeated the point of a battle royale.

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.

Polish issues aside, Gungrave G.O.R.E. is a nostalgic trip to a certain era of action game design, dressed up in improved visuals and performance. Its anachronistic take on shooting gameplay and late-90s anime aesthetic won’t be for everyone, but the separation of years makes it clear that there’s nothing quite like it on the market.

As a package The Nightmare of Druaga offers a spin on the RPG and action RPG genres. Druaga offers plenty of monster slaying, treasure hunting and dungeon exploring.

I didn’t like Elrentaros Wanderings, and the things wrong with it are such that patches to fix the localization or adjust other elements wouldn’t salvage it. It’s a tedious game that doesn’t offer the sort of substance to make it feel in any way satisfying. There are better isekai adventures. There are better loot-based dungeon-crawlers. There are better titles where you can connect with people in the nearby village and perhaps even fall in love with them.

The only saving grace this game has is for Ninja Turtles fans, but during a time when there are so many better games released you're not getting the same bang for your buck.

One of the most salient problems with Full Metal Alchemist is the amount of repetition. After you get bored of the alchemy the game boils down to eliminate the enemies and move into the next room and repeat for the duration of gameplay.

Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise is exactly the sequel to Deadly Premonition a fan of the original should expect. This is a game that really respects the player’s intelligence, but puts a lot of faith into their willingness to keep an open mind.

Where the game does shine is in replay value. Like other games there are plenty of weapons to collect. The Game Boy Advance version has them hidden so well that you'll need to explore every space to find them all.

The variety of stages and the variety of pranks is what makes Panic Maker such a fun experience. In what other game can you throw pies at a casino waitress, exorcize zombies and use spring loaded punching gloves to knock people into walls? The quirkiness of "Under the Skin" goes far. [JPN Import]

Even though Naruto: Saikyo Ninja 2 is a good playthrough it doesn't have anything special to make the game stand out.

Library of Runia is a fantastic game. The voice acting is top notch, the story is intriguing enough to entice players who otherwise may not be interested in deck building games to give it a shot, and it forces the player to engage with its systems to meet each challenge. However, this means that it won’t be for everyone. Those that have gotten tired of fiddling around with the same deck builders for hours on end may find Library of Runia enticing, especially with its heavy emphasis on story. Overall, I had a blast with the game, even if I’m still figuring out just how to optimize my deck some thirty hours in.

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]

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."

Astro Boy: Tetsu Won Atom's greatest falling is that it is short, too short...This doesn't mean that Astro Boy isn't an engaging game. From beginning to end Astro Boy is entertaining, although simplistic and easy.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour works fine. It’s totally functional and educational. It just isn’t fun in the same way games like Nintendo Land and Astro’s Playroom are.

The thing about Danganronpa S is that as I play, I can think of how it could be better. Giving a player all N-rank cards at the start would have been nice. Especially since there are four variants of each character and nine Hype Card upgrades for each of them. Not to mention 30 presents are there. It’d mean you’d be able to build people you like immediately. Even if they wouldn’t be great. Also, given that people are paying $20 for this, the gacha rates shouldn’t be so terrible. Rather than play Danganronpa S, I’d suggest people get Danganronpa V3 and play through its minigames (and review its story) again. Given it’s $29.99, compared to Danganronpa S’s $19.99, it is worth it. As is, I can’t help but feel like this should have been a free-to-play game.

If you’ve always wanted to try out a Harvest Moon title, then Harvest Moon: One World is a great entry point. As I can attest, no prior knowledge of previous games is required. So go forth, farm, and save the world, one crop at a time.