Silent Hope from Marvelous feels like a long-lost 3DS game resurrected for modern platforms in the best way possible. The aesthetic, music, charm, and core gameplay loop come together nicely, but it will not be for everyone. I've enjoyed my time with it despite the few flaws on Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.

With Disgaea 7, it feels like the series is back to being a statistical playground featuring tons of possibilities, excellent gameplay, a plethora of quality content, and polish after Disgaea 6. I'm glad that Disgaea is back with such a strong showing.

A nice addition to the base game for everyone who enjoyed this generation of Pokemon so far with a new location, some quality of life features, and its new content. It is however let down by a plethora of technical issues still plaguing the experience.

As a newcomer (mostly) to the series, Pikmin 4 has been fantastic to experience. It oozes charm, and I love how it eased me into the action throughout the campaign. While Pikmin 3 Deluxe didn't click with me, I'm glad I got into the series with Pikmin 4, and will be playing Pikmin 1 and 2 in the near future on Switch. This is a gem, and another essential from Nintendo in 2023.

Anonymous;Code is the best Science Adventure release since the original Steins;Gate thanks to its superb localization, story, and characters. This is an essential on Nintendo Switch, and only held back by a few issues.

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails on Switch is actually Falcom's first internally-developed game for the platform, and it is an excellent version of a PSP classic. If you've ever wanted to sample some of the developer's older games and enjoy action RPGs, this is worth your time on both Switch and PS5.

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails' PC version is another excellent PH3 conversion, and it is amazing on Steam Deck. It has fun gameplay, superb music, and feels great despite its age. This is an easy recommendation for Falcom fans.

As a huge fan of the Utawarerumono series, Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten should've been a slam dunk, but it is lacking in some key ways right now on PS5. The story, characters, and music make it worth your time, but the lack of polish in visuals and gameplay hold it back.

Rune Factory 3 Special does a great job at bringing a DS classic to modern platforms, and it also happens to be a fantastic experience on both Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch. It isn't as good as Rune Factory 4 Special, but few things are, and this is worth your time if you want to sample one of Marvelous' best series.

Taito Milestones 2 on Nintendo Switch is a better collection than the prior one, but it still is a bit too bare-bones compared to most retro collections. I'm glad Taito and ININ are doing these releases for the West, but hopefully we see more put into the bonus content and extras for the next collection to make things more attractive to those who already buy Arcade Archives releases on the eShop.

If you're new to Armored Core like I was before playing Armored Core 6, this is an excellent entry point into a franchise I wish I had experienced before. With Armored Core 6, FromSoftware has one of the best games of 2023, and it feels like the studio's most-polished release yet. It was a joy to play on Steam Deck pre-release, and I'm having a ton of fun replaying it on both PS5 and Xbox Series X right now.

Slap Fight has been the most interesting game from this collection, because I hadn’t played it before in any form. The 1986-released vertical shoot ’em up with its sci-fi setting looks great, but feels sluggish to play compared to what I’m used to in the genre. I like the gameplay mechanics that reminded me of B-Wings, but this game ended up being the weakest of the four in this collection. I still recommend it, but not as much as other games in BitWave’s classics series.

Hellfire is the only horizontal shoot ’em up in this collection. I recently played it through the M2 ShotTriggers release that had Hellfire and Zero Wing bundled, but I’m glad that it has finally come to PC for those who enjoyed Zero Wing from BitWave Games’ prior collection. This 1989-released Toaplan classic keeps you on your toes by having you adapt your attack patterns on the fly across very interesting levels and enemies. It is also a very difficult game towards the end, but it is my favorite of this bundle.

Fire Shark on the M2 ShotTriggers release was my first experience of the Toaplan classic, and while this PC release doesn’t match up overall, I don’t really think it is fair to compare them given the price differences and what each release is going for. I’m still not sure whether I like Fire Shark or Flying Shark more, but I can safely say I enjoyed my time with Fire Shark on Steam Deck quite a bit. The responsiveness and super fast boot up time makes me want more classics re-issued through BitWave Games like this one.

Flying Shark, like Fire Shark, is a shoot ’em up I already experienced on Nintendo Switch as my first taste of the Toaplan classic. Flying Shark debuted in 1987 and is also known as Sky Shark depending on the region. I already liked Flying Shark a lot, and it has been great revisiting it through this release on Steam Deck and my MacBook Air. I also had a ton of fun with it playing on my arcade stick connected to the Steam Deck. If you haven’t played it before, it is quite difficult, but the accessibility and practice options make it worth checking out in its current state.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central from Sega is worth your time if you like the songs included. It has a lot of fun game modes, and even plays great in handheld mode with the colors shining on the OLED display. I hope it gets some quality of life and motion control improvements after launch alongside some classic songs added though.

Batsugun Saturn Tribute Boosted from CityConnection brings a Toaplan classic I didn't even know about to modern platforms, and the overall package is better than expected. The gadgets included are lacking, but I'm glad to have a way to play this game that I now love on Steam Deck.

Raiden III x Mikado Maniax was my first taste of this entry in the series, and it is a great version of one of the less interesting MOSS-developed entries in the series. I only recommend this for those who already played and enjoyed Raiden IV, but want more from the series. The new soundtrack option is excellent as well.

Gimmick Special Edition feels great to play, and makes a Sunsoft classic more accessible than ever before, but this release should've had better extras. For its asking price, this is an easy recommendation as long as you're ok with the challenge.

Exoprimal is a very weird game that I enjoyed playing a lot by the end of it. Some multiplayer and early progression issues hold back an otherwise super fun experience that has me coming back for more daily even after 50 hours across platforms. It has the potential to be even better with some tweaking.

Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening is a great release in Koei Tecmo's long-running series, and one that feels right at home on both Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch thanks to smart controller support and touch controls on Switch. While the game needed a bit more work on both systems, I've enjoyed playing through various scenarios in handheld mode on Switch and also on Steam Deck.

Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening on PS5 looks and runs great and even plays very well, but it could've used a better tutorial for newcomers to the genre on console. In its current state, it was a good decision from Koei Tecmo to bring this game to the West with all updates and the expansion included from the start because we finally have a Nobunaga's Ambition game that is worth playing day one for the first time in many years.

Dragon Quest Treasures on Switch felt like a long-lost 3DS gem that had all the charm from an older Dragon Quest game, but one that was let down by some technical issues. On Steam Deck, it is much smoother and a better experience overall. If you already played it, there isn't anything new here, but I'm glad Dragon Quest Treasures on PC is such a great experience out of the box on Steam Deck.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie on Switch is only worth getting if you exclusively play in portable mode, and have no access to other platforms. While the Crossbell games were best on Switch on the console side, Trails Into Reverie is the opposite. It is a magnificent JRPG, but the Switch version needed more optimization.

Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg and Atelier Marie Plus on Nintendo Switch feel like a perfect fit for Nintendo's hybrid system with the relaxed gameplay structure. While this release is a bit too expensive, it is definitely worth getting for Atelier fans thanks to its excellent music, great protagonist, and more.

Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is a great remake of the first Atelier game that does more than just give an old game a fresh coat of paint. While this release is a bit overpriced, it is well-worth getting for fans of the Atelier series looking to sample the origins on PS5 with a fantastic protagonist.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie still feels like a dream release after how far behind the West was with Kiseki localizations. Well, it is now here, real, and spectacular thanks to its story, music, and brilliant PC port.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective's remaster is a cleaner and smoother version of the DS classic which is one of Capcom's best games. If you've not played it before, you're in for a treat. This month is very busy with major releases, but Ghost Trick with its excellent revival is a trick you don't want to miss.

As someone who owns four different versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, I still don't consider it a perfect game or one that I would score a 10 despite loving it. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on the other hand, is an easy 10 and Nintendo's best game yet. It is a masterpiece in just about every aspect.

Final Fantasy 16 is one of the most impressive games Square Enix has ever made even with its few issues. The brilliant combat, superlative voice acting, amazing music, and gorgeous world come together to make the best single-player Final Fantasy since the PS2 era. This one’s an all-timer.

In its current state, Sonic Origins Plus feels like a missed opportunity. I still recommend it to own these classic Sonic games on console or PC, but I'm hoping Sega fixes the scaling at least in the future.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a welcome addition to the Nintendo Switch's library, and another win for the platform in 2023 with its superb core gameplay and presentation making it one of the best games on the platform.

We Love Katamari Reroll + Royale Reverie feels like a massive step up above Katamari Damacy Reroll in just about every way. While it has a few technical issues in its current state, it is a much better port overall and pure joy to play.

Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection sees Atlus' most consistently great franchise return after a long absence. While the asking price is definitely high, you are getting three quality DRPGs with quality of life improvements and accessibility options making them great even for longtime fans.

Street Fighter 6 is a superlative fighting game with its robust online, amazing single-player content, gorgeous visuals, and sublime gameplay. It might be one of the best launch packages for any fighting game ever, and is a game of the year contender.

After spending most of the last year on Sunbreak which I loved across platforms, Omega Force and EA's Wild Hearts is a perfect complement for Monster Hunter fans looking to play another great game in the genre. While it is unfortunately held back by technical issues, Wild Hearts does a lot that takes the genre forward, and I can't wait to keep playing the postgame through the coming months while we hopefully get more updates.

A year later, Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin on PC is a great game held back by technical issues. The game itself has excellent combat, variety, brilliant music, and a lot of heart. Stranger of Paradise and Theatrhythm Final Bar Line are my current favorite Final Fantasy spin-off games, and I hope to see the former improve through potential updates on PC.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future Redeemed is a phenomenal expansion and perfect finale for the Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy. It is brilliantly-paced and has none of the issues prior releases have, making it even better than Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is an excellent action RPG from Falcom, but I can only recommend this PS5 version to newcomers. Having played it on literally every console and PC platform now, I still adore most of Ys IX, but NIS America should've done more for the PS5 port. If you own the PS4 version, just play that. You aren't missing much here.

Cannon Dancer Osman is a fun action platformer with great set-pieces, but one that would've been an easier recommendation if it cost half of what it does right now. The lack of any extra content like a gallery or interviews with the team makes it disappointing even as a retro re-release.

R-Type Final 3 Evolved is the best version of Granzella's newest release, but it doesn't have enough improvements and new content in its current state to justify a full-priced purchase for existing owners. Newcomers should get this, but I wish it included more DLC and was the complete and definitive version rather than an enhanced take with some exclusive content and one set of DLC.

Despite the visual cutbacks and online experience right now, DNF Duel on Nintendo Switch is a competent fighting game. This version isn't close to the best way to experience the game, but those who only play on Nintendo Switch could do a lot worse in the genre than DNF Duel.

Live A Live was an essential on Nintendo Switch last year, and it sees an amazing glow up on PS5 with its boost to resolution, frame rate, and improved load times. While there isn't anything here that justifies a purchase if you played it before, newcomers will find a sublime JRPG in Live A Live on PS5, and I still hope it gets a physical release in the future.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon from PlatinumGames is a game I almost skipped thanks to the demo. Thankfully, I gave it another shot and ended up loving almost everything it has to offer from sublime music, gorgeous art, excellent voice acting, and the interesting gameplay. Everything comes together brilliantly in a storybook-inspired action adventure that is yet another win for the Nintendo Switch and a contender for the best game of 2023.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak was already beyond amazing when it debuted last year, and the PlayStation and Xbox versions arrive with three title updates included making it even better. While it is unfortunate that Capcom couldn't launch them with all title updates included, Sunbreak is an essential, and I can now recommend Rise without caveats on PS5.

Despite some technical issues, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster bundle on Nintendo Switch is a great way to experience these classics. The new font, soundtrack options, and boosts in addition to many other smaller improvements make it well worth getting even in its current state.

While Square Enix should've released them on consoles from the start, the new features and options definitely make the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series on PS5 worth grabbing as a bundle. It isn't perfect thanks to the scrolling issues, but everything else is excellent.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is another excellent Capcom collection on Nintendo Switch, and one that delivers in spades for newcomers to this series. While it has a few issues in its current state, Capcom did a lot more than I expected to make Mega Man Battle Network accessible and awesome on Nintendo Switch.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection on PC and Steam Deck is one of Capcom's best collections despite the few issues in its current state. Even for newcomers, this is an easy recommendation.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection on PC and Steam Deck is one of Capcom's best collections despite the few issues in its current state. Even for newcomers, this is an easy recommendation.

Guilty Gear Strive on Xbox Series X is superb. The game itself is even better now than it was at launch, and is my favorite fighting game on Xbox by a big margin. If you skipped Strive back in 2021, there has never been a better time to play one of the best of the best.

NeverAwake is a game that feels perfect for short sessions on Switch. The visuals are a bit blurry on Nintendo’s hybrid console, but the cutbacks are all justified thanks to the gameplay being responsive across the board. While I didn’t care for some parts of certain levels, NeverAwake is an essential if you like twin-stick shooters, and a game I see myself coming back to very often.

In its current state, Breakers Collection has improved over its launch version with updates, but it might be a hard sell for many at its asking price. I liked it enough on Switch and PS5 both offline and online to buy it on Steam so that I can also play it on Steam Deck. While I wasn’t familiar with QUByte’s releases before Breakers Collection, this release has made me a fan, and I hope to see the developer tackle more games likes this in the future.

Front Mission 1st Remake is an easy recommendation as of today. I liked it at launch, but the updates have made it better, and there’s even a free demo if you aren’t sure about the genre or game. While the Switch is no stranger to quality tactical RPGs, I’m glad that I finally got to play Front Mission through Front Mission 1st Remake. I’m looking forward to getting a copy of the physical release in the future, and also playing Front Mission 2 Remake this June.

ONI: Road to be the Mightiest Oni’s gameplay and structure perfectly suit portable play, which makes the Switch version’s current state even more disappointing. Right now, I’d recommend it on another platform assuming those versions run better. This adventure game has a lot of soul and potential, but it is held back by a lackluster Switch port. The aesthetic does look great on the OLED screen, but everything else holds it back from being an easy recommendation.

Void Terrarium 2 is an easy recommendation if you want a quality mystery dungeon experience that blends some simulation elements on Nintendo Switch. I’m disappointed that it still has similar performance issues as the first game, but the rest of the experience has been improved quite a bit. If you did play the original recently, this might feel a bit too similar though. I hope a potential third entry dramatically overhauls the setting so it can stand on its own.

I’ve been playing Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star every few days since launch, and the final game sadly lacks the content and variety in its current state to justify the asking price. It has a lot of potential, but needs a content update and an option to play with Japanese voices to be an easy recommendation even for fans of prior Fitness Boxing games.

I'm glad M2 was the one handling Assault Suits Valken Declassified, but it feels a bit lacking compared to the developer's other re-issues on modern platforms. I still enjoyed my time with it as someone who never played it, and retro mecha action game fans will find a lot to like here.

Atelier Ryza 3 is a more-ambitious take on the formula that builds on prior games in almost every way. While this has led to it being rough around the edges technically, Atelier Ryza 3 is an excellent RPG on both Switch and PS5, and a lovely finale for Ryza.

Atelier Ryza 3 is Gust's most ambitious game, and a fitting finale for Ryza. Gust and Koei Tecmo have delivered better visuals and performance over the console versions on PC, but Ryza 3 unfortunately has some issues on Steam Deck at launch.

Resident Evil 4 Remake is an incredible reimagining of a classic. The stellar pacing, memorable characters, and monsters aplenty combine with sublime gameplay and superlative visuals to make it absolutely essential.

Out Zone is fast paced and a lot of fun. Out Zone is also the only game in this set to be Steam Deck Verified by Valve. I ended up using some assists and enabling the hitbox while practicing Out Zone.

While it is quite difficult, it has a lot going for it with its visuals, and it makes me more excited to try out more Toaplan games when BitWave Games releases them on PC platforms in the future. I did run into some audio issues with this release when I resumed after rewinding a bit.

Once the video options issue and the Japanese game version bug are addressed, it will be easier to recommend this release. Remote Play Together didn’t work for me on either device in Twin Cobra as of this writing.

Ib is an unsettling, creepy, and incredible experience on Nintendo Switch. It has excellent music, great art, and an amazing narrative through its multiple endings. If you enjoy exploration, horror, and 2D adventure games, you need to play this.

Just like Trails from Zero, The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure on Nintendo Switch is the gold standard of how an older game should be brought to Nintendo Switch. The improvements and upgrades over the PS4 version are massive, and PH3 took things a step further to even add options we'd usually see only in a PC release. The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero to Azure is an essential duology for every RPG fan on Nintendo Switch.

Digimon World: Next Order isn't for everyone, and it might even disappoint Digimon fans hoping for another Cyber Sleuth, but it delivers for Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck owners who wanted a simulation RPG to play on the go. The asking price is a bit too high though for a re-release like this.

Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is another fantastic game from Square Enix, and an essential for fans of mystery, horror, and adventure games. It feels great to play on both Switch and Steam Deck. I want to see more releases like Paranormasight and The Centennial Case from the publisher.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero to Azure is one of the best duologies I've experienced in any medium. If you enjoy JRPGs with amazing stories, fantastic music, and brilliant characters, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not playing both Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is an accessible and gorgeous way for newer fans of one of Nintendo's best franchises to check out a great 2D platformer. While online multiplayer would've been great in the main campaign, it is packed with tons of extras and replay value making it an easy recommendation if you've not played it before.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty excels thanks to its combat and dark fantasy Three Kingdoms setting. Even though I loved Nioh 2, I'm glad to see Team Ninja do something different here while retaining the challenge you'd expect from the developer's masocore games. Hopefully the PC port can be improved after some updates.

Grim Guardians: Demon Purge is one of Inti Creates' better releases, and it feels great to play on both Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. The 2D action adventure also works well with Steam Remote Play Together for co-op.

Grim Guardians: Demon Purge on PS5 is worth your time if you're a fan of Castlevania, and enjoy Inti Creates' signature gameplay. It also supports 120hz and PS5 Activity Cards on the system with near instant load times.

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is one of the best dungeon RPGs ever. The wait for it to hit the West has been long, but NIS America has made it absolutely worth it. Despite two technical issues on Nintendo Switch, this is an easy recommendation for fans of the genre, and a brilliant addition to the console's library alongside Undernauts and Stranger of Sword City.

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is the ultimate version of one of Square Enix's best franchises. It goes above and beyond with its fanservice, gameplay, and superlative selection of music from most of the publisher's best games. While it isn't flawless, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line gets my highest possible recommendation if you enjoy rhythm games and Final Fantasy.

Like a Dragon: Ishin sees the historical adventure spin-off from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio finally released in the West, and the wait has been worth it despite some technical issues. The story, characters, and superlative voice acting make this an easy recommendation if you're a fan of the series.

Metroid Prime Remastered is a fantastic release in every way. It feels amazing to play and looks brilliant. We've seen many classics brought to modern systems with varying results, but Metroid Prime Remastered is sublime and a must-play for every Nintendo Switch owner.

Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection is an excellent package bringing multiple versions of six games, nice extras, improvements, and more together to be the most complete collection possible right now. While it is unfortunate for owners of the previous collection, newcomers will find a lot to love here, and Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection is one of the better retro collections available on Nintendo Switch today.

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is one of NIS' best games ever. If you've wanted a dungeon RPG with an excellent story and tons of depth, this is it. I was surprised at how well it built on the base laid by the first game, and it continued to surprise me the more I played. On the PC side, it also looks and plays great even on Steam Deck out of the box.

Fire Emblem Engage is one of Nintendo's best games in years, and a much more polished release than Fire Emblem: Three Houses which I loved. While it suffers in its story compared to recent releases, it is still an essential for tactical RPG fans. It also happens to be a gorgeous game that shines on the OLED Switch display.

There's a lot to love about Forspoken despite its technical issues. It makes up for that with great traversal, a fantastic DualSense implementation, and solid storytelling. It might not be for everyone, but I enjoyed my time in Athia and will be checking out the story DLC when it launches in the future.

Hi Fi Rush is a phenomenal experience from start to finish with fantastic characters, sublime music, gorgeous visuals, great voice acting, and superlative gameplay. It is essential if you enjoy action and rhythm games.

Raiden IV x Mikado Remix on PS5 and Xbox Series X is worth it for its brilliant new music option, multiple game modes, and smooth gameplay. The only downside is there not being much value here for those who already own a previous version of Raiden IV on another platform.

Sisters Vs Sisters on PC is improved over the PS5 version even on Steam Deck despite a bare-bones port. While it isn't a massive leap for the franchise, it is one of the better entries despite its issues.

The wait for Drainus from Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth developer Team Ladybug on Nintendo Switch was long, but absolutely worth it. The Switch arrives with all post-launch updates from the start, and it is an excellent conversion that looks and plays brilliantly on Nintendo's hybrid system. This is one of the best modern shoot 'em ups, and a perfect fit for the Switch library.

Dragon Quest Treasures feels like a long-lost 3DS gem brought to Nintendo Switch. It has all the charm from an older Dragon Quest game, and is one of the better Switch exclusive of 2022. While the core gameplay loop might not be for everyone, I enjoyed it a lot. I just wish the technical aspects of the game were a bit better.

Persona 4 Golden is a masterpiece and one of the best JRPGs ever. If you've waited for a competent version of Persona 4 Golden on PS4, your wait has been worth it, but Atlus should've done more for those playing on PS5 and PS4 Pro.

Persona 4 Golden on Nintendo Switch feels perfect. Having now played this new version on all platforms, the Nintendo Switch version is the one I'd recommend above all for the system's hybrid nature, and because Atlus has done a fantastic job with this port bringing one of the best JRPGs of all time to a new audience. Hopefully it gets a physical release in the future.

My issues with Persona 3 Portable itself aside, the new PC port is excellent. It scales across different hardware well, runs well and looks good on Steam Deck, and arrives without the issues P4G had at launch on PC. It is disappointing that after all these years Persona 3's arrival on modern platforms isn't a complete remake, but it is hard to argue with the value P3P provides at its low asking price right now.

Persona 3 Portable on Nintendo Switch is an excellent conversion of one of Atlus' best PSP games. While it still has the flaws present in the original Persona 3 Portable release, I'm glad to see Atlus make this more accessible, and it is an easy recommendation thanks to the low asking price on Nintendo Switch. Hopefully Atlus does a physical release for Persona 3 Portable on Switch in the future.

Monster Hunter Rise on PS5 is brilliant with its excellent performance, visual options, PS5 features like Activity Cards, gyro support, and the inclusion of new feature updates and event quests available from the start. The only disappointment is Sunbreak not being available until this spring.

If you were afraid of One Piece Odyssey being a typical anime licensed game trying to cash in on the name, don't be. The combat blends in Monster Hunter Stories 2-like rock paper scissors mechanics, positioning, One Piece abilities, and more with traditional turn-based mechanics to be more interesting than I expected. It looks great and has brilliant music. It has a few pacing issues and too many loading screens holding it back, but is an easy recommendation right now on PC with a good port.

In its current state, Akai Katana Shin is excellent with its superlative gameplay mechanics, but the lack of a tutorial and translation for the game selection hold it back. Hopefully these can be added in by the time it releases for consoles internationally. Right now, it is a joy to play on PC and Steam Deck. 

Cleopatra Fortune S-Tribute brings a home console version of an arcade classic to modern platforms, and it is well worth checking out if you enjoy falling block puzzlers with cute aesthetics. It is disappointing that the Mystery Mode requirements for levels are untranslated though.

Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute is an excellent release for fans of run and gun games with its accessibility options like stage select and rewind options. It also includes the original game accessible from the title screen making this a more compelling package for its asking price. 

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion feels like a blend of a remaster and a remake given how much it has improved, and it perfectly suits portable play. It is a surprisingly great experience on Nintendo Switch in handheld, and is a joy to play even on Steam Deck out of the box. We need more remasters like this from Square Enix in the future.

River City Girls 2 should've been a slam dunk release by building on the excellent original and supporting online multiplayer with cross platform play, but it is held back by the gameplay feeling sluggish compared to the original thanks to a lower frame rate target. The music, voice acting, and boss fights are excellent though. Hopefully the performance can be addressed in future updates.

Pokemon Violet feels like a giant step in the right direction for the franchise in most ways, but also a step back in others. While I still consider Pokemon Legends: Arceus a more polished experience, there is no denying the quality of core gameplay, new mechanics, and music in Pokemon Violet. The whole experience is held back by abysmal performance and poor visuals though.