Jason Hidalgo

“My Hero Academia: All’s Justice puts not one but a bazillion feathers in the One Justice fighting game series’ cap as it bids adieu. This includes a sizable roster plus various modes to keep players entertained as they go about their superhero business. The storytelling can feel a bit disjointed and the fighting isn’t as polished as the heavy hitters of the genre. For folks who like a simple, action-packed experience filled to the brim with their favorite My Hero Academia characters, however, All’s Justice understood its assignment.”

“Pokemon Friends is a game that had great potential as a fun and educational game for children thanks to its cute Pokemon plushies and puzzles. Its use of gacha game mechanics combined with DLC and microtransactions, however, raise concerns — especially in the mobile version. Granted, the gacha mechanics are mild compared to some of the more egregious offenders out there. I’m just not comfortable seeing gacha mechanics in Pokemon Friends, particularly for a game that’s aimed toward families. After playing the excellent Donkey Kong Bananza, Pokemon Friends feels a bit like a letdown.”

“Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a fun little introduction to the industry’s newest console, complete with a selection of mini-games plus trivia that helps users get to know their new system better. It would have been nice if it was included as a free game with every Switch purchase as it gives off the vibes of a pack-in game. The included mini-games can also be hit or miss while the heavy use of trivia can wear out its welcome after a while. It’s undoubtedly a great demonstration of what the Switch 2 can do. At the same time, charging for it means some folks will also have to decide whether to spend $10 on Welcome Tour or use that to make up for Mario Kart World’s higher price instead.”

““Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” is a great reimagining of the classic Fatal Fury formula for modern audiences, with fun fighting action plus more accessible options for newcomers and casual players. The Episodes of South Town Mode can feel like a slog after a while and the first two guest character choices are questionable. The fighting itself, however, is nice and tight with solid mechanics and plenty of styles to choose from. It’s great for veterans and more casual players alike.”

“Atelier Yumia represents an evolution for the series, which makes some pretty big changes — literally and figuratively — to its world design and combat. The game doubles down further on the open world introduced by Atelier Ryza 3 while also moving the pendulum further toward action for its combat. Not everyone will be happy with the changes. Folks who want to see something different and fresh with the longtime JRPG series, however, just might find Atelier Yumia to be the ideal alchemical romance.”

“If you’re looking for the technical depth of a Street Fighter or a Virtua Fighter, this is not the game for you. Instead, what “Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero” does is serve up a fun fighting game that emulates the over-the-top action of Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus. In that sense, the game is akin to a wish come true for fans after amassing seven Dragon Balls in their hands.”

“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake is a faithful re-imagining of the classic game with several new bells and whistles to make it more interesting for modern audiences. The remake might be faithful to a fault as some of the mechanics can feel dated at this point. The AI for battles could also use some improvement. With more than 1,000 playable officers and a plethora of roles for players to assume, however, ROTK 8 Remake boasts plenty of replayability. If you loved the original or are pining for some classic ROTK gameplay, this is one romance that isn’t bad at all.”

“Like its mischievous protagonist, “Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town” is a surprisingly complex game. And by that, I don’t mean its mechanics. After all, the gameplay in “Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town” is about as simple as it gets. Instead, it’s the little details where the game pleasantly surprises. In that sense, “Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town” is very Crayon Shin-chan-like. It might seem shallow at first. But give it a closer look and there’s some depth behind that butt-walking move that he loves to whip out.”

“Does the thought of a robotic buffet whet your otaku appetite? Gundam Breaker 4 boasts a massive collection of mechs from the popular series for players to collect, customize and battle with until your appetite is satiated. Its visuals and story are so-so and the combat can be a bit repetitive. The customization, however, is quite deep and can keep folks occupied for hours upon hours. While the game isn’t for everyone, Gundam Breaker 4 will definitely scratch the itch of fans of the popular robot franchise.”

“Spy x Anya: Operation Memories is a game that’s definitely targeted at the series’ fans. The slice-of-life family outings and mini-games won’t be enough to engage games unfamiliar with the manga or anime and their story. For folks who feel like the best part of waking is having more servings of the Forger family in their cup, however, Spy x Anya: Operation Memories basically means more Spy x Family to enjoy.”

“Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless is a much welcome addition to the long-running franchise, polishing up some of the new but at times shaky concepts from its predecessor while also paying homage to some of the classic stuff that made the series great. The 3D models, while still a work in progress, have gotten better and the soundtrack is among the best in the series. If you love tactical RPGs and the anime-inspired art style, Disgaea 7 is a great addition to your gaming library.”

“Crymachina is a game with a cool concept and engaging story that starts out quite promising. Its interesting narrative and solid combat, however, is ultimately tempered by its linear dungeon design and repetitive gameplay. It’s not a bad game, though, and is actually quite fun when it’s hitting on all cylinders. In fact, some might find it worth playing for its world building alone.”

“Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten is a tale of two games. The storytelling remains a strong point and is what keeps you playing. The combat, however, is a bit vanilla and the exploration drags the overall experience down. Fans of the series will still want to play it for the story, characters and world building. Newcomers, however, might feel differently.”

“Star Ocean: The Second Story R takes a beloved classic and makes it even better with visual, audio and gameplay improvements while still keeping the spirit of the original. Some of the quality of life changes can take away the sense of discovery from the original and also make it easier to break the game. Overall, though, the changes make an already great game even better while bringing it back and remaking it for a new generation. It’s the definitive version of Star Ocean: The Second Story for sure.”

“Everybody 1-2 Switch! is a party game with promise that’s ultimately brought down by uneven execution. It has some fun games such as Hip Bump but falls short otherwise due to the bulk of its games being centered around mundane tasks. It can still be fun as a family game played with little kids. For teens and adults, however, the gameplay likely isn’t compelling enough to hold their attention for an extended amount of time.”

“With a “yuge” playable cast and homages aplenty to past games, Trails Into Reverie represents a love letter to fans of the Trails series. Admittedly, the large cast can be a bit challenging to manage and the decision to split the story into three playable parts also makes the game feel less cohesive. It also isn’t the most newcomer friendly game and is better enjoyed by those who have played the previous games. The combat, however, remains a great example of classic turn-based battling and the production values are also quite improved. It’s a nice bookend to the Crossbell and Erebonia arcs overall.”

“R-Type Final 3 Evolved is a solid take on the classic, side-scrolling shmup formula popularized by games such as Gradius and the old R-Type games. Admittedly, the naming is a bit confusing as this is essentially an expanded version of R-Type Final 2 as opposed to a new sequel. This makes it great for folks who don’t own the previous game but a bit of a pricey proposition for players who already paid for R-Type Final 2. It would have been nice to give such players the option to just get the seven new stages via DLC instead of having to re-buy a whole new version of the game again.”

“Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord is a spinoff that’s a bit of an odd duck in the Fairy Fencer F series. It tries to do some things differently by opting for a completely different battle system. At the same time, it doesn’t continue the story of the previous games and essentially does a creative retelling of the already existing narrative instead. The result is a game that will likely confuse series fans and newcomers alike. It’s a shame as Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force already did a great job in retelling the first game. For fans looking for a true sequel, however, they’ll just have to wait for now.”

“Monster Menu: The Scavenger’s Cookbook is a game with a brilliant recipe that falls a bit short due to a lack of ingredients. The idea of a roguelike tactical RPG based on cooking is certainly an intriguing one, especially the concept of being able to devour friend and foe alike. Unfortunately, the absence of a compelling story as well as the game’s repetitive levels and foes leave Monster Menu tasting somewhat undercooked. It’s not bad but it isn’t a dish that will be suitable for everyone either.”

“Dom Toretto famously said “I don't have friends, I have family” in the Fast and Furious movies. Apparently, Toretto has never played Dokapon Kingdom: Connect with family members. Cutthroat trolling returns in this remaster of the classic party game from 2007 as you sabotage former friends and family members on your way to the top. Dokapon Kingdom: Connect extends the party from your couch to online as well with new online play. Solo play remains a bit boring and the visuals are admittedly looking a bit dated. Get several folks together, however, and you’ll be set for hours of plotting, conniving and backstabbing. Machiavelli would be proud.”