Nick Shively

“Code Vein II is a game I could gush over for a few more pages, but I think it’s better experienced for yourselves. It’s an objective improvement over the first game in almost every aspect. The world is more fleshed out. The characters are more memorable. The weapon and Blood Code combinations are more interesting. As someone who adored the original, Code Vein II more than exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend it to RPG and Souls-like fans.”

“In the end, Wildgate doesn’t try to hide what it is; what you see is what you get. If the trailer looks exciting to you then it’s really not that expensive to give a try. The PvP content can be quite intense and is really fun with a group of friends, but on the other hand the exploration and PvE combat is pretty shallow.”

“In the end, Fantasian Neo Dimension is an alright JRPG with fun combat that doesn’t quite hit the mark with its story or port on the PC. Despite being somewhat interesting, the story never struck an emotional chord and the awkward dialogue made it difficult to really care about the characters.”

“Overall, Warlander just doesn’t do enough to make it feel special or justify its predatory monetization scheme. The first few matches are fun, but once you run into enemies who are objectively more powerful again and again, the fun begins to fade and there isn’t enough variety to keep things fresh.”

“While it’s clear that Lost Ark isn’t necessarily an ARPG, but rather a traditional Korean MMORPG with an isometric view, Smilegate is very clearly looking to cater to a specific audience. Lost Ark finds itself focused on a never-ending gear treadmill, and it does an extremely good job at it. Unfortunately, casual players who want to explore an interesting world or want diverse or more dynamic content will likely be let down. And while Lost Ark is fun, the arduous leveling process and repetitive endgame will likely lead to polarizing opinions about it, with most players either loving or hating their experience in the end.”

“With that being said, the Prince’s Edition is not the best version of Ni no Kuni II, but it is the most portable. If mobility is key then consider picking it up on the Switch, but if visuals and performance are more important than a significantly better version of the game can be found cheaper elsewhere.”

“Despite the few minor issues with the game, MXM has a lot of unique features that make it worth trying. There's not much to lose, even if you don't decide to stick around, and it could end up being your new favorite MOBA.”

“While I enjoy the slower, peaceful tracks for grinding, there is quite a bit of similarity between many of them, which can make the overall soundtrack feel repetitive. Additionally, the constant 'thud' sound effect from striking enemies is enough to drive anyone mad. I recommend turning the music up and the SFX down, unless you happen to be streaming your own music in the background.”

“While Crush Online attempts to do a lot of things, it doesn’t do any of them particularly well. Combat overall is rather clunky, unresponsive and feels outdated. The PvE zones are bland looking and the PvP combat is repetitive. Given the choice, I’d rather play an actual MMORPG when it comes to PvE or a true MOBA for PvP.”

“So far, Atlas Reactor has delivered a very enjoyable gaming experience, but it has a long way to go.”

“If you enjoy twin-stick shooters and/or action RPGs then you’ll likely enjoy it. For the meager price tag, I definitely recommend picking it up and trying it out.”

“Duelsyt is a digital strategy game perfect for players who are looking for a little more depth and a lot less RNG. Besides the drawing mechanic, there are few aspects of Duelyst that rely on randomness. That, combined with a visible grid, finally grants players the control they've been looking for in a digital strategy CCG.”

“The depth of gameplay and strategy in Spellweaver far surpasses most other digital CCGs on the market.”

“What Blackrock Mountain brings to Hearthstone is a memorable experience, but not much in terms of actual card value. Many of the cards obtained in the adventure are incredibly situational and most likely aren't going to see much play. There was, however, a lot of thought and effort put into designing the boss encounters, and it also allows for some interesting deck constructions in the arena mode.”

“All in all Onigiri is just not a good game. There are really no redeeming qualities unless you really like manga, more than solid gameplay, and enjoy repetitive grinding in uninspired worlds. If you're looking for a manga-inspired game than there are solidly better choices already on the market such as Dragon Nest and Elsword. Neither of those games are perfect either, but at least they're not the crapshoot Onigiri is.”

“While Natural Doctrine does use an innovative combat system and has can be a very enjoyable experience, that feeling of accomplishment is sabotaged just before the game becomes fun. On the positive side of thing, this game doesn't have to be doomed and at its core it has a lot of potential to be great. However, the blatantly unfair AI mechanics in combination with the relatively diluted multiplayer experience really hurts Natural Doctrine in the end.”

“While Deadfall Adventures shares its inspiration with Indiana Jones, it lacks everything that made the movie series special. Instead, it features bland puzzles, basic combat mechanics and many frustrating gameplay issues.”