Cameron Hawkins

“The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie is not your average game; near decades of world-building, character arcs, and detailed lore have led to this culmination. The franchise isn’t perfect, but this series is wholly one-of-a-kind. It is a monolith that should be recognized alongside icons like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, and Persona. The details of the continent of Zemuria are unlike anything else I have experienced in gaming, and its cast now has several of my favorite characters in the medium. Reverie has the intimidating task of closing the page on three arcs that expanded across almost twenty years of characters and storytelling. Even if the narrative in this chapter falls short compared to past entries, it still stands above most other games in the genre. If Trails into Reverie is the last time we see most of these beloved characters, it serves as a terrific send-off.”

“Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is a shining blueprint of how to do a crossover right, celebrating Castlevania's history while mixing it with Dead Cells’ own identity to make something that’s more than the sum of its already excellent parts.”

“Soul Hackers 2 is an entertaining Atlus JRPG, if also one that doesn't do much to stand out.”

“Monark has some good ideas on how to reinvigorate tactical JPRG combat but its repetitive level design makes it feel more like a prototype.”

“Astria Ascending attracts you with its art, keeps you interested with its combat, but may lose you entirely due to its bland story full of annoying difficulty spikes.”

“Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition still rocks years later with little change to what made it great in the first place.”

“Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a wonderful catalog of some of gaming's best music, but it fails to inform new players about what makes the franchise special.”

“In Disc Room you will die, die, and die some more by...discs...in a room...all while showcasing fantastic and addicting gameplay.”

“Spiritfarer is a beautifully crafted, memorable experience that focuses on the dead trying to find peace upon heading into the afterlife.”

“With fresh combat mechanics, plenty of features, and a ton of replayability, Panzer Paladin is the latest great retro-action platformer that is worth your time.”

“SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is a nostalgia-filled time machine that brings back the golden age of the license while adding a fresh coat of paint.”

“Disintegration falls short due to a generic campaign despite having some of my favorite multiplayer gameplay in recent memory.”

“If Found... is a creative telling of a queer woman learning about herself and teaching others to accept her for who she is.”

“Kentucky Route Zero is a one of a kind storytelling experience, but I'm not entirely sure what story it is trying to tell.”

“Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is a one-of-a-kind JRPG that has found a new home on the Nintendo Switch.”

“The latest entry in the Mario & Sonic franchise is a complete package in the party game genre offering a fun single-player mode along with a cascade of engaging Olympic sports to compete in alone or with friends.”

“With an enriching story, characters, and scenery, Indivisible is a spectacle and one of the best action platformers I've ever played.”

“Police Stories is a short-lived yet engaging tactical shooter that can be played with or without a friend.”

“Borderlands 3 comes with great growth in gameplay, but a safe story that had the opportunity for so much more.”