Allyson Cygan

“undefined.There are a few quality of life improvements for this version, including in-game achievements, ability to make save states, a rewind feature, all in addition to the new localization and port, but those are small things that just allow this game to shine. Milano's Odd Job Collection wasn't localized in the past due to the concept of a cozy game like this being relatively niche in the West, and I feel like this will still be niche to a lot of people, but if you want to try an interesting blast from the past then I'd suggest picking up Milano's Odd Job Collection. It's not for everyone and the theming of being a child playing house would have been maybe more appealing to me when I was a child, but I really liked playing an older game with this much charm. I hope more games like this get a shot on modern consoles. There's a world of interesting niche games out there to discover, and I'm glad I finally discovered Milano's Odd Job Collection.”

“But it doesn't. And this is the biggest issue with this game. Storm Lancers isn't bad, but every element in it has been done better and could be done better. When I saw the trailer come up in the Nintendo Direct I had high hopes it could be a new favorite in a genre I love, but sadly it was just OK.”

“My hesitation is that I think it's about halfway there between being a fun indie shop sim and being an indie game with a message, and I wish they could have pushed their narrative just a bit further to be more memorable. Discounty is still worth playing, but it makes me want to see what the developers can do next. While the ideas and the gameplay are there, there's some untapped potential as well.”

“I don't think that Battle Train is going to hit the same level as some of the greats in the genre, but it's worth playing just the same for fans of deckbuilding roguelikes to see something new and unique being done in that space. It's funny, unique, and really, who doesn't like trains and explosions?”

“These few wishes aside, I really enjoyed my time with Breakout Beyond and I know I"ll return from time to time to play more. While I do wish there were some more modes or options, at the end of the day this shows the simple genius of an arcade classic very well.”

“If any bit of what I've said so far is compelling, please stop reading any content about Urban Myth Dissolution Center and go buy and play this game. It's one of my favorite games of its type, maybe ever, and I am really dying for similar games from this developer. This is a unique, incredibly well made experience that came out of nowhere for me - that might be an urban myth of its own.”

“Ultimately, for having so many mechanics, all of them ended up feeling half-baked. Farmagia in a lot of ways feels like a first draft, and I'd love to see these mechanics pared down and refined in a future game. Farmagia needed a little bit longer to grow, and I hope another game can pay attention to this in the future.”

“Ultimately, Potionomics is a really rewarding and engaging shop simulator with fun characters and an addictive gameplay loop. While I have some misgivings at how the game runs on Switch, this is a very worthy addition to shop running games, and I can see myself returning to Potionomics, if only to hang out with these characters and brew some more potions.”

“Card-en-Ciel's gameplay is incredibly fun, which makes it an easy recommendation for anyone who has liked games like Slay the Spire or Monster Train but wants an anime twist to it. However, if you're looking for a more developed story or characters that go beyond just providing window dressing for the core of the gameplay, I'd advise caution. I really enjoyed my time with Card-en-Ciel, especially for someone who loves that kind of card-based roguelite, but I just wish Inti Creates would give us more from the story and presentation.”

“That all being said, WitchSpring R is an achievement. Coming from a two person development team, this is a labor of love that remade the first game in a mobile gaming series into a hidden gem of an RPG that is well worth your time. I enjoyed every moment I had with WitchSpring R and I'll be keeping an eye out for any other games from Kiwiwalks. This is a really great concept and I hope to see a lot more from this series and this game.”

“There are a lot of little points of frustration which at times made me want to stop playing, but then another piece of the world or another crafting puzzle would bring me back. These pain points are most easily felt early on in the game, which is a shame because I think it will stop a lot of people from playing before they can experience all the delights that Magical Delicacy has to offer. Perhaps this makes Magical Delicacy a particularly apt title - this game is a bit of an acquired taste, but there's nothing quite like it.”

“That all being said, Princess Maker 2 is a game worthy of your time, if you’re interested in gaming history but also if you want something that has held up as being genuinely fun and compelling 30 years later. It’s certainly not for everyone, but as a menu game enthusiast I enjoyed myself thoroughly and will keep playing, if only so I can finally make my character into the Princess the title suggests.”

“That said, Echo Generation is a fun, unique way to spend 8 or so hours, and I don't regret my time with it at all. It's a charming experience full of engaging gameplay and fun secrets to discover, and should a sequel ever come out I'll be first in line to discover those secrets as well.”

“It's about 2-3 hours of gameplay, and while I'm glad this particular case wasn't dragged out longer, I got to the end and just wanted more. Another case, more time with these characters, anything. That said, while I wish we had more Duck Detective, I'm happy that I got to spend time Duck Detecting as it is, and really hope I can get more adventures of Eugene McQuacklin someday.”

“The in-game days are incredibly short and punctuated by time cards that tell you when afternoon and evening start every day, which can be annoying. Half the time I felt like I didn't have enough to do, while the other half I felt like I had far too much to do, and a lot of that was repetitive. That being said, it feels like Before the Green Moon is a fresh take on the farming game genre, and one I am glad I took the time to discover.”

“Overall, while there were some flaws to my time in Terra Memoria, I'm glad I was able to experience this captivating world which was full of great ideas, beautiful art, and an entertaining combat system. Some aspects felt not fully realized, but hopefully this means the developer is just getting started.”

“Ultimately Super Crazy Rhythm Castle is a flawed but interesting game that is wildly creative yet doesn't always live up to its ambitions or other Konami rhythm games. Still, this was a fun experience that I'm glad I was able to try. I'm hoping this game is only the first of more rhythm game experiments by Konami (or other developers!) because I'd love to see this Castle more polished or with a better tracklist.”

“Fashion Dreamer is, I'm sure, something that could appeal to a certain person. If all you're looking for is the freedom to play dress up with thousands of items and create cute outfits, you might want to pick up Fashion Dreamer. However, if you're looking for a satisfying gaming experience, you'll need to keep dreaming.”

“Ultimately, Bilkins' Folly is a game you should definitely pick up if you are an adventure game fan or want to dip your toes into that genre. This is a fun puzzle game with charming writing and great mechanics that feel very satisfying when you figure out. Some solutions may be difficult, so if you don't want to feel frustration you might want to sit this one out. However, if you enjoy puzzle games and are looking for a charming adventure game, I'd recommend Bilkins' Folly.”

“Rune Factory 3 Special isn't going to be for every farming game fan and won't dethrone Stardew Valley as the most popular farming game, but its charming characters and setting make for a very enjoyable experience. I was surprisingly pleased at the quality of the writing and the depth of some of the crafting systems, and those propelled Rune Factory 3 Special forward to make it both relaxing and engaging. This is a worthy addition to the Switch library, and one I might return to in the future, if only to spend some time with some of my new favorite characters.”