Final Weapon

“The Real Face of a Vtuber is a murder mystery visual novel. In it, you have to find out who murdered the CEO and founder of Lilien Entertainment, a company that manages Kuripa, a VTuber. The narrative is one I enjoyed for the most part, even if I didn't like the ending or how I got to it. The characters are a mixed bag, too, and I enjoyed half but forgot about the rest. I will have to commend the VTubing aspect, which is very well done, and I can only commend everything surrounding it, even if the game as a whole has issues.”

“Dark Auction is a great mystery adventure game just short of being amazing. The story is captivating and explores trauma with a compelling cast of characters and a story full of intrigue and deception. The soundtrack by composers Yuko Komiyama and Tsukasa Masuko is ear-pleasing, and the illustrations by Kohske are expressive and beautiful. The game's inexpressive character models and uncanny images clash with the overall presentation, but there's still a lot of good going for this game.”

“Arknights: Endfield undeniably is a visual masterclass with an easy to learn but fun to master combat system and world to explore. However, it struggles with pacing by throwing tutorial after tutorial at you with its overly complicated base-building and factory mechanics.”

“Code Violet is the worst game I've ever played. The narrative lacks any substance, and all of the characters are devoid of any personality. Further, all of the female characters are written to be mere objects designed for nothing more than sex appeal, which goes double for the protagonist. The gameplay and presentation are also extremely lifeless and boring, with neither having any redeeming qualities. Considering the game is $50, all I can say is this: do not buy this game.”

“Solitary in the Library is an indie horror game with immense passion behind it. Its impressive psychological elements and fully dubbed Japanese voiceover are excellent, offering an atmosphere that will keep you captivated til the end. Some animations and narrative elements could be improved, but in the end, this experimental horror game is worth your time.”

“Dynasty Warriors has always focused on Shu, Wu, Wei, and Jin, but the "Other" factions have always been my favorite. For two decades, I have waited for the chance to join the campaign alongside Zhang Jiao, Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and Lu Bu. Visions of Four Heroes finally gives these characters their own stories, and the "what if" scenarios actually deliver. Omega Force also threw in three new companions, the Bow and Rope Dart as new weapons, and a Training Ground mode that should have been in the base game from the start. At $34.99, this is worth it. If you already love Origins, just buy it.”

“BrokenLore: Unfollow is a short and sweet horror title all about the ills of social media and parasocial relationships. While it doesn't exactly introduce any bold new ideas and the frequency of jumpscares are a bit infuriating, the great portrayal of a theme that has been done to death, unique concepts in the narrative and gameplay, fun exploration, and replayability make it a great time for any fans of the horror genre.”

“Big Hops is an experience rife with frustrating flaws. While it has elements that work well, such as the gameplay mechanics and narrative premise, it is undermined by a lackluster presentation, worlds that feel barren and empty, and numerous technical glitches. Further, because of these problems, I never wanted to find any of the collectibles. At the end of the day, it pales in comparison to other 3D platformers, whether indie or AAA.”

“The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a truly generational game. It improves on all aspects of its predecessor, Breath of the Wild. The narrative balances various tones and progresses the character arcs of its major protagonists, while introducing new and compelling NPCs. Further, the gameplay only enhances one of gaming's greatest sandboxes with a new fantastic line of abilities, activities, dungeons, and boss fights. Everything about Tears of the Kingdom is perfect, and as far as I'm concerned, it's one of the best games I've ever played in my entire life.”

“Despelote is a great autobiographical narrative that will likely strike a chord with you if you grew up watching events such as the World Cup. While the repetitive gameplay and strange controls are frustrating, the presentation, story premise, and charming moments are more than enough to immerse you in a specific and unique era in history. Plus, with the short runtime and small price, if you like short and sweet games and have a passion for football/soccer, then this is a must-buy.”

“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is still a masterpiece, even after eight years. While the shrines, lack of proper dungeons, frustrating difficulty with the DLCs, and odd choices with the Switch 2 version can pull players away from the immersive experience, the narrative, gameplay, extra content, and improved visuals on Switch 2 more than make up for any low points. The legacy of Breath of the Wild has persevered for nearly a decade, and for good reason. If you haven't played it for yourself, then you owe it to yourself to play a genuine contender for one of the best games of all time.”

“As its name implies, Milano's Odd Job Collection is an odd game. On one hand, it succeeds in its goal of localizing a game from 1999 for modern audiences. However, due to its age, certain elements of its design, such as the repetitive gameplay and a lack of variety in extra content, can often create an experience that is more tedious than fun. For only $15, though, and considering its importance in preserving an older title, these issues are somewhat negligible. If you're a fan of life sim games, you will likely get a kick out of this game.”

“Bubble Bobble Sugar Dungeons carries the tried-and-true Bubble Bobble gameplay that fans are familiar with, but the lackluster dungeons and repetitive nature of the game will certainly turn players off. The game lacks a compelling hook with its progression system, and by the time you get to the post-game, you'll likely be exhausted. At the very least, the pack-in Bubble Symphony game is nostalgic and offers a fun arcade experience that lessens the blow of the brutally repetitive main game.”

“UNBEATABLE is a frustrating mess. While there's a great gameplay and narrative premise, it's often undermined by frequent glitches, strange writing, and a focus on random minigames, exploration, and platforming instead of the core rhythm sections. Even if all the bugs are fixed, I struggle to recommend this game for other players”

“Old School Rally is a great arcade-style racing game that has a pleasing PlayStation 1-era aesthetic and fun, addicting gameplay that's easy to pick up and play. The game pays homage to the sport of rally with several unlicensed cars that closely resemble their real-life counterparts, ensuring players aren't missing out on car variety. Although it's not innovative, Old School Rally is a joy to play for racing game fans.”

“Although I wouldn’t say I enjoyed a large portion of the games in this collection, I still think what Simogo has done here is important. Instead of letting its catalogue of games get lost to time, the team has found a way to preserve them for anyone to have access to. Too often, we see games abandoned with no way for them to be recovered or played unless you have access to the original hardware they were created for. How many games were made for mobile or Xbox Live Indie Arcade that are just lost now, either due to licensing issues or their stores closing down? Hopefully, other developers take notice of the work that Simogo has put into preserving its games and put together their own collections in the future.”

“Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE is an action-packed, character-driven RPG that tells the story of Sung Jinwoo as he evolves into a legendary hunter. There are many improvements across the board, including major gameplay tweaks and additions, a more immersive story mode structure, and the removal of gacha mechanics. Fans who have been waiting for a single-player Solo Leveling game finally got it with Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE, despite some of the quality-related flaws that came with the original ARISE.”

“Goodnight Universe is a fantastic take on the "interactive story" genre. It features a beautiful story, a great cast of characters, and a beautiful art style. Even if the gameplay is limited, the few segments that are present only add to the strength of the narrative, as you get to step into the world of a psychically-powered baby and all that entails. At such a small price and with a short runtime, Goodnight Universe is great if you're looking to immerse yourself in a science-fiction look at the wonder of childhood.”

“Kingdoms of the Dump is a wonderful RPG held back by some glaring technical issues. Despite this, it still stands tall among other indie RPG throwbacks over the last decade, deserving the attention of anyone looking for a cozy game to envelop themselves in this Winter.”

“MotionRec is a game that lives and dies on its gameplay mechanics. The concept of being able to record and replay your movements never gets old, partly thanks to the introduction of new gimmicks you encounter throughout your journey. While the game lacks a recognizable soundtrack, memorable levels, and an intriguing narrative, the charming visual style and exciting gameplay more than make up for it. If you're looking for a charming and short puzzle platformer, then MotionRec is definitely worth your time.”