Niche Gamer
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It isn’t the biggest or the best game I’ve played all year, but Immortals of Aveum has been one of the most fun experiences I’ve had. If I had any real complaints, it’s that the story continually urges the player forward without any assurance that you’ll have time to explore later.
At the price point, it is worth picking up, but if you have a tight wallet and want a game with a ton of hours of gameplay, then it is better to wait until it goes on sale. Unless you hate puzzle games, you will most likely enjoy this game and enjoy the variety of puzzles.
Whether or not Quake II‘s ties to the original are somewhat loose doesn’t really matter. It might only carry the Quake name for marketing purposes, but that could have also influenced fans’ expectations. At its core, Quake II is more aggressive, faster, and larger in scale than its predecessor. It doesn’t replace the original; instead, it confidently stands beside it.
Overall, Eternal Return is a very unique battle royale; it has a lot of good ideas and fantastic characters with really diverse playstyles, but still falls for some of the trappings that other games from the genre do, especially when it comes to matchmaking.
Ultimately, Baldur’s Gate 3 is virtually everything I’d want out of a tactical RPG. Like the Divinity series it ditched the live-combat in favor of more interactive tactical combat, it remains rooted firmly in the lore of Forgotten Realms, and it’s not afraid to be gritty with its depictions of violence, dark magic, and the brutality of life in the near lawless life of a fantasy adventurer.
Pikmin 4 is an enchanting and expansive adventure, perfect for kids and kids-at-heart alike. It sets the bar high for young players, offering an easy-to-learn gameplay experience that promises endless fun. Like most good Nintendo games, it backloads the substantially challenging content after the credits, but even before that, gamers are going to have a fun time getting to that point.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons lives up to the legacy of its predecessor, Double Dragon: Neon, while offering a unique and captivating experience. While it may lack the bold and bombastic soundtrack of Neon, Rise of the Dragons compensates with incredibly varied gameplay that keeps players hooked.
Ultimately, Arcadian Atlas is an RPG with an exciting and dramatic story, strategic gameplay, and a fantastic soundtrack; though a lack of polish and quality of life features sometimes breaks the nostalgic illusion.
The game has potential, but there are quite a few things that need to be fixed before we can recommend it. If AEW plans to release a game each year or every few years, they might want to consider a new developer or a co-developer because the overall graphics are a bit lacking. At the price point, we can’t recommend you rush out to buy it; picking it up when it is on sale might be the best route to go.
A morbid reward awaits the gamers who persevere. In the face of such adversity, within a devilish allure emerges a dark humor that grins from the corners of this bizarre game. Even moments of drunken stumbling and unfettered puking can take on a certain charm, a testament to the unapologetic absurdity that thrives within Ed-0: Zombie Uprising.
Overall, Superhot VR is a really good way to experience the game, possibly better than the original, but it bothers me that it was censored so long after it came out. A toggle that allowed players to avoid sensitive content already existed, so it’s unnecessary to remove the graphic content from the game entirely.
If you like Game of Thrones-style intrigue and drama, you will like Final Fantasy XVI. It takes itself very seriously and lacks any fun diversions to mix up the experience. Final Fantasy XVI delivers a truly Westernized take on Final Fantasy with simplistic hack-and-slash combat that will appease average gamers.
All in all, I like Omega Strikers. I wish it would let me unlock characters faster and let me play against humans, but maybe it’s a good thing, as I can continuously inflate my ego dunking on bots that are just stumbling around the field.
If you enjoy multiplayer battle arenas and are a fan of Crash Bandicoot, then Crash Team Rumble is a game you will most likely enjoy; if you like an occasional multiplayer match-up, CTR can be a fun game to play but there are a variety of other options. Achievement hunters should pick up Crash Team Rumble because the achievements are fairly easy to earn and you can have fun doing so.
Overall, I think I enjoyed my time with Exoprimal. I still don’t like the more live service-y things it has, and sometimes it felt like my enjoyment was in the hands of others, but I can’t say I hate it. It’s a game I’ll play every once in a while, but it doesn’t get me hooked for long periods of time.
Overall, Remnant 2 is more of the same, which is not bad if you just want more Remnant. It follows the first game’s formula pretty closely, and despite not having any groundbreaking changes, it manages to be a fun experience with some rough spots here and there.
If you’re after a grueling challenge then this might not be the game for you, but with a fun and campy plot, enough mechanics that the game requires some thought, you’ll probably have fun whether you’re new to the genre or a city building veteran looking for something a little more relaxing.
LISA: Definitive Edition is a harrowing odyssey that plunges you headfirst into the fevered mind of Brad, as he battles inner demons and outer monstrosities with equal ferocity. While Buddy’s story is unnecessary, it is fascinating to witness a more profound execution of the themes explored in The Last of Us Part II.
Pikmin 1+2 is close to being the definitive way to experience these games before playing the second and third sequels. The low-effort porting of these games is a letdown, but the core games are wonderful and are faithfully converted to run on a reliable and widely available console.
So in closing, Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is a definite must-play if you are a mediocre fan of open world gathering RPG type games, which if you’ve ever played any of the Atelier games, they are that and much more in spades in most cases. The shorter campaign in this one might turn some folks off who are looking for a game to sink hundreds of hours into, which realistically you can in this one, but grinding is boring, let’s get real here.