Silent Hope is a great time. The premise is interesting despite not always delivering on it 100%. However, the gameplay loop is engaging with a good amount of depth and planning. Deliberating on how to prepare best and proceed is rewarding. Skill isn't thrown to the wayside for an over-reliance on RNG elements, which is welcome. What you end up getting a neat and fun title to enjoy at your own pace. Although, I do see some getting burned out on the gameplay loop. This game offers a solid foundation for what hopefully branches into a nice Rune Factory side series. Also, you can pet the Story of Seasons cow!
Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is a really cute and simple game. Simply cute! The art, music, and neat characters warm my heart with the essence of the good 'ol days of interestingly fresh RPGs. The game's strengths come from the interweaving of simple mechanics and ideas, while the cracks begin to show when said simplicities are individually scrutinized. This remake is a splendid time if it meets your expectations of a simple and quaint time, but can leave those looking for a richer experience yearning for more.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is an amazing game. It has the mechanical soundness you’d expect from a long-running series while offering S-Rank quality updates to a classic title. What really makes this game sing and come together is the union of the time-proven gameplay and some truly heartfelt themes. Themes of life echo throughout this game. You must nurture your crops, your relationships, your child, and your own self as you journey down the tumultuous yet rewarding road of life. Everything changes. Sometimes those changes are bittersweet. However, if you work hard and open your heart, everything will be alright.
Live A Live is a timeless classic in my eyes. It’s as innovative and interesting as many of the genre juggernauts. Get sucked in and invested in stories that span generations and genres. An awesome premise is tied together with fun gameplay and the wonderful HD-2D art style. Personal taste can determine whether or not you enjoy a certain chapter’s gimmicks, however the bite-size of the chapters guarantee you won’t be unsatisfied for long. The PS5 version is the best console version of the game featuring high-resolution visuals and smooth 60fps gameplay. Yes, that makes a stark difference as everything looks crisp and feels sublime. The PC port is of course variable depending on your hardware, meaning that it could fall in line with the Nintendo Switch version or exceed the PS5 version. The PS4 version still boasts superior framerates and resolution to the Switch version, as well.
Trinity Trigger is a simple game with a simple goal: Recreate the feeling of classic 90s RPGs. It's simple, for better and for worse. Level design, presentation, and ambition mostly suffer. However, the simplicity makes the gameplay and story really satisfying in a familiar way. In such a way that feels like catching up with an old friend. It's familiar but some things are new and different. You get a rush of nostalgia and pure enjoyment during your journey through Trinitia.
The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series is a great set of remasters. They strongly preserve the 35-year-long legacy of Final Fantasy with resounding success. These remasters elicit the retro feel of these classic games while providing a bevy of accessibility options and extras. The new Boosters and font that were specially made for the console releases of these games are welcome additions especially. Extra content from prior releases may be missing, but the beautiful re-arranged soundtracks, Quality of Life features, and vibrant redrawn graphics do an excellent job of making up for the loss of admittedly mediocre, tacked-on content. Even underneath the modern bells, whistles, and shinier coat of paint, these are still the classic games you know and love; retaining their classic charm and flaws. As individual games, your mileage may vary, but as a retro collection, you can’t go much higher. What could go lower, however, is the price.
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection preserves the legacy of this Mega Man series well. These classic games still hold up and this collection keeps every aspect of the games intact; even if some of those aspects haven't aged well. Oodles of extras tie it all together to make a fine addition to any Mega Man fan's collection!
Atelier Ryza 3 takes everything that makes the prior games great and attempts to improve, and improve it does! The new elements mix with the old to make an addicting and refined concoction. Everything from Exploration to Combat to Synthesis has been polished to a mirror sheen. Atelier Ryza 3 looks back respectfully while taking a confident step forward.
Theatrhytm Final Bar Line is a fun time with amazing music and thoughtful options. The accessibility in the game truly allows Final Bar Line to excel above its predecessors. Final Bar Line is a celebration of the grand Final Fantasy series, with hundreds of songs to relive the dozens of adventures throughout the series. If you're looking for a content-filled rhythm game, look no further than this fantastic title!
A great remaster that improves everything, leaving nary a reason to go back. Some of the ancient PSP dust does show up due to an outdated skeleton and presentation. The story and characters are still great in my eyes and even holds a firm candle to FINAL FANTASY VII Remake. I’m grateful for this Reunion and cherished my time with it as I did the original.