Plenty to discover, but tedium sets in quickly, particularly when faced with an abrupt loss of progress
Tales of Hearts R has some fun moments wrapped in a solid battle system, but it’s far from the best Tales adventure
I wish more happened in this episode, but the story is still intriguing and the cliffhanger is shocking
NHL 22 relies on its superstar talent, and it's not impressive enough to give the gameplay the new life it so desperately needs
Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir lets Western audiences experience an adventure game they never could before. The story is engaging for what it is, but its pages are well-worn, and it shows
A Fold Apart is refreshing in its approach to puzzles and how it explores its themes, but it never pushes beyond that into something truly memorable or satisfying
Tokyo Xanadu has its fun and charming moments, but it's brought down by repetitive gameplay and annoying platforming
Above The Law has some interesting plot threads, but didn't leave me on the edge of my seat
Rune Factory 5 is rough around the edges, but I still loved my time with it. Something about how all the parts work together keeps pulling me to it. Even after completing the main story, I’m still playing, as I have recipes I haven’t unlocked, a romantic journey I’m embarking on, and many upgrades I can still do to the town. It has its flaws, but Rune Factory 5’s enchanting loop of constant progression and discovery helps mitigate a lot of these annoyances, so they don’t sting so much.
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town provides a new and entertaining farming adventure, but some design decisions hold it back from becoming a must-play entry
Little Hope tells a hell of a story punctuated by a great twist. Too bad the overall gameplay and exploration don't hold the same allure, bringing down the experience
NHL 21 doesn't feel like a huge leap from last year, but EA Vancouver makes strides in addressing long-known issues and sets a better foundation for the next generation
Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia allows you to see your influence and dominance grow across its vast world, but isn't varied enough to keep you invested
Getting to know your customers is the highlight of Coffee Talk, but some arcs are too cliché
Untitled Goose Game leans into its lighthearted, silly elements, providing plenty of chuckles and capturing the joy of figuring out how to mess with people
NHL 20 gives hockey fans plenty of ways to have fun and invest their time, but there are a few disappointments along the way
The World Ends With You is still an engrossing and unique game, but this port does more to make it worse than better
It delivers bombastic action alongside an engaging collecting and crafting loop. Sadly, the same can't be said for Lara Croft and the overall narrative
While the best moments come when your hand-crafted party combines to defeat a powerful foe, the patience and repetition required becomes frustrating
The season ends with some intriguing and satisfying developments, but just like the rest of the season, it doesn't maintain an even quality throughout