It's Spring Again works wonderfully for what it is, but doesn't leave much reason to keep coming back after viewing it a few times, as it feels like a cute cardboard book from a thrift store. Children may find it wildly engrossing at first, but their elation will probably wear off as time goes on. Still, for an educational game, this is a nice treat for youngsters, especially those who aren't ready to start slaying dragons and saving kingdoms.
Obduction is a niche title, and not everyone will enjoy it. It's beautiful, the story is engaging, and the voice-acting is absolutely top notch, but the puzzles are often pedantic and may push some players, and even adventure fans, away. However, if you can enjoy the puzzle structure, and get past the annoying load times that sometimes crop up, this is tremendously fun and well worth the price of admission.
Tahira: Echoes of the Astral Empire is a niche title. It is for the people who enjoy learning deep systems, aren't too hung up on narrative imperfections, and want to unleash some justice. This will clearly not appeal to everyone, and many will find the barrier of entry simply not worth for what waits beyond. As for the rest, here lies an interesting and compelling tactical RPG, if there ever was one.
Adventure Lamp isn't bad, it's just not adding anything of value to the genre. With wildly inconsistent difficulty, throwaway mechanics, and a lack of anything to lose, failure really doesn't feel personal. That's because it doesn't have enough payoff from overcoming its trials to really feel like you accomplished anything. That being said, it's still a fun game, and one that should not be overlooked. Just be careful where your expectations are set.
Tempest is enjoyable… for what it's worth. There are some issues that just feel like weird game design, but even though it's not perfect, it's still really exciting to manage every facet of your war vessel. It makes it feel like every victory was truly yours. It is clearly a war machine with some blemishes, but she's mighty fun to pilot.
140 is a charming, difficult, and incredibly short experience that manages to be both sadistic and inviting the entire time it's on. While it may not last too long, it's still a game any platformer or music fan should invest their time into. While a true platforming juggernaut could finish everything in the game in a few hours, it's the only experience like it, and it's one of the best rhythm platformers ever made.
Clustertruck is an endorphin rush. While some of the rules at play feel too erratic and the visuals aren't quite the most exciting thing in the world, it seems almost frugal complaining about it. It's not really the point. The point is you have stepped into a traffic jam turned maelstrom, and it's fun to mess around in it.
Sure, the title is long and the gameplay takes a bit to get used to, but this is a unique smaller experience that could fit into short breaks from the rest of life. Make no mistake, it's not the most inviting game, but it does make you feel like you are part of an exclusive club. An exclusive club that fought the base controls and found a fun little title hiding behind them.
THOTH seems almost upset you've come to see what lies in its depths. While it excels at creating tension and feelings of uneasiness, it occasionally feels like it was left unfinished on purpose, like it was meant to make you feel abandoned upon. This may be enough to turn away a lot of players, but still it's hard to match the feeling of dread as an empty vessel of your former foe hunts you down faster and harder than before. Non-shmups fans should pass by this gem, but be forewarned, because it seems at times, THOTH can't wait to see you fail.
Despite too much emphasis on the story to the point of feeling like a movie, Journey to Kreisia is a beautiful love letter to the JRPGs of old. If you're tired of riding the nostalgia train, there's nothing here to rope you back in—but there's plenty for those who want to explore the wonders of an old-school RPG.
Birthdays the Beginning is highly recommendable as both edutainment and a god game. There are little issues that crop up that are annoying, but all in all, it's a great experience. There's a breadth of life to be created here, as long as you're going for what the game wants.
Oh...Sir!! The Insult Simulator is a great little party game that also manages to hold the attention of players who may be by themselves. Unfortunately, as one of the game's trophies puts it very plainly, there's not enough to justify playing the game for extended periods of time. This is definitely best enjoyed in short bursts, otherwise it runs stale alarmingly quick.
Beholder doesn't hold your hand, because the things you're doing could be considered heinous, or even uplifting; it's entirely up to you. This level of freedom is often teased, but not met. While there are issues that drag the game backwards, players should seek to overcome them, because this is a truly bleak world, and it has no problem letting you know it.
Sceal is, in term of narrative driven games, a must-have. It comes with considerable baggage, but at the end, it's clearly worth the time spent. Again, if too much story and very little gameplay sounds like a big flaw, steer clear. As for everyone else, there's something incredibly unique to be found here.
For fans of getting together and playing with friends in the same room, Sombrero: Spaghetti Western Mayhem scratches an itch, but never really makes the itch go away. Even if none of the minor issues were present, there's still not enough content to justify sinking a lot of time into this. With more to do, this could be a must have, but right now, it's just not there.
Lara Croft Go is an exciting entry in the series, with obvious blemishes. They don't outweigh the good stuff, but they do prevent it from being as good, which is a shame, because it's one of the best puzzle games of 2016, and it could be argued it's the best on the PS Vita this year. Still, with long load times and testy controls, it feels like the price of entry to this deep and exciting puzzle title could be a bit too high to call it a must-have title for anyone who hasn't experienced Square Enix's Go franchise just yet.
Phoning Home doesn't seem to want to be the flashiest of the survival genre. Instead, it seems to want to be the most accessible and the strongest. While it doesn't always succeed, it hits enough of the right notes to be both a recommendation and a surprisingly unique member of the survival genre. With a bit of polish, it could easily be one of the best.
Save the Ninja Clan is a solid platformer that might be a bit overzealous in the difficulty department, and may not be the prettiest thing you've ever seen. Still, it's a good way to spend your time, and while it may not feel fresh, it definitely feels complete. While it feels like a fairly typical platforming experience, it's a great experience nonetheless.
Toukiden 2 has a rough start, but manages to pick it up and be a solid member of the monster hunting community. It will manage to hook you in, with its engaging world and simple crafting system. Unfortunately, it might lose you to the weird and often dense AI, and the unimpressive story.
Old Time Hockey might not have the ease of entry to attract new players to the sports genre, but it will definitely make fans happy. While its barrier of entry is high, the rewards are a game that delivers enough charm and intrigue to keep you coming back for more punishment. Worst case scenario, put ice on your lip, and get back out on the rink.