Dom Kim
The Ringed City is an incredible end to an incredible series.
We Are The Caretakers is noble in spirit but poor in execution.
MidBoss struggles to be an engaging experience.
Despite a promising start, Robotherapy finishes as a tepid experience.
Those desperate for something similar to Bloodborne might find Thymesia worthwhile, but it does little for those looking for a genuinely good experience.
Ember is a great gateway game for newcomers to the genre, but not for anyone looking for a game with actual substance.
At the end of the day, Elderand feels more like a game you play in between big releases or to scratch a certain itch, more than a title you might get excited to play. The individual flaws of the game might not be absolute dealbreakers, but they undoubtedly muddy the waters and noticeably drag down the experience. A sale is the only time I would recommend people try out Elderand, but with genre giants like Hollow Knight and Ori and The Will of the Wisps all at a similar price point, Elderand remains a hard sell.
Corpse Party gets everything right, but falls short of greatness due to its unimpressive gameplay.
There are sparks of greatness all throughout Moonglow Bay but are almost all buried beneath a mountain of technical issues.
Labyrinth might slake the thirst of players coming straight from Fruit, but it ultimately fails to live up to the standards set by its predecessor.
Angels with Scaly Wings succeeds in many areas where most visual novels do not, but its failure in the fundamentals of the genre keep it from being a great game.
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin offers only minor tweaks to serious gameplay issues of the original game. Nonetheless, it still remains a wholly enjoyable online experience, just don't expect much from the singleplayer experience.
With Muv-Luv, you either go big or you go home. If you can truck through the first half of the game you're in for a treat, otherwise be prepared for the worst.
A relatively enjoyable Metroidvania that is still noticeably rough around the edges.
In the wake of Labyrinth, The Eden of Grisaia is somehow able to end the series on a positive note, but it is still a disappointingly mixed experience in the grand scheme of things.
Despite its missteps, Lords of the Fallen is a solid soulslike with great potential.
Episode 2 continues on in much the same manner as Episode 1. It has consistently high-quality writing, which makes for an engaging experience all the way through. Barring occasional hiccups with some of the new cast members, Episode 2 manages to improve upon its predecessor in every way, from the expanded range of choices to the overall narrative structure of the unfolding plot. The months-long wait till Episode 3 will be a painful one, but if the quality continues in this manner, I’m more than happy to wait.
Monster Hunter Rise is a wonderful addition to the series and one of the best ways to lose a couple hundred hours of your life.
Despite some pacing issues early on, The Fruit of Grisaia is an unforgettable experience, and a hallmark of romance visual novels.
NieR: Automata is one of the finest gaming experiences around.