In the end, Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness is a worthy companion to the original series and one of the better Visual Novels available on consoles. It doesn’t quite have the narrative force that can hook people in like Steins;Gate or Danganronpa, but it is definitely the best possible medium for adapting the cyberpunk setting of the original series while letting fans spend more time with Akane and her team.
As a horror experience, Corpse Party is absolutely mandatory, and should be experienced in whatever platform that is available to you. If possible, however, the PSP version is still the definitive experience, and scales perfectly on the Playstation TV if you also happen to own one of those. Otherwise, the PC version is still a solid experience on its own despite lacking the improved sound design and artwork of its portable follow-up.
In the end, Trillion: God of Destruction is a surprisingly innovative RPG from a company that is normally content to release/re-release a new Neptune game every month, and further testament to the Vita’s resigned fate as an RPG lover’s dream machine.
Quibbles aside, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is still a breath of fresh air for the buried concept of sprite-based 2D platformers.
The only downside is that despite the numerous modes and features, it still features the same number of stages, enemies, and length; if you aren't the type who like to replay arcade-length shooters over and over for the best possible score, then Deathsmiles may not be for you.
In the end, Megadimension Neptunia VII can certainly be classified as the biggest and most competent Neptunia game to date, which may or may not sound as impressive depending how much of a fan you are.
In the end, Nitroplus Blasterz: Infinite Heroines Duel doesn't reinvent the wheel for fighting games, and ironically enough it's all the better for it. The stripped-down mechanics lead to more pick-up-and-play sessions without feeling overwhelmed by too many rules to follow, and the cast of characters are entertaining enough just to witness in action even if you have no idea about their respective origins.
True to its genre, Umihara Kawase is all about finding victory after many, many, many defeats; the limited lives plus multiple endings dependent on completion time will cause much frustration followed by much more extended play sessions. The Steam version includes online leaderboards and replay features, which is all the motivation hardcore players will need. The one caveat is the knowledge that this was originally part of a package that is now being sold separately. Whether the game is worth the asking price is ultimately up for each individual to decide, but sooner or later this is a classic game with a timeless mechanic that deserves a lot more attention now that it's crossed over the pond and into digital distribution.
In conclusion, Fairy Fencer F is one of the strongest examples of a B-tier JRPG; what it lacks in originality or technical achievements, it makes up for having a simplistic-yet-fun battle system, a generous helping of customization and content, and a significant trimming of fat as well as fanservice, both of which continue to bloat up the Neptunia series with each new game. If anyone was ever curious to try one of the growing number of Western releases from Compile Heart, this would definitely be the game to try, especially now that it runs smoothly and carries a budgeted price.
With a little more polish in its presentation, Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!! would have been a must-have addition to the slowly-increasing Steam library of fighting games. As it stands, this is a competent-yet-hardcore game that doesn't quite have the entry-level aspects of more modern fighters, but still possesses a lot of depth and variation that longtime fighting fans will eagerly lap up.
In the end, Samurai Warriors 4-II is yet another Musou entry out of a dozen or so that hit every year. However, these button-mashing brawlers can still provide hours of entertainment for players who want to turn their brains off and enjoy some over-the-top action. So long as there are entries that provide a competent experience, there are still Musou games worth enjoying once in a while, with this latest entry proving to be one of the fresher additions to the batch.
In the end, SOMA does not quite share the scare factor of Amnesia, but it does exceed it from a storytelling standpoint, as well as nailing that same attention to detail that creates a tense atmosphere filled with both beauty and horror. A definite purchase for the Halloween season.
All in all, Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom is a smart adaptation that replicates the action of the series without resorting to a typical hack n' slash knockoff. The cluttered camera and controls take some adjusting, but otherwise this is the first real attempt at successfully adapting the colossal anime hit in videogame form and is another proud notch on Omega Forces' belt (it also increases the anticipation for Berserk, their next anime offering later this year).
It's a shame that the console version of Darkest Dungeon couldn't have been a bit smarter with its controller layout, because the rest of the game shines in brilliant darkness as it did on PC; the 2D artwork is a great mix of hard lines and grotesque imagery, quite similar to Hellboy and other comics by Mike Mignola.
In the end, Assassin's Creed Rogue feels like a multi-colored blanket stitched together by years of older materials. It will still keep you warm for the night, but the mismatched patterns and holes in the fabric may leave you wanting to trade up for a fresh new blanket that still carries the same comfort.
In the end, Deception IV has a few kinks in its mechanics, but not enough to explode in your face. The trap-setting mechanic will no doubt go over well with creative types eager to torture AI opponents, and the amount of unlockable content will incentivize completionists to run their tests over and over again until the perfect killing machine is invented.
Despite being a shorter and less varied experience than Super Meat Boy, this game perfectly fills the void felt by anyone looking for a new platformer where they will snap their controllers in frustration.
In short, Chronophantasma Extend is the biggest, densest and all-around definitive version of the BlazBlue series, but the overarching story mode and massive learning curve may put off potential newcomers to the series. For those brave enough to venture forth, this mechanically solid and visually resplendent fighter might just have enough features to make a BlazBlue fan out of you.
Despite the lack of tightening up the original game's flaws, the PS4 version of Akiba's Trip is without question the definitive version, thanks to a smoother graphical performance and a few other extras to round out the already robust package.
The first episode already comes and goes by taking an ax to the Forrester family, so it will be interesting to see how many of these characters will manage to avoid the chopping block from here on out.