GamePitt's Reviews
Phantom Doctrine is the best tactical RPG I've played this generation so far. It takes heavy influences from the rebooted XCOM series yet adds it's own spin and design onto the whole game in order to make it it's own with new mechanics and possibilities. Focused more on the realistic over the fantastical, Phantom Doctrine delivers three similar yet different storylines which will keep you engaged for over 40 hours per faction as you delve into their respective perspectives of the same events and beyond. There is very little not to like with this game, the Investigation Board can get a bit monotonous after a while but every combat section is as engaging and exciting as the last one.
I honestly doubted that Trails of Cold Steel III could topple the incredible experience I had with the previous two games, oh how I was wrong. Taking everything which made the last two games great, Nihon Falcom has created a more advanced and enhanced version of the game we all know and love. There’s little to fault when a game manages to keep me invested and hooked for over 120 hours on my first playthrough, sat on the edge of my seat with each and every revelation and event, both cheering and getting emotional along with the characters. JRPG fans have to buy this game, it’s mandatory if you’ve played the previous two and enjoyed them as you’re guaranteed to simply love this game without any doubt.
Although the world of Moss is small in scale, Quill has a huge heart which makes the adventure even more magical. Polyarc has simply made the first game built specifically for (PS)VR that makes it an absolute must-buy piece of hardware. This game shows just how immersive the device can be, without having to make sacrifices in gameplay or visual quality but instead adding to the feelings that the game encourages with the interactivity that is only possible when you step into Virtual Reality. Sure, it doesn’t make use of absolutely everything the device can offer, but when the game is this good and still has a few ways to improve, to me that can only be a positive thing when looking forward to Book Two in the world of Moss.
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is yet another masterpiece from the team behind the amazing Yakuza franchise. When you’re not making your way through the 25+ hour main story missions, you’ll be getting lost within the abundance of sub-stories, mini-games, and even spending many hours running a hostess club and serving at a cocktail bar! There is never a dull moment within the apocalyptic wastelands, as you encounter hordes of enemies, cause a lot of internal combustion, and beat the living crap out of each and every delinquent you come across. If you’re hungry for more Yakuza, but want a splash of anime with the insanity cranked up to 11, look no further. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is nothing short of the best anime-based action-adventure game I’ve ever played.
These were some of the finest five hours I’ve ever spent within a game. I could easily write a great deal more about it but I want you to experience it in all its glory. The astonishing visuals were like a drug, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and wanting to get back to playing more. I’m thankful there are still collectables, 28 in all, called ‘mementos’ that I haven’t found so I can return to the game. I’m even tempted to purchase GRIS for the Nintendo Switch so I can play on the go and experience it on my large television screen and showcase its wondrous beauty to my friends and family.
I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed Tales of the Neon Sea, it delivered so much more than I was expecting. Not only do you get a good storyline which manages to hook you until the end, but you also get a wide variety of puzzles, investigations, interactions and fun gameplay. Tales of the Neon Sea is an indie game which deserves much more coverage and exposure as it’s such a great game, even though it’s technically incomplete right now. I can easily recommend Tales of the Neon Sea to anyone who enjoys puzzles and appreciates a good story. Even if you’re only somewhat interested in puzzles, please play this wonderful game as it’s one of a kind.
Paradise Killer is easily one of the most memorable and mesmerising games I’ve played this year, sucking you in with the request to solve a mysterious murder, yet keeping you hooked with the awesome soundtrack, brilliant narrative, and casual yet intuitive exploration of the soon-to-be destroyed Island 24. Despite potentially spending hours simply walking around as you talk to the inhabitants and seek out hidden items, the time will fly by without realising it – you’ll be absorbed within the world, building bonds with friends and potential criminals alike. If you have any love for games such as Danganronpa, Ace Attorney, or any visual novel with a focus on solving crimes, you’re gonna love Paradise Killer.
Cat Quest is a great top-down cute Diablo style game which anyone of all ages can enjoy. It has a solid combat mechanic, a great story and a decent amount of content. After a while, some of the requests can get a bit re-pet-etive but this is quickly resolved by the game throwing in new enemies and abilities to play with.
Visually stunning, creative puzzles, great audio, and a brilliant narrative – XING: The Land Beyond has it all! This game is the perfect embodiment of ‘best of both worlds’, you have a fully immersive and great looking VR game coupled with an even better looking and easy to control Flat version in one package. Sure, some of the puzzles may seem like things we’ve seen many times before when you look from the outside, but once you take control and encounter them yourself, things aren’t always as they seem. The whole game is held together with a very emotional and dark narrative about pain and acceptance as each character approaches the end of their lives.
Personally, I wasn't a massive fan of the original Nights of Azure, but I couldn't put this game down once I started playing it. The game feels like you are always progressing due to its time limits, whereas a JRPG would usually be a lot slower in its pacing. The combat is solid and you have at least three playthroughs of the game to complete if you wish to try and achieve the platinum.
Outcast: Second Contact is a love letter to fans of the original game, it has everything the original had (including its bugs) but with a new coat of paint and some useful new moves. Appeal have made the game more accessible to gamers today with the regenerative health and difficulty choices but you must understand that the game still thinks It's 1999 in the control department.
Candleman: The Complete Journey is a beautiful game in both its visuals and its story it tells. The music may be subtle in most places but the amazing quality of the ambient sound effects more than makes up for it as it creates an atmosphere so thick you could cut it with a knife! The level design combined with the lighting, the contrast between light and dark, and all the various hazards, create a truly original and enchanting experience you won’t find anywhere else. Literally, no other game holds a candle to Candleman in the puzzle-platformer genre.
Moss has simply raised the bar on all PSVR games going forward. Among its beautiful landscapes, pleasant music, clever puzzles and great narration is a story about a cute mouse name Quill who you will instantly fall in love with and be willing to do anything for by the end of the story. Some say we have been waiting for the definitive game to buy a PSVR for, I believe Moss has just stood up and taken that position. Be aware though, this is only part one of Quill's tale, so don't expect a grand finale as I'm sure we have plenty more still to come; however, what an introduction! I'm a #Quill4Life guy now and I believe you will be too as we eagerly await the se-Quill…
The Council is probably the best example of how to do a narrative, choice-based story which actually changes based on your actions and personality. The implementation of an experience system which allows for you to pick and choose which traits to obtain and upgrade offers a lot of depth and originality into a genre which has become stale with the 'interactive storybook' titles out there. The story is interesting, the events that happen will keep you questioning and the promise of finding out new things based on playing the game differently each time really adds to the replayability of this masterpiece. Don't be put off by the issue with the lipsyncing or the lacklustre accents, the narrative is great, the atmosphere is perfect and the mystery and suspense is up there with the best of games!
Marvel’s Spider-Man is a very strong contender for the 2018 Game Of The Year. The combat and slick movements are almost flawless as you stick your foes to the walls, beat the crap out of the bad guys, and swing effortlessly through the city. My only complaint about the game is that the boss battles are sometimes a little too simple for my liking, but don’t let that stop you from picking up one of the best superhero games ever made!
Moonlighter is a great indie title about adventuring into the unknown in search of both riches and information. Whether you're deep in combat within a dungeon, re-organising your backpack to make room for new items, or flogging your findings to the locals; the game will have you addicted to its gameplay and intrigued on what's going to happen next in the story. Sure, the first few hours may be slow as you get to grips with how the selling works and you work out how much you can sell things for, but once you get that locked down you won't want to stop playing.
There’s a lot of brilliance to Mega Man 11, it offers many ways to progress and move forward. In my playthrough, I ended up beating the game without using any of the boss skills I obtained nor did I use the gear system. Using those skills on another playthrough, I had a lot more of a blast as the screen is splashed with effects from the boss skills. Mega Man 11 is a perfect addition to the Mega Man series and one which any fan of the franchise should pick up today.
Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?! is pure heaven! It’s a management sim you can really get absorbed into and stay there for many hours at a time or just drop in every now and again for short bursts – particularly if you’re on the Switch. From the micro-management of your employees to satisfying all of your customers, everything can be adjusted and tweaked in order to become the greatest arms supplier in the land! One thing to be aware of though, the pun is strong in this one with almost every character being a pun of someone/something famous. If you like hilarious storytelling along with frantic and rather stressful gameplay, then this is the game for you! With the addition of the Herclueless DLC you gain even more content and many, many hours of gameplay.
Dead Cells is one of the best roguelike games you can pick up on consoles to date. Not only does it look and run great, but it’s also incredibly addictive and impossible to put down and stop playing. Sure, the first few playthroughs will leave you frustrated and annoyed as the permadeath kicks in and you lose all of your hard work harvesting the cells, but over time you’ll “Git Gud” and breezy through the first few areas. I seriously can’t think of anything negative or bad to say about the game – you’ll easily pour many hours of your life into Dead Cells as you try and reach the end and even more if you’re aiming for the platinum.
Devil May Cry 5 is easily one of my Game of the Year 2019 contenders, even though it’s only March! The smooth and fluid gameplay, combined with the over the top action and intense metal soundtrack, creates a truly demonic and exciting experience no matter what system you’re on. Although the story is a little fragmented and delivered out of order in places, the reconstructed narrative is just as wacky and creative as the gameplay! As a fan of the original games, I can’t help but love Devil May Cry 5. Not because it’s another game in the franchise, but because it’s clearly the best game in the franchise by a long shot and it’s also yet another amazing achievement from Capcom.