Octopath Traveler 0 isn’t really Octopath Traveler. It’s good. It’s even excellent, frequently and for long stretches of time. But it’s not Octopath Traveler for this very simple reason: Both the original Octopath Traveler and its sequel told the stories of eight (“Octo”) different people, who would eventually come together (“All roads that you travel on, if you will, lead…
It was inevitable that Monkey Ball would be inspired by Fall Guys. Given that both properties are best known for giving players a fun and chaotic gauntlet to navigate – albeit one by rolling and the other by running – the Fall Guys proven success as an online experience was…
Read MoreWhat if you were playing a JRPG where the combat system was actually a puzzle? That’s the best way to think of Thistlemine. On the surface, it looks like a simple indie JRPG, but you’ll realise that there’s something different about this one by the time you’ve run into your…
Read MoreThe pitch for Republic of Pirates is straightforward enough: It’s a very light Anno, with a pirate theme. That should make it a pretty safe bet for a lot of folks out there, especially when it’s also priced as a very budget-friendly Anno. I’m not usually one to talk about…
Read MoreI have no idea why the decision makers at ACQUIRE through that C.A.R.D.S RPG: The Misty Battlefield was a good name for a game. It’s hard to imagine anything more totally and utterly generic, and this entire review is so late after the game’s release precisely because even I overlooked…
Read MoreAnimation Arts has been around for a little over two decades now, and has a particularly well-regarded reputation for its work in classic point-and-click titles. Most people with a fondness for the genre know the Secret Files trilogy, after all. Monolith is the team’s latest. Sadly, it’s not up to…
Read MoreIt is genuinely impressive that Xuan-Yuan Sword VII has come to the Switch. This is one of the more technically detailed games to have come out of Taiwan, and concessions did need to be made to make it work on the Switch. If all that matters to you is the…
Read MoreShin Megami Tensei V was already a good game. SMT V: Vengeance adds an entirely different narrative route that, while similar enough in the early stages, diverges drastically deeper into the game. The core is still a battle between angels and demons in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo that your protagonist is…
Read MoreI missed the original launch of Slave Zero X, but now that there’s a physical edition for consoles, I’ve had the opportunity and excuse to give it a go. In theory, I should like this, since it’s an anime brawler of big action that allows you to mow down hordes…
Read MoreI love Democracy 4. My first re-election campaign was a bit dicey, but some quality speeches on the campaign trail got me there. Despite the Australian Commies (AC) party running at an approval rate of only around 35% for much of the term, I was able to get it to…
Read MoreDeveloper, J.R. Hudepohl, and publisher Top Hat Studios have shared a new trailer for the upcoming Labyrinth of the Demon King – a retro-style horror game with a particularly gritty aesthetic. Based on the trailer, it’s “found footage” dialed up to 11, and even from the trailer alone there is…
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