Miguel Moran's Reviews
Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is a charming metroidvania with a unique world that's ultimately undone by its overstuffed and underwhelming storytelling.
Anger Foot is loud, gross, punishing, and funny as hell. It's a crime-fueled fever dream sprinkled with moments of genuine silly sincerity, and it's all connected by fast and fun foot-first combat that I couldn't get enough of.
Panzer Knights has some fun tank combat and a wealth of customisation options, but it's ultimately held back by some frustrating gameplay quirks, and a story that takes itself far too seriously without the rich writing or polished grammar it needs to back it up.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is the spark that this series needed, and an incredible new chapter for such an iconic franchise. The shift in tone for the story and the addictive dual-mode combat had me hooked from beginning to end. If you play any game in this series, make it this one.
Megaton Musashi W: Wired is every giant robot enthusiasts dream game. Whether you want a character-focused sci-fi adventure, a combat bonanza full of fully customizable mechas, or addictive multiplayer engagements, this game can happily provide.
V Rising is a delicious duo of survival-crafting and action-RPG fun that puts the best of both worlds together without making either side fall flat.
Rainbow Cotton is an interesting peak into the history of Dreamcast gaming, but it lacks the gameplay upgrades and presentation flourishes to make it a genuinely enjoyable game outside of that context.
Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is a game that wears it's influences on it's sleeve, from corny 90s anime dubs to slick sci-fi and even Mexican culture. It's all worn and shown off so proudly that the resulting mix is loud, proud, and unforgettable. I just wish that it was so much longer, because I already miss my time in Neo-San Francisco.
Neptunia Game Maker (R)evolution is another stinker in a long line of disappointing Neptunia series entries. I love these characters and their world, but this is a flat action-RPG with a barebones management game bolted onto it that do not do them right by any means.
A fun, feline-driven adventure that's only partially held back by it's issues with corny writing, clunky controls, and a few too many hoodie-shaped cat hats.
Dungeon Drafters is the Mystery Dungeon-Phantom Dust hybrid I never knew I needed in my life. It has all the excitement and challenge of a dungeon-diving adventure, bundled together with the one-more-pack thrill of a card-collecting game.
Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom is platforming bliss. It takes the best parts of old-school collectathon games, and infuses them with a huge amount of off-the-walls charm and bright, bubbly art that's all topped off by incredible music and fluid, fun taxi-flinging action.
Mediterranea Inferno is an achievement in storytelling - not only through it's uniquely direct tackling of the effects of COVID-19 on young adults, but in how it uses the most outlandish, awe-inspiring visuals and sounds to tell that story.
Berserk Boy is a love letter to classic platformers, but in combining its inspirations together it carves out it's own path as an incredibly promising new game and, hopefully, the first entry in an unforgettable new series.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is the gold standard for mystery dungeon games. Every system, item, and mechanic come together in endlessly dynamic ways, reaching levels of emergent and exciting gameplay that I've never experienced in the world of roguelikes.
Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash is a failed cash-in on an incredibly popular manga and anime franchise, that doesn't seem to understand what makes that franchise so popular to begin with.
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell a game unlike any other - a metroidvania with a truly unique aesthetic that blends all my favorite things into one unforgettable package. It may be the final chapter in the Momodora story, but I can only hope there are plenty more games from Bombservice to come.
UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes is without a doubt the funnest fighting game of the year. An already smooth and satisfying fighter has been improved and expanded on so many levels with the new systems, mechanics, and moves this sequel adds. If you're gonna play any 2D fighting game right now, make it this one.
TEVI blends the soul of Metroidvanias with the heart of a bullet hell, and the result is unforgettable. Despite a lacklustre soundtrack and some repetitive enemy encounters, this is a rich, feature-filled adventure packed with fun characters and sweat-inducing boss fights that you owe it to yourself to play.
Laika: Aged Through Blood is a haunting metroidvania unlike any other. The blend of breakneck motorcycle combat and a harrowing story of revenge smash together to create an artistic experience few games this year can rival.