I was excited to see my country represented properly in a video game, and that did happen. Sadly the game itself isn't worth a damn, it's a classic style RPG but none of my choices matter and I can hardly make any of them. The only real redeeming quality is the art.
I'm not sure what to feel about The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered. I don't really mind the game's minimalist approach to narrative, but the dungeon design, repetitive battles, and difficulty walls I hit made it hard to press on.
Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story is something most would now term a "cozy game", being a light simulation game that's largely relaxing and not too stressful. Its gameplay and story can feel pretty mediocre, reminding me of childhood favorites but never as entertaining.
Eastward Octopia is a fun little distraction, that doesn't stray too far from the usual farming sim formula. Changes to certain important side jobs like fishing and mining help to elevate it, but the lack of constant progress mid-way really drags the experience down.
I really enjoyed my short but sweet time with Small Saga, of about seven hours, with my only disappointment being the lack of any difficulty without having to intentionally handicap myself. It's a great little game filled with nice visuals, and mostly funny writing.
The case of Detective Pikachu has never been fully closed, but now Detective Pikachu Returns, this time to the Nintendo Switch. I enjoyed my time with Detective Pikachu Returns, nonetheless, Detective Pikachu Returns just isn't a very good game.
Long Gone Days is a project that's been in the works for many years. With grating hand holding, but a decent story and grounded characters, Long Gone Days is a good choice for those interested in a narrative-focused RPG.
Everhood just wasn't as thought-provoking as the subtitle "An Ineffable Tale of the Inexpressible Divine Moments of Truth" might suggest. While I found some enjoyment in the later part of the game, it didn't hit all the right notes for me.
Virgo Vs The Zodiac is quite unique, and for the most part is better for it. Personally, I don't see how a game that lets you ride an alpaca and purge heretics could've gone wrong. But the combat and systems don't shake up much over time.
While Stray Gods is subtitled The "Roleplaying" Musical, it plays much more akin to a visual novel or adventure game than what one might call an RPG, though the musical part still applies. The music is especially fun and some tracks definitely would have a place in theatre.
Like the original, Atelier Marie Remake has a pretty small scope, with a playthrough easily taking less than ten hours and most players aren’t likely to do more than two playthroughs. The changes to this game make it a joy to look at and smooth to play with very few issues.
In Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and The Secret Key, there's plenty of systems to min/max to your heart's content, and fans will enjoy getting to hang out with the cast one final time. While I wish things were perhaps a bit more compact, most will enjoy the expansive world and plethora of experiences to have, even if the text is more than a little hard to read. This finale to Ryza's summer adventures is nonetheless a worthwhile journey for fans to embark on.
One Piece Odyssey unfortunately fits the "it takes twenty hours to get good" shoe. I find it difficult to recommend it to those who aren't already fans of the series, and not just because it's a mostly bland RPG.
Dragon Quest Treasures touts itself as a treasure-hunting RPG, though I'd safely say it fits into the action RPG and monster-collecting genre. While there are performance issues and lackluster bosses, I always treasure a game that encourages exploration and gives me plenty to do.
Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden is an overall more streamlined experience than other entries. With the frequency of releases in the series compared to the number of improvements made, the cards are starting to wear a bit thin.
RPG Time: The Legend of Wright is a game made by an aspiring designer who's currently a school-kid, or at least that's the game's premise. The focus of this game is largely on style, but it's not entirely devoid of substance. It is however held back a little by some annoying controls and Kenta's railroading.
Although it is more than 25 years old, Live A Live delights with charming narratives, solid gameplay, and a well-remastered presentation.
Coromon is a game filled with potential but past sinking sands and perplexing puzzles it starts to fall flat. Fans of the genre will be delighted by the levels of customization thanks to the potential system and easy skill switching. The shake-ups do let Coromon stand on its own and create an enjoyable experience, but it could've evolved to be something a little more.
The Forsaken Maiden is too similar to its predecessor to declare it as being significantly improved, with the greater difference lying largely in its narrative. It is a complementary experience that fans of the first are likely to enjoy just as much.
Atelier Sophie 2 manages to synthesise old and new in a way befitting improvements to the franchise while leaving it comfortably with the rest of the Mysterious games. It shares some minor similarities with Sophie's first game but is generally quite different. It doesn't quite reach the heights of Atelier Ryza 2, but will still definitely keep most Atelier fans quite happy.