Zach Wilkerson
NieR: Automata is a true masterpiece; the new content just strengthens an all-time classic.
Final Fantasy XVI is a stone-cold masterpiece, and the new high-water mark for the series.
What Monolith Soft has done here is nothing short of remarkable. They've taken everything that worked in previous games, thrown out the things that didn't, and gave us one of the best RPGs ever.
The definitive way to experience one of the best visual novels.
One of the most charming and heartbreaking games I've played.
Even if you've played Xenoblade Chronicles before, the Definitive Edition makes so many meaningful improvements that it's a must play for all fans of JRPGs.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a fantastic game that is true to the spirit of the original while also carving its own path.
Almost 30 years after its initial release, there still isn't a game that has captured the charm, satire, and emotion of EarthBound.
Future Redeemed is yet another excellent Xenoblade entry from the team at Monolith Soft, with refined gameplay and a beautiful world replete with characters we know and love.
Octopath Traveler II takes everything that works about the original, makes it better, and is a fantastic game steeped in appropriate nostalgia.
This is the purest vision of what Kingdom Hearts is all about: absolute joy.
Whether you're a first time player, or returning to this game after many years, Superstar Saga holds up and is worth your time.
If you listen to Cris Tales talk, it sings with love for its influences. But sometimes, maybe we can love too many things. The game is remarkable on a variety of fronts, notably its look, its sound, and its love for Colombia. All of that works. But it feels the weight of its many influences. Eventually, when the developers throw so many things at the wall, it starts to get messy, with a story that tries to do too many things, combat that never fully lives up to its potential, and a bloated run time.
While Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising may simply serve as an appetizer for Hundred Heroes for some, its excellent writing and characters, fun exploration, and fantastic sense of community make it worth playing regardless of its status as a "prequel."
Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide is an excellent continuation of everything that made the base game great: excellent battles, a plethora of options in battle, and most importantly, strong characters.
With the additional features, and the ability to take it on the go, this is the best way to experience Final Fantasy VII.
Despite some repetitive gameplay and a story that sputters out, Judgment is a worthy successor to the Yakuza series, with engaging side content and a world that feels truly alive.
A quick, breezy throwback to some classic 8-bit RPGs with a few fun twists thrown in.
This version of Final Fantasy III is more than just a history lesson; it's a fun, experimental game with a cool early job system, an absolutely stunning soundtrack, a story that does more than people give it credit for, and a significant improvement from earlier games in the series that is worth playing today.
If you loved the combat in Final Fantasy XVI, you're going to love Echoes of the Fallen.