Toxic Commando is a solid mix of the thrills of a co-op extraction shooter and the avaricious joys of the loot n' shooter. Every level has plenty to do and goodies to collect, with a good variety between high-octane driving sections and hard-fought point defence against waves of undead. Carpenter has displayed that his action-adventure chops are just as formidable in the gaming realm as they are on the silver screen.
The core combat is still fun and fans of Scott Pilgrim will have a good time getting together and seeing all the references, but there are simply better beat ‘em ups available for you to brawl your way through.
Despite some issues that hold the game back, Death Howl is still a remarkable adventure. It stands apart from other examples of the genre, boldly mixing deckbuilder, tactics and Souls-like seamlessly. It’s a story with a heroine you’ll root for, set in a fanciful world full of strange creatures. The game will grab you emotionally, and force you to push past your uncertainty to reach the end. Just don’t expect this to be a simple or relaxing journey, since it will demand everything to reunite Ro with Olvi.
If you enjoyed the original game, the content here is good and it makes a nice excuse to return to this world, if only for a little while. The price is right for what’s offered, but this prologue is hardly essential even for fans of the original game. If you missed that original game, this release serves as a reminder that it’s well worth your time.
With the making of footage in Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition underwhelming, the major selling point of this release is having access to a lot of different versions of one 30-year-old game. When the game is as fun as Rayman is that still doesn’t make for a bad package, particularly with the inclusion of all the extra level packs released in the years after it came out, but it can’t help but feel disappointing compared to many of Digital Eclipse’s stronger efforts.
Tales of Berseria Remastered may be the least necessary or helpful remaster I’ve ever played, but it’s still a good RPG well worth playing for those who missed it the first time around. Too many one-dimensional dungeons and combat, which, at times, is too complex for its own good, stop it from reaching greatness, but its unique story and cast of characters set it apart from the genre and make it well worth your time.
PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse may not be as consistently creepy as its predecessor, but it is just as enjoyable with an arguably more coherent storyline, singular goal between protagonists, and characters you want to invest in. The tricks we found novel in the first game are still surprising in the second game (despite our awareness of their existence), the writing still superb, and the aesthetics still engaging. If you’re looking for a visual novel to get utterly sucked into, PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse beckons…
While its underwhelming boss battles and environmental design feel like a small step back from previous entries, Resident Evil Requiem is an equally terrifying and thrilling installment in Capcom’s long-running survival horror saga. With a lengthy campaign that blends the original trilogy’s tense, methodical exploration with the action-packed set pieces that define the franchise’s modern offerings, Requiem also delivers a gripping story, making it a must-play entry that honors the series’ survival horror legacy while pushing it forward in an exciting new direction.
Despite some missed opportunities, Super Bomberman Collection is an incredibly strong group of games available at a super reasonable price. There’s no game in this collection that isn’t at least fun to play and the best games here are some of the best multiplayer titles ever released. Super Bomberman Collection is available now digitally, and while a physical release isn’t coming until August, it’s available for preorder now. Fans will get a wonderful dose of nostalgia and those who are new to the series could hardly ask for a better entryway into the world of Bomberman.
Ys X: Proud Nordics may not feel essential as an update, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that this is still a very good game. While Ys X may be my least favorite of the three most recent Ysgames, those are fantastic RPGs, and Ys X isn’t far from the high bar they set. Fans of the series who missed this one the first time around will do well to jump in and sail these dangerous seas.
