Restart.run

I would love to see a sequel to The Adventures of Elliot, because so much of the foundation that is here can work if refined. Similar to Octopath Traveler 1 to 2, Team Asano could make something special a second time around, but right now The Adventures of Elliot: The Millenium Tales leaves too much on the table. The promise of adventure that never reaches its full potential.

Overall, I left that room more excited for Rhythm Heaven Groove, a game and franchise I have been engineered to love my whole life but always missed on the street. Now I'll make sure to carve out some time to see it though, and maybe invite some friends over to play a round or two. [Hands-On Impressions]

Star Fox on Switch 2 is exactly the game you think it is; it's Star Fox 64 looking prettier, feeling more responsive, and offering a new bevy of bells and whistles. It's still got the branching paths that are a little obtuse at first – even if that's what makes it fun. You're still getting yelled at by your squad mates when they are under attack, and you're still rolling around and shooting lasers. [Hands-On Impressions]

I have no qualm with the low-stakes nature of The Mysterious Book. In fact, some of my favorite games are cozy shop and farm sims. There’s a tremendous market for the genre, but I don’t think I want it in my 2D Nintendo platformers. Where Super Mario Wonder hooked me from the first level, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book told me to temper my expectations. This isn’t a fast-paced platformer, it’s a calm and deliberate exploration; a spotlight for creature design...And that’s fine if you go in with such expectations. Not every platformer needs to be a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants experience. But The Mysterious Book definitely could use a shot of adrenaline here and there.

If you do decide to take up First Light, I expect what you will find is a fantastic foundation for future updates and a likely sequel that will truly impress, nestled within a sincerely fun and well-designed stealth game that takes what Hitman provided and improves upon it. What you will not find is a game that is able to conceal or minimize all its flaws. It instead presents them to you fully emblazoned on its chest and at often interminable length. And all that left me shaken, not stirred.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced looks to have a satisfying balance between pleasing fans of the original while adding just enough new material to reintroduce the shipfaring adventure to existing and unfamiliar audiences. [3-Hour Hands-On Impressions]

Forza Horizon 6 is a great game if you want more Forza Horizon. The setting of Japan and culture that is infused into every inch of the game makes for a worthwhile experience, even if some parts of the experience leave you feeling out of gas.

The narrative’s final fumble feels representative of Directive 8020 as a whole. I’m glad to see Supermassive giving itself time to experiment and adapt. Pivotal choices and interactions feel relevant, and reward you for paying attention. There are modes and mechanics here I’d love to see taken forward or even ported back into older entries. But many of those additions don’t quite yet feel finalized, and their inclusion comes at the reduction of other, enjoyable elements. For fans of the Dark Pictures series, the cast and setting make Directive 8020 well worth enlisting with the Cassiopeia. But sadly, it doesn’t quite reach the stellar heights I was hoping for.

Saros is a game I'll be chewing on for the rest of the year. It's a game that has a lot of flaws, but makes up for them in showcasing the complicated and messy dynamics that humans find themselves in. An easy recommendation for those looking for a bullet hell with a deep mythos around it. A game that isn't perfect, and is messy, much like all of us.

The game has a fantastic premise and offers legitimate moments of joy, but it feels like it could be so much more with additional content added to the mix. More hairstyles. More facial hair options. More conversation templates for our lingo to be slotted into. The ability to encourage a Mii to confess their love or propose, rather than just waiting for them to figure it out. More “toys” for them to play with. Just… more. As it stands, I don’t think Living the Dream will have as much longevity for me as something like Animal Crossing: New Horizons or Pokemon Pokopia (two other life simulation games on Nintendo Switch), but I’m still enjoying checking on my Miis multiple times per day, at least for now.