TheGamer

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is a Zelda-like that earns the comparison and exceeds it in places - the time-era structure is something right out of Nintendo’s best books, and the boss fights and best puzzles carry the game superbly. It’s an easy game to dive into for a spell here or there or sink hours in, and it’s one I’ll be recommending to anyone who has ever enjoyed a certain mute hero. However, I’ll do so with the recommendation that the volume be turned down once you meet a certain should-be-mute fairy.

Nintendo has used a relatively simple formula to create Rhythm Heaven Groove, taking everything good about the old games and adding enough to justify reviving the series after more than a decade. Everything old school fans of the game will want is here with a fresh coat of paint and a lot of polish, while Beatspell adds a whole new layer that I’m not sure anyone even realized Rhythm Heaven needed. [Hands-On Impressions]

It won’t replace Valheim overnight, but it has all the ingredients to be a compelling alternative for someone looking for something a little cozier and a lot more magical, and if future updates add more Froblins, I will once again abandon all self-preservation instincts and immediately attempt to collect them. [Early Access Review]

Star Fox on Switch 2 is going to blow fans of the original game away, while giving a whole new generation a polished version of a classic to fall in love with just like you did years ago. It’s a safe way to test the waters before potentially taking the plunge and getting to work on an entirely new Star Fox game, and it makes all the sense in the world. [Hands-On Impressions]

Rogue Core is no replacement for the original Deep Rock Galactic, especially not in its current state. That being said, there is something very cool here, and I hope to see it continuously expanded over the course of this year. More weapons, more upgrades, more interesting stat upgrades for your character (I’m so done with ‘get x more armor’ in video games), and more interesting events during runs. Then I think we’ll have something special. [Early Access Review]

Mina the Hollower is an almost faultless game that combines elements of nostalgic classics we know and love with a healthy dose of Yacht Club’s flair and expertise to make it something that truly stands out as a retro-inspired masterpiece. I could honestly play it forever, with Yacht Club proving that it’s not just a one game studio with yet another bonafide classic.

If the only problem that you have with a game is that you just want more of it, though, that’s a very good thing. Bubsy 4D may be short, but it’s also one of the tightest controlling and most satisfying platformers out there. It’s a hell of a redemption story for one of gaming’s most infamous figures, and I’m praying that it’s just the start of Bubsy’s grand comeback.

That isn’t what the Rewind Collection is trying to achieve. It feels like a collection of old, unpolished games that will specifically appeal to 30-somethings who haven’t thought about Rugrats for 20 years because that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be. If you have a lingering nostalgia for Rugrats that you might not have even realized was there until reading this, this collection is almost certainly for you.

Paralives offers a very promising early access start, with enough to whet the appetite of life sim players who love to craft characters, homes, and stories. It’s not too taxing to run, it’s got a charming style, and most importantly, its unique mechanics and features are easy to learn and enjoy. The studio plans to update and add to the game, and if it does this regularly enough to keep players entertained long-term without them bouncing off, it’s got a real chance of growing into a giant in its own right. [Early Access Review]

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a good game. But that’s all it is. It’s far from bad, but also fails to dedicate itself enough to its otherwise spectacular aesthetic, while its core gameplay ideas never reach their full potential either. Unlike the books that were read to me as a child until I could no longer keep my eyes open, I doubt I’ll be forming any lasting memories about this platforming adventure.