Depending on what you want from a remake may determine how well you get on with SpongeBob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated. It packs all the charm and gameplay of the original, but other than some fantastic new visuals, the game feels a bit dated in its gameplay and doesn’t really pack much challenge.
The Last of Us: Part II is certainly a game that was designed to stir emotion from its player, regardless if that is one that has you enjoy the experience or downright hate it. While much of the game is certainly enjoyable and features some of the best visuals ever to grace videogames, there are parts that I could not enjoy, despite feeling that the overall game is rather fantastic.
Developed by Mimimi Games, the team behind Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, has brought the series back as a prequel, showing how many of the series’ original characters met. For those that have played Shadow Tactics, the gameplay will feel very familiar, with a few quality of life updates and some new interesting ideas to back them up.
Ys: Memories of Celceta certainly has more history to it than likely any of the previous games in the series. The game, which is canonically set between the events of the second and third, is a remake of sorts to both Ys: IV Mask of the Sun, and Ys: IV: The Dawn of Ys to say nothing of Mask of the Sun having its own reboot on the PS2 with Ys: IV Mask of the Sun - A New Theory.
When the term “Definitive Edition” is tossed around, it most likely means the collected works of any particular game and its additional add-on content. Sometimes; however, we get a remastered title spruced up with all new visuals or some quality of life updates that can breathe new life into an old classic. I was excited to see what Monolith Soft and Nintendo would do to not just bring the game to the Switch, but the advancements the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 engine could provide.
Developers Mojang and Double Eleven have now taken the aesthetic charm of Minecraft and have fused it with the isometric flavor of Diablo, making a family-friendly dungeon crawler in the process, equipped with an engaging loot progression system and enjoyable hack and slash gameplay, but lacks the creative nature of what made the franchise so beloved.
Deliver us the Moon, which is not to be confused with the Lovecraftian horror title, Moons of Madness, has recently seen a release on Xbox One via Game Pass. The title, which is a story-driven adventure game baked in the ingredients of a walking simulator, tells a story about the survival of mankind, one literally on the brink of extinction as Earth is all but depleted of its resources.
The title, starring a group of six birds, sees you flapping through various environmental death traps, dodging arrows and magical spells, and racing against a trio of mystical dragons. While the game certainly has charm, it’s unclear who this game is for as while it packs all the visual punch of a game for children, it certainly can offer a considerable challenge for even skilled players.
For those who have wanted to experience Seiken Densetsu 3 since 1995, you have very few options. You could have pushed through the original Japanese release with some form of a translator, loading up a translated rom by a fan, or eventually played the title through last year’s Collection of Mana on the Switch, a port that finally happened some 25 years later. And yet, a year later, we have a remake in Trials of Mana that debuted last month on the Switch, one of two classic 90’s remakes to see a release.
When Streets of Rage 4 was announced, it certainly piqued my interest. The classic arcade beat’em-up hasn’t fully gone away since the previous version with more than a handful of inspired imitators looking to fill the void. Streets of Rage 4 is certainly faithful to its roots, playing to the age of the franchise while dipping its toe into modern waters.
While I’ve never dived into the actual works of H.P. Lovecraft, I’ve certainly played games inspired by them. Call of Cthulhu, and The Sinking City, for example, are both incredibly entertaining stories where the main protagonist eventually descends into madness, witnessing all sorts of horrific hallucinations and usually caught up in a dire conspiracy.
It’s almost unbelievable that a Final Fantasy VII remake actually exists. The game, which feels practically willed into existence by its most hardcore fans, is finally here, seeing a timed exclusivity on the PlayStation 4. The original, which is often referred to as one of the greatest games of all time, is so beloved that one would wonder if SquareEnix would be up to task to deliver, especially considering the company is a very different entity now than what it was a few decades ago.
Shortly after RE2 released, Capcom teased that the follow-up, Resident Evil 3, was up for being remade as well. While somewhat predictable, this game was largely being developed alongside Resident Evil 2, and while it carries the remake torch in much the same way, it does stumble and drop it from time to time, never dousing the flame entirely, but it certainly flickers.
As you arrive on an island inhabited by a trio of Tanooki, you’ll be introduced to Tom Nook, gaming’s most well-known landlord. Tom Nook has plans for this Island, big plans, and you will play a huge roll in making those dreams come true. You’ll build up the land, your home, invite more colorful characters to live there as well, and eventually mold the island to your liking; pathing and terraforming the very rocks and waters that make up your new home.
With this direct sequel, Ori and his friends are back for one more adventure, complete with a newly implemented combat system and a greater amount of traversal options at your disposal. Will of the Wisps is a truly fantastic sequel, even despite the technical issues that hold this game back from being an absolute masterpiece.
Dead or School is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity struggles to survive deep underground, forced from the surface from an array of dangerous mutants. As a curious young girl named Hisako, you’ll team up with a small group of survivors, all in an effort to establish a school on the topside, allowing Hisako to fulfill her dream of laughing, learning, and playing with her friends.
