While the Sword and Fairy series has had limited exposure in the West, bringing characters from that series and mixing it up with a restaurant sim isn’t actually a bad idea. Given the cute nature of its visuals and concept, I fully expected to find a charming little adventure within its Inn, but ended up wishing I had booked elsewhere instead.
Exoprimal was a big surprise out of Capcom when it was first revealed. While its core foundation and gameplay is remarkably solid, the lack of additional game modes and variety can make the title fairly repetitive. Still, Exoprimal largely succeeds with engaging gameplay and a diverse cast of Exo-suit fighters.
While Killsquad certainly has its shortcomings, I still found its gameplay to succeed in the end, offering a pretty enjoyable game when taking on its contracts with other players. Without a story to connect you to its world, your mileage may vary on whether its gameplay and customization are enough to keep you playing.
The Tartarus Key is a tribute to the PS1 era, taking the classic look and approach that was present in a great deal of its releases. While the title itself is not true survival horror, it does feature many of the genre staples of having a mystery to unravel, a gloomy mansion to explore, and puzzles to see you through.
Dave the Diver combines the unpredictable nature of a rogue-lite with the hustle and bustle of working a sushi bar, complete with your own staff and dishes prepared from the ingredients you catch. This fusion works as well as its menu, a mixture of tastes and flavors as you also uncover a secret brewing at the bottom of the sea.
Trails into Reverie is the culmination of three individual sagas spanning nearly 20 years. While it certainly feels like a third entry in the Crossbell Saga, it certainly follows in the footsteps of Trails of Cold Steel, bookending various story and character arcs. It may retread some story ideas and falter in its narrative, but Reverie is still an impressive conclusion worthy of your time.
The latest evolution in professional wrestling has been the AEW, the first real avenue of competition to the WWE, since the buyout of WCW some years past. In doing so, AEW has reached out to a market that the WWE has dominated for years, video games. AEW: Fight Forever, while a release in 2023, looks to the past for inspiration.
Aliens: Dark Descent captures the appeal and tone of the 1986 film in ways few have. The tactical squad-based gameplay is incredibly engaging, with a fantastic character progression system and a great story to wrap it all in. While Dark Descent excels in most areas, a host of technical issues can certainly get in its way.
Diablo IV was, in a lot of ways, under a great of pressure to perform, especially given that modern Blizzard Entertainment hasn’t had a much-needed win for years, especially given the reception of Diablo Immortal. Nonetheless, Diablo IV succeeds in providing a captivating story and enthralling gameplay, all designed around a long-awaited return to its bloody and gothic aesthetic.
Redfall, developed by Arkane Austin, is the developer’s follow-up to 2017’s Prey. However, with development troubles and an unclear vision, Redfall is a game that not only fractured the studio, but shipped with a host of technical issues, bland design, and a lack of understanding of what it wants to be.
