It's a fun swashbuckling adventure that plays like a Saturday morning cartoon. The characters are fairly likeable with mixed performances, but the ship combat and fights our hero, Ocean, will have are likely where people are going to get the most out of this game, even if they lack polish and features to make them stand out.
Blades of Fire has moments where I do tend to forgive some of its blatant issues, but around every corner is a reason I tended to lose my interest in what it was offering. The combat and weapon systems are great when they work, but those moments only come so often. If Blades of Fire proves anything, it is that the Mercury Engine is well past its prime.
Much like building a road, you lay the foundation to build upon what is there. This is true with how Mudrunner and Snowrunner have shaped where this series is going. Roadcraft is the culmination of those ideas, mechanics, and gameplay sections to a degree where that complexity and depth is wildly addictive.
Ixion is a deep city-building strategy game that puts a bigger focus on story to set itself apart from the competition. So, if you’re familiar with the genre, Ixion is definitely worth a try. Unfortunately, given its current technical issues and less-than-optimal controller-friendly design on console, I can say it’s a decent game with lots of space for improvement.
Lunar: The Remastered Collection’s strengths are easily its stunning soundtrack, engaging cast, and great writing, allowing for engaging personalities and events to rise above a fairly average combat system. The new cast is excellent, and the higher quality cutscenes allow Lunar to stand out from its contemporaries.
Koira has an emotional journey at its core that has made me better appreciate the bond I share with my own dog, and that despite obstacles being in our way, that bond will see us through. The short adventure can see a few mechanics used a bit too often, but the few moments that stand out do shine a light on the darkness plaguing Koira’s surroundings.
