Search found 153 matches for psn

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Manga Quester Too!

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Developed by Thousand Games and published by KEMCO, Metro Quester: Osaka is a sequel to the original Metro Quester title that was a truly fantastic experience in our books! But does Metro Quester: Osaka live up to its predecessor? We think so, so be sure to continue reading our review to find out why:



The gameplay is quite unique in this dungeon crawling JRPG series, with incredibly unique visuals and game mechanics that culminate into an absolute masterpiece with a truly incredible atmosphere that will hook gamers of all kinds and rightly so!

The game's a bit challenging, but mostly well-balanced, and there's a decent amount of content that'll take players 30+ hours to fully beat which is well worth its asking price. The controls are also intuitive and easy to learn which is always a good thing in our opinions!



The soundtrack is highly atmospheric and fits the mood of the game perfectly. The character and enemy designs are gorgeous as are the highly unique visuals which doesn't fail to impress!



Bottom-Line: With unique gameplay, excellent audiovisual-presentation, and fantastic controls, Metro Quester: Osaka is a top-notch dungeon-crawler that is well worth adding to any JRPG fan's library of games and as such we give the game a great level of recommendation!

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#Review #KEMCO #ThousandGames #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN #JRPG #DungeonCrawler

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A Hidden Treasure Ahoy!

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Developed by Nihon Falcom Games and published by NIS America, Ys X: Nordics is the tenth mainline game in the long-running Ys series, and changes up the way you explore and battle in many ways compared to previous entries in the series, but does this title live up to its predecessors or does it fall a bit short? Continue reading our review to find out!



The story of Ys X: Nordics is great as expected with plenty of adventure and intrigue as is always the case in this series, and this entry does not disappoint in the slightest! The gameplay adds a lot to the formula this time around with ocean exploration, and a unique battle system that allows both main party members to fight as one in a unique twist to the  formula that links both protagonists in battle allowing for joint attacks, dual skills, united defense, and other nuances such as bosses with armored HP bars that can't be damaged until you break their armor gauge among other new gameplay mechanics!

The game is pretty long as well clocking in at 60+ hours in length so expect to set aside quite a few sessions for this title! The controls are easy to learn, but can take time to fully master since the battle system has been revamped and feels like a wholly new series as a result. As for the difficulty, the game's got a bit of a learning curve, but in-general it's not too difficult even at the higher difficulty settings, so expect a bit of a challenge at times, but nothing that'll bar your ability to progress further into the game!



The audiovisual-presentation in Ys X: Nordics is as fantastic as expected from a Falcom game with a soundtrack that fits the game's mood to a tee, as well as top-notch voice acting, and gorgeous character and enemy models that look absolutely incredible and the game's world looks just as good aesthetically in our opinions! Overall the game's audiovisual-presentation is flawless in our opinions!



Bottom-Line: With a superb story, excellent gameplay, great controls, a decent amount of content, and a flawless audiovisual-presentation, Ys X: Nordics is a fantastic RPG that is well worth adding to your game library and as such we award the game a perfect level of recommendation to all PS5 JRPG fans!

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#Review #NihonFalcom #NISA #PS5 #Retail #PSN #YS #JRPG #Action #Switch #eShop

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Birthday Fish Splashing Onto The Scene!

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Expansive World's open world fishing title, Call of The Wild: The Angler on PS4/PS5is set to receive an anniversary event alongside two new fish species being added to the base game's reserve! There will be loads of other things to do during the anniversary celebration as seen in the image above! Anyways what do you think of this news? Be sure to let us know below!

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#ExpansiveWorlds #CoTW #TheAngler #PS4 #PS5 #PSN #Anniversary

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A Megaton Splashing Onto The Nintendo Switch!

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Megaton Musashi W: Wired for the Nintendo Switch is one of the best mecha-themed JRPG's that we've ever experienced! It's well up there with the legendary PS2 Gundam JRPG MS Saga: A New Dawn which is some high praise for sure! The gameplay feels akin to the musou sub-genre with twitchy hack and slash battles just with a lot more actions and skills, as well as first person skills that add some TPS genre elements in as well, however there's a lot more to the game than just the combat side of things, though the combat is a blast to play!

There's a load of customization options, between parts, weapons, hoverboards, boosters, decals, paint, and more, you can create your dream mecha and pilot it in battle! The game has tons of in-game achievements that unlock a plethora of rewards. Most of your important functions can be accessed from your in-game phone via apps or by visiting the appropriate shops and other establishments!



The story is pretty amazing though some of the themes are quite dark or downright bizarre as one of the characters loves cats maybe a little bit too much, but we digress! There are also side stories that showcase character growth or a new side of characters you seldom see in the main story! These can be quite fun to watch at times for sure!

The game's missions are where the main meat of the game resides, and it honestly has a good bit of variety. There are sub-missions, free missions "letting you replay key story missions", Dreadnaught Missions which are harder and usually beefier missions, shelter missions, and more offering tons of replayability! There's a point in the game where you gain access to a second main protagonist for a split story that you can switch back and forth between, however that second route is only available temporarily so be sure to finish that before you progress too far in the main story, otherwise you'll miss a good chunk of the story permanently!



The online modes allow you to take part in online matches and ranked matches in the coliseum as well as taking on quests together with other players! All of this is indeed a blast to take part in, however there are very few active players online meaning that it may take 30+ minutes to get a full party together, which is certainly unfortunate, but there's also another issue, which is that online coliseum matches can only be tackled with coliseum exclusive parts and weapons many of which can only be obtained in the coliseum mode making it hard to be competitive against already established players. Luckily however, you won't really miss much content wise if you completely blow-off playing online multiplayer, so it's not something we'd dock points for.



The audiovisual-presentation of Megaton Musashi W: Wired is quite impressive with a great art style during story sequences and the locations you can travel to on foot, and gorgeous yet sad apocalyptic battlefields to blast away the alien menaces in the game! The UI is extremely fluid and looks fantastic and the battles themselves rarely ever suffer framertate issues, however once in a blue moon you might encounter a brief dip in frames followed by the game crashing. While this only happened to us twice in over 200 hours of gameplay, it was quite annoying having to restart a story chapter over again because we forgot to save for a couple hours.

And lastly the audio side of things was fantastic! With full Japanese voice acting, and a wide-array of fantastic music, especially the collaboration tracks from Getter Robo and more, this is easily our GoTY so far and is well-deserving of a near-perfect score only hampered by a very rare, albeit annoying crash that can occasionally occur randomly...



Bottom-Line: With flawless gameplay, a superb yet sometimes quirky story, great online functionality that could use more active players, and an absolutely amazing audiovisual-presentation, Megaton Musashi W: Wired for the Nintendo Switch is well-deserving of a perfect score, however a rare crash in the game drops its score just a tad, but is nonetheless our current top contender for GoTY 2024 as we give this game a near-perfect level of recommendation!

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#Review #Level5 #JRPG #Mecha #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN

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Taste Sweet Vengeance On The Switch This Summer!

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Atlus announced that a new updated version of Shin Megami Tensei V will be releasing on Switch, PS4, and PS5 on June 21st 2024 during this morning's Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase! This is essentially the "Golden or Royal" equivalent of the game and will have new characters, locations, and story scenes throughout the game as well as an entirely new epilogue chapter. Unfortunately it likely means that the new content will only be available if you purchase this version of the game rather than as DLC for the original Shin Megami Tensei V. You can watch the announcement trailer below!



What do you think of this exciting announcement? Would you prefer this to be offered as traditional DLC instead of a separate release? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts in our comments section below!

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#NintendoDirect #Atlus #SMTV #Nintendo #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN #JRPG

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Knights of Grayfang...ENGAGE!!!

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Developed by Exe-Create and published by KEMCO, Knights of Grayfang is yet another rock-solid retro-style JRPG by the prolific games publisher KEMCO! Does this game hold up well against its predecessors already available on the Nintendo Switch console? We think so and here's why:



The story in Knights of Grayfang is the game's strong-point with excellent storytelling, superb character development, and a very interesting plot which is always a good thing! The gameplay should feel quite familiar if you've played a lot of KEMCO's previous titles, but everything is improved upon from the o0lder titles.

The game has much more intricate puzzles than we've seen in previous KEMCO JRPG's which is enjoyable. The controls are intuitive and easy to learn as expected from a KEMCO title. The game's difficulty is pretty easy for the most part, but gets a bit challenging in the later part of the story. The game is also fairly lengthy clocking in at around 35 hours in length.



As for the audiovisual presentation? Well the pixel graphics are done exceedingly well in this KEMCO release and look like something straight out of the SNES or GBA. The world is has quite a few details as do the character and enemy sprites which is nice! And as for the audio-presentation, the sound effects are handled quite well and the soundtrack fits the game perfectly, there's really not much else to say here.



Bottom-Line: With a unique story, good gameplay, flawless controls, and a great retro-style audiovisual-presentation, Knights of Grayfang for the Nintendo Switch is great JRPG in its own right and as such we highly recommend adding it to your library of games if you're a fan of the genre!

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#Review #KEMCO #ExeCreate #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN #JRPG

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Octopath 3 A No-Go?

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Kadokawa Games has announced that they've acquired the Octopath Traveler developer Acquire Corp during their latest investor meeting and plan to utilize the company to "further strengthen the ability to create IP in games." What do you think of this acquisition? What do you think will become of the Octopath series moving forward? As always be sure to let us know in our comments section below!

Source.

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#AcquireCorp #Acquisition #KadokawaGames #Switch #OctopathTraveler #PS4 #PS5 #eShop #PSN


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It's Prinny Making A Splash d00d!

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Developed by Nippon Ichi Software and published by NIS America, Disgaea 7: Vows of The Virtueless is the latest entry in the long-running Strategy RPG series and is a return to greatness for the franchise with great gameplay and a story that will have fans grinning from ear-to-ear. Is this enough to recommend the game? Absolutely, and here's why:



The story in Disgaea 7: Vows of The Virtueless is amazing with tons of references to past entries in the series and a strong cast of quirky and lovable characters causing mischief and mayhem in their wake! The gameplay is also fantastic with tweaked battlefield features as well as gigantification which allows your characters to grow to unimaginable sizes to wreak havoc on the battlefield for a limited time.

The controls are responsive and easy to learn and the game is a time-sink to complete! While you can beat the story in a couple dozen hours if you try to power through the game, in order to do everything it'll take players upwards to hundreds of hours!



As for the audiovisual-presentation of Disgaea 7: Vows of The Virtueless? They are fantastic with gorgeous story backgrounds, gorgeous 3D characters, and eye-popping special effects. While there are some slight fram-rate dips, the game runs quite a bit better than Disgaea 6 did on the Nintendo Switch!

As for the audio side of things? The voice acting is great in a 90's Saturday morning cartoon sort of way which fits this kind of game perfectly! The music and sound effects also hit the right notes and give this game a lot of character!



Bottom-Line: With and amazing story, awesome gameplay, flawless controls, and a fantastic audiovisual presentation, Disgaea 7: Vows of The Virtueless is one Strategy RPG on the Nintendo Switch that is an absolute must for all fans of the genre and as such we give the game a nearly perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★¾ 9.75/10

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#Review #NISA #NipponIchiSoftware #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PSn #PSN #SRPG

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A Perfect Feeling of Reverie!

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Developed by Nihon Falcom Games and published by NIS America, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Into Reverie is the continuation and ending point for the main plot from the Sky trilogy, Crossbell dualogy, and Cold Steel quadralogy, and boy does it live up to its hype! Continue reading our review to find out why we think Reverie is by far the best game in the entire series thus-far!



The story in Trails Into Reverie is peak fiction in so many ways, but without spoiling things or going into crazy details about the insanity that is this game's crazy-good plot, but we can tell you the way that it's handled is radically different from previously released titles in the series in the most interesting ways possible in our opinions!

The game's story is split into three split paths that converge at points which leads to some extremely stellar plot-twists and storytelling unlike anything we've seen before in the Trails series! The gameplay has several new nuances as well including a roguelike dungeon called The True Reverie Corridor as well as a new group skill feature that allows all party, reserve, and guest characters attack, use arts, or heal all at once! These new features add a new layer of complexity to the series' already brilliant combat which is fantastic to say the least!



The game also has self-contained minigames and fully voiced side-stories in the form of Daydreams, these mysterious tales must be unlocked later on in the game's story, but to detail how, where, and why would be delving into spoiler territory so we'll leave it up to you to find out!

The controls in the game are pretty snappy and easy to use which is always a good thing, of course and the game's difficulty is much more challenging than previous games in the series "especially at higher difficulty levels" so expect to struggle at times if you try to play on Nightmare or Abyss difficulty! The Legend of Heroes: Trails Into Reverie is also a fair bit shorter than other Trails games, clocking in at around 60 hours in length, however doing all of the side content, minigames, and post-game as well, will likely take 150-200 hours to complete making this a rather beefy game to say the least!



The visuals in Reverie are a HUGE step-up from the previous games in the series, with a better frame-rate, better lighting and shadow effects, vastly superior special effects, a decent jump in texture quality from Trails of Cold Steel IV. There's also a cutscene in the game that showcases Kuro No Kiseki's graphics engine which looks insanely good and pushes the PS4's capabilities much further than any previous game in the series that has been localized so far!

As for the soundtrack? It's filled to the brim with banger after banger of absolute ear candy and each and every track fits the game's mood perfectly! The voice acting is also superb as usual and most of the VA's from Trails of Cold Steel IV have returned with the exception a two. Both of the new VA's did a spectacular job as well, so we give the voice acting a perfect grade!



Bottom-Line: With an amazing story, flawless gameplay, superb controls, and a top-tier audiovisual-presentation, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Into Reverie will leave players in a state of reverie as it's easily the best game so far in the series and that's saying a lot! As such we give the game a perfect level of recommendation on the PS4!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10/10

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#Review #NISAmerica #NihonFalcom #Trails #Kiseki #Hajimari #JRPG #PS4 #Retail #PSN #Switch

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Ray'z Your Hand'z In Excitement!

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Developed by TAITO and M2, published by ININ Games, and with public relations by PR Hound, Ray'z Arcade Chronology for the Nintendo Switch is a faithful port of three legendary TAITO arcade shmups that are among the best games in the genre as well as HD Remasters of two of the included games! Have these ports withstood the test of time, and how good are the two included HD Remasters? As always, continue reading our review to find out the answers to the all-important questions!



The overall UI presentation of the menus and in-game gadgets for the included games are clean and very informative which is a given if you know how TAITO arcade shmups operate, and we couldn't be more thrilled! The gameplay of all of the included games are faithful to their original arcade releases and still feel wonderful to play all of these decades later!

The games are quite action-oriented, but not bullet hell in nature, rather more in line with TAITO's other major Shmup series Darius, which we also reviewed the ININ collections for that series extremely favorably! The games also feature built-in achievements which is a nice touch for sure. The games also vary in length from about 30-45 minutes long to a whopping 3 hours in-length with multiple paths easily giving this collection 30+ hours of replay value for completionists!

The only downside to this collection is that it lacks bonus features such as artwork and other extras that other collections from ININ possessed, but it doesn't really negatively affect our opinions of the game all that much.



The games control amazingly well and feel as fluid as they did in the arcades way back when! As for the visuals? The games range from 2D to 3D, and look gorgeous with excellent enemy and ship designs, flashy and awe-invoking special effects, and gorgeous scrolling effects that have aged like fine-wine! The HD Remasters included really pop in HD with sharper image quality, and vastly improved backgrounds and special effects that look fantastic even by today's standards!

And lastly the games' soundtracks are as exceptional as they are varied and they fit the mood of what's going on on-screen extremely well. Overall the audiovisual-presentation is absolutely top-notch!



Bottom-Line: With flawless gameplay, excellent replay value, great controls, and a top-notch audiovisual-presentation, Ray'z Arcade Chronology for the Nintendo Switch is a must-have collection for any/all fans of the SHMUP genre and despite lacking some of the bonus features you'd expect from a collection of arcade classics such as this one, the games are so well-done that this one gripe just barely lowered our score of this otherwise perfect collection! As such we give Ray'z Arcade Chronology a nearly perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★¾ 9.75/10

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#Review #RayzArcadeChronology #TAITO #ININ #M2 #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN #Shmup #Arcade #Retro

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A Raging Good Time!

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Developed by Hit-Point and published by KEMCO, Raging Bytes is a huge departure from KEMCO's more traditional fantasy-based retro-styled JRPG's they are best-known for, but it's a welcome breath of fresh air for sure! Continue reading our review to find out why we enjoyed this game so much!



Raging bytes at its core is a hybrid combination of the JRPG and survival horror genres and does a fantastic job at blending the two genres together harmoniously! The story is dark with many interesting characters and a stylish presentation that looks amazing and sets the atmosphere for the game's horror setting.

The gameplay loop has you finding items and survivors to help you survive the apocalypse while battles are conducted in more traditional JRPG flair. This works better than we ever would have imagined and was executed flawlessly in this game! The game is fairly short clocking in at under 20 hours in length and the controls are intuitive and easy to use!



The soundtrack in Raging Bytes is fantastic and every single song fits the game's mood like a glove.



Bottom-Line: With an amazing story, great gameplay, intuitive controls, a stylish visual presentation, and superb soundtrack, Raging Bytes is an unforgettable experience that no survival horror or JRPG fan should miss out on, as such, we give the game a nearly-perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: 9.5/10 ★★★★★★★★★½

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#Review #HitPoint #KEMCO #RagingBytes #Switch #eShop #PS5 #PS4 #PSN #JRPG #SurvivalHorror

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A Brilliant Shmup Making Waves Later This Year!

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ININ Games and PR Hound have announced that Air Twister, their upcoming 3D shoot em up with a touch of Kid Icarus Uprising flair will be releasing on November 10th! Pre-Orders are set to begin on July 18th! Here's what PR Hound had to say about the upcoming game:

PR Hound wrote:In Air Twister, embark on an epic quest with Princess Arch as she fights to save her planet from imminent destruction. Armed with arrows that trace graceful arcs of light, she confronts bizarre invaders in her path. With more than 20 unique enemies to conquer and beautifully designed stages to explore, Air Twister promises an unforgettable gaming experience.

To evoke a sense of nostalgia for traditional arcade games, Yu Suzuki designed Air Twister with varying levels of difficulty, providing an authentic old-school arcade feel.

The game’s challenging gameplay is amplified by an epic musical score by Valensia that will take you on a nostalgic and thrilling journey. It is a one-of-a-kind gaming adventure that no player will soon forget!

Game Features:

12 artfully crafted stages with unique and new experiences each time you play. Embark on a fantastic journey, resembling that of Alice down the rabbit hole.

Over 20 Vanguard creatures and 10 unique bosses to challenge your skills and simple controls for a fun and easy play experience.

An epic soundtrack by Valensia, a Dutch music composer, known for over three decades of keeping the musical rock and opera heritage of Queen's greatest hits alive.8

High replayability by unlocking Challenge Games in the Adventure Map with different modes like Arcade, Turbo, Boss Rush and more!

Many fantastic Minigames with surprising elements.

And lastly, the announcement trailer can be watched below:



What do you think of this announcement? As always be sure to let us know in our comments section below!

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#News #AirTwister #ININ #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN #Shmup

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Kuroi Solidbasa!

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Developed by Blackwing Gaming, published by Ratalaika Games, with public relations by PR Hound, Kuroi Tsubasa is a visual novel that is as cheery as it is dark and adult-oriented, but does it hold up to the greats in the genre? Probably not for most fans of the genre, but it's still a solid experience nonetheless! Continue reading the remainder of our review to find out why!



The story of the game is heartwarming and funny, however there are moments that are surprisingly dark and super mature as well, though that might be expected from an M-Rated visual novel, but it's a solid and entertaining romp that won't be the best thing you'll see in the genre, but will keep you interested from start to finish. The game itself is fairly short clocking in at between 15-20 hours in-length so it'll be easy to finish in under a week.



As for the visual side of things, the game is super vibrant and colorful with solid character designs and detailed backgrounds. The audio presentation is another beast entirely with a fantastic soundtrack, great voice acting, and solid sound effects. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of our time with this intriguing take on the magical girl genre!



Bottom-Line: With a solid story, and a fantastic audiovisual-presentation, Kuroi Tsubasa is definitely a worthwhile experience and though its a tad on the short side, we think the game has enough meat to warrant a positive reception, and as such we give Kuroi Tsubasa for the Nintendo Switch a solid level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10

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#Review #Mini #BlackwingGaming #RatalaikaGames #PRHound #VN #Anime #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN

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Shinobi Hero!

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Developed by City Connection, published by ININ Games, and with public relations by PR Hound, Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle + Hell is a fantastic arcade-platformer that is a true sequel in the long-running JaJaMaru series in every sense of the word, while staying true to the series roots. Is this enough to make the game a true masterpiece? We think so, but you'll need to continue reading the remainder of our review to find out why!



The gameplay in Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle + Hell for the Nintendo Switch is hectic action-packed goodness for players of all ages and is so much fun that we had trouble willing ourselves to put down our controllers! The game features a ton of stages and bonus stages on top of a whole lot of characters and other bonus goodies to unlock in the in-game store!

The controls in the game are simple and easy to use while the game's difficulty is challenging, but fair which is always a good thing. As for the replay value? With tons of unlockables as well as content the game will likely give players around 20+ hours of arcadey goodness which is a decent value for a game in this genre. There is also a +Hell mode featuring remixed stages that are far more difficult for added content and another 10+ hours worth of replayabilty!



As for the audiovisual-presentation in Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle +Hell? The graphics are simple yet gorgeous with an 8-bit art style that really pops in HD with flashy and breathtaking special effects that give the game a modern feel. The sound effects are well done, while the soundtrack not only fits the game flawlessly, but is quite memorable as well!



Bottom-Line: With amazing gameplay, excellent controls, a decent amount of content, and a top-notch audiovisual-presentation, Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle +Hell for the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic platforming arcade game that is well-worth the cost of admission! As such we give the game a great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★¼ 9.25/10

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#Review #NinjaJaJaMaruTheGreatYokaiBattlePlusHell #CityConnection #ININGames #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Arcade #Platformer

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Steel Yourself For A Solid Adventure And Have A Blast!

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Developed by Mitchell Corporation and Ratalaika Games, published by ININ Games, and with public relations by PR Hound, Cannon Dancer: Osman is the unofficial sequel to Strider made by several members of the same crew when they parted ways with their parent company. The game is part platformer, part beat 'em up, and a solid good time, for sure. Does it live up to its official predecessor? We don't think so, but it's definitely a worthwhile experience in its own right! Continue reading the remainder of our review to find out why:



The gameplay in Cannon Dancer: Osman is top-notch with tight controls, excellently varied enemies and bosses, and fun stages that will have you wanting more, unfortunately the game is quite short, clocking in at under 2 hours in-length and the 5th stage has a rather frustrating difficulty spike which hurts the overall score of the game.

Also unlike previous ININ retro releases, Cannon Dancer: Osman is lacking in any meaningful bonus content, however the screen filters are still plentiful which is at least something, eh? As for the game's difficulty, it starts out SUPER easy for the first four stages, however it then rackets up to absurd levels of difficulty starting on stage five, which is rather unfortunate as it blemishes the game's otherwise superb gameplay.



As for the audiovisual-presentation, Cannon Dancer: Osman looks absolutely amazing, with super detailed 16-bit graphics that are not only detailed and vibrant, but hold-up remarkably well even by today's standards! The enemies and bosses in particular look fantastic with clearly a lot of attention being put into them by the developers and it really shows! The soundtrack is also top-notch and fits the mood of the game like a button. The sound effects are also quite good for a 1996 Arcade title which was a pleasant surprise for sure!



Bottom-Line: With fantastic gameplay, tight controls, and a flawless audiovisual-presentation Cannon Dancer: Osman for the Nintendo Switch had the possibility of being a perfect game, however the steep price tag without many bonus features, a sudden difficulty spike in stage 5, and a VERY short playtime hold this game back, but the game itself is so fantastic that the hit to its score was mostly mitigated, as such we give Cannon Dancer: Osman for the Nintendo Switch a great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10

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#Review #MitchellCorporation #ININGames #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Action #Retro #Arcade #Strider

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Heirs To A Great Adventure!

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Developed by EXE CREATE and published by KEMCO, Heirs of The Kings is another superb retro-style JRPG by the long running publisher. How much did we enjoy our playthrough of the game? Continue reading our review to find out!



The gameplay of Heirs of The Kings is great fun with a riveting story that's a step above most of KEMCO's previous releases which were fantastic in their own right. The game also features great gameplay that will be familiar, but also adds new elements such as a Final Fantasy X style skill board, and many new quality of life features that make this game a joy to play! The game is decent in-terms of length too, clocking-in at around 30-35 hours to beat, and though a tad easy, the game's difficult is pretty balanced and fair.



As for the audiovisual-presentation of Heirs of The Kings, it's easily one of KEMCO's finest works yet, with highly detailed and gorgeos pixel art, amazing character and enemy designs, and a very snazzy UI. While on the audio side of things, the music fits the mood as always in a KEMCO game, however the sound quality of said tracks and sound effects is a step-up and sounds like pure ear candy!



Bottom-Line: With an amazing story, great gameplay, and a top-notch audiovisual-presentation, Heirs of The Kings is a top-notch retro-inspired JRPG that is a blast to play, and with no negatives to speak of, there's just no reason not to add this fantastic game to your Switch JRPG library and as such, we give Heirs of The Kings a nearly perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★½ 9.5/10

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#Review #KEMCO #EXECREATE #JRPG #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN

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Unique Gameplay And A Gorgeous Art Style Disguises A Middling MetroidVania.

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Developed by Rasul Mono, published by GameNet, and public relations by PR Hound, The Guise is a metroidvania with unique ideas and breathtaking visuals that fails to live up to its potential. Does this mean the game isn't good? No, the game is certainly worthwhile, at least for fans of the genre and here's why:



The gameplay is like a mix between Metroid and Hollow Knight, but not all of the core elements mesh together too well. Some elements are overly simple, while others are somewhat convoluted. That said the unique takes on exploration and boss fights at least are on-point and quite enjoyable! The game's difficulty can be a tad easy at times, but overall the difficulty is fairly balanced so the game scores well in this regard!

The game itself is around 10-12 hours in-length so don't expect to beat it in its entirety in a single sitting. As for the controls? They are easy to learn and feel really good. Overall this is one of the game's stronger points!



The audiovisual-presentation is superb and looks like if Ghibly Studio and Hollow Knight had a crossover, it looks absolutely breathtaking which makes this game quite worth diving into, despite other aspects of the game being average at times. As for the soundtrack? It fits the game nicely and is certainly quite unique while the sound effects are equally pleasing to the ears. Overall the game's audiovisual-presentation is absolutely flawless!



Bottom-Line: With great controls, an amazing audiovisual-presentation, and unique gameplay, The Guise has a lot going for it, however many of the parts of the gameplay formula hold the game back from even coming close to reaching its potential, that said the game still is above average overall in our books and as such, we give The Guise for the Nintendo Switch a decent level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6/10

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#Review #RasulMono #GameNet #PRHound #MetroidVania #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN

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Go! Go! Epic Voyager Girl!

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Developed by Ohsat Games, published by Ratalaika Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Go! Go! Pogogirl is a fresh take of the 2-D platformer that pays homage to classic SEGA platformers like Sonic The Hedgehog, but does the game live up to the series that inspired its existence? We think so, but you'll have to continue reading the remainder of our review to find out why!



The gameplay is straightforward enough having you trek through each of the four seasons across twenty stages with a fun boss battle at the end of each season. The courses have unique hazards and enemies in each season and there's a boss at the end of every season. The game is pretty short clocking in at 2-3 hours in length, but at five bucks, it's not a bad deal for the price.

The controls are decent enough, with no real issues to speak of which is good, of course. The game is also fairly easy, but still exceptionally satisfying to play which being satisfying is obviously a VERY important trait for a game to possess and possessing it, this game does in spades!



The audiovisual-presentation of Go! Go! Pogo Girl is top-notch with detailed character and ememies, as well as a vibrant and colorful palette that looks extremely pleasing to the eyes. And as for the soundtrack? It's catchy and fits the mood of the game to a tee, really the game has no real weak spots and is all-around a great budget platformer!



Bottom-Line: With amazing gameplay, good controls, and a top-notch audiovisual-presentation, Go! Go! Pogogirl is a great platformer through-and-through with no real weak points. As such we give the game a great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10

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#Review #OhsatGames #RatalaikaGames #PRHound #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Platformer

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Monstrous Cries In The Jaws of Adventure!

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Developed and published by Odencat and public relations by PR Hound, Meg's Monster is a fantastic JRPG, with an extremely unique premise and gameplay mechanics that heavily piqued our interest in the game, but did the game's uniqueness translate into it being an instant classic? We think so, and here's why:



Meg's Monster is something of an enigma, on one hand it's a very traditional turn-based JRPG, but on the other it feels like if Mario & Luigi RPG and One Punch Man were put in a blender and fused together. The battles are where this comes into full-effect as your Monster is able to basically one-hit everything, but the real battle is preventing Meg, the child who's protected by the Monster, from crying. If she cries it's an instant game over so it adds a massive layer of strategy to otherwise EXTREMELY easy battles.

The game itself is quite short clocking in at 8-15 hours in-length, but we thoroughly enjoyed every last second of our playthrough. Meg's Monster is also quite difficult in-regards to the crying mechanic we previously mentioned so expect quite a few game overs in your playthrough of the game. The controls are pretty straightforward and work well, which is pretty much a given for a turn-based RPG, but still much appreciated.



The visuals in Meg's Monster are vibrant, detailed, and utterly gorgeous with unique characters and enemies, gorgeous locales, and stylish special effects that look amazing. As for the audio side of things, the game has a very catchy soundtrack, and everything else is quite enjoyable as well, albeit not being as noteworthy as the tunes.



Bottom-Line: With unique and exceptionally enjoyable gameplay, flawless controls, and a fantastic audiovisual presentation, Meg's Monster will draw players in with its quirkiness and charm, and though the game is quite short most players will love every minute of the game! As such we give Meg's Monster for the Nintendo Switch a great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10

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#Review #OdenCat #PRHound #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #JRPG

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Best Lootboxes Ever?

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Developed by Conradical Games, published by Ratalaika Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Lootbox Lyfe+ for the Nintendo Switch is a precision platformer that hits a lot of good notes, but falls short of true greatness. That said we thoroughly enjoyed the game, so continue reading our review to find out why!



The gameplay in Lootbox Lyfe+ is straightforward precision platforming with heavy emphasis on the platforming aspect of the game rather than the enemies. The platforming can be quite tight at times and can test your skills, especially later on in the game, but plentiful skills can be found to help you out and make traversing the maps easier which is definitely helpful to say the least. It's certainly fun, but could have been so much more if it had a bit more meat to it.

The difficulty of the game isn't on-par with the likes of Celeste or Hollow Knight, but it's still plenty challenging in its own right. As for the controls? They are intuitive and easy to learn which is extremely important in any precision platformer and is most definitely appreciated. The game is quite short, which is a bit of a letdown, clocking in at 3-10 hours in length depending on your skill-level.



As for the audiovisual presentation of the game, it looks and sounds great with authentic retro sound effects, catchy and fitting tunes, a great pixel art. The game looks and sounds like a refreshing blast from the past and hits all of the right notes on the audiovisual side of things!



Bottom-Line: With good gameplay, intuitive controls, and an excellent audiovisual-presentation, Lootbox Lyfe+ for the Nintendo Switch is an enjoyable romp for sure, but the relative lack of content does hold the game back a bit. Regardless we enjoyed our time with the game and therefore we give Lootbox Lyfe + a good level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★¼☆ 8.25/10

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#Review #LootboxLyfePlus #ConradicalGames #RatalaikaGames #PRHound #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #MetroidVania #PrecisionPlatformer

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Soaring High In The Azure Sky!

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Developed by Nihon Falcom and published by NIS America, The Legend of Heroes: Trails To Azure is the thrilling conclusion of the Crossbell story arc in the long-running Trails series, and it might be one of the best on a storytelling standpoint! Continue reading the rest of our review to get the full scoop regarding our thoughts and opinions of this game and how it stacks up to its predecessor, The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero!



The story in The Legend of Heroes: Trails To Azure picks up a few months after the events in The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero, and is a substantial step-up in relevance to the Trails of Cold Steel series which most of you are likely more familiar with. This game will likely fill in a lot of the blanks that were caused due to the Crossbell games not being localized till now, and the new members of the SSS, Noel Seeker and Wazy Hemisphere really add a lot to the game with their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. This game ties up most of the loose ends and will set players up to be fully informed of the lore for when The Legend of Heroes: Trails Into Reverie releases in July in the Western Wazysphere, bad puns aside Azure has some of the finest storytelling in the history of the series and has enough twists and turns to keep players on the edge of their seats!

The gameplay in Trails To Azure is absolutely amazing and adds a ton of new nuances such as decking out and riding the new Orbal car. The origin of Master Quartz is revealed as the feature from The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel made its debut in this title, giving characters a much higher degree of customization which is always a good thing! In-terms of content, the game is loaded, taking 50-60 hours to beat, while completionists can expect around 100+ hours to see everything The Legend of Heroes: Trails To Azure has to offer! The controls in the game are intuitive and just as easy to use as they were in Trails From Zero.



As for the visual presentation of the game? The visual novel cutscenes look a bit more vibrant this time and the characters have a few extra expressions which is a nice touch. The rest of the game has a bit more polish in the visual department with extra details in the character sprites and textures, as well as a bit flashier special effects which add some extra flare to the overall nice looking game!

As for the audio presentation, Trails To Azure has one of the best soundtracks in the entire series, especially the battle and boss themes which are REAL bangers and set the mood for the entire game! The voice acting again is in Japanese with no English option which is a bit disappointing, but expected from a budget standpoint to make localizing these older games a bit more cost effective. The sound effects are quite good as well, adding to the overall audio presentation!



Bottom-Line: With an amazing story, excellent gameplay, and a flawless audiovisual-presentation, The Legend of Heroes: Trails To Azure is a masterpiece in every conceivable way and will draw in any player willing to give the game a shot and as such we give the game a perfect level of recommendation for all PS4 and Switch owners!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10/10

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#Review #NISAmerica #NISA #NihonFalcom #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop #JRPG #Kiseki

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Lost, But Now Found, Solid Attempt, Or "Lost" On The Masses?

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Developed by City Connection, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Ninja Jajamaru: The Lost RPG's are a duo of Famicom RPG's localized in the West for the first time and are definitely similar to earlier Dragon Quest games, but does this equate to a good duo of games? We think so, but you'll need to continue reading the remainder of our review to find out why!



The gameplay of both included games is decidedly old-school and feels like a throwback of the older Dragon Quest games in many ways. Both games are a tad on the shorter side clocking in at 20-30 hours each, but with the blessings, rewind feature, and cheats it's not too challenging to beat. What IS challenging, however is how abstract and convoluted the instructions on where to go next are and with literally no guides to help you out with the game, suddenly these 20-30 hour games can balloon into 60 hour games as is what happened to us during the reviewing process and is why our review took so long "apologies to PR Hound  for the wait".

Despite all of this though, the games are extremely enjoyable with fun mechanics and challenging battles "if you don't use blessings, cheats, or abuse the rewind feature anyway". There are some bonuses in the menu as well, such as shaders, and ample screen options, a gallery, and more which is what we've come to expect from the masterminds at City Connection and ININ Games! The controls are straightforward and easy to learn as expected since the games were originally released on the Famicom exclusively in Japan.



The audiovisual presentation is kind of mixed, the first RPG in this collection was a somewhat earlier Famicom title, so it obviously doesn't match some of the late-life RPG's that the console got in-terms of the graphics as it looks similar to Dragon Quest 1, but definitely not as polished visually. The audio in the first game in the collection is what you'd expect from a Famicom RPG in the 80's, very pitchy and loud, though the battle and boss BGM's were catchy a fun to listen to.

The second of the two RPG's in the collection looks really good for a Famicom game with vibrant visuals, interesting character and enemy designs, and some great special effects for that era. The soundtrack is also vastly improved over the first game, with not a single bad song in the entire game! Overall between both games this compilation has a good to great audiovisual presentation!



Bottom-Line: [With fun gameplay that can be confusing at times, flawless controls, and tons of options and content for both games in this collection, we had a favorable experience overall, while the catchy soundtrack "in both games" and amazing visuals in the second game we do recommend this to fans of the genre! Overall we give Ninja Jajamaru: The Lost RPG's for the Nintendo Switch a solid level of recommendation!

https://www.iningames.com/games/ninja-jajamaru

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Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10

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#Review #CityConnection #ININGames #PRHound #JRPG #NinjaJajamaru #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PSN

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Clever & Wholesome Fun!

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Developed by Dinosaur Bytes Games and published by Numskull Games Clive & Wrench is a 3D platformer crafted by a one-man team 10 years in the making, but was the wait worth it? We think so, but you'll need to continue reading the remainder of our review to find out why!



The gameplay in Clive & Wrench is quite solid, if not a bit floaty in-terms of its physics which actually helped us on many occasions so it's not something we saw in a particularly bad light. The characters have some great moves that will feel familiar to those who grew up in the 90's and played 3D platformers of that era such as Super Mario 64, Banjo Kazooie, and Donkey Kong 64. The game's level design is great with exceptionally creative layouts and world themes as well as some puzzles thrown in to spice things up and the enemy variety and unique bosses were amazing, and all required some strategy to defeat which was a fun challenge for sure.

The game was decent in length with well over a dozen worlds and clocking in at around 20 hours to beat and 35 hours to complete, it has more than enough content to warrant its $29.99 price. Meanwhile the controls were pretty good, certainly not perfect, but definitely serviceable. The only issues we had were a lot of technical ones in the form of bugs. None impeded our progress, but did hamper our enjoyment a bit, dropping a point or two off our score for the game. Things like falling through a specific platform or hitting a specific enemy and getting hurt yourself. These issues don't happen everytime and aren't too common, but all seem to be related to issues with the game's collision detection.

The overall enjoyment we had far outshone the issues we experienced on the gameplay front.



The visual-presentation in the game is exceptional with gorgeous worlds brought to life with an absolutely insane amount of detail, AAA quality special effects, and varied enemy, boss, and character designs that all stand out as unique and charming! As for the audio side of things? The soundtrack is really catchy and fits the game's mood like a glove, and the sound effects are well-done and don't get grating at any point. Overall the audiovisual-presentation was exceptional!



Bottom-Line: With great gameplay that is somewhat hindered by some minor technical issues, a decent amount of content, an exceptional audiovisual-presentation, and serviceable controls, Clive & Wrench is a good game that has a lot going in its favor, but some technical issues hold it back just enough to deny the game a 9/10 or 10/10, but regardless the game as still fun and well worth its price and as such we give Clive & Wrench for the PS4 and Switch a good level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10

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#Review #NumskullGames #DinosaurBytesGames #3DPlatformer #Switch #PS4 #Retail #eShop #PSN

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The Waves of Wonder & Adventure!

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Developed by Bliss Brain, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Wonderboy Anniversary Collection is the definitive collection of Wonderboy titles currently available on any platform. Despite missing several of the best versions in the series such as Dynastic Hero on the Turbographx CD, it's well worth its price and here's why:



This "Wonder"ful collection of Wonderboy games comes complete with several different versions of each of the six included games, ranging from Sega Master System, to Genesis, to Game Gear releases, to Japanese exclusive versions, each emulated perfectly with tons of goodies such as artwork, manuals, and much more. The games all run as they should with no apparent bugs or frame-rate dips that weren't present in their original releases which of course is always a huge selling point for any worthwhile retro games compilation!

Filter, shading, and rewind features are also included to increase the immersion and ability to up your skills as we'd expect from any collection published by ININ games!



The collection has a fantastic and fluid UI that feels so good to navigate and the games themselves look great even on a modern TV. The controls for the games are great and work well with the Switch Pro Controller as well as the Joycon control scheme. As for the individual games? We'll be delving into some of them in an exclusive feature sometime during the first half of 2023 listing our top 10 retro Wonderboy games and versions!



The adiovisual-presentation in this collection is top-notch, with fluid animations and few if any performance issues and flawless recreation of the retro games. You can tell a lot of love went into making these games look and feel just as they did on their original hardware, and the developer succeeded spectacularly in every regard!



Bottom-Line: With excellent gameplay, amazing UI and bonus content in the form of artwork and more, many versions of the included games, a rewind feature to improve your skills, and flawless emulation and audiovisual-presentation, the Wonderboy Anniversary Collection is a timeless collection that we highly recommend any and all Switch owners to check-out! We give this collection a perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10/10

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#Review #Wonderboy #Compilation #PRHound #ININ #BlissBrain #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PSN

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KA-POW!

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Developed by Ninja Rabbit Studio, published by Ratalaika Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Panda Punch is a fun if not uninspiring platformer for the Nintendo Switch that caught our eyes with its interesting Red Panda protagonist. Is the game worthy of checking out? We think so, but you'll need to read the rest of our review to find out why!



The gameplay in Punda Punch is pretty good, with fun platforming and basic Metroidvania elements such as collectible power-ups to progress to previously inaccessible areas and find some cleverly hidden secrets. There isn't much variety of enemies and the gameplay formula stays WAY too safe which means there isn't a lot of uniqueness which holds the game back quite a bit.

The game is also fairly short at around 5 hours in length and the difficulty is also a bit unbalanced ranging from easy to super challenging at times, which again holds the game back a bit. On the upside the controls are easy to learn and feel quite nice in-terms of the button mapping.



As for the audiovisual-presentation the game is great! The characters, enemies, and backgrounds are cheery, vibrant, and highly detailed and the game's UI looks exceptional as well! The soundtrack sounds great and really sets the mood for the game's amazing presentation! Overall the audiovisual-presentation is by far the game's strongest point and definitely earns the game an additional point or two to its score.



Bottom-Line: With good gameplay marred by unoriginality, great controls, and a superb audiovisual-presentation, Panda Punch is certainly worth checking out at its price, but fails to live up to its potential. Overall we give Panda Punch for the Nintendo Switch a decent level of recommendation.

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Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6/10

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#Review #NinjaRabbitStudio #RatalaikaGames #PRHound #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Metroidvania #Platformer #Gaming

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Forging Solid Bonds!

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Developed by EXE-CREATE and published by KEMCO, Sword of Elpisia is solid JRPG with an incredibly unique story even compared to other KEMCO titles we've reviewed. Does this game live up to its predecessors? We think so, but you'll need to read the rest of the review to find out why!



Sword of Elpisia tells a gripping story of a girl who loses everything to protect the people she cares about and her quest to regain what she's lost. As far as KEMCO games go, Sword of Elpesia's story is one of the better ones with some heavy-hitting moments that will make you feel for the characters on a level few other KEMCO games accomplish. That said the gameplay in SoE takes a huge step back from recent KEMCO titles with much more simplistic mechanics that feel quite dated and lackluster at times, but despite this there's nothing inherently wrong with it and the game is still fun if you don't mind extremely old-school gameplay.

The game has a few minor nuances such as skills being tied to your weapons for a bit of customization for your characters and the game has some decent side content such as optional recruitable animal familiars, an optional dungeon that can be unlocked in the premium shop with a small amount of premium points that can be obtained in-game, as well as post-game content, including an extra story scenario, bonus dungeon, and a battle arena to name a few of the post-game goodies.



The game is actually pretty difficult at the higher difficulty settings so expect a challenge if you try to tackle the game on hard difficulty. The controls in the game are intuitive and easy to learn which is always nice. Now something that isn't so nice is the frequent minor frame-rate drops in the Switch version of the game, which while not a major issue did hamper our enjoyment of the game slightly at times.

As for the audiovisual-presentation, SoE is a HUGE step-up from the previous KEMCO games we've previously reviewed, visually speaking. It's not going to blow players minds or anything like that, but in-general is detailed and is quite pleasing to look at. And lastly the music fits the game's atmosphere quite well and is a bit more varied than in previous KEMCO titles, but is definitely one of the game's weak points. Still we'd say the soundtrack is still pretty good!



Bottom-Line: With solid gameplay, a fantastic story, intuitive controls, and excellent retro visuals, Sword of Elpisia is a good JRPG that most fans of the genre will likely enjoy, however some performance issues do hold the game back a bit. Overall, however we believe the game is still well worth its price and therefore we give the game a good level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10

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#Review #KEMCO #EXECREATE #JRPG #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN #Gaming

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Round 2 At Last!

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Round 2 of our Game of The Year poll for 2022 begins today! The top 2 games in each bracket will move on to the semi-finals! Be sure to vote for your favorite games and let the community know in our comments section below!

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#Poll #GoTY #WiiWareWave #Activity #Switch #PS4 #PS5 #eShop #PSN #Gaming

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Intrepid Fun!

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Developed by Senile Team Studio, published by Ratalaika Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Intrepid Izzy is an interesting Metroidvania title that plays it safe by sticking to a very tried and true formula for the genre. Does this mean the game feels too stale? We didn't think so, and here's why we believe Intrepid Izzy is a solid and worthwhile game to add to your Switch games library:



The gameplay formula is quite straightforward, you must explore, obtain power-up's, face bosses, all the stuff you expect from a Metroidvania with great level and enemy designs, minecart sections, and in-general fantastic game design at its core. The game is good for what it is, however there is a crux to all of this, as the game doesn't add or do anything special to separate itself from the tens of thousands of other Metroidvanias out there which is a shame since the gameplay is otherwise flawless.

The game itself is fairly short and can be beaten in 2-4 hours which was a bit of a letdown, but the controls were intuitive and felt great in action. The game is also REALLY easy and while enjoyable rarely provided much of a challenge which definitely hurts its overall score.



The audiovisual-presentation in Intrepid Izzy is great with gorgeous characters, backgrounds, and enemies, great special effects, and music that fits the game perfectly! Overall Intrepid Izzy's audiovisual-presentation is one of the game's strongest points!



Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, flawless controls, and superb audiovisual-presentation, Intrepid Izzy is a great game at its core, however its short length, and lack of uniqueness and challenge hold this game back by quite a bit. Overall, however we give Intrepid Izzy a solid level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10

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#Review #IntrepidIzzy #PRHound #SenileTeamStudio #RatalaikaGames #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN

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Chains of Entertainment!

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Developed by Matthias Linda, published by DECK13 Spotlight, and public relations by PR Hound, Chained Echoes is a love letter to JRPG's of yesteryear and not only lives up to the games it was inspired by, but in some ways actually surpasses them! Why do we hold this game in such high regard? Continue reading our review to find out why!



The story in Chained Echoes is pretty dark with plenty of humor splashed throughout, it's a tale of horrific mistakes, atonement, religion, and stopping atrocities such as human experimentation, and weapons of mass destruction, just to name a few, and it's mostly done with clear story arcs as to tell each part of the story in clear detail which is something many AAA studios have forgotten how to do. Now we normally talk about characters, but they are such an amazing ensemble crew that we'd be writing a full-on novel if we delved into them, which we know you guys and gals prefer us to stick to the point and not ramble, so that as they say is that.

The game has a really unique skill system which adds a skill point for every boss you beat with the characters in your group at the time, some grant you skills, others passive abilities, while others grant a small stat boost. Then there's hero statues that can grant new classes in exchange for the relatively rare item, Holy Water. These classes can boost stats, effect certain stats growth when learning new skills "sometimes stats will increase when you learn skills, and your class can effect which skills are boosted permanently and by how much", and grant a couple of class exclusive skills and passive skills which can be extremely helpful in a pinch!





Another huge part of the game later on are the mechas that you'll obtain. There's actually quite a few customization options including frames, short and long-range weapons, and a plethora of paint design options for your frames, you can buy most parts, but some of the best require other things such as defeating super bosses, or expanding your adventurer clan. This is where some of the inspiration for certain aspects of game become clearer. The clan that you can build-up by recruiting members and hunting named monsters around the world is clearly heavily inspired by the adventurer clans in Final Fantasy XII, but this game does so much more with the system allowing you to be the clan leader of your very own adventurers clan and build it up from scratch. There's a ton more to the clan system than we've mentioned, but we don't want to spoil too much about this mid-late game mechanic.

The clan system isn't the only homage to FF XII in Chained Echoes, as two of the in-game demi-human races are clearly inspired by the Bangaa and Seeq races in that game. But none of these homages feel disrespectful or are blatant rip-offs as the developer does an amazing job at making them unique in the developer's own way which is something that only truly talented developers could accomplish!




As for the controls, they are pretty self explanatory and work flawlessly. As for the length of the game, that's actually pretty tricky to estimate, but if you try to power through the main story skipping all side content, the game is around 35-40 hours in length, however if you do all of the side content as well we'd estimate a play-time of around 80-100 hours which is absolutely mind-boggling considering the game's developer is a one-man team!

The graphics in the game are 2-D, but are definitely 32-bit inspired rather than 16-bits and boy does the game look gorgeous, it looks better than most AAA releases did during the 32-bit era and what's more, the game doesn't even experience the slightest bit of slowdown or frame-rate drops. It's clear that the developer made sure that even the Nintendo Switch version of the game was perfectly optimized for the console! The music is exceptional as well with some real bangers, and all of the music fits the game like a glove!



Bottom-Line: With an amazing story, superb gameplay, flawless controls, and a ton of content, Chained Echoes will draw players in from the start, and the gorgeous visuals and top-notch soundtrack will make them feel like they are being drawn into the game's immersive world. Overall we give Chained Echoes for the Nintendo Switch, not only a perfect level of recommendation, but also our choice for January 2023's Game of The Month!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10/10

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#Review #ChainedEchoes #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #JRPG #DECK13 #MatthiasLinda #PRHound

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Pixel Extravaganza!

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Square Enix has finally announced Switch and PS4 ports for their Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster titles and they are releasing in a physical collection in both a Standard Edition ($74.99 / £64.99) and Collector's Edition ($259.99 / £244.99). Below is what comes with Collector's Edition of the game.



Both versions of the physical release will be exclusive to the Square Enix Store. The Standard Edition is already sold out as of the time this article was written. We'll let you know if or when it's back in-stock! The games will also be made available digitally together or individually on both the eShop and PSN.

As always be sure to let us know your thoughts in our comments section below!

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#News #SquareEnix #FinalFantasy #Retail #eShop #PSN #PS4 #Switch #JRPG

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Ninjatastic Jutsu Ninpo'ing Its Way To Greatness!

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Developed by Tanuki Creative Studios, published by ININ games, and public relations by PR Hound, Jitsu Squad is a fast-paced and action-packed beat em' up with a lot going for it in-terms of gameplay features and potential! Does the game live up to this potential? Continue reading our review to find out!



The gameplay in Jitsu Squad is highly refined and has all of the best aspects needed for a top-notch beat 'em up. The characters are unique and each have plenty of zany and over-the-top attacks that will leave their enemies black and blue in the most outlandish cartoony ways possible! Support characters such as Yooka And Laylee can jump in occasionally to lend a hand by wiping the floor with massive groups of enemies.

The controls are simple yet challenging to master and in-terms of content the game is a bit lacking as it can be beaten in 2-3 hours and there's not a lot to keep you coming back for more too often outside of multiplayer with buddies.



The audio-visual presentation of Jitsu Squad is where the game truly shines with amazing special effects, gorgeous backgrounds and highly detailed worlds with zany characters and enemies that breathe life into this absolutely beautiful game and a soundtrack that will knock your socks off! Overall the game is nearly flawless in the audio-visual department, however some minor frame-rate issues do drop the game's overall score. It's nothing major, but is certainly noticeable.



Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, good controls and a nearly perfect audio-visual presentation, Jitsu Squad for the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic beat 'em up for sure, but minor frame-rate issues and a relatively limited amount of content do hold the game back a bit. Overall, however we do give Jitsu Squad a good to great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★¾☆ 8.75/10

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#Review #PRHound #ININ #TanukiCreativeStudios #JitsuSquad #BeatEmUp #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Action #Scrolling

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Get READY TO Ruuuuuuuuuumble!

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It's December and that can only mean one thing here at WiiWareWave! That's right! It's time for our yearly Game of The Year poll! Which games are competing this week in Bracket B? An All-Star line-up for sure. There is a wild card this year in which Mario Kart 8: Deluxe is eligible due to the Booster Course Pass. Have fun in the comments section below!

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#Poll #GoTY #Switch #PS4 #eShop #PSN #Gaming

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Get READY TO Ruuuuuuuuuumble!

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It's December and that can only mean one thing here at WiiWareWave! That's right! It's time for our yearly Game of The Year poll! Which games are competing this week in Bracket A? An All-Star line-up for sure. There is a wild card this year in which Mario Kart 8: Deluxe is eligible due to the Booster Course Pass. Have fun in the comments section below!

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#Poll #GoTY #Switch #PS4 #eShop #PSN #Gaming

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Trails From Tio-Tot!

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Developed by Nihon Falcom Games and published in the West by NIS America, The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero is the first game in the long-awaited and previously skipped story arc in the series "at least outside of Japan" starring Lloyd Bannings, Elie MacDowel, Randy Orlando, and Tio Plato formally known as the Special Support Section A.K.A. the SSS. Their job is to restore the Crossbell PD's broken reputation and help civilians in need, but things aren't always so simple. There's a HUGE reason why the Crossbell games are so well-loved and are necessary to understand the series' overarching story in both Cold Steel III & IV as well as in Reverie, and Kuro I & II. Singularly Crossbell's storyline might be the most important one to the series' story as whole. While we obviously can't spoil major story content, we can at least give context as to why. As always continue reading our review to find out why and we hope you enjoy it!



The story in Trails from Zero is absolutely amazing, taking the storytelling of the Sky games and upping the bar several fold. It's an extremely important chapter for giving context in future installments of the series as well such as Trails of Cold Steel III & IV and it is recommended you play this and Azure first if you haven't played anything past Trails of Cold Steel II yet. The gameplay is quite interesting and differs quite a bit from the Cold Steel arc, but is also a bit different from the formula seen in the Sky arc as well.

The battles are also much improved over the Sky Trilogy's, but uses the same engine with grid based movement. There are a bunch of new nuances, but the UI and targeting are far better in Zero. It's really just a ton of small changes that culminate into a much better experience overall. The game even features a trophy system that pops a notification when you earn a trophy and is a nice touch for sure, something we'd like to see used more often in Switch games. The game also features a speed mode to increase gameplay speed from 2-8x normal speed which is a HUGE time-saver for sure, especially when the game itself clocks in at around 100 hours in length give or take 40 hours depending on your pacing.



The audiovisual presentation is really good in this remaster with sharp high quality HD textures, character models, and enemies, gorgeous special effects with equally good lighting and shadowing effects. It is honestly hard to imagine at its core it ever was a PSP title. And the music is exceptional as well with loads of bangers that fit the game like a glove! Overall the game's presentation is a HUGE step-up from the Sky games and looks gorgeous in this remaster!



Bottom-Line: With great gameplay and a ton of content, an amazing story, and a masterpiece of an audiovisual presentation, The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero is a nearly flawless game from start to finish, and just barely fails to reach the heights of the Cold Steel games "with the exception of Trails of Cold Steel I which we gave a 7/10 for being a SUPER slow burner in-terms of how quickly or lack thereof the story pacing was in the game". Overall we give this game a nearly perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★½ 9.5/10

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#Review #NihonFalcom #NISA #Kiseki #Trails #JRPG #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PSN #SpecialSupportSection #Geofront

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Absolute Hero or Absolute Zero?

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Developed by Curious Fate Games and published by Akupara Games, Absolute Tactics is a refreshingly enjoyable take on the Strategy RPG genre that doesn't innovate, but does it stand tall by its quality? We think so continue reading the rest of our review to find out why:



The story in Absolute Tactics is dark and edgy, but quite well-told with a definite gothic fantasy setting. The story has some pretty solid voice acting for an indie title in the genre and the pacing is well-done. The gameplay is fairly straightforward, but well-designed with enough mechanics to make the game engaging, but not so many to turn-off casual players or those new to the genre.

The game is fairly average in length for a game in the genre sitting at around 20 hours in length, and the controls are very responsive which is always a good thing when playing a SRPG.



Visually Absolute Tactics is a real treat with a vibrant yet sadistically dark and detailed gothic inspired world with gorgeous character designs and remarkably detailed stages the game looks on-par if not slightly better visually than the disgaea series. The soundtrack is also quite good and the game's voice acting while sporadic is a real treat to hear. Overall the audio-visual presentation is a real strong point of the game!



Bottom-Line: With a good story, great gameplay, and an excellent audiovisual presentation, Absolute Tactics will draw you in while it's interesting cast of characters and intuitive controls will keep you hooked! Overall we give Absolute Tactics for the Nintendo Switch a good to great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★½☆ 8.5/10

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#Review #AbsoluteTactics #CuriousFateGames #AcuparaGames #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #SRPG

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For Puzzlery!

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Developed by Vine and Yacht Club Games and published by Yacht Club Games, Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon is a unique blend of roguelike, puzzler, RPG, and a bit of adventure gameplay elements that meld together into a highly compelling and ultra enjoyable package and to be honest is every bit as good as the original Shovel Knight title. Continue reading our review to find out why:



As previously stated, Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon's gameplay is a mixture of many different genres blended together in perfect harmony. The roguelike elements add an unpredictable, but fair level of randomness to the puzzler aspect of the game, while the RPG and adventure genre elements allow for a compelling and enjoyable story and feeling of progression for your characters as the gain new skills and abilities from the shop. There are loads of characters in the game to be unlocked, each with their own weapons, skills, and unique gameplay mechanics which adds a lot of replayability to the game.

You can also unlock 10 skins per character and many other things while grinding the game's endless content which is quite enjoyable for completionists. The game also features a Vs. Mode which is a great way to enjoy the game with a friend and had us hooked for hours! The story is relatively short on its own, clocking in at only a handful of hours, but the unlockable content, random nature of the game, and addictive gameplay will keep you coming back for dozens or even hundreds of hours and you'll likely enjoy every single minute of it due to the insane amount of polish this game possesses!



As for the game's difficulty? It's fair, but has a steep learning curve to master and can take quite a few hours to fully grasp how everything works, but the journey of mastering this game is where a lot of the fun is derived from! The controls are very intuitive and respond very well which obviously is always a good thing!

As for Shovel Knght: Pocket Dungeon's audio-visual presentation, it's a true masterpiece! Great looking overworld? Check! Breathtaking character and enemy designs? Check! Gorgeous and streamlined user interface? Check! And the soundtrack is easily the best of any puzzler we've heard in years as well as arcade-style sound effects that are absolute ear-candy!



Bottom-Line: With unique and amazing gameplay, excellent controls, and gorgeous visuals, Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon will have players hooked right from the start, while the endless replay-value and best soundtrack in the puzzler genre in years will keep players coming back time and time again! We give Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon for the Nintendo Switch a perfect-level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10/10

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#Review #ShovelKnight #YachtClubGames #VineGames #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Puzzler #Roguelike #RPG #Adventure

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Cannon-Bombing The 7-Seas of Fun!!!

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Developed and published by 7 Raven Studios Dyna Bomb 2 is the sequel to the relatively old Switch action-platformer Dyna Bomb which was a solid game with a lot of unrealized potential. Does this sequel fully live up to its predecessor's potential? No, but it's still a much better realization of the potential we saw in the original Dyna Bomb and here's why:



The gameplay in Dyna Bomb 2 is really addictive and quite fun when you get into the curve of the game's mechanics. You have a jetpack with limited fuel, limited ammo in the form of bombs, and must reach the end of a stage circumnavigating enemies and a number of extremely hazardous and devious environmental dangers as well as traps. There's much more to the game though as doing things such as killing all enemies and collecting all gems can earn you the ability to unlock character skins and loads of other bonuses in the in-game shop. This is the best addition to the series as you no longer have to rely on gacha mechanics to unlock bonuses.

Each world also has a challenging boss at the end that can oftentimes require a bit of strategy to beat and are really fun to fight. There are other intricacies such as hidden paths and other mechanics that make exploration more challenging, but oh so rewarding!



The game itself isn't super long, but should take most gamers at least a few sessions to beat, clocking in at around 10-14 hours in length, however unlocking everything and completing all levels 100% can take nearly double that amount of time! As for the difficulty, Dyna Bomb 2 starts off pretty easy, but gets more challenging by the second half of the game. The controls? Silky smooth and responsive as well as super easy to learn. And of course the biggest draw of Dyna Bomb 2 is the co-op multiplayer which is extremely fun, however things can get quite hectic if you and your friend start going bomb crazy firing bombs all over the place at the same time.

As for the audio-visual presentation? The graphics are colorful and cheery, the enemy and boss models are full of character and detail, the game's special effects and environmental effects such as snow and rain are a HUGE step-up from the original Dyna Bomb and look remarkable! The soundtrack is quite catchy and fits the mood of the game, but can get a bit repetitive at times.



Bottom-Line: With great gameplay that is much improved from the game's predecessor, fun co-op multiplayer, flawless controls, and an amazing visual presentation, Dyna Bomb 2 is a vast improvement over the original in every conceivable way. Slightly short game length and a few music tracks that are a bit repetitive in an otherwise remarkable soundtrack do hold this game back just slightly, but overall we highly recomment adding this game to your Nintendo Switch library of games! We give Dyna Bomb 2 for the Nintendo Switch a good to great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★½☆ 8.5/10

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#Review #7RavenStudios #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Action #Platformer

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The Final Frontier...TWO!

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Developed by Granzella and published by NIS America, R-Type Final 2 is the latest game in the long-running R-Type series with updated gameplay mechanics and fresh new visuals. Is this new game as good as its predecessors? No, but it is a solid game in its own right and here's why:



The gameplay in R-Type Final 2 is fantastic even by sidescrolling Shoot em' up standards. There are plenty of game modes and options to give players quite a few ways to play the game. The game itself is more refined than its predecessors with additional upgrades, more responsive controlls, and more which makes the game feel fresh, and while the game has a decent amount of content, a huge chunk is also locked as paid dlc, which is rather unfortunate. The game also suffers from a bit of stuttering and several second loading times between deaths which is a bit jarring and lowers our overall score of the game by a bit.

As for the audio-visual presentation the game looks amazing with gorgeous level backgrounds, excellent ship and enemy models as well as great looking UI's and menus. The soundtrack is also absolutely incredible and fits the mood of the game well as do the myriad of sound effects in the game!



Bottom-Line: With good gameplay, excellent controls, and a top-notch audio-visual presentation, R-Type Final 2 is an enjoyable romp through a new entry in a beloved series, however technical issues and long loading times hold this game back quite a bit. We still give R-Type Final 2 a solid level of recommendation despite its flaws!

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Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10

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#Review #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Granzella #NISAmerica #SHMUP

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A Pixel's Life!

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PR agency, PR Hound has announced that super limited boxed sets for Super Life of Pixel for Nintendo Switch and PS4 will be made available via Strictly Limited Games' website! Here's what PR Hound announced:

PR Hound wrote:



Exploring Gaming History has never been this fun!

- Boxed Versions of this Indie-gem available for pre-order -


Stuttgart, Germany - November 19th, 2021 - Strictly Limited Games, together with Reset Games, are excited to give Super Life of Pixel a physical release, exclusively at the Strictly Limited Games Shop. Super Life of Pixel is a 2D puzzle-platformer that lets you enter a living, playable museum of video game history. A museum that spans across three decades and 19 historically inspired consoles, giving you a historic tour that is sure to put a smile on your face.


8bit level



In the words of Strictly Limited’s Co-founder, Dennis Mendel -

“As avid supporters of video game preservation ourselves, Super Life of Pixel is a perfect fit for our catalogue. Not only because of the game’s fantastic insights into gaming history, but also because it, like many other digital-only games, faces extinction in the long run. I bought its predecessor Life of Pixel on the PlayStation Mobile Store many years ago. Unfortunately, the store got shut down and after my PlayStation Vita memory card died, I realised there was no way to re-download the game again. It was simply lost. All the more reason for us to ensure that Super Life of Pixel will receive an immortal, physical legacy, like every other Strictly Limited release in our catalogue.”



Super Life of Pixel will be available for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, as a Limited Edition and Special Limited Edition, with pre-orders kicking off on Sunday, 21st of November at 12 AM CET (midnight), Only at Strictly Limited Games.


About the Game:

Join Pixel as he quests through gaming history, teleporting across the most iconic video game systems of generations past. Jump, dodge and play smart to survive all the traps, puzzles and enemies waiting at every turn and to unlock the next console on this historic gaming journey. Super Life of Pixel is like a museum on gaming history, but one full of sharp things, bad guys and free falls - in which you will die. A lot. Exploring gaming history has never been this fun!



16bit level



Whether you’re nostalgic for these classic consoles or it’s your first time experiencing them, now it’s your turn to make gaming history!



Featuring 19 historically inspired consoles from the 8 & 16-bit eras and over 110 levels to conquer with dozens of secrets and puzzles

Unlock various power ups, vehicles and equipment for a varied and challenging experience

Get console history lessons and listen to the awesome original chip-tune soundtrack

Classic gaming references & easter eggs await around every corner, can you spot them all?



32bit level




Strictly Limited Games pre-order:

The Limited Edition will be limited to 2,000 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,000 for PlayStation 4, at a price of 29.99€, including a colourful game manual.


PS4 box artSwitch box art


The Special Limited Edition with lots of additional physical collectibles will be limited to 800 copies for Nintendo Switch and 400 for PlayStation 4, for 49.99€.


The Special Limited Edition will include the following items:


Game for Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4 

Special Limited Edition box

Colourful game manual 

Papercraft Pixel (10cm x 10cm)

Original soundtrack on CD  

Large, 2-sided poster (DIN A3)

Notepad (DIN A6)

Post card (DIN A6)  

Pixel sticker (8cm x 8cm)


Collector's edition contents


*Shipping of these unique editions with limited supply is expected for March 2022.

What do you think about this announcement? As always feel free to leave us a comment below!

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#News #SuperLifeOfPixel #Platformer #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #PRHound #StrictlyLimitedGames

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Space Fish In 3-D!

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Developed by TAITO, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, G-Darius HD for the PS4 is a 3-D Polygonal arcade space shoot em' up in the long-running Darius series and the first one that was in 3-D. The original arcade release back in the 90's was amazing and while the PSOne port wasn't quite as good, it was still quite an enjoyable experience. Does this HD remaster live up to the previous iterations of the game? We think so, and we'll tell you why, so continue reading our review to find out!



The gameplay in G-Darius HD, is jam-packed with a robust power-up system, dozens of types of enemies, branching level paths, and epic bosses and mid-bosses that are sure to provide a challenge to all players. The games' zones vary widely and add a ton of replayabilty to an already content rich game, which is always a good thing. The game also features alien ship capturing allowing players to capture enemies or even mid-bosses and add them as an ally!

The difficulty can be challenging, but is fair and as for the controls, they work exceptionally well. The game also features loads of cabinet settings, screen settings, and an assortment of widgets that can display various information regarding the game on-screen which is a nice touch!



The audiovisual presentation is fantastic with detailed environments, gorgeous 3-D enemies, and crazy special effects that are actually quite impressive for a game released back in the late-90's. The soundtrack is also extremely enjoyable and fits the game like a glove! The sound effects and other audio is just as pleasing to the ears as well!



Bottom-Line: With excellent gameplay with tons of replayabilty, great controls, and a top-notch audiovisual presentation, G-Darius HD for the PS4 is a superb remaster of one of the first 3-D scrolling shmups released in the arcades and the amount of customization adds to the replayabilty of the game! Overall we give G-Darius HD for PS4 a nearly perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★½ 9.5/10

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#Review #TAITO #M2 #PRHound #ININ #SHMUP #Arcade #PS4 #Retail #PSN #Switch #eShop

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Augmented Reality Ahoy!

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PR Hound has announced that Augmented: Faraday Protocol has been released on PS5 and Nintendo Switch! Here's the official announcement from the PR firm:

PR Hound wrote:Official game logo



Faraday Protocol

-       Breaking the Rules       -        

  Power Launch after Low Profile Release Switch/PS5

Publisher Deck 13, who last year released the globally acclaimed RPG blockbuster CrossCode, delivers another genre breakthrough with a redefined and enhanced first-person puzzler & explorer with a mysterious backdrop story to intrigue. Faraday Protocol is an experience that is not to be missed. - Out Now! - PS/XB/NSW - $24.99/€24.99/£20.99 - PC Steam $19.99/€19.99/£15.99.



Emergence  / Evolution

After a low profile soft launch and focused feedback from the gaming community, a number of major updates have been initiated in Faraday Protocol. With its unique and challenging gameplay, which adds that extra spark to ensuring it shines brightly, this game reemerges  on Microsoft Xbox, Steam PC, Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 4 /5 with a triumphant boost of creativity.

The first puzzle pyramid awaits



Setting New Boundaries

This beautifully crafted first person puzzle journey conjures up intrigue, mystery, and a number of unsettling moments as you experience the atmospheric delights as an interstellar archaeologist who researches the abandoned space station OPIS and its enigmatic governing A.I. IRIS. Developed by the talented Italian developers, Red Koi Box, utilizing the Unreal Engine 4, they have crafted and designed methods unique to this game genre.


Brainy Stuff

All of the mechanics rotate around the Bia-Tool, an original object capable of absorbing and re-distributing specific types of energy. The simple mechanics  evolve over time and allow for increasingly complex and mind-bending puzzles.



Doors open and puzzlement awaits



Breaking New Ground

“Faraday Protocol moves from the traditional ways and follows rules and uses mechanics never used before, and will challenge the grey matter of the player to lateral and logical thinking. The unique puzzle elements combined with the linear game and story progression make this game enjoyable for almost everyone.”, Giacomo Sala, Red Koi Box.



The Story Unfolds and Scene setting - The Challenge
Set in a sterile and futuristic world, you are soon thrust into an organic forest-like environment after leaving your spacecraft. In this strange unnerving environment the player will see three Ziggurats (pyramid buildings) and will be led into one, where your intuitive powers of logic and expertise will start. The first building looks clean, sterile and in very good condition, with strong tones of black and gold. Here the player will learn the basic mechanics, and will experiment with them until he will reach the top of Ziqqurat One. Outside night has now come, and more, new mechanics will be introduced. The next building will be decaying, and will comprise a combination of all the player has previously learned. He will then face two other environments, with different tones and feels, which will bring him to the end of the game. Throughout the game, the storyline will progressively grow, as in the beginning it is limited to pre-recorded messages, it will unfold into full conversations with multiple choices.

Ziggurat


Features - Outside the Box

Multiple Solutions to succeed.

Hidden Collectables - Deviously Hidden

Immersive Soundtrack

Puzzle your way through a number of “Escape Room”- like puzzle rooms

Absorb and redistribute energy using the Bia-Tool

Unravel the mysteries of the abandoned space station OPIS

A unique blend of retrofuturism


Faraday Protocol - Its Essence - is a first person puzzler that will test your wits and intelligence. Use the Bia-Tool, an ancient pistol-like relic of an alien civilization, to solve puzzles by bending energy and manipulating enigmatic machinery. Explore the mysterious and abandoned space station OPIS and unravel the mysteries of its governing A.I. IRIS, which slumbers deep at the core of the station.


Adapting the Rules to Deliver an Ambient and Absorbing Experience for All!

What do you think about the announcement? Will you be purchasing this fantastic looking first person puzzler/exploration title? Let us know in our comments section below!

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#News #PS5 #Switch #Retail #eShop #PSN #PRHound #Deck13 #Puzzler #FirstPerson #Exploration

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Monstrous Fun!

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Developed by Nihon Falcom Games and published by NIS America, YS IX: Monstrum Nox is the ninth main installment in the long-running YS series, ten if you count Ys Origins, but is this darker brother of the series worth a purchase? We think so and here's why:



The game has all the typical action-rpg goodness you've come to expect from the series with fast-paced battles, interesting and unique bosses, and a diverse cast of likeable characters. The formula is mostly intact including the raid battles from Ys VIII, but the puzzle-solving has been watered down quite a bit which isn't a good thing, but doesn't hurt the game that much either, much to our surprise. The story is incredibly dark this time around so expect some really sad moments during the game's 8 lengthy chapters!

The game is also a fair bit shorter than its predecessor clocking in at around 30 hours in length if you know what you're doing. The controls are quite responsive and easy to learn which is always a good thing, and the difficulty is fairly challenging even on the normal setting.



The audiovisual-presentation in YS IX is quite good with lush open-world regions, and fantastic special effects and character designs. The only downside visually is that the game doesn't quite look as impressive as its predecessor, YS VIII, but overall it's a really nice looking game. On the audio side of things, the voice acting is superb and the soundtrack is as good as you'd expect from a Nihon Falcom game, which is nothing short of perfection!

The Switch Difference:

There are two big things to take note about the Switch version of the game, and neither are particularly positive. First the frame-rate is quite bad on Switch, sometimes dropping to sub 20 FPS, but aside from those there are frequent smaller dips the cause the game to frequently stutter which is not great to be honest. The other issus is battery life in handheld mode which is quite bad. We only managed to get a paltry 1 hour and 35 minutes of play-time off of a full charge. These two issues definitely hurt the game's overall score, but it's still a worthwhile purchase if you don't own a PS4 or PS5.



Bottom-Line: With a dark and amazing story, excellent gameplay, solid controls and a top-notch audiovisual-presentation, YS IX: Monstrum Nox is a nearly flawless action-rpg that is an absolute blast to play, however the Switch version has frame-rate issues and drains the battery quickly in handheld mode and as such We give the Switch version a good level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10

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#Review #YS #NihonFalcom #NISAmerica #PS4 #Retail #PSN #Switch #eShop #ActionRPG #JRPG

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Cotton In 3-D!

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Panorama Cotton will be releasing on the Nintendo Switch and PS4 this week as part of the Cotton series' 30th anniversary celebration according to PR Hound. You can read the official announe below:

PR Hound wrote:The big 30th birthday celebration of the Cotton franchise continues with Panorama Cotton. Strictly Limited Games is opening pre-orders for physical Limited and Collector’s Editions, starting October 24th at 12 AM (midnight) CEST, exclusively at the Strictly Limited Games store!


ININ Games is proud to announce the launch of the digital versions of Panorama Cotton for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in the west, on October 29th. For the first time on current-gen consoles!


Panorama Cotton

Panorama Cotton is an addictive, pseudo-3D rail shooter, adding an intriguing new twist to the Cotton franchise. When a burnt willow suddenly appears in the Queen's garden, the behavior of her highness begins to get stranger and stranger. Cotton and Silk go on a journey to find the evil willow burner and bring an end to the disaster.

Strictly Limited Games - Physical Editions

The Limited Edition includes the game for Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4 and the colorful game manual. It will be available for 29.99€, limited to 2,500 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,500 copies for PlayStation 4.



PS4 Packshot Limited Edition Nintendo Switch packshot Limited Edition

The Collector’s Edition will be available for 64.99€ limited to 1,500 copies for Nintendo Switch and 800 copies for PlayStation 4. It contains a colorful combination of collectibles:



Game for Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4

Collector’s Edition box

Colorful game manual

Yunomi (Japanese-style tea cup)

Natsume (Japanese-style tea can)

Kakemono (Japanese-style wall scroll)

Original soundtrack

Large reversible poster (A2)

6x Postcards

2x Lenticular cards

Window sticker


Collector's edition contents


Strictly Limited Games - Retro Releases

Retro collectors will also be able to grab a standalone Panorama Cotton cartridge compatible with the Sega Genesis/Megadrive, with 600 cartridges compatible with the Sega Megadrive and 900 cartridges compatible with the Sega Genesis for 49.99€.



Genesis PackshotMega Drive packshot

ININ - Digital Versions

For fans of digital copies, ININ Games is also releasing a digital version of Panorama Cotton for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation! Available on the 29th of October!

What do you think of this news? Be sure to let us know in our comments section below!

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#News #ININ #PRHound #StrictlyLimitedGames #PS4 #Switch #PSN #eShop #Megadrive #Genesis #Retro #Cotton

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Spelunking Ahoy!

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Developed by Tozai Games, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Spelunker HD Deluxe for the PS4 is an action-platformer from the NES era that has been revived on PS4 with optional enhanced graphics, leaderboards, online multiplayer, and several enjoyable new game modes. Is this enough to make the game enjoyable for modern audiences? We think so and here's why:



The gameplay is straightforward enough, collect treasure, avoid enemies and traps, and DON'T FALL! Seriously elevation is deadly in this game and while frustrating at times it isn't unfair. You'll never feel like a death was undeserved, which is a sign of a well-designed game. The myriad of game modes adds a ton of replayability to the game, especially the Championship Mode and the roguelike mode exclusively available on this re-release.

The controls are easy to learn and are quite intuitive while the multiplayer is a ton of fun for players of all ages! The audiovisual presentation is also extremely well-done with great visuals and superb music that fits the game like a glove!



Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, excellent controls, and a superb audiovisual presentation, Spelunker HD for the PS4 is a quality remaster of a forgotten retro gem that we highly recommend to all PS4 owners as such we give the game a good to great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★¾☆ 8.75/10

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#Review #MiniReview #TozaiGames #ININGames #PRHound #PS4 #Retail #PSN #Switch #eShop #Platformer #Retro #Spelunker

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Bursting The Waves of Adventure!

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Developed by TAITO, published by TAITO and M2, with PR by PR Hound, Darius Burst: Another Chronicle EX+ is a console port of the arcade title Darius Burst: Another Chronicle, and while it might not have as much content as Chronicle Saviors, it's every bit as enjoyable! Continue reading our review to find out why!



The gameplay in Darius Burst: Another Chronicle EX+ is split into several different modes, these include Original which is a traditional arcade experience through three branching zones. While fun, this mode is extremely short and has a limited number of zones, which means very low replay value can be found in this mode. Then EX mode which is basically a more challenging remix of Original Mode and is quite enjoyable if not a tad too similar to Original Mode.

Another mode is Chronicle Mode which has many missions and custom zones with specific goals that must be met. This mode is quite beefy and adds many hours of gameplay to the game. We highly recommend playing through Chronicle Mode for the best experience. Finally there's event mode which features all of the limited time Chronicle Mode events from the arcade release of the game which is exceptionally fun to play and quite difficult to boot. The only downside is that there are only around 20 missions in this mode so don't expect much replayability here.



The gameplay will be familiar for those who are longtime fans of the Darius series, with challenging waves of enemies, tough as nails bosses, and tight controls that are very responsive which is always important in Shoot 'em up titles! As for the audiovisual presentation, the game looks fantastic despite its age with impressive special effects, detailed enemies and backgrounds, and a rocking soundtrack that fits the hectic mood of the game!



Bottom-Line: With many fantastic and fun game modes, excellent gameplay, and a superb audiovisual presentation that has aged extremely well, Darius Burst: Another Chronicle EX+ for the PS4 is one whale of a shmup that no fan of the genre should let get away! We give the game a perfect level f recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10/10

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#Review #TAITO #M2 #PRHound #Darius #PS4 #Retail #PSN #Switch #eShop #Shmup

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The Final Wave!

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Developed by SideQuest Studios and published by EastAsiaSoft, Soldner-X 2 Final Prototype: Definitive Edition for the PS4 is the best edition of the game originally released way back in 2010 on PS3 and Vita. The game comes with all three DLC packs, as well as a full trophy list including a platinum trophy which the original lacked, an art gallery, and bonus stages that can be unlocked by collecting five hidden keys in the game's various stages! If this sounds good so far, continue reading our review, because this is just a tip in the iceberg in-terms of this game's awesomeness:



You are one of the best pilots left in an apocalyptic world and are the last line of defense between the enemy and human extinction as is common in the genre. Cliches aside, the gameplay in Soldner-X 2 Final Prototype Definitive Edition is super refined and feels like a cross between a bullet hell shmup and something more traditional such as Gradius. The enemies are varied and oftentimes drop power-up's that will help players out immensely while the combo system will allow you to score massive points. The bosses are where the real challenges lie, however as they will shower players with complex bullet patterns, lasers, and even hordes of enemies which will truly test players' mettle in the game!



The difficulty is very challenging, though more fair than most bullet hell games, with fairly small bullet hit boxes, and fair enemy movements. The controls are also very tight and responsive so expect to not get frustrated with the controls all that often which is always great for games in the genre! The audiovisual presentation is good. It won't wow with its dated modern graphics, but looks nice and the soundtrack on the other hand sound absolutely fantastic and fits the game to a tee!



Bottom-Line: With great challenging gameplay, excellent music, good graphics, and tight as well as intuitive controls, Soldner-X 2 Final Prototype: Definitive Edition for the PS4 is an amazing game that is well worth the cost of admission and we highly recommend the game to all fans of shmups and arcade games of the 90's and early 2000's. We give the game a great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10

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#Review #EastAsiaSoft #SideQuestStudios #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop #SHMUP #Arcade

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The End of A Saga!

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Developed by Nihon Falcom Games and published by NIS America, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV is the final game in the Erabonian storyline in the long-running series and has been highly anticipated by fans, but does the game deliver the quality that fans have come to expect? We think so and here's why:



In-terms of story and gameplay, Trails of Cold Steel IV picks up where the third game left off, and while it doesn't immediately get you into the meat of the gameplay, it does quickly recap what happened at the end of ToCS III, just in more detail. Once you do gain control you'll quickly notice that the battles are a good deal more challenging this time around with orders taking a massive drop in efficacy, but aside from that most of the changes in gameplay are pretty minimal outside of the new minigames and few new features that were added in this game.



The game is quite the beast in-terms of length as well, clocking in at between 100 and 150 hours to beat even on the easiest difficulty. The game has a host of missables as usual which can make earning the platinum trophy quite difficult to obtain without some sort of assistance, such as a guide or walkthrough. The controls in the game are intuitive and easy to learn if you're a newcomer, though we highly recommend playing the games in order to avoid spoilers.



The audiovisual presentation is absolutely breathtaking as the visuals have seen a increase in detail and the cutscenes in particular look amazing with higher quality special effects than the previous game possessed. The new locations are quite enjoyable and look a good deal better than the returning locations, which still look great and the characters new looks are quite fantastic!



The soundtrack also is one of the best in video game history in our honest opinions, it easily has the best soundtrack we've heard since ToCS II and possibly even eclipses the soundtrack of the original Xenoblade Chronicles!

The Switch Difference:



There are a few noteworthy differences between the PS4 and Switch versions of Trails of Cold Steel IV. The first is obviously the portability allowing players to play on the go which is always a great feature no-doubt, however that's the only positive difference. The game is surprisingly harsh on the analog sticks on the Switch Lite so we'd imagine it might spell doom for any Joycon controlers on a standard Switch Model. The second issue is a significant downgrade in the graphics which felt much closer to those seen in the first two Trails of Cold Steel games, which while not terrible, feels like a big step backwards. And the last issue are frame-rates that occasionally drop below 20 FPS with more frequent drops to around 25 FPS which REALLY hurts the game's audiovisual rating.

Bottom-Line: With challenging yet amazing gameplay with a ton of content, excellent story, and a fully portable experience if desired, JRPG fans and fans of RPG's in-general will certainly fall in love with this charming and epic role-playing game. The only downside is that the audiovisual presentation has taken a HUGE hit on the limited power of the Switch hardware. Overall we give the game a good to great recommendation to all Switch owners who love a great JRPG!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★¾☆ 8.75/10

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#Review #NihonFalcomGames #NISAmerica #TheLegendOfHeroes #Kiseki #Switch #eShop #PS4 #Retail #PSN #JRPG #RPG #SRPG

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Find The Blade Within Yourself!

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Developed by Ametist, published by Ametist and Ratalaika Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Within The Blade is a 2-D action-platformer that is heavily inspired by games such as Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, and other ninja platformers from the 80's and 90's. But does Within The Blade live up to the standards set by those aforementioned titles? We think so and here's why:



The gameplay is quite challenging and plays a lot like Ninja Gaiden for the NES or Shinobi for the SEGA Genesis, with a heavy emphasis on action with challenging platforming thrown in for good measure. The game is relatively short, clocking in at around an hour or two in length, but you'll thoroughly enjoy every minute of it if you're a fan of the action-platformer genre! Also the controls are tight and very responsive as expected from an action oriented game.



As for the audiovisual presentation, Within The Blade does a good job emulating the visual style of retro games, though if you're a western gamer, you'll notice much more blood than you saw in any NES or SNES game. This might break the retro immersion for some, but still looks great. The soundtrack sounds great as well with retro vibes that fit the game like a well-worn glove!



Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, excellent controls, and a enjoyably retro audiovisual presentation, Within The Blade is a great platformer that we highly recommend adding to your PS4 or Switch's library of games and there's really nothing negative to report as such, we give the game a good to great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★¾☆ 8.75/10

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#Review #Ametist #RatalaikaGames #PRHound #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop #Action #Platformer #Retro #Ninja

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Seasonal Fun!

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Developed by Exe-Create and published by KEMCO, Chroma Quaternion is another colorful and cheery JRPG from the prolific developer, and it is a REALLY good one this time! Continue reading our review to find out just how much we recommend this amazing JRPG!



The story in Chroma Quaternion is one of the best that KEMCO and Exe-Create has ever created from the selection of games that they have developed and published on dedicated gaming devices, the characters are extremely likeable, there are hilarious jokes abounding within the more serious overarching story, and possibly our favorite aspect are the guest characters Elimi and Extermi, who happen to be loveable idols in the game. The story is at least 25 hours in length, but to complete it will take most players 40+ hours.

The gameplay in Chroma Quaternion is quite refined with elements from many previous KEMCO titles including a job class system, 3x3 grid battle system, and plenty other mechanics that all blend together harmoniously. The difficulty is relatively easy, though a few difficulty spikes might require short level grinding, but nothing that detracts from the enjoyment factor of the game. As for the controls there's nothing negative to report as expected from a turn-based JRPG.



The audiovisual presentation in Chroma Quaternion is a real treat with colorful visuals, vibrant and detailed characters, and varied environments and the 2-D anime style story scenes are more vibrant than in other KEMCO titles which gives the game even more character. The soundtrack is extremely good and sets the tone for the entire game while the music tracks are varied and catchy and will leave players humming the tunes long after they have finished the game!



Bottom-Line: With a great story, excellent gameplay, and a nearly perfect audiovisual presentation, Chroma Quaternion is one JRPG we cannot recommend enough! We give the game an great level of recommendation to all fans of RPG's!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10

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#Review #KEMCO #ExeCreate #JRPG #ChromaQuaternion #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop

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It's A Small Kingdom After All.

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Developed by Ratalaika Games and Spoonbox Studio, and published by EastAsiaSoft, Kingdom of Arcadia is a bite-sized Metroidvania that has a cool premise, but is there more to this title than just that? Continue reading our review to find out!



Kingdom of Arcadia's gameplay is simple and straightforward for better or worse and ends up coming across a bit more of a standard platformer with a few Metroidvania mechanics at times. There are very few upgrades other that stat boosts for your equipment which makes the game start feeling repetitive rather quickly. The game is also super short with five worlds separated into small little sections. The game can easily be beaten in an hour or two and while challenging at times doesn't make up for its relative lack of content. The controls while easy to learn feel a bit off at times though we're pretty sure it has more to do with the game's physics rather than its actual controller responsiveness.

The audiovisual presentation is super simple with unimpressive level backgrounds and a sheer lack of music, with maybe two or three tracks in the entire game which only makes the repetitiveness of the game even more noticeable.



Bottom-Line: With solid gameplay that is a bit basic and repetitive at times, short playtime, and a lackluster audiovisual presentation, Kingdom of Arcadia is a solid game that is missing the polish and content it needs to live up to its potential, however at $5.99 the game is good for what you pay for and is better than most games at its price point and as such we give the game a decent level of recommendation.

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Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6/10

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#Review #RatalaikaGames #SpoonboxStudio #EastAsiaSoft #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop #Metroidvania

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