Destructoid

NieR: Automata is nearly as good of an RPG as it is an action game, which is a mighty tall order. It's tough to really strike that balance as many action-RPGs tend to favor one element over the other, but Platinum Games, with the help of Square Enix, has tapped into its innate ability to captivate us with combat while keeping the rest of the journey engaging.

We don't have enough undersea titles, and much of the game was a delightful, and sometimes even breathtaking experience. Yet, the parts that weren't were an exercise in futility and frustration – I can't remember the last time I had to go to a game's forum to get a bug resolved just so I could advance. It's a lesson in wonderful concept and poor execution. If you were looking for the next Subnautica or Sunless Sea, this isn't quite there.

Overall, Malicious Fallen is a remaster worth investing in. Not owning Rebirth on the Vita, fixing the camera issue of the PS3 version, and improving the frame rate in both versions, I had a better experience and got to explore the chapters I missed out from the saga. It's a great action game that gave me a lot of challenge, which I always ask for. At half the price of your average retail game, I say it’s definitely worth it.

Like any rhythm game with a truckload of songs it has its highs and lows, but as a whole I really dug the compositions. They range from sweet saccharine J or K-pop to whimsical piano-only songs, to hardcore industrial electronica. Voez is a diamond in the rough, at least as far as the Nintendo Switch eShop is concerned. The system's launch went from zero (or just Zelda) to hero in seconds flat, and as long as you're okay with a lack of a TV mode, Voez is a worthy pickup.

Frustrations eventually giving way toward a playful spite, I was running through the game again and again before I knew it. It's going to be a long time before I get everything I want out of Loot Rascals, and I'm perfectly fine with that. With Loot Rascals, I feel like I can loot forever. Whether that's actually true has yet to be proven, but I'm going to have lots of fun figuring it out.

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is worth picking up on its own, but you should really just get the total package and play through all three campaigns. They each offer something unique like a Vegas buffet, and coincidentally enough the new price point of the Treasure Trove edition matches up.

I fought optional world bosses, explored labyrinths far off the beaten path, and gradually learned how to tame horses -- none of which are handed to you on a silver platter. This isn't your typical boiler plate open world cash grab, rife with to-do lists and busywork. Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an evolution of the formula for both eastern and western philosophies alike, and a new blueprint.

And that's it. It's Bomberman, man. It feels like an arcade game with a $50 price tag. The campaign isn't as strong as it could be, but there's enough here to keep the series going until Konami can muster up a little more for the next iteration.

Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns doesn’t reinvent the tractor wheel, but it does change it out for a more durable model. This game is built to last many, many seasons, and if you can get behind its quiet pace and an overabundance of content, you’ll find one of the most complete farm sims to ever hit a handheld device.

The various parts of Torment: Tides of Numenera come together in a solid package. Though it isn’t perfect, there’s no doubt that this is an RPG that will appeal to a specific type of person. Like the way that the Ninth World rises from the ashes of other civilizations, Torment: Tides of Numenera is a layered experience. For role-players keen on experiencing a game of consequences and twisted fantasy, it’s well worth the adventure.