ZTGD

Laser League should be the next big thing since Rocket League. It all really depends on the player base and how many dedicated players it will bring. There’s a lot to unlock here, and while it is complex at times, the main core gameplay is as simple as can be, which is what makes it so addicting to play. I highly suggest this game to anyone that likes team-based games with a little strategy. It’s fun, easy to pick up and play, and even more fun to master.

City of Brass has a great theme and aesthetic, but falls victim to the same issues most roguelikes have. I feel like a broken record every time I review one saying this would have been a better traditional game as opposed to a run-based one. Still, there are neat ideas and the theme of it is hard not to love.

The performance issues which afflict this game are fairly significant, but not significant enough to be considered a deal-breaker. There is quality here – the gameplay and strategy are genuinely sound, the campaign is worth the investment, and the universe is rich and compelling. This is a flawed title, but BattleTech’s nuanced tactical depth and engaging system of progression will ultimately sustain it over the long haul.

As far as visuals are concerned Masters of Anima goes for style over technical prowess. The game has a soft look with some great color design. The worlds are interesting and well laid out. I never lost my way. As mentioned the voice acting is also great and I really did enjoy the telling of the story, even if it was overly predictable.

Guns of Icarus: Alliance is one of those games that has some great ideas and thought out implementation, but with some aspects of the performance and execution, it starts to hit some rough patches after a while. Finding a crew that works well together and does the right jobs at the right time can most certainly make this game stand out with some fantastic moments.

Truly, I think the good folks at Deep Silver are a talented bunch, capable of making great games. Seeing them relegated to porting a mediocre game from the mobile devices instead of creating a new title that would better showcase their talent as well as the strength of the platform is a shame indeed. If you’ve been waiting for a quality game to fill that void until Star Fox makes a return on the Switch, you best keep waiting.

Owlboy is a wonderful adventure that hits the right notes. Dropping in at the sweet spot of ten hours this game delivers on almost everything it sets up. The mechanics feel fantastic, the bosses are genuinely fun to take down, and the characters are wonderfully fleshed out. This is one game that borrows from other genres and does it right. It is hard to stand out in a sea of me-too games, but Owlboy manages to do it in spades.

Dead in Vinland is a survival game I really appreciated, and I will dive into it again. My only wish is that the developers had a randomization option that focused strictly on how long I can survive rather than focusing on a story as well as the campaign, but for what it is, Dead in Vinland is a great survival management game for those who panic at seeing hunger meters rapidly increase in real time.

Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs is a game that tries to do it all. It has influences of Persona, Disgaea, Atelier, and Final Fantasy Tactics all wrapped into one. While it does have some missteps, overall this is a solid game that can really take a player by surprise at just how big it really can be.

I did not like Detective Pikachu. It was clear very early on this game was for children, as it held my hand through problem solving the entire game. I played on normal mode so I cannot imagine how the easier gameplay mode can be any simpler than the standard game. My big point of contention with Detective Pikachu is that I played the core Pokémon games (the role playing games) as a child and many other children have done the same. Kids are not so daft to require this much hand holding, especially fans of the Pokémon series. It makes me question who this game is for other than the most extreme, hardcore Pokémon fans. Ultimately, I like the concept of Detective Pikachu and will likely see the movie when it releases, but hopefully the developers choose to challenge their audience a bit more with any potential sequel.