Feliciano Mondigo III

The Switch really is the perfect platform for visual novels. 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim is a surprisingly different take on the genre. It managed to juggle 13 different protagonists in a multi-layered science fiction story. Each character has its own set of mysteries to solve and answers to find. The game's visual novel section will piece together the events in a fragmented type of storytelling. It can get confusing most of the time, so I recommend having a notepad to keep track of multiple names.

Apart from its Visual Novel sections, 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim has actual combat. In between its point and click visual novel adventure, it's a mecha game. Like Into The Breach, or XCOM, battles require careful thinking, or brute force. Eliminate a legion of relentless Kaijus called 'Deimos' using. your 'Sentinel' to save the day. It's a simple premise, but the story gets even deeper after every incursion.

These two sections: the visual novel and the tactical gameplay, make up the core experience of Aegis Rim. Vanillaware somehow blended these mechanics into one seamless experience. It's a game that's best played blind, so be careful when you're searching around the internet.

If you enjoy games like Persona, Ace Attorney or even Steins; Gate, Aegis Rim has a lot of themes dealing with all things sci-fi, and anime tropes.

I recommend playing it on the Switch since it's compact and Vanillaware included a patch exclusively to the machine. It adds gameplay balance and special new abilities to its 13 characters.

It's even better on the PC.

Monster Hunter Rise is a surprising new direction for the future of CAPCOM's best-selling franchise. Rise removes most of its dull features (Hot Drinks, Excessive Grinding, Travel) in favor of a more streamlined monster hunting experience. The amount of quality of life changes makes the experience less frustrating and doesn't disrupt its core gameplay loop: which is hunting monsters.

Rise even pushed movement even further with two additions: the Wirebug and the Palamute, your dog companion. Traversing around its treacherous locales is made even easier with these two important additions. You can even use them in combat, and it requires mastery.

New players will find this less intimidating compared to its big brother, Monster Hunter World/Iceborne.

This PC release doesn't only improve performance, pumping its frames to more than 30, it's also the definitive way to play this game in my opinion. The visual overhaul, the 4K support and a smooth-sailing online experience (without Nintendo Online) makes monster hunting a little less stressful. My only concern is that it didn't really add anything significant in terms of gameplay and content. It's JUST a PC port.

But nonetheless, I can't wait for their Sunbreak expansion.