James Paley
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COGConnectedLatest Reviews
But if you’ve never played this game before, that’s a whole different story. Bravely Default is a fantastic RPG, one that’s easily worth your time and attention. The job and combat systems alone are worth the price of entry. Everything else, the charming graphics, the clever dialogue, and the catchy music, is icing on a delicious cake. I wish the visuals felt more worthy of the Nintendo Switch 2, but they still look better than ever before. If you’ve played the original, I’m not sure if you want the remaster. But if you haven’t, you simply can’t miss Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster.
As far as launch titles go, Mario Kart World is a real banger. The races are more chaotic and intense, the world feels huge, and there’s a ton of racers to choose from. Also, the skill ceiling feels higher. I wish the world were as big as it feels, but we’re in pretty early days yet. I’d also love a splitscreen Free Roam mode, but that’s pure wishlist stuff. Buying a new console is always a little intimidating, to be sure. And racing games aren’t for everyone. But if you’re into Mario Kart even a tiny bit, you’d be a fool to pass on Mario Kart World.
Like any good simulator game, you know exactly what you’re getting into here. You’ve got a lot of work ahead, and though you might not enjoy it, you won’t be able to easily put it down. Spray Paint Simulator is a simple yet compelling zen garden, a Sunday morning job perfectly captured in game form. I don’t recommend it, but I don’t really have to. If this calls to you, I’m certain that you’ll answer.
I loved playing the first Fantasy Life game to an unhealthy degree, and the sequel is no different. Grinding away to master all the Lives is deeply satisfying, there’s a wide variety of systems to mess with, and the overall pace is very chill. On the other hand, I recognize that much of what I love about this game isn’t necessarily good, it’s mostly just addictive. A mishmash of my favorite dopamine receptors are getting smashed to bits when I play this game, and I’m fine with that. If you’re looking for a cozy, compelling Skinner box of a game, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is perfect for you.
Promise Mascot Agency is a weird, flawed experience. You spend most of your time driving around this tiny town, chatting up a series of total weirdos. You’ve got a short list of tasks to complete, a lot of money to make, and a lot of fires to put out. But all of it is so engaging, so charming and fun, that you don’t mind one bit. This town is a complete, well-crafted world full of compelling characters and fascinating stories. Plus, the core gameplay loop is addictive and butter-smooth. I don’t know exactly how to recommend this game, but I can’t recommend it enough.
If you’ve been looking for a way to play these games on modern consoles, then Lunar Remastered Collection is a godsend. The visuals are mostly preserved, the item management is better, and the voice acting is brand new. New players might be thrown by the simple plot and the retro combat, but the high-speed autobattles offer a convenient off-ramp. While they aren’t my favorite retro RPGs by any means, this collection is a great way to get ahold of them. If nothing else, the 90s anime vibes are downright immaculate.
I’ve had a difficult relationship with Xenoblade games in the past. They’re enormous, unwieldy beasts that are weighed down with endless mechanical systems and floaty, disconnected combat. Somehow, all of this is applicable to Chronicles X, and I still love it. The combat feels more grounded, the mechanics more approachable, and the plot is more accessible. Plus, the custom outfits. Those really changed the game for me. Also, being able to pilot a team of mechs is a major bonus. Xenoblade games are still not for everyone. This is an imposing, enormous RPG series in every way. But against all odds, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is somehow the one for me.
I felt rather conflicted about covering this one. As a new player, I was floored by the character creator, impressed by the roster, and almost overwhelmed by the amount of content available. More seasoned fans of the franchise and returning players will simply have a different experience. And that’s okay! My frustrations with the mechanics are also deeply personal. I’m certain that anyone with more than a review period’s worth of time to practice will have a much easier time. But I’ve got no way of knowing for sure. In the end, I can easily recommend WWE 2K25 to new players and fans. This is a gigantic entry in a venerated franchise that won’t steer you wrong. For more familiar fans, I can’t be so certain. Hopefully, my outsider’s viewpoint is still a useful one.
In spite of all my grievances, these are still two classic RPGs. Suikoden I&II are enormous adventures full of interesting characters to recruit, and epic plots to discover. To be perfectly clear, my final score reflects these games as remasters for a modern audience rather than as games in isolation. I loved the new sprites, and the levels do look better than ever before (even if the aesthetic saddens me). I wish more mechanics had been modernized more than anything else. We’ve come too far to go back to this kind of awful inventory management. But the point remains – this is the best way to play these games on modern hardware. If you simply must experience these games, then Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is the way to do it.
As a sim golf acolyte, I picked a great time to get into the genre. PGA Tour 2K25 is slick, seamless, and pretty compelling. You’ve got a bunch of ways to play, and an endless amount of mechanical customization to mess with. If you want a particular kind of match, at a very specific difficulty setting, you can make that happen. I was mashing buttons through the post-game interviews, but the actual games are excellent. I’m thrilled they have so many control schemes to choose from, especially since stick controls are so egregious. The courses look awesome, your swings feel precise, and every stroke sounds excellent. If you’re looking for that next great sim golf game, PGA Tour 2K25 should be your first choice.