Recent reviews by Kidomaro

This review is based on a review copy played on both PC and Steam Deck.

(In-depth analysis below)
Subverse promises sinful pleasures but pulls out at the best part, plenty of buildup with no real payoff. While the voice acting and animations shine, the gameplay struggles to find its footing, and the erotic scenes, though well-produced, lack engagement and feel disconnected from the core experience. With a hefty price tag and more teases than thrills, Subverse ultimately falls flat.

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You play as the thrill-seeking, opportunist, and self-proclaimed captain of the Mary Celeste, a spaceship found drifting in space after a series of unfortunate circumstances where you wound up in the Prodigium Galaxy. One day, you get contacted by a former partner from past smuggling illegal goods efforts and heists. She drags you into an underground rebellion against the Imperium, a theocratic regime that rules the galaxy, driven by an ideology that values purity over anything sexual.

Given the nature of the game, you might expect a barebones story. Surprisingly, the narrative is detailed and engaging, with enjoyable twists you would not expect. It does have an acquired taste of humor as it is unapologetically crude.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3410072352
It combines visual novel storytelling, turn-based strategy, and bullet-hell gameplay with erotic elements, but spreads itself too thin, excelling at none. That's not to say there isn't a fair share of fun or raunchy thrills, but the experience feels undercooked, lacking various aspects even in its lewdness.

Core Mechanics
In the bullet-hell segments, you pilot a small spaceship through swarms of enemies, dodging projectiles and unleashing a barrage of bullets, unlocking upgrades and new abilities with each new crewmember recruited. It’s the most polished and enjoyable gameplay element, with fluid mechanics and responsive controls. However, it quickly becomes repetitive due to how simplistic it is. The space setting is limited by a restrictive circular arena, diminishing the sense of scale and freedom in what would be giant space battles. Boss fights attempt to mix things up but often boil down to uninspired bullet sponges, and awkward stealth sections further disrupt the flow without adding meaningful variety. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3415746894

Unfortunately, the turn-based tactical gameplay fares no better; it feels clunky, shallow, and hindered by an almost non-existent AI. It’s a grid-based battlefield where you deploy a crew member with three manticores, genetically engineered combat beings, all of which have unique attacks, abilities, and a decent variety. However, enemy encounters quickly become mechanically stale as each mission feels identical. Strategy and positioning should matter, but the AI's glaring incompetence removes any real challenge, reducing tactical depth and making boss fights underwhelming. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3415747219

Events are painfully bad. You click a button, get resources, and move on. They feel like an afterthought, with unvoiced dialogue that lacks depth and intrigue, making exploration feel trivial rather than rewarding. Fortunately, if you really dislike these segments, then there is a mechanic where once you’ve failed three times, it allows you to automatically “win” and proceed.

Mary Celeste
Mary Celeste is your central hub for everything you need. It’s where you chart a path through the galaxy, upgrade your ship, crew, and manticores, but more importantly, indulge in the pleasures of your crew. There are up to nine characters that you can recruit and romance. Progressing the story and building relationships with them unlocks cosmetics, backstories, motivations, and activities in Pandora, a menu where you unlock and view fully animated intimate scenes. The animations are incredibly well done, but they’re short, looping sequences with limited interactivity, only allowing you to adjust the thrust or move the camera slightly. While initially pleasing, the repetitive and minimal engagement feels underwhelming over time, especially considering it's one of the main selling points. Its disconnection from the gameplay, relegated to a separate gallery rather than being seamlessly integrated into the experience, further diminishes its impact. There are also more nonchalant activities you can do throughout the ship, such as gifting items to boost relationships, doing photoshoots, replaying missions, reviewing cinematics, decorating your captain's room, and more, but none of these are required.

Visuals
Overall, the graphics aren’t inherently bad, quite the opposite, many aspects look impressive even, but the quality is wildly inconsistent. For starters, the fully rendered cutscenes either have captivating environments or perfectly show the characters with expressive animations and details that bring their personalities to life. However, often followed by visually uninspired gameplay sequences, with sloppy animations and visual novel-style dialogues where the characters are limited to only a handful of poses with no unique reactions or particularly stunning visuals. Aboard the Mary Celeste, rooms serve as static backdrops with only a few basic interactive elements, making the hub feel more like a decorative menu than a living, breathing environment. Of course, the explicit cutscenes in the story and the activities in Pandora are excellently done with smooth, high-quality animations, but this constant fluctuation makes the presentation feel rough.

Audio
Genuinely surprised by how good the voice acting is, each VA delivers their lines with a sense of exaggerated flair that is full of life and matches the lewd and comedic tone perfectly. Not to mention, of course, their performances during erotic scenes, and while some might find them a bit over-the-top, they perfectly capture the essence of the game. The soundtrack features solid pieces that enhance immersion, with energetic battle themes, atmospheric melodies, and a couple of unexpected bangers.

This review is based on a review copy played on both PC and Steam Deck.

(In-depth analysis below)
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is an exhilarating love letter to the franchise, blending explosive visuals with a colossal roster and chaotic, high-octane action that is both fun and strategically nuanced. While the campaign lacks depth and the limited map pool may disappoint, Sparking Zero’s true strength lies in its raw 3D arena-fighter appeal and its execution of it, firmly establishing it as a worthy successor to Budokai Tenkaichi 3.

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Sparking Zero condenses the DBZ storyline and beyond, focusing primarily on key moments from the perspectives of seven prominent characters. Each narrative unfolds through iconic battles and light character dialogues, intertwined with in-game stills and static interactions outside battle. Unfortunately, this is why the campaign falls short: it relies too much on superficial, static screenshots and brief exchanges to propel the story, failing to capture the depth and intensity each moment deserves. This leads to erratic pacing, iconic scenes come and go with little buildup or emotional payoff, making the story feel more like a checklist of fights throughout a slide-show presentation than an immersive journey with cinematic cutscenes befitting of DB.

While additional What-If scenarios add unique twists and explore sick alternative outcomes, they still face the same issues as the campaign. Ultimately, the campaign does deliver thrilling battles and fresh takes on classic showdowns that fans of the series would love, but its shallow storytelling dilutes pivotal moments, leaving the experience feeling flat, especially for newcomers to the franchise. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3359757847

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero delivers precisely what fans crave: a spectacular, high-speed, chaotic, but fun experience that builds upon the beloved formula of Budokai Tenkaichi 3. The combat may seem simplistic, but it is deceptively layered, with diverse and intricate mechanics. You can scrape by with button mashing in solo play, but fall into that trap, and you will be easy prey online.

Core Mechanics
The combat revolves around high-octane action throughout the free-form stages, where every clash feels like a scene from the anime. Characters zip through the air, dash, and teleport across the massive stages. The combat flows seamlessly from incredibly satisfying melee combat to explosive ki blasts, letting you pivot between close-quarters brawls and long-range assaults instantly.

But it's not just about offense; you have plenty of defensive options such as guards, vanishes, counters, bounce-back mechanics, and more to keep you engaged, demanding constant adaptation with a high-skill ceiling. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3359787820
The character roster has a staggering size of 182, from anime and movies to various transformations and eras, each with unique moves and abilities. As for stages, there are 12 different stages, each packed with destructible elements and vibrant, detailed visuals. The diverse roster keeps every match fresh and exciting and allows for experimentation with characters, strategies, and matchups. However, I can't help but wish for a few more maps.

Online, Versus & The World Tournament
First off, the absence of crossplay is a disappointing oversight that could hinder the long-term viability of multiplayer on PC, compounded by the fact that there are no penalties for rage quitters. Multiplayer offers normal and ranked matches and four modes: singles, teams, DP battles, and tournaments with local play also available.

DP battles are particularly notable and enjoyable due to its unique system that allocates 15 DP points to build your team. Stronger, canonically powerful characters cost more DP, while weaker ones require less. Due to the cap of DP, it fosters varied playstyles, challenging you to balance your squad without relying solely on powerhouses, effectively reflecting the series' established power levels without being overly unbalanced.

Custom battles & Customization
With custom battles, you can create fully customized fights with options to change intros, voice lines, conditions, mid-cutscenes, and more, then share them with the world, which is a sick feature and helps alleviate skipped encounters. Sure, there are some limitations, and the UI can be a bit clunky, but having the ability to build showdowns beyond just pitting two characters against each other is incredibly fun and unique.

As for character customization, in the shop, you can buy ability items that, when equipped, boost stats, and these carry over into multiplayer. Beyond that, you can grab costumes, music tracks, voice lines, and more. Outside of the shop, Shenron allows you to wish for additional stuff once you have all the dragon balls. The level of customization here is impressive, giving you tons of things to unlock.

The visuals are nothing short of explosive, capturing the dynamic, high-energy feel of the anime. The character models and environments are polished and faithful to the source material. Each era of characters is beautifully represented and rendered with meticulous attention to detail, particularly in their animations, transformations, and ultimate moves. Each clash fills the screen with vibrant colors and dramatic effects, while crisp sound effects and a powerful OST heighten the impact of every ki blast and melee attack.

This review is based on a review copy played on both PC and Steam Deck.

(In-depth analysis below)
Space Marine 2 is an exhilarating sequel that nails fast-paced hybrid combat, mixing ranged and close-quarters as you take on endless hordes of Tyranids. With a massive selection of weapons and gameplay mechanics, each encounter feels not only unique but incredibly intense and satisfying. Despite some optimization hiccups, it is still an incredible journey through the dark and gritty Warhammer 40k universe. Whether a long-time fan or new to the franchise, there is plenty to enjoy.

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The story picks up one century after the first installment. Titus now leads a squad of Ultramarines in a relentless battle against the Tyranids, a deadly alien swarm threatening humanity. However, Titus' return is clouded by suspicion—once accused of Chaos corruption, his every decision is scrutinized, and trust in his leadership is shaky at best. But as the Tyranid menace grows, survival demands action, leaving little room for doubt or hesitation.

The narrative intertwines high-stakes action with personal drama, as the urgent need to confront a devastating foe clashes with the lingering mistrust surrounding Titus' past. This completes a compelling tale of exoneration, loyalty, and relentless warfare, absorbing you in the adrenaline of battle and the depth of Titus' journey.

Core Mechanics
SM2 builds on Saber Interactive's signature horde mechanics from World War Z, refining the formula to fit within the chaotic, action-packed Warhammer 40k universe. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3338374500 The extensive arsenal of weapons offers diverse gameplay mechanics that can alter your playstyle significantly, capturing the visceral intensity of 40k battles with brutal executions and massive gunfights against swarms of enemies. Though a few quirky design choices from WWZ persist, like the absence of jumping, long button presses for actions, and lackluster AI companions that cannot be adjusted, these qualms of mine are minor in the bigger picture. The overall experience remains highly engaging, fluid, and, most importantly, fun.

Each Tyranid has unique abilities and attack patterns, meaning you cannot just rely on the same strategy for every encounter; you'll need to adapt your approach as new threats are introduced. This keeps the horde mechanics fresh with increasingly complex enemy variations. Boss fights are particularly thrilling, often demanding quick thinking and precise movement, and are a welcome change of pace.

Mobility plays a crucial role, and much like weaponry and combat, it feels fantastic. You can sense the weight of the hefty armor, making traversal satisfying—especially when utilizing mobility-orientated abilities like the jetpack. However, the absence of a cover system or the mere ability to jump forces you to rely on frantic dodge-rolling and the riposte mechanic to avoid being overwhelmed amidst the hordes you face; while fun at first it can become quite repetitive.

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.
Alongside the already impressive campaign, additional game modes are available at your leisure that can be enjoyed alone or with your fellow brothers. The Operations mode offers supplementary missions set between the campaign events, where you can choose from six classes, each with unique playstyles, loadouts, and abilities. Completing Operations rewards you with XP, unlocking new weapons, class, and weaponry upgrades, and the ability to customize your Space Marine. Lastly, Eternal War presents a 6v6 multiplayer mode where you can test your skills against others in the name of the Emperor if a competitive thrill is what you desire.

Altogether, SM2 offers a wealth of content, from raw content alone and experimentation across different classes and weapons extending replayability, with a solid sense of progression and customization. Plus, Saber has already released a robust roadmap, promising even more future content, both free and paid.

Visuals
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The environments span towering Gothic cathedrals and industrial wastelands to the desolate expanse of space, each grand in size and detail. The battle-scarred power armor of the Space Marines and array of weapons are rendered in striking detail, a sharp contrast to the grotesque, bio-engineered forms of the Tyranids, all of which soaked in the oppressive atmosphere of unending war, heightening the tension and chaos of combat. With dynamic lighting, explosive effects, and visceral melee animations, every visual element enhances the epic struggle for survival that is Warhammer 40k.

Audio
The audio design as a whole is superb, with each weapon producing a distinctive, hefty auditory punch that highlights their power and impact in combat. This is further complemented by immersive ambient battlefield sounds and compelling voice acting, creating a rich and engaging auditory landscape. The OST is exceptional, greatly enriching the overall experience. It features a mix of intense, atmospheric, orchestral arrangements to craft a dynamic soundtrack that adapts seamlessly to the gameplay, heightening emotional tension during intense battles, and even the calmer moments.

This review is based on a review copy played on both PC and Steam Deck.

(In-depth analysis below)
Princess Maker 2 Regeneration is an enjoyable and relaxing yet challenging daughter-raising simulator remaster featuring various quality-of-life improvements, systems, and activities with plenty of replayability, an astonishing soundtrack, and Gainax's signature visual style. While I recommend this version of the game, if the quality-of-life improvements aren't essential for you, Princess Maker 2 Refine is half the price and essentially the same game with more quirks and a worse translation. Otherwise, wait for a sale.

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In a medieval fantasy world, you, a wandering knight, discover a kingdom under siege by a demon army led by the Prince of Darkness, sent by the Heavens to punish the city for its sins. Determined to save the kingdom, you take up the mantle of its defender and force the evil horde back into the underworld, and for your bravery, a god grants you a heavenly gift: a daughter to raise. You must guide her from age ten to eighteen, shaping her into a successful and happy adult. Will she achieve her dream of becoming a princess, or will she be doomed to a life of hardship and regret, shaped by your every decision? The path she takes rests in your hands, whether she will become a peasant innkeeper, run away out of spite and fall to a life of debauchery, or attain a prestigious title and life.

As with most games in the Princess Maker series, the story primarily serves as an overarching setting that provides context for the gameplay. The real narrative unfolds as you raise your daughter, in a unique setting.

Core Mechanics
At its core, the gameplay revolves around scheduling monthly activities such as education, jobs, adventuring, and time off. Education enhances your daughter's skills and attributes like intelligence, strength, faith, beauty, and more, while jobs help her earn money and practical experience. You'll quickly figure out whether the gameplay is for you as the gameplay largely remains the same throughout for better or worse; personally, I found it very endearing.

Managing her health and stress levels is crucial to prevent negative consequences, such as falling ill, running away, or, even worse, having her life take a downward spiral. Between scheduling activities, you can visit the city to purchase various goods to relieve stress, seek medical attention at the clinic, or visit the palace to improve her reputation and gain favor, leading her one step closer to becoming a princess.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3300806511
One of the most important events occurs once a year, offering you the option to sign up for one of four tournaments, depending on the direction your daughter is taking. Participating in these tournaments can earn her vital rewards in your journey. All in all, it combines time management, strategy, simulation, and most importantly fun, requiring careful planning to achieve your desired outcome for your daughter. This process can be stressful, peaceful, or sometimes tedious. However, the journey is rewarding nonetheless.

That's without mentioning the classic JRPG element of the Princess Maker franchise, where your daughter adventures out into the world, gaining experience and money by fighting monsters while searching for treasures. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3301001041
From woodlands to mountain areas, you've got a fair few locations to pick from, and although none of these are too large or unique, considering the context of a daughter-raising simulator, errantry feels incredibly refreshing, especially when the usual scheduling feels a tad monotonous, the variety keeps it engaging. Each playthrough takes roughly seven hours depending on what you're trying to achieve, and as there are plenty of secrets to discover, ensures that you will likely want to return for multiple playthroughs to uncover more.

As mentioned in the overview, PM2 Regeneration focuses on quality-of-life improvements without altering the core mechanics. While these improvements are welcome, they may not justify the higher price for everyone. If you are mainly interested in the gameplay mechanics, the cost might not be worth it. The most notable difference is that Regeneration has a competent English localization, unlike the previous remaster, Refine. While Refine is still playable and understandable, it has occasional awkward English.
Consider the differences between these versions before purchasing, as you will get a comparable experience for less if you don't care for the quality-of-life changes. Regeneration is the best version of Princess Maker 2 available on Steam, price point aside, but by no means is it a replacement for Refine.

Visuals
Overall the updated graphics and aesthetics showcase the excellent Gainax signature style well, meticulously redone by Takami Akai himself.
However, the visuals are inconsistent, fluctuating between retro and modern styles, creating a conflicting visual experience. While the new illustrations are appreciated, and the old art is still great, the transition between old and new can be jarring due to the fidelity shifts and whatnot.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3301040910

Audio
The OST perfectly captures the setting’s essence, adding nostalgic charm alongside new scores. Each track has a specific role, enhancing moments like seasonal changes, studying, working, and adventuring. The diverse melodies have a timeless quality and are a standout feature. The voice acting is also delightful, with each character sounding authentic and unique. Do note that there's only Japanese voice acting, and some lines can become repetitive as you perform the same tasks each month.

This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

(In-depth analysis below)
Sand Land is a bold and ambitious Action-RPG brimming with mechanical systems and diverse activities, set in a heartwarming yet post-apocalyptic open world created by the legendary Akira Toriyama. While it offers a wide range of features, it sometimes feels like a jack of all trades, mastering none. This range can detract from a more focused and polished core experience—however, the charm lies in its engaging story, stunning visuals, and enjoyable vehicular gameplay. Fans of Toriyama's work will especially appreciate the vibrant world and its delightful narrative.

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In a post-apocalyptic world, where water has become a rare commodity, the once-flowing river that sustained the land dried up. The king now monopolizes the remaining water supply. Sheriff Rao, frustrated by the king's greed, seeks help from the demons of Sand Land to find the rumored source of water. Demon prince Beelzebub and his friend Thief join Rao on this quest, which enrages the king, who mobilizes his forces to try to stop them.

The story has an undeniable charm, infusing their journey with a sense of fun despite the dire circumstances. The characters are well-written, the journey is delightful, and the world is unique. This adaptation expands on the original manga with exciting new content that fans of the series will appreciate the added details and references.

Core Mechanics
Sand Land ambitiously attempts to blend various genres to offer a diverse and engaging experience. Still, it fails to stick the landing due to stretching itself too thin and broad. The combat system is incredibly simplistic, whether inside or outside your vehicle. When on foot, you have four actions: a light, a strong, and a special attack, plus a dodge move, that's it. This limited set of options makes the combat on foot feel like a chore. As you level up, you unlock traits that allow different special attacks or stat boosts, as well as those of your companions.

Fortunately, most of your time is spent in your vehicle, where combat is more engaging and varied. The different vehicle types and weaponry offer a broader range of strategies, making vehicular combat far more enjoyable and polished. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3264181794
The gameplay loop remains easy and repetitive, as enemies never adapt and always aim for your last given position. Simply running around them ensures they miss. Changing the difficulty only increases their damage and health without altering their behavior, which doesn't help the problem.
Bosses look visually fantastic but function the same mechanically, making them dull to fight. However, despite everything, I found vehicular combat enjoyable enough to satisfy my playthrough.

Open-World
Sand Land's open-world design is immersive, with breathtaking aesthetics and stunning visuals. Navigating the vast desert avoids being tedious, thanks to various transportation methods and quick travel. The landscape has multiple activities such as stealth, side quests, challenges, ruins, hostile creatures, and bosses in remote camps. However, much of this feels more like a half-assed grind due to the mechanics needing to be fleshed out more. It is only worth it to experience the expanded world, but not for the gameplay alone.

Customization
There is a surprising amount of customization, both cosmetically and mechanically. Vehicle upgrades, including weapons and parts, refresh the experience with each significant upgrade but require the tedious gathering of materials without clear guidance on where to find them or even if you can. The cumbersome UI makes it worse, as you must memorize needed items, locate the right shop, and buy materials individually (as bulk buying or selling isn't an option) before returning to craft upgrades. Cosmetic changes are extensive, but navigating the clunky menus is a hassle, and housing customizations, though cozy, serve no functional purpose, which is a missed opportunity and a bit pointless, unlike how by doing side-content you can slowly re-build Spino, which feels rewarding.

Visuals
The visuals are simply stunning, perfectly capturing the essence of Toriyama's iconic style. The thick cell-shaded lines, vibrant colors, and detailed hatching and dotted shading create a gorgeous interpretation of his distinctive artistry. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3264115859
Deserts typically lack variety and visual appeal, but Sand Land makes its dunes aesthetically pleasing through clever-level design. The desolate environment is invigorated by its diverse inhabitants and thoughtfully placed structures. Although the architecture is sparse, it possesses a unique style that makes life in the wasteland not entirely bleak. The vibrant greens and lush, watery areas also offer a striking contrast and further showcase the game's impressive visual diversity despite the setting.

Not to mention the incredible variety of vehicles and creature designs, which serve as the core centerpiece of Sand Land. These designs, combined with the world, seamlessly blend everything together, epitomizing Toriyama's distinctive style.

Audio
The cast of VAs excellently breathes life into each character, from the main protagonists to the smallest of side characters, making the game world feel rich and authentic. While random one-liners might become repetitive, the dialogue remains engaging and enjoyable. Each character's words are delivered with depth and emotion, drawing you deeper into the narrative. Moreover, the sound effects are top-notch, providing the right impact during combat sequences and while traversing Sand Land. Every clang of metal and gust of wind adds to the game's immersive atmosphere.

The OST brilliantly captures the shifting tones and moods, whether during intense battles, while exploring ruins, or simply wandering the vast desert. With standout tracks that elevate serene and adrenaline-pumping moments, it significantly enriches the game's post-apocalyptic atmosphere and emotional depth.

This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

(In-depth analysis below)

Penny’s Big Breakaway is a love letter to retro 3D platformers, combining the charm of nostalgia with a modern twist in a vibrant world where classic elements intertwine with innovative gameplay. It is a welcome breath of fresh air to the 3D platforming genre, with unique gameplay centered around a yo-yo, which allows for fast and fluid gameplay with an emphasis on momentum and motion; it may initially feel cumbersome, but once mastered, the fluidity of movement becomes incredibly fun and rewarding. While it does have a few quirks, they are minor and overshadowed by its plethora of enjoyable levels, mechanics, and gimmicks coupled with stunning visuals and an OST that sets the stage for Penny's big breakaway adventure.

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Emperor Eddie hosts an annual talent show where performers showcase their best acts. Penny, a young busker, encounters an unknown entity called Cosmic String that turns her yo-yo into a living creature, leading to chaos at her audition when it strips the Emperor's clothes. Now a fugitive, Penny must use her transformed yo-yo to clear her name, evade the Emperor's penguin army, and uncover the Cosmic String's mystery.
The undeniable charm of the story shines through in its adorable, animatic cutscenes and witty dialogue. The characters are charismatic, and the world is unique. The story is overly simple, which some may not like, but I found that in this context, it is perfectly fine because it does not pretend to be more than what it is; it serves as a zany setting that establishes the context for the gameplay rather than the central reason to play.

Core Mechanics
At its core, it is an incredibly satisfying momentum-based 3D platformer where your yo-yo takes center stage. With its versatility, the yo-yo offers a myriad of tricks to master and unleash during your big breakaway. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3220833380 Use it to propel yourself forward with air dashes or stick it mid-air to swing off it for acceleration; heck, you can even transform it into a makeshift unicycle for a push of speed. Use the yo-yo to interact with things like latching onto zip lines, undoing screws, and various other quirky things like the power-ups. The power-ups are always intriguing and introduce a dynamic shift in your approach to navigating levels. From turbocharging your yo-yo for lightning-fast speed to transforming it into a destructive wrecking ball that effortlessly obliterates anything in your way, to ones that affect your aerial movement by giving temporary gliding abilities, and more. They constantly shake up the formula, injecting unpredictability and chaos into the thrilling gameplay loop.

At first, the controls proved quite challenging, feeling rather cumbersome and frustrating; this did hinder my enjoyment. However, after becoming accustomed to the controls, the fluidity and flexibility of the movement felt refreshingly unique and fun. Grasping various combos to propel yourself forward at increasing speeds, intertwined with momentum-based platforming, creates an immensely gratifying experience once you find your rhythm. Something to note, however, is that, albeit a secondary aspect, the combat comes across as underdeveloped, which resulted in me never finding myself in a situation where I would choose to fight over simply running away unless forced, especially considering the lack of enemy variety.

Level Design & Bosses
The levels are exceptionally well-crafted, showcasing stunning environments that are a blast to zoom through, designed in such a way that even if you want to take it a bit slower, you can have just as much fun due to the playful gimmicks peppered throughout, including interactive elements, side quests, and collectibles. With the collectibles, you can unlock Starglobe levels—these are incredibly unique, typically themed levels that justify the effort of seeking out collectibles. At the end of each level, Penny puts on a brief performance via a mini-game whereby, by pressing the correct buttons, you boost your score, which is a delightful addition with a certain gleeful charm. Additionally, there is a time-based game mode called Time Attack, where you replay the levels while racing against the clock for those who gotta go fast.

The boss encounters, unfortunately, are where it falters in quality, showcasing a stark departure from the thrilling momentum-driven gameplay that defines the rest of the experience. Rather than leveraging the finely-tuned mechanics it has established, these segments often descend into repetitive patterns: striking the boss, evading predictable linear attacks, and then repeating the process. These sections can feel downright dull and incredibly tedious to slog through. The checkpoint placements echo this sentiment, especially as the game encourages you to unleash your creativity with combos, often sending you careening across the environment and tumbling off the map. These moments checkpoints can feel overly punitive, forcing you to retrace everything you had just done.
There is a shop where you can buy one-time consumable items that can help alleviate this. For instance, for 500 coins, you can negate your next slip off the map, but that's much more like a band-aid, not a solution.

Visuals
The visuals are simply stunning, capturing the essence of the heyday of 90s 3D platformers and brimming with nostalgia-inducing colors and charm. Much like the platformers of that era, Penny also features a fixed camera. While it restricts your viewpoint, it consistently guides your focus to the most vital and visually captivating elements of the levels, deepening immersion and accentuating critical gameplay aspects. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3223824433

Audio
The soundtrack is full of catchy and upbeat tracks that complement the quirky and colorful qualities of the journey you go on, successfully fostering a lively and energetic atmosphere. The sound effects like the OST do an excellent job of conveying the weight and impact of each action, be it the sound of swinging around your yo-yo, interacting with the level, or simply listening to the surrounding noises.

This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

(In-depth analysis below)
Arzette serves as a tongue-in-cheek homage to the old CDI era of games. However, it ventured too close to the sun, replicating flawed mechanics and design choices instead of properly refining them. This approach resulted in a lackluster experience that feels too simplistic for its good and lacking in redeeming qualities. However, for those seeking a niche nostalgia trip, the game's quirky visuals and cutscenes might hold some appeal despite the janky gameplay.

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A decade of peace in Faramore is shattered with the return of the malevolent Daimur, threatening the kingdom's very existence. Princess Arzette, blessed with unique powers from her lineage, emerges as the kingdom's hope. She sets out on a perilous journey through varied landscapes, encountering relentless challenges as she moves towards confronting Daimur and restoring peace. The narrative is incredibly cliché, leading to a forgettable and underwhelming story. However, its few redeeming qualities come from the diverse array of characters encountered and interacted with along the way. These moments significantly enhance the story's appeal through their distinct and enjoyable interactions.

The gameplay is disappointingly barebones, consisting of bland platforming, one-dimensional combat mechanics, and a series of unengaging minigames scattered throughout the experience. Despite gradually introducing new abilities, unfortunately, the gameplay quickly becomes repetitive, lacking the necessary variety to stand out.

Core Mechanics
The combat is dreadfully dull, with such simplicity that one can mindlessly button-mash through encounters without any need for strategy or logic, especially considering the lack of enemy type, most of which have the same attack pattern. You have two offensive buttons: you can either attack with your sword or gun, that's it. Additionally, you have a shield that reflects all enemy projectiles with no cooldown, making the enemies, heck, even bosses, trivial challenges. As you progress, you unlock items and skills, but they ultimately have minimal impact on combat, primarily affecting exploration.

Exploration
The platforming is, at best, adequate. It suffers from being overly simplistic, which hampers its potential for engaging movement; it first becomes passable once you acquire the double jump, where the experience takes a considerable turn for the better, albeit too late. Despite these shortcomings, surprisingly, the highlight still is its exploration; this is due to the charisma of the characters you encounter along the way, each interaction feeling refreshingly unique. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3191150489

Despite its prevalence, backtracking is surprisingly enjoyable. The accessibility of the map, coupled with some quality-of-life additions and the gradual acquisition of items that aid you in unlocking access to new content, ensure that revisiting areas remains engaging, especially considering the levels themselves are well designed. Every return trip serves a purpose, whether it's uncovering hidden secrets, fulfilling quests, or exploring previously unreachable regions to progress your journey. This depth and intrigue add layers to the world.

New Game+
Once you've completed the story, the content doesn't quite come to an end. You have a couple of options to extend your experience: Collect the remaining collectibles and complete the various minigames, or try the more demanding Hero mode difficulty, which presents tougher enemies and eliminates health drops, or for those who somehow enjoyed the boss fights, there's a boss rush mode, which pits you against a series of bosses without the need of going through levels.

Visuals
The visuals suffer from conflicting styles, resulting in jarring transitions between the two aesthetics; the cutscenes and character sprites perfectly capture the essence of the CDI-era whimsy and pixel aesthetics, paying a fitting tribute to its goofiness and retro charm, and is incredibly amusing seeing their quirky liveliness. Whereas the backgrounds clash with a more drawn aesthetic that feels at times blurred or smoothed out as opposed to the hard outlines the sprites and UI have. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3202043116

Audio
The sound effects and soundtrack effectively tap into nostalgic essence and seamlessly integrate with the fantasy setting, leaving an impactful initial impression. However, they quickly become repetitive, lacking diversity and standout tracks. The voice acting is notably unique due to intentionally being bad but in a silly yet charming, over-the-top way. It may not appeal to everyone, but I found the peculiar dialogue and execution quite enjoyable. It strikes a balance between being fun to listen to without becoming annoying or boring.

This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

(In-depth analysis below)
Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash grapples with uncertainty and a lack of cohesive vision, hindering its overall experience and resulting in a subpar product. Though the 2v2 format and clever character kits offer some intrigue and fun, the combat lacks fluidity, the story mode disappoints, and the visuals feel outdated and inconsistent. While there is enjoyment, considering its state, it becomes considerably challenging to justify it at the asking price, let alone on sale.

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The first story revolves around Yuuji Itadori, an ordinary high schooler thrust into the world of Curses and Jujutsu Sorcery after unintentionally interacting with a cursed object. Recognizing the dangers that Curses pose to society, he joins Jujutsu High, an institution dedicated to combating curses, embarking on an irreversible path as a Jujutsu sorcerer. The second story centers on Yuuta Okkotsu, a high school bullying victim haunted by a curse that kills anyone who harms him. Yuuta's power gets recognized by Jujutsu High Sorcerer Satoru Gojo, who takes him under his belt to aid him in wielding his destructive power for good. However, Suguru Geto, a powerful curse user, notices his strength and plans to exploit Yuuta's power for a genocidal plot against non-jujutsu users.

JJKCC covers the pivotal story beats of JJK season one while adding some extra fluff content; however, inexplicably omits crucial fights and memorable moments from the movie. The approach to storytelling is lazy and outright bland, as it's essentially only anime stills, which undermines the otherwise well-written and entertaining narrative of JJK, stripping away its depth and resulting in a subpar experience devoid of any real enjoyment. Each notable encounter unfolds in a PVE battle; initially seeming intriguing they swiftly devolve into repetitiveness, falling short of capturing the impactful essence of the source material, if even any.

The combat is surprisingly intriguing, as it is built around 2v2 fights where you and your partner team up to execute combos and constantly switch between opponents to wear them down. It has a diverse roster of characters, all with unique playstyles. Unfortunately, the execution falls short, resulting in an awkward amalgamation of disparate elements that fail to harmonize seamlessly.

Core Mechanics
Each character has six attacks varying from combo mashers and projectiles to movement-orientated buffs or debuffs. Most of the attacks, however, don't do damage; instead, they contribute to your curse meter. Once you start filling it up, your character levels up, enhancing your damage output while unlocking the ability to unleash two distinct special techniques and an awakening, be it a problematic domain expansion or a signature move.

However, due to a majority of your attacks solely being used for curse generation, a substantial amount of your attacks end up feeling extremely underwhelming and taints the otherwise quite intricate combat. To further exacerbate frustration, the mobility feels oddly cheap, unresponsive, and incredibly janky. There are moments of redeeming fun, but it undeniably requires substantial refinement and polishing to fulfill its potential.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3165253480

Stages
Typically, arena fighters fall into the category of having incredibly generic stages to ensure a more balanced playing field. However, Cursed Clash faces a different issue because rather than embracing the more evenly distributed arenas, it features a variety of maps teeming with impediments like clutter, breakable walls, vertical floors, and more. This deliberate design choice, while intriguing in concept, consistently obstructs vision and disrupts movement while encouraging dull hit-and-run playstyles that are incredibly annoying to face.

Versus, Free Battle & Co-op
In the versus mode, you either queue up with a friend or get queued together with a random and face off against players worldwide in casual or ranked play. Multiplayer feels like the most polished aspect of Cursed Clash as the intended game mode. There's an undeniable element of fun through the jankiness and quirks, especially if you tag up with a friend. Free Battle is essentially offline matches with custom settings. However, it's super limited and lacks local versus.

Co-op is a PVE wave-based mode in which you fight curses, level up your characters, purchase items, equip them to enhance your power, and subsequently engage in battles against progressively challenging enemies. It is initially fun but quickly becomes repetitive and serves little more than a way to grind cosmetics. The customization options provide a substantial variety of content, including costumes, voice packs, poses, and various other miscellaneous goods, all of which can be shown off in online matches.

Visuals
The graphics, without a doubt, look outdated. While not inherently terrible, the inconsistency throughout is striking. The landscapes lack depth and vibrancy, coupled with textures that are out of place, resulting in a visual experience that feels sparse and one-dimensional, and that's without mentioning the lazy slideshow of anime stills to progress the story. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3169235009 Sadly that is slow-lived as the animation quality is a mixed bag, ranging from visually exciting special techniques to combos that lack impact and feel sluggish and unpolished.

Audio
The OST effectively encapsulates the eerie and supernatural atmosphere with haunting melodies and intense battle themes throughout matches or as background noise for the narration. Hit sounds and vocals are adequate as they generally sound good, but the occasional effect falls flat or dialogue sounds off.

This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

(In-depth analysis below)

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections impresses with stunning visuals and the largest character roster yet. It brings refreshing combat refinements to CC2's Storm formula, making it a lively and revitalized experience. However, its letdown comes from a lackluster re-telling of Naruto's journey, a noticeable absence of new and beloved old content, and a notable lack of polish, resulting in an underwhelming product leaving much to desired, making it a tough sell at full price. It's best considered either on sale or if multiplayer is your primary focus and the mechanical changes are to your liking.

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Embark on two unique tales. Dive into Naruto's saga through History mode, condensing his epic journey from the Chunin Exams to the fourth great ninja war. Experience the emotional highs and intense battles with beautifully animated QTE cinematics, interlaced with anime stills and narration that elaborate on key story moments between each gripping confrontation.

However, the condensed storytelling, presentation, and focus primarily on Naruto and Sasuke's perspectives lead to the omission of numerous pivotal moments. This approach undermines various characters and villains, stripping away the narrative's depth and resulting in a subpar experience, lacking the storytelling depth found in previous Storm games.

The Special Story mode introduces a game-original narrative focused on characters from the Boruto Next Generation, delivering a new saga within the universe. The story revolves around a mysterious figure called Merz who schemes to manipulate everyone through the use of Engraved Tsukuyomi, aiming to instigate the fifth ninja war and fulfill the ambitious goals reminiscent of Pain's. Boruto and his allies must stop Merz from causing a ninja genocide.

While the introduction of technology into the ninja setting and the somewhat limited depth of Boruto Next Generation characters may initially be jarring, but once you get beyond its slow start, the storyline transforms into a truly engaging and compelling narrative that feels like a breath of fresh air, offering new battles, character interactions, and cinematics that fully immerse fans in the vibrant world of Naruto.

The combat seamlessly integrates free-flowing movement, flashy jutsu, and strategic thinking. Character skill sets encompass a versatile mix of taijutsu, utilities, jutsu, and ultimate techniques. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3109225234

New Mechanics
The core gameplay maintains its Storm foundation charms but with refinement and changes. Notably, Tilts and Charged Shurikens have been removed but superseded by every character having two distinct jutsu instead. Additionally, a bounce mechanic has been added, enabling you to execute more diverse and intricate combos, offering a plethora of new opportunities that were previously unavailable.

Chakra recovery is much faster and allows you to utilize your jutsu more freely in combos, eliminating the need for manual charging and making fights feel more dynamic. Parrying also no longer requires chakra, granting you the ability to execute parries freely.

These changes might not appear overly impactful, but they do truly reshape the game's dynamics, providing a refreshing overhaul, breathing new life into all 130 characters, and unlocking fresh opportunities and unexplored combo potentials. Whether combining jutsu, supports, or utilities, these adjustments open up a realm of untapped possibilities.

Online & Free Battle
In the online mode, you can face off against players worldwide in casual or ranked play. However, it's super limited, lacking features such as creating or leaving lobbies, diverse game modes, inviting friends, and penalties for leaving matches. So unless you're into casual matches or climbing leaderboards, there's not much more to explore.

Free Battle mode has various local-only game modes such as survival, tournament, practice, and more. These modes offer diverse experiences, from honing your skills to engaging in round-robin style battles or having tournaments with multiple people.

Collection
The customization options are extensive, offering costumes, skin colors, accessories, and many other miscellaneous goods that are attainable through various means, such as completing story missions, engaging in free battles, or simply buying them using Ryo, the in-game currency earned by playing.

Visuals
Visually, Connections stands out as the most visually stunning Storm game, showcasing fluid animations and breathtaking cinematography. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3108114959 However, a significant portion of the story is conveyed through anime stills, some dating back to 2002, creating occasional visual disparities that may seem jarring. The stages are visually captivating, showcasing a wide variety of beautifully designed Japanese architecture and expansive landscapes that reflect pivotal moments from various parts of the story.

Audio
The background score complements each scene or battles perfectly and occasionally elevates pivotal moments even. The audio effects for Attacks and Jutsu are incredible, particularly in intense action, lending a satisfying sense of impact to each strike. However, the English dub's inconsistency detracts from the experience, diverging from the quality seen in previous Storm games. On the flip side, the Japanese dub matches the exceptional quality of the anime.

This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

Originally a mobile game but rebuilt as a fully-fledged PC/console game, My Little Universe is a sandbox exploration experience that combines resource gathering and tile-based world expansion with compelling dungeon-crawling elements. Dive into a world teeming with opportunities for mining, crafting, upgrading, and battles against formidable monsters as you tirelessly accumulate essential resources to unveil uncharted pathways and enrich your little expanding universe.

Stranded on a bare moon, armed only with your trusty tools and a spaceship devoid of fuel, however, you possess the cosmic gift of creation. It is your destiny to recreate what was once lost and become the hero of your own little universe! The story, while present, does not take a central role; it instead acts as a broader backdrop that sets the stage for the gameplay.

My Little Universe offers a straightforward gameplay experience that centers around various activities, including mining, crafting, smelting, and the occasional puzzles or fishing minigame, all while facing off against the formidable monsters and creatures that emerge on the vast tiles you create. In addition to these planetary adventures, there are also intriguing dungeons to venture into, each with its own unique twist on the familiar gameplay, such as introducing bosses that bring excitement and novelty to the experience, but they eventually become repetitive, echoing a common theme within the game.

Exploration & Combat
Gather resources and expand the planets one hexagon at a time, turning it into a sandbox paradise. There is a wide array of tiles to create, each with its own unique qualities, be it a new region, NPCs offering upgrades for your tools and armor, or discoveries like new materials or dungeons filled to the brim with enemies and formidable bosses that spice things up. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3071596607 Early exploration and combat are both thrilling, especially as you constantly unlock new materials or enemies, but the pace becomes monotonous as you progress with little to no changes in the formula. Even the puzzles, enemies, and bosses remain unvaried mechanically, making it all feel rather mundane in the end. That said, if you enjoy a grind and do not mind the repetitiveness, the core gameplay is addicting while satisfying and fun, but it certainly is not for everyone.

Boosts
Every resource gathered and enemy defeated grants EXP. When you level up, you will have the opportunity to choose one of three distinctive traits, each granting stat improvements, such as improving your swing speed, damage output, or movement speed. Depending on what you choose, you can significantly improve or change your character's strengths and weaknesses.

There is, however, a trait that I personally found should be a difficulty setting rather than a pickable trait, much like how manual tool switching and actions are a setting rather than a trait, and that is "Pacify" as what it does is set all enemies to return attacks only, rather than attacking you once they spot you as it turns the game into an idler, which is fine and all but feels like an odd trait option.

Co-op
Invite up to 3 other friends of yours and explore the world together. Your resources are all shared, but your unique traits and levels remain separate. Co-op is incredibly enjoyable with friends and speeds up progression quite a bit. It is important to note that it is couch Co-op only. If you and an online friend wish to play together, you have to use Steam Remote Play.

Replayability & Customization
Throughout the planets, you will come across ethereal floating stars waiting to be collected. These luminous treasures grant you access to previously impassable regions. Within these uncharted territories, you will discover a trove of unique character skins, which are purely cosmetic but are visually excellent collectibles that make exploration feel a little more satisfying and allow for replayability in case you want to 100% each planet and get all skins that is if you do not mind the grind.

Visuals
Maintaining a captivatingly minimalistic and stylized appearance, the visuals in My Little Universe might not break new ground but effectively capture a compelling aesthetic. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3071598720 Each planet has a solid amount of visual variety and always introduces unique tones and themes, infusing fresh vitality into every venture to a new world, ensuring that each planetary adventure feels like a different and rejuvenating experience.

Audio
The game offers a pleasant soundscape that blends the thrill of satisfying action sounds such as mining or gathering materials with a soothing, atmospheric background. Its soundtrack comprises a collection of chilled and catchy tracks that seamlessly complement the theme and ambiance of each area. However, the ost does easily get zoned out when just mindlessly going about doing your thing.

Hardware Specifics & Bugs
PC: i7-9700K, 24GB of RAM, and a RTX 2080 Ti.
SD: 800p, 60 FPS, ~2 hours battery, ~12-13.1 W, ~57-60 C.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3071601101
Both platforms ran smoothly without any prevalent issues encountered on either one.

My Little Universe offers an engaging sandbox exploration experience, blending resource gathering, tile-based world expansion, and dungeon-crawling elements into one. The core gameplay offers an engaging and addictive experience, with early combat and exploration delivering a thrilling and enjoyable start. However, as the game progresses, it can become somewhat mundane, due to limited mechanical variety. It does manage to visually have a very pleasing aesthetic with a soundtrack that complements the atmosphere very well without being obnoxious and old. Despite its flaws, the game's charm and positives makes it a worthwhile game for those who enjoy the grind and the allure of creating their own expanding universe.

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