RYAN JOHNSON
Escape from Ever After Review
Escape from Ever After is a cute RPG that mechanically flies very close to Paper Mario with a tongue-in-cheek take on fairy tales akin to the first Shrek movie. It offers an excellent, witty story and challenges for people who are familiar with the Paper Mario series.
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless (Switch) Review
Disgaea 7 offers more of what fans of the series already love, and then some! The “Jumbofication” system turns an average peon character into a massive area-of-effect beast that can decimate an entire play field. If you love the huge numbers and leveling strategy inherent in Disgaea, this seventh entry won’t disappoint.
Rhapsody: The Marl Kingdom Chronicles (Switch) Review
Rhapsody: The Marl Kingdom Chronicles brings two sequels to a musical RPG that graced the PlayStation 1 to the USA for the first time with an official translation. The series as a whole is a nice, easy going RPG for someone wanting an easy game or a beginner who is just starting in the RPG genre.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (PlayStation 5) Review
Ys IX: Monsltrum Nox gets a native PS5 release, with updated graphics and a full DLC baked in. It’s a great option for fans of the series, but if you’ve already played the PS4 version it may not be worth your time unless you really want to delve through the same story again.
Disgaea 6 Complete (PlayStation 5) Review
Disgaea 6 was a bit controversial when it came out due to the leap to 3D graphics and the limitations that came with it. This complete edition offers all the downloadable content from the original release, and the improvements of putting it on a more powerful system.
Record of Agarest War (Switch) Review
Record of Agarest War is a PS3/Xbox 360 title that has been revamped and brought to the Nintendo Switch. Featuring a unique hook where there are multiple generations and who you court changes the stats of the next protagonist, the title does struggle with a bog-down of features to where it’s hard to pay attention to them all, especially when “stand still and whack things” seems to work so easily at the beginning.
Kofi Quest (Switch) Review
Kofi Quest is a fun parody-style RPG that gets plenty of laughs, but some of the mechanics could use a little polish. The humor Kofi brings to the table is up there with the greats of parody and tribute comedy.
Vagante (Xbox One) Review
While it is nice to see a roguelike expand the feel of progression a bit more, it’s frustrating to put time and effort into that character to see them die easily. Vagante tries to do it’s best to bridge the gap and make levelling and progression fun while also maintaining the heart of a roguelike.
Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards (X1) Review
Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards is an excellent Diabloesque game in a unique atmosphere that does most things well. The AI has it’s limitations that can be exploited, which leads to the temptation to cheese your way through, but if you persevere genuinely you can find a good challenge.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (PlayStation 4) Review
It’s been coming for a long time, and we are finally there: Trails of Cold Steel IV ends the Trails series with a huge, Avengers Endgame level of crossover and story conclusion. Bad for newcomers, but luckily if you really wanna get into it all of the numbered editions of the series are here or coming to the platform of your choice.
Star Renegades (PS4) Review
Rougelikes and RPGs are a strange mix, as the reset style of a rougelike doesn’t sound like it would mix well with RPGs and their long-term growth and planning. Star Renegades tells a unique story of multidimensional battles, where people flat out DIE and the only choice is to let go of an entire dimension and move on to the next.
Boot Hill Heroes (Switch) Review
Boot Hill Heroes is the origin story of Boot Hill Bounties, released earlier this year on the Switch. It originated on PS Mobile and unfortunately brings along some mobile game woes, but provides a fun and exciting Old West Earthbound experience for up to four in couch co-op.
Chronos: Before the Ashes Review
Chronos: Before the Ashes is a non-VR rerelease of the prequel to Remnant: From the Ashes. It’s an excellent way for people to get more lore for Remnant from a niche title that was only available on the Oculus Rift. It may lose a little bit of it’s unique flair by ditching it’s special VR camera, and you can tell where it would have been, but it doesn’t stop Chronos from being an excellent Soulsbourne-light style game.
RPG Maker MV (Switch) Review
RPG Maker MV is an excellent tool for gamers who want to dip their toes into game making. It won’t allow heavy customization, and loses a few functions from it’s PC counterpart, but definitely allows creatives to flex their muscles at home and (in case of the Switch) on the go.
CrossCode (Xbox One) Review
CrossCode is a love letter to 16 bit gaming, with an awesome amalgam of traditional RPG tropes, fast-paced combat, and Zelda action.
Broken Lines (Switch) Review
Broken Lines is an alternate-WWII storyline that meshes turn and action based SRPGs with a dash of Mass-Effect choice making and rougelike permadeath. A quality title that could use an update to allow touchscreen in mobile mode on the Switch.
Wartile (PS4) Review
Wartile is a unique game that plays like a single-player board game based on Nordic mythology with a hint of “Indian in the Cupboard” feel, as these playing pieces take on a life of their own.
Langrisser I & II (Switch) Review
Langrisser is a Strategy RPG akin to Fire Emblem, while still having it’s own unique flair that allows for unique combat. This remaster is done with love, being able to swap between classic and modern graphics and music.
Sparklite (PS4) Review
Sparklite is Top Down Zelda meets Dead Cells. A cute and entertaining game that tests you by mixing up the familiar at every turn and adds more excitement to the usual hum-drum overworld, Sparklite’s wonderful visual style and homages to many classic and beloved videogame mechanics is a welcome addition to your library.
Spaceland (Switch) Review
Spaceland is a lite SRPG style game at a value price, but it brings a few innovations to the table worth paying attention to.