Game8

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Spirit is a well-rounded adaptation that makes its familiar mobile RPG framework work, particularly through its strong presentation and preparation-focused approach to team building. The conventional autobattler combat and condensed storytelling keep it from reaching the heights its presentation might suggest, while its demanding duplicate investment remains the biggest caveat for players looking to fully develop their favorite characters. For JoJo fans, however, there is plenty here to enjoy without requiring them to spend, making it a worthwhile free-to-play experience despite its steeper investment curve.

I had a good time with Brigandine Abyss, but that comes with a lot of caveats. It’s not for everyone—SRPGs rarely are—but more than that, its story never gave me much reason to care about the world or its characters, and its presentation belongs to the early 2010s. What kept me playing was just how good the game’s strategy elements are, especially the amount of time I could spend putting my armies together and figuring out how to get the most out of them. There are plenty of things I wish Abyss did better, but fortunately, it’s very fun to play.

Starsand Island is frustrating precisely because its foundation is so promising. Its satisfying grind, interconnected progression, generous resources, and charming presentation provide the makings of a genuinely enjoyable farming RPG, but a hollow narrative, underdeveloped relationships, and an unfortunate number of bugs keep it from reaching its potential. There is enough here for dedicated farming game fans to enjoy, but at 1.0, it feels like a game that needed more time to grow into the experience it was promising to be.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope is a fantastic expansion that builds on what made the base game so compelling, even as its slow-burn pacing and punishing gameplay remain largely unchanged. Its strong narrative on two of the series’ popular factions, as well as its deeper dive into the convoluted science-fiction mythos makes it a worthwhile return to the Zone. The addition of Update 2.0 and two new explorable regions, including the iconic CNPP, gives longtime fans more than enough reason to soak in the Roentgens and smell the irradiated roses.

Whether it’s bad on purpose or just plain bad, it’s clear to anyone with eyes, ears, or hands that Agefield High: Rock the School! is a bad product. From a visual identity that both confuses and revolts to a gameplay loop that prevents itself from ever being enjoyable, everything about this game screams inadequacy—though it notably doesn’t scream lack of effort. If the game had more time to cook, say another decade or so, perhaps it would’ve been a passable homage to one of gaming’s most iconic coming-of-age titles. As it is now, though, it’s an unplayable, unlovable, unappreciable mess I’d rather forget than remember.

Clawed looked like a promising horror survival shooter uniquely set in a dinosaur theme-park, until you actually play the game. The massive game world, immersive SFX, and stunning visuals complemented each other well. Unfortunately, it is riddled with game-breaking bugs, uninspired gameplay, and perpetual fetch quests, making version 1.0 feel like it should still be on Early Access.

Agent 64: Spies Never Die looks, feels, and sounds like an old game on purpose. It brings modern FPS systems to the blocky graphics of the 90s, delivering a fresh and genuinely challenging experience for both nostalgic and new players. Like all great shooters, it's easy to learn, hard to master, quick to play, and fun to play with friends. As a loving ode to the spy genre, it tells a perfectly paced and timeless spy story that anyone can enjoy. Although some old-school mechanics deliberately adapted for nostalgic effect can feel dated, those who love the FPS genre but missed the N64 era will find this retro experience charming and novel.

Mortal Shell 2 is one of those games that'll make you smile when remembering it, but frown when you recall the details. Its horrifying audiovisuals and polished combat create plenty of memorable moments, but repetitive stages, unfair mob pressure, limited build variety, and a painfully slow narrative make it equally frustrating. Its content also falls short of justifying the $49.99 price against the competition. For all its strengths, Mortal Shell 2 gets the pieces right without quite putting them together.

Sister Other Paranoia isn't without merit. Its thematic ideas, literary influences, visual symbolism, and commitment to making Hasuya as unpleasant as possible show that there's a deliberate vision behind the experience. Unfortunately, that vision gets buried beneath inconsistent writing, limited interactivity, and a protagonist whose worldview isn't nearly as thought-provoking as the game seems to believe it is.

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is, quite simply, more of the same as in 2021, but with a different setting. Its gameplay design and setting remain its strongest points, and it offers an enjoyable experience when it works on both the player and technical sides. However, the game certainly feels dated in its textures and has key issues across most aspects, making it feel underdone even with the delay in its release.