Recent reviews by Bravesoldierphil

May as well recommend this game-it's been through constant ups and downs, but at this point, it seems to be consistently going up in quality! Best with friends, of course, but one can pull off quite the mission even with randoms!

Surprisingly on the low end for visibility and public applause, Nine Sols feels like a second Hollow Knight in many aspects. Differences abound as well though-the most notable for me was the trimming down of brutal platforming sections in exchange for incredibly brutal combat. Parry is the name of the game, and getting through a boss is often a feat of its own. Yet, above all else, it is the art style and aesthetic of this game that I endorse. Dubbed "taopunk", it is incredibly inspired, well-made, and has so, so many enjoyable details. The story, on top of all of it, is surprisingly heart-warming, and I thoroughly recommend this game to others.

A good friend of mine gifted this game to me, and after having poured over 130 hours into it, I can safely say this is a fairly decent game (or two, depending on how you see it). These two stories takes the classical monster capture formula and change it up just enough to feel refreshing, yet still consistent, while giving the player far more control than ever before. Though random encounters are still an aspect, you no longer need to hunt the rare monster-you can just evolve it from the base, easily found Digimon. If you truly dislike random encounters, don't worry too much, you can turn them off at a later point in the game (until then though, they aren't too hard-and grinding is never outright necessary). You can make it through this entire game with just basic encounters-only truly grand Digimon require some basic grinding from the player, for which a multitude of tools are provided to expedite immensely. Various animations also help the turn-based combat feel fairly nice, and unique little animations can catch you off-guard, spicing up the nature of the game. Though it isn't out of the world, it all holds up, and lets the player have some fun.

Story wise, the game is somewhat similar. The first story, Cyber Sleuth, is fairly standard, though it does come with some interesting characters, especially a certain "villain". Though the story as such isn't quite as strong, it is helped along with various characters that feel at least partially grounded (though a certain, excitable one will stand out as being a bit bare-bones). Nothing is outright unexpected, though if you have less experience with Digimon, it can certainly be a surprise. The unique enemy of this game, the Eaters, are also a curious antagonist, and have a variety of inspired designs, leading to some genuine vestment. However, story wise, it is Hacker's Memory that shines-though the story is now even less important, and it is made harshly clear that you even barely qualify as a side-character, the characters are brought up multiple notches. You easily get some of the best interactions in the second arc, and get to form far closer bonds with your hacking group, Hudie. The characters also all feel FAR more grounded-the anime issue of being too lofty and floaty from a regular human barely appears in this story. The ending also hits a lot harder-which is impressive, as Hacker's Memory was not even an intended story.

Overall, if you like any sort of capture or turn-based game, this should work well for you. Admittedly, this game is still niche, and the first story's blatant anime influence undermines some of the better story-telling. If you like Digimon though, absolutely give this game a try-there's a lot of fan-service and nods to the overall franchise beyond just original voice actors being brought in. If you're overall on the fence, keep in mind this is two games in one-it can be worth a try just to see some of the designs, and try out the story. After all maybe Digimon is something you like after all.

Surprisingly, I would recommend this game-while it can be difficult, and the lack of linear design at times can ward off a player, have no fear. At worst, just bring a friend in. At best, enjoy the world at its whole, and see what you can find. There's a weapon and armor set for just about every playstyle, and an incredible range of memorable bosses to go with them. Just hold fast no matter what, and take the plunge!

Quick, easy, and fairly rewarding. While the game has a very arcade-style form of play, the progress provided is that of modern games, and these two features mesh well for consistent fun when you're feeling a bit bored.

Perhaps it is a bit late for this recommendation, but out of the many online card games, I can easily place Duelyst as the best. While it is now shutting down, it was an excellent game when still alive. With a surprising amount of balancing features, yet the ability to still be very thematic and creative with decks, the gameplay itself was solid, and rewarded a player's legitimate skill very evenly. Collecting cards themselves, unlike most other games, is not a hassle. Whereas most other online card games demand exceptionally rare cards, Duelyst was a lot more open in what it gave from packs, and would often drop legendary cards, unlike things like Hearthstone. In addition, while the card range was large, the commonality of more "expensive" cards enabled one to quickly swap out a few cards for one they were aiming for, and thus focus on purely the style they want to play, rather than what they were locked into from their packs. Overall, an excellent game-a shame it had to go.

This game was something I simply didn't have the chance and money to get. I had, as such, become rather cynical of it, but upon being gifted it and finally trying out, I found myself pleasantly surprised. While the luck of the roll and the lack of second chances for mistakes can be frustrating, this streamlines into gameplay with a highly enjoyable loop of seeing how far you can go, and knowing when to retreat. The style and theme of the game is also exceptionally well-done, and every run into a quest, successful or not, is thus made satisfying.

Quick, easy, and fun solo or with people. The variety from just how equipment may stack up over time alone grants this replayability, and the updates only continue to enhance this.

And still bloody brilliant!

While a bit loopy, multiple classes and a few surprising varieties in options help offset it. Just be careful!

You see that tag "Choices Matter"?
That describes the entire game. Every choice, it matters. It won't immediatly makes its presence known, but when it does, you will either curse or praise your choices. It is intense, emotional, and a true heartbreak. For a while, I even questioned if the game held some truth in this world. Still not sure. Buy it. Immerse in it. Maybe you'll find something no one has.