#ps4
#ps4
by Amr (@siegarettes)
With the newfound popularity of the Yakuza saga and the next gen remakes of the early games, it’s a great time to get into the series. And with the release of the Yakuza Remastered Collection the previously PS3 only games–Yakuza 3, 4 and 5–have made it onto modern platforms, making it easy to play the whole series on a single console.
For those used to the slick presentation of the recent entries this might be a jarring contrast. Yakuza 0 and Kiwami, while being simultaneously released on the PS3 and PS4 came out well after some of the entries in this collection, and boast much slicker interfaces and quality of life changes. Alongside the harsher edges brought on by the high resolution treatment, it makes these earlier games look quaint by comparison.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
In the modern games-as-service ecosystem UNICLR is an anomaly. While its contemporaries have all moved to a constantly updating seasonal format, Under Night has instead followed the traditional format of putting out a new retail product, with the compromise of having the balance changes rolled into the previous version. In that context, UNICLR is underwhelming.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Releasing at the peak of the considered, slow paced cover shooter, Vanquish felt like a game from the future. Despite a short run time that repeated several tricks, Vanquish’s attempt to subvert genre conventions with high speed moves gave in an edge people still praise today. But what felt futuristic now feels out of time. Ten years is a long time to reappraise a work and its flaws have only become more apparent with time. Vanquish remains enjoyable, but almost in spite of the game presented to you.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Returning to the series PC roots, DJMAX Respect brings over the latest entry in the stylish rhythm game series, with some new features and major omissions. When the original PS4 version of Respect dropped three years ago, both RJ and I adored it, and I personally found it to be the best introduction into the bullet hell-esque sensory overload of the series. Respect V is generally that same game, but the changes here leave it feeling barebones compared to its console counterpart.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
It must have been hour two before I met my demise the first time. An unavoidable bad ending where my character, Haruaki, was mauled with no choices you could make to escape it. Turns out death is the only way to make progress. By dying and returning to the beginning, Haruaki gains new knowledge he can use to avoid his fate next time. Several more hours in and I’ve only unlocked a few other choices, and the true game has only just begun. The game’s first “good” ending is a melancholy one, and has Haruaki searching for a new path that will give him more agency in influence the story’s events.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Made in the mold of CAVE’s DoDonPachi shooters, Ghost Blade HD takes on its familiar shooter staples, and replaces its anime schoolgirls with cheesecake pinup girls in lingerie. But that’s about as much color you’ll see from Ghost Blade. The problem with imitating the best in the genre is that you’ll be judged on the same standards. By comparison, Ghost Blade can come off as the bar top touchscreen version of a game you already know. Its fine–entertaining and solidly made, but otherwise aggressively average.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Bathed in blood and neon, Valfaris presents a vision of the heavy metal apocalypse that’s lush and overgrown. Machines are as likely to have arteries as they are circuits, and the industrial environments are infected with prismatic wildlife. The overdrawn, overstimulated flora and fauna can sometimes obscure your path, but your objective is always clear: slaughter everything in your path.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Pawarumi
Developer: Manufacture43
Publisher: Manufacture43
Switch, PC, Xbox One, PS4
Sporting a multiple weapon system and three color polarity system, Pawarumi might immediately bring to mind Treasure’s shooter diptych of Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga. But while it clearly draws inspiration from the two, Pawarumi is both simpler and more complex. It frequently overwhelms, but is balanced by allowing some messiness. Pawarumi might be balanced around a triangle of weapons, but it’s often a game of dichotomies.
At the heart of Pawarumi is its three color weapon system. Red lasers home in on enemies, the green wave beam hits a wide area directly ahead, and the blue laser inflicts direct, steady damage in a small area. At first, Pawarumi seem follows the usual STG weapon balance, trading off between covering wider angles and doing direct damage. This is unfortunately undercut by two factors.
