Recent reviews by pluto9

Nights of Azure features great music and a cool red-and-black art style, but its core gameplay falls short. Even though it is a hack-and-slash title, combat feels too simple and lacks impactful hit feedback. The summoning system is a neat feature, but leveling up Servans feels like a hassle, especially for those unlocked late in the game.

The tone is also inconsistent, as mixing a dark story with lighthearted comedy does not really work. On top of that, the PC port is disappointing. I had to manually change configurations outside the game just to run it properly on a 4K 144Hz monitor.

It is still worth picking up on sale if you want a niche ARPG, but keep your expectations grounded.

Shining Resonance Refrain is a repetitive hack-and-slash ARPG with dating sim elements. Although the graphics are outdated, the game remains pleasant to look at thanks to the attractive character designs by popular illustrator Tony Taka. Grinding is necessary to gather crafting materials, empower your party, and level up to defeat bosses. The worst part is that benched party members do not receive XP, making the "Image Training" Aspect practically mandatory to get through the late game. If you don't mind grinding and anime tropes, and you enjoy cute anime waifus, this game is for you.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven starts off enjoyable, but the magic wears off quickly as the gameplay reveals a basic, repetitive loop. Visually, it carries a genuine charm despite its low-detail presentation. While enemy level-scaling initially eliminates mindless grinding, the game bizarrely forces you to grind anyway just to acquire specific skills required for certain bosses. Dungeons are overcrowded with enemy encounters, though you can easily dodge them using a quick lure-and-run maneuver. On Classic (Hard) difficulty, combat devolves into frustrating RNG where bosses frequently hit you with unavoidable one-shot kills. Even party formations prove too random to rely on when you need strategic control the most. What begins as a fun experience devolves into an annoying endgame chore, though I can still recommend it to players who don't mind grinding and repetitiveness.

Devil May Cry 5 is an action masterpiece with incredible style. The combat is easily the best in the entire series. There are tons of combo possibilities across three distinct playable characters. Graphically, the game looks fantastic with fluid, detailed animations. There are a bit too many cutscenes for my taste, but at least they are some of the coolest in gaming. The soundtrack fits the action perfectly. Despite its corridor-like level design, the stellar gameplay carries the experience. It is a must-play for action game enjoyers.

Devil May Cry 4 is a step up from the previous titles in terms of combat fluidity. The new main character, Nero, has a grab attack that is very satisfying when chained with other combo attacks. You can stay in the air longer than before while wreaking havoc on enemies. Dante's combat style largely remains the same, which means he is still great to play. There are many cutscenes in the game, but they are cool and funny. The music suits the game's style very well. Overall, I really enjoyed the game.

DMC1: Although the camera angles are atrocious and the boss fights are repetitive, it is overall an enjoyable game. There are tons of puzzles that show its Resident Evil origins.

DMC2: Skipped.

DMC3: This is where the real fun began. The over-the-top, stylish action is just fantastic, and the music is exciting. Some boss fights were very challenging, but it felt great when I finally beat them. The only downside for me was that my hands hurt from mashing the controller buttons the whole time.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is such a banger, fast-paced action game. It features a wide variety of weapons, each with unique movesets and cool combos to master. While blood splatters and limbs fly everywhere during brutal enemy encounters, the action remains incredibly satisfying. The only drawback is the camera movement, which can be disorienting enough to require some getting used to.

A cool side quest for free.

It's a cool mini-story that is connected to the main game, focusing on survival with low-level characters.

Good boys should recommend this DLC.