Reviews by Adam Vitale
Ys X: Nordics' excellent and refreshing combat stylings are diluted by tedious exploration, uneven visual presentation, and a ho-hum story.
review by Adam Vitale on 14 October, 2024
Reynatis takes inspiration from Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy, but results in a messy & forgettable experience.
review by Adam Vitale on 20 September, 2024
Although Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn has satisfying combat, this entry-level souls-like RPG is held back by some bland questing and a forgettable narrative.
review by Adam Vitale on 18 July, 2024
While the Vengeance re-release doesn't fundamentally change what Shin Megami Tensei V is, numerous adjustments and improvements allow SMTV to be the best version of itself.
review by Adam Vitale on 12 June, 2024
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a good re-release of a good game, and adjustments made only improve upon it in small but substantial ways. It's an easy recommendation for general audiences and RPG fans. Now, where's my Luigi in Waffle Kingdom RPG?
review by Adam Vitale on 21 May, 2024
While there is room to improve and some blemishes throughout, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes has excellent presentation & nostalgic charm, and I cannot overstate enough how glad I am that it exists.
review by Adam Vitale on 21 April, 2024
Banishers: Ghost of New Eden's excellent characters and storytelling are diminished by its mundane world structure and repetitive combat.
review by Adam Vitale on 12 February, 2024
While Wandering Sword may appear to be an imitation at first glance, this entertaining Wuxia-style adventure is one of the most unique RPGs I've ever played, despite stumbles in localization and polish.
review by Adam Vitale on 14 January, 2024
Tales of Arise - Beyond The Dawn is conceptually an interesting epilogue, but stale questing and trite plotting leave me apathetic to this unexpected expansion.
review by Adam Vitale on 08 November, 2023
While Dark Envoy has some interesting class and skill systems, this CRPG's tedious encounter design, forgettable characters, sluggish narrative, and bevy of performance issues make it a difficult game to recommend.
review by Adam Vitale on 23 October, 2023
Despite the narrative not fully coming together in the end, as well as some repetitive gameplay structure, Crymachina manages to be a compelling RPG. Regardless of its uneven nature and short duration, I think it may leave a lasting impression on me - at least a little bit.
review by Adam Vitale on 20 October, 2023
The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails invokes a feeling of an earlier era of Falcom in some of the best ways. With a charming presentation and commendable gameplay, this is a satisfying game and an easy recommendation to anyone looking for a light-hearted action RPG romp.
review by Adam Vitale on 15 September, 2023
Atlas Fallen is an average action RPG with some interesting Momentum combat mechanics, a passable open-world, subpar presentation, and a disappointing narrative.
review by Adam Vitale on 09 August, 2023
Jagged Alliance 3 is an excellent game, merging squad-based tactics and classic computer-style roleplaying in an entertaining veneer of cheesy action movies.
review by Adam Vitale on 16 July, 2023
While Miasma Chronicles' combat stylings are compelling, an undercooked narrative riddled with cliches, weak characters, and some glitchy behaviors hold this tactical RPG from its potential.
review by Adam Vitale on 18 June, 2023
Etrian Odyssey is a great dungeon RPG series, and its transition to PC & Switch is an admirable one, but some interface oddities and a hefty pricepoint raise eyebrows.
review by Adam Vitale on 01 June, 2023
Serviceable action combat can't salvage a disappointing narrative and trivial open world.
review by Adam Vitale on 29 May, 2023
Many independent RPG creators are inspired by the classics, but few succeed in their genre aspirations in the same way that Mattias Linda has.
review by Adam Vitale on 12 May, 2023
FuRyu returns with another RPG that tries to evoke the nostalgia of the classics of yesteryear, but Trinity Trigger's good music and character art cannot salvage a dull RPG that is middling at best, and broken at worst.
review by Adam Vitale on 25 April, 2023
Redemption Reapers is a strange, sometimes admirable, and sometimes frustrating tactical RPG. It has several intriguing components conceptually, both in its narrative and mechanics. But in places it falters in execution, leaving behind an uneven though interesting experience.
review by Adam Vitale on 26 February, 2023
Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is an admirable follow-up to Labyrinth of Refrain, with polished gameplay systems, an intriguing storyline, and a lengthy runtime.
review by Adam Vitale on 18 February, 2023
Despite a paper-thin narrative, shallow one-note characters, and a kitchen-sink approach to its many subsystems, Fire Emblem Engage is the best-looking 3D Fire Emblem title with excellent tactical gameplay.
review by Adam Vitale on 17 January, 2023
Romancing SaGa is not for everyone, but if it hooks you, it may hook you *hard*.
review by Adam Vitale on 17 January, 2023
Despite its rough edges, Asterigos is a solid action RPG with a satisfying story and competent combat.
review by Adam Vitale on 27 October, 2022
Batora: Lost Haven is a boring RPG with tedious dialogue and lackluster level design, saved only by adequate combat, respectable art, and a mercifully short runtime.
review by Adam Vitale on 27 October, 2022