Chris Shive
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Hardcore Gamer Latest Reviews
Like a Dragon is a franchise that doesn't suffer from an identity crisis, it fully embraces and revels in it. Before reverting to its original name, it was known in the western world as Yakuza, which is the name many of its older fans still refer to out of habit....
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II continues the Calvard story arc set by its predecessor and also reaches the standard of excellence set by it. Whether tackling 4SPG jobs from the bulletin board, grinding for gear or playing minigames in the Märchen Garten or trying to advance through...
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights came out of nowhere to receive critical acclaim just a few years ago. Last year, a sequel was announced: Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist, with an early build subsequently released to Steam Early Access soon after. The brief sample of the work in...
Donkey Kong began his career as the titular villain in the early '80s arcade game. It was over a decade later when he got the starring role as a hero in Donkey Kong Country, which ended up becoming a successful platforming series. Known for 2D gameplay with advanced 3D character...
Dynasty Warriors: Origins offers the familiar gameplay the series is known for, while also making drastic changes in other areas. Longtime fans of the series will feel at home slaughtering countless enemies by themselves, but the approach to storytelling with the Wanderer character helps make things feel new again. It's...
Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer may not actually train the player to be an effective boxer, but it is a fun way to burn some calories and get the heart rate elevated. The targets seem to accurately track the punching movement when it comes to scoring, and the routines...
Fantasian: Neo Dimension is a modern take on the RPG formula. In many ways, it's similar to classic Final Fantasy games, but elements such as the trajectory aspect of battles and the Dimengeon help distinguish it from other titles the developers have previously worked on. The Dimengeon is an especially...
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is how a classic game should be remade. The new graphics style brings Dragon Quest III into the modern era while maintaining the original iconic designs. The quality-of-life improvements also make the 36-year-old game feel modern without sacrificing the core elements of the original experience....
Shadows of the Damned was originally released in 2011. It was generally well received critically, but didn't quite make a big enough impact to become much more than a cult classic, which isn't an uncommon fate for media with Shadows of the Damned's tone and subject matter. Nevertheless, it's still...
Ys has been around for decades, and in recent years, has been gaining popularity with western audiences. The Ys games (except for Ys Origins) focus on the travels of adventurer Adol Christin and usually his companion Dogi. The premise is that typically Adol ends up in a new area, and...
G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra brings one of the most popular cartoons of the '80s to life in a retro-inspired beat 'em up. The limited story development and virtually nonexistent dialogue, however, lead to G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra falling short of its potential. What could have been a nostalgic...
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP is a fun way to revisit a cult classic, but ultimately doesn't do much to improve it. It's a remaster, not a remake, so fans should temper their expectations going in that this is pretty much the same game they played over a decade ago. There are...
