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A gorgeously crafted dark fantasy RPG with layered storytelling, inventive combat, and memorable characters like Gustave and Maelle. Every once in a while it stumbles in pacing and polish, but it overall delivers such powerful emotion and artistic ambition that more than make up for any flaws. Play if: - You love JRPGs with complex combat systems but also enjoy real-time action elements (dodging, parrying, timed events). - You appreciate strong aesthetic design and mood-setting: the Belle Époque + dark fantasy style is unusual and immersive. - You are drawn to themes of mortality, legacy, and sacrifice. - You wouldn’t mind a steep learning curve, and you enjoy tinkering with build-paths, party synergies, optional bosses, and side content. - Unexpectedly: even if you don't normally like JRPGs but care more about story, art, and emotional resonance than just action or fast pace, this game can genuinely win you over. Skip if: - You dislike long cutscenes or heavy story sequences. Pacing slows in parts (camp dialogues, exploration, etc.). - You get frustrated by minimal navigation aids (no minimap, environments can feel confusing or repetitive, you can get lost.) - You value tactical depth in battles over perfect timing. Of course, your build makes a real difference to fights, but memorising attack timings is the best way to deal with tough enemies. - You want your gameplay to be simple or easygoing. The combat has depth and demands timing and strategy; some mechanics may feel overwhelming or complex. It is not quite a soulslike game, but some optional fights can be extremely frustrating. (bonus) Get the Deluxe Edition if: - You want to support the developers with your wallet. - You really enjoy cosmetics variety. - You don't expect any extra content (story, bosses, collectables, etc.)
A strange, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt RPG that mixes sci-fi pulp with witty writing and memorable characters. What other game has a planet as a companion? Dated in places, but still worth the journey if you’re into story-first experiences. Play if: - You enjoy story-driven RPGs with strong character writing and humor (think early Bioware or Planescape: Torment with a comedic twist). - You like quirky, imaginative sci-fi worlds filled with oddball side characters and settings. - You can appreciate a mix of comedy and genuine emotional beats in a single narrative. - You don’t mind an old-school JRPG-style combat system with simple mechanics. Also, no grind. - You’re curious about cult classics that still feel unique decades later. Skip if: - You want somewhat modern graphics, UI, or animations. This is a 2001 PC game, and it looked outdated even on release. - You dislike linear JRPG-style progression and turn-based combat. There is absolutely zero build variety. - You expect a balanced, bug-free experience (some jank and pacing issues are part of the package).
A moving, beautifully crafted narrative journey that balances creativity with emotional depth. Short, but unforgettable. Play if: - You want a story that’s emotionally powerful and not afraid to tackle heavy themes. - You enjoyed narrative-driven games like Firewatch or Gone Home. - You appreciate variety in presentation. Each family story feels unique. - You’re looking for a short, polished, atmospheric experience. Skip if: - You expect puzzles, combat, or challenging gameplay. This is a pure narrative journey. - You dislike linearity (the story unfolds in a fixed order with little replay value). - You need a long game. It can be finished in 2–3 hours. - You’re not comfortable with stories centered on family tragedy and mortality.
A beautifully written, atmospheric narrative game that shines in characters and setting. Best approached as an interactive story rather than a traditional game. Play if: - You enjoyed narrative-driven games like What Remains of Edith Finch, Gone Home, or Life is Strange. - You want strong writing, dialogue, and character development at the core. - You’re looking for a short, atmospheric experience set in a unique environment. Skip if: - You expect action. You can’t die and there are no combat mechanics. - You’re looking for actual horror or big thriller payoffs. - You want branching storylines with meaningful gameplay consequences. Choices here are mostly roleplay flavor. - You need a neatly tied-up ending (this one is more about the journey).
Interesting setting, Shadowrun Returns is a great mix of cyberpunk and fantasy with an engaging story and a universe that’s fun to explore. I liked the variety of tactics in combat and how each encounter can be approached differently. The campaign is a bit linear and not very long, but overall it’s a strong RPG experience. Solid 4/5.
I played Ys Origin for the first time after completing Ys I and II. Origin is very different both in terms of gameplay and writing. Where the first two games are naive and simple, Origin is much more modern. Combat feels great and satisfying, with a bit of variety provided by different abilities and characters. The bosses are hard, some a lot harder and others I was able to beat from first or second attempt, but all very unique and memorable. Story is great, and writing in Origin is the biggest improvement sicne Ys I and II. There are clearly good and bad guys, but there is space for personal struggles, and all the main characters are written well. If I had to criticise anything, it is music. I think all boss fights have the same music track playing, and it gets really annoying by the end of the game. Also, the music from Ys I / II is a complete power-metal masterpiece, and it blows away Origin's soundtrack of easy listening electronica. Overall, it is very much worth playing, both on its own, and definitely in the context of the whole Ys lore.
I wanted to get into the Ys series for a while, and I was always a bit put off after watching gameplay videos. Turns out, the bump-to-attack mechanic was quite fun. It's not deep, there are no different builds or tactics to it, but for an old game this works fine. Bosses are the real highlights, and as I understand, they will remain so in all Ys games. What I was also worried about was writing, and it is also important to understand that this game represents its time. You just didn't get much better writing in an action RPG. If something like this gets released today in a fully priced JRPG game, it won't be accepted well. It is not bad, but it is not great at all. But I am hoping that getting to know the characters and events in Ys I and II will help me appreciate later games more, and after spending a couple of hours with Ys Origin, I am glad that I completed these two games. Like some other reviewers mentioned, there will be moments where you might not know waht to do. Don't waste too much of your time on figuring out what to do, use the guide. Overall, these two games are well worthy of your time. They are good old games.
Got this game after 1.5 patch. Never played it before, so no idea how bad it used to be. Right now it plays great. Minor issues never distract from the amazing experience. Great story and great characters. Lots of choices and replayability. Just finished my first playthrough after 56 hours. It was a very, very memorable experience. Will dive right back in for another adventure.
Amazing: - Main thing for me: In the end, I was left completely heartbroken in the best possible sense. Not many games do that. I wanted more of one specific story, and thank god Witch Hunt DLC is included here. It let me say exactly the words that were on my mind for a couple of days after beating the main game. If not for this, it would be just a good game to me with its share of problems that may not be worth it. Instead, it is a game that touched my soul, made me care, identify with my main character, and MY LIFE IS BETTER because I played this game. - The lore. You can go as deep as you want to experience this world. A lot of it comes via reading the Codex though. - The cast of companions and different ways your relationships with them may go. Different people find different characters great, I am pretty sure you will find one that you will always remember. Bad: - Steep learning curve when it comes to combat. It was so frustrating to the point I was ready to give up completely. (Hint: look up some guides that will explain the abilities, skills, etc. if you keep getting slaughtered in every single fight. It's not enough to just click on the enemy and expect it to die.) - Grind, grind, grind. - Too many dungeons and areas that look uninspiring. - Overall story is quite predictable. - Bugs. Oh my god, I had such a bad time in Denerim: save files kept getting corrupted, the textures glitched from time to time, and the game crashed again and again. (Good old hint: Save often and in different slots) Good: - Some nice unexpected twists in the story. - Once you figure out how to combine different characters' abilities in combat, it can be quite enjoyable, despite the grind. - Good degree of freedom when it comes to solving majority of main and side quests. - You get to know the outcome of your important decisions. - Writing. I wouldn't call it amazing, but solid. - The expansion and all DLCs are included, so once you get this, you don't need to buy anything else.
Yeah yeah yeah, the game is not perfect, but if you just give it a chance, you are going to have a great time! The dialogues are funny, the world is amazing, the music is awesome! The RTS bits frustrated me at times, but they are not THAT complicated, and I always wanted to find out what happens next.