Digimon Survive

Now, I'm still working my way through this game, but I already have a handful of things in mind that I don't want to forget. This visual novel + tactics RPG is FANTASTIC. I personally enjoy both genres greatly, and I think this blend is a really cool fusion I know I need to see more of in the future.

-Save slots and Choice system

This game was made to be played again, and again. The choices you're presented with play into the morality system. Your bonds to the other characters will be influenced here. And down the road these choices add up and decide which characters live or die, and which ending you've fallen into.

Luckily, this game offers tons of save file slots. So if you're like me, who enjoys exploring the various options all at once, you can do that too.

-The presentation

This game feels like it has it all. It's visually stunning! I feel like I'm an active participant within an anime. And that's probably one of the coolest emotions a video game has ever sparked within me.

The menus and maps are clear, organized, and simply nice to look at. And I enjoy how they're framed as being viewed through the cell phone of the character you play as. There's a nice flow to that idea.

-The little details are really nice.

The main menu changes depending on how many characters you've found, and then I hear it reflects on which characters are still alive.

As someone who sometimes impulsively presses buttons too much, I appreciated this pop up. It's frustrating when I accidently miss cut scenes so this is a safety net I'd love to see more of in future games.

-The backlog

The game is broken up into clear episode sections, but daily life can make it difficult to keep track of everything. I appreciated the backlog so I could go back and familiarize myself with where I left off.

Virgo Vs The Zodiac

Have you seen the color palette? Visually, this game is a massive feast for my pixel art loving eyes.

I picked this game up when it first came out, but then I had tons of PC issues so this got put down for a while. I'm able to play it now, but I'm still early on in this RPG so my thoughts may change as I progress. For now, I wanted to point out some things I think were done well.

-Save file slots

I'm aware there are multiple endings, and obviously before that there are plot altering choices. I appreciate the ease of saving. It's available in the menu wheel any time, and there are tons of save slots.

-Dinosaur inclusion. The save and load menus are run by dinosaurs.

-Battle system

The turn based battles are somewhat overwhelming at first, but once it clicks the system is really fun. You have a health bar and a purity bar to manage. Purity can work as a shield and a way to earn a bonus counter attack, but that also depends on timed button input. There's also a rock-paper-scissors system at play as well.

This article here does a really nice job going into better detail.

-The Humor

This game is packed with characters and objects to interact with. Most things will bring up unique dialogue and descriptions, and the best part is that it's often quite funny!

Money Puzzle Exchanger

Recently, I picked up this NEOGEO gem. I'm already a sucker for puzzle games and for a cute art style. Money Puzzle Exchanger met my easy going standards and after a few hours of buzzing around the back of my mind, I couldn't resist any longer.

This game came out in 1997, and you can tell visually. The color palette and art style screams 90s magical girl. And I love it for that! Those visuals have never lost their appeal.

The gameplay is simple, but addictive in the best way. I even got my best friend hooked after a few rounds of the two player mode!

This quickly became a go-to when I need to clear my busy mind. I feel this game is a good reminder not to overthink things. You don't need something elaborate to make a fun game.