Longtime Phantom Thieves can look forward to an enjoyable side adventure with Persona 5 Tactica, but its uneven pacing and low enemy variety hold it back from being a true revolution.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R strikes a good balance of retro and modernity with its throwback visuals and new combat mechanics.
The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is a fun action RPG that takes elements of the wider series it's based on and crafts something unique. The minute-to-minute gameplay is also engaging, although with some minor platforming frustrations here and there. While the story may be simplistic and not as politically engrossing as the mainline Trails games, the heartfelt cast of characters and side quests help flesh out its world.
Night School's spooky sequel tenderly captures the ambiguity of early adulthood
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie has a great story with an engaging turn-based battle system. While it does have issues with a bloated cast of characters, the story’s impeccable pacing makes every interaction manageable.
While Loop8's story has the potential to be incredibly interesting, it never really lands and fails to leave an emotional impact towards the end. It's all presented beautifully and has a unique mix of gameplay styles and ideas, but their repetitive and frustrating nature makes the whole experience a chore. It's like toiling away at your summer job and going through the motions until it's time to leave.
