My games of the year 2021 (GOTY 2021)

Best Shooter

Battlefield 2042 (PS5)

Battlefield might have thrown away nearly everything including the entire solo mode, the multiplayer experience stays unrivaled. Even more so in this PS5 version where 128 players can fight at the same time. With perfect sniping, non-stop action and armored warfare, Battlefield 2042 finally brings to console the promise of the perfect, PC-level Battlefield.

Runner-up : none

Best Action/Adventure game

Resident evil Village (PS5)

While Resident Evil Village was first in the series, I think I picked the right one. I tried Resident Evil VII soon after I liked it much less, so I do think Village is especially well directed. More focused on atmosphere, less linear and more spectacular, it’s undoubtedly a major installment of the series.

Runner-up : none

Best RPG

Tales of Arise (PS5)

It was a risky return but BandaiNamco made a flawless comeback with Tales of Arise. Advanced graphics, fantastic characters, epic fights, divine music… Every ingredient of the golden age of JRPG is there in a modern title that never forgets its roots.

Runner-up : The Legend of Heroes Kuro no Kiseki (PS4) & Scarlet Nexus (PS5)

Best design

The Legend of Heroes Kuro no Kiseki (PS4)

Falcom pulled its best for this new chapter of The Legend of Heroes. The world of the Calvard republic is incredibly rich and detailed, thanks to picturesque towns and remarkable secondary characters. The main characters are especially great, making a even finer casting than Sen no Kiseki in its time.

Runner-up : Scarlet Nexus (PS5)

Best graphics

Battlefield 2042 (PS5)

No real surprise here, DICE offers to PS5 players the best of technology in the FPS genre. Maps are splendid, and varied. The fight est more intense than evez thanks to more troops, more vehicles on the field. Weather effects bring an nice apocalyptic touch to the genre.

Runner-up : Resident Evil Village (PS5)

Best soundtrack

The Legend of Heroes Kuro no Kiseki (PS4)

New prize for Falcom Sound Team. From the splendid opening to great boss battle themes, not forgetting the town music, Kuro no Kiseki is a marvel for your ears. Dynamic, grandiose, Falcom’s new hit is the msucial journey of the year.

Runner-up : Tales of Arise (PS5)

Best atmosphere

Resident Evil Village (PS5)

Even though it’s more strictly the case in the first two chapters, Resident Evil Village serves delicious Japanese horror. The castle and especially the doll house are paragons of sinister. The fear is acute and the exploration thrilling.

Runner-up : Doki Doki Literature Club + (PS4)

Special Prize

Scarlet Nexus (PS5)

There aren’t studios capable of creating full new IPs as ambitious as Scarlet Nexus. I created this special prize in order to reward a high level of originality and quality. The gameplay in Scarlet Nexus is totally revolutionary, the challenge is intense and the character design vastly outstanding. This is the greatest new title in years. I hope the sequel comes quick…

Biggest letdown

Caligula 2 (PS4)

There’s always a risk when you release a stellar new IP : it’s hard to keep up in a sequel. Furyu fell right into this issue with Caligula 2, not even remotely as great as Caligula or Caligula Overdose. The publisher get into the market a underwhelming RPG plagued with short and lackluster writing, terrible gameplay balance and outdated graphics. Let’s point it out once more : using a big name is not enough.

Runner-up : Neptunia X Senran Kagura Ninja Wars (PS4)

Game of the Year

Tales of Arise (PS5)

As I said last year, we have to celebrate true JRPG when we see it. Like SquareEnix last year, BandaiNamco invested massively to deliver an purely traditional JRPG, but in modern standards. When many aren’t making their best because they target casuals, wokes or Nintendo subsidies, BandaiNamco’s effort in going forward with both Tales of Arise and Scarlet Nexus deserves our warmest praise. Long live the best publisher of 2021!

Scarlet Nexus (PS5)

The Legend of Heroes Kuro no Kiseki (PS4)

Resident Evil Village (PS5)

2020 – A Year In Review

So eh… yeah, I skipped every possible article this year. COVID terror, lockdown, lot of work, (non-COVID) hospital stay and ultimately moving house made me eat lot of time this year. After all, it’s not so bad to review all of it at once, right?

Ys IX Monstrum Nox (PS4)

As it was my second favorite game of 2019, you’d suspect there’s a very high mark here. From storytelling to quest system, Ys IX is a truly enjoyable Action-RPG that also puts an admirable effort in its (very large) character cast. From Adol to the smallest NPC, everyone you meet in Ys IX has an incredible personality and all this together forms a colorful and memorable new Ys Universe.

Persona 5 Royal (PS4)

This needs no introduction. The very best JRPG of the PS4 generation comes back with added content, but late added content. Sadly enough, I need to wait until you’ve finished the Persona 5 part order to add Su… eh, Kasumi as permanent member. This is a hundred hours of doing it all over, but the other surprise guest in the Royal part might make it worth the trouble.

Sakura Wars (PS4)

Sega more or less ruined the comeback of Sakura Taisen here. It’s more difficult to make a great action game than a decent Strategy-RPG. Sakura Wars PS4 could easily have been a decent SRPG, but in the end became a terrible action game. Combat is horrendous and boring. The dating part was cool though, as well as music, graphics and Tokyo’s historic look. A partially fun game that can be interesting at a reduced price.

Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4)

A ray of light in the heart of the COVID scare. SquareEnix did a near perfect job in reviving the most iconic Playstation JRPG. They kept everything that made the legend of FFVII over the years, and didn’t try to tone it down, westernize it or worse, make it look even a tiny bit like FFXV. There’s guenuine RPG gameplay, ridiculous mini-games, fuzzy sidequests, eccentric characters… In other words, Final Fantasy creators have not forgotten what a JRPG is. That alone, is the greatest thing in 2020 gaming.

Death end re;Quest 2 (PS4)

After clearing this game, I do believe it is the beginning of the end and Death of Compile Heart. Death end re;Quest 2 has been utterly tame in its horror aspect, that is to say its main aspect. Illustrations have been toned down and don’t look especially frightening anymore. Gameplay is a sub-version of the previous system, character development is pitifully wrong and story doesn’t even feel like it happens in the same universe as Death end re;Quest 1. I don’t think we can expect anything anymore from a company that wastes half of its time porting old games instead of putting real effort in the new ones.

Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris (PS4)

What went wrong there, seriously? It was the chosen one in the long saga of SAO games and just miserably failed to offer a entertaining experience. SAOAL has a really big and fascinating Xenoblade-like world, but full of tedious mandatory quests, boring combat full of duplicate characters when they absolutely HAD to translate the uniqueness of SAO Underworld. I hear there’s still tons of DLC planned but, seriously, who will even care now? Fairy Tail was so massively superior that they could as well rethink their way of doing stuff and get to something else.

13 Sentinels Aegis Rim (PS4)

I’m very glad the consensus went so positive about it. 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim is the best and most clever storytelling I’ve seen in quite some time. True, it’s not very difficult and the battle graphics are unimpressive, but the gameplay had something deeply fun into it. The aesthetitics of 80’s Tokyo are as as charming as the characters. A great exclusive I recommend to anyone who’s into Japanese gaming.

Persona 5 Strikers (PS4)

A year with double ration of Persona 5 can’t be that bad. Atlus knew that people wanted more Persona 5 and they gave it : the true and marvelous Persona 5 sequel which brillantly extends the pleasure. OK, you won’t have the stellar turn-based system, but instead you have a stellar Action-RPG system. So there zero reason to complain about the “Warriorization” of P5S. It’s an absolutely fantastic continuation of Persona 5, true the Persona spirit.

Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War (PS5)

I had been very curious about Black Ops Cold War from the very first teaser. It turned out that Activision delivered exactly what was promised : a fascinating historic experience and a deep dive into the Cold War era. It definitely has one of the greatest (best or second-best I’d say) COD campaign. It’s very innovative including puzzles, infiltration, choices and… sidequests! The multiplayer is enjoyable as well, even though far still from the Battlefield level of awesomeness.

My games of the year 2019 (GoTY 2019)

Best Action game

Devil May Cry 5 (PS4)

After leaving the series for many years, Devil May Cry 5 has been a great pleasure because it is modern and quite nostalgic at the same time. Graphics and animation are splendid, it revives good old memories while improving the gameplay with three fantastic characters and tons of great boss fights.

Runner-up : none

Best Racing game

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (PS4)

True gem of the first Playstation, Crash Team Racing is back to teach a lesson to Mario Kart on how karting is to be made for core gamers. Modern graphics don’t mean the gameplay is changed : it’s as technical, intense and fun as it was 20 years ago.

Runner-up : none

Best Fighting game

Dead or Alive 6 (PS4)

Dead or Alive 6 doesn’t revolutionize anything but by simply keeping unmatched qualities (fair-play, high-precision gameplay, lots of counters), it stays the best one and brings an enjoyable story mode.

Runner-up : none

Best RPG

Ys IX Monstrum Nox (PS4)

With Ys IX Monstrum Nox, Falcom proves once more that they know the true spirit of JRPG. Delightful by its tremendous wealth of characters, Ys IX also conducts is narrative in an efficient way, and eventually concludes on a beautiful epilogue. The action-RPG gameplay is still one of the best in the field, and you can enjoy it through countless boss battles.

Runner-up : Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! Kibô no Meikyu to Tsudoishi Bôkenshatachi (PSVita)

Best Strategy/Puzzle game

Fire Emblem 3 Houses (Switch)

With Fire Emblem Three Houses, the series proves again its mastery in building a enjoyable gameplay architecture and an intense challenge. The changes made to “help” the mainstream audience don’t negatively affect the game, but rather make the though missions even more delighting. Fire Emblem Three Houses takes the genre to new heights.

Runner-up : Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists

Best music

Shin Sakura Taisen (PS4)

While Shin Sakura Taisen kinda fails as an action-RPG, such is not the case of its lovely soundtrack. Character themes are so remarkable that I can never have enough of it. The rest of the tracklist is very good too, especially the few songs by top Japanese idols.

Runner-up : 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim (PS4) & Ys IX Monstrum Nox (PS4)

Best narrative

13 Sentinels Aegis Rim (PS4)

13 Sentinels Aegis Rim has by far the most complex story I’ve seen this year (and I’m not even done with it). The mix between time travel, alien invasion, conspiracy and betrayal make it a truly fascinating and enjoyable narrative. The way it is told is also innovative since you can choose the order in which you see it.

Runner-up : Ys IX Monstrum Nox (PS4) & Fire Emblem 3 Houses (Switch)

Best design

GRIS (PS4)

GRIS is my indy gem of the year. The use of geometrical form is groundbreaking, the symetry is harmonious, the zooming in/zooming is clever and the quest for primary colors give the impression of an interactive art gallery.

Runner-up : 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim (PS4) & Ys IX Monstrum Nox (PS4)

Best graphics

Devil May Cry 5 (PS4)

Devil May Cry 5 is a technical prowess in its intense fighting (especially with V) and in its greater universe : Capcom has given is breathtaking sceneries and a great post-apocalyptic world. Shin Sakura Taisen deserves praise as well, Sega having delivered a truly modern visual novel full of adorable character reactions and impressive mecha scenes.

Runner-up : Shin Sakura Taisen (PS4)

Most disappointing

Atelier Lulua (PS4)

To be honest, Atelier Lulua feels like the con of the year. The “return to Arland” was nothing but a smokescreen. Beloved characters were left out or transformed into late DLC, the Arland lore turned into a few anecdotes while a soporific tale was taking place among shallow protagonists. Let’s hope that Gust has learned all the lesson from this disgrace.

Runner-up : Crystar (PS4)

Game of the Year

Fire Emblem 3 Houses (Switch)

The greatest series take the time before delivering their latest installment, in order to maximize the game experience. Fire Emblem is one of those series and it is no coincidence if Fire Emblem Three Houses becomes my GOTY 2019 after Fire Emblem Fates in 2015. Great and rich narrative, wild maps, tons of lovable characters, relevant gameplay tweaks… this new game brings JRPG players to nirvana level of enjoyment.

Nelke and the Legendary Alchemists

Ys IX Monstrum Nox

13 Sentinels Aegis Rim

Press Round-up – Winter 2019

Reviews posted on VGchartz from January to March 2019. Click on the titles to access the reviews.

The Legend of Heroes Trails of Cold Steel IV (PS4)

Alas, the Falcom heroes disappoint in the last part of the Cold Steel saga! Built on a seriously boring narrative structure and awfully paced, The Legend of Heroes Trails of Cold Steel IV often feels quite underwhelming. Great parts are still there to be experienced, like the beautiful endings, and battles as well as the numerous characters are still reason enough for fans to give it a go.

Dead or Alive 6 (PS4)

Not so much innovation in the end from Team Ninja, but the Dead or Alive formula still dominates the fighting genre to me. Nico is a a great new character, balancing, graphics and online are just remarkable so nothing but support here.

Press round-up – Winter 2018

As I said last time, most of my English reviews will now be published on VGChartz. Once again, it is a significant opportunity for me so I definitely want to play that card to the maximum. In order to organize things on this end, I’ll write a report like this every new season to recap every article. That said, I will have a few blog-exclusive PSVita reviews coming, so stay tuned for that also.

Review – The Legend of Heroes Trails of Cold Steel III (PS4)

Massive JRPG, Trails of Cold Steel III kept me busy for something like 130h, making it one of the longest games that I’ve ever played (excluding the 400h on Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, but that’s another story). Characters, storytelling, combat, strategy… Falcom’s talent fully gathered in one memorable adventure, its only problem being the subpar graphics considering it’s a PS4 exclusive now.

Review – Great Ace Attorney 2 (3DS)

The second part of the non-localized historical spin-off of the Ace Attorney series. This entry send us back to Sherlock Holmes’s London, where defense lawyer Ryônosuke will have again to find his way to the truth in tricky cases. A lot more exciting than the first one, Great Ace Attorney 2 sheds light on many unanswered questions and features crime cases full of humor and also incomparable atmosphere.

Review – Death Mark (PSVita/PS4)

Well, you probably know this one. This is the updated review of one of my top games of last year, a horror story that I think is not going to be matched any soon. This article draws a brief recap of the sixth chapter, appeared in the PS4 version and given as free DLC on PSVita.

Review – Atelier Lydie & Suelle The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings (PS4)

Hugely anticipated as far as I’m concerned (since Atelier took back the GOTY spot last year), this newest Atelier game kinda fell short of the great expectations I had for it, because of its appalling level-design, the irritating DLC policy and the flat story. A serviceable Atelier game, but far from the best entries.

Review – Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet (PS4)

Another new installment I was eager to experience, I even bought the digital premium edition with the season pass. No regrets, but the feeling that BandaiNamco is unable to make a SAO game without silly mistakes in it. The renewed gameplay is cool, gun-friendly world of Gun Gale Online is fun to roam into, but little presence of SAO characters makes it feel like a different IP.

Review – Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana

Following the outstanding success of Tokyo Xanadu, which is largely regarded as a new IP, Falcom gets back to one of its established franchises with Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana. This newest episode has a particular taste since it’s likely to be Falcom’s last Vita game.

Already active is past Ys games, the red-headed adventurer Adol Christin is again a the center of this action-RPG. He’s travelling on board of the ship Lombardia when the latter gets attacked by a giant sea monster that sinks it without mercy. Adol wakes up in a desert island he recognizes at once : the cursed island of Seiren, well-known for causing shipwrecks. The fearless explorer has nothing more than a rusted blade to defend himself. He will thus seek help and form a small group with Laxia, an aristocratic girl good at fencing, and fisherman Sahad. Joined by the captain of the Lombardia and Adol’s old pal Dogi, they start building a small village to shelter themselves and the remaining refugees.

In his sleep, Adol will have visions of a priestress called Dana. Despite living in distant eras, Dana feels she’s linked to Adol somehow and will seek to help him by interacting from the past. Thrown into each other’s mind at night, Adol and Dana will complement each other to solve the mysteries of Seiren, a bit as if Falcom had written Your Name before Makoto Shinkai. The player follows both stories in parallel until those two scenarios connect in a beautiful way, and give a new and strong momentum by reaching superior stakes like in any good JRPG. Dana’s part was absolutely remarkable on the emotion side, with relevant narrative steps and perfect emphasis on important scenes.

Like a virtual Indiana Jones, you’re going to explore the numerous parts of the island one after another. Let’s stress right away that the mini-map is (finally) removable and that you can choose to experience a more old-school progression if you like, finding your way only by the general map. And you’ll need it, because Ys VIII features one of the biggest worlds ever created on PSVita. Dense forests, lots of ancient ruins, muddy field, dark caves, mountain peaks and even underwater parts! The progression constantly renews itself and is an adventure like you’ve never seen.

Despite being a bit linear (the regions of the map unlock very progressively), the game features interesting level design, it being complex terrain where you can get lost easily. Verticality is very impressive, has the game has you cross tortuous mountain paths or a large tower. It also leads to diversions given the hostile environment : the nature of Seiren will make you bite the dust, but the thrill of exploration is totally there. Sure enough, Ys VIII has some Xenoblade vibes in it. Even better, you’ll everything on a yet again splendid soundtrack. Seldom music will have enchanted the player as he runs in the wilderness. Lost in Green or You’ll See the End of the Tales come to mind, but there are many more like that.

The wonders of Seiren will enchant you too as Falcom borrows Zestiria’s discovery system. The exploration continues even outside the main scenario since you may come back to previously visited locations equipped with new exploration items (for example the feather allows the double jump) or new recruits in the drifting village, and thus uncover new secrets such as underground temples, etc.

Ys VIII doesn’t forget about leisure either because the fishing mini-game will be available all game long, including dozens of species to fish.

To progress in the story or in subquests, you’ll need to move the rocks blocking your path here and there. You can achieve this only if the number of inhabitants in the drifting village is high enough. You therefore must search every corner of the island in order to locate the survivors. Every newcomers trigger new quests or offer new services : Alison can sew new clothes, Catherine will be your smith and Tina will establish the barter counter. Indeed, you’re in a desert island and there’s of course no currency! The inventory is managed by exchanging more or less rare natural resources, so as to gather the necessary materials for new weapons and armor.

As always with Falcom, those secondary characters are fairly varied and deep : numerous sub-events explore the personality of each character out there, important rule in JRPGs. You also find quite some mini-stories that illustrates subquests, which makes them more enjoyable than usual. In particular, direct allies have a quite detailed personal story (a lot more than discreet Adol) and arouse empathy. Ys VIII has this particular humor of JRPGs, in which you hear the most unexpected lines in every situation. Hummel is top in that, given his seriousness in his strange “job” in the middle of the wilderness. After many hits in the field, Falcom is now at the forefront of modern JRPG, keeping that classic spirit when other threw it away for more money.

Combat has the same action-RPG feeling as Dragon Quest Heroes : a base 3-hit combo plus a special skills to choose between four. The L/R skills are varied and pack a punch, depending on the weapon used by the six playable characters. Dana for example owns two immense chakras that she can throw or make dance in long combos. Hummel can perform numerous types of shooting with its rifle, etc. Good news for those who like their gameplay habits : all buttons can be changed at your liking.

If we talk battle, we need to underline the guard and dodging systems. Performing a just guard or dodging at the very last moment respectively slow down the enemy’s movements and raise your critical rate to the maximum. Both grant you a few seconds of invincibility : you’re free to beat down the opponent. You need to master that in order to win in higher difficulty modes, but the skillfulness demanded makes for delightful fights. In normal mode, like in Tokyo Xanadu, there is moderate challenge but hard more in Ys VIII is significantly more interesting : damage taken is no joke, potions very limited and status ailments unforgiving. In order to ease the pain, the game allows you to recover HP by resting on the map, this however not being possible in dungeons.

The bestiary of Ys VIII is impressive : ferocious beasts, sea monsters, ancient golems and wild dinosaurs, combat is renewed in every place you go. Rare enough to be mentioned, you almost never see the same type of enemy twice! Further evidence of Falcom’s outstanding effort to make a rich world. Boss fights are awesome as opponents boast complex movesets and strategies. Strong and sturdy, dinosaurs will make you sweat, especially in defense missions. It so happens that fiends will regularly gather around the village and it’s up to you to repel them. Defense missions occur like a survival mode : monsters come in waves and you have to stop them from destroying the fence. Them coming from all directions, all you can do is to hit everything in sight as violently as you can. Exhilarating. You’ll also be able to build defenses, traps, barricades to withstand increasingly heated assaults.

When other choose to ditch classic JRPG, Falcom keeps the magic of the genre. With charming characters, a fantastic battle system, splendid music, multiple quests and an incredibly rich world, Ys VIII is a must-have for those who have been faithful to the genre for 15 or 20 years. Immersive and glorious in many aspects and despite very minor drawbacks, it is an amazing potion of youth.