Rhythm Paradise Groove carries a kind of creative electricity that is hard to fake. Every mode, every song and every odd little scenario feels touched by a team that genuinely enjoys the craft of rhythm, and that enthusiasm seeps through the screen. It is not flawless, yet its spirit is so strong and its execution so assured that the imperfections never manage to dull its glow. This is the sort of game that quietly raises the bar for what a rhythm title can be, not through spectacle, but through an unshakeable commitment to making every beat matter.

One Piece Odyssey is a decent RPG with a beautiful world, enjoyable combat, great music, and surprisingly deep customisation. Sadly, its overly linear exploration and some tedious design choices keep it from reaching its full potential.

A title like Brigandine Abyss is a design nightmare. It takes two genres with a massive mental overhead cost and tries to make them both work in the same game. The result is a game that may not appeal to fans of either genre, but will be a must-buy for fans of both. For those who wanted Fire Emblem with more strategic freedom, this is the game, and for those who love Dynasty Warriors Empires but want more engaging combat, this is the ticket. Brigandine Abyss knows its niche extremely well.

There are far better pinball video games out there, with more content, more challenges, more bells and whistles. For a humble NES title from distant 1984, however, Pinball turns out to be quite the entertaining blast from the past. For retro fans only? Probably, but do check it out if you ever come upon this ancient piece of history.

The way Chapter 5 plays out, it feels like all the cool stuff from Chapter 4 either didn’t happen or was retconned at the last minute. Understandably, Toby Fox wanted a chapter that was a "calm before the storm" that depicts the final days of innocence, but this was not the way. A lot of scenes are unearned, and the writing is not up to his typical level of quality. Thankfully, the gameplay is amusing, and the way old mechanics are remixed and recontextualised breathes some life into this otherwise uneventful day at the festival.

Yet Another Zombie Survivors is a great game because it understands the pleasures of simplicity. There’s no need for grand ambitions, sprawling worlds, or a dozen systems fighting for the player’s attention. Instead, here’s a bunch of zombie-apocalypse hero archetypes, an absurd number of zombies, some increasingly ridiculous weapons, and a handful of upgrades. Done. And everybody’s happy. This survivor-like knows exactly what it wants to be, doubles (and triples) down on it, and simply lets you have fun.

Obakeidoro 2: Chase and Seek is wonderful both online and offline, although it is definitely designed with local multiplayer in mind. It is a pleasant short burst of joy that's easy to pick up and play without asking if everyone can play or if there is enough time. The charming atmosphere and attention to detail also capture a lot of the magic of playing with friends in the schoolyard!

In the heat of the moment, The Prisoner is every bit as excellent as REANIMAL's core game. The fun ends when a bug pops up and crashes the game, leaving players frustrated and hungry when it's over so soon. A little more to do would have been appreciated. REANIMAL's foundation is very strong when it works, and the developer has an eye for visuals and storytelling. They just need to do more of it and let players stew in the world they created.

The original Wild Arms is still pretty good. Any JRPG maniac with a tolerance for a little bit of crustiness will still find it a compelling adventure. The combat is a bit basic and easy, but the puzzles and dungeons are where the game pushes players' intellect. Naruke's music is a highlight and elevates Wild Arms' emotional core, searing itself into any player's memory. Of the many huge hit JRPGs on PlayStation, Wild Arms is above average, but also one of the lesser entries in the franchise.

UFO -A Day in the Life- isn't really about extraterrestrials and more about seeing the everyday world and the unnoticed mundanities within it with fresh, patient eyes. It may not be the most engrossing adventure game, nor is it all that witty or have compelling gameplay. What it does well is capturing bite-sized human stories that range from depressing to amusing to... whatever a bald guy who likes to dress up and act like a baby is supposed to evoke. There's no putting a price on that.