How this trust score was computed
This reviewer publishes verdicts, not numbers, so trust comes from their recommend/pan calls: call accuracy (50%): when they say buy, do players end up satisfied, and when they say skip, do players agree; alignment (25%): do their recommendations sort games the way players do; and player-side (25%): on games where press and players sharply disagreed, whose side were they on. The blend is shrunk toward a neutral prior (60) so small histories can't peg the scale, and recent verdicts weigh more (2-year half-life).
Computed 6m ago · full methodology →
Outlet vs. players
Each dot is a game both this outlet and players scored. The dashed line is perfect agreement: dots above it mean the outlet was more generous than players, below it more harsh.
Recent reviews (11 tracked)
- RecTactics Ogre: RebornNov 10, 2022
“Tactics Ogre Reborn can be uncompromising, regardless of your tactical RPG experience. But once you’ve moved past your training wheels and figured out what’s asked of you, you'll have a great time!”
read full review ↗ - RecWayward StrandSep 15, 2022
“Its use of the passage of time as a way to enhance the feeling you get whenever you choose to do something is a clever way of using gameplay to lift up the believability of the world around you without making you feel as though you’re missing out. It’s a fantastic game that will truly make you feel like you belong. After all, as a wise man once said, “wherever you are, that’s the place to be!””
read full review ↗ - PanDisaster Report 4: Summer MemoriesApr 6, 2020
“It breaks my heart to admit that Disaster Report 4 is a game that I had a really difficult time getting into. I felt that the game’s rocky, torn apart atmosphere is a fitting metaphor that represents its many disparate ideas just not quite coming together in the end. I do believe that patient players who can see past its many issues will find a game that delivers a unique and interesting take on adventure games. But I highly encourage the rest of us - especially at its going price at launch - to download and play the available demo and make a decision based on their experience there. Despite this, I am still glad to have experienced this game overall, and I am optimistic about the series’ future! No other game tries to tackle this kind of subject matter than Disaster Report does, and I am hoping that, if a sequel is in the works, that its developers focus on making it a tighter, more cohesive experience.”
read full review ↗ - RecPersona 5 RoyalMar 30, 2020
“Trying to list every single minute change in Persona 5 Royal would result in a 15-20 minute video all by itself, and quickly looking through the many changelists that do exist online, I found that many of them don’t even come close to describing the multitude of enhancements and changes that this game has. However, simply enumerating what Persona 5 Royal changes rather than taking what all these collective modifications do together misses the forest for the trees. Many of the quality of life improvements that it’s introduced, along with opening up more of the gameplay and the expansion of its existing features makes such a huge difference in making the game feel and play better. And that’s not even talking about its cool additions to its story! At its core, Persona 5 Royal still maintains the very essence of what the original tries to convey: that significant change can come from anywhere, no matter how big or how small it looks. It’s thanks to the thoughtful examination and reengineering of every single facet of the original game that turns Persona 5 Royal into the definitive Persona 5 experience for me, and it’s automatically a must have for any JRPG fan wanting an incredibly entertaining and enriching experience!”
read full review ↗ - RecGranblue Fantasy: VersusMar 3, 2020
“Granblue Fantasy Versus is a game that I didn’t think I’d really get into. But after playing for so many hours in its various modes, I found a lot of enjoyment in trying out and experimenting with the different characters that this roster offers. I find that its appeal to me is something that goes well beyond how beautiful it looks and sounds, or even how charming its character roster’s designs can be. It reminds me of a time that I spent countless hours mastering combos, learning the many nuances of a fighting game, and really diving deep into combo strings and videos that the community shared with one another. It’s a game that makes me want to pick up technically challenging characters to want to try and learn, despite the numerous excuses to myself that my eye-hand coordination isn't as good. If Granblue Fantasy Versus was able to light up that passion I once had for fighting games, what more for anyone curious enough to pick up this game.”
read full review ↗ - RecAtelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DXFeb 5, 2020
“Atelier Ayesha feels as though it was released at a time when the series was at an inflexion point. Looking at the combat and synthesis systems, I see familiar elements that have been repeatedly iterated and improved upon over the years, which is what led me to play and finish my first Atelier game last year! In many ways, Ayesha herself serves as the perfect metaphor for the momentous occasion when a new legacy is about to be formed, but with one foot planted firmly in the past. It’s through this that I’ve come to cherish the first act of the Atelier Dusk DX trilogy both as a game and its contributions to the future of the series beyond itself, and the promise of sweeping, coming changes only makes me eager to continue my journey through the rest of the Dusk trilogy!”
read full review ↗ - RecConception PLUS: Maidens of the Twelve StarsDec 9, 2019
“To say that Conception Plus is a niche game is a heavy understatement. It’s certainly not a game that I can readily recommend to everyone, and even then, that’ll all depend on your tolerance or enjoyment of innuendo. And if you can get through it - and it does become commonplace to the point of being mundane - you’ll find an endearing and engaging RPG here, one with uniquely flavored gameplay and wonderful characters as well. And while its clever innuendos might imply that the game is more “adult” in nature, Conception Plus has a charm that will reward many patient players, and one that’ll satisfy individuals who can see past its misleading facade.”
read full review ↗ - Rec
“Atelier Ryza starts off a brand new Atelier story arc in the best possible way, with wholesome storytelling, an exciting battle system and a refined crafting system to boot, all of which are the perfect ingredients for a fantastic gaming concoction that’s one of the highest quality you’ll find this year!”
read full review ↗ - RecThe Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IIIOct 15, 2019
“Trails of Cold Steel III is easily a must have for fans of the genre. And yes, that’s despite any previous relationship you have - or lack thereof - with any of the previous games in this long running series. It’s really that good!”
read full review ↗ - RecSayonara Wild HeartsSep 25, 2019
“Sayonara Wild Hearts comes out at a time when everything is ever so divisive, and I feel that with its price point that it’s automatically a must play for players of all kinds. It also helps that it’s available on so many platforms that there really is no excuse not to experience it. Sure, some will gripe at how the experience may be short or that perhaps the gameplay needs a bit more depth, but the game never gives you the impression that it is trying to be any more than what it is. It’s frank and honest in its execution, taking you on a journey that’s well worth embarking on, and one that could potentially change our views of the world too. Maybe that’s just a selfish hope of mine and sorry if this all sounds too hoity-toity, but I think this game coming out is one of the things the world needs right now, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll all become better human beings by the end of our own journey through Sayonara Wild Hearts’ universe.”
read full review ↗ - RecAI: The Somnium FilesSep 12, 2019
“This review might sound like I’m being overly critical of AI: The Somnium Files or even that I didn’t enjoy my time with it, and to that, I’ll say that I don’t think that’s entirely accurate. I did enjoy my time with AI: The Somnium Files, uncovering its many hidden secrets, finally getting to know many of its characters, and unraveling the truth behind the murder. But I can’t help but feel that due to its higher budget and production values that AI: The Somnium Files could’ve been so much more. It’s an uneven package, with more attention given to certain parts of the game and not enough in other parts that needed it. What we have here is a game that will please the most hardcore of Uchikoshi fans, but may potentially disappoint the rest of us who just enjoy playing his games, and depending on how you feel about the things I mentioned, that’ll determine whether you think it’s worth the price of admission.”
read full review ↗