Romancing SaGa 2 Remake (Multiple, 2024), Part 1 - The Lion and the Sun

 

This is a really, really good remake. Wow. I think it flew under the radar to an extent. I really enjoyed playing the original version of this game and it's obscure enough that I'm surprised to see it remade. This is a bit of a hidden gem in the Squaresoft library, and the original RS2 is probably the best out of all the SaGa games outside of maybe SaGa Frontier. This series is very spotty, very hit-or-miss. Looking forward to seeing if this remake surges out ahead of Frontier to become the new SaGa best-in-series.

Rather than being HD-2D, they gave this one a full 3D makeover. It's different from most 3D remakes though, with a very distinct visual style that prioritizes light effects and really nice environments over framerate. On Switch you're stuck at 30 FPS or so, but damn, the visuals in this game sure do have a lot of personality regardless. I tried the PS5 version and that's at 60 FPS, presumably Switch 2 is also pulling that off. The visuals are so distinctive and classy that I didn't even particularly mind when it was 30. Anyway, I'm not going to cover this game for real until/unless I wrap up the SaGa series, but I'm down to check out the demo now and I might as well post it rather than leaving it for later.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2, 2025), Part 1 - Eurotrip and the Looker Bureau

 

I interrupt this DQ-palooza to briefly check out the latest Pokémon game. I wasn't crazy about Arceus, while lots of others were. Last I checked, this game isn't exactly getting rave reviews, so maybe I'll conversely really like it. They took the bold step of making this a real-time hybrid action game (with dodge rolls, for some reason, cause everybody wants to be a Soulslike now).

This game takes place entirely in the hub city from Generation 6's Kalos. It's an interesting idea that I'm not sure really pans out. At least they're trying new things with the Legends games; Arceus introduced some open world concepts that were then heavily-refined by the Generation 9 games (IMO Gen 9 is waaaay better than Arceus specifically because it takes what worked and makes it much more appealing... sorry the framerate is bad and whatnot, but Gen 9 otherwise worked).

Dragon Quest II HD-2D (Multiple, 2025)

 

I've had a tumultuous relationship with Dragon Quest II. For a long time I considered it the worst game in the series, due to the uneven difficulty, unappealing map layout, and one of the three characters being utterly useless. However, it also has a charm about it that I've always liked, and I never dreaded replaying it or anything. So I'm hoping that this remake will take the DQ game most in need of refinement and give it that much-needed forging.

For the record: After replaying the first seven games again in the last few years, I'd probably now rate the original DQII above DQVI and DQVII in the grand scheme of things. Those games are way over-long and most of the runtime is mundane, things DQII has no problems with. Even in the original rudimentary NES form, this game doesn't take that long to run through and each section of the game held my attention.

Terminator 2D: No Fate (Multiple, 2025)

 

I have waited a very, very long time to play a good T2 game. Fun Fact: T2 was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. And what a banger movie to go see. I lucked out, just like I seriously lucked out on what games I played first. It wasn't the first movie I ever watched in full, that would be Big Trouble In Little China. It aired on TV and we taped it / watched it a zillion times after that. I didn't see The Terminator (the first one) until after I'd seen T2 a couple times, so I saw them in reverse order and that certainly affected my perception of both.

This game dropped several weeks ago and folks have had time to really pick it apart since then. It's the T2 game we should have gotten in the 1990's, no doubt about it. Of all the things I could be covering on here, I wouldn't be much of a Jumper if I didn't cover this. T2 is back, and back in what is effectively a time capsule from 1995 or so. Ironically.

(Seen here with the inverted box art, which gives it a slightly-pixellated image of John Connor, and is considerably better than the store shelves box art)

Dragon Quest 1 HD-2D (Multiple, 2025)

 

I've played every other version of DQ1 under the sun, so I'm legally obligated to play the new ultimate version. Will I finish this game in four hours like the old versions, or will it pose a more robust threat? What kind of optional content did they add? Is there finally an Erdrick's Helm? Join me as I answer these and more pressing questions.

Mario Kart World (Switch 2, 2025)

 

Mario Kart 9 is finally here. It's basically the one major game on the Switch 2. Is it good enough to carry the system launch? Is it worth $80? Is it good enough to replace current best Kart game, Mario Kart 8, which has been holding down the Kart universe for the past decade? I'm going to find out. And have lots of fun in the process, because you literally can't go wrong with a Mario Kart.

Featuring Cow.