After playing Monster Hunter Stories 3 for over 10 hours, the potential for this turn-based spinoff to reach greater heights is definitely there. Monsties, anyone?

I first saw Fallen Tear: The Ascencion after I received a press release promoting a trailer for the game. When I found out it was being developed by a studio in the Philippines, it had my full attention. My roots are important to me.

There is absolutely fun to be had and I’ve been solo queuing this whole time so far. Finding good loot is exhilarating, strategizing on the spot during a raid is demanding yet rewarding (if you win anyway), and the plethora of content on the horizon is enticing. I may be biased toward this sort of game, but it’s only going to win me over with solid gameplay, compelling design, and respect for the player. Highguard has all of that so far.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a fascinating game to review because it takes modern sensibilities that players have come to expect and applies them to the most divisive entry in the series. I do think the game loses something in the transition, which we will get into, but overall the updates sand off some of the harder edges of a game that’s notoriously difficult to parse because the PSX original and the 3DS remake were long.

Every time I got to a base on the mountain where I could walk a little and set up camp, I’d take a look back at the distance and remember what it took to get up there. The fact that a video g…