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The Cub is a solid cinematic action platformer that could have had tighter controls. Its audio and visuals are its biggest draw and while the story sticks to landing, the core themes of the narrative are utterly insulting. The misanthropic ideals it spews are shallow and the game would have been better off without it.
Good-Feel knew exactly who they were making this for and they succeeded, but it would have been nice if there were some substance for gamers who grew up with Peach too.
While a worthy spiritual successor, OTXO lacks the same underground charm that propelled Hotline Miami to success. Given the time elapsed since the Hotline games, OTXO feels like it could have benefitted from further refinement. With significant advancements in game design, some of the sloppier elements make it seem more like it came out around the same time as the Hotline series. Oddly, something so recent feels so behind.
Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection deserved a full remaster or remake compared to the garbage that Aspyr put out. It is heartbreaking to see how little effort they put into bringing an experience worthy of the series to the modern era. The game’s controls are extremely stiff and you will have to battle aim assist on top of it. If you are looking for a fun trip down memory lane, just buy the games on Steam or when they are on sale.
Combat within the game feels unsatisfying with a limit to the abilities. The jokes within are dated and feels like an AI wrote them after being fed information about South Park. Arguably, the only fight we enjoyed with the game was the final fight and that was because it broke the mold the game had established in the prior chapters.
With a bit of fine-tuning and rebalancing, Slave Zero X could be magnificent. It is already an audio/visual tour de force and the gameplay mostly works. If anything, Slave Zero X presents a compelling world with vivid imagery that sticks with you. It is no wonder why people still remember the original game and have fond memories of it.
Dungeon Encounters is a game that’s remarkably difficult to fault for its premise. It sets out with very specific intentions, and it achieves them, even if it frustrates players in the process. This isn’t your typical Square Enix fare; it’s tailor-made for hardcore RPG enthusiasts who savor the likes of pen-and-paper RPGs.
Alone in the Dark is hopelessly mediocre and rife with technical issues. While the bugs can be addressed, the generic gameplay and confusing story will always hold it back. There should have been some effort to include the original 1992 Alone in the Dark as an unlockable extra to add value to this remake, like how Splatterhouse (2010) had the 16-bit trilogy or how the Medievil remake had the PS1 game as an unlockable.
Outside of 2K locking Brock Lesnar out of the game due to the Vince McMahon controversy, Visual Concepts has done a good job with the game and improves each year.
BlazBlue Entropy Effect manages to deliver a really fun and fast-paced hack-and-slash experience while still respecting the characters and how they originally played in their fighting game appreances. It feels fantastic to upgrade your character as you progress through runs, and the Evotype system lets players constantly get stronger in a really interesting way.
Persona 3 Reload is a cynically made cash grab that has no wow factor. It’s peak remake culture where a lot of the edge gets sanded off to be in line with “modern audience expectations”. It may look great (in parts), but it lacks the vision to realize the full potential of what a modern Persona 3 could be. Even if it didn’t cut content, it is still a grossly overpriced remake that still feels like a PlayStation 2 game. Go play Persona 3 FES instead.
The biggest departures in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s story feel like fan fiction. There is no restraint when it comes to Sephiroth and there’s too much emphasis on the love triangle to please the repugnant shippers. There should have been more effort to focus on the internal struggle of the characters instead of the “Will she/he, won’t she/he?” aspect of the story.
If SplitSide games can work out the bugs and add more accessibility options then Fling to the Finish could become a trending streaming game to play with friends or community members. At the moment, the game could use a bit more polish before that but is still a rather solid game.
If you’re already a fan of “AAA” style action RPGs you’re likely to enjoy Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden even more than I did.
It is a miracle that Pocket Fishing doesn’t let you wander off out of bounds, because it is the Big Rigs of fishing games. It has very little going for it at all and it thankfully didn’t corrupt my data. Sadly, Pocket Fishing does not crash often enough and you’ll be wishing it did for the excuse to not play it anymore.
Dungeons of Sundaria is a gracious attempt at repurposing assets from a previous unsuccessful endeavor, but the game’s mechanics and level design desperately need to be looked at, otherwise Industry Games will never achieve a successful multiplayer experience.
A lot of the issues present are the same sins that Outlast has always committed: being defenseless is a nonsensical mistake. The biggest blunder it makes is requiring an online connection for playing alone.
Welcome to ParadiZe isn’t without its merits. It is an appealing-looking game, ran well on PlayStation 5, and it is mercifully short for what it is. The average gamer could potentially reach the end in under 15 hours, so it won’t feel like work. It is functional, mediocre, forgettable, and can be charitably considered a guilty pleasure.
Ultros transcends the cynicism often found in modern metroidvanias. It’s more than just competent – it’s a game with a soul. Created by passionate artists with a clear vision of the cycle of life, Ultros boasts one of the most unique visual styles in its genre. It isn’t a forgettable experience; Ultros leaves a lasting impression with solid gameplay to back it up.
If you are already a fan of mystery dungeons or hardcore roguelike nightmares, you’re going to have a lot of fun. If the prospect of luck-based scenarios and cruel difficulty seem unappealing, then Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island will give you a thousand-yard stare. This is not for the faint of heart and demands only gamers with steely resolve, patience, and a bit of luck.