Brutal difficulty isn’t bad by itself, but Rise & Shine doesn’t balance it with a sense of satisfaction when you succeed
While the story has many cool and interesting moments, the repetition and lack of depth make them hard to fully appreciate
Mass Effect: Andromeda has the series’ signature mixture of story, characters, and combat. Though its success rate varies in each area, it still provides dozens of hours of fun
Persona 5’s well-crafted story, exciting combat, and deep systems make it my favorite entry in the series – and the best Japanese RPG in years
The jokes and references are funny, but the gameplay is too shallow to be engaging
The diversity in the Finches' final moments means you've always got another cool story just around the corner, and Edith's personal journey is also interesting
The interesting bits of story feel like they are being held captive, released only when you solve obvious puzzles or perform simple tasks
Players need to wade through too much dull story and repetitive combat to get a glimpse of Valkyria Revolution's redeeming qualities, and the trade off isn't worth it
Though the story is too wrapped up in political intrigue, the cast and combat are enough to make this a memorable journey
Optimizing your ranch and collecting new slimes is engaging, and the steady stream of valuable upgrades ensures you always have a goal to reach for
Given the heavy subject matter, calling Hellblade "entertaining" feels inappropriate. However, it is undeniably memorable, telling a compelling tale that explores subject matter many consider taboo
Even with new characters in a new setting, Monokuma's killing game feels familiar and doesn't deliver on the payoffs
The “dig, upgrade, repeat” formula never gets old thanks to fun gameplay and a steady stream of new powers
Though tragedy on the horizon colors all of Chloe and Rachel's interactions, it also makes the fun and hopeful moments more poignant
Amassing an army of allies and managing your progression is a blast, giving you enough incentive to keep going through the less compelling parts
Plenty of short- and long-term goals keep you invested, and you are thrown into the action relatively quickly. Watching your kingdom grow and flourish is the biggest draw, though the battles also provide simple fun
An enthralling experience from beginning to end, with a mixture of great narrative moments and engaging encounters. God of War is a well-paced adventure that knows when to let the action simmer and when to make it boil over
Exploring dungeons, selling loot, and upgrading gear creates is an enticing loop. However, the experience grows stale with repetition
Vampyr attempts to deliver a gothic fantasy, and while it has bright spots, too much goes wrong to let them shine through
This inventive tale can be uplifting one minute and disheartening the next, but it strikes a consistent and compelling tone