Brian Shea
Cris Tales is a solid RPG dragged down by a creative gimmick that never realizes its true potential
Despite meager upgrades this year, Madden NFL 21 still delivers solid on-the-field action for football fans
Despite strong competitive and cooperative multiplayer action, the PvE elements fall short of those marquee modes. The progression leads to more frustration than satisfaction
Exploring new areas, fighting off hordes of increasingly menacing enemies, and seemingly insurmountable challenges help Sundered stay compelling through the finish, but technical issues keep the experience from greatness
Mapping out your route, checking off objectives, and taking out your targets never ceases to be a blast
Problems from past episodes still haunt this one, but the murder mystery keeps you guessing and the action scenes are exciting
This episode doesn't have as many memorable sequences, but it brings the Wither Storm saga to a satisfying and enjoyable conclusion
The process of learning new things with each playthrough is rewarding, but the repetition takes away from the experience
We Happy Few delivers an intoxicating experience, rife with dark mysteries to unravel and exciting missions to complete, but some annoying mechanics and scarce resources keep it from reaching greatness
An enjoyable experience, but it needs more content and some streamlined design
TopSpin 2K25 aptly brings the beloved franchise back to center court, showing that not only does the series still have legs, but so does the sim-tennis genre as a whole. Though its modes are somewhat repetitive and it’s missing several high-profile pros at launch, TopSpin 2K25 serves up a compelling package for tennis fans.
Though the stages are much longer than their original forms, sometimes clocking in at around 15 minutes, playing through Story Mode only takes a couple of hours. Still, Contra: Operation Galuga packs a whole lot of action into those hours. When you add the more flexible Arcade Mode and difficult Challenge Mode, Operation Galuga is an admirable modernized reimagining of one of the most influential games of the late '80s.
Even with its shortcomings, EA Sports UFC 5 delivers an exciting MMA experience regardless of the mode in which you compete. Fighting your favorite UFC stars never gets old, and the adrenaline rush that comes with knocking your opponent out in a fierce back-and-forth battle makes it hard to resist the allure of stepping back into the Octagon for one more fight.
Mr. Run and Jump may look unassuming on the surface, but the challenges that await will have you screaming in frustration until they have you shouting in triumph. Though the trial-and-error style of each difficult room sometimes wore on me, after each success, I couldn’t wait to see what hurdles I needed to clear next.
Whether you grew up with these games or this is your first time partying, Mario Party Superstars is a fun way to celebrate the series
With fun discoveries galore, I was always excited to step back onto the surface of this uncharted world
The Messenger is a terrific throwback to action platformers like Ninja Gaiden with welcome twists. While a mid-game identity crisis detracts from the experience, it's still an adventure worth taking
By adding a second Yarny, Unravel Two ups the fun and adds much-needed variety to the experience
Hob delivers meaningful, wondrous exploration in an alluring and enigmatic world, but the combat and technical issues hold it back
Whether you're scouring the overworld for secrets or delving into the dungeons, Blossom Tales is a delightful take on a beloved genre