Kyle Hilliard's Reviews
Having even a little bit of story context for why you're solving picross puzzles is nice, but the main draw here is more picross puzzles, Color Picross puzzles, and some added control options
The video game adaptation of the popular show emulates the '80s aesthetic well, but the action is boring and the missions rarely push you to do more than move from point A to point B
Building your own Mario levels isn't as exciting as it was in 2015 on Wii U, but the story mode is a lot of fun and the new tools lead to some novel experiences
With its heavy Metroid inspirations, Gato Roboto can feel derivative. However, it plays well and the world and combat encounters are well-designed
Combat, puzzles, and exploration feel familiar and unspectacular, but the bizarre story and hilarious dialogue set it apart
What Supraland lacks in production value, it more than makes up for with fantastic puzzle and level design
World War Z hews closely to the core tenants of the genre, but its zombies make the familiar monster feel unique. The story is interesting, but light enough that it knows when to stay out of the way
Going on vacation is an expectedly relaxing experience that doesn't demand much from the player, which makes Vacation Simulator play like an introductory VR experience
The fighting and visuals of the Rangers (and Goldar) are decent, but the modes, unlockables, and incentives to keep playing are limited
Baba is You is smart, but as later levels force you to consider more variables, the charm wears away
World Seeker lacks the detail of contemporary open-world games, but moving around and getting into fights is fun. The story and characters (new and old alike) are engaging all the way to the explosive finale
Tetris 99 delivers a fun and intense experience while taking inspiration from gaming's most popular multiplayer trend
Seeing characters from different franchises fight one another is exciting, but the overall presentation drags the whole experience down
Knocking over buildings in a virtual 3D environment is surprisingly satisfying and moving around the structures in a 3D space to pinpoint the best spot for potential collapse is a fun, puzzle-solving exercise
Vane's atmosphere, music, world, and abstract story are affecting and strange, but the bugs and design lead to unnecessary frustration
The excellent writing, silly premise, and fun combat all translate well to the updated visual style. The added Bowser Jr. mode is worth exploring, even if it's not the main attraction
Beat Saber is a blast, and one of the best experiences you can have in virtual reality. You truly feel like a musical samurai (even if you look silly to everyone watching)
What Darksiders III lacks in production values, it makes up for with good design. The smaller, personal elements of the story are interesting, but the larger picture is confusing
Déraciné's star is its story and the surprising lore of the world in which it takes place, but moving through the world and interacting with it is underwhelming
Astro Bot is an excellent platformer with great motion controls, and its execution in virtual reality creates something fresh in a well-worn genre