Sword of Sea, like previous Giant Squid releases, is more of an experience than a game, and for the reasons that allow the studio to flex its creative muscle. With some gorgeous spectacles that are punctuated by a flawless score by Austin Wintory, Sword of the Sea is a wild ride that, while brief, is a sight to behold.
With some solid golfing mechanics and a content-rich offering, Hot Shots is a great addition to the Everybody’s Golf series, despite the grindy nature of how to unlock its cast and its courses. Regardless, there is a ton to do here, both in single player and with friends, both on the couch or around the world. With Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots breaking free of the PlayStation exclusivity, it allows this game to finally go head to head with Mario Golf and hopefully drive innovation to the hole, hopefully under par.
Killing Floor 3 can be a great time under the right circumstances, but it lacks the content to really make it part of the conversation. Progression does have its moments, but eventually does start to feel like a grind as you slowly work down their skill tree and tinker around with the battlepass, which does feature some paid elements. Still, while Killing Floor 2 is the better game at the moment, Killing Floor 3 does still entertain for what it's trying to do.
For $20, Order of the Giants is more Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, but with less spectacle and more of exploring forgotten ruins and swinging around with your whip. While there are some locations that flavor that whip swinging, the DLC only teases us with what was so great about the main campaign. Personally, I think it is a fine enough adventure, but one that just didn’t wow me or remind me what I loved about the base game. Baker is back with his impeccable Harrison Ford impression, but I just wish he had more to chew on this time.
Jotunnslayer excels at creating a solid gameplay loop with considerable replay value in regard to progression. Each class has its own abilities that truly feel unique, even if they still rely on the varied Norse Gods' powers in the same way. Fans of the genre may be burnt out by the wave of copycats within the genre, but with the impressive visuals, addictive God powers, it certainly helps it stand out from the pack, and its time to refine itself in Early Access has paid off significantly.
Metal Eden represents everything I love about videogames. It also helps that it has likely the best gunplay of a shooter in the past several years. While its story may not grab most players, its focus on constant action and creative platforming certainly will. Reikon has crafted a stunningly brilliant cyberpunk shooter here that is a testament to their creative vision and an absolute pleasure to experience.
Knightling has some great ideas and its story is certainly the game's best element. But, the unresponsive combat is the game's biggest failing, and makes encounters more about survival than achieving victory. Twirlbound could convert this into a fantastic series with some improved combat and a more unique visual approach to give the game a stronger identity.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is truly fantastic, and the type of game I had wished Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound had been. It hits all the right beats for the genre, and its combat progression keeps Joe Musashi powerful without feeling unstoppable, due to some fantastic work with its roster of enemies and bosses. As Shinobi is the first step in Sega’s big ‘Power Surge Program’, it hopefully stands as a testament of the quality to come.
Echoes of the End was an extremely fun game that, while flawed in several ways, reminded me of why I love third-person adventure games. It joins the ranks of some of my favorite in the genre with some smart choices around its cast and the ways it attempts to keep combat and exploration fresh. Myrkur Games has a great concept here that does require some fine-tuning, but ultimately, I was very impressed by what was accomplished here.
9 Years of Shadows has some great ideas, but the health system is one that, while original, is flawed and can damage the momentum and pacing needed to keep you engaged. The initial wave of combat is impressive, but the game runs out of ideas to flesh out its combat systems to feel like you are progressing in your capabilities. That said, its strong visuals and boss designs are impressive, and do a lot of heavy lifting to a game that would otherwise be forgettable.
Fallen City Brawl has its moments, and much of what is here is sound. It does lack some presentation issues and its identity is simply not there. When the final boss fell, I frankly didn't even realize that was it, making its story and resolution to largely fall flat. I think a sequel with a bigger emphasis on its story, characters, and world would provide something to really make it stand apart.
I had a lot of high hopes going into Ashes of Elrant, given I adored Chained Echoes. However, I simply didn't find much here to satiate my desire for a new adventure with this cast. The roster is wildly underused and the threat had zero stakes, given it takes place before the final battle. It's implementation via the main menu was also a sign it wasn't going to be impactful to the overall adventure. It's more Chained Echoes, so I can't be too disappointed, but I simply wanted much more for a self-touted “massive” DLC that didn't amount to much at all.
With some strong visuals and a fantastic soundtrack, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a title that has a lot going for it despite some very glaring shortcomings. A lack of combat depth, and even the ability to attack upward or downward, could have really elevated this to be a top-tier experience. While the dynamic between the two protagonists is extremely fun, it is unfortunately overshadowed by Kumori being incredibly sidelined. Ragebound is fun, even great at times, but it lacks the depth needed for replayability, as you’ll see everything the game offers far too early.
Robocop Rogue City: Unfinished Business is a wonderful follow-up and standalone experience that continues an expertly crafted continuation of Robocop 2. It makes a lot of smart choices to keep the action going, in a setting that works well for the character and the story. While the people element still looks dated, Unfinished Business is nonetheless a visually impressive and action-packed release that every Robocop fan needs to play.
Mario Kart World may not be the revolutionary upgrade fans have wanted, especially after the feature and content-rich Mario Kart 8, but it presents a scale the series hasn't seen yet. Should Mario Kart World add in new racers and even expand its courses, then I think the game will see a long life ahead of it. While the Switch 2 is currently lacking in first party favorites, Mario Kart World is still a no-brainer when it comes to having it for the new console.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers could have been this studio's Lies of P moment, but much of its design creates unnecessary friction toward the player that can feel off-putting and can leave you scratching your head on where to go next. The mixing of Skyborn Might with its spells and skills is another hurdle in utilizing all the game’s systems in a cohesive manner, making some battles a rinse and repeat of the same skills over and over again. While I certainly enjoyed my time here, despite these issues, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers lacks anything that truly makes it memorable or anything to really make it stand out from a sea of other Soulslikes.
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster will certainly find its audience, but I'm unsure the dated design will cause new players to have the same appreciation for it that its established fan base already has. It's a shame Nightdive Studios didn't offer the same remake treatment of the original, considering how great the previous game’s remake played and the wealth of visual upgrades that greatly helped its trek into modern gaming. While System Shock 2 is certainly not for me, I can still respect what it did many years ago, even if it hasn’t aged particularly well.
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die may not live up to what it is clearly inspired by, the game itself is a shining example of how to spin-off from a previous entry and create something enjoyable as you approach the story and its world from a new perspective. While the requirement of playing the previous game is needed to understand the story, the context of what Aleksandra is fighting for, as well as why you should care about the game’s cast, the game built around those things is ultimately well executed and has made me excited to play the previous game to understand those relationships and the context behind them.
While its SWAP mechanic can feel limited at times, it is nonetheless a charming example of a passion project come to life. The world, its characters, and the general gameplay are wildly entertaining. There is strong potential for a sequel, one that could allow more freedom in how the SWAP mechanic is used. Regardless, Ruffy and Riverside is a fantastic time, and a game that can easily satisfy those wanting a trip down the Nintendo 64 lane, or young kids who want a fun alternative to Mario.
While a bit more structure and more challenge-types in single player would have been ideal, it’s a solid foundation for what could be a potential series. It has that Tony Hawk Pro Skater appeal, but does lack the format and presentation to really stand out. The customization for your character is solid, and the locations you’ll visit have some great variety. Rooftops and Alleys: The Parkour Game had one mission to achieve, and while it may ragdoll from time to time, it nonetheless lands its initial leap, at least with friends.