Crimson Desert is the next-gen game we were promised a decade ago by AAA publishers. The scale here is beyond massive, with hundreds of hours offered here if you can get past the game’s criminal control setup and sluggish opening few hours. With some bizarre design choices, Crimson Desert is a game that I can see both sides of the argument on, given the current state of the game. Still, Pearl Abyss has created what is effectively the next Skyrim, a game that offers an unparalleled amount of freedom, that rewards you the more you put into it.
While some art assets are fine, with some decent music, I struggle to really find anything good about the whole package. The story is miserable, with extended dialogue sessions that, while voiced, are simply not entertaining. However, the biggest issue is the bland gameplay that does nothing to even stand out, providing combat and platforming that are dated, even by NES standards. The Dead Shall Rise was a hollow attempt at revisiting the lore, and Ascendance simply echoes that same attempt, offering a story that fans of the series simply didn’t take to.
With two excellent entries and even the disappointing second game, each providing slightly different versions, not to mention the game's online component, it truly gives players a decent amount here to really enjoy. While Battle Network will always be my preferred Mega Man Spin-off, Star Force nonetheless is a suitable continuation of the world and some of its basic combat systems.
Icarus is a solid survival game, especially with friends. The threat of running out of oxygen is a welcome addition to the genre, as many survival games don't take place on a planet that failed terraforming. The lack of some direction may throw off newcomers, as well as some poor UI choices, but genre die-hards will almost find this game cozy at times, given the freedom to go it alone or with three other friends. Icarus shows the genre still has a lot of life in it, provided you can survive the night.
Screamer is damn fun once you’ve mastered its systems, both in their execution and timing. While the current difficulty can be a tad too challenging for the casual racing fan, the additional modes and online can provide a wealth of content to tackle. Screamer isn’t revolutionary, but its drift mechanics are damn impressive and allow the game to stand out and then some.
Dragonkin’s narrative isn’t its strongest element, despite some compelling sequel bait. Still, it has the right amount of power fantasy and thrilling combat to keep you and some friends occupied throughout its roughly 25-hour campaign. It may not be the next big action RPG, but it is more than satisfying enough to excel in the genre.
Minishoot’ Adventures runs at around 10 hours long, and never looks to overstay its welcome. The upgrades come fast, and the bullets even more so. The clever bosses and level design always feel good, and it simply just feels great to play. While I never thought about mixing a twin-stick shooter with the gameplay of classic Zelda, I'm glad these two did, as it's a match made in heaven.
This is one of the better Left 4 Dead clones, and a lot of that is due to the excellent driving and winching systems. Generic characters aside, the classes are fun, but had the game leaned more into its bizarre elements, like throwing fire, there could have been some insane class combinations that could have risen above the mediocrity. Toxic Commando is good for a few nights of co-op, but nothing more.
The bulk of my criticisms with WWE 2K26 are due to the fact that the core foundation here hasn't changed in years, with each yearly entry renovating instead of innovating. Crowds are largely lifeless, and the mixture of old and new models is shocking at times, especially due to the fact that some of these scans are years old. 2K26 is a solid wrestling title at its core, frankly, the best it's ever been, but so much of what is here is rooted in old systems and a foundation that is extremely dated.
Greedfall: The Dying World was not my first choice for Spiders to return to, but I’m glad they did. This does feel like a better overall package than the first game, even if I would have preferred they refined and enhanced the original game’s combat instead of tearing it down and appealing to those who passed on the original game entirely, possibly pushing fans of the original to the side.
Requiem does a number of things well to accommodate two slightly different Resident Evil experiences without this latest entry feeling like two unique games. It also builds on the franchise in ways like never before, with a revisit to Raccoon City decades after Leon and Claire barely escaped with their lives. Leon's redemption arc and Grace being able to learn the truth is captivating, cementing Requiem as one of the all-time best games in the series.
With a ton of different items to boost your power, and seven immensely fun characters to master, EX is wildly fun, despite its noticeable flaws, and continues the adventures of Scott Pilgrim, and his unique cast of heroes and villains, all somewhere in Toronto.
Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties should have been a much better experience, given the studio’s ability to reform and rebuild so much of what worked in the original. However, with poorly implemented pacing, a ton of cut content, and an awful casting choice, the title only succeeds in any real way due to the main story. Kiryu’s journey to find that normal life is one worth seeking, as well as diving into the criminal mind of Mine, should you be able to put up with a host of various issues, and that Yakuza elephant in the room.
While an upgrade path would have been ideal, Disgaea 7 Complete has a wealth of content to keep you busy for hundreds, if not thousands, of hours. The main story can certainly entertain, but I found more enjoyment out of the DLC, even if the DLC stories are not voiced, which is a major disappointment, given the superb voice work throughout the main story. Still, there is so much to do here for fans of the series, even if the onboarding for newcomers is pretty steep.
Gear.Club Unlimited 3 is a fantastic arcade racer on Switch 2, with impressive visuals, and truly engaging handling as you continue to tinker with your cars as you build your showroom. The Club building system is interesting, and while I wish I could navigate the facilities more like a menu, it nonetheless is a fresh take on the upgrade systems we've seen time and time again. If you're looking for a racer that isn't of the Kart variety, then this is it, and you'll pass the finish line in no time.
Proud Nordics does provide some fine quality of life features, but they are still encased in an adventure that is nowhere as good as the previous entries in the series.
Romeo is a Deadman is certainly a Suda51 game, and while it is Grasshopper’s best in years, I do wish the No More Heroes jank didn't follow itself here and infect combat and general movement. Still, the craziness that is Romeo is a Deadman is sound, and those looking for another bizarre fever dream are likely to be pleased.
I quite enjoyed I Hate This Place and found the gameplay loop to be solid. While the story elements waver in their quality, the world built here is engaging and rich with detail. While Elena may not want to return to the ranch any time soon, I could easily see a sequel that really digs into some more of this wonderfully crafted world.
Philna Fantasy has a lot going for it. The progression systems are great, and really allow you to customize your character and tailor them to what you want from them. The game has plenty of environments to venture through, bosses to defeat, and a solid combat system to devour. However, part of what makes a good RPG is its story, its cast of characters, and an engaging reason for your hero to take on this journey, and sadly, Philna Fantasy suffers the most in these crucial categories.
Despite some poor choices and an unreliable mechanic, not to mention the annoyance that are the tremors, I still had a great time with Memories from Orbit, basking in its gorgeous visuals and memorable characters, and consider it as one of the better Metroidvania titles in years. That said, its issues are wildly apparent, and while they could be patched in the future, the title at launch is what it is, a fantastic game held back by some severe accessibility roadblocks.