While the Terrifier series has a massive cult following, I don't see the game having the same treatment. It is surprisingly shallow and feels as if no testing was done to have some balance to its difficulty. While playing with friends does soften some of the issues, there are just better games in the genre that provide far more variety than what they give you here. Terrifier: The ARTcade Game may have had great intentions to provide a fun game for its audience, but it simply falls flat and feels like a quick-to-market licensed game that doesn't do the film franchise any favors.
While Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, on the Nintendo Switch, is a jaw-dropping visual feast that runs incredibly well on the hardware, even in portable play, the foundation the game is built on is anything but a Metroid game. In many ways, this feels like a mediocre Halo game starring our beloved bounty hunter, Samus Aran. What suffers the most is the very linear nature of the game, the vast open desert that feels wasted, and the lack of anything that really cements itself as the originator of a beloved genre. Extremely disappointed.
While I had my expectations in check, given the scope of what Legends ZA would offer, I was ultimately let down in a big way here. The Switch 2 version certainly provides some solid performance with the sharpest visuals the series has seen, but apart from an interesting battle system, everything else ZA tries to do is met with absolute failure. From boring side quests to a narrative loop that lasts far too long, and one of the most underwhelming finales across the franchise, ZA is simply boring and feels like filler until the next main entry.
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is a visually good-looking game, and there is a lot here that feels at home with the license. It's just a shame Legacy of Shadow is as barebones as we see with most VR titles. There is always some interesting hook that has a game built around it, but Legacy of Shadow lacks a hook to lay the foundation. The subtle nicking of items is fun, but a game built around this beloved license simply deserved more.
Sonic Racing: Crossworlds has a lot going for it despite its pretty shallow portal mechanic. There is a huge roster of characters, a nice variety of tracks, to a robust customization system that can work in your favor. It isn't revolutionary by any means, but it certainly is a great alternative to the likes of Mario Kart, or even Nickelodeon’s own kart racer.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion is an easy recommendation to fans of the genre and the characters themselves. While additional characters being added via DLC is in a “wait and see” approach, according to Tribute, I can just imagine what could be added to a game that uses its roster in fun ways. Cosmic Invasion is incredibly fun, but it is an experience that is over far too soon.
While this remaster could have rebuilt some environments to feel less dated, there is still a charming approach to preserving the 3DS visuals, even if it usually conflicts with what I prefer for a remaster of an older game. Still, Monster Hunter Stories is a vivid and colorful world to explore, and the addition of voice acting really provides the game with an added boost of personality, even if that damn Navirou won't shut up.
Total Chaos is a very inconsistent experience that I like far more than I don't, one encounter aside. The atmosphere is incredibly well done with some interesting enemy designs and a fairly engaging combat system that reminded me of Condemned: Criminal Origins. With a robust crafting system and rewards for exploration, there was always a reason for discovering secrets and going off the beaten path. While some may be put off by its weak AI and method of storytelling, Total Chaos is certainly worth a look, given its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass.
If you take Strike Force Heroes as an arcade experience, with minimal depth to its systems, there is a solid shooter here that feels like the perfect marriage of something like Contra meets Smash Bros. With a robust multiplayer suite, a fun campaign, and some decent customization to your soldier, Strike Force Heroes is fun, while it lasts.
Age of Imprisonment is a vastly enjoyable Zelda adventure that, like Age of Calamity before it, gave me a better story than Link’s last two outings. The world of The Legend of Zelda is massive, across numerous timelines and games. While the gameplay is certainly a different taste than the main series games, I simply find these to offer more of what I want; great combat, fun characters, and compelling story. Age of Imprisonment has new stewards in AAA Game Studio, and so far, they've succeeded in providing a wildly addictive game with only a few blemishes across the whole package.
While it was somewhat commonplace back then to overlook so many of the original’s issues, it is downright impossible now with the wealth of titles releasing every day. Sacred 2 deserved a much better effort, and this is frankly one of the most disappointing remasters in recent history.
Titans of the Tide's best qualities are its focus on playing to its story and the switch mechanics performed by the dynamic duo. The original voices are back, and while a few lines are repeated far too often, the narrative really places the pair in scenarios that bring out the best in the voice cast. Titans of Tide certainly feels like it is borrowing from The Cosmic Shake at almost every step, but it does refine some of those rough edges into one of the best SpongeBob games out there.
Neon Inferno, despite its throwaway title, is a throwback to some of the best games of all time. It simply feels great to control, and while two-player can get a bit hectic, given the size of the sprites, it still is a fantastic hour and change to experience, even if the rating economy can hold back some of the additional weaponry you can bring into combat. Regardless, when it comes to the Shoot’em Up genre, Neon Inferno is a solid addition and was simply a blast to play.
Chickenhare and the Treasure of Spiking Beard may entertain younger gamers who are obsessed with the films, but I truly wonder how big of an audience that is. The Switch has hundreds of platformers, and dozens of those that are widely acclaimed, so choosing this over any of those would likely be a rare occurrence. The game sadly doesn't stand out or offer anything competent in its bland design. While the movies likely have some sort of personality, this brief four hour journey sadly does not.
Arc Raiders is going to continue to grow, evolve, and become a beast of its own as the team is set on providing a wealth of engaging content. Players will obviously play to what they want from it, and that means either fighting alongside some random Raiders, huddled around the elevator as threats emerge from all sides, or taking on those intent on gunning you down. Its opening barrage of maps is outstanding, and the loop is wildly addictive. Embark Studios has easily released the new measuring stick for the genre and released one of the best games of the year in the process.
The Outer Worlds 2, despite any criticism I can give it, is a more improved sequel that excels in every area except for its bland group of companions, who rarely bring anything exciting to the experience, save Aza, who is a treasure and I would die for her. The Bethesda-era formula is starting to show its age and needs some freshening up, should a third entry be in the works. Still, I rather enjoyed the main story and the vast array of choices, paths, and builds you can muster, making this a game that few will follow in the same footsteps, allowing for one truly personalized tale of space-faring hijinks.
Fast and Furious Arcade is a wild ride that brings the best qualities of Cruis'n Blast to a vehicle-centric film franchise. While more could have been done to honor the films, or even properly represent them, as well as adding new levels or more cars, Fast and Furious Arcade is still incredibly engaging and feels great to play. I just wish there were more here to keep my interest beyond a few days.
With four-player co-op, a competent track builder, and a great feel to its gameplay, Hot Wheels Let's Race Ultimate Speed is a solid racer with a “Kart Racer” feel. Fans of the show, or the genre in general, will find a lot to like here. That said, one question still remains: who gave these kids their driver's license?
Painkiller is an odd example of reimaging a series, given it isn’t connected to the original game or featuring any of the characters or structure of the original. This is a co-op roguelite shooter that lacks true replayability and a desire to stick with it. Co-op is a blast, even with rando’s, but much of that satisfaction comes from our love of other games. Despite some incredible gunplay, level design, and a stunning soundtrack, Painkiller has a lot of work ahead to be part of the conversation down the road. It can certainly provide a great time, but it’s a brief spark that can’t keep the flame lit.
Bye Sweet Carole has all the hallmarks of classic adventure games and the countless point and click games of the past. It handles horror in such a unique way due to its Disney-like presentation, and frankly, the whole experience feels like a truly interactive animated film. While the gameplay can be a bit uneven at times, Bye Sweet Carole is nonetheless a fascinating experience that looks incredible, sounds incredible, and has a truly memorable, yet tragic story, about an era where women were vastly under appreciated.