Starfield combines Bethesda’s signature storytelling, full of rich dialogue, moral dilemmas and intricate side quests, with sci-fi elements like exploration, the mysteries of the unknown, questions of legacy, and the search for humanity’s place in the vast cosmos. It’s more grounded and personal than many epic space operas like Warhammer 40K, focusing instead on the industrialisation of humanity and the commodification of life. There's no escaping Bethesda's signature jank. It's still here, and some NPCs can look like they crawled out of a Walmart on a Friday night, but for the most part...it just works!
If Breath of Fire IV had better timing for its release, it probably could have given Final Fantasy a run for its money. This was the last installment to truly capture the feel of a classic JRPG, as later games took more experimental and polarising directions. The original PlayStation era delivered some of the finest examples of the genre, and even now, it’s hard to top what was available then. The fact that Breath of Fire IV still holds up is unsurprising, but it also deserved a bit more care put into its Steam debut.
South of Midnight shines as an atmospheric platformer adventure game with puzzles. The combat needs improvement, as it is constrained to plain, open arenas for every battle with the same handful of enemy types and limited abilities. The story is adequate and has some admittedly impressive imagery and imagination, but Hazel's character is another dime-a-dozen smartass who blurts the obvious when it makes no sense. Most of its shortcomings are magnified due to the roughness of the port on Nintendo Switch 2. Maybe it’s better somewhere else, but there’s no escaping its foundation.
Resident Evil 2 on Steam is definitely worth the time for long-time fans or anyone willing to adapt to tank controls. It's still gripping and manages to be more cinematic than its remake counterpart, thanks to the stylish flair of the camera angles and enthralling music that ranges from forebodingly ominous to pulse-pounding excitement. It would have been great if the Steam version included new features or added more options, rather than relying on the modding community. However, as it is, this version still offers an excellent way to experience one of the best and most replayable horror games of all time.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 is a monstrously huge JRPG packed with epic scenes and powerful emotional moments. There's so much to explore and experience in a stunning world set to inspiring music. Missing multiplayer is definitely a blow, and for some, a potential dealbreaker, but what’s here is an outstanding, incredibly fun experience that feels like the start of a lasting legacy. Capcom should take note of what this team has pulled off; the future looks bright, and Twisted Reflection sends a clear message: this spin-off could potentially supplant the main series.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun and Aiko's Choice are exceptional strategy games held back by some unusual design choices. They're both still solid without any RPG mechanics, but being able to exploit the quick-save in a way that trivialises the experience was a mistake. It would have been nice to have bespoke checkpoints, though that might have impacted the large-scale, open-ended maps. The foundation for engrossing tactical planning and execution is top-notch, yet the story and character motivations end up being the most gripping aspect of the entire package between Blades of the Shogun and Aiko's Choice.
Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit should have been more than a Mega Man knock-off with fewer features. It aims unbearably low and is content to dangle member berries to past episodes of a YouTube series that has become past due. A true successor to The Angry Video Game Nerd: I & II Deluxe should have been bolder and mixed genres or even gone full 3D. The only claim to fame 8-bit will ever have is that it's functionally a lost episode to the series due to the original footage used for the FMVs.
God of War: Sons of Sparta is a tedious and garden-variety metroidvania that brings nothing interesting to show to the class. This prequel stretches over 20 hours, filled with unnecessary padding and the least interesting iteration of Kratos yet, relying on trite game design and utterly soulless execution. Young Kratos, stripped of his signature rage, is an utter dullard preaching honour amidst joyless obedience. There’s no fury, no peril, just persistent boredom, proving that some origins are best left as a mystery.
Bethesda may have dropped the ball when it comes to taking full advantage of the finer aspects of the Nintendo Switch 2 controller, but what's on offer is a substantial package that will deliver nigh endless gameplay. Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition is an awesome port that looks and runs about as well as fans could hope for. The Commonwealth is a fascinating setting packed with detail and interesting factions. Not everything works as intended, like the weak story and motivations for the protagonist, but the magic happens when gamers are left to their own devices and express themselves, either through extreme violence or by building and defending a town.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is an epic, maximalist hack-and-slash that creeps into full-blown JRPG territory in terms of scale and scope. It's the kind of experience that is more than just an average video game and can become a hobby in itself due to the wealth of content and depth of the gameplay. While it is disappointing that Origins does not give players the full Three Kingdoms story, it's hard to complain when the core package can easily breach the 100-hour range for completionists. While some may miss the multiplayer modes, it was time for a Dynasty Warriors focused on the single-player, story-driven experience for fans.
Could this have just been DLC to the core game? Probably. Subnautica: Below Zero comes off as more of the same, but less magical and less interesting now that it abandoned its horror veneer. The only advantage is that Below Zero doesn't overstay its welcome and wraps itself up much quicker. Subnautica was long and stretched into the JRPG playtime territory, where it could take over 50 hours to complete. Below Zero remains a heavyweight, matching the length of some classic Super Nintendo-era RPGs with a playtime of around 30 hours. It’s an impressive package that still delivers the full survival-in-the-ocean experience. Being shorter and more condensed worked in Below Zero's favour, with less meandering and a stronger focus, but it's a shame it pulled back on the existential fear. The Nintendo Switch 2 features go a long way to make the Subnautica games more playable and better looking, but the core foundation is still built on a grind of repetitive tasks.
The nicest thing that can be said about Steel Worker is that it is, in fact, a video game. Not a bad game by any means, but one that meets the broadest definition of a video game and delivers exactly what it promises. In a way, it brought some innovation to Lemmings-style gameplay, but could generously be described as a proof of concept.
The wild absurdity and sharp controls make every session a joy, especially in multiplayer, where the competition gets downright savage and sweaty. You can play it solo, but it’s kind of like singing karaoke by yourself. Mach Breakers is a cult gem that refuses to play it safe, leaning into over-the-top antics that few arcade games attempt.
Nioh 3 modifies the series formula, producing mixed results. The game features a more varied action combat system for fights and challenges. As far as action goes, it still features some of the best mechanics in the genre, even if it's on the easier side, and regular enemies are exploitable. Storytelling and worldbuilding lack depth, but the headliner has always been getting lost and fighting for survival in these types of games. At worst, this is just another decent soulslike action RPG that doesn't break the mould. The big open world is welcome, but it does not deliver on its full potential due to uninspired level design.
While the audio and visual elements of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined are top-notch, those familiar with the depth of the original might not be entirely on board with the drastic changes. Although some are legitimate improvements, there is always a nagging feeling that there could have been a definitive Dragon Quest VII, and not just a "reimagined" iteration. Despite some misgivings from a long-time Dragon Warrior VII fan, this is still a righteous JRPG that delivers on most fronts. It’s easier than ever now, but thankfully not so easy that failure is impossible, and no one is likely to be stuck for long.
Subnautica offers a compelling underwater adventure with genuine moments of awe and dread, but middling pacing, grind-heavy systems, and a narrative that overstays its welcome hold it back from true excellence. Solid enough for those drawn to the premise, yet far from essential.
Divinity: Original Sin II is an exceptional take on the whole CRPG/Dungeons and Dragons thing. Most of the time, games like this are too clunky and obtuse to work on consoles, and are hard to get into due to the UI, but Larian cracked the code and made it work beautifully. It’s a bit disappointing that the Joy-Con 2’s mouse feature was overlooked, but it’s impressive how well it performs on a console using just a gamepad. This is an awesome port, and the fact that it’s a free upgrade for anyone who owns the 2019 Nintendo Switch version makes it totally worth jumping back in with a new character.
Some gamers enjoy experiences that gamify mundane work activities. The fun is how accurately it can capture the experience of the profession. The Mortuary Assistant: Definitive Edition not only cheapens the effort put into making cadavers presentable for funerals, but it also turns into a major hassle with Paimon constantly pestering Rebecca, thinking it’s amusing to remind her of her past heroin use. This could have worked if more thought had been put into the embalming process and if the presentation had been more polished.
System Shock is an amazing remake that irons out a lot of the original's more impenetrable qualities. The original isn’t exactly user-friendly, so the remake’s smoother, more responsive design makes it the go-to way to play. This is especially true for the Nintendo Switch 2 version, which may have occasional frame rate drops but still offers the definitive console experience for anyone looking to play, thanks to its intuitive Joy-Con 2 mouse mode.
As far as remakes go, Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 is the absolute best case scenario. It's faithful where it counts, yet introduces plenty of new tricks and ideas that justify itself. The expanded content, replay value, and additional endings make it the ultimate way to reexperience a classic story. The visuals are stunning, and perhaps even a bit too ambitious, as the Xbox Series X|S version had to make a few minor compromises to hit its performance goals. The classic Silent Hill 2 is one of the best survival horror games of its time, and this remake carries on its legacy and serves as a worthy alternative for anyone who can't play the original.