Benjamin Bell's Reviews
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a massive game. The story alone can take well over 80 to 90 hours to complete, but that playtime can easily be doubled (or tippled) if you set out to complete all side stories and side quests. On top of that, the music is great, the cell shaded anime graphic style looks nice, the world is nice and big and open, and the story is really interesting. Those who have played a Xeno game (any of the series) before may already know what to expect out of this type of game, but it is still filled with plenty of plot twists even fans wouldn't see coming. In short, it's a really good game, and possibly one of the best JRPGs out there. Of course, that doesn't mean it is perfect.
Sonic Forces is not an easy game to judge, and honestly it's a game that many will either like for what it is, or flat out hate it. On one hand the game's music is pretty good, the voice acting is great, the Avatar system is interesting, and it has both Modern and Classic gameplay... But on the other, it also feels like a major down grade from 2011's Sonic Generations.
Although The Evil Within can provide horror fans with a fun, yet stressful, challenge, the game itself is not without it's issues. On the bright side, the game is pretty long for it's genre, the stealth system is great, the areas are unique and constantly change things up, and the upgrade system gives you the freedom to play how you want. There's no real right or wrong way to play this, and experienced players can even take on the hardest difficulty to push themselves even further. There is a lot to love here if you're a stealth or horror fan, and in many ways The Evil Within does capture that classic horror game feel.
Resident Evil 7 is a solid game and a nice return to the series' roots. Although it's focused on new characters in what some may consider a side story to the main story line, it's still interesting with a mystery you'll want to get to the bottom of. The setting is well crafted with a good sense of horror, the inventory and resource management works perfectly, the combat is smooth, and the game never overstays it's welcome. It constantly throws something new at you, and by the end of the possible 12-15 hours you may spend on the initial run, you'll feel compelled to dive back in and work on the extra challenges. Madhouse with it's changed item placements, and limited saving is also a great challenge for classic fans, and the standard difficulties are perfect for both old timers and newcomers alike. The game is a lot of fun (especially when playing in VR), and well worth the time.
Here They Lie was a short but fun trip through a nightmare world. While it isn't overly scary, the fear of the unknown keeps you on edge, and the handful of jump scares WILL make you jump. The world has a great sense of scale, the story is very strange and disturbing, and when it's over there's at least some incentive to jump back in. Although the world is largely linear, there is some exploration, a few moral choices, and two endings, and there is plenty for you to stop and look at. It's a unique experience, and well worth going through at least once if you can.
Robinson is a fun little game. Seeing all of the dinosaurs up close was a lot of fun, and the environments you get to explore were pretty unique. Having a pet dino was cool, and using her to solve puzzles was a unique idea as well. The climbing was a really fun mechanic, and the slight fear of the unknown both kept me going and sometimes held me back. In general I really enjoyed my time with this game, and I really loved that dinosaur museum feeling it gave off. It was like having my own personal exhibit right at home, and it was a world I didn't want to leave; however, it didn't last long.
Games like these can sometimes be hard to judge, especially considering everyone enjoys different types of games. While Loading Human isn't much different from other motion control and PC adventure games we've seen in the past, VR does add a whole new level to the experience. Being in Loading Human is an interesting experience from start to finish. If this is one of the first VR games you've played, it's sure to impress you in that regard. The sunset when looking out the window, your trip into the lab near the start of the game, and the hologram in the lab are just a handful of things you'll never forget about this game. Also, as simple as the mechanics might be, everything else about the game does work and helps it feel more "real." Being able to pick up almost anything calls back to the early days of the Wii and motion control, and using both hands to hold and operate tablets and other devices feels natural. A lot of the things you do in game are simplistic, but the experience itself makes up for it.
It's not easy to point out both the good and bad in a game like Mighty No 9, but you can easily see where things could have been much better.
If you're a fan of sci-fi, drama, comedy, or even a bit of romance - then Steins;Gate is something you shouldn't pass up. El Psy Kangroo.