Ken McKown's Reviews
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In the end the Fighting Force Collection is more of a curiosity than a compilation of classics. Some people have nostalgia for the first game, it was decent. The second game, however, should have remained forgotten. Core Design started strong and ended with a whimper and I would rather remember them for titles like Tomb Raider and Soulstar, and not the travesty that is Fighting Force 2.
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Blood: Refreshed Supply is yet another outstanding port of a classic shooter from Nightdive.
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Revisiting these games has been a treat. I loved them back in the day, and while they haven’t all aged gracefully, I appreciate them for what they are. Nostalgia is a heck of a drug, and I love that we can now play these games on modern consoles. The omission of the Saturn and PlayStation versions is its biggest flaw though and I wish we could have had a complete collection.
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Dying Light: The Best is a return to form. I loved revisiting this world after the disappointment that I had with the second game. It knows what it wants to be and never apologizes for it. If you loved the first game, this is a must-have.
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Titans of the Tide is a very competent platformer that is further enhanced if you are a fan of SpongeBob and his cohorts. I had a great time even without in-depth knowledge of the show. It plays well, looks great, and is genuinely hilarious at times. We need these types of games, and I am glad SpongeBob continues to carry that torch. For the price, this is more than worth your time.
If you are like me and roll your eyes when another “one of those” is announced, this deserves your attention. The developers have done a great job of mixing the right amount of nostalgia with a core experience worth diving into.
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It just lacks content, and the brutal AI kills any replayability. Combine that with no online mode and this title falls short of a must-have.
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AVGN 8-Bit is a great retro title and a great AVGN game. He seems to understand how to license out his work to the right people. I highly recommend it if you loved those old NES games or are a fan of his work. Others with a sensitivity to offensive humor should probably stay away, but for everyone else this is a retro must-have. I loved every minute of it, just expect to die…a LOT.
The MK Legacy Kollection is a dream come true for me. Growing up with MK from the beginning this hit all the right nostalgia notes. MK is easily one of my favorite gaming franchises and have been a fan for over 30 years and will likely be playing it until my hands no longer work. Digital Eclipse understood the assignment and aced it.
Kaku: Ancient Seal is one of those games that reminds me why I love discovering smaller projects. It’s ambitious, heartfelt, and fun, even when it stumbles. The team at BINGOBELL clearly poured their hearts into this world, and it shows.
Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is not a flawless remake—but it’s a surprisingly heartwarming one. It enhances visuals, smooths out rough edges in control, and layers in replay value without losing the core DNA of the original.
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a great return for the series. Sure, it deviates from the first two entries, but has its own appeal. This is a quality Platinum Games release, which I know is hit and miss at times. Team Ninja and Platinum is a good combo and it feels good to have the series back.
Silent Hill f is a solid entry in the series even if it bucks all the reason to be a Silent Hill game. I still feel like this would have been a great original title. The combat is its biggest weakness and the chasm of fun between the real world and the Shrine Realm really drives that home. I am glad Silent Hill is back, but I do wish they had made the combat a bit more fun and interesting.