Ken McKown's Reviews
Final Fantasy VII Remake is a massive endeavor that I fear we may never see the end of, but the ride so far has been fun. I really hope the next chapters don’t span years in development as the original is still one of my favorite RPGs of all-time. I would love to see this end before the end of the PS5-era, but I somehow feel like that is asking a lot. Still this free update for owners is a nice tie-over and the DLC is meaty enough to keep me enamored in the world.
The Mass Effect trilogy is one of the best RPGs in gaming history and now is the best time to jump in for the first, second, or tenth time. It showcases a type of game that we rarely get to see. Something that creates a world fun to get lost in. A game that makes talking to NPCs interesting. A world that is a joy to explore. We can only hope the next chapter continues the legacy these games have created, but for now this collection is a must own.
The Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a great collection of games and the only way a lot of players can even access these titles. The first and second game are still classics. The third is fine, but just doesn’t stand on the same shoulders as its predecessors. Also, that t-rex fight is still ridiculous. Still, it is nice to have all the games in one place. Don’t sleep on these games. They are still pillars of the character action genre and worth playing to this day.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is one of the best entries in the series to date.
Subnautica: Below Zero is a great follow-up to one of the best in the genre. It dishes out the survival aspects in more digestible chunks than some of the more extreme cases. This makes it much more approachable for players like me who are intimidated by the restrictions of the genre. Do not let the nature of the game scare you away. This is a beautiful experience that I recommend if for nothing else, but to experience the ridiculously beautiful world Unknown Worlds has created.
Biomutant is a game I had issues with, but could not stop exploring the world.
R-Type Final 2 is a wonderful follow-up to a classic series that I will always be down for more of. The steep price will turn off some, but once you get into the action it truly is one of the most satisfying genres around. I want more games of this type, but I feel like we will continue to see less and less of them as time goes on. I am always happy to jump into one whenever they release though and fans of classic shmupsdefinitely need to check this one out.
Resident Evil Village is another outstanding entry in one of the best franchises in gaming. Capcom has done a wonderful job of keeping the series fresh and interesting since its inception back in 1996. I still get excited when a new game in the series drops. It is an event that few other franchises can carry for this long. This game is one of the easiest to recommend and it is on a short list of my favorite game experiences of the year. I expect to be discussing it when the end of 2021 rolls around.
I loved playing Returnal and I would definitely love a linear-progression version of it, but am perfectly satisfied jumping back in just to play because it feels so good. I hope they make some quality of life changes over time and really bring this game home. As it stands this is a great roguelike experience that can deliver many hours of entertainment if you don’t mind recycling that fun over and over.
Judgement is a game that was limited by its one console release. It is great to see the team at Ryu Ga Gotoku bring it to a wider audience. If you have never played a game in the Yakuza franchise this is a great jumping off point. It captures what makes those games so great without requiring a ton of investment in older titles to appreciate the story. There is so much to love about these games and I am constantly impressed at the way the team is able to craft genuinely fantastic characters and still pump out hefty experiences on a regular basis. I hope the Judgement series gets to continue, but as it stands this game is one worth checking out.
Outriders is a perfect storm. A shiny new game to show off these new consoles. The fact that it launched day and date onto Game Pass has definitely helped with its success, as has the fact that gamers are hungry for new experiences. I will likely be playing a bunch of Outriders in 2021, and that speaks volumes to its longevity. I hope the team continues to expand on the title as we move through the year, as I look forward to coming back to it for quite some time.
Balan Wonderworld is a game that I tried hard to love. It is not the pariah that the internet makes it out to be though. I think the game is charming and flawed. It has tons of issues, but I still finished it. I had some good times sprinkled in with the frustrations. It took me to a simpler time in platform games and there is truly nothing else out there with the same kind of presentation and whimsical ideas it delivers. That said $60 is a hard ask for a game that seems to want to frustrate players at every turn. I wanted to love Balan Wonderworld, but it did everything in its power to test my love every chance it got.
For those new to the series though the game is packed with content. While there are no licensed trucks the customization is fantastic. There are plenty of courses to race on and the variation of modes is great. I do wish this upgrade came with more to offer than just a resolution bump that is negligible. I also feel like the original game could have run at 60fps on One X, so again without Smart Delivery this feels like a minimal update at best.
Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 is yet another game in the genre that will be forgotten. Rainbow Studios has been one of the most prolific in mud-based racing games for a long time. They have crafted some of the best off-road endeavors I have ever played. This is sadly not one of them. It feels like a second thought as far as execution goes. Like they had a license and a chance to make a sequel and just pumped it out with little fanfare. I wanted to love it, but sadly it will be relegated to just a memory in a few weeks’ time.
I cannot recommend this game enough. I loved Kaze and the Wild Masks, and hope it finds the audience it deserves so we might get more games from this team. It really ticked all the boxes I would expect from a game inspired by the mascot platformers I grew up with. It also helps that the game is coming to every platform imaginable. Do not hesitate if you love titles like Donkey Kong Country or even have the most minute nostalgia for that plethora of mascot platformers from the mid -to-late 90s. This game hits all those notes whileinjecting its own flavor to the cause.
Stubbs is a fun game that doesn’t take itself seriously. There is really nothing else quite like it, and I had fun revisiting this dumb action title. For those that never got a chance to play it before it is more than worth checking out, if for nothing else but seeing how different this game is from pretty much everything else out there. It thrives on its wackiness and dumb fun and is still enjoyable today. And now players can experience it on every console or PC under the sun.
Ghost ‘n Goblins Resurrection is a great modernization of one of Capcom’s cult classic titles. Being a fan of the originals, it was a treat to ride down memory lane. Especially since I revisit this series multiple times a year and we haven’t had a true 2D entry in quite some time. I do wish the game would come to more consoles and PC as it is currently only available on Switch, but perhaps that is a future plan. As it stands Switch owners who grew up with the originals should definitely check this out, if you don’t have nostalgia for the series though, this game might just feel like yet another difficult platformer that has yet to get with the times.
Super Mario 3D World was already one of the best 3D Mario games to date. Toss in some tweaks and a decent-sized expansion with new ideas and this package is a no-brainer. There is little to complain about with this latest Mario title on Switch. It is yet another must-own game for the platform. I am excited to see where Mario goes next and this is a perfect end to the 35th anniversary celebration of gaming’s first and oldest icon.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood is a long name for a short, uninspired game. I was really hoping this would be a hidden gem that managed to rekindle my love of b-tier titles. Instead it just feels generic in every sense of the word. The combat is its only saving grace, and that cannot carry the game.
Little Nightmares II is a wonderful sequel that adds unnecessary combat to the mix. The journey is still worth pushing through just to experience the horrors the team has delivered. I love these type of games as it stimulates that certain part of my brain that creates a sense of discomfort while also letting me solve puzzles to stay alive. The lighter price point and promise of next-gen updates also make it worth your time. Don’t miss out on the first genuinely disturbing game of 2021.