Ken McKown's Reviews
Kojima and his team have crafted something that truly feels unique, for better or worse. It is hard to compare it to anything else, but that doesn’t always mean it was fun. Not everyone will adore this game, but I guarantee no one will ever be able to forget it either.
A Knight’s Quest has moments of brilliance. I wanted to love it a lot more than I did. I feel like this template could truly be something special to fill a void these other consoles have without a proper Zelda clone. Still, it finds ways to annoy me at every turn.
It combines two genres perfectly and ends up creating the surprise hit of the year. It will be on my mind when game of the year rolls around and I recommend everyone giving it a look. I know the game world is swamped with releases this year, but this is one experience you do not want to miss.
Contra: Rogue Corps is a game a lot of people would consider Konami to make. After seemingly wanting to exit the business even with a string of classic IP, this game feels like it was made for the sake of releasing a new Contra in 2019. It has good ideas hampered with poor implementation. It is not fun to play and that is its biggest crime. I wanted to love Rogue Corps. I tried to love Rogue Corps. I simply cannot find any fun to be had with the latest in this beloved franchise.
Link’s Awakening is yet another outstanding addition to the Switch library.
Blasphemous is an absolutely stunning game everyone should see in motion.
Daemon X Machina might not be Nintendo’s most high-profile title of 2019, but I really enjoyed what it brought to the table.
Outside of Diablo III this is probably the best action-RPG currently available anywhere. Do not miss out on this exemplary title. It is a shame that the new Torchlight is not a continuation of the formula, but considering the quality of the first two games I will give anything bearing the namesake a shot.
Wreckfest is a solid game that hits a lot of the right notes, with plenty of technical issues that hold it back from being a classic.
The Forbidden Arts is a game that feels like a relic from the past. If someone had told me this was a budget title on Gamecube and somehow got the HD treatment, I would believe them. It just lacks polish and interesting content to keep players interested. I doubt many people have heard of this title and even fewer will remember it. It is just a plain adventure title that never steps outside the boundaries of mediocrity.
Gears 5 rekindles the magic the first three games delivered in their prime and it has me excited to see where the series goes in the next generation. This is one of the best games Microsoft has put out this year, and quite possible one of the best games of 2019.
Metal Wolf Chaos XD is a ridiculous game and I love that we live in a time where something like this can come back. Players need to know what they are getting into before jumping in though. This is an awkward game from a different time and this remaster adds little outside of some sharper visual flare. It is still a truly interesting piece of gaming history and I am thrilled it can exist for players today to experience.
Kill la Kill The Game: IF is a unique title for sure. It lacks depth and breadth but makes up for it in wackiness and style. Fans of the anime will likely enjoy it, but fighting game fans in general will most likely pass this one by. There just isn’t enough here to make it stand out among the crowd. One thing I can say about it though is that nothing is ever likely to be as bonkers as far as fighting games go…oh who am I kidding?
Damsel is a solid, if not forgettable title that really stands on its visual presentation and tight game play. I had fun with my time, but never felt the need to boot it back up after a few hours. Still at the low price it is worth checking out if the genre interests you. I certainly had plenty of fun digging into it.
Madden NFL 20 is a solid entry with plenty of new additions.
Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot feels like something that should be free or included in a bundle for PSVR owners. It doesn’t feel like it warrants its price tag and it is linear and criminally short. Even hardcore fans hoping for more Nazi-killing action should probably avoid this one until it drops way down in price. There just isn’t enough here to warrant the price of admission.
There is plenty here for Marvel and non-Marvel fans to enjoy.
A good game is still a good game regardless of generation.
It is a pure blast creating and sharing levels with friends, and of course letting my son’s creativity run wild in creating new levels. The single player content is a welcome addition to an already impressive package. Super Mario Maker 2 is a fine addition to the Switch library, now can we please get that Zelda Maker stat?
Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled is a beautiful trip back in time. It is also great that PS4 and XB1 owners finally have a truly great kart racer available on their machines. This game is a must-own for anyone that loves these types of games, and for the price it is impossible not to recommend. Just be prepared for the difficulty and remember playing on easy is perfectly fine, and much more enjoyable for that casual romp.