Ken McKown's Reviews
Evil Within 2 is how a sequel should be constructed. Everything about it feels like an improvement upon its predecessor.
Forza continues to deliver year-in and year-out. This outing will also be a showcase for Microsoft's upcoming 4K console. Turn 10 continues to deliver, and if nothing else Microsoft has this genre on lockdown for the time being. Glad to see the team not get complacent. Forza Motorsport 7 is yet another must-own for racing game fans.
Ruiner succeeds upon completion
Cuphead is a rare case where the long development cycle didn't ruin the final product. This game matches its incredible look with stellar game play. In the sea of games releasing this year Cuphead stands tall as one of the best. There is little reason to skip this gem, it even comes with an outstanding value price and plenty of replay.
It is hard to argue the value here. I have always enjoyed the Ultimate Ninja Storm games even without knowledge of the source material. The fighting is fun and the stories are always over-the-top madness. This package delivers hours of fun and a solid look into the lore of Naruto.
While it is likely already forgotten, Caveman Warriors is a solid, if not overly challenging game set to a backdrop rarely used. I loved the idea behind it, even if its execution fell flat sometimes.
Project Cars 2 is the definition of what a sequel should be, taking everything great from the original game, bringing it back, and introducing new and interesting features.
Pokken Tournament is a game that deserved a second chance. A Pokémon fighting game is still one of the best concepts out there. I wish it was more fleshed out, and perhaps a sequel will do just that, but DX marks yet another solid first-party title to add to the Switch's already stellar year one of games.
Blacksea Odyssey feels unique in a sea of games in the same vein. There is enough here to keep players interested while not frustrating too much with its roguelike elements.
I had fun. I love off-road racing games and this one just scratched that itch. The track diversity is nice, I just wish it didn't turn into such a grind as the game went on.
Knack 2 is the proper way to do a sequel. The ideas are solid and platform games of this quality are few and far between.
Uncharted: Lost Legacy is another Uncharted game, for better or worse. I loved its length and characters. I would love to see more spin-offs now that Nathan Drake's journey has come to an end. I feel like we don't get enough of these action adventure style titles and am always up for another one. I might say we don't need another Uncharted game once again, but if the series returns, you know I will be first in line to eat my words.
The refinements are enough to keep me interested, and the new engine makes the game look glorious. I really hope franchise sees a major overhaul next year, but for now I am happy to be plowing through defenses with Marshawn Lynch and dropping dimes with Derek Carr.
This is truly one of the finest shooters of the last two generations. I would love to see a follow-up next time though. This generation of remasters is starting to get out of hand.
Sonic Mania is the Sonic game fans have been wanting. It hits all the notes (and problems) the originals had. But it is also why the series has remained relevant for so long. It delivers speed, fun, and chaos (no pun intended) all in one package. It also finally removes the stigma that all Sonic games are terrible. Let's hope Forces is as well polished and enjoyable as Mania is.
Mighty Gunvolt Burst is exactly what I wanted it to be. A proper clone of a genre I still love to this day, with enough new to make it feel modern. The platforming is tight, the challenge is solid, and everything just feels good. I grew up loving these games, and while I am not quite as skilled as I used to be, I still enjoy the challenge they deliver.
Aven Colony is a unique take on the genre. It is also one that works surprisingly well on consoles. For those with the itch to build some cities and don't mind the alien landscape I definitely recommend it.
Super Cloudbuilt is a game I thought I would enjoy playing and ignore the story. The reverse ended up happening. The narrative is interesting and the one thing that kept me playing. The game surrounding it fell flat for me on so many levels. I wanted to love it more than I did, but in the end it never clicked with me.
Right out of the gate Splatoon 2 feels a lot like the original game.
Final Fantasy XII is the reason remasters were invented.