Ken McKown's Reviews
Crash Bandicoot 4 is a game that has been a long-time coming. Toys for Bob have really captured what made the original games special, while also modernizing it and delivering their own stamp on the franchise. Fans of the original finally get the sequel they deserved, and it feels good to live in this renaissance of PSOne-era games making a comeback. I hope Crash continues to live on and we don’t have to wait as long for Crash 5.
WWE 2K Battlegrounds is a fun romp that I enjoyed a lot more than I anticipated I would. Again, take it with a grain of salt as I am not a wrestling fan anymore. This reminded me of the more friendly spectacle of past games like WWE Arcade and Superstars. I wish there were more legends to be found and the models weren’t so creepy at times, but as a whole this is the best use of the license in years.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is certainly rough around the edges as far as a classic collection is concerned, but there is no denying the impact of all three games. The omission of Galaxy 2 and the questionable ports are certainly head scratchers, but that doesn’t change the fact that this collection will deliver hours of fun for Mario players old and new. Another solid title for the Switch lineup. Now make sure to snag it before Nintendo removes it from sale…at least until they break it up and sell them individually that is.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is one of the best remakes of two of the best video games ever made. For fans like me who grew up playing it, this is what we have wanted since the series started its downward spiral in its later years. It feels like Tony Hawk is back for the first time in a decade.
Hotshot Racing is an incredible nostalgia trip that I cannot recommend enough. Game Pass owners should note that the game is included in Microsoft’s service, so there is no excuse not to give it a try. This is the most fun I have had with a racing game in quite some time.
Windbound is a fantastic adventure wrapped in a questionable package.
Madden 21 is the first time I have found it hard to recommend upgrading. It truly does feel like a roster update in a lot of areas.
Fairy Tail is a straightforward game that does enough to keep it interesting throughout.
Skully is a game that is easily forgettable and hardly recommendable. It is something that if you got free through a Games with Gold you would be encapsulated for all of 30 minutes and then likely never play again. It had promise with its quirky story and unique mechanics, but it never capitalizes on any of them, making it feel like yet another game lost in the ether of releases in 2020.
Battletoads is a game that shouldn’t work in 2020. The originals were brutal tests of patience and I mean come on, it has been nearly three decades. Who under 30 actually remembers these characters? Still, for someone like me it is a real treat to see Microsoft once again return a former beloved Rare property back to its glory.
There is a lot to love about Desperados III, but it is worth noting that the game is not forgiving. It will take time and patience to push through its massive campaign.
Destroy All Humans! Is still a fun game in 2020.
Destroy All Humans! Is still a fun game in 2020. With the quality of life improvements and updated visuals it passes as a game that could have been released today, just not a showcase piece. I loved these types of B-tier titles last generation and am glad to see them making a somewhat return to prominence. Now if we could only get a new title in the series of the same quality I would be down with a next-gen version of Crypto’s shenanigans. Just forget that Big Will Unleashed ever existed and we will be just fine.
The Foundation is a great expansion that I had to wait too long to play.
Disintegration is a solid game that relies too heavily on the wrong pieces.
Beyond Blue is a relaxing experience that will appease players who cannot get enough nature documentaries on Netflix. I loved taking my time and scanning creatures and just exploring the ocean. There is a lot of interesting info wrapped around a solid gaming experience. Beyond Blue is the kind of game that players will just know they will enjoy by looking at it.
Project Warlock isn’t going to set the world on fire, but what it sets out to do it does well. I found myself loving certain sections while struggling with others. With a few tweaks it could easily become a fan-favorite title that scratches that itch so many other games attempt and fail at.
Last of Us 2 is a hard game to critique. On one hand it sets new bars for performance capture and visual fidelity. Naughty Dog is truly head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to these areas. The world is impeccably detailed and the game is a true showpiece for visual fidelity. On the other hand it is just not fun to play at times. Whether it is the uncomfortable nature of what is happening or the fact that the game play feels like an afterthought to everything else included in the package. Combine that with a story that is sure to disappoint fans of the series and we have a mixed bag of emotions. There is no doubting the quality of this game, but I am not sure I needed or even wanted this sequel upon completing it.
Minecraft Dungeons is a solid game that is not only cheap, but accessible. It also helps that it came out on everything and Game Pass owners get to check it out for free. It is great seeing Microsoft expand the series out to more genres. The recognizable fidelity aids in it reaching a larger audience and the price tag makes it an impulse purchase. It also helps that the quality is there. I think anyone who takes a dive into Minecraft Dungeons will have a great time.
Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a great addition to the series and a return to its more Metroidvania roots. I loved it a lot more than the last iteration and continue to look forward to each new chapter. While the series is not as well-known as other games, I feel like it should be. The quality is there and each version just seems to add enough new to keep it fresh. This is a title that should not be overlooked, and it is available on absolutely everything, so there is no excuse not to give it a go.