A masterpiece it’s not, but by execution of the brief alone they’ve done an excellent job of modernising for a new audience. I think if you’ve played the classic version you’ll appreciate what’s on offer here. If you are brand new to the series you will absolutely feel a sense of gravitas and awe that this game is kind of a big deal. I don’t know if I will go back multiple times, as at 2 or 3 run throughs, I’m certainly content with the experience had.
My encouragement to you? Take your time. Enjoy. Play at your own pace. This game is here to stay and there is no reward for rushing, aside from a headache. [...] If there is a significant other in your life. Do yourself a favour. Find a way to buy them a switch 2 and Pokopia to play on as well.
Pokémon FireRed invites you to explore and experiment. Mistakes also happen, but once you start overcoming those mistakes, you feel the growth in discovery, and this is the refreshing part. Pokémon Fire-Red is a must for any Pokémon fan who has never played the original games, or for old-school players like me who want a more polished version of the experience from 21 years ago.
[Kirby Air Riders] ... is a wonderfully fun game that I will keep playing for many hours more, both alone and as a shared experience. An absolute must buy for Switch 2 owners!
Black Ops 7 feels like an evolution of last year’s unsurprisingly named Black Ops 6. For all of its obvious flaws, there is a real sense of anger and rage for Black Ops 7 in the gaming community. This often comes part and parcel for newly released Call of Duty games. I am enjoying the mechanics and the bones of what is a mostly good Call of Duty game.
The question this game really poses is, can Konami still successfully make a Metal Gear Solid game in 2025. The answer being unequivocally yes. There is absolutely talent at work here, and although the brief was clearly, protect the legacy and don’t upset the fans. The bigger question I have, with now the Master Collection and MGS Delta out there, where could Konami go next with the series, and do they have the drive or ambition to break the mould, be creative and create something truly new.
There were moments in the middle I felt like DK Bananza was a very good game. Sure at times things felt a little flat and the story a little thin. However after the closing 5 hours…. I felt a shift and have to say it’s an utterly superb game. DK Bananza truly lives up to the responsibility as the flagship launch(ish) title for the Switch 2 and if you own the console, it’s an absolutely must buy to own this game!
Xenoblade Chronicles X is a sprawling, deeply immersive experience that is familiar and comforting in its execution. It’s vast and lush and only limited by the fact that so much was learned across the last 10 years as the Xenoblade series has matured and improved over time. I would absolutely recommend JRPG fans alike take a look. It’s a really interesting spring board in the series, and with Switch 2 on its way this may well get some free enhancements to make it even prettier in the months ahead.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is just utterly wonderful and thought provoking. It’s a hard review to write, without feeling like I’m over sharing the story. Its become one of those games where I’ve felt compelled to tell people, to “just play it”. It deals with some really dark aspects of humanity, it makes you question our real existence, and it labels fantasy at moments that feel like our reality.
So how does this 20 year old game stand up I hear you say? Its incredible. It’s everything I wanted and more. Puzzles galore, comedy out the wazoo and an emotional story that kept me hooked throughout it’s 30+ hours. I simply adore this game. As a pairing gamers are just plain spoilt to have these two Paper Mario games side by side on the Nintendo Switch. If you haven’t tackled any Paper Mario games so far, you are seriously missing out. Dive in right here and prepare to have your mind blown over and over again.