Robert Kollars
Whether you're a newcomer or veteran to this series, MotoGP 21 is an absolute must-own. It offers a distinct challenge for people of all skill levels, and I grew to respect that challenge in every way possible.
Now, that does not mean you should not give Taxi Chaos a single thought. It just means if you were hoping for the spiritual successor to Crazy Taxi, you would be better off going back and playing the original.
Still, if you are a newcomer to this series, you will need to be patient and willing to learn. If you're a veteran of the series, the upgraded visual experience is enough to warrant a purchase this year. The real bottom line is that Out of the Park Baseball 22 offers an experience that is worth the price of admission. While not perfect overall, OOTP '22 is a magnificent blend of fun, complexity, and nostalgia.
There are plenty of flaws here, and at times those flaws caused frustration. However, the bottom line is there is fun to be had here, whether in franchise mode, exhibition, or online. There is still plenty of room for improvement (like, plenty plenty), but if you're looking for a fun game that can be enjoyed by all, you could do a lot worse than adding RBI Baseball '21 to your rotation this year.
Monster Truck Championship may not have enough depth to be a mainstay in your rotation for months on end, but it makes up for that in other ways and should be viewed as a solid addition to your collection.
Monster Energy Supercross 4 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and Stadia
I would consider Monster Jams: Steel Titans 2 an improvement over the first iteration, but I don’t believe it’s a large enough improvement to match what people were hoping for in the lead up to release.
As I mentioned before, DDS: CFB ’21 isn’t perfect, as some of the simulation results and the top 25 occasionally will have you looking at the screen with a bit of disbelief. However, it’s not enough to ruin the immersion and world that Wolverine Studios has created. It can also be a bit tough to understand the ins and outs of the game for newcomers, and that will create a bit of frustration for some.
MXGP 2020 is available now on the PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series X-S, and PC.
Speed 3: Grand Prix is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch. The game also can be played on next-gen consoles by simply downloading it to the console, but they are not optimized for either the PS5 or Xbox Series X. This review was via an Xbox One version of the game provided by the publisher.
Lastly, while I know that the relationship between EA and Nintendo has not always been the best - especially when it comes to sports games - the inability to find a way to get NHL 94 on to the Switch at this time feels like a crime against humanity. If ever a game was meant for the Switch, NHL 94 is the one.
As I mentioned previously, NFS isn't incredibly deep and has no real storyline other than progression and automobile unlocks/rewards. However, if quick feverish races and takedowns are your thing (still), then adding NFS: HP is a must.
Dirt 5 will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Google Stadia. As I mentioned before, if a next-gen upgrade is a concern, Codemasters has you covered. Owning an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 with a disc drive will mean that you can redeem your free next-gen upgrade, whether you purchase Dirt 5 physically or digitally for current-gen consoles. If you purchased the game digitally, your new console will automatically receive this information and make the next-gen version available to you. If you purchased Dirt 5 on disc, insert the disc and follow the platform's instructions to get the optimized version.
There are some issues that I spoke about previously, like no monetary system, no real free-agent system and what I consider a basic draft at best. The good news is that the developer is always listening and implementing community ideas as often as possible. There is a lot of fun to be had with PSF '21 and with a price tag of only $19.99 (USD) the return on investment is solid.
In the end, Ride 4 is the type of game that offers up something for everyone and is the type of motorcycle racing title that can grab my interest for hours on end. Being as it’s sort of the Gran Turismo of motorcycle games, it might be the title that can do just that for you as well.
Doug Flutie's Maximum Football 2020 is available digitally on the Xbox One & PS4, and possibly PC at a date TBD.
Tony Stewart All-American Racing comes as close to conjuring up memories of Dirt to Daytona as any game has since its initial release in 2002, and provides a surprising amount of depth, fun and longevity, especially considering the price point of $29.99 (USD).
Rarely have I reviewed a game that delivered on almost every front, but that is exactly what WRC 9 has done. It allows me to feel the pressure and tension of knowing that even the smallest mistake behind the wheel can ruin an event. I sometimes felt like I was going to grasp the overwhelming joy of accomplishment before it was replaced with devastation and doubt.
All that being said, if you understand that and simultaneously understand that Madden 21 offers up a good game of football between the lines, then there is something here for you. If you're looking for Madden to be more than that this year, then just wait until next-gen to see if it's improved, or wait until the game has a big sale/hits EA Play.
In the end, I will always judge a game based on the amount of fun I had with it, and I can say that Project Cars 3 delivered nicely on that front.