Jayden Cusack's Reviews
Capcom has another solid title on its hands. Onimusha: Way of the Sword sounds at odds on paper. A goofy rice bun eating samurai amidst a sea of dead villagers and ferocious Genma sounds like tonal whiplash but Capcom nails this balance. Musashi is now one of my favourite protagonists in the action genre and the moment to moment combat, despite a slow start, builds into some of the best boss battles I’ve seen in some time. There is some run of the mill padding that detracts from the spectacle and visuals that don’t hold up outside of cutscenes. But these issues don’t get in the way of what Onimusha does best: a goofy character that I’ll continue to follow into hell, with my own rice bun in hand.
Beast of Reincarnation is an uneven attempt from Game Freak at a new IP. A solid combat system with a unique visual setting had real potential, but it is suffocated by a number of rough edges, from repetitive enemy design and a confusing sidekick to a bloated story and an absent quality of life that makes it a struggle to enjoy.
Gothic 1 Remake is a game of two halves. It’s got an interesting world that I wanted to explore, and the story and writing are well done. But there are a lot of systems that are consistently pushing up against you, stopping me from enjoying the finer points of the game. If you have nostalgia for the original, this may be easier to push through, but this remake blends well-done visuals and a great setting with a lot of mechanics and design that have aged poorly. There is a good game in Gothic 1 Remake; it’s just a lot harder to reach than it should be, and by the time you reach it, that frustration damages the overall experience.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight takes two opposite ends of the spectrum, Lego comedy and accessible gameplay with Batman’s darker tone and stealth-oriented sections, and meshes them together to great effect with only a few outliers. Visually stunning, inventive mission structure and an impressive open-world Gotham full of hilarious comedic writing. Some aspects that are made more accessible for a younger audience, such as combat, don’t hit as well, but if you adjust to this lighter, comedy-first Batman, then there’s something for both newcomers and veterans to enjoy.
Rose and Locket is a work of art, producing some of the most distinct visual artistry I have seen in recent years. Paired with solid combat that is challenging and rewarding, despite the artistry clashing with player experience at times. This is an adventure full of heart and climactic sequences, equally an awe-inspiring visual piece and a well-tuned action platformer.
Crimson Desert is a once-in-a-generation video game. Its expansive open world is breathtaking and one I can get lost in for days thanks to its beautiful visuals, enchanting music and in-depth, meaningful gameplay systems. It’s not perfect, with some obtuse design choices, an underwhelming story and a very slow opening. But the more you peel back each layer of Crimson Desert, it all begins to click, and you realize this is truly a fantastic achievement in video game design.
Rollick N’ Roll is a clever and thoughtfully designed puzzle game, taking a childhood memory and translating this into a rewarding gameplay loop. Add some great looking minimalist visuals and a solid lo-fi soundtrack, and you’ve got one unique addicting puzzler that’s very hard to put down.
Pokémon Pokopia is a game I didn’t know I needed, but I’m so glad we have it. It’s a fantastic tribute to the Pokémon series and the 30th anniversary, fusing the cozy genre with the thrill of finding new Pokémon, full of intuitive progression and thorough, brilliantly designed systems. This is a beautiful, addictive, hard to put down adventure.
Reanimal is a haunting, grotesque adventure full of disturbing imagery and ambitious mechanics that really let Tarsier flex their creative freedom. However, a short runtime and abrupt ending coupled with confusing early pacing issues stop Reanimal from becoming the ghastly monsterpiece it has the potential to be.
Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 are fantastic titles and some of the best Nintendo has ever created. But when it comes to these changes and the price point, does it warrant a playthrough? Only if you are new to the titles or are a diehard Mario fan; otherwise, these changes aren’t enough to justify jumping back into this galaxy spanning adventure.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A offers enough innovation and new ideas for any Pokémon fan to experience. Full of great Mega Evolution battles and a real time battle system that show Game Freak can rethink the core of a Pokémon experience. However dated visuals, empty feeling side quests and a run of the mill story show that not all elements of the Pokémon formula have evolved. Pokemon Legends Z-A is a promising step for the franchise, if other aspects can be fully realized.
Ghost of Yōtei delivers a powerful revenge tale that is well executed with standout combat and a unique approach to player interaction that feels fresh and a welcome change in open-world game design. It’s comfortable in following suit to its samurai film inspirations and proven gameplay formula. It’s a solid open-world title that fills the revenge fantasy that is content with sharpened refinement rather than revolution.
Hell Is Us is a bold, ambitious title that succeeds in many of its visions. Great world-building, player exploration and complex puzzle-solving. Conventional, limited combat does detract from its loftier ideas, but Hell Is Us is so full of ambition that it’s a must-play for any gamer tired of traditional video game tropes.
Battlefield 6 is undeniable proof that the franchise is back and arguably in the best state it’s been. Despite an underbaked campaign, Battlefield 6’s multiplayer delivers fantastic visuals, immersive audio design and robust destruction that offer a thrill no matter your role in the battlefield.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a worthy competitor to the Mario Kart throne. Offering a seamless CrossWorlds mechanic that showcases its audio and visual prowess with responsive, satisfying racing. While sticking largely to genre conventions, Sonic and the team have nailed the core racing fundamentals.
Mafia: The Old Country has a fantastic story filled with a great cast of characters set in a authentic Sicilian setting. Hangar 13 adds new gameplay elements but these are outweighed by dated and repetitive gameplay design and an underused world begging to be explored. But despite these flaws, I couldn’t put this game down – which is proof of just how gripping this cinematic story is.
Ready or Not is a thrilling tactical first-person shooter that offers tense situations backed with genre-defining audio design. The single-player campaign is clunky and leaves a lot to be desired, but when you round up a squad of friends, Ready or Not becomes one of the best multiplayer shooters around.
There really is nothing like Death Stranding 2, whether that is for better or worse. There are so many great ideas and beautiful moments here that are impressive on their own; they just feel disjointed and never fully come together in a way that makes sense, both mechanically and narratively.
Deliver At All Costs provides a fun arcade delivery loop, but the uninteresting story, bland exploration, and unrewarding systems completely weigh it down. Less is more, and Deliver At All Costs focuses on all the wrong areas too much, delivering a disappointing experience.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a prime example of how to take a beloved game and update it for the modern audience without sacrificing any of its core vision. Quality of life improvements, a massive visual uplift, and a levelling rework help usher in a wave of players to experience one of the best RPGs ever made.