When all is said and done, though Tell Me Why doesn't necessarily disturb the established Dontnod template too much, it executes it well enough that that doesn't ever seem like an issue. Excellent characters, strong writing, and a deeply personal plot help the player connect with the story. In the end, that most criticisms of the game can be boiled down to "I wish I had had more time to spend in its world and with its characters" should, ultimately, be all that really needs to be said about Tell Me Why.
If you've never played this game before, or if you want to dive back into it but don't have access to an older copy, Re-Reckoning is easy to recommend- but only because the game itself is as good as it is. If you were hoping for an impressive visual upgrade, this isn't it, and those who already have access to a copy of the original game should probably save their money.
There have been plenty of moments during my time with Marvel's Avengers where I've genuinely had a great time. But this game keeps finding ways to drag itself down- at times it almost feels like it goes out of its way to do so. There's just so much here that I can't overlook, no matter how hard I may try. An unnecessary and broken loot system, a litany of horrible technical issues, uninspired and one-note mission design, and a story that fails just as much as it succeeds- it doesn't matter how mindlessly fun the combat is, it isn't enough to overcome such a heavy list of problems.
Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is not a perfect game, and it's not the most mechanically dense game, but thankfully, it doesn't have to be. Its strengths lie in its unhinged, over-the-top on-pitch action and its delightfully silly presentation. If you're looking for a football game that lets you focus on all the fun aspects of the sport while ignoring almost everything to do with tactics and strategy, this is the game for you.
No Straight Roads looks great, sounds great, and has great characters- but it has major gameplay issues that bring down the whole experience.
Windbound can be made to sound excellent in an elevator pitch, but the actual game is plagued by conflicting ideas, inconsistent design, and unrealized potential.
Hellraid is an interesting concept on paper, but a dull and monotonous experience in reality.
Risk of Rain 2 has that crucial "one more run" quality that the best roguelikes need to have, and offers a deeply compelling and addictive experience that proves that Hopoo Games can make a good roguelike regardless of what it looks like.
In its current state with the solid start it has gotten off to, Fall Guys is already an extremely enjoyable and unique game. With a little bit of work, it might just become the best new multiplayer release of the year.
Destroy All Humans! has no qualms with being a silly, dumb game that just wants its players to have a good time, and it's better for it.
Thanks to its stellar combat, gorgeous world, and engaging exploration, Ghost of Tsushima manages to brute force its way through a laundry list of problems to deliver an experience I couldn't help but thoroughly enjoy- which, in the end, is what matters more than anything else.
With The Last of Us Part 2, Naughty Dog have crafted yet another masterpiece of storytelling and game design, capturing lightning in a bottle- again.
Just as Mafia 2's riveting story was let down by an uninspired game around it in 2010, it's once again let down by a lazy remaster in 2020.
The Elder Scrolls: Blades uses its nature as a mobile-first title as a thin excuse for being a boring, mundane, monotonous experience. It may be free, so there's no point asking if this is worth your money- but is it worth your time? Absolutely not.
Back in 2013, The Wonderful 101 was a flawed game, but one with some really good ideas. It's still that in 2020- but seven years later, I was hoping it would be a lot more.
Wastelanders improves Fallout 76 noticeably, but is still bogged down by major issues.
Resident Evil 3 constantly hints at greatness, but never quite reaches the heights of the PS1 original. It's a solid enough game, but not nearly as impressive as other recent Resident Evil titles, and not nearly as good as it could and should have been.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the culmination of the series' formula, the zenith of everything Animal Crossing is about, and one of the best games Nintendo have produced in years.
Rescue Team DX's charming story and beautiful visuals aren't good enough to carry the whole game by themselves, especially since the meat and potatoes here – the combat and dungeon crawling – are so repetitive and monotonous.
With Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Moon Studios have realized the full potential of their debut title, and entered the upper echelons of Metroidvania history.