Mass Effect Legendary Edition is almost a return to greatness and it's hard competing with the memories of an awesome game with a younger you. Thankfully Bioware have successfully paid homage to the old and more importantly, have spun their technological magic to draw you back to this amazing universe that they have created with new features. Sure, it's not a perfect release when you look at the current batch of next-gen titles, however it is a playable one and if you've missed this universe or you're a newcomer, there's some exceptional value for money in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition that will literally give you hours upon hours of enjoyment and yes, some frustration, depending on the difficulty level you play.
The Medium boasts an engaging narrative plus clever gaming dynamics and while it starts slow, the ending builds to an impressive crescendo of unexpected surprises. So if you like to be surprised, don't keep reading the reviews or watching Youtube videos because this is one game that must be experienced without coming in with any prior knowledge as you twist your way through of both the land of the living and… the dead!
The Falconeer succeeds in its exploration which is wonderful, however its repetition and frustrating combat mechanics creates a whole new challenge for the gamer. Lastly, this new world will take most gamers around 10 to 12 hours to successfully complete and its creator Tomasa Sala should be commended on creating a brand new and engaging world with its own rich culture and dynamics. Interestingly to say the least!
A Tetris game as a next-gen release title? Crazy huh? But no, Tetris Effect Connected is definitely the dark horse of the pack and is a game that you'll be playing long after you've finished the current years blockbusters of the year.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a must have arcade game on the new Xbox Series X that delivers a next-gen gaming experience that looks and plays magnificently!
The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon DLC is a truly enjoyable return to this franchise and given the cost, it's good value for your money. So if you have a hankering of returning to the universe of Halycon, this DLC is your panacea and is probably a nice distraction in this COVID-19 world. All in all, a well-written and carefully crafted DLC that works from the get go!
If you're a fan of ESO, then the Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor chapter will add a much needed area into this vast world that boasts some graphically impressive places that really makes you wonder at the marvel of Skyrim. While the main story is quite cliched, including the villain, there's still plenty to find, fight and do along the way with engaging NPC's, clever enemies and more exploration then you can poke a sword at. Furthermore, the main game may take you around 15 hours to complete but if you invest in additional exploration, you could easily double this time and then some!
All in all, Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training is fun diversion of the Nintendo Switch that makes most of the brain's clever neuroplasticity component that allows you to improve your memory and thinking. While it is reminiscent of the original game, it does create a totally new experience on the Nintendo Switch, particularly with its unique control systems.
The developers of Ring Fit Adventure have really thought outside the square and have delivered an enjoyable yet interesting fitness game that actually works. It's not clichéd or forced like some other console fitness games but one that uses the Ring to truly immerse you into the game that tracks your movement and in essence, turns it into real-world exercises… but more enjoyable! It's gaming meets exercising!
Although a crazy YouTuber has apparently completed this game in 25-minutes by just running, to really enjoy the atmosphere and gameplay, it will take around 30 hours to successfully complete that will allow you to not only immerse yourself in it but enjoy it. The game also gives you a nice recap at the end that serves as motivation for another play in order to see different endings.
Initially I thought Gears 5 was just another Gears of War game, however the developers have upped the ante by focusing on a new protagonist but ensuring that the old guard are still around. The gameplay while familiar has been tweaked and the level design is easily one of the best created worlds on a console, especially seeing it on 4K on the Xbox One X. So if you're a fan of the Gears of War franchise, Gears 5 takes that love to a whole new level and then multiplies it!
I thoroughly enjoyed A Plague Tale: Innocence from start to finish and cannot fault this title at all. While the gameplay is fluid that is accompanied by excellent graphics and audio, where A Plague Tale – Innocence shines is with its characters and the way it tells their story. So if you're upset at how Game of Thrones ended and need a story that is told correctly, A Plague Tale – Innocence does that flawlessly.
The only slight downfall to the game is the slightly repetitive nature of the gameplay but the overall enjoyment factor far outweighs this (especially with the unpredictable nature of the game like Space Outlaws) and at the end of your gaming day, you can walk away with a big smile on your face and then you can take it to a whole new level with all the modular toys available as toy truly meets game.
It's great that Playground Games have not rested on their laurels but have created a game that not only looks amazing but more importantly plays well on the Xbox One/X. The gameplay mechanics work well and whether you're playing this online or offline, there's plenty to do and see. Given how much fun I've had with Forza Horizon 4, it will definitely become my go to game in the months to come, especially with its online component. So if you're looking for some racing fun that packs a punch, Forza Horizon 4 is definitely that game!
If you're looking for some short bursts of fun then WarioWare Gold successfully ticks this brief on the Nintendo 3DS. It's also one of those games that really draws you, however if you play it too much, you literally overeat so finding that perfect balance of play time is needed. With that said, the 3DS version doesn't really add that much to the franchise but the unique control mechanics and games does make for an enjoyable time, even though some of the mini-games fail. So although WarioWare Gold doesn't get a gold medal on this occasion, it still deserves a solid bronze as it's a great homage to Nintendo.
If you're looking for a well-made first person shooter with plenty of action and soul, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus ticks all the right boxes on the Nintendo Switch as developers Panic Button have successfully ported this game onto a far less powerful console that works like a treat, even with the slight graphical hit!
Kirby Star Allies is Nintendo at its best as HAL Laboratories create a truly enjoyable side-scrolling platformer which takes a classic gaming premise and transforms it into something enjoyable for old and new gamers alike that takes the genre to a new level. The controls work extremely well on this console and although single-player works well, Kirby Star Allies is far more entertaining with other players.
Bayonetta on the Nintendo Switch is a very fun experience on this console and it feels like a bad 70's action movie and the story, characters and quirkiness of the gameplay is pure ingenious.
It feels like a bad 70's action movie and the story, characters and quirkiness of the gameplay is pure ingenious. Even after all these years, Bayonetta 2 on the Nintendo 2 is still a very fun experience with a great gaming engine, exceptional graphics and a female protagonist that will make you laugh and also give you a healthy dose of controller rage.
Even after all these years, Bayonetta 2 on the Nintendo 2 is still a very fun experience with a great gaming engine, exceptional graphics and a female protagonist that will make you laugh and also give you a healthy dose of controller rage.