It seems like my best bet — if I want to more fully enjoy my time with PGA Tour 2K23 — would be to turn off downswing timing. Either that, or it might be time to put this franchise on my personal “I don’t need this stress in my life” list, right next to Elden Ring.
Prior to checking out these remasters, I hadn't touched the games since the first time I played them on PS4, and I was worried about the atrophy of my combat skills. I was initially dying more often than I thought I should have been, so I looked for adjustments. I then realized that in Performance Plus mode, I needed to use a lighter touch on the sticks to aim accurately; the controls are that much tighter on this setting. Soon, I was nailing headshots left and right. The Uncharted games are not celebrated for their gunplay, but the combat feels terrific at 120 fps - as do the spectacular set-pieces here, such as Uncharted 4's pell-mell urban chase sequence and The Lost Legacy's jaw-dropping train finale. Plus, it's exciting to see these games' stunning real-time cutscenes running at 60 fps.
Twelve Minutes is an uncomfortable journey — maybe too uncomfortable
IO Interactive delivers a terrific, thrilling finale for its trilogy
By the start of my second year, I was somehow named the New York Rangers' captain, a rare honor traditionally reserved for a respected veteran and locker-room leader. I had managed to reach a 76 overall rating - appropriate for a sophomore season, though by no means impressive - but apparently hadn't raised my profile enough with the fans to unlock worthwhile perks. (Some are gated only by funds, but others are gated by social media followers; maddeningly, the game doesn't say how many followers you need.) This disconnect makes these ostensible milestones feel arbitrary and meaningless - what's the point of the brand likability rating if these other obstacles exist? - and saps any desire I might've had to bother pursuing impactful perks or the salary necessary to afford them.
Creaks is a delight from start to finish
With its smart, engrossing franchise mode bringing it home, Super Mega Baseball 3 is another fantastic entry in what has become one of my all-time favorite sports series.
Having said that, I've once again spent the bulk of my time playing World of Chel. That's because my favorite mode, offline Be a Pro, hasn't changed since NHL 19 (and it's not like EA Vancouver gave the mode much love last year, mind you). I understand the realities of making these multifaceted games on an annual schedule — resources are limited, and it's simply not possible for the developers to overhaul everything every year. However, Be a Pro has been sidelined for ages, and it looks even more stale in light of the experimentation we've seen recently in single-player career modes from Madden, FIFA, and NBA 2K.
These are the kinds of upgrades you expect if you follow an annualized sports franchise. Yet I feel more impressed at the fact that EA Vancouver was able to build an online suite for NHL 19 that didn't just draw me in with the shiny trinket of outdoor play, but kept me going despite the frustrations that are sometimes inherent to online gaming.
As an overall product, Destiny 2 is an incredible feat.
NHL 17’s most promising features are held back by its reuse of old elements
Every piece of Videoball feels crafted for competition, and even when I was getting whipped by the game's AI opponents, it was a joy to play. With the pinpoint control and endless playability of the best arcade sports experiences, the small team at Action Button Entertainment has invented something wonderful and new in Videoball.
'Rubble Without a Cause' is a step backward for King's Quest
Minecraft: Story Mode doesn't deviate from the well-established Telltale formula much, keeping both what works (the storytelling) and what often doesn't work (combat). Even so, it accomplishes something impressive. I was skeptical of Telltale's ability to tell a story in the Minecraft universe that would be interesting to people who weren't already fans of the game, but so far, the studio is pulling it off with aplomb.
Outside of the fantastic in-game trainer — which, it's worth noting, is similar to what's available in EA's other sports games this year — and the revamped EA Sports Hockey League, NHL 16's updates are incremental. The issues I saw are uncharacteristic of the high EA reached on the previous consoles, and as the series is finding its footing in the new generation, NHL 16 doesn't quite reach that bar.
'A Knight to Remember' is hampered by some significant issues, but shows promise
'A Nest of Vipers' prioritizes the story over your choices
It's interesting that this episode came out so close to the last episode of the show, which is one of the best in the series. Game of Thrones as a sort of meta-property is doing very well.
House of Wolves is the first time since Destiny launched eight and a half months ago that I feel a glimmer of hope about the game's future.
Sony San Diego eschewed developing splashy back-of-the-box bullet points in favor of refining an already great game, exhibiting a confidence that is itself quietly remarkable — just like this series' consistency.