Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
Thank goodness for "kiddie" games. The original Mario & Luigi game returns with a fresh coat of paint and an extra mode that celebrates Bowser's charming and adorable lackeys. Exploration could be better and the Bowser's Minions mode could be a bit more fleshed out. Its highly amusing dialogue, however, combined with its charming visuals, music and characters make this the perfect tonic after a long day on the job. Jump into it if you're itching for a Mario-themed RPG.
Polyphony's racing opus returns with its trademark excellent driving and a lot of fat trimming. Lovers of the series’ offline “CarPG” will be disappointed by the reduced number of cars, tracks and offline features, as well as the always-online requirement for basic things like saving and buying cars. If all you care about is online racing, however, then Gran Turismo Sport is a more focused take on the pure driving experience minus the bloat.
Like an ever-growing castle, Shadow of War takes the strong foundation of Shadows of Mordor and builds several more keeps and floors on top of it. The not-so-faithful narrative continues to be polarizing and the addition of microtransactions won't sit well with some fans. A more fleshed out Nemesis system combined with a ton of content and new features such as fortress sieges, however, provide hours and hours of gameplay for fans of the original. Plus you've got orcs that sing and perform poetry before they try to kick your butt. Just let that sink in for a bit...
The Evil Within 2 returns with a world more open to exploration plus plenty of extra polish to the familiar Resident Evil formula. Admittedly, the familiar gameplay might give veterans of the genre a been-there, done-that feeling. The addition of more open-world elements, however, improves on the old RE-style approach and the third-person perspective will be welcome to folks who didn't quite like Resident Evil 7's first-person switch. If you love the first game or Shinji Mikami's Resident Evil titles, this is worth taking a stab at the old bathtub once more, pun so totally intended.
Cuphead is that rare new game that introduces a whole new IP that boasts not just excellent mechanics but also a gorgeous art style that's taken straight out of the early Golden Age of cartoons. Unfortunately, its main antagonist is not the in-game devil but a horrible bug that literally wiped out hours upon hours of my hard-earned progress. I still love the game despite that. But not as unconditionally as I used to.
Final Fantasy IX Remastered re-introduces one of the pinnacles of Squaresoft's Golden Age of JRPGs. Some aspects, including parts of the game's visuals, don't quite make the transition to the PlayStation 4 in good shape despite the improved graphics. There also aren't as many new features to distinguish it from the original. A likable cast of characters, however, combined with a well-crafted world and narrative makes this a must-have for any JRPG lover, especially those who missed it the first time.
Sine Mora EX harkens back to a time before call of Duty when "shooting game" made you think of ships or avatars that shoot bullets or lasers while navigating a screen filled with a blossom of projectiles. The visuals can make it a bit tough to figure out where things are and the game doesn't quite shake up the familiar shoot-em-up formula. An interesting time mechanic, however, combined with excellent boss designs and music make this worth checking out for "shmup" fans.
Project Cars 2 returns to the track and continues to double down on providing a more realistic sim racing experience. Admittedly, it's not going to be for everyone so folks who prefer a more arcade-style or open-world driving experience should look elsewhere. It also suffers from a few technical hiccups but not enough to mar the overall racing experience. If you value racing that's closer to real-world driving and don't mind working a bit harder for every inch on the track, this game is for you.
Danganronpa V3 delivers what fans of the series want, which is more Danganronpa. A text-heavy game centered on high school students killing each other certainly won’t be for everybody. If you loved the previous entries in the series and its mix of eclectic characters, however, you’re going to love this one to death as well.
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite boasts an accessible fighter for newcomers and veterans alike with excellent fighting-game mechanics and more diverse gameplay from the addition of the Infinity Stones. A polarizing art style combined with the absence of fan-favorite X-Men characters such as Wolverine, admittedly mar an otherwise mechanically solid game. If you can get past its uneven visuals and its mutant deficiency, however, the actual combat does not disappoint.
At a time when couch co-op games are an endangered species, Overcooked doubles down on the game mode by serving up one of the more fun cooperative gaming experiences I’ve played. The emphasis on couch co-op, combined with lack of online play, admittedly makes the solo experience feel lackluster. Little glitches and control niggles can also make the more hectic stages frustrating. Overall, however, Overcooked Special Edition is a great multiplayer experience that is a great fit with Nintendo’s hybrid home and portable game console.
Pokken Tournament DX builds on the solid gameplay of the original while adding new fighters, modes, and challenges. Folks who already have the Wii version and aren't interested in the new characters can stay put with the game they already have. If you're a big fan of the series who wants to try out the new Pokemon and also play the game on the go on your Switch or never had a chance to play it on the Wii U, however, this is one evolution that you'll want to choose.
Destiny 2 is a welcome follow-up that rights several of the wrongs that tripped up the original game when it launched. The grind can admittedly be draining at times and its treatment of microtransactions will disappoint some players. It's rock-solid gunplay, however, combined with a more fleshed-out narrative and a nice selection of online activities to tackle either solo or with teammates, brings the series closer to realizing its own destiny — pun so totally intended.
Resident Evil Revelations on PS4 is a solid representation of the second-generation of games in the franchise that gets new life once again on current-gen consoles. Folks who never played the game before will get the most mileage out of this. If you only played it on 3DS, it might actually be worth picking up again as the experience feels different in the dark on the big screen. Those who already played it on PS3, meanwhile, really don’t have much reason to take this trip once again as it doesn’t really offer much that’s new. As much as I loved the original on 3DS, playing it a third time admittedly blunts its impact.
NHL 18 builds on the foundation of the last few games while adding a fun and fast-paced 3-on-3 mode as well as a much welcome training mode for new or rusty players. Admittedly, the changes might not be enough to shake off that “been-there, done-that” feeling for some veteran players of the series who are looking for more. If you’re a new player or someone returning to the series after a long absence, however, NHL 18 serves as the perfect entry point.
“Metroid: Samus Returns” is essentially a love letter sealed with a bright red and orange kiss mark for old-school fans of the series. Featuring excellent visuals that take full advantage of the 3DS’ three-dimensional effect, lots of Metroidvania-style exploration and arguably the best combat to grace a 2D Metroid game, calling this a remake honestly doesn’t do it enough justice. It’s a nice return to 2D form for Nintendo’s popular bounty hunter.
All in all, I found Knack 2 to be a curious experience. It certainly has the ingredients for a successful action-platformer from a production and mechanical perspective. Like a dish that does not quite come out perfectly, however, its various elements don’t mix as well as they should have. The platforming is solid for the most part and certain aspects of the game are definitely impressive on a technical level. That being said, the lack of an emotional connection to its characters made me feel like I was playing an extended technology demo at times.
Monster Hunter Stories is a refreshing take on the popular series that is a surprisingly fun romp. Certain aspects can feel repetitive and drawn out and the campaign can feel rushed and tropish at times. A fun monster-raising mechanic, however, combined with plenty of stuff to do, makes this a solid JRPG for folks of all ages. If you like a more RPG-ish take on Monster Hunter or enjoy games like Pokemon, this is one spin-off game that you’ll want to ride on.
The tale of the unlikely hero Haku comes to its much-awaited conclusion for series fans in Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth. A story-based game at its roots, it’s best to think of Mask of Truth as a visual novel that happens to have combat to get the most out of it. As such, it’s not really for folks who want a traditional RPG gaming experience that involves heavy adventuring. But if you’re a visual novel fan who likes some battling added to your narrative experience, this is one game that will scratch your narrative itch with its tale of intrigue, friendship and love.
Mario + Rabbids delivers a fun and refreshing take on the Mario experience that only scratches the surface of this new tactical shooter's potential. Difficulty can vary wildly and the inability to save mid-battle might frustrate some folks while also making the game a bit tough for a younger audience. Its combination of humor and solid tactical gameplay, however, makes the game exactly the kind of title that Nintendo needs from third-party developers to build up its new system's library.