Eric Frederiksen's Reviews
Red Dead Redemption 2 is going to stand for a long time, I think, as the height of achievement in building huge virtual spaces for gamers to explore. The level of detail at this scale is staggering, even as I find myself unable to ignore how much required overtime went into making things happen, and how many of these details – like horse testicles ascending in colder weather – took real human work hours while actually doing little to flesh out the game world. But it’s impossible to deny what a beautiful, sad, huge, and remarkable thing Rockstar and its many employees, past and present, have put together.
Despite essentially being the same game four times running, Forza Horizon has life left in it, and it leaves me looking forward to wherever the next game takes it. In the meantime, I'll probably be playing this into 2020 just like I've played Forza Horizon 3 in the months running up to this one. It has that much life in it.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is worth checking out just for the vistas, but maybe set it to easy. Turn off "Exploration" mode. Skip the procedurally-generated quests. Don't play for too long at once. And if you try to dive deep, expect to hit bottom real fast.
If you're looking for a dose of nostalgia or love game collections like these, the Capcom Beat-Em-Up Bundle is a solid way to spend an afternoon.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider isn't a bad game . . . But Shadow of the Tomb Raider isn't much more than competent
The art alone is worth checking Swords of Ditto out.
Like an un-awoken android, Detroit: Become Human is a pretty exterior without anything remotely human inside.
Still janky, still fun
Instead of a tired, bored tale of vengeance, Sony has revived a god.
With time, though, Rare could make Sea of Thieves into one of the system's standout titles that shows what systems like cross-play can do as well as reminding us of Rare's long history.
I can't honestly say it's the best Monster Hunter, as I haven't played the others, but it's the best way to get into Monster Hunter, for sure, and it stands on its own as one of the best games so far this year and likely one of my favorites going forward.
Even if you've been away from the series for years, Assassin's Creed Origins is a great jumping-on point.
I want to tell you to dive into Forza Motorsport 7. I want to tell you to have fun. But bring a shovel – you're going to have to go digging.
Tacoma is worth the time I spent with it, even if it isn't the same holy-crap-what-did-I-just-play experience provided by Gone Home.
Prey is one of my favorite games of 2017 so far.
The art, in itself, makes Little Nightmares worth checking out. The story, the gameplay, and the length that come with it make it a bit harder to justify the price. As polished as the art and animation are, the other parts of the game feel like unfinished ideas. Little Nightmares deserves a look, but waiting for a sale might make more sense for many gamers.
If you've built up Planescape: Torment to legendary status in your mind, or if you're looking for detailed mechanical systems, you may find Torment: Tides of Numenera a bit lacking. It's strengths are in the writing, art, and atmosphere. It's also a bit expensive right now.
One of the longest running manga has its own Dynasty Warriors-style game, and hey - it actually works pretty well.
Dead Rising 4 came out at the perfect time, and it's a weirdly soothing game perfect for the holiday season.
Forza Horizon 3 is bigger and brighter - but is it better?