Hayes Madsen's Reviews
Mina the Hollower is a brilliant 2D action-adventure game that takes clear inspiration from classic Zelda while building something that feels fresh, challenging, and uniquely its own. Its open-ended exploration, clever combat systems, strong sense of discovery, and flexible modifiers make every part of the adventure feel personal. While its difficulty can spike, Mina the Hollower stands out as an instant classic and one of the best games in its genre.
Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is an engrossing tale of espionage intrigue with superb writing and roleplaying mechanics, all wrapped up in a compelling reflection on the role of media in government and society at large.
Bubsy 4D is a short and sweet platformer that miraculously breathes life into one of gaming's most forgettable heroes.
Opus: Prism Peak is a remarkable, emotionally resonant narrative adventure, worthy of joining the ranks of Life is Strange or The Walking Dead.
The concept and aesthetic of Darwin's Paradox consistently shine, but its inventive wall-climbing gameplay is held back by a few noticeable frustrations.
The studio clearly took liberal inspiration from other games, but I hope that there can be something more looking toward the future. Crimson Desert has something special buried beneath its surface, if all those unneeded layers can be cut out.
Once you get over Going Medieval's initial learning curve, there's a joyously complex survival city builder to dig into.
One of the most fascinating things about Resident Evil, as a franchise, is how often these games take on different interpretations as the series progresses. We don’t think of Resident Evil 5 the same way as when it came out, or Resident Evil 6, or Village. This is one of the few gaming franchises that meaningfully uses the past, both narratively and from a design standpoint. These are games integrally shaped by their place in time, the world, and the larger series. And similarly, I think Requiem is a game that we’ll be talking about for years to come, reevaluating more than once.
PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse is yet another fantastic horror visual novel that even exceeds the first in some ways.
Romeo Is a Dead Man is yet another strong action game from Grasshopper that’s sure to be divisive. It may not be the best game of the year when all is said and done, but it’s hard to imagine anything else feeling quite as unique.
More than anything, it’s great to see Trails Beyond the Horizon take steps to answer some of the series’ longstanding questions, and set the stage for the grand finale of the entire epic. There’s still nothing else out there quite like Falcom’s series, and Trails Beyond the Horizon is a strong reminder that those hundreds of hours it takes to play all these games is well worth it. And perhaps more importantly, picture proof that Falcom is willing to learn from its past, and I’ve more hope than ever that it might truly be able to stick the landing for the wild experiment that Trails has become.
PowerWash Simulator 2 is a sequel that tweaks or improves nearly every issue from the original game.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a stunning remake that staunchly secures the series' leading place in modern RPGs.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is an entrancing experience that draws you in and keeps you with a vice grip. I lost count of the nights I kept telling myself, “One more battle,” until it was four in the morning.
One of the Ys series' very best games, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, gets an unneeded, but welcome, upgrade.
Gundam Breaker 4 is a well-built return for the franchise that smartly doubles down on what everyone wants the most: customization.
SaGa: Emerald Beyond is a strong entry in Square Enix’s most bizarre franchise. It may not be the best introduction to the series, but it’s filled with wacky characters, fascinating stories, and an incredible combat system.
Anonymous;Code is a stellar addition to the Science Adventure that’s sure to please fans, but still holds enough for newcomers to jump into as well.
Final Fantasy XVI is a bold and ambitious new vision for the franchise, that succeeds on almost every level.
"Tears of the Kingdom is so much more than a sequel — it’s a total reimagining of what Nintendo did with Breath of the Wild in 2017. Sure, there are still some minor quibbles, like tedious cooking and clumsy horse controls. But all of that pales in the face of the many, things this game does right."