Hayes Madsen's Reviews
It's an unerring tribute to everything Disney and what the Kingdom Hearts series has become, and despite its few flaws creates an interesting blueprint for where the series could go next with gameplay and story.
With every iteration Fire Emblem seems to add on just enough to make it feel fresh, and Fates certainly has a host of new features. Birthright may be the best place to start out of the two versions, as it's easily accessible to anyone regardless of their experience with the series.
Battlefield 1 is a hugely refreshing take on not only the series but the shooter genre in general. It’s exciting to see the series explore such an underused time period in video games, and properly represent not only the insanity of battle but the horror of it all as well.
As phenomenal of an experience as Limbo was, Playdead somehow managed to top it with Inside. It’s a hauntingly beautiful game, especially for how violent and dark it turns by the end.
Spirit of Justice’s new setting and characters really are enough to make the game feel fresh, even if most of the gameplay is what we’ve seen before. It’ll be interesting to see where Capcom takes the series, along with Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice, considering the resolution of everything in the game.
Apocalypse is a game that can easily stand on its own, even if you haven’t played the original Shin Megami Tensei IV. Of course, having played the original will give you more context and understanding of the world and its different characters and factions.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may be based off of a three year old game, but it feels fresh on Nintendo's hybrid console. Being able to take the excellent experience on the go is a huge draw, and there's a decent amount of new content at the same time.
It's hard to say if the changes made in Echoes will be for everyone, especially fans that may have started with the more recent entries. Even so, it's refreshing to have a Fire Emblem game that feels so different, even though it's actually a remake of a 25 year old game. The spirit and backbone of Fire Emblem is still present, and it's an experience that only gets better the more you play.
Mercury Steam clearly knows what makes a Metroid game a Metroid game, and they've brought that back on the 3DS while adding in a little bit of variation of their own. It's been a long time since Samus got the spotlight, and boy is Samus Returns one heck of a way to come back.
Yakuza 6 doesn't bring up every plotline or major character that Kiryu has interacted with, but it is a finale for the hero. This is a more a story of him finding his place and purpose, coming to grips with his mistakes, and figuring out what he's willing to sacrifice.
It may not do everything fans wanted, but this is one unforgettable conclusion to an already memorable journey.
The fact that so little is, or needed to be, changed is a strong testament to the quality of the originals. The Reignited Trilogy only helps cement the fact that the three original Spyro games are some of the best platformer/collectathons ever made.
For the first time since the very first Valkyria Chronicles, it feels like the series has realized its full potential. It's easily the longest Valkyria game yet, but it doesn't suffer for it. Longtime fans have a lot to love here and for newcomers, it's the very best place to try the series out.
It's amazing to think that we've gotten now four Yakuza games in the span of nearly a year and a half, and yet, Yakuza Kiwami 2 doesn't feel old or overdone. The amount of content, and the quality of said content is staggering.
Without a doubt, this is the very best place for newcomers to jump on, but there's still plenty of depth for vetaran fans. In all respects, from the guest character to the presentation and new mechanics, this is the best that SoulCalibur has been in a long time. It's not just one of the best fighting games of the year, it's one of the best games of the year, period.
This is easily one of the biggest Tales experiences to date, and pretty much everything about Tales of Vesperia still holds up by today's standards. Whether you're experiencing the game new, or replaying it for the umpteenth time, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is a JRPG worth adding to your collection.
It's honestly amazing that it took this long for Trails of Cold Steel to make its way to PS4, and if you missed the game in the past, you have no excuse now.
With an entirely original story and streamlined side content, Judgment is easily the best place to get introduced to the Yakuza formula, and for longtime fans it’s the best Dragon Engine game yet. Either way, it’s one you shouldn’t miss out on.
Astral Chain could is one of the best games on Nintendo Switch, period. PlatinumGames has proved, once again, that no one does stylish action games better, and I sincerely hope we get to return to the Ark again someday.
Code Vein is easily one of the sleeper hits of the year, and it’s an experience that’s a joy to sink your teeth into.