Tomas Franzese's Reviews
Brilliant Diamond lacks ambition and will frustrate fans of Pokémon Platinum more than it pleases. Still, an extremely faithful classic Pokémon remake might be just what we need before Game Freak wildly changes up the formula with 2022’s Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
It can’t match Forza Horizon 4 in terms of innovations, but Forza Horizon 5 introduces a more varied open-world structure in one of the most visually stunning experiences of this new console generation — perhaps ever.
Back 4 Blood' has the best water-cooler moments of any game released in 2021.
If you’re willing to overlook the bloated combat, you’ll find a lot to love in this macabre adventure about the bond between sisters.
True Colors features an engaging story with relatable characters — and a superpower that’s far cooler than you’d expect.
Even if you are a newcomer to the series, Psychonauts 2 is an excellent standalone 3D platformer, with the most creative level design since Super Mario Odyssey.
Fans demanded a sequel for years, and New Pokémon Snap highlights why: at its core, this is the perfect concept for a Pokémon spinoff.
The cat’s out of the bag: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a must-play for Nintendo Switch owners — and it might just be the redeemer of the downtrodden Wii U.
The Medium stumbles because of its weak script, but it’s worth checking out if you have Xbox Game Pass and want to see what the next-gen fuss is all about.
Call of the Sea has engaging puzzles, fantastic visuals, and a Lovecraftian story about love and sanity that make it unlike any other game from 2020. It's an engrossing puzzle game that’s too beautiful to pass up.
Demon’s Souls hasn’t become any more approachable over time. The series started on a high note, and that note is still being held over 11 years later, with the help of Bluepoint.
Watch Dogs: Legion pushes current-gen hardware to the limit, and suffers for it.
With a solid story, tough but rewarding and immersive gameplay, and dynamic multiplayer modes, Star Wars: Squadrons stands out from every Star Wars game released over the last decade.
Even though Battletoads has its flaws, it is easily the most unique and interesting first-party title to arrive on Xbox in this current generation.
Sometimes games are forgotten for a reason. Destroy All Humans had ambitious ideas, but retreading old ground isn't the best way to showcase them.
Even with its rough edges, this is a very important game for the platform and sets a standard Stadia needs to follow with its exclusives going forward.
While some of the writing feels outdated and downright problematic, 'Catherine: Full Body' feels right at home on the system as one of the best ports to hit Nintendo Switch in a long time.
Anyone charmed by the original’s rough edges will enjoy this thorough and faithful reimagining of the cherished platformer, though it may have benefitted from a bit more time in the oven to polish out technical problems and make the multiplayer mode bearable.
To the Moon's Nintendo Switch remake has some problems but is still worth playing.
Star Ocean First Departure R is an underwhelming port of an excellent but often forgotten Square Enix JRPG.