Does Madden 19 feel as significant as Madden 18? No, but it builds on the layers EA Sports has created over the years. While it doesn't always feel successful, the core Madden 19 experience is more refined than ever and feels like EA is taking the right steps to continue innovating on the long-running sports franchise.
While it's disappointing that Octopath Traveler doesn't fully succeed on delivering a meaningful narrative or giving us any characters that will be remembered throughout gaming history, the game has enough meat on its bones to prevent itself from being below average.
Whether you're a longtime fan who played the PS4 version already or someone unfamiliar with Crash, this modernized version of three undeniably classic platformers feels at home on Nintendo Switch. Even with some hits in the graphics department, Vicarious Visions has captured the heart and soul of Naughty Dog's iconic trilogy and made it playable just about everywhere for the first time.
If you have yet to play this masterpiece and only own a Nintendo Switch, I'm happy to report that Wolfenstein II on Nintendo Switch is handled with great care despite its issues and is still an effective way to experience MachineGames' alternate history epic.
Nier: Automata never feels stale or boring thanks to director Yoko Toro's ability to find a way to keep things fresh through gameplay, presentation, and story. Everything about this JRPG is nothing short of gripping and mesmerizing, it's one of those generation-defining games where people will look back on it decades from now talking about it still filled with awe.
While there are issues big and small with The Crew 2, it's still a lot of fun thanks to its varied content offerings and massive world. It almost comes close to meeting its full potential but it's still an enjoyable follow-up to Ubisoft's first entry in the racing franchise. There's clearly a foundation for something much grander and I hope Ivory Tower can learn from their shortcomings here and deliver the ultimate racing game that rivals the likes of Forza Horizon with The Crew 3.
All in all, The Elder Scrolls Online's Summerset expansion is yet another worthy addition to the MMO. Thanks to its ability to expand the lore in meaningful ways in this already super crowded game, let us all explore a breathtaking new world, and add great new side content, Summerset is another achievement for the game.
While the price may be a bit steep for some right now, Sushi Striker is one of the best Nintendo Switch games out there right now simply thanks to the fact it fires on all cylinders and lands every shot. As someone who doesn't have much love for sushi in real life, Sushi Striker is a really special game that should be rewarded for its original and high-quality presentation, a unique world filled with depth and brilliant and fast gameplay that meshes instinct with strategy and puzzle solving. Nintendo has delivered yet another incredible experience that only the Nintendo Switch can offer.
Jurassic World Evolution is by no means a bad game, it can be enjoyed, it just can't be enjoyed for very long. Despite its efforts to try and have a progression system that doesn't unlock certain features until you go to a new island, there's not enough to keep the player filled with an urge to want to progress. It's clear there was a lot of passion and effort put into this game, just not all of it pans out into something totally worthwhile.
It may not be a perfect game but it knows how to execute on its unique premise and gameplay concepts well enough that it's one I can't help but recommend.
Onrush delivers a sense of thrilling arcade action in a way no other game is doing but the awe-inspiring moments of epic proportions quickly become old as they happen so rapidly.
Dark Souls Remastered is truly the definitive way to play the game. Thanks to tons of polish and technical improvements, the infamous RPG now feels much more competent and coherent, giving players little excuse to blame the game itself when they die. FPS chugging is next to non-existent, creating one of the smoothest Dark Souls experiences to date.
It's incredibly clear a lot of love and care went into this collection, this was no cash grab from Capcom. It serves as a love letter to the franchise by keeping everything both good and bad in the ports while also adding small features that won't scare away the modern gamer.
Detroit: Become Human is the peak of Quantic Dream. It's a culmination of everything the studio has learned by putting an authentic, intimate story that builds gradually into a story of grand proportions while combining fun and engaging gameplay that helps pad out the story.
Hardcore fans of the survival genre may find it really fun to try and build a small empire in the exiled lands of the Conan universe but newcomers may find that it is uneven and janky.
While the price might be a bit steep, Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality is a worthy game to add to your VR collection.
Far Cry 5's not a bad game, it's just a disappointing one with squandered potential.
A Way Out truly excels at being a really unique video game experience. It tells a familiar cinematic story in a way no other medium can thanks to its brilliant execution. Some may find elements of the game lacking due to it being a bit simple but it can also be seen as a positive due to the fact that it allows more people to play the game. It could alienate some hardcore gamers but if you're looking for a good co-op experience, A Way Out is one of the best of its kind.
Rockstar has outdone themselves once again showing that they have the utmost care for all of their titles, no matter how old they are. [Cade Onder separately reviewed the Xbox One (8) and Switch (8.5) versions. Their scores have been averaged]
Call of Duty: WWII is a glorious and triumphant return to the series that delivers a stellar experience across the board via a high-quality campaign and an ingenious and riveting multiplayer despite a number of technical hiccups.