Keith Mitchell's Reviews
I was never the biggest fan of Path of Exile—its overly complex systems always scared me off. But with Path of Exile 2, Grinding Gear Games has done the unthinkable. The changes to systems that bothered me from the first game. They’ve crafted an ARPG that’s not only more accessible but also improves on everything from the first game. It dials the experience up to 11, making it nearly impossible to put down. This is an enjoyable and approachable ARPG that practically begs to be played.
Metal Slug Tactics takes SNK's iconic 2D side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter and transforms it into a 3D tactical RPG with roguelite elements that work better than expected. The game shows plenty of love for the Metal Slug series, featuring fantastic artwork, fluid animations, and engaging gameplay mechanics.
New World: Aeternum is a reboot of the original game on the PC, and with it comes several interesting additions, and updates, which are sure to entice current PC players who always wanted to play New World on a console. It's a solid experience playing solo, but the meat is the MMO experience, which is going to carry the game well past the single-player experience.
Well, here we are. Remnant 2 - The Dark Horizon might be the final DLC for Remnant 2, but it isn’t going out without a bang. The new area of N'Erud, while smaller, is quite different from the base game and much more interesting. The combat mechanics remain as engaging as ever, making gameplay a blast. The update to the Fragments system and the addition of Prisms provide even more customization options. Plus, the Boss Rush mode is a lot of fun when playing with others.
Deathsprint 66 combines the elements from racing games such as Wipeout and Super Mario Kart while tossing in some gory elements that might have been done for the shock value but end up coming up as hilarious. The racing is fast and fun, and the tracks, which I think are the highlight of the game, are some of the best track designs I've seen in an arcade circuit racing game. It's all fun, even if the AI seems to be a bit overtuned at times.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II was a blast from start to finish. Only held back by a limited accessibility offering and some technical issues.
A beloved classic from the SNES era makes a triumphant return, complete with updated visuals and gameplay tweaks that make it even more enjoyable than it was decades ago. If you’re a fan of arcade games, it’s hard not to love Shadow of the Ninja: Reborn. Unless, of course, you’re not a fan of arcade games or fun!
Cygni: All Guns Blazing, developed by KeelWorks and released by Konami, is a visually stunning vertical shmup with twin-stick shooter mechanics. While it offers full freedom of movement and innovative power management between shields and missiles, it has a few drawbacks such as lengthy stages and inconsistent difficulty spikes. Despite some frustrating elements, its cinematic presentation and engaging gameplay mechanics make it a noteworthy addition to Konami’s Shmup catalog. If you’re a fan of shmups looking for something fresh, Cygni: All Guns Blazing is worth checking out.
If you’ve been looking to take the plunge and play a Soulslike game but were afraid of the dying or “get good” nonsense, then Another Crab’s Treasure should be first on your list. The simplified systems, while still processing the same great Soulslike gameplay, and even the assist mode that lets you play at your own pace. Come on in, the water is fine!
Remnant II: The Forgotten Kingdom, is a solid expansion of Remnant II, albeit a short adventure that adds more lore to the series and will beckon players back. I wish it was longer and I'm still looking for some closure that followed the end of the base game.
Contra returns in a new reimagining, with a very odd story but with the same great Run-N-Gun gameplay, the series is known for. Despite some issues with the audio mix and not being a fan of the visuals, this is the type of gameplay I've missed, and I'm glad to see that Konami has finally realized the Contra series had more than enough in the tank for another go.
Zoria: Age of Shattering is an engaging CRPG that doesn't reinvent the genre, but does improve on a number of systems, but could benefit from adding gamepad/controller support and perhaps some multiplayer coop.
Remnant 2’s first DLC, The Awakened King, is a change to how Gunfire Games tells its stories, and in that regard, it does a great job. However, adding a handful of new locations tossed into the pool of existing locations is frustrating as I encountered the older locations more than I did with the newer locations. This meant I constantly re-rolled my adventure until I encountered the new stuff. This needs to be addressed for this DLC to be worthwhile to new and existing Remnant 2 players. But outside of that, I enjoyed the DLC, and the closure to the storyline that started in the base game was refreshing.
Lords of the Fallen (2023) is finally here, despite a challenging development cycle, and it's a way better game than the original title. Everything that I had issues with the 2014 game has been addressed, and then some. Combat is fun, the world is beautiful, and I can't get enough of the unique way we can visit the world of the dead using a lamp. It really bugs me that the game on the PC has some slight performance issues that hold it back, and that's a shame. Still, Lords of the Fallen (2023) is a great Soulslike that fans of the genre need to play, despite a few flaws with the game.
Turn 10 Studios has taken what was already a decent simulator racer and improved on it in so many ways that it's impossible not to enjoy it as a car and racing fan. The attention to detail when it comes to the tracks, the cars, the mechanics, and even the performance. This trumps every previous effort, every prior Forza Motorsport game that Turn 10 has ever developed, and I'm sure that was the plan all along.
Lies of P started off as being a game that wasn’t even on my radar until a few months ago, and ever since I played the demo, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s easily one of the best Soulslike games I’ve played that didn’t come from FROMSOFTWARE, and that’s saying something. From the visuals, the sound direction, the gameplay, and just about everything else, Lies of P is a fantastic Soulslike, with few flaws. That aside, I do wish that the parry system had a longer window and that the bosses were as punishing as they are. But that aside, this is a must-play.
Hammerwatch 2 retains the same Dungeons and Dragons feel as the original game, but this time is less friendly for those looking to play the game by themselves. There's plenty to do, but sometimes it just feels like it was tacked on. Regardless, if you have some friends or randoms to play Hammerwatch II with you, it becomes a better experience.
Double Dragon Gaiden is a new take on a beat ’em up series that refuses to go away and is one of the better Double Dragon games released in a while. While some will be tired of the pixelated look that many retro games have adapted, it fits, and the combat is as apparent as a punch to the face. Tossing in a pinch of nostalgia with some new roguelite elements that don’t break the game, you have a beat ’em up that fans of the genre will gobble up and ask for seconds.
Gunfire Games has taken everything it learned with Remnant From the Ashes and expanded on it in such a massive way that I don't think it can top it. But I'm more than happy to see them try. There's something for Remnant junkies, action RPG and Soulslike fans to enjoy, but more importantly, the game screams fun.
For all its shortcomings, Redfall isn’t a bad game, a bit dated but not bad.