Keith Mitchell's Reviews
Rise & Shine is a fantastic adventure and a change of pace for the traditional 2D side-scroller. A great looking game that plays well and has a lot going for it. Great gameplay, interesting characters and a nice change of protagonist as well. Sadly, the game is a bit on the short side and can be beaten in 4-5 hours. The ride is definitely worth the time spent, yet once you beat the game the first time, there's nothing to do afterward.
That said, for nostalgia fans, you're right at home. Sadly, this game doesn't even match up to Double Dragon II, which is 28 years older and still holds up. Still, nostalgia will only get you so far. Double Dragon IV definitely had some potential as a throwback to the late 1980's of gaming. Sadly, there's no enough substance to give Jimmy and Billy the return they deserved. I wanted greatness, I got mildly ok. Stick with Double Dragon II, III or even Double Dragon Neon.
At first glance, Nioh resembles a Dark Souls clone and that's an unfair comparison. While Nioh draws heavily from Dark Souls, Koei Tecmo has provided more than enough features to put Nioh on the same level as Dark Souls. Plenty of action, an engaging combat system that encourages you to develop your own style of play and it's own charming yet deadly world.
After spending well over 20 hours in this post-apocalyptic cyber world, I still can not put NieR: Automata down. While the original was clearly a niche title that failed to make a massive impact, the sequel was designed to keep the original charm but appeal to a greater audience. Easily one of the better titles from Square Enix, thanks to the Platinum Games putting their foot into the fantastic combat system. The story is interesting, the music captivating and the world has its own charm and personality. Another reason to own a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 4 Pro.
While Fast RMX is the only game in town for Nintendo Switch owners, thankfully it's a fantastic experience. Breakneck speed, responsive controls, plenty of tracks to race on and a vast list of vehicles. Toss in the added challenge of the higher end leagues and hero mode and you have a game you'll play for a long time. Once Shin'en Multimedia adds in the time trial and online friend racing, Fast RMX will be the defacto racing title for the Nintendo Switch.
Plenty of action, a nice amount of selectable characters, a kick-ass soundtrack and tight controllers. This is the formula for one fantastic, fun and rage induced gaming session when it comes to bullet hell shooters. The only thing that drags this game down is the fact that it's so short. Just as you're rocking along and taking it in, the game abruptly ends, leaving you wanting more.
Dark Souls III: The Ringed City is a fitting end for the series that has been my go to for years. A nice selection of enemies, bosses, as well as a nice bit of exploration and items. Definitely an improvement over the previous Ashes of Ariandel, something that should make fans happy.
All in all, Mr. Shifty is easily one of the better games I've played in a while. And that's nice to see in a gaming industry that includes AAA, billion dollar to make games. It's simply, it's fast, tight controls and more importantly, it's fun. The very first time I played this game, I clocked in 3 hours, without even knowing it.
After putting in over 40+ hours into The Surge, I'm happy to admit that this game was a pleasant surprise. I fully expected this to be a failed attempt to capitalize on the Soulsborne series, like some many others. Instead, I played a game with an interesting story, tons of hidden content, a cast crafting system and more than enough combat to keep me swinging away. Deck 13 Interactive should be applauded for what they've managed to pull off and more importantly, it will help to remove the blemish that is Lords of the Fallen.
All in all, Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is an impressive title for the Nintendo Switch. Sadly, the fact that we've seen this game several times before heavily negates its appeal. Short of adding two new characters, and the disappointing Way of the Hado mode, this is still Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix. The title is worth picking up if you enjoy fighting games, but not its current price. Definitely, wait for a sale.
Easily on of the best homages to old-school arcade gaming in quite some time. Easy to pick up, hard to master, but damn if you won't have fun along the way. With some fast-energy tunes, a gorgeous looking world and plenty of frantic action, Nex Machina has me wishing the days of arcade gaming weren't over. The only thing that would make this game even better is the addition of an online co-op mode.
All in all, Children of the Zodiarcs is a handsome merging of two beloved game types and one that manages to capture the best of them.
A worthy follow-up to the PC release of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC that we received years ago.
Nihon Falcom & Nippon Ichi Software has crafted yet another fantastic entry in the Ys series. The same great gameplay and storytelling elements that have become synonymous with the series, along with exceptional graphics. Sure, the top-down view has been replaced but the new 3D graphics help brings the world to life and I enjoyed the voice lines. Combine that with some enjoyable character development and a game that spans over 40+ hour and you got a game that you won't want to put down for a while.
Sine Mora EX isn't actually the shining beacon that all SHMUP's should inspire to be, but that game is still a fantastic entry. But for the price, exceptionally replay value and fantastic visuals, you definitely can't go wrong snagging up the title for a weekend venture. A fantastic skyward entry that both novices to the genre and grizzled SHMUP vets can both enjoy.
In the end, Project CARS 2 takes everything that Slightly Mad Studios did for the original game, polishes it up and puts out perhaps the best racing title available on the PlayStation 4. Tons of cars, more tracks than you can shake a stick at, a full-fledged career mode and online options. Better controls, fantastic visuals, and PlayStation 4 Pro support. Yes, there are some rough areas and the sound isn't as good as I would have liked. Still, in the end, Project CARS 2 is an enjoyable and fantastic effort that I'm sure PlayStation 4 racing fans are going to enjoy.
Ruiner is a fast-paced, hectic game of survival, cast in a cyberpunk filled future. A brilliant twin-stick shooter that is sadly riddled with control issues. Yet so full of fantastic artistic stylization, extremely pleasing visual and some pretty technical tricks. Definitely a good strong showing for Polish developer Reikon Games.
I'm glad that Battle Chasers: Nightwar was finally released, despite never being on my radar. This title is a breath of fresh air with several innovative battle mechanics, enjoyable characters and a return to my beloved turn-based gaming. The story could have been better, but for those looking for more Battle Chasers, you're going to be in love with it.
The Evil Within 2 does a good job of finishing the original story. Seb gets reunited with his daughter and overcomes his guilt. That said, the game revisits multiple events from the first game. This assumes you've played it and if not, you're left following scraps of content from the game. Outside of the story, the game is quite different from the first. It's a good follow-up, even if the horror takes a back seat to the action. Thankfully the game also addresses the performance issues from the first game and it runs like a champ (if you have the hardware). A solid entry for those new to the survival horror genre. While veterans may be a bit disappointed as the game puts more focus on combat than providing the scares. Still, fans of the first game will eat this up and come back for seconds.
When I get a WayForward Technologies game in my hands, I usually know I'm in for a treat. Except this time around I was really disappointed with what they had to offer. A generic Metroidvania-styled game, based on the failed Mummy reboot and completely devoid of any enjoyment. The gameplay is boring, the story is uninspiring and for the first time ever, I had to force myself to complete a WayForward title.