Scott Ellison II's Reviews
Bus Simulator 27 feels stagnant and lacking in innovation and iteration. Something like this might be forgivable in an annual series, but with six years since the last game, that can’t be pardoned. Simteract burdens new and returning players alike with an overwhelming, poorly designed wall of onboarding tasks up-front, and plenty of bugs to demonstrate that this wasn’t ready for release. If you are a bus simulation enthusiast who wants to drive licensed coach buses through an interesting map with friends, you might find some enjoyment here down the road. But for anyone expecting a true evolution of the franchise, this isn’t it. Now, a bus simulator actually worth playing is the far superior Bus Bound – made by the previous developers, stillalive studios.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is not perfect, but it's a really great RPG you have to play. When the credits roll, it doesn't demand a replay, you desire it. Bugs and technical issues on PC really hold it back from being more, but it's still one of my favorites of the year. It's well-written, with an interesting world, and fun systems to sink your teeth into. Rebel Wolves has made a memorable and earnest game, and I'm genuinely excited for the sequels that are already planned. Simply put, The Blood of Dawnwalker has stakes, and unlike vampires, doesn't suck.
This is a game that’s unabashedly self-aware and feels like a fever dream you’re awake for. A lot of the jokes and references often went over my head, but this first-person boomshoot is absolutely unhinged, and I was captivated as I sat in disbelief. BRAZILIAN DRUG DEALER BEFORE 4: DEMONS FROM THE PORTAL TO HELL I OPENED ARE STILL IN THE FAVELA AND NOW I HAVE TO SAVE MAMADAS FROM RONALDO is a lot of things, but like the previous game, it’s a first-person shooter you can’t miss for how wildly absurd and wonderful it is.
No longer slumbering, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a fully realized successor to Onimusha that makes it more than it ever was. CAPCOM has managed to reinvent and reinvigorate the series for new and old fans. Onimusha: Way of the Sword offers excellent soulslike combat and systems within a character action game, representing a new hybridization of game design I’m all for. Parries carry the game to make the combat exciting, deep, and rewarding. As Takamura Ono says, “Just sublime, boy.”
HOT WHEELS Infinite Rush is a competent, well-crafted racer for all ages that tries to pivot the franchise in a new direction, but its ambitious open-world is wide as an ocean and shallow as a puddle compared to its contemporaries. I far prefer the focused, menu-driven progression of earlier titles. By stretching itself thin to copy today’s open-world trends, Infinite Rush loses the spark of its predecessors by delivering an experience that offers surprisingly finite enjoyment.
While comparisons to XCOM are inevitable, STAR WARS Zero Company is far more than a mod or total conversion. It might be the closest we ever get to XCOM 3, but Bit Reactor’s debut holds its own. Minor performance hiccups and a light New Game+ mode do little to dull its shine. With deeply satisfying turn-based combat, meaningful base management, and a narrative worth paying attention to – it’s a great confluence of all these systems to be a worthwhile successor for the genre. STAR WARS Zero Company is full of depth and consequence that earns its place in the pantheon of the great turn-based tactics games.
If you’ve played Aliens: Fireteam Elite, you’ve already played Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2. It’s nearly the same game down to mission structure, only prettier but with 200% more story and dialogue you do not want to hear. Once the campaign ends, there’s no real endgame content to speak of, leaving you with nothing to do but replay levels on higher difficulties where the core gameplay fails to hold interest. Charging $10 more than its predecessor for an experience that recycles the same formula where you’re retreading previous areas is uninspired. It offers a few hours of mindless action if you just want to turn your brain off, but ultimately, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 simply isn’t enough to justify the price tag.
Asobo Studio’s penchant for story-driven games built around immersion, atmosphere, and strong visual spectacle is ever present here. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy stands on its own with a story that’s incredibly well-written realized, and characters that are interesting. Asobo Studios embracing combat this time around is the best move, with it being so varied and customizable. Exploration is top-notch, and while the puzzles aren’t head-scratchers, they do get your hamster in the wheel turning. The visuals are outstanding, and best in-class. While it works really well as a standalone introduction, fans of A Plague Tale will appreciate the seeds it plants. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is an exceptional prequel, and an essential gaming experience this year.
Lou’s Lagoon doesn’t offer a groundbreaking story, yet it sparks curiosity with a missing family member under mysterious circumstances. What hooked me was its satisfying loop of tool upgrades and exploration. It’s as cozy as the genre gets, but with enough constant interactivity to ensure your hands are never idle. Lou’s Lagoon has been worth the wait, and while I lament that this isn’t the “TaleSpin” game it could’ve been, it still manages to deliver in new and exciting ways.
I’m someone that has no real nostalgia or love for Star Fox 64, but Wild Blue Skies is such a pale imitation of that game. This is especially true when a fully remade Star Fox just got released two months ago, it’s hard to find any reason to play this over that. There’s also other games that have done this better that doesn’t have enemy clipping through environments, abysmal enemy AI, lack of mobility, and underwhelming shooting mechanics. Wild Blue Skies is perfunctory and so bereft of originality, it never dares to be a maverick and exist as something wholly unique.
Agent 64: Spies Never Die is an homage to a bygone era of shooters that we don’t see attempted today. It’s retro to a fault, and it’s unremarkable campaign hurts it somewhat, but thankfully its other modes does a lot of the heavy lifting. Agent 64: Spies Never Die offers a ton of replaybility for you and your friends to enjoy for as long as you want, and it doesn’t demand anything for the enjoyment it gives.
Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! is a neat palate cleanser, but it’s decidedly short and not something you’ll be itching to play through again right away. While there’s measures to gate progression, I suspect there might be ways to get around that and would be a cool to see speedran at Games Done Quick. I love short experiences, but I think there’s so much more to do here that it ends up being full of missed opportunities. Even though this is built on the back of a meme and trope, Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! is certainly a fun romp for the several hours it lasts.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is an exceptional celebration of what made the original game a masterpiece. By removing the pacing speed-bumps of the modern-day segments, stripping away UI clutter, using the Anvil engine to the fullest, and adding new content, Ubisoft has delivered the definitive version of Edward Kenway’s journey. The sheer joy of sailing the Caribbean freely and engaging in its chaotic naval combat remains unmatched. It looks like how you remember it, plays better than before, and is an absolute must-play for those looking to return to the high seas. We’ve spent over a decade calling Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag the undisputed high-water mark of the entire series, and with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, it unleashes an absolute juggernaut that completely blows the original out of the water.
The LEGO Batman games have generally been good, but LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight takes things in a familiar yet new direction I hope we see more of, and across different properties. The improved combat feels weighty and impactful, yet whimsy as “CRACK!” and “POW!” pops up on-screen. The reverence for Batman by TT Games is truly felt, and is such a celebration of the character for nearly 90 years across comics, TV, and film. Legacy of the Dark Knight is the best LEGO Batman game to-date, but is also the best Batman game yet.
Visiting Japan through the lens of Forza Horizon and it's almost circus-like festival is long overdue for this series, but it's finally here and the perfect place to be. Playground Games really refines each entry with meticulous detail and reverence for the locale they are in, and Japan is soaked in intricacies. From the incredible race variety to the customization of cars and now garages, you can truly make them uniquely yours. There's something for everyone to enjoy and engage with. Forza Horizon 6 is another masterclass entry in this long-running series where the vibes are immaculate and the races are impeccable.
As it stands though, this is a compelling package and is more than “just solitaire” that cannot come more recommended. While it revels in being a forgotten, discarded, and controversial game with a storied past, Forbidden Solitaire is one you’ll definitely remember.
Only sickos would want to come home after a long day at their place of employment to go to their PC or console to do more work, but you know who you are. Across the 15-hour campaign, you'll get to see and do things that become second nature and you feel your skills improve in tune with your progression. The lack of co-op doesn't feel lacking, this is a different kind of game that's focused and deliberate. Docked is a contained experience that makes a splash by balancing challenge and reward equally.
iRacing Arcade has a few issues, but what it gets right is racing and worthwhile career mode that’s too fun to put down. The career is the heart of the game, and offers a new level customization and team building not other racing games ever explore. All of the other modes and features bolster what Original Fire Games has done so well, and builds upon that. iRacing Arcade is great for all ages, to be an introduction to racing or a way to unwind after a long day.
With the introduction of a seamless open-world and the brilliant dual shogun and ninja playstyles, Nioh 3 offers a level of depth and tactical freedom that few other Souls-likes can match.
If the previous game didn’t grab you, I do think High On Life 2 is superior in every way that makes it worth playing. Squanch Games largely plays it safe, but still manages to introduce new ideas never before seen in other games. Comedy is very subjective, but I think the humor in this game is right up your alley if you enjoy the likes of Tim Robinson. High On Life 2 is more High On Life, but in a more polished, focused, and refined space adventure where it’s crass humor is befitting the universe it exists in.