In all regards Heat 2 is an upgrade over last years game but the change to the Career Mode is a big sting to the game overall. What should have been a bigger and more fully fleshed out Career turned into a revamping and starting over. The racing is still fun and you can easily have a great time in NASCAR Heat 2, but it’s not without its flaws.
The game is sour, the nostalgia is sweet, but once all that sugar is gone, all that’s left is a boring piece of candy that leaves you unsatisfied, wanting something more.
NASCAR Heat Evolution is an okay re-introduction to the sport. It’s not terrible but yet, it’s not great. I am excited to see the future improvements and additions they make for a sequel, as this game has the potential to be wonderful. After such a long hiatus, you have to start somewhere.
Rise of Iron feels like Bungie is just filling time till they can get Destiny 2 into our hands. The uninspired campaign, the “more of the same” Plaguelands, and a slapped on addition of Archon’s Forge don’t set this expansion apart in any way or make it very noteworthy. Spend the time though and you’ll find that there is some fun to be had solo or with friends.
In the end, it’s a good game for being licensed but at the same time feels like it was in a bit of a rush. Activision trying to make it out in time for Michael Bay’s next adaptation, when more cooking time in the “pizza oven” would have helped.
While Spray Paint Simulator shares similarities with games in the Simulator genre, it manages to feel distinct thanks to its emphasis on masking and preparation. It’s one of the few games in the genre that requires players to take the time to protect certain areas before starting their work. This mechanic not only adds realism but also creates a deeper, more immersive gameplay experience. The variety of tools, combined with the game’s focus on both creativity and precision, offers a refreshing freedom often seen in other job simulators to a degree. At the same time, Spray Paint Simulator delivers that deeply satisfying feeling of completing a job well done while making it both relaxing and rewarding.
The Jackbox Naughty Pack is a fine bundle of games. There are only three, so it is light on the variety, but it is just a fun little morsel to tide you over till the eventual Jackbox Party Pack 11. It is an M-rated game, and the prompts and artwork really nail that M-rating. If you have kids or usually play these games with kids, maybe skip this one. But you know your kids best, though, so if you’re ok with them playing Jackbox with these sexual tones in the prompts, then by all means, have a blast with them! Think of this as a few Jackbox games with the tone of Cards Against Humanity. There are hours of fun to be had with this Naughty Pack, which I would recommend adding to your game night rotations.
House Flipper 2 is a worthy successor to the original game, offering an enhanced and more polished experience for fans of the genre. This gaming experience is as rewarding as it is enjoyable. Its stunning visuals, engaging gameplay mechanics, and charming emails will delight both newcomers and returning players alike. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of flipping houses or indulging in extreme home makeovers, House Flipper 2 is the game for you. Just be prepared to lose track of time as you immerse yourself in its addictive gameplay loop.
All in all, Lake: Season’s Greetings is a solid choice of prequel DLC that takes everything I enjoyed in the base games and gives me more of it. I found the new characters entertaining while enjoying learning more about the characters I came to know from the original game. But mostly, the short runtime does the DLC a solid by not making your time in Providence Oaks feel like a slog. As I mentioned earlier, if you enjoyed the original Lake, you’ll undoubtedly get some warm and fuzzy feelings playing Season’s Greetings. If you want that nice and cozy experience, do what I did: grab some fuzzy socks, a mug filled with hot cocoa, and deliver some mail. The only way the experience would have been better is if snow was falling outside my own window.
Assassin's Creed Mirage offers an engaging experience, blending historical accuracy with the intrigue of the Assassin's Creed series. While the graphics are crisp, they may not represent a significant leap from the previous title, Valhalla. The shift towards a more stealth-focused gameplay mechanic is a welcome return to the series' roots, although combat mechanics could benefit from some refinement. The upgrade system aligns with Valhalla's mechanics and doesn't overload you with weapon choices. However, the game is marred by frustrating checkpoint issues, stronghold respawn mechanics I don't like, and occasional merchant prompt problems. Despite these drawbacks, Mirage successfully brings the series back to its stealthy origins and provides an enjoyable gaming experience for fans of the franchise like myself.
LEGO 2K Drive is a delightful racing game that offers an immersive and entertaining experience for players of all ages. The game’s responsive karts, seamless vehicle switching, and arcade-like physics make driving through the LEGO world an absolute blast. The multiplayer options in LEGO 2K Drive ensure that the fun can be shared with friends near and far, both in cooperative and competitive modes. The extensive vehicle selection, coupled with the creative freedom of the Garage Mode, provides endless possibilities for customization and personalization. Overall, LEGO 2K Drive delivers a memorable and enjoyable racing adventure that captures the spirit of LEGO and guarantees hours of entertainment for all.
I enjoyed my time with Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator. It’s definitely a simulator, but it’s not overly complex like some in the genre tend to become. With the management aspect and how detailed some of the recipes are, it offers that depth simulators genuinely capture while simultaneously keeping the actual cooking and plating something fun and enjoyable. The story could be better, but again, something that should make or break your decision in this genre. An essential aspect of being a chef is having pride in your work and seeing the customer enjoy their experience; Chef Life captures this and does this well.
Terra Nil is a fun game to enjoy at your own pace. For taking a game genre and flipping it on its head, it’s done well and feels like a natural fit in the city builder genre. It’s also quite peaceful and fits the bill of being what most are now casually calling cozy games. The idea of turning these wastelands into paradises is a great one that also instills a sense of pride in your work.
Outside of the time period, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a cut-and-dry copy of any other Like a Dragon title before it. Luckily, that is an entertaining formula. If you found those other titles a chore, stay away from Ishin! Although the ancient Japanese setting might be enough for you.
I sincerely enjoyed my time with Autonauts and could see anyone with no programming knowledge to that of a pro programmer having a good time here. With the added combat, that adds a whole new group of people who could potentially enjoy this series now as well! There is a little bit of a learning curve, but it’s fun to learn. Plus, resource management is still a hoot to manage. Building up your little outpost and getting the automation going is as enjoyable as it was in its first installment, and the added battles against the Piratebots are neat. Autonauts vs. Piratebots is a title that will readily eat at your brain when you’re not playing. You’ll sit there and start thinking of everything you could possibly do to make your assembly line more efficient or how to program your bots in ways to maximize output, and I think that’s a sign of a well-made automation game.
Other than a few hiccups I’ve encountered, I am loving my time in the game. Even if the car physics aren’t the best, they are nowhere near unmanageable. Flying around the world in helicopters, drifting cars, and weaving in between traffic is just as satisfying as ever. Gunplay is tight, and if you’re the type to pull the aim trigger and have it lock on, you’re going to love the way this plays too. The writing is corny, but in the right kind of corny, I can respect. Doing all there is to do in Santo Ileso will keep me hopping back into this world more and more. Now excuse me as I wrap this big ass gold chain around my neck and get back to my criminal empire. The Saints are back, baby.
Salt and Sacrifice is a worthwhile sequel to Salt and Sanctuary. Where it does more of the same, it does so where it needs to and where it freshens things up, like the map change, it does it well. I still wish I had access to an inworld map, though. If you’re looking for a new souls-like to get into after something like an Elden Ring, I can’t see you going wrong with this one.
Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires is an excellent addition to the warriors series. The strategy aspect is fun to engage with and can get quite addicting as your game progresses. I found myself saying, “ok, just one more month of decisions to make; then I’ll save and quit.” only to do another round of strategic decisions. That same brand of fun and fast-paced Warriors combat kept things exciting during battles, and when you combine both gameplays, you can easily put away hours upon hours into it.
All-in-all, I had a blast with Pupperazi; it has a welcoming and fun charm to it, it’s creative, and it asks you to be creative. It’s only $20 so it’s well worth the price to admission, in fact on Xbox it’ll be a part of Gamepass so if you’re a subscriber, there’s no reason not to get your paws wet and dive right in. It’s cliché to say, but Pupperazi is the very essence of “fun for the whole family.” Now, shoot for the moon and em-bark on your own Pupperazi adventure!
Epic Chef’s writing is quite funny, and because of that and its fun cooking gameplay, I’m willing to wave off any serious issues I have with it. Does it mean it’s a perfect experience though, no. But I enjoyed my time with it and think it’s a great game to hop into, especially if you’re into the crafting, farming, or cooking genres.