Evan Norris's Reviews
In an attempt to make The Evil Within more palatable to a mainstream audience, Tango and publisher Bethesda have muted its unique voice.
A solidly-constructed and engaging action-adventure game with a terrific set of boss battles and a huge world filled with secret chambers, ferocious monsters, and a hint of things to come for gaming's most celebrated bounty hunter.
Things improve sharply in the final few chapters, but it's a case of too little, too late.
Maybe a Knack III would elevate the series, but as of right now Knack stands as one of the most aggressively average and forgettable Sony first-party franchises.
Inti Creates' cross-over is a success, in the end. Its short length is offset by high replay value. Its steep difficulty is offset by optional power-ups and frequent checkpoints. Its adopted hero, Beck, removed from the controversy of Mighty No. 9, is allowed to shine.
Despite an underdeveloped Buddy Battle, a poorly-conceived and executed "Way of the Hado," and some missing modes, Ultra Street Fighter II is joyful to play.
It's neither as engaging nor as terrifying as first-person horror games like Amnesia or SOMA, but its earnest spookiness goes a long way.
Fussy shooting mechanics and some missing modes neutralize the overall experience to a degree, but the game's strong moment-to-moment gameplay keeps it afloat. With enough practice and patience (and patching), Playgrounds could be a perennial crowd-pleaser.
Disgaea 5 is an enormously ambitious game in terms of content, systems, and battle mechanics. With a lengthy campaign, scores of side quests, lots of customization options, and tons of optional content, it's a title that will keep strategy RPG fans coming back for more.
When the game does relinquish control, during firefights and around puzzles, it tends to improve sharply. Such is the case in chapter 9, where the designs of the studio meet the input of the player to create a winning symbiosis. Earlier chapters are far less successful and consistent. The end result is a game that's less than the sum of its parts.
By operating under the maxim that "bigger is better" Monolith has turned in a sequel that's technically superior but lacking the efficiency and focus of its predecessor.
Mr. Shifty might be short on content and looks, but its teleportation mechanic is so satisfying that it's easy to look past any shortcomings and concentrate on its fast and frenetic combat.
With 25 characters, two of them new to this version, plus added story chapters and gameplay tweaks, Rev 2 is the definitive version of one of the finest 2D fighters of the generation. It's not a quantum leap over -Revelator- but it represents the peak of the Xrd series.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap sets the bar high for retro remakes. It represents the celebration and conservation of an unrecognized classic.
Permanent death and randomized everything might prove too unpredictable for some. The lack of a robust story might turn off others. Players who adjust to the steep learning curve, however, will find an engaging title full of action and strategy with high replay value.
Its clever storytelling, vast and diverse overworld, challenging boss battles, and abundance of side-quests make it a winner.
This Deluxe version retains everything that made the original so spectacular: opulent, verdant visuals; a jazzy, animated soundtrack; and anti-gravity mechanics that provide spatial freedom uncommon to the genre. It's Nintendo's best racer, made better.
Apart from a few localization issues and a handful of recycled bosses, Blaster Master Zero stands as a shining example of a retro remake done right.
Snipping, clipping, improvising, and collaborating one's way through the colorful world of Snipperclips is truly a joyful experience. Just be sure to bring a friend or two along for the ride.
After seven years of nothingness for the White Bomber, it's a serviceable but unadventurous return to form.