Joe Morgan's Reviews
The Caligula Effect: Overdose is an RPG with a fun combat system, fantastic J-POP soundtrack, and wonderful audio design. Unfortunately, the story feels rote, the characters are cliche, and the Causality Link system is largely superficial. Kudos are given for allowing you to take on the role of a villain and sympathize with the antagonists.
Anthem is like playing in a mud puddle. It's a mess, but it's fun. It features fun third-person shooter combat with likable characters. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience is marred by technical bugs, bad design decisions, and poor pacing. You'll have a good time when all the gears are turning, but the downtime may cause death by a thousand papercuts.
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is easy to pick up with a relatively quick campaign. The art and music complement one another to pull you into this storybook world. Most importantly, The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince tells a powerful, relatable story that hit me to my core. Don't let this game pass you by.
Dragon Quest XI is a gorgeous, fun RPG with likable characters and, though predictable, a well-told story. Classic JRPG fans are sure to enjoy their time with Echoes of an Elusive Age.
Tetris Effect proves an old dog can do new tricks. The classic puzzle franchise is as alive as ever, offering a top-tier puzzle experience for everywhere, whether looking for a focused challenge or serene way to unwind.
From classic competitive multiplayer to zombie slaughter to battle royale experiences, Black Ops 4 is the complete package for fans of online first-person shooters. The game has some bugs and design flaws, but Treyarch has already shown that they're listening to feedback and working hard to make the game as flawless as possible.
Fans of action adventure games are sure to enjoy Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It features great storytelling and exploration with fun combat, customizable weaponry, upgradeable skills, and plenty of new tombs to explore for treasure! Despite a couple of things holding it back, it's well worth your time and money.
God Wars: The Complete Legend is an enjoyable strategy RPG with a lot of customization options to keep hungry fans chewing. The lore is intriguing and the voice work is great. Unfortunately, it has a few issues that hold it back from greatness. For SRPG fans, there's a lot of meat on the bone. If you're new to the genre, though, you may want to sit a while on this one.
Octopath Traveler is a great game that shows the market still craves what classic JRPGs offer. It innovates in clever ways while keeping the nostalgic heart engaged. The individual stories are well-told but the core narrative never has them intersect in any meaningful way. Still, if you're looking for something to spend plenty of hours pouring yourself into, Octopath is a fun, beautiful way to do it.
Vampyr has a few issues, but its top-notch storytelling and voice work drive a dark, intriguing narrative accentuated by memorable characters and a believable world.
Azure Reflections is a fun SHMUP that allows players of all skill levels to get a taste of the action while offering quite a few unlockables and customization options. It has a weak story and the campaign will be over quick, so staying power may be an issue for some players. There's something undeniably euphoric about nailing a difficult fight or watching others maneuver through the chaos.
Happy Birthdays is a neat sort of simulation God game where you terraform land to help control the world's temperature, moisture, and more. Watching life grow and flourish based on your actions is peaceful and discovering new creations that evolve over time is fun. It makes a great game anyone could pick up and enjoy, and it's easy to find that you've lost several hours to it quickly.
With a wide array of customization options and modes, AO International Tennis had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, buggy gameplay mechanics drag down what could've been a fantastic sports game.
Survive! Mr. Cube is a cute, simple rogue-lite that's safe for the whole family. The variety of weaponry and enemies keeps things interesting. Unfortunately, you can finish every task the game has to offer in only a couple of hours and there isn't much to do long-term.
Extinction is a fun game premise plagued with camera problems, occasional bugs, and aimless mission design. Taking down a 40-foot tall Ravenii can be satisfying, but there isn't much to hang your hat on after that. This would've been much more palatable as a budget title.
Usurper is a fun, atmospheric adventure platformer with a few notable issues holding it back from further ascension.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a fun open-world game with great characters and an expertly delivered story. It has a few mechanics that may turn players off, but they become manageable with a little effort.
Tiny Metal hits most of the high notes nostalgic fans of Advance Wars are looking for. The lack of multiplayer and a few other missteps hold the game back, but turn-based strategy fans will enjoy the campaign scenarios. Beyond that, it fails to innovate on a well-worn path.
Iconoclasts is a fun, beautiful platformer with great puzzle design and an engaging, thought-provoking narrative. Be prepared to think critically on multiple levels for this harrowing tale!
For fans looking to dive into a fun, meaty campaign, SpellForce 3 is surprisingly enjoyable, even for newcomers to the franchise.