Khurram Imtiaz's Reviews
Mortal Kombat 11 feels like a highly polished fighting game with a great story campaign. There are certain issues with the game balance and economy that make it somewhat less appealing, but the developers so far have been quite vocal and open about resolving it, which is encouraging and shows a promising future. Given some time, this could be an easy contender for the best Mortal Kombat released so far.
Expanding on the foundations set by the first game, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a sequel that takes full advantage of its source material. Not only is the scope of the game several times bigger now, but the improvements that are made to the story, characters, and gameplay lead to a vastly superior experience.
It is not every day that we see a JRPG like Ni No Kuni Remastered. It is crafted to perfection from the talented Studio Ghibli and molded into a video game by Level 5. The story, art style, and character development are the highlight of the game while combat being the only weak link.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening brings back the charm of classic 2D Zelda games with a modern touch. It is arguably one of the better old school Zelda games for newcomers to dip their toes in since the upgrade to the visual design has made it a great looking game. This does come at the cost of performance.
Luigi's Mansion 3 is highly enjoyable and one of the best adventure games available on the Nintendo Switch. It is full of intricate level design, diverse boss fights, and a co-op mode that is the perfect gift for parents looking to spend some time with their kids.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a fantastic return for a series that has been stagnant for far too long.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is one of the most satisfying JRPGs released this generation and a great example of how to deal with a series while changing its genre to something completely different.
Rocket League for the Nintendo Switch manages to successfully capture all of the craziness of the game into a portable, but it is not a perfect port. The visuals take a hit and there are some minor issues that need to be ironed out.
Easily one of the best platformers released this generation with striking visuals and great game design. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is an absolute delight from the beginning until the end its epic story campaign.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided offers the players the freedom to choose their own story. The gameplay shines through the use of augmentations and the story never takes itself lightly by focusing on the tension between humans and augmented humans. If you have enjoyed your time with Deus Ex: Human Revolution, you shouldn't miss out on Adam Jensen's latest adventure.
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen might have lost some of its original appeal now that there are more options available for an open world action RPG but it still holds a certain charm. The game offers a combat experience that has managed to hold up well through the years.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole feels just like an animated feature from the TV series with the same lewd jokes, satirical social commentary along with an improved combat and exploration system. [OpenCritic note: Khurram Imtiaz separately reviewed the PS4 (9) and Switch (8) versions. Their scores have been averaged.]
World of Final Fantasy is one of Square Enix's finest RPG released this generation. It will please and delight the classic Final Fantasy fans but it is also developed for the newcomers who might have a great experience with the Mirage capturing and evolving mechanics. The turn-based battle system along with random encounters make a return here, and give us a nostalgic trip down the memory lane.
For Honor offers a unique online multiplayer experience with its fights that remains unmatched in the current gaming landscape.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a visually striking platformer with top notch production values.
Dragon Quest Builders is a great action RPG at its core mixed with the world building and exploration aspects of Minecraft. It is an excellent spin-off from the Dragon Quest series that has an easy learning curve and should be a fun experience for everyone.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is a remaster done right. Unfortunately it lacks content at launch with just 10 multiplayer maps, and the game being tied to the special edition of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare doesn't really help much in this case.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction is the final chapter in the Ragna the Bloodedge saga and it provides a fitting end to the story. The gameplay excels in its fast paced combat and the visuals never cease to amaze with their gorgeously drawn sprites. The game is well tailored for newcomers and fans alike.
Prey is a bold entry in sci-fic genre of first person shooters that takes inspiration from classics like System Shock. Despite a lackluster combat system, the game offers plenty of exciting moments with its brilliantly designed inter-connected world of Talos 1 that is a joy to explore.
Tekken 7 is mechanically perfect with stylish gameplay and combos that are a joy to execute, however the game lacks in character story content and gameplay modes instead opting to offer a short but highly detailed story mode that focuses on the rivalry between Heihachi and his son Kazuya.