Shadow of the Colossus was a generation-defining game for a reason. Even now, a decade after its release, it's one of the most interesting games to ever be released. The PS4 remake is just about everything one could ask for. It retains the same gameplay and same plot but makes just enough upgrades, modifications and changes so the game feels a lot more playable without losing exactly what made it special. There's absolutely no better way to experience Shadow of the Colossus than the remake, and it's a must-play for any PS4 owners.
In a nutshell, Dragon Ball FighterZ is the Dragon Ball game that fans have been waiting for. It doesn't have the pure character creation features of a Xenoverse title, but it makes up for it by being what is probably the first truly competitive Dragon Ball Z fighting game. The amazing graphics and impressive audio help sell the feeling of playing an episode of the anime, and it's one of the best-looking games on the market. The single-player content is good for a fighting game, but unlike Xenoverse, this is a game for those who are looking for competitive play first and foremost. It does that exceedingly well, and any fan of fighting games or Dragon Ball Z should find something to like here.
Echo is a fun and enjoyable game defined by a well-executed gimmick. Without the adapting Echoes, it would be a standard stealth shooter. With the Echoes, it becomes distinctive and interesting. The adapting AI is as much a proof of concept as a fun gameplay mechanic, but it works very well at being both. Echo shows that modern stealth games have a whole lot of room to grow and evolve. For fans of the genre, it's well worth playing, assuming you can get past the slow start and occasional technical hiccups.
Taken on its own merits, Xenoblade 2 is a fun JRPG with a ton of content, customization and gameplay that any genre fan will enjoy.
All in all, the Resident Evil Revelations Collection is a sub-par port of a pair of fun games. It's by no means unplayable, but it's not the best way to play either title. The new features are either ignorable or actively detrimental, and the ports suffer from extended loading times and lack of ambition. If you're a fan of the franchise, it's probably something you can push past, but the Switch version only adds a couple of minigames and the ability to play Revelations 2 on the go. Fans of the franchise who missed out on Revelations may want to snag the collection, but casual players may want to wait and see if the loading times are patched.
All in all, Horizon: Zero Dawn - The Frozen Wilds is a straightforward and respectable expansion. It adds to everything that worked well in Horizon: Zero Dawn and does so with confidence. The Frozen Wilds features some of the most fun content in the game, but it's also a very orthodox addition that doesn't make many changes to the core of the game. It's great if you want more Horizon content, but if you were burned out or hoping for a game-changing expansion, this isn't it. Fans who are chomping at the bit for more Horizon action will enjoy The Frozen Wilds.
Fire Emblem Warriors is a fun game held back largely by its adherence to the source material, which drags down several gameplay systems. It's still enjoyable, especially if you like Warriors games, but it could've been a lot more. The lack of diversity in the cast hurts it as a collection of fan favorites, and the overt similarities to Hyrule Warriors mean that it's easier to recommend Zelda over Fire Emblem unless you're a die-hard fan of the latter. If you can get past the nagging flaws, it's still one of the most solid Warriors titles on the market and a great Switch exclusive. It's always going to be in the shadow of Nintendo's other popular sword-swinging franchise.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus delivers on its promises. It's more of the same, but there are more weapons, more tools, and more Nazis to kill. In some ways, it's slightly disappointing in that the mechanics aren't more creative to go with the excesses in the plot, but a safe sequel isn't a bad thing. If you enjoyed The New Order or its spin-off The Old Blood, you'll enjoy Wolfenstein II. It hits all the right marks of the original, and any flaws are minor and don't detract from the all-important task of blowing up Nazis. Sometimes, that's all a game needs to be.
Assassin's Creed: Origins manages to be both experimental and safe. It tries a lot of new things, but it never ventures too far from the Assassin's Creed formula. There's a lot of potential in Origins, and it'll be exciting to see how the new features evolve in future games. Fans of Assassin's Creed should find a lot to like, and it may be time to revisit the battle between the Assassins and the Templars.
All in all, South Park: The Fractured But Whole is a solid follow-up to the original game. It doesn't change too much, but the new combat system is an improvement over the original, and it retains the same sense of irreverent humor and love for the franchise as the first game. TFBW is a solid RPG on its own merits, and fans of South Park will find a ton to love here. The only thing that drags it down is feeling a bit too similar to the first game despite the differences, and some of the humor can fall dangerously flat. It's a fun, solid, and well-made licensed title that captured the good and bad of South Park while managing to craft an enjoyable gaming experience. What more can fans ask for?
Metroid: Samus Returns is a solid remake that doesn't reinvent the wheel or eclipse the high points of the franchise but represents an enjoyable and well-made return to what makes Metroid work. It's low on story and high on exploration, and that's all it needs to be. The frustrating moments are few and far between, and the 3DS iteration eclipses the Game Boy original in pretty much every way. It's a Metroid title that shows why the old 2D classics were popular, and it succeeds wonderfully. With a ton of hints dropped throughout the game about a new Metroid game after Samus Returns, it should be interesting to see what Mercury Steam can do with an original game.
All in all, The Escapists 2 is a bigger and better version of the original game. The core gameplay loop of improving your inmate and finding materials and resources to escape is really engaging, even if it can be remarkably boring at times. The new features are mostly hits, and even when they're misses, they just need to be fleshed out, rather than being bad additions to the experience. The Escapists 2 does a solid job, and it's fun to play. Its only shortcomings are some awkwardness with the controller and the general tedium and punishing nature of the game.
Knack II is a standard kids' platformer that's safe, simple and enjoyable, but it has little going for it beyond that. It's competent, but it's difficult to recommend it unless you're looking for something to play with a younger gamer. Players will enjoy the title for the duration of the play session but will likely forget about it in a week or two. There's certainly a place for that sort of game, and Knack II does the job well for its budget price tag of $40, but it's disappointing to see a title with so much potential and so little ambition.
Yakuza Kiwami is a solid remake that has the misfortune of being released in the same year as the predecessor from which it recycles most of its content. Yakuza 0 is just a better game in almost every way. Kiwami's story is plenty of fun, and the writing and side content remains as hilarious as ever. It just feels too familiar. Those looking for more Yakuza will find a lot to like here, but even at a budget price of $30, it's difficult to feel excited by any of it. Give it more time to breathe, and it'll be a fun way to re-experience Yakuza, but anyone who dives in immediately after Yakuza 0 is going to have a very severe case of déjà vu.
Agents of Mayhem is by no means a bad game, but it lacks ambition. That's particularly damning since it spawns from a franchise that rarely held back. If you want to blow up robots, collect some items, and hear amusing humor, then Agents of Mayhem fits the bill. If you're looking for something as off-the-wall as the Saint's Row franchise at its best, this is not it. There are enough glimmers of greatness and individually well-executed moments that it can be easy to forgive the bland filler. If you can't get past that, though, then there's not enough meaty content here to make it a satisfying experience.
Pyre gives SuperGiant games the hat trick on indie excellence. While it lacks the simple perfection of Bastion in favor of a more complex and convoluted set of mechanics, it nonetheless executes everything masterfully. A few nagging complaints here and there don't change the fact that the game is just a delight. The characters, gameplay and story come together wonderfully and are augmented by beautiful visuals and a fantastic soundtrack. When the worst you can say is that the game overstays its welcome a little, you know you have something good on your hands. Fans of SuperGiant's stuff or indie games in general should consider Pyre a must-buy.
All in all, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time is an adequate and enjoyable JRPG. Nothing about the game or the port is particularly exceptional, but aside from one particularly controversial plot twist, it doesn't do anything particularly wrong, either. It's a fun JRPG with a lot of replay value, and anyone looking for a nostalgic trip or to experience a somewhat obscure game will have a good time. A higher-quality remaster or port could've done a lot to elevate the game to the next level.
All in all, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a solid collection of games. They have their flaws, and some of the game design choices may feel too punishing for a modern audience. When you're playing them, it's easy to see why Crash maintained a solid audience despite years of neglect, and it's even easier to see why people are excited to play them again. The port is done well, and aside from a few flaws, the trilogy should be an enjoyable experience for anyone who's looking to replay the original PlayStation mascot's adventures.
All in all, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a top-notch port. It won't make you rethink the game if you didn't enjoy it in the first place, but the majority of the improvements do a lot to elevate the game. The updated gameplay and visuals make the experience more fun. Only a few nagging flaws, most of which are a legacy of the original game, decrease the enjoyment a bit, but they won't sour the game for JRPG aficionados.
All in all, Marvel Heroes Omega is a great example a free-to-play game done right. It's a shameless homage to Diablo with some great Marvel flair. The core gameplay is fun, and the free-to-play mechanics are largely unobtrusive. Some annoyances with the user interface and introduction to general mechanics drag down the game, but they're nothing too serious. Marvel fans or those looking for a fun action-RPG will be hard-pressed to find a better experience than Omega.