The Hot Wheels expansion for Forza Horizon 5 is a solid addition that almost feels like it could be a stand-alone game. The team has done a great job of providing a fun sandbox and plenty of different cars to use while playing in that sandbox. It doesn't matter if you're a big kid at heart or an actual kid; if you love playing with toy cars, you're going to have fun driving them around in Hot Wheels Park and across the Mexican landscape.
As the final DLC in the season pass, Far Cry 6 – Joseph: Collapse can aptly be described as more of the same. There are no innovative hooks or remixes to the gameplay, and the story is competent, but it doesn't hit the highs of the previous installments. It's meant to fill in the gap between the prior games, but the story nuggets feel more like a retread than new insight into Joseph's character. It's a missed opportunity for a deep dive into Eden's Gate's charismatic leader.
As a big fan of AG racing, I'm disappointed to see Redout II not live up to its potential. It's possible that the game will improve over time as updates are released. As-is, the Xbox version of Redout II feels more like an early access title with some good ideas than a fully polished game.
Whereas the first DLC required you to have some familiarity with Vaas to fully appreciate the story elements, Far Cry 6 - Pagan: Control provides everything you need to understand Pagan and his inner turmoil. While most of us are not likely to become dictators, we can all understand the feelings of powerlessness and inferiority that Pagan faces when confronted with overwhelming personal loss.
Ultimately, Far Cry 6: Vaas - Insanity is a showcase for Vaas and a reminder of how layered the character is. Mando's performance elevates the quality of the DLC and kept me coming back for more.
It's obvious that whoever oversaw production of Far Cry 6 x Stranger Things - The Vanishing DLC is intimately familiar with the show. It's a great template for expanding the Stranger Things universe without retreading events that we've already seen. I'd love to see a full Stranger Things game developed from this mold.
In the end, Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection nails the visual update but stumbles when it comes to gameplay. Hardcore fans of the franchise can look past the rough edges and find the fun buried underneath, but if you don't feel like putting forth the effort, you'll probably be happier playing the original arcade game via Capcom Arcade Stadium.
In the end, "Moonfall" pretty much delivers what you'd expect. Is it a perfect film? No. Is it a dumb film? You bet. But it's the glorious kind of dumb that provides a fun spectacle, so long as you're willing to check your brain at the door.
Ultimately, Watch Dogs: Legion – Bloodline is a bit of a mixed bag. There's fun to be had here, but the story driving the expansion could have spent more time in the oven. Being able to play as Aiden and Wrench is a nice addition, with each offering a distinct style of play.
Straddling the line between art piece and puzzle game, LEGO Builder's Journey is an experience that focuses on the creativity of play above all else. Kids or adults, Builder's Journey is something that anyone can play. Everyone who does play will take away a slightly different experience.
Huntdown may not appeal to everyone, but if you have a soft spot for 16-bit retro shooters and '80s action movies (or if you happen to be a nostalgic gamer of a certain age), it's pretty much guaranteed to please. It's just as punishing and satisfying as you'd expect, and that's a very good thing.
Crafting a dungeon-crawler in the world of Immortals Fenyx Rising is a great idea, but the dev team behind The Lost Gods DLC didn't meet that goal. They nailed the look but completely missed on the gameplay. As a result, The Lost Gods feels like a mishmash of ideas without mastering any of them.
In the end, Myths of the Eastern Realm feels like an abbreviated version of the core Immortals Fenyx Rising experience. The main character and the gods have been swapped out, but little has changed in the overall feel. It's not a bad expansion by any means, and if you enjoyed the original, this is a good excuse to fire up the game again to explore a new region. The superficial treatment of the underlying content feels like a real missed opportunity. Given the care that Ubisoft typically puts into research for its games, Myths of the Eastern Realm comes across as more akin to Cliffs Notes than a novel.
While it may not win any awards for the story, Watch Dogs: Legion is an enjoyable sandbox that gives you plenty of room to play around and experiment with objectives. If stealth gameplay is your thing, put this one on your pickup list.
When all is said and done, Microsoft Flight Simulator in its current state reminds me a lot of Sea of Thieves shortly after launch. The game has a lot of promise and a lot of potential, but it is marred by a number of issues that keep it from really shining. Once the issues have been worked out in six months or a year from now, I fully expect Microsoft Flight Simulator to be a must-have title. Right now, unless you are a hardcore flight sim fanatic, I would pass on buying the premium version and just stick to playing the basic version that's included with GamePass.
There is a lot of potential in Minecraft Dungeons (and there is already DLC being advertised for it), but in its current state, it feels like a first draft. If you already have a Game Pass subscription, check it out for some easy achievements, but if you're looking to scratch that dungeon crawler itch, there are better options out there right now.
Ultimately, when all is said and done, Warlords of New York is an improved version of The Division 2, but it's not a complete revamp.
The Contra Anniversary Collection isn't perfect — the omission of Contra 4 and Contra ReBirth is a disappointment, and more save states per game would have been nice — but it is a solid collection of quality games at an attractive $20 price point to boot.
As a multiplayer experience, Gears 5 offers up a wide variety of options, and something is sure to please almost every type of player. There are some rough edges, especially with the way character upgrades are handled, but the core gameplay is solid and satisfying. Combined with the campaign, Microsoft and the Coalition have given players an amazing value, especially if you are getting the title via Game Pass. It may not be perfect, but it'll provide hours of fun, and that's what matters.
Playing through the games on offer in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection is somewhat like opening a time capsule. Those old enough to remember the original releases of these titles will enjoy going through them again, while players who grew up on PlayStation and Xbox get to enjoy these classics as they were meant to be played. Either way, there is plenty of value here for your gaming dollar.