It's not a bad game by any stretch, but as a whole it's an underwhelming imitation of past glory.
If you thoroughly enjoyed the first Evil Within, chances are you've already picked up this sequel. However, if you're like me and found the original to be a lot of bark with no bite, this installment is worth the ride. Just be ready for some cringe-inducing dialogue and some tonal whiplash along the way.
It's a great continuation of the series that addressed the shortcomings of the last game and took advantage of it being something supplementary to a larger experience. Simpler but more versatile powers, a more open-ended approach to seeking objectives, characters with understandable motivations and emotional stakes, and a more downplayed moral choice system lead to an experience that's easier to pick up but more rewarding the deeper you go.
If you desperately want to show your support with your wallet and want a return to classic gameplay, then Metroid: Samus Returns will give you just that. A pleasant easily digestible experience with enough style and visual gloss to keep you entertained. If you were expecting a more deliberately made installment for hardcore fans or a revolutionary retelling of one of the weaker Metroid experiences, you may want to lower your expectations.
As it stands at time of writing, Destiny 2 stands as a testament to Bungie listening to feedback and making a sequel that stands head and shoulders over its predecessor. It can be accused of preaching to the choir with its lack of in-game codex and more aggressive microtransaction pressures but if you found the first Destiny cold, impersonal, and half-baked, this installment is the one to jump in on.
However, for the asking price of thirty dollars, I did get a lot more out of it than what I was expecting. It is a much needed entry point into a series that has made its own mark in the industry as a more melancholic and measured crime experience. A game that ate up forty hours of my time and had my attention, even when I was having conversations with a club hostess, picking up spares, or smashing the teeth out of some punk with a baseball bat. If you've wanted to get into the series before but didn't know where to start, this is the game you've been waiting for.
Agents of Mayhem manages to make its own identity while still retaining the spirit of the series that inspired it. With a visually pleasing art direction, pleasantly entertaining combat and a plot that easily ate up thirty hours of my time, it's the kind of experience that is perfect for turning your brain off. There's an art to making video game junkfood like this and Volition haven't lost their touch yet.
Splatoon 2 is a great game that could have been amazing. If you have a Nintendo Switch and some friends willing to deal with some headaches, then this is a must-buy especially if you didn't dive in to the series before. But the baffling way modes and maps are gated off feels antithetical to a game on a console that prides itself on letting you play however you want. It's one heck of a catch, I just wish it didn't get tangled in its own net so much.
ARMS tries to do several things at once and only barely manages. There's a great foundation with the gameplay that makes it great for both casual parties and fighting game junkies looking for something new. But the shallow mini-games and lack of customization options leave a lot to be desired for those looking for some quick fun and the competitive meta can do with some needed balance tweaks. On top of other questionable creative decisions, the final product is a lot like the franchise mascot Spring Man: a gangly yet spry pile of energy that has it where it counts but could use a bit more meat on its bones.
As it stands, Friday The 13th can best be described as a perfect embodiment of the slasher genre it draws inspiration from. It's made on a budget, full of annoying guff and chintz, but becomes very entertaining once the blood starts flying. It's a steep price at $40 with what is on offer, but if you're a huge fan of the antics at Camp Crystal Lake it's not a bad way to spend a weekend.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed World to the West. It was a lovable eight hour distraction full of amiable heroes, interesting puzzles and an atmosphere that instills so much excitement and intrigue. If this game is a sign of what Rain Games is capable of in the future, I will be more than happy to see more of this endearing world that they have created.
Glitches aside, Cosmic Star Heroine is one of those pleasant experiences made by a talented smaller studio that revels in gaming's roots. All at once a homage and a refinement of classic RPGs with just enough heart and imagination to rope in players of any age or skill.
Even by JRPG slow boil standards, Persona 5 takes forever to get going and trips over its own feet along the way, losing some progressive teeth in the process. But once it starts going it is still an absorbing experience thanks to some tight gameplay and fetching visuals. If you’re craving a new JRPG that will steal at least a hundred hours of your life while keeping you entertained, this one is for you.
Breath of the Wild is a bold and powerful testament to Nintendo’s work. A grand adventure that takes a lot of risks and haves them pay off. An utterly engrossing swan song for the Wii U and a promise for the future of the Nintendo Switch. A once in a lifetime experience that soars above any minor issues it has to take its place as a modern classic.
If you bought Shovel Knight when it came out and loved every minute of it, Specter of Torment is a fantastic reason to return to this world and its characters. Sharp gameplay, taut worldbuilding, and brimming with personality, this is a trip to the dark side that is worth taking.
In conclusion, Nioh is a confident and engaging action RPG that wears cultural pride on its sleeve like a badge of honor. An absolutely absorbing time sink that continues to reward and challenge the further and further you go. A masterful return to form for the action chops of Team Ninja, one that I will gladly return to with love even as it pounds me into powder.
In conclusion, Tales of Berseria is another installment in Bandai Namco’s series that manages to be a refined adventure worth taking with reliable, albeit antiquated, gameplay. While it doesn’t break any new ground in the genre or in gaming as a whole, I can still fully appreciate the polish and care that has gone into this game’s characters, writing, and combat. If you’re a fan of the series and are willing to take a trek down a darker path, this latest tale will be worth telling. If you’re like me and haven’t given the series a fair shake just yet, this is the installment to get you on board.
Complaints and level design grumbles aside, Double Dragon IV is a proud throwback to gaming’s yesteryear and if you’re a fan of the series you can do a lot worse than picking this up. Just watch out for the disappearing bits near the end, the timing on those things are murder.
If you want to experience a different type of fantasy narrative through an underrepresented cultural lens, there is some merit to be found here. But those with a low tolerance for half-baked combat might have to look elsewhere.
There is some merit to Ubisoft Annecy’s little project. When you get used to the controls–and they behave themselves–there is a lot of excitement to be had with tackling the slopes. But it’s a hollow shell of entertainment that could have used more time with UI design and a clear break from the publisher’s more recent habits. Wait for a sale if you’re craving shredding some of Steep’s digital powder, otherwise stay away.