Afterimage is a vibrant and vast Metroidvania adventure that rewards you the more you dig into it. A must play for fans of the genre. (Review Policy)
Barring some physics and collision issues, Ghostrunner 2 is an action-packed follow-up to the original filled with exciting setpieces and satisfying action platforming.
If you've been waiting for a return to glory for Swery65, The Missing is definitely worth your time. It might be the most conventional experience carrying his name in recent memory, but even then it will stick in your head. Whether it will be from the audacity of figuring out how to chop yourself in half to avoid some twirling death machine, or from the surreal nature of the unraveling narrative, it's a truly unique experience worth your time.
If Found... is a visually impressive and deeply personal experience that centers on emotional resonance above all else
Deadly Premonition 2 is a great follow up to a beloved cult classic. It has an intriguing story and eccentric quirks, but feels safer on the gameplay side of things.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest is a bold introduction to the eco-friendly side of World of Darkness. Also, there are werewolves.
The Dark Pictures: Little Hope is atmospheric, intriguing, and mysterious. It's not exactly scary, however.
Last Stop's changes in tone and genre can be jolting in spots, but the characters at the center of such stories manage to keep things grounded for a delightful experience.
Despite an underwhelming boss fight and some undercooked action elements, Boyfriend Dungeon is a great dating sim experience with a lot of heart
Horizon Forbidden West is a more confident sequel building on what made its predecessor great. What holds it back are some pacing issues and a few antiquated gameplay elements.
Questionable story beats and tedious combat arenas aside, A Plague Tale: Requiem polishes and refines its stealth action gameplay while keeping its focus on its core cast of characters
While My Friendly Neighborhood is rough in several spots, Its solid survival horror gameplay, dedication to its premise, and great replay value make it must play.
Gunbrella is a fast-paced, rewarding action-platformer full of pulpy noir personality. Minor balance issues and tonal whiplash aside, it is worth your time.
Wizard With A Gun mixes fast-paced isometric gun combat, immersive sim elements, and rewarding base management into an entertaining survival sandbox experience.
Alone in the Dark breathes new life into the original's haunted house premise while adding a solid foundation of modern horror game design.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.