John Phipps's Reviews
I absolutely loved every hour of the over one-hundred I poured into Octopath Traveler. It’s beautiful, sounds amazing, has a killer battle system, tells multiple interesting stories in a unique manner and hits all the right nostalgic notes while providing a cool evolution of classic JRPG gameplay. It’s one of my new all-time favorite games, and one I know I’ll revisit numerous times in the future
The Quiet Man is just happy to shit all over disabled people with insufferable artistic choices, garbage gameplay, and racism so overt and casual you’ll be convinced the game was funded by Congressman Steve King. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Quiet Man. One of the absolute worst games ever made.
Mega Man 11 is a wonderful meeting of old and new, a much-needed renaissance for one of gaming’s most venerated franchises, and my new series favorite.
The Metroid franchise is my favorite Nintendo franchise, bar none. I’ve played and loved almost every single entry, except for Federation Force and Other M. I had high hopes for Samus Returns, and MercurySteam managed to exceed almost every one. Samus has indeed returned, and I look forward to seeing what other adventures are in store for her.
It’s an easy favorite for my GOTY, and the best game I’ve played this current generation. I implore you to follow Senua on her journey, fight with her, struggle with her, cry with her, triumph with her. It’s an experience that would be impossible in any other medium but gaming, and it left me reeling.
An absolute disaster. Ugly, boring, unfun, bug-ridden, and unimaginative, Friday the 13th is the clear frontrunner for worst game of the generation, and possibly the one before.
Beautiful, graceful, poignant, heartbreaking, and yet somehow uplifting, What Remains of Edith Finch stands as an example of the absolute pinnacle of storytelling in games. A perfect experience.
Minor control quibbles aside, Little Nightmares is an excellent platformer with a wonderfully creepy, deeply disturbing atmosphere that will linger long after the credits roll.
Cosmic Star Heroine is a love letter to some of the RPG greats from ages past, wearing its inspirations on its sleeve while making an impact very much its own. Brilliant, tactile combat and a lovely presentation bring out all the nostalgic feels.
There ARE things Gravity Rush 2 does right. It's gorgeous, brilliantly animated, traveling via gravity is still just as enjoyable, and Kat is a fun protagonist. But the game remains sadly held back by many of the same demons which plagued the first go-round, and as such, makes these issues far harder to forgive a second time.
With likeable characters, an amazing villain, superb combat, a beautiful world to explore, and tons of challenging undertakings, Final Fantasy XV is my favorite game this year, my favorite release this generation (thus far), and tied as my favorite Final Fantasy with VI. In my opinion, much like how VI saved me as a kid, XV has saved the series, and I couldn't be happier with it.
Dishonored 2 is one of the most eminently re-playable games I’ve encountered in years, improving on it’s predecessor in ALMOST every way while introducing awesome new innovations in stealth and gameplay. This game throws choice at the player like delicious candy, practically begs to be explored and experimented with, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Yomawari: Night Alone represents something my beloved Vita doesn't have enough of: a damn good, effective horror showpiece with amazing sound, great creature design, and wonderful atmosphere. If you're a fan of survival horror and you live on Vita Island, this is a must-buy.
Darkest Dungeon is a wonderfully dark, depressing, and harrowing journey into an incredibly hostile world, and uses stress as a gameplay mechanic in ways I want to see used more often.
In the end, what matters to me is: is the game fun? Am I enjoying myself? Pretty graphics and tight controls only go so far; The Order 1886 is a testament to that. I can honestly say I'm having more fun with Battlefront than I have almost any other game this year, and to me, that's the most important metric of all. May the Force be with you.
A gorgeous, thoughtful descent into the depths of the ocean and yourself that doesn't pull any punches. The disturbing questions posed by SOMA will linger with you long after the credits roll.