Casey Scheld
Casey Scheld's Reviews
Episode 1 of The Expanse: A Telltale Series is designed by and for the fans, but sci-fi aficionados will appreciate its worldbuilding and deep atmosphere. Those that like a good story will enjoy their time exploring the UNN Urshanabi.
The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors is a bit light on content, but what is here is a worthy follow-up to the side-scrolling cult classic. Those that don’t mind a short runtime will have a great time minmaxing the Battery Gauge to cause massive damage.
Gimmick! Special Edition still holds up after all these years, but there’s just not enough beyond the main game to entertain players. This little green guy deserved so much more, resulting in what is a one-and-done type of title with little reason to go back.
The inclusion of Amy Rose in Sonic Origins Plus is most welcome, but everything else in this DLC is roughshod. The poor port job of the Game Gear titles makes them borderline unplayable, and the package is a bit light when it comes to any other additions.
Street Fighter 6 is the complete package, with decades of refinement proudly on display. Whether you’re flying solo or hitting the streets with others, this is the definitive Street Fighter experience.
Super Dungeon Maker’s Fink might not have the pedigree of The Legend of Zelda’s Link, but paving the way for one’s own adventure shows promise. The suite of options is a bit limited as of this writing, but this toolbox has enough to let spelunkers have a grand ol’ time.
Tron: Identity’s mystery has a strong foundation, but there’s just not enough meat on the bone. There’s a lack of places to go and people to see; this rendition of The Grid looks the part, but it ends up being too one-dimensional due to its short length.
Featuring deep swing mechanics and incredibly detailed courses, EA Sports PGA Tour sets a new gold standard for golf games. The title is every bit as deep as one wants it to be, with RPG elements that encourage replayability and self-improvement.
Chock full of mystery and fanservice, The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog takes the blue blur in a refreshing new direction. This trip on The Mirage Express might be a radical detour for the blue blur, but one should grab their ticket for this wild ride.
For those who don’t mind a short runtime and a somewhat steep price tag, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined’s old-school cool is a retro revival that evokes nostalgia while still being new. For those that appreciate a challenge, its insistence on muscle memory and pattern recognition will be just what the shrine maiden ordered.
Hi-Fi Rush is a stone-cold stunner, one with gameplay in lockstep with the beat. While finding one’s groove takes some getting used to, those with a keen ear will be in tune in no time flat.
Devil Devour Alive DX works better as an art piece than a video game - and even that is a bit of a stretch. This title has the depth of a puddle, and while the graphics are true to the 90s, it also captures the worst elements of the time.
Trapped with Jester is a proof of concept and nothing more. The voice work is at the top of its class, but it serves as more of a portfolio than a real game.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to be the definitive karting experience with Wave 3 of the Booster Course Pass. While there are some cut corners at spots, the twists, turns, and tweaks made to tracks old and new will be at hit at one’s next shindig.
Gravity Chase cribs F-Zero’s style wholesale with varying degrees of success. Squirrelly controls and questionable design choices somewhat take away from the game, but there’s a healthy variety of options for those who just can’t get enough Captain Falcon.
GOODBYE WORLD provides a great tale, albeit one without too much room to grow. Those who don’t mind a brief story will enjoy this tale of game development, but it needed more time to really flesh out this pair of fledgling designers.
NeverSynth is a rhythm game without rhythm, with procedurally generated courses that don’t quite match up. While it is great to rock out to your own tunes, those looking for near infinite fun best stick with the Audiosurf series.
While not all the tables designed for Slot Shots Pinball Collection are winners, the physics for pinball wizardry are on point. Pinball FX3 is still the 800-pound gorilla of the space, but this collection is still worth a go for diehard fans - albeit with a healthy amount of caution.
Deneb: Across the Stars has the framework needed to be a speedrunning sensation, but its brutal difficulty will only appeal to the hardest of the care. Those looking to brave the wild unknown best bring some patience.
Clown for Speed will only make you feel like a clown. The drifting is simple and the cars fun, but everything in this package feels like the circus is in town.