Planet Alpha is a beautiful visual experience. It conveys its story slowly and without dialogue, creating an experience that replicates what it would be like to crash land on an alien world. Gameplay mechanics work, but may not be as precise as you need in some situations. Overall, it's an experience that I would recommend, especially if you want a challenging platformer.
While barebones at launch, Marble It Up is a very fun and simple platformer. There is plenty of variety in each of the levels and they are a blast to race through. It's a great game if you are looking for something leisurely and relaxing to play. Just hurry and give us those added modes!
Genesis Alpha One isn’t perfect. There are things I wish it would change, like adding a deeper story, adjusting the menus, and bumping up the AI so they can do a better job of running things by themselves. While the game isn’t glamorous, it is addicting and rewarding, especially when you have the perfect setup and routine that ensures your survival. Genesis has something for everyone, including fans of FPS games, simulation/building, and survival genres. And for $29.99, it’s a great price point for a game with lots of content.
Sniper Elite V2 Remastered still has the great shooting mechanics as the original. I had a blast sneaking my way behind enemy lines and seeing all of the glorious x-ray kill cams. Single player is really fun, and the multiplayer modes can be fun with the right set of friends. The graphics are great, but I wish some more time was put into remastering some of the linear levels and technical anomolies. Overall, if you are a fan of the series, this is a great addition to your gaming libary.
Overall, Alt-Frequencies has some nice puzzles and a great change of pace from your typical puzzle game. The gameplay may be too simple for some, but I think it works thanks to the short run time. I would be excited to see what the team does next with the concept because I would like more auditory games like this one to hit the market.
Felix the Reaper might not be for everyone. The mechanics are easy to figure out, but meeting the objectives is very challenging. It's also very much a game about death. However, Felix is someone that is easy to root for. His dancing personality and the use of the game's soundtrack are highlights. If you are in the market for a challenging puzzle game, then Felix the Reaper that is a unique game that is worth trying.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympics is a great party game. It can be challenging, especially if you hate when button commands don't respond at the quickness you want it to. I hope that additional events will be added. As is, the 2D and Dream Events are far too few in number. Still, it's worth a playthrough, especially with family and friends this holiday season.
Tools Up! is a great entry in the simulation/party genre. It's a blast to play with friends and provides a good deal of challenge. If you have someone who struggles with time limits, the party mode is a great option because the timer counts up instead of down, giving you more time to play. I hope that Tools Up! will be supported with future levels that add a little more creativity and wackiness to the game. It would be great to have more environmental challenges instead of only using lava and slippery floors in later levels. As is, Tools Up! is a great party game that will entertain your family...or frustrate them if they don't communicate well.
Saints Row the Third: Remastered is one of the better remasters on the market. Overall, the improvements in graphics are very noticeable and appreciated in my opinion. Fans of the series will appreciate jumping back into the game after all these years, and it still provides hours of content and entertainment. It's not perfect (and some of the humor is a bit outdated), but this remaster is worth picking up, especially if you are a fan of the franchise.
WWE 2K Battlegrounds is stylish, fast-paced, and fun. However, it's pretty light on roster and options for create-a-wrestler. I wish there were more options to unlock things instead of hiding it all behind a paywall. Despite that, Battlegrounds accomplishes what it intends to do, which is entertain wrestling fans as we wait for the next-gen entry into the WWE 2K series.
Biomutant is a game that is entertaining yet bogged down by the challenges of the open-world genre. The story is very interesting, but the repetitiveness that comes with open-world games is on display here. Yet there is a lot of entertainment value that can’t be ignored. The world looks amazing and there are a lot of fun moments when you create a character and level up into a powerful mutant. It may not be a perfect game, but I think it’s worth trying.
Crackdown 3 does not innovate the genre. It is extremely similar to the first game, which is a shame in some aspects. I was hoping the extra development time would give us some interesting twists to the franchise, but it didn’t besides destructible environments. Despite the similarities, it is still fun to play! It’s one of those games that I can pick up, play for a few hours, and leave with a smile on my face. And in the end, that is all that matters to me. If you enjoy it, great. If you don’t, it’s ok to let others enjoy it. If you have Xbox Game Pass, then it is definitely worth a try.
Rise & Shine is a very challenging action/platformer/shooter. The game is not impossible to play, yet there are several moments where you will yell out in frustration. The animations and graphics look great. If you are in need of a more challenging type of plateformer, then Rise & Shine is right up your alley. If you get frustrated easily by less than perfect aim mechanics, then you might want to look elsewhere.
There is some enjoyment to be found in FlatOut 4: Total Insanity. The AI and grind to unlock everything doesn't do the game any favors. But FlatOut and Stunt Mode are fun. FlatOut 4: Total Insanity is definitely more enjoyable with friends.
MotoGP 17 is a game for racing fanatics. Casual gamers may not like the difficulty and the lack of character in the game. But those who love customization and a realistic racing experience will not go wrong with this title. If you ever wanted to see what it takes to race in the MotoGP world, then give this game a shot.
Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop is a great fit for young gamers who need simple and responsive controls. Young gamers will enjoy unlocking accessories and cooking dishes. The repetitive gameplay will cause some gamers to avoid it. However, if you are looking for an enjoyable game for young gamers, then you can't really go wrong with giving them Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop.
Moonlighter does a lot of things right, but you repeat each one consistently. Dungeon crawling to find loot to sell is a nice little twist to a typical roguelite game. The combat is a bit challenging, and upgrades are necessary to find items for your shop. Despite the repetition, Moonlighter is an entertaining game for those who love looting and price haggling.
It doesn't drastically change the genre, but Stranded Sails is enjoyable. The stamina bar can be very annoying, but don't let it stop you from enjoying what the game has to offer. The straightforward approach to task completion is a benefit for those who need more guidance in their sim games. If you are looking to try out a simulation game, then Stranded Sails might be a good jumping-off point.
Overall, Golf With Your Friends is a fun multiplayer experience. The courses are challenging and very fun with friends. Just make sure to look through the settings before starting, and choose things that will improve your experience. If anything else, channel your inner Happy Gilmore and smack the crap out of the ball.
There is a ton of potential in it's current state, but needs some additional content to really flush out the game. The core gameplay is incredible, but is it enough to keep players coming back? I would love to see a future roadmap for additional content. If players know that more content is coming, then I truly believe Skater XL will live up to the potential and be a standout skating simulator for years to come.