Nazih Fares's Reviews
The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 is great for the fans of the original, but we can't really recommend this to newcomers due to its repetitive gameplay and subpar graphics.
Taking gameplay mechanics and foundation of its spiritual predecessor, Metal Gear Survive is an interesting mix of survival, resource management and action game. Its constant internet connection, lack of variety and sub-par technical performance might push away some players, but it's still a solid game that could get better if properly updated over its lifespan.
2Dark shows that the creator of Alone in the Dark is still full of good ideas. Even if this game seems like a cute old-school title, it hides a terrific survival game which does nothing like the modern ones, even if it can get a bit buggy. In any case 2Dark is a rather hardcore title, which should largely satisfy lovers of stealth and survival horror games.
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is pretty much the same game as it was five years ago. While it improves on the fluidity when it comes to compare with the original versions, it keeps all of its defects and flaws, without even trying to upgrade the texture or framerate. Grab it if you never played it, but for veterans, that's a pretty pointless pick.
Now available on Nintendo Switch, Happy Birthdays is an interesting god game that brings a bit of revival to the genre. The new console edition has a number of improvements that make it easier and more accessible than the original title and will be perfect educational game for a family.
As you would expect it, Traveller's Tales has no intention to change its formula with LEGO The Incredible, and that's starting to be shameful.
At first sight, it is easy to call the new Brawlout a Super Smash Bros. clone, but it's more than that. When you first start the game, the core of it is very reminiscent of Nintendo's fighting game series, but where Smash Bros is a party game, Brawlout feels much closer to a competitive title, which veteran of the Gamecube brawler might be tempted to try out.
Steep: Road to the Olympics’ intention are great by base, but it’s the very limited amount of content that is its biggest issue. At least, it was a good way for me to find out how much changed since the original launch game.
While Pankapu is not that original, it's a solid start for a first game from Too Kind Studio. The creative direction is beautiful, but the gameplay is not solid enough to incite a sure buy for everyone.
A bit too simple when compared to its predecessor's rich Metroidvania gameplay, World to the West is still a pretty good game and will keep you entertained for a while
Like its predecessors, Outlast 2 solidifies Red Barrels Studio's skills to create a good horror and suspense game. This sequel has notable technical and graphic enhancement thanks to a jump to Unreal Engine 4, but I regret that it still rely too much on a trial and error method, that sometimes frustrates players more than it scares them, but all in all Outlast 2 is exactly what you want the game to be... One hell of a scary adventure.
Despite the defects and bitter aftertaste, Playtonic's Yooka-Laylee fulfills in part its main promise: one of bringing back the nostalgic N64 platformer games.. This highly respected tribute to the productions of the Rare era should undoubtedly be a great pick its fans, with the same gameplay mechanics, colors, worlds, and themes, but in the end lack the soul and flair that made that old generation what it is.
Bandai Namco set a goal to adapt My Hero Academia into a video game, and the overall result is quite decent in My Hero One's Justice. It's not a groundbreaking game for those that played other 3D brawlers from the same publisher, but then again the Naruto game franchise didn't become what it is today from just one released title.
While the first title was a great start for a genre long forgotten, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 fell into the modern day trap of microtransaction schemes. A shame considering it's a solid game, accessible for all, and visually correct on all consoles with an upgrade to its multiplayer mode.
When compared to other games that received the proper remaster treatment by Sega, Shenmue 1 & 2 HD doesn't shine with its minimalist rework for the new console generation.
With an arcade-style gameplay and RPG elements, Penny-Punching Princess is quite an original title. While not as easy as it seems, the game is still a fair challenge, but might be a niche game that fans of the genre will appreciate.
Available now on modern consoles, De Blob 2 has been remastered into a simple port, with barely any changes including its original faults. But I'll highly recommend this game to those that never tried it, especially for the younger generations as it's an entertaining title.
Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth is a typical continuation of the series, focusing on what it does best, from dungeons to exploration and of course the combat. The very rich mapping system and the secrets that fill the dungeons make the whole thing quite addictive, urging you to explore and find every nook and cranny. With its very complete class system, the game offers a wide panel in terms of customization and evolution, and will appeal to turn-based RPGs fans. However, I'm rather shocked that a clear storyline isn't present and that the execution of the game is just too simplistic with no drastic changes since the previous opus, but this doesn't prevent Etrian Odyssey V from being a solid adventure and great Dungeon-Crawler.
Rock of Ages II: Bigger & Boulder doesn't change much when compared to its predecessor, but at least it's still a decent title. In a way, with the amount of added content, it could've been considered an expansion pack of the original game, full of humor but bogged down a little with its very repetitive gameplay.
For an independent production, Semispheres is a pretty good surprise from Vivid Helix. The whole dual control concept and ingenious puzzles will give you an entertaining but sadly short experience on the Nintendo Switch.