Mazen Abdallah
Switch - or Die Trying is a simple platformer that shines at times but doesn’t really do anything to help it stand out.
Dynasty Warriors 9 might have managed to reboot a franchise that has been criticized for so long to not take enough risks, but gets hurt by its unmatched technical upgrade and repetitive gameplay. It's still at the root of it a Musou like all games, regardless of its open world setting and added RPG mechanics, but its niche appeal, painful framerate drops and crude textures will probably only make the game stand out in its own genre.
Previously remastered in 2012, this re-release of the original Devil May Cry trilogy on current generation of consoles is a worthy investment for those that never played the game. But with just a simple port to a higher 1080p and 60fps display, Capcom has unfortunately not added much to appeal to the hardcore fans.
It’s obvious that Akiba’s Beat is inspired by hit titles like Persona and to a lesser extent Tales Of, but it misses the mark and doesn’t manage to deliver what made those titles great. The story has its moments, but its bogged down by a wordy script and clichéd characters. The repetitive combat doesn’t help, and Akiba’s Beat goes down as another forgettable JRPG.
A bit more demanding than usual, NBA Playgrounds fits in the right line of NBA Jam and NBA Street, without a constant comparison. The game may be arcade in looks and gameplay, but it tries to compensate for a slightly more demanding timed control schemes, which might not be fun for all. Too bad that the solo as the multiplayer part have been shipped almost half-baked at launch, and I really hope that the updates and patch will be coming fast to keep the momentum.
Black Mirror does a great job setting up an unsettling atmosphere and telling a story filled with mystery and intrigue, but it falls short in creating challenging puzzles and memorable gameplay moments. It’s a case of good storytelling bogged down by uninspired gameplay. However, if you like macabre tales and ugly family secrets being dragged out, it’s got a great story to tell.
Theseus has some interesting ideas, and it manages to create an immersive atmosphere, but it doesn’t flesh out its concepts enough to create a full-fledged VR adventure title. It feels like it has some great ideas but it doesn’t explore them as much as it could have
Holobunnies: Pause Café definitely shows us that the devs are working on something promising and that they’ve got the chops, but it’s still essentially a glorified demo
While Sombrero offers some fun and frantic local multiplayer action, it doesn’t do enough to stand out among other offerings, and its action doesn’t really evolve or engage the player. This is definitely one to pick up on sale
INK is a decent little platformer that has a fun concept at the start but doesn’t really do enough with it. It’s good for a few little bursts, but more serious aficionados of the platforming genre won’t enjoy it as much.