Significant bugs, performance issues, and an almost entirely unoriginal foundation hold Hellpoint back from greatness, but the creepy atmosphere and satisfying combat progression manage to salvage some enjoyment for this sci-fi Souls-like.
Fun combat and decent characters aren't enough to save a convoluted story, terrible pacing, and tons of performance problems.
Phantasy Star Online 2 is a great combat system wrapped up in a bloated and sometimes confusing MMO-lite package that uses its charming anime flair to stand out from the competition.
The Wastelanders update at least solidifies Fallout 76 as something that's worth recommending to series fans who are interested in multiplayer. The new storyline is great, but not as easy to play with friends as it should be.
As of now, it's a fun addition to the Resident Evil 3 package but isn't available separately. It's got a good foundation to work with and feels unique enough to stand out if it gets the support it needs.
Despite the lack of meaningful progression beyond cosmetics, Sea of Thieves presents an endless sea of possibilities full of exciting encounters with other players and a never-ending list of fun things to do.
Doom Eternal absolutely delivers on all-fronts by blasting us with one of the most intense and satisfying single-player shooter campaigns in years.
Even though DBZ: Kakarot retells the same story the franchise has been telling for decades, it manages to do so in creative new ways for hardcore anime fans.
There are some great ideas in Darwin Project, but it's far too shallow to keep them interesting in the long term.
From the satisfying trooper battles on the ground to the thrilling dogfights in space, Battlefront 2 has struck back, delivering an unrivaled Force-fueled multiplayer fantasy.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Phoenix Point just wrote a love letter to XCOM, for better and for worse.
Darksiders Genesis is an incredibly solid adaptation of the IP that brings both War and Strife into a new genre without losing the heart of the franchise.
With delightful visuals, pulsing music, and snappy gameplay, Black Future '88 is a solid roguelike that won't revolutionize the genre.
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts starts slow and tedious but picks up the pace as you unlock more gadgets and learn how to become a pro marksman with its intricate bullet physics system.
Sparklite is a good example of how creativity and sharp game design can elevate a genre even if you thought you'd seen everything it has to offer.
This latest entry in the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series sports the best collection yet of minigames and events, but is hampered by a tedious story mode and overall poor execution.
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair brings the dynamic duo down to a 2.5D perspective to deliver one of the best platformers we've seen in years.
Contra: Rogue Corps is one of the worst games in the revered franchise and does a poor job of reviving the series for a modern audience by switching genres and failing to deliver.
Siege of Centauri is a capable tower defense game that doesn't do anything horribly wrong, but it's one also fails to impress in most aspects.
Final Fantasy VIII is one of the most divisive entries in the series, but this remaster does an admirable job of updating the classic for modern audiences.