Evan Slead Avatar Image

Evan Slead

Santa Ana, CA
evanms627
evanslead

Favorite Games:
  • Kingdom Hearts II
  • Castlevania Symphony of the Night
  • The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

31 games reviewed
79.7 average score
85 median score
67.7% of games recommended
9 / 10.0 - RiME
May 25, 2017

Rime captures the essence of adventure through its mysterious locale's various paths, inviting visuals, and well-designed puzzles, but it also seeks to use its gameplay mechanics as a storytelling device. While variety isn't strong throughout its run, the world created offers an experience that—at least for one playthrough—is worth taking.

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7.5 / 10.0 - Tekken 7
May 31, 2017

Tekken 7, the latest entry in the long-running franchise, delivers what fighting genre fans love about multiplayer battles, but there isn't enough new material to make it truly stand out from the increasingly competitive options in the fighting genre.

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8 / 10.0 - Ever Oasis
Jun 22, 2017

In Ever Oasis, melding a city-builder with a hack and slash adventure has never looked more adorable. While visually and narratively enticing, the Animal Crossing meets Zelda concept is never fully satisfying, instead giving brief joy to specific types of players, and begging for a sequel to bring every genre together perfectly.

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Jul 3, 2017

In Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, players familiar with the original Naughty Dog games will be welcome back into the vibrant world inhabited by Crash, Coco, and their journey to defeat Neo Cortex. However, developer Vicarious Visions has done more than slap a fresh coat of paint on the games by creating a cohesive platforming system and visual language across all three titles.

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6.5 / 10.0 - Hey! Pikmin
Jul 26, 2017

Pikmin fans hoping for the next evolution in the franchise will have to wait for another attempt, as Hey! Pikmin is an enjoyable, but vastly simple experience that doesn't live up to its namesake.

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Aug 8, 2017

Mega Man fans will either love or hate returning to the later entries from the franchise found in Mega Man Legacy Collection 2, but the new Challenges will give any player a run for their money and should be worth checking out.

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Sep 12, 2017

While Metroid: Samus Returns is technically a remake of a 90's GameBoy game, it's truly a rallying cry for Metroid fans to gather and enjoy how fantastic Samus' journeys can be. Despite a few hiccups, the fresh combat mechanics, addicting exploration, and wonderful cinematic tone make this one of the best Metroid games ever made.

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8 / 10.0 - Destiny 2
Sep 14, 2017

Destiny 2 is a more polished version of what Bungie created in the first game through simple tweaks and reworks, with the key word being simple. It plays well, invites new players in seamlessly, and honors the fans that have kept the series afloat. However, despite its efforts to be a triumphant propelling of the shooter/RPG genre into a new frontier, the sequel feels more like an update on mechanics that should have been there from the start.

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Oct 2, 2017

It can be extremely difficult to introduce a new game into a genre long dominated by one company and franchise, but Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a modern and expertly executed take on everything turn-based RPGs introduced to gamers so many years ago. It's a reminder that old ways don't have to die away; they just need the right people to hone in on what made the genre work in the first place.

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Oct 27, 2017

While the Dynasty Warriors style of gameplay appropriately sits front and center in Fire Emblem Warriors, the lack of genre melding with an RPG is disappointing. Players will enter into each battle with plenty of chances to smash buttons and oggle at Fire Emblem characters destroying one another, but the heart of the tactical RPG franchise doesn't make a proper appearance. Too bad, too, because this might have been a wasted opportunity to really experiment with the musou genre.

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Nov 6, 2017

What looks like a harmless return to the Bubsy franchise quickly becomes a clear lesson in laziness. Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back takes no time to show how little effort was put into a simple platformer. From the controls to the overall spirit of the game, it's hard to recommend anyone try it out, even at its “low” price.

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7 / 10.0 - Sonic Forces
Nov 13, 2017

Sonic Forces mashes together everything from Sonic's history, from 2D/3D mechanics to over-the-top action spectacle pieces. The new customizable hero feature breathes fresh life into the franchise, but the 3D gameplay it uses overpowers the game's attempt to combine what has made the different eras of Sonic work.

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Jan 22, 2018

While there have been many fighting games based on the Dragon Ball franchise, Dragon Ball FighterZ marks a modern approach through the means of fast-paced action. From its breathtaking visuals to ease of gameplay mastery, the new fighter is a good stepping stone to expand the fan base of the genre. However, it may not satisfy players who are looking for complexity.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Crossing Souls
Feb 13, 2018

Devolver Digital's Crossing Souls isn't afraid to wear its love for the 80's on its sleeve, but thankfully, there's more to the story on top of it. While it isn't without its missteps, using interesting and unique gameplay elements, diverse locations, and well-rounded characters, the arcade adventure game will give both modern and retro gamers something to enjoy.

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Feb 15, 2018

The queen of stylish action has now made her way to the Nintendo Switch, and along with Bayonetta herself comes two of the best action adventures money can buy. While both games have minor nitpicks and there, overall they're fantastic experiences enjoyable by casual and hardcore players alike, giving form to quality re-releases on Nintendo's latest platform.

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7 / 10.0 - Mulaka
Feb 26, 2018

Lienzo's Mulaka is an equally engaging and frustrating experience. The action-adventure game excels in its efforts to teach players unfamiliar with the Tarahumara people about the community's culture through a beautiful narrative and exploration mechanics. However, the action aspect needs to be completely overhauled, as it offers enough issues to turn off prospective players.

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8 / 10.0 - A Way Out
Mar 21, 2018

A Way Out hearkens back to the days of couch co-op, placing players in the shoes of two criminals who must solve puzzles and support one another to escape. The game's emotional drama runs alongside its silly undertone, making for a game that's both moving and, at times, unintentionally hilarious.

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Mar 28, 2018

Detective Pikachu takes several steps away from the traditional Pokémon experience, with only a handful paying off. The beautiful imagery and distinct world-building will please any Pokémon fan, but the gameplay might leave them wanting more. While the point-and-click-style experience is a novel idea for the gameplay, it never manages to fully grab the player's attention.

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7.5 / 10.0 - The Swords of Ditto
Apr 24, 2018

Devolver Digital and Onebitbeyond's action RPG, The Swords of Ditto, isn't a complete reinvention of the roguelike subgenre, but it has enough modern twists and artistic charm to stand out. Players new to such games might have trouble jumping in, though, as a few important mechanics of the subgenre aren't explained as well as they should have been.

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Jun 7, 2018

Sushi Striker: The Way of the Sushido has all of the trademarks of an inventive Nintendo title, including its odd but bold story, memorable characters, and easy to pick up gameplay. Unfortunately, once you bite into it, the experience isn't as developed as it could have been. There's an attempt to expand on the action-puzzler format, and while some of the choices work, there are some ingredients that make the entire meal less than satisfying.

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