Unlike the actual figures, your enjoyment of Funko Fusion isn't just going depend on whether you like the franchises or characters that made the cut. You have to be a fan of the constant backtracking and revisiting of worlds needed to unlock the better secrets. You need to be forgiving of some of the faults in the combat system. You also have to be fine with this being a strictly single-player game and patient enough to wait for the complete online-only multiplayer experience to be available. If you are, then you'll have fun with the game. Otherwise, you might want to wait to see if patches smooth out some of the existing issues.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is an absolutely worthy sequel to the original game from Relic Entertainment. From the story to the combat system, the developers have done a good job of bringing over the strong elements of the first game and adding large hordes of enemies. The campaign's length feels good, and while the PvP aspect of the multiplayer will tickle the nostalgia bone, it is the PvE section of the multiplayer component and constant support that will keep the game installed on machines. Space Marine 2 is a great addition for anyone who's a fan of action games. Here's hoping that any potential sequel doesn't take another 13 years.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a very good game with a solid PC port. The base mechanics are classic, and they still work well, just like they did before. The song list is meaty enough, but the presence of both DLC and a Song Pass gives everyone the chance to expand their song library. While the drums give you the more authentic experience, the PC's natural ability to use a wider variety of control methods allows for the game to be more entertaining, if only to see what other odd peripherals people will use to play the game. Provided you're not averse to the lack of Western songs, you'll have a fun time with this game.
Players are going to have mixed feelings about the Until Dawn remake. The story remains as cheesy as ever, while the characters and performances elevate the experience. The changes are mostly good, with the better camera and touched-up graphics winning out over the changing of the soundtrack. However, the game really needed more time to polish out the bugs, especially since there's still plenty of time to get things before the movie hits. It's still a good title, but it could've been so much better if it weren't for the technical issues.
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a decent horror experience. The story is fine if you're a fan of the situation instead of the characters that don't give you much material to sympathize with them. The gameplay is authentic to the movies, but it can also feel ridiculous with the amount of debris that you need to be aware of. The game nails the tension necessary for a horror game, but it is also laid on so thick that it can feel tiring if you're playing in long sessions. In the end, while it could've been a tighter experience, it is still a game worth checking out if you're a fan of horror games where you can forgive some questionable game design decisions.
Parcel Corps is loads of fun in short bursts. It's one of those games that you can play in between other big titles as a palette cleanser. You have to be able to overcome a few things like the unorthodox control scheme to get the most out of it, and if you can get the game for cheap, it's worth a look.
Even after 14 years, Red Dead Redemption remains a good example of how to do a proper Western in video game form. The main adventure is more focused than the sequel due to the relatively smaller cast and scope of your travels, but there are also plenty of side-quests that make it worthwhile to divert from the main questline. Undead Nightmare remains one of the better zombie games out there, and it still feels distinct after all these years. You just wish that there was more work done to the graphics outside of adding HDR and upping the brightness, especially since they're charging $50 for a 14-year-old port. The game is still worth adding to your library, but you might want to wait for a very good discount.
The decision to pick up Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered is completely dependent on your status with the original PS4 title. If you've never played the first game and like open-world adventure games, then this is definitely worth getting. From the story to the action to the decidedly different postapocalyptic setting, the game delivers a good time from beginning to end, even when factoring the expansion pack into the mix. Those people can look at the score and rate it higher. If you've played and beaten the game, then things get more complicated. For $10, the upgrade gets you much richer-looking environments and some better graphics during some of the cut scenes while also introducing some minor issues. Proper DualSense support is also thrown in for good measure, and if you're big on those things, then the price for the upgrade makes it worthwhile. However, for those who aren't so big on aesthetics and were fine with the original controls, you're best waiting a bit for LEGO Horizon Adventures to drop to get a completely different experience in this world.
In the end, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate takes the familiarity of Hades and gives it a more familiar skin. The gameplay differences between the brothers provides an incentive to try all four characters instead of sticking to a favorite. The slightly lower difficulty means that upgrading your crew is faster than expected. Considering the large number of roguelikes on the PC, multiplayer - even though it's imperfect - gives this title a leg up on the competition.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is just as offbeat and captivating as it was when it originally came out 13 years ago. The story works partially because of how it isn't afraid to be funny and gross, and the lack of malice sells the game, even if the humor doesn't strike a chord for some people. The gameplay is fine enough that the rough edges can be ignored at times. It sounds just as good as before and looks much better, but one can't help wishing that more care had been taken to create something more than a barebones port of the original.
Like its predecessors, The Smurfs: Dreams is a pleasant surprise. The gameplay takes the more recent platforming template and ensures it feels solid while also adding in a few twists to spice things up. There's a nice balance between being easy and having some challenge. The presentation complements this by being pleasing all around. Provided that the big traversal bug gets fixed, you're looking at a game that is well worth checking out - even for platforming fans that aren't even fans of The Smurfs.
In the end, Kong: Survivor Instinct is a pleasant surprise when compared to the rest of the Kong-related games up to this point. The story isn't that great, but it has enough of a hook to keep players going. The platforming can be quirky, especially during the big chase sequences, but it works fine most of the time to provide some fun sections. The same can be said of the combat, which has flaws but also gives players the chance to take care of enemies in a few fun ways. The adventure isn't too long, but it is satisfying enough once the end credits roll. It isn't a sleeper hit, but it isn't a bad experience to go through for a day or two.
There's potential in Unknown 9: Awakening. The story and setting are fascinating, since so few games are set at the cusp of World War I. Haroona's powers add an enthralling wrinkle to the stealth and combat systems. The experience falls apart when you scrutinize some of these gameplay mechanics, and the bad bugs and mediocre presentation heavily reduce the game's potential. Give it a few patches, and maybe the title will end up being a guilty pleasure for those looking for a straightforward adventure game, but don't expect to uncover a hidden masterpiece.
It isn't perfect, but God of War: Ragnarok remains a very good adventure game. The main story might meander for a good chunk of time, but the tale in the DLC makes up for that nicely. The action remains solid from beginning to end, and the usual additions made to the PC version and the disabling of hints almost makes up for the questionable decision to make a PSN login mandatory. If that last part isn't a deal-breaker, then you'll have a great time with Ragnarok on the PC.
There's potential in The Axis Unseen. The idea of an adventure game with no HUD and an emphasis on your instincts is an intriguing setup, and the use of a simple set of weapons and powers keeps you from feeling overpowered. However, the combination of laughable physics and a plethora of bugs and design issues make this a game that's difficult to love if you aren't into the heavy metal aesthetic. As it stands now, it is an interesting title, but it needs plenty of patching before it will be worth checking out.
G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra is a fun game, but it is also flawed in several different ways. The differences in characters provide some incentive to try out everyone, but the combat is plagued with issues in every category. The unlockables are fun, but you have to be able to stomach the grinding needed to unlock everything. The levels are nice but feel like they go on forever; the presentation is good if you can ignore some of the audio issues. Depending on the price, Wrath of Cobra might still be worth checking out for big G.I. Joe fans, but it also could've been so much better.
As mentioned in the beginning of the review, your impressions of Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland are going to depend on how you feel about a game that takes its presentation and design strictly from that 8-bit generation of gaming. The game looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous on the presentation front, and the game does a good job of applying the Super Mario Bros. 2 mechanics to its game world. You'll wish the camera issues from the HD mode were fixed and that the cheap hits from enemies and their placement weren't present in the most annoying of areas. The game is fine, but the frustration from these issues and the relatively high price for such a short experience prevent it from being an all-around great title for fans of nostalgia.
There are many words that can be used to describe Squirrel with a Gun: wacky, silly, buggy, unpolished, and fun. The premise is so out there that you can't help but be hooked. The gameplay is solid and enjoyable enough that you'll want to see the journey to the end and beyond, even if you've grown tired of the joke and despite the various issues that still plague the title. The game could do with some bug cleanup, but even in its current state, it's fun enough that players who love off-the-wall concepts would be happy giving this one a shot.
Ultimately, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is fine. It doesn't take too long to get used to the controls, and the gameplay loop stays interesting as long as you aren't playing the Chaser role. The matches are fun and perfect for short sessions, and the presence of cross-play means that finding a match isn't going to be too difficult once you exhaust the offline content. There are still some rough patches, but with its low $30 price tag, it's enjoyable for those who want to play some Quidditch without digging up a console from three generations ago.
When playing through Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, one is reminded of how good Capcom is at licensed games. Each of the games in this collection is a stone-cold classic, and even though more people will end up gravitating toward Marvel vs. Capcom 2 more than any other game, each title represents the kind of fighting game you wouldn't mind revisiting. There's still some tweaking that needs to be done, from the online performance tanking at times to having some more menu option explanations, but that doesn't take away this collection's overall quality. If you're a fan of 2D fighters, you need to have this game in your library.