In the end, Hitman: World of Assassination - Signature Edition is a solid port of a very impressive game. The game is dense in that it may be difficult, and you'll encounter lots of trial and error, but that's balanced out by the fact that each level can be completed in a nearly unlimited number of ways. The presentation may not have a solid frame rate, but it certainly looks and sounds nicer than expected from a portable console. The lack of complete content on the system is a disappointment, as is the use of a Game-Key cart versus a regular one (considering the game's size), but the mostly online-only requirement for a single-player game makes this a less desirable platform to play on, unless you can ensure that you have an online connection at all times and situations. Still, if this is the only system you have, this isn't a bad way to play a game meant for those with a vicious but creative spirit in them.
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a fine game overall. Sonic Generations still holds up quite well after all this time, even if the additions feel slightly shoehorned, while Shadow Generations represents a refinement of the formula with a few additions that don't detract from the main game. For Switch 2 owners who never got this game before, this is a great version to get. However, for those who already have the game on the original Switch, the frame rate and resolution boosts aren't enough to ask for full price on the game and DLC again. Those in that situation can deduct a few points from the review's final score.
South of Midnight is a game that shows growth in Compulsion Games' titles. Even though the combat is predictable, it still feels good thanks to the usefulness of the powers at your disposal, and you won't shy away from a fight. The platforming is also well done, which makes it a shame that you can't explore more of the world. While the gameplay is better, the studio still knows how to tell a captivating story using a backdrop of Southern Gothic that isn't used too often in games. This is a solid adventure game and a trip well worth taking if you're a fan of the genre and narratives.
Bear in mind that Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is still a good game overall. The concept remains solid with an adventure mode that's endearing if you like silly stories and can overcome holes in the narrative logic. The modes really play around with the formulas of both games well, and the amount of content can keep a puzzle fan busy for quite some time. The lack of an upgrade path for existing owners and the marginal improvements for the Switch 2-exclusive version make it difficult to recommend a double-dip. If you never bought the game before and don't mind sticking with offline play, then you'll have a good time with this title and can give this a higher score. For everyone else, you can safely steer clear from this version.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is an easy recommendation for any fighting game fan. Even though Capcom Fighting Evolution isn't that great, the rest of the lineup ranges from solid to stone cold classics. The online performance is quite good, and each individual game is deep enough that they'll keep anyone busy for a long time. Unless you only like a specific type of fighting game or dislike Capcom's output, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a must-have title.
In the end, Revenge of the Savage Planet is a good follow-up to Journey to the Savage Planet. The concept of exploring new, absurd worlds remains novel, while the expanded tool set and mobility tweaks strengthen the gameplay. The worlds are large and packed with loads to discover, and the game offers up a good amount to do even after you've seen the credits for the first time. For those who love exploring, Revenge of the Savage Planet is well worth checking out.
There's no getting around the fact that just about every aspect of La Quimera is bad. From the story to the gameplay to the presentation, there's barely anything that seems to work as expected. Even the game's short runtime is tarnished by the fact that it abruptly ends. Unless the game gets a major overhaul when it eventually gets released, steer clear of La Quimera and play almost any other first-person shooter instead.
Monster Energy Supercross 25: The Official Video Game is specifically for the hardcore motocross fanatic. Those fans will love things like the ability to play a current season of the sport and the presence of tangible track deformation. For everyone else, this is a difficult game to recommend. From the high difficulty level and steep learning curve to the bare-bones campaign, there's not enough to entice interested players to give this a try. At this rate, your best bet is to wait and see if this game or older entries in the series will reach Game Pass, so you can see if you can gel with this title.
Despite its age, Forza Horizon 5 is a fantastic open-world, arcade-style racing game. The car handling is superb, there's an overwhelming number of events and races, and the large number of secrets ensures that you'll spend a ton of time driving around and exploring every nook and cranny. The structure and flow are so good that the only game that could match this is Burnout Paradise, a remake of a PS3/Xbox 360 game. Even if your only exposure to this type of game is The Crew: Motorfest, you owe it to yourself to grab Forza Horizon 5, even if you're only a casual racing fan. At the moment, there's really nothing else like it out there.
Despite a few missteps, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves remains a solid fighting game and a worthy entry in the series. The fighting system remains good, and the new additions solidify what worked back in Garou: Mark of the Wolves. The various offline modes add lots of material to the game, especially Episodes of South Town, and online play works quite well. The guest characters could've been implemented better, and there are a few presentation-related nitpicks, but overall, fans of SNK fighting games will be pleased with City of the Wolves.
If you can live with that issue, then Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate is a solid title. The original game remains a fun beat-'em-up since it tries to do something different from its contemporaries. The additional characters make the game lean heavily toward being goofy, but few will complain when it also means expanded online play for all. For genre fans who want something breezy, this is well worth checking out.
Monaco 2 isn't too different from the first game, but it remains a delightful experience. The presentation might be a little divisive for those who loved the first game's simpler approach, but the addition of character voices makes the game more charming. The new gameplay additions make the game more approachable, while the addition of randomization gives the game some real legs. Monaco 2 is loads of fun in both co-op and solo play, and those who love a good lighthearted heist will really enjoy this title.
Blue Prince is a fascinating game. The premise is enticing for those who like card-based board games, and the bits of randomization help the game feel difficult without being outright unfair about it. The slow trickle of story information might seem frustrating at first, but it helps give one motivation to keep going, especially when you solve a puzzle and everything starts to fall into place. Those who love environmental puzzle titles will get some real joy out of Blue Prince.
Pinball FX VR is a solid pinball game for enthusiasts who want the facsimile of an arcade experience. The idea of building out a virtual pinball arcade experience in your home is neat, but the game thrives on nailing down an overall pinball experience that's close to real life. The only question is whether Zen will follow through to make this into a platform instead of another one-off game, but those who aren't hung up on that debate will find this to be a good addition to their VR game library.
Atomfall is a fascinating yet familiar game. The story is mysterious, even if the ending might not be that conclusive. The freedom that lies within is very appealing, as is the predominant use of melee versus firearms. The presentation is fine, and while other elements of the game (like stealth) are flawed, those issues are outweighed by the previously mentioned positives. Atomfall is well worth checking out for those looking for a very different experience.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a solid game that's full of charm for fans of the cozy game sub-genre. The map is large and varied, the number of characters feels like the right amount. The activities blend in well with the light adventuring aspect, and there are a few quality-of-life changes that feel like they should be adopted by other cozy games. The only knock is in the more prevalent progression gating, but if you aren't bothered by that, then you'll enjoy what this licensed game offers.
WWE 2K25 remains a good game, but the cracks are beginning to show. The addition of Chain Wrestling is awesome, but the increased prevalence of Trading Blows slows down the game greatly. The large roster is great, but we could do without the multiple variations of wrestlers taking up spots. The graphical presentation has quite a few blemishes that should be fixed, but it's generally good, and the same can be said for the audio if you can ignore the generic entrance music. MyRISE and the 2K Showcase are splendid, but The Island is too much of a cash grab when MyFACTION already does this. If you can ignore some of the microtransaction-heavy elements, you still have a very good wrestling game with enough content to last until the next WrestleMania season. It'll be interesting to see if WWE 2K will suddenly become the next NBA 2K in that it's a decent game that tries to bleed you of every cent.
Split Fiction is fantastic. The story and characters are great thanks to the nuance sprinkled throughout to give everything and everyone some unexpected depth. The constant switching of various genres keeps the game fresh, since none of the tales linger for too long, and the same can be said for the various gameplay additions in conjunction with the solid platforming. Combined with the cross-platform play and accessibility features to ensure that everyone can get through the title, the only reason to not pick up Split Fiction is if you despise co-op play. For everyone else, grab this early contender for "Best Of" lists for 2025.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is a good game stuck in a package that is far from ideal. Visual artifacts and a few crashes still remain even after three patches, and the game can feel less than optimized when the frame rate drops on powerful hardware. If you're willing to wait just a little longer or are the patient and forgiving type, you'll be rewarded with a safe sequel that can still satisfy fans of the Insomniac-developed games. This title also gets fans primed for the eventual finale what is almost certainly a trilogy. However, this release serves as a warning that Sony and its studios need to do some real work to ensure future game releases are stable from day one, or else they'll lose the PC audience that is crucial to funding future endeavors.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is for a very specific type of Yu-Gi-Oh! player who favors battles against the CPU instead of real people. That player also knows all of the rules of the game, wants a fixed set of cards, and doesn't want further updates from new cards. For them, most of the games in the compilation will be fine if they can get over each title's shortcomings. For everyone else, especially newcomers, the games are cumbersome and unintuitive, so only those with an immense amount of patience would want to give the titles a shot.