Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is among the odder entries in the new trend of remastering old games for new hardware. It’s not simply a remaster that only increases visual fidelity, and it’s not a remake that overhauls the games in a fundamental way. Existing somewhere in the middle, the games definitely look a lot better than their original versions but won’t ever fool anyone into believing they were made for modern hardware, and while some of the mechanics have been updated/overhauled, there are a lot of areas where BioWare could have made minor tweaks leading to significant improvements in the experience. It’s understandable that they may have wanted to keep the games as close to their original versions as possible, but in a lot of ways it just feels like missed opportunities.
Cyberpunk 2077 is definitely a warning, not an aspiration. If we do not change the culture of game development in this industry, if we do not hold developers and publishers accountable for how they treat both their employees and you, the consumer, then Cyberpunk 2077 will be the future of games and game development, and the world will be lesser for it.
Supremely difficult, extremely rewarding and, above all else, absolutely unrelenting, id Software has once again set the bar for the hyper-violent twitch shooter genre with Doom Eternal.
After 50 hours with this game, my biggest complaint is that I wanted more. A lot more.
It’s Need for Speed through and through, for better or worse, but the execution is far better here than the last few attempts I’ve made to dive back in.
This is definitely a case where more of the same is more than welcome.
Whether or not you enjoy Wolfenstein: Youngblood is going to depend on a lot of factors. If you loved the previous games for their narrative depth, linear story, and simplified gameplay, this might be a tough sell for you. Youngblood is still fundamentally Wolfenstein in almost every way that matters but, like its rookie heroines, it’s a little unpolished and rough around the edges. If you’re looking for something new, innovative, and daring, and can overlook a few flaws (some more glaring than others) then it’s time to suit up, gear up, and once again prove that the only good Nazi is a dead one.
Where it matters most (gameplay), 2K20 really shines, with the potential to thrill in ways few other sports games can.
A game of unparalleled scope and ambition, with breathtaking visuals, a broad-ranging but intimate story, and an incredible sense of identity and purpose, Red Dead Redemption 2 will go down as one of the greatest games of the generation, and perhaps video game history.
There’s a lot of heart, a lot of innovation, and a clear feeling that this game wasn’t just created by a talented group of developers, but by people who are truly passionate about Spider-Man.
It’s got some rough edges, and I really wish it had a solid online multiplayer component, but ultimately I like Horizon Chase Turbo; probably more than I should. It is first and foremost a nostalgia machine, one designed to take players my age back to the days when Friday nights were all about hanging out in your PJs, playing Nintendo and pounding soda until the wee hours of 10pm, and to its credit Horzion Chase Turbo does that excellently. It’s not going to replace games like Gran Turismo or Burnout Paradise as your go-to racer, but I can definitely see myself hopping on and playing for 30 minutes at a time for years to come.
Aragami is not for everyone, especially casual fans of the genre; it's too demanding. Those of you who truly relish the hunt and welcome the challenge, though, will surely find that Aragami: Shadow Edition has what you're looking for.
Trailblazers comes recommended, but with the qualifier that you may want to wait for a few more patches to drop, first.
City of Brass is a beautiful, highly-polished and mostly successful attempt at turning the genre on its head by making it more accessible to everyone, from rogue-lite veterans to first time players. With a unique and intuitive new combat style and some innovative takes on genre conventions, you'll find plenty to like about City of Brass no matter what your skill level.
I have been writing about video games for almost 20 years now, and in all that time I have never given any game a perfect score. Until now.
Pinball FX 3 is all about the nostalgia of the golden age of arcades, and it nails that perfectly.
Is The Division worth another chance? The answer to that question, on any front, is "absolutely".
In the end, de Blob 2 is mostly a game about creative expression and pleasant visual experiences.
Platform games live and die by their controls, and Epic Dumpster Bear, for all its wacky presentation and goofy fun, just can't make the leap from novelty item to legitimate recommendation.
The story is solid, though, as is the overall presentation. You don't need to be a fan of the franchise to enjoy this game, but I have no doubt that true fans are going to find even more to love than I did.