Wolfenstein II is a beautiful blend of classic and modern first-person shooters. It masterfully combines emotional distress and comedic relief with unrelenting violence. You would be hard-pressed to find a more stellar FPS on the market than the comprehensive offering contained here. Single-player is alive and well; MachineGames have proven that.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the culmination of the greatest parts of the franchise. Utilizing Yakuza 6: The Song of Life’s Dragon Engine and physics-enabled combat pairs beautifully with the high stakes tale born on the PlayStation 2 over a decade ago. I might even go as far to say that this recreation could be an even more fitting send-off for Kiryu before the series embraces its new protagonist. Simply put, Kiwami 2 is the peak of Yakuza.
Yakuza Kiwami is positioned as a perfect jumping on point for newcomers just now discovering Sega’s gang-centric criminal drama. Series veterans will still find plenty to love in the carefully handcrafted remake of Kazuma Kiryu’s first appearance, with a wealth of new and enticing content. Regardless of which category you find yourself a part of, Yakuza Kiwami is hands down one of the finest remakes ever made of an already extraordinary game and provides an experience that you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life brings Kazuma Kiryu's long-running tale to an end and does so on a high note. This is the wacky-yet-serious Yakuza vision fully realized, or at least it is damn close to it. Newcomers and established fans alike will find plenty to love in this father figure's quest for answers and revenge in a world where everything can be resolved with shirtless brawls. This powerful conclusion to the Dragon of Dojima's story must not be missed.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is From Software at its best (so far). The developer has beautifully married the demanding nature of their Souls games to a narrative-driven action game. The swordplay is engaging, requiring quick learning and quicker reflexes. All in all, Sekiro is top of its class, offering one of the most memorable experiences of 2019.
Forza Horizon 5 is a masterclass in arcade racing. There is no equal out there. Burnout has all but disappeared; Need for Speed has fallen from its once-lofty heights, and The Crew is hardly a competent competitor. Playground Games have proven that their formula is still king, offering up countless hours of racing bliss as the live service seasonal format unfolds. As long as you aren’t looking for a more simulation-bound experience like Forza Motorsport, you simply cannot do better than Forza Horizon 5.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a thrilling, albeit brief, ride with the most compelling Spider-Man yet.
Everspace blends enough new and old to create an enticing package for both longtime fans and newcomers to the genre. The bleeding-edge graphics pair nicely with buttery-smooth maneuvering and together they are able to overcome the game’s lesser parts, such as the story. To wrap it up, Everspace provides one of the most satisfying experiences this side of the Milky Way.
Absolver is a unique blend of deep martial arts combat, RPG systems, and social interaction. Sloclap’s dedication to their combat mechanics is obvious and it has paid off. The game boasts one of the deepest systems for skirmishes I have yet to encounter. This lies at the heart of Absolver and it is a solid foundation on which to build the rest of the game. Thanks to the quality of combat and the visual appeal of the striking art style, the shortcomings found within the AI and narrative do not hinder the overall experience to a crippling degree. Absolver definitely gets far more right than wrong, weaving a worthwhile venture for all but those looking for a strong single player outing.
Assassin’s Creed Origins is raw in its brutality, but refined in its delivery. This is a new era of Assassin’s Creed and one that could serve as a strong basis for further RPG-focused installments in the series. It has re-emerged wearing the same trappings as other video game masterpieces while not losing complete sight of its own image, for better or worse. We have been reminded of the Brotherhood’s place in gaming and we are eager to see where this revitalized journey goes next.
Battlefield 1‘s In the Name of the Tsar DLC has set the expectation for all future expansions, providing ample content to enjoy for the coming weeks. The expansion hits its target center mass far more often than it misses the mark, delivering a shining example of the quality that DICE can produce. You would be hard-pressed to find an add-on of this caliber elsewhere. To put it plainly, In the Name of the Tsar’s focus on the Russian Empire yields one of the most satisfying multiplayer experiences in recent memory.
The Red Strings Club manages to craft a point-and-click adventure that can, at times, be edge-of-your-seat engrossing. The game’s simplistic presentation gives way to deeper systems at play, creating tension in creative ways. Given that most of the game develops in a static bar location, with only a handful of departures from the setting to explore snippets of a well-realized world, it is a testament to the developer’s skill at keeping the player engaged through an endless barrage of text boxes broken up by entertaining bouts as a charming information broker with a knack for mixology. The questions laid before the player will stick around long after the credits roll, which will sadly happen long before you are ready to part with the game. The Red Strings Club rarely fails to impress, but given the brief runtime those short-lived areas may be felt more than they should. Still, this is a notable success from Deconstructeam.
The Thaumaturge is a rich narrative experience that contains a world awaiting the player's influence. Maneuvering through society's upper and lower classes, gaining insight into their specific struggles and desires as you pursue stunningly-designed salutors makes for a strong impression, even if the regular flow of on-screen text that begs to be read leads to periods of downtime. Even with the slow-burn pacing in mind, The Thaumaturge presents an emotionally engaging, morally grey trip through early 20th century Poland with a dash of mysticism and a heaping spoonful of inquisitive exploration.
The Long Dark takes an interesting approach to the bustling survival genre by adding a story-heavy campaign, and it looks to be paying off so far. The tale being told in Wintermute has not developed into anything wildly deep at this point and there has yet to be given much of a reason to care for the characters in play, but by the end of the second episode I still felt the desire to see everything through to the end. I needed to know how this unique apocalypse pans out, so the developer is clearly doing something right. The slow, methodical pacing may turn some potential players away, but those that can carry the weight of the game’s encumbering systems will find a gorgeous adventure worth the time investment.
Serious Sam’s Bogus Detour is a nostalgia-filled romp with familiar characters tossed into a new genre. The game loses little in its move over to the twin-stick shooter category, maintaining the components that we have all come to know and love over the past decade and a half. While not every new ingredient to Sam’s formula adds significant value, the end result is a lovingly-crafted shooter that retains the soul of Serious Sam.
The Evil Within 2 offers plenty of variety and freedom within its horror-filled town of Union. Sebastian Castellanos’ second outing is a much more fulfilling affair, filled to the brim with some truly inspired design. In a lot of ways, The Evil Within 2 feels like a spiritual successor to Resident Evil 4, giving us the horror experience that other developers had forgotten for a while. An unrefined stealth system and stiff voice over from the rough-around-the-edges ex-cop do little to diminish this terrifying treat, leaving it on the precipice of being something truly outstanding.
RUINER is a competent cyberpunk shooter, dripping in stylish presentation and teeming with ruthless engagements. These components manage to provide enough of a reason to see the journey to the end, filling the void left by the all-but-absent narrative, and enjoy the time spent doing so. RUINER is an exceptional, adrenaline-filled diversion bathed in neon lights that is sure to please as long as you don’t expect to find more under the surface.
Nioh: Complete Edition houses some impressive gameplay designs and mechanics that are partially undermined by its development choices. Depending on your preferred control scheme for PC gaming, Nioh will either mark an addictive addition to your library or the very bane of your existence. Assuming you can forgo the use of a mouse, this comprehensive Nioh package has plenty to offer that manages to rise above its faults to deliver a memorable offshoot that is able to define itself in a world where the “Souls-like” label usually engulfs all identity.
Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition brings the renowned installment to the PC in stunning detail. The all-inclusive offering is easily the definitive version of the title, stepping above the console counterparts with its platform-specific enhancements. The game has evolved not only the series, but also itself since release thanks to added content and cutscenes that help the narrative feel more cohesive. Because of this more realized form, there has never been a better time to experience Final Fantasy XV.
Onebitbeyond has crafted something special here. It rips one of the early 90’s most iconic titles and brings it into the modern era with meaningful additions to the beloved formula. The world is rife with an intoxicating personality and entertaining adventure, beautifully wrapped in eye-catching imagery. The Swords of Ditto does require commitment and acceptance of failure to see through to the end, but it is worth the investment.