A Way Out is an impressive achievement that definitively proves creativity matters more than bloated budgets and big-name franchises. A technically accomplished, endlessly inventive co-op masterpiece, A Way Out will surprise and excite you from beginning to end. This one deserves to be a breakout hit.
Burnout Paradise Remastered is like a finely-tuned vintage car – sure, it's quirky and a bit archaic, but those concerns melt away once you get behind the wheel and rev that engine. Blasting around Paradise City is exciting, rewarding, and a great low-stress tonic for when modern game design gets you down. Oh, you'll be pleased to take this one home.
Fear Effect Sedna is proof creativity can't always overcome poor execution. The game is often quite enjoyable, but the inspired moments can be difficult to appreciate amidst Sedna's mishandled nostalgia, ill-considered mechanics, and sometimes-wonky level design. Those willing to ride out the rough patches (or just hungry from some early-2000s cheese) may want to give the game a try, but I'm afraid I don't see this being the Fear Effect franchise's big comeback.
Past Cure is a bizarre experience. It feels like a half-dozen different games crudely stapled together, most of which are bad. Yes, the game is ambitious, it reaches for the triple-A brass ring, but the end product is unfocused, unpolished, and, for long stretches, exceptionally boring. Past Cure? More like Past Bedtime.
Conventional wisdom would say the new Secret of Mana isn't a great remake. It doubles down on the stuff that already works while leaving the original game's most glaring flaws mostly untouched. That said, I still enjoyed this new package. Secret of Mana was always about charm and personality over polish. Yes, the game remains a bit of a mess, but that special spark at its core burns brighter than ever. If you loved the original game, or are just in the mood for something light and quirky, this remake strikes true.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker's Memory is a confusing product. It's too complex and longwinded for kids, but too easy, repetitive, and derivative for most adults. The game was made with fans of the original Cyber Sleuth in mind, but will frustrate those same fans with its rampant rehashing. Hardcore Digimon devotes may find something to enjoy here, but most will want to forget Hacker's Memory.
Candleman: The Complete Journey is one of the best indie platformers I've played in some time. Certainly, one of the best 3D indie platformers. Candleman mixes clever mechanics, varied level design, and a whole lot of charm to create an experience that's guaranteed to light your fire.
Lost Sphear is a competently assembled retro product that may dredge up fond memories of older, better JRPGs, but it lacks a personality of its own. The unique, melancholy world of I Am Setsuna has been replaced by soulless tropes, and incrementally improved battle mechanics and dungeons don't make up for that loss of identity. Sadly, the makers of Lost Sphear have lost the thread.
Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition finally brings the fight to everybody. Whether you want button mash with friends, prove your skills to the world, just engage in some low-stakes solo fighting, Arcade Edition has you covered. If you've been holding out until now, it's finally time to step up to the streets.
Bridge Constructor Portal is a well-assembled holiday treat. Those expecting Portal 3 will be let down, but if you're willing to set aside unfair expectations you'll discover an accessible, flexible puzzle game that avoids many of the genre's frustrating pitfalls. Bridge Constructor Portal passes the test, and that's no lie.
Resident Evil 7's final round of DLC feels like a step backward. While both Not a Hero and End of Zoe are competently built, they replace the genuine horror and more nuanced characters of the main game with schlocky action and dumb wish fulfillment. The worst thing that can be said about Not a Hero and End of Zoe is that they leave me feeling uncertain about the future of the series. Let's hope Capcom hasn't already forgotten how to do Resident Evil right again.
Resident Evil 7's final round of DLC feels like a step backward. While both Not a Hero and End of Zoe are competently built, they replace the genuine horror and more nuanced characters of the main game with schlocky action and dumb wish fulfillment. The worst thing that can be said about Not a Hero and End of Zoe is that they leave me feeling uncertain about the future of the series. Let's hope Capcom hasn't already forgotten how to do Resident Evil right again.
I honestly didn't hate Hello Neighbor, but an interesting setup and good intentions don't make up for sloppy design, unwieldy controls, AI that isn't half as smart as advertised, and myriad of other issues. A very specific type of player who loves finding secrets and proposing fan theories may be able to overlook Hello Neighbor's problems, but most will want to bury the game in the backyard.
Hand of Fate 2 captures some old-school RPG charm, but deals a few too many bad cards in the process. The game's appealing premise is marred by unsatisfying progression, punishing randomness, and clunky combat. Nostalgic RPG fans will find things to appreciate here, but given the popularity and diversity of actual tabletop gaming these days, it's hard to fully recommend the half-stacked Hand of Fate 2.
As long as you don't take the “Serious racing on Switch!” pitch too seriously, you'll have a lot of fun with Gear.Club Unlimited. This is an engaging, retro arcade racer with a rewarding structure that puts bigger-name games to shame. I've reviewed most of this season's major racers, including Gran Turismo Sport and Need for Speed Payback, and I can honestly say Gear.Club Unlimited was the most entertaining of the bunch. Gear up for a good time, Switch owners.
2017 is the year the Sonic franchise stops running from itself. Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces celebrate different eras, but they both take the same shameless “all-in” approach. Sonic Forces is a confident game, serving up a story and stages that go for broke, while dodging the pitfalls of the past. As long as you're not a hardline 3D Sonic hater, this earnest, entertaining adventure is worth a spin.
Need for Speed Payback is a well-designed sandbox that's at its most entertaining when you ignore what's supposed to be the core of the game. The story is dud, and the game's Ultimate Team-inspired upgrade system is an attempt to force a square peg into a round hole, but there's no denying tearing down desert roads at 180 mph in a souped-up 1965 Mustang is a blast. Need for Speed Payback is a fun joyride, but it doesn't quite hold up over the long haul.
Ironically, AER Memories of Old doesn't leave much of a lasting impression. It feels like a prototype you might show a publisher to convince them to fund a full game. What's here is charming, but it feels underbaked compared to the games it patterns itself after. If you're looking for a laid-back Zelda-like adventure and don't mind spending $15 for a single play session, AER Memories of Old is a pleasant-enough distraction, just don't expect to be swept off your feet.
Gran Turismo Sport is a good game, and yet, it's still a disappointment. Given this series' pedigree, good simply isn't good enough. GT Sport still brings it on the track, but its lack of content can't be ignored, and you can't give the game top marks in world where Forza Motorsport 7 and Project CARS 2 exist. If you're a diehard fan of Sony's series or really into online racing, GT Sport is worth a shot. If you just want the best racing sim out there, you may want to kick some more tires.
This franchise is almost out of chances. This is the fifth WWE game from 2K, and they've still only figured out one of the three ingredients. WWE 2K18 is great if creating wacky wrestlers is all you're interested in, but those looking for solid in-ring action or a compelling career mode will be let down yet again. If WWE 2K18 were a wrestler, it'd be Jinder Mahal – all flashy show muscles, no fundamentals. I realize a lot of hardcore fans will buy WWE 2K18 regardless of reviews, but if you actually want the series to change, it might be time to tap out.