Dangerous Driving is, at best, a rough early prototype of a proper Burnout successor. The basic mechanics and sense of speed are there, but they're badly undermined by bland track design, infuriating AI, a lack of features, and a host of other issues. Those feeling nostalgic for Burnout would be best served taking the classics out for another spin, rather than taking a chance on this lemon.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a satisfying collection of mysteries, many of which are still as sharp as when they were first published. Sure, certain aspects of these games feel a touch dated compared to some of the newer, edgier visual novels out there, but few can top Phoenix and friends when it comes to charm. This HD update is a bit barebones, but, overall, these classics are well-represented.
You can tell From Software was happy to try something a little different with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The game has a few mechanical issues, which can be largely chalked up to new series jitters, but its energy and excitement mostly make up for its flaws. While I haven’t finished my journey through Sekiro yet, I’m fairly confident those with the Bushido to face its challenges will have a bloody good time.
The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 4 wraps up seven years of undead drama in satisfying fashion, delivering genuinely moving character moments and meaningful, ultimately uplifting, observations about parenthood. The Final Season Episode 4 can be slightly exhausting, both emotionally and because of an overabundance of action scenes, but fans who have been with Clementine since the beginning won't want to miss the final leg of her journey.
Eternity: The Last Unicorn is a less-than-magical mix of misplaced PS1-era nostalgia and shallow Dark Souls mimicry. Nearly everything about the game, from its fixed camera angles, to its clunky combat, to its copious backtracking is broken or irritating in some way. If challenge is all you're looking for in a game, perhaps Eternity: The Last Unicorn is for you. Everyone else will likely find it as fun as a sharpened horn to the eye.
The Occupation structures itself in an interesting way, sets a unique tone, and toys with some potent topics, but lacks the depth or polish needed to live up to its potential. Like a disappointing newspaper article, you're left with more questions than answers and wishing somebody would do the subject proper justice. The Occupation is, unfortunately, pretty vacant.
Trials Rising dishes out the tricks we've come to expect from the series. Developer RedLynx steps up their level design and delivers more content than ever, but overly-familiar mechanics and unseemly microtransactions make it hard to get too excited about the game. If you're hungry for new Trials action, this game delivers, but don't expect it to rise to the occasion if you're already weary of the formula.
The first chunk of Resident Evil 2 DLC doesn't really play to the game's strengths. Capcom's remake was all about pacing and atmosphere, while The Ghost Survivors is a simple shoot ‘em up that may be too difficult and one-note for many fans. That said, if you enjoyed Resident Evil 2's action and get a thrill from shaving seconds off your best times, The Ghost Survivors should keep you running for a while.
Should Jon Shafer's At the Gates be judged for what it is now, or what it has the potential to become? The experience is hamstrung by glitches, oversights, and unfinished systems, but playing a 4X game from the perspective of the barbarians remains a fantastic concept and some of that Civilization “one more turn” allure is still intact. Forgiving types may want to give At the Gates a try now, but most others should probably leave the game out in the cold until a few updates are released.
Resident Evil 2 is a polished, respectful remake of a survival horror classic that probably would have benefitted from a slightly more daring approach. Hints of a braver revamp are sprinkled throughout, but it doesn't take the risks necessary to join the canon of truly great video game remakes. Make no mistake though, if you loved the original Resident Evil 2, you'll likely love the remake, and new players who can tolerate a few old-school quirks ought to have gruesome good time as well.
The Walking Dead was worth saving. The usual Telltale caveats about polish and quick time action scenes apply, but this is exciting, powerhouse storytelling, packed with fantastic character work and edge-of-your-seat cinematic moments. The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 3 lines up the sights for a bloody good finale – let's hope Skybound nails the headshot.
Book of Demons is rather brilliant in its own small way. It strips the Diablo formula to its bare essentials without sacrificing any of its appeal. In some ways, it even improves on Blizzard's series. If you're a busy adult pining for your 90s gaming heyday, Book of Demons is a must play, but really, everyone ought to give it a shot. This deceptively addictive dungeon crawl is worth getting fired up about.
Everspace: Stellar Edition isn't the best 3D space shooter or roguelike available, but it's a relatively unique and successful fusion of the two genres. Repetitiveness aside, you may just find yourself hooked by the game's tight combat controls and satisfying progression loop. Unfortunately, the Switch isn't the best way to play the game, unless portability is your top concern. Everspace for Switch isn't for everybody, but if you fall into the game's relatively narrow niche, a galaxy of die and retry fun awaits.
Just Cause 4 delivers a truly astounding open world that lacks much to do beyond “blow up more gas tanks.” A shallow story, an absence of interesting NPCs, and frustrating mission design make for an uninvolving game that sometimes feels like a job to play. There is fun to be had in Just Cause 4, but only if you stage a revolution against what the game wants you to do.
Ride 3 tries its best to be welcoming, but only true motorbike buffs will want to stick with the game long term. Those hardcore fans ought to be satisfied, as Ride 3 plays well enough and is packed with authentic, lovingly-detailed content, although a repetitive structure and bland visuals limit the experience a bit. Ride 3 may just be the best racing sim on two wheels, but some of its four-wheeled competitors still lap it.
Wandersong is an accessible, uplifting adventure that deftly builds to a memorable crescendo. Sure, the game has a few rough edges, most of which can be attributed its humble indie origins, but it more than makes up for its shortcomings with its heartfelt characters and story. Put on your adventuring hat and cape and warm up your pipes, it's time for an emotional world rescue.
Road Redemption delivers exactly what it promises – an accurate recreation of decades-old racing games that maybe weren't all that hot to begin with. If you legitimately love and have continued to play Road Rash all these years, by all means, give Road Redemption a shot. You'll probably enjoy it. If the 16-bit era was before your time, or you haven't touched Road Rash since you returned it to Blockbuster Video in 1993, be prepared for a bumpy ride.
Hitman 2 is yet another well-executed entry in IO Interactive's killer franchise. The game lacks some of the refinement expected of a world-class assassin, but the top-notch level design and some small, but key improvements to the series' core mechanics more than make up for a few presentation and polish issues. Hitman 2 isn't quite the shot to the heart it could have been, but it's close enough to count.
Call of Cthulhu is horror comfort food. The equivalent of a dog-eared horror paperback found on some dusty used bookstore shelf. The game isn't particularly daring or terrifying, but it is a well-written and crafted bit of low-stress spookiness. A handful of ill-conceived sequences drag Call of Cthulhu down a notch, but, thankfully, they aren't enough to fully sink the game.
Lego DC Super-Villains doesn't shake things up that much, but it doesn't break anything either. Ultimately, above-average level design and a dizzying amount of DC content mostly make up for the game's bland action and lack of polish. Lego DC Super-Villains might not have the chops to take over the world, but it may conquer a surprising amount of your family's free time.