Shaan Joshi's Reviews
Whether you’re adventuring solo or bringing a friend along in co-op, there’s a lot of fun (and a few laughs) to be had.
There’s certainly room for improvement when it comes to its presentation and performance, but it’s hard to deny that Assassin’s Creed Shadows does so much so well. From its wonderfully realized world to its wealth of engaging quests and distractions, there’s plenty to enjoy here, regardless of whether you’ve fallen off the franchise in recent years.
There’s an endless list of things to gush and wax poetic about — the haunting soundtrack, the monochrome visuals punctuated by bits of crimson and neon magenta, the callbacks and homages to your favorite PlayStation 1 horror games. It’s clear that Simogo has an undying love for the medium as a whole; not because of the winks and nods to the games of the past, but because Lorelei and the Laser Eyes forges its own path, and it does so with a startling amount of confidence and an unwavering artistic vision that has to be seen through to its conclusion. I doubt I’ll be able to convince genre detractors to cross the aisle, but if you have even the slightest interest in puzzle or adventure games, you owe it to yourself to give this modern-day masterpiece a try. Just make sure you have some pen and paper, and a bit of patience, at the ready.
While I’m sure that some of my disappointment can be chalked up to its younger target audience, the truth of the matter is a tougher pill to swallow: Lego Horizon Adventures is a half-decent game, but at the end of the day, it’s not a good Horizon game, and it’s certainly not a good Lego game. Somehow, it manages to be less than the sum of its parts.
By most metrics, Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is the prime example of a barebones PC port, and I wouldn’t begrudge anyone for being disappointed with what’s on offer here. That being said, if you’re looking for the most straightforward way to play a truly bizarre mishmash of juvenile humor and mindless fun, don’t hesitate to pull the trigger on this one.
In a world of by-the-numbers sequels and soulless cash grabs, Astro Bot stands as an oasis, an absolute masterpiece packed to the brim with charm, creativity, and a genuine love for video games, old and new. There are still four months left in the year, but if I’m being honest, I think I’ve already found my pick for game of the year.
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection offers up some of the best storytelling and characters the medium has seen.
Putting aside that minor issue, the most divisive thing about Braid, Anniversary Edition might be how little of the core package has changed. Aside from the visual facelift, the core mechanics and gameplay are just as they were back in 2008, and that more or less dictates who this remaster is for. Those who were turned off by Braid’s strictly linear progression and uncompromising puzzles are unlikely to have a change of heart all these years later. For longtime fans or those who have yet to experience this timeless classic for themselves, Braid, Anniversary Edition is a must-play.
Series diehards and more casual fans will undoubtedly find a lot to like here, and I certainly hope it's a sign that we'll be seeing much more of the Ace Attorney franchise in the coming years. For those who weren't sold on the original trio of Phoenix Wright games, this second collection won't do much to sway your opinion.
WarioWare: Move It! offers up plenty of hilarious, colorful, and creative microgames — it's just a shame that players will have to contend with an unwavering dedication to motion controls and a story mode that only lasts a couple of hours.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is an absolute masterpiece, offering up some of the most inventive, charming, and creative platforming action the genre has ever seen. It might have taken three decades, but Super Mario World has finally been dethroned.
Spider-Man 2 is a tour de force, elevating an already great franchise into a fantastic one. Most, if not all, of the bumps and wrinkles have been ironed out, and what we're left with is one of the best superhero games ever made.
El Paso, Elsewhere wears its influences on its sleeves, and while it doesn't reach the same highs set by Max Payne all those years ago, it more than makes up for it in its story and presentation.
Detective Pikachu Returns hasn't lost the charm of its predecessor, but the overly simplified gameplay might alienate some players.
Pikmin 4 is a tour de force, carefully balancing the franchise's tried-and-true freeform structure with new mechanics and systems that don't force players into one specific playstyle. Our one big gripe? For some reason, you can't pet the dog.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is, simply put, a masterpiece. If you're at all interested in adventure games, this one is a must-play.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a must-play for casual onlookers, and veterans of the series will probably get a kick out of replaying these two classics. It's just a shame that the online multiplayer is half-baked; this franchise certainly deserves better.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe showcases the best of Kirby's unique brand of 2D platforming. Unfortunately, veteran players will have to slog through the main campaign one more time to see everything on offer.
The chips might have been stacked against them, but Warner Bros. and Avalanche Software have delivered on their promise. Hogwarts Legacy is the game that fans have been waiting for, laying down a solid foundation to build off of moving forward.
As a turn-based tactical RPG, Fire Emblem Engage delivers on all fronts. On the other hand, when it comes to its social sim systems and story, this latest entry falls short of the mark, especially when compared to its predecessors.