Kenneth Shepard's Reviews
"Farewell" succinctly captures everything that Life is Strange does well in a beautiful and devastating package.
Hacker's Memory is a solid addition to the original Cyber Sleuth, but as its own game it has little in the way of substance.
As poignant and raw as ever, Night in the Woods feels more at home on Switch than anywhere else.
Hell is Empty feels like a superficial way to cap its story off, as it chooses an easy ending to Rachel and Chloe's relationship rather than exploring its darker conclusion.
Don't Stop Believin' helps to undo a lot of damage of previous episodes, but this more level-headed characterization is five episodes too late.
Sonic Forces has polish in some key places, but fails to bring that polish to every facet of its design.
Brave New World wastes what precious little time Before the Storm has on filler, holding back meaningful developments until the very end.
Who Needs You pulls out tedious nonsense and meaningless set pieces all to keep you away from Guardians of the Galaxy's actual story.
But unless it's another one of the game's lies, Killing Harmony ends definitively enough that I'm content viewing it as more of a deconstruction of the killing game and perhaps a commentary on Danganronpa as a franchise than the beginning of a new story. It's not quite as profound, but it is daring. For that, Killing Harmony earns my respect, if not necessarily my adoration.
Before the Storm addresses old problems through an old story, and it makes a compelling case to reconsider its divisive protagonist.
More Than a Feeling drags as it attempts to salvage some characters, but can't overcome some of Guardians of the Galaxy's lack of clarity and visual flair.
Hellblade's mundane mechanics help underscore a powerful story of overcoming your demons, if you're willing to subject yourself to the honest portrayal of mental illness it presents.
Dream Daddy is more of a dad sim than a dating sim, as its romance feels artificial on most occasions.
Pyre's battle system is excellent and delivers upon thrilling competitive play, but whether it has any future in that space could rest on whether it gets online play.
Danganronpa Another Episode Ultra Despair Girls is still a profound story with improved mechanics on PS4, but its standing in the series' narrative has shifted for the worst since it originally launched.
Injustice 2 builds upon its predecessor with a great additional fighters and a story that adds weight to every fight.
What Remains of Edith Finch's lovingly designed environment underscores a tragedy that's heart outshines its linear nature.
This is an excellent representation of what made these games so beloved and enjoyed, not to mention frustrating for gamers.
While there's nothing here that will cure Telltale fatigue, Guardians of the Galaxy also manages to stumble in its writing and visual style where the studio typically succeeds.
Persona 5 brings to light modern issues in a powerful, symbolic story of youthful rebellion. Outfitted with a stylish aesthetic and complex systems, it confidently pulls off moments of grandeur and intimate moments of character growth to create a remarkable experience.