EA FC 24, the revamped FIFA, brings a breath of fresh air with its dynamic menu, "precision pass," and reintroduction of female athletes in Ultimate Team. However, it grapples with lingering connectivity troubles and a lack of innovation. On a positive note, the elimination of position-altering consumables, in Ultimate Team, and the introduction of "playstyles" offer enhanced gameplay depth. All in all, EA FC 24 caters to football enthusiasts, offering a small blend of new features while still wrestling with the same gameplay formula.
Baldur's Gate 3 is nothing short of a gaming phenomenon, the kind of video game sensation that surfaces only once in a blue moon.
Immortals of Aveum is a blockbuster action game. Much like superhero movies, it excels in combat but loses its heat in the story with lackluster dialogue and a hurried narrative. The cornerstone of Immortals is its graphics. The characters and environments were expertly crafted, highlighting the strong motion-captured characters. It was always refreshing to see how all the colors were utilized in each mission of the game. Excellent level design and fast-paced gameplay made a wonderful pair.
In a world full of remasters, Need For Speed Hot Pursuit doesn't get first place. The adrenaline that goes into each race or chase is super high. But the lows of the game loading and car handling weigh the game down. Hot Pursuit stays true to its roots and to that it deserves a nod. It's a fun racing game the developers can hopefully improve upon for future remasters.
The Legendary Edition is the most efficient way to consume the Mass Effect trilogy. Everything is presented in a nice little package, and with a little bow on top that is the original DLC. The series really benefits from being able to play the games right after each other in their natural order. Importing your saved character into the sequel gives you the full experience and allows your character's actions to, seemingly, have more weight since you see the outcomes immediately. The bond that Commander Shepard cultivates with their allies is magical. I wish I could erase my memory of this series just to be able to play this collection as it was intended. Any newcomer to the series who is on the fence should absolutely jump on it, and returning fans will certainly be happy that it was treated with tender loving care.
I had a good time with Stranded Deep. I spent a good amount of time with it. Thinking about all the pros and cons together, my opinion on this game is mixed.
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World does its job as a platformer, and nothing more. That is to its detriment but also to its benefit. Unimaginative platforming is balanced by the rousing puzzles. Being a faithful remake, you can feel the age.
I haven't had a game hit me emotionally quite as Concrete Genie has. An emotional story blended with beautiful artwork and seamless gameplay creates an incredible experience. I am beyond impressed with Pixelopus's work and you can easily see all the blood, sweat and tears poured into the game. Concrete genie may not scratch the gameplay itch that you have but rather it delivers an important story to tell. I highly recommend it for any hardcore gaming fan as well as the creative types.
This battle royale mixes gun play and construction that is so fun, the end does not look anywhere in sight. The exciting game is so popular and is even bringing people together. Playing with your friends is one of the most satisfying co-op experiences you will have. Fortnite: Battle Royale is a great play for anyone.
Nitro-Fueled is a wonderful remake of the classic racer we all know and love. The mechanics and courses are lovingly recreated for the current gen. Combine that with a revamped Adventure mode and players have another faithful, fantastic game. Though I wouldn't say it's a perfect game due to its difficulty and pretty short story, I don't think it is crazy to say that Crash Team Racing is the best kart racing game available.
Running on a treadmill and Days Gone are very similar experiences. You put in time and effort, yet you remain in the same spot. Thrilling gameplay and crazed "freakers" cannot save this game from its LONG, uncompelling story. Ultimately, the amount of hours invested in Days Gone do not pay off. This is not a full throttle Sony exclusive that we've come to know and love, it's miles away from that.
Windbound is a fun experience that breaks the survival game mold. The boat crafting and sailing are innovative features that were exciting to explore. Altough the positives were very strong, the quality of life issues made the experience tedious. Windbound accels in standing alone in a saturated genre, but doesn't shine through enough.
Another amazing platformer is now on the Nintendo Switch. Spyro the Reignited Trilogy is a wonderful remake of the original games that will leave you wanting more. It is a lot easier than the originals, but that should not stop old fans and new fans from playing the game. Its a good game for the Switch, but I would recommend just getting it on PS4 or Xbox if you want the traditional Spyro experience.
Crash 4 is an enjoyable experience that will entice new and old to the series. The gameplay loop has been designed elegantly so that levels never feel taxing, but rather feels refreshing. No level makes you do the same thing over and over again, there is a wonderful mixture of features. This includes adding new masks and playable characters that break up the monotony of playing as regular Crash. The level design and graphics alone, are enough to leave you in awe. The pros of It's About Time by far outweigh the cons making it one of the best Crash adventures.
Dynasty Warriors 9 is extremely repetitive, and it gets to the point of frustration and boredom. The graphics in game are nothing to talk about. It would be different if the game had subpar gameplay and beautiful scenery, but you won't find that here. Unchallenging combat is just salt in the wound. This is not a game I recommend, and its 80 something playable characters cannot save it.
Cyberpunk 2077 is broken on last-generation consoles. That doesn't mean you can't see the finer details of the game, but you simply cannot enjoy them because of that brokenness. Where the game succeeds is in story, beautiful RPG elements, and a strong amount of customization that makes it feel like 'your' game and story. At the same time, Cyberpunk isn't unique as the game feels like an amalgamation of Fallout and Bladerunner. Ultimately, aside from the game-breaking bugs, the game has good aspects that could have been great with a little more time in development.
If you're looking for a silly and relaxing time, this is your game. On the other hand, this is not the game for someone looking for great gameplay or a compelling story. The creativity in the world and its characters is where this game shines, but that shine will only reach so far. I wish it was a twice baked potato, yet sadly this is half-baked.
A wonderful story mixed in with entertaining and truly original co-op experience. It was such thrilling time to be playing a game that required teamwork. The main story is good, but then a major twist that pushes the story even deeper makes the game even better. Leo and Vincent's polar opposite personalities come together and offer for fun dialogue. A Way Out's beautiful design and thrilling gameplay bring back the fun times of binge playing a game on the couch with your best friend.
Madden 21 is a great game that old and new players would be excited to play. New modes and updated features like Superstar X-Factor and The Yard have put youth into a veteran series. The way the players acted and how the games sound makes it feel like a real NFL game and in 2020 that is needed. While it still has flaws, it may be one of the best Madden games yet.
Conan Exiles is a game where you make your own experience. Much like Minecraft, Exiles will have you exploring, creating, and building, while also providing a fully immersive game set in the world of Conan the Barbarian. Most of the time that will equal out to fun.