Mortal Kombat 11 is arguably the most enjoyable entry in the long-running franchise. It's visually incredible and a blast to play. However, questionable design decisions -- namely, a grind-heavy approach to progression -- hold it back from true fighting game greatness.
Design and technical issues aside, Hob: The Definitive Edition is a solid little dungeon crawler that will hopefully find a new, more appreciative audience on the Nintendo Switch.
Generation Zero holds plenty of promise, but its current state makes it impossible to recommend. From the painful inventory management to the lifeless open world to the haphazard multiplayer, there's little positive to be found here.
Although Golf Peaks could have benefited from there being more content included, it's still a solid puzzler that is more than worth the cost of admission. Its delightful presentation, calming presence and pick-up appeal make it perfect to take on the go.
Dead or Alive 6 maintains the same excellent fighting engine and graphical fluidity of past entries, but it's bogged down by a litany of problems. From the tedious grinding to unlock costumes to the bare-bones online play, it's a disappointing debut on current-gen consoles.
Degrees of Separation is definitely not great, but it's not exactly bad either. Instead, it's something potentially worse: forgettable. An intriguing premise is wasted on dull gameplay that never rises above simply being serviceable.
Trials Rising is not an evolution for the franchise. Instead, RedLynx delivers a smart sequel that offers up the same great gameplay while improving upon various side-aspects of the series.
Although Steins;Gate Elite has a tendency to get lost in the minutiae, this updated release is perhaps the best way to experience 5pb's kinetic visual novel.
Despite some questionable moments in the second episode, Life Is Strange 2 is off to an excellent start. Daniel and Sean's journey is a tough, racially-heated story that will draw you in, even as it breaks your heart.
Despite some questionable moments in the second episode, Life Is Strange 2 is off to an excellent start. Daniel and Sean's journey is a tough, racially-heated story that will draw you in, even as it breaks your heart.
The Hong Kong Massacre is a classic case of style over substance. The beauty of the title's slow-motion bullet ballet is just a fancy cover for its frustrating, un-evolving gameplay.
Absolutely jam-packed with content and technically proficient on the Switch, Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Definitive Edition is far and away the most complete entry in the long-running franchise.
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes can be engaging and stylish when it wants to be. However, it rarely wants to be either of those things, and is instead content to be a bland, boring slog that never gets out of first gear.
Onimusha: Warlords Remastered can feel as dated as you would expect from a PlayStation 2 era title, but Capcom has done a solid job of improving the visuals and reworking the gameplay in order to make it worth revisiting in 2019.
Both a faithful spiritual sequel and a fresh adventure, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is an excellent platformer with some truly gorgeous visuals.
The Council starts strong and manages to liven up the adventure genre with some smart decisions. As the series drags on though, the bugs, unappealing visuals, and lackluster plot development mar an otherwise engaging adventure.
Lovingly and lavishly recreated, the Spyro Reignited Trilogy is the perfect introduction to three of the best platformers of the PlayStation generation.
Memories Retold is a memorable and engaging adventure that needed to be made. However, like a history lesson you half paid attention to, that doesn't necessarily mean it was enjoyable to play. Ultimately, it's good enough to slog through, but that may not be the case for everyone.
WWE 2K19 is not without issues, but I can't deny that I have fun stepping into the squared circle. It may not hold much appeal to non-wrestling fans, but for those who have been burned over the years, it finally feels like things are getting better. In traditional WWE fashion, I'm not sure how long this will last, though.
Treyarch's big gamble pays off with Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Zombies may still do nothing for me, but the reworked gameplay, impressive suite of multiplayer modes -- especially Blackout -- make this the best entry in quite some time.