Almost all of Guacamelee 2's positive attributes can be applied to either entry in the franchise. Both have smooth controls, a lovely soundtrack, clever dialogue, and a striking visual style. But ingenuity is the key differentiating factor and that's what drags down Guacamelee 2 from achieving the same level of greatness.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit captures the awkward nostalgia of being a child quite well even if it falters in other areas.
Sonic Mania Plus is probably what fans of Sonic Mania want, which was probably also what fans of old Sonic games wanted.
It's almost there in many respects which make the prospect of a sequel awfully alluring but it's executed well enough to make it a good game in its own right.
Narcosis' voice acting and writing might hold water but the outdated visuals, laughable horror, and poor gameplay weigh the game down and cause it to sink faster than a corpse with cinder block shoes.
By pushing for change in a slightly messy way, the game fittingly embodies its revolutionary namesake in a way that will hopefully encourage others to follow suit and improve upon what it has started.
While Anamorphine's story is still worth seeing through, it's a shame that its shoddy optimization tries to actively thwart its touching message at every turn.
Whether it's two players or four, Overcooked 2 is a rowdy cooperative blast that encourages teamwork and adaptation as its constantly changing level design and recipe book keep you and your team on their toes. It's just up to you to find a group of people you're willing to yell at and celebrate with.
The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode One's endearing characters and lovely cliffhanger ending have me eagerly anticipating what's coming next, like any good Telltale game of old. But its better camera, updated presentation, and deeper gameplay mechanics have me interested in whatever new things the studio is cooking up after it puts Clementine's story to rest.
It may occasionally feel like a relic, but like the members of the Strange Brigade have shown, sometimes that's just what you're looking for.
For a game about garbage, its wholesomeness and "holesomeness" make it the very opposite of trash.
Coincidentally, Shadow of the Tomb Raider looks content living in the shadow of the other Tomb Raider games, which is good enough in most respects. It's just at its best when it crawls out of that shadow and ventures into uncharted territory.
Despite Episode 2's strengths, the cancellation makes it hard to recommend because it is part of something that will probably never become whole.
Life Is Strange 2 Episode 1 is a decent introduction this new season. It stumbles and succeeds in the same areas as its predecessor, but those stumbles are a bit less severe and those victories are a tad more successful.
Although it crafts a wonderful narrative in an awe-inspiring world, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, through its stubbornness and familiarity, sometimes feels like a "best of" compilation of its predecessors without being the best of them.
The game is probably close to what you'd expect: a collection of hard-as-nails platforming levels capped off by a boss fight where you get more gear so you can tackle even more hard-as-nails platforming levels and boss fights. However, its new Gear System and difficulty settings simultaneously make it more accessible and deeper while not sacrificing its core identity.
There's an elusive elegance to The Gardens Between. It's short, charming, and shows its rewarding puzzle mechanic in just a couple hours without stretching the game to its breaking point. Some people might think it's too short but it's a start contrast to a solid chunk of big budget games that boast nebulous amounts of content over shorter, more authored experiences.
The remaster is just a timeless reminder of its importance in the pantheon of sneaking games.
The skating dry spell may not have been completely lifted but it's not as dry anymore, thanks to this modest splat of paint.
Project Warlock's speedy gunplay, rockin' soundtrack, and armory of slick weapons combine in a way that make it a bit more than a repeat of past Dooms and results in a game that's bigger than the sum of its many recognizable parts.