Joshua Duckworth's Reviews
Overall, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition advertised itself as taking the already-popular trilogy, bringing it to modern consoles, and giving it smart improvements. There's a lot that it does to improve the games without detracting from the core experience, and that says something. The first game is 13 years old and the third game is 9 years old at the time of this writing, and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition makes them feel much more current and recent. It's hard to imagine making the original trilogy any better, but these remasters definitely make them much more current.
Many fans have been waiting for a Pokemon Snap sequel since their childhood, and while it may not exactly be what they imagined, it's a solid experience and highlights what has been sorely been missed in the franchise. New Pokemon Snap is a worthwhile sequel, a relaxing journey through the Pokemon world, and fun to play in the comfort of one's home or on the go.
Overall, Wrath of the Druids is not a bad addition to Assassin's Creed Valhalla. It's even a good one for those who want any reason to step in Eivor's shoes again. But for those who have turned their attention elsewhere, it doesn't do much to bring them back.
As mentioned, this remaster is geared for newcomers and so it's the best way to experience the game, even if it isn't a must-play for those who already experienced it on last-gen. Luckily, those who are returning to Judgment Remastered may also have reason to hold out hope for something brand new. Sega has deemed May 7 as Judgment Day, with many thinking this will be a sequel announcement. That ultimately remains to be seen, but if there's one thing this remaster proves, it's that Judgment is worthy of its own franchise.
Outriders is the type of game where players get what they put in. For those who want a pick-up and put-down RPG with an emphasis on story, Outriders has that covered. For those who want hundreds of hours of gameplay in tense and adrenaline-pumping combat with powerful builds, Outriders has that covered too. Ultimately, the strength of Outriders is how it connects to its players and what they want out of the game, meaning everyone walks away feeling different about it, and that can only be a good thing.
Immortals Fenyx Rising is a satirical take on Greek mythology that features a gripping story mixed with familiar gameplay features.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a love letter to fans of the classic action-adventure titles as well as the newer role-playing mechanics.
Crysis Remastered is not a full-price retail release, instead opting for $29.99 on the Microsoft Store and other retailers. As such, it's best to see this game for what it is: a budget game that won't particularly wow but contains some levels of nostalgia. Even if it's far below what was expected of the original, there is still fun to be had with this remaster.
Hades is everything a dungeon-crawler fan could want out of a game. Its gameplay loop is rewarding and interesting, it's simple enough that there's no skill barrier, it's complex enough that the repetition is a benefit and not a detriment, and all the small details boost the bigger ones. Hades is ultimately the result of when every aspect of a game comes together to form one fun and cohesive experience, and it's a testament to what Supergiant Games can do.
Wasteland 3 is an easy recommendation for RPG fans. It's a wild ride from start to finish - one that is well worth every hour and playthrough spent on it.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated gives the original a nice paint job but fails to do much more than that.
For newcomers and veterans alike, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX offers a near-perfect overhaul of the classic dungeon crawling experience.
Aside from a few minor shortcomings, the Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection delivers a truly fun and nostalgic gaming experience.
Nioh 2 takes everything Team Ninja had to offer in the first game and expands it, and while this mostly hits the mark, there are a few hiccups.
Zombie Army 4: Dead War offers players fun gunplay and co-op against a never-ending horde of Nazi zombies but fails to do anything new or engaging.
Despite a few shortcomings in mechanics and story, Pokemon Sword and Shield delivers an experience that is undeniably Pokemon.
Need for Speed Heat is a solid entry in the long-running racing franchise, but one that fails to live up to its massive legacy.
From developer Bloober Team and publisher Gun Media, Layers of Fear 2 is a truly terrifying game and a significant improvement over the original in many ways.
Although it lacks the polish of the previous episode, The Walking Dead Final Season Episode 4 brings Clementine's story to an end with a strong sense of closure.
DiRT Rally 2.0 builds upon the original and adds new content to improve the rally simulation experience, but it also continues to repeat the sins of the past.