David Poole's Reviews
The original No More Heroes may not be perfect, but it gave birth to a truly interesting premise. All of the elements that make up this title get refined and perfected in the next game, but the first game is still a good hook. These boss battles represent some of my favorites in gaming, but the dull open world and humdrum side jobs diminish the experience a bit. Even so, if you’re looking to get into the series, dropping $20 here is still well worth it.
While The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV brings an epic conclusion to the saga, it's not without faults. The fantastic newer elements from the third entry return while this entry refines it into an ultimately better system. It also continues the use of a lot of strange presentation choices that feel almost archaic in 2020. Despite this, players will have an extremely large cast of heroes to work with in a fun setting. It's sort of like the Avengers: Endgame of JRPGs.
If you can manage to find one, it should make for a fun gift for this holiday season. Even with some shortcomings, this is yet another innovative experience from the minds at Nintendo. With nearly endless options on courses and a cool use of technology, I look forward to seeing what some players come up with. As a game it might be somewhat lacking, but as a toy, this is surely going to be a hit.
I can appreciate the level of detail here, even if I don't fully understand it. This isn't a game for me, but it may still be a game for you if you're into the thrill of simulated racing.
If you’re a fan of science fiction stories, anime, or strategy games, you won’t want to sleep on this one. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a truly masterful accomplishment in the genre and deserves to be recognized.
It’s great to see the Alan Wake connection grow, and the mysteries of the oldest house are always a delight. While the AWE expansion doesn’t do much to change the core mechanics of the game, it does offer a new area to explore, a new weapon, and a delightfully demented antagonist.
Overall, I really enjoyed BPM: Bullets Per Minute. Despite the moments of frustration of having to start from the very beginning after death, I always found myself going back for more. With each run, I would learn something new or change up my strategy. Maintaining perseverance, victory was suddenly a reality, and it was oh so satisfying. As someone that isn’t a big fan of roguelikes, this one struck a chord with me, and I’m really glad it did.
As far as anime games go, Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions definitely delivers a great sense of style. While there are some shortcomings, it makes up for them with epic gameplay moments and fun arcade football. Even if it might be too over-the-top for fans of games like FIFA, it will likely be a fun time for fans of the franchise.
With an endearing story and much deeper multiplayer experiences, Marvel’s Avengers is well worth another look. It’s clear that this game is a passion project for fans, by fans. Even if you think the developers didn’t have the fans in mind, the game asks you to think again.
When it comes down to it, Tell Me Why is yet another solid story from Dontnod Entertainment. It's groundbreaking in its approach to representation, and yet it doesn't make that the focus of the story. Of course, this won't be a game for everyone, but those looking for fantastic writing, fun pop culture references and emotional storytelling will be in for a good time. The amazing performances and music also make it a stellar presentation.
It might not do anything groundbreaking, but it would be difficult to argue against this being the best Samurai Jack game. If you’re not a fan of the series though, there might not be a lot for you to enjoy here.
When it comes to VR games, Marvel’s Iron Man VR is definitely among the more immersive experiences. While the action sequences could make up more of the bulk of the game, it compensates this with solid performances and a pretty good story. Load times may be plentiful, but the game makes up for it with an amazing sense of visual detail.
Overall, the new Battletoads feels like a great way to continue the franchise. Rare put these cult classic characters in very capable hands, making for a very entertaining, yet still challenging, sequel. It’s definitely not going to be a long game, lasting only a handful of hours, but the replay value with friends will last much longer.
Fight Crab may not be a traditional fighting game, but it’s definitely a game that gets by on its humor. Luckily, the crazy fights and over the top situations make this game very funny to play. It also comes with a rocking soundtrack that really jazzes you up for the fights. While the idea is pretty simple, the results provide a fun ice breaker game. Even if it’s not the best fighter out there, you’ll still want talk about Fight Crab when it’s all over.
Overall, the Spider-Man: Far From Home Virtual Reality Experience is a fun time. It may be simple, but it gives players a chance to swing through the city like Spider-Man. While it doesn’t offer as much as a true VR game, for a free game, I honestly couldn’t ask for more.
Overall, Ghost of Tsushima offers a beautiful and engaging experience, taking full advantage of its serene setting and gorgeous set pieces. Combat offers plenty of freedom and can be both intense and incredibly violent in some moments. It’s definitely outside of the box for Sucker Punch, but the gamble seems to have paid off
Honestly, Golem seems like it would be a better game without the VR. If I could move faster and use buttons in place of the motion gestures for combat, I’d probably have a much better time. It’s unfortunate that people will likely overlook such a cool idea because of the various issues.
While The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners may not be for everyone, it perfectly embodies what VR stands for. This is an exceptionally immersive adventure that truly puts you in its world. Your walker kills feel earned, and your effectiveness is completely reliant on your own physical ability. With a lengthy story for a VR title and incredibly deep gameplay, this is one that’s worth jumping into.
With fantastic music and a stellar visual presentation, this is an easy choice for any Tetris fan. I still find myself humming music from this game, even two years after the original release. Even without VR, this is still an excellent puzzle experience.
Love, rage, sadness: these feelings can easily take control of your actions, and the game perfectly demonstrates that. It’s definitely necessary to play the first one to get the full impact, but even on its own, this is a strong experience. I said it before, and I’ll say it again: The Last of Us Part II is a masterpiece. It’s a game that’s going to resonate with me for a long time, and I’m perfectly okay with that.