David Poole's Reviews
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
When it comes down to it, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle improves upon so much of what the first game started. It might not be perfect, and even a tad bit too easy, but it’s still an enjoyable experience. With a campaign just shy of 10 hours, it’s not a long one, but it’s well worth the $20 price. It’s raunchy, absurd, and incredibly crazy, but it’s an exciting rush of adrenaline that will likely excite fans for No More Heroes 3.
It may only take a handful of hours to complete, but Astro’s Playroom is the perfect pack-in game for the PS5. Players can get a full experience of the DualSense controller’s capabilities and enjoy a fun platformer to boot. This is really something every PlayStation 5 owner should experience before jumping into any other game.
If you’re a die-hard fan of the Yakuza series, then there’s plenty to love here. Even if you’re not, this is a great place to become one, especially given the standalone nature of this title. With that in mind, joining Ichiban’s heroic journey is an easy choice here.
While the modern era story seems as crazy as ever, I’m honestly looking forward to more Assassin’s Creed again. I’m excited to see where the series goes next, but for now, I’m going to continue to expand my Viking reign and take my time enjoying the gorgeous vistas in this monumental game.
Again, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a pretty great rhythm game, providing solid and challenging gameplay as well as a stellar tracklist. It may be missing a lot of fan favorite elements, but if you overlook it, it’s still an impressive recap of the series. If you’re a casual fan and you want to experience the music, it’s a fun enough time. For those that are the die-hard fans, you’ll mostly be playing this for the new clues at the end.
While Bright Memory isn’t going to win any awards, it’s still a pretty commendable effort from FYQD. The trailer for the remake looks promising, as it seems to already address some of the issues in the original game. Looks can be deceiving, but we’ll still keep an eye on Infinite to see if it can change our minds. As for this entry, it’s not a terrible experience for $8, but it’s not exactly one we recommend.
If you’ve only been hearing about Hades, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not playing it. The gameplay is addicting and full of variety, and the Greek mythology theme is incredibly enticing. With great performances, fantastic music and an incredible art style, Hades easily ranks high among the best of 2020.
Ultimately, The Falconeer is an interesting use of a few hours. The gameplay is mostly strong thanks to the engaging combat, albeit a challenging and frustrating experience. It’s just unfortunate that the game is full of repetitive tasks that suck the fun out of the game.
Overall, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is an excellent successor to the original Hyrule Warriors. When it comes to being a Breath of the Wild prequel, it captures the spirit and essence, but it also somewhat tarnishes the story that game told. Despite that, the gameplay is fun and inventive enough to see this new story through, and it should still be enjoyable for fans. If it means this will fill the void till we get the proper sequel, then so be it.