William Murphy

BillMurphyMMORPG
jobildo

Favorite Games:
  • Ultima VII: The Black Gate
  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
  • Guild Wars 2

172 games reviewed
80.0 average score
80 median score
72.1% of games recommended

William Murphy's Reviews

Bill Murphy has been blogging and pontificating about video games since 2002. Always ready with more to say than anyone could possibly want to read, he began his professional writing tenure at IGN's Vault Network as an Assistant Community Manager in 2006. Later he moved on to Ten Ton Hammer, and then finally landed a gig as Lead Writer at MMORPG.com and, which has evolved into his current role as Managing Editor. In 2017, he co-founded the all-games site GameSpace.com He lives in Cleveland, Ohio with his beautiful wife, two young sons, and small army of dogs and cats.
8.6 / 10.0 - Atlas Reactor
Oct 6, 2016

But therein lies the beauty: Atlas Reactor is something special amid a world filled with one too many MOBAs, team shooters, and card games. I truly hope it takes off like wildfire, though I fear it may be destined to be niche with its Competitive XCOM flare and somewhat steep learning curve. Once Atlas Reactor clicks for you, I promise you’ll be hooked. It hits the sweet spot in match length, has loads of replay value, and scratches the competitive itch. More than that, its community seems bright and helpful, the gameplay itself doesn’t require 200 APM skills, and you’ll succeed with quick thinking and careful tactics more than pitch-perfect aiming.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - Warframe
Jun 27, 2018

I love that Warframe continues to grow and evolve into something ever greater than it was with its humble beginning.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - EARTHLOCK
Apr 23, 2018

The care and attention to detail by Snowcastle Games shows in Earthlock. It's a lovingly crafted world and one that I can't wait to see from.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - Destiny 2
Nov 10, 2017

I'm officially a fan, and having Destiny 2 on PC is exactly what I'd hoped for all along.

Read full review

Nov 30, 2017

We've had Breath of the Wild, we got Skyrim, and Disgaea 5, but for many JRPG fans, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will be the first really exciting release on the Switch. And I'm here to say that it's been worth the wait for the follow up to the Wii's original classic.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - SteamWorld Heist
Dec 27, 2017

SteamWorld Heist was an excellent game when it launched in 2015, and it's still excellent today on the Switch. Offering a familiar world and style with a new way to play amid the robots, it's a strategy game that belongs on every Switch

Read full review

Apr 25, 2018

South Park: The Fractured But Whole is an excellent RPG with a South Park skin. If you love the crass fourth graders and their adventures as much as I do, then chances are you're going to have a great time. If you're more of a tangential fan, you'll probably still find a lot to love. But if South Park isn't your bag of tea, then the gameplay alone may not make this one worth your time.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - Yakuza 0
Feb 10, 2017

Yakuza 0 is a strong reminder of just how much potential the open world genre has for unique experiences. It’s easy to get bogged down with the long list of games that just give you a map full of tasks to complete. Yakuza 0 is not one of those games. It’s got a strong story to tell, and tons of genuinely fun and funny side ventures to partake in. On top of it all, its combat is so fun, you just might find yourself running around Japan looking for Mr. Shakedown to teach him a lesson.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
May 6, 2017

Overall though, there’s not a lot I can fault Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for. It’s a remake, sure, but it’s also the best the series has ever been and now a family favorite in my house. Oh, and I barely even mentioned the return of the excellent Battle Mode and all its arena-based kart combat fun. This one is highly recommended, and I only hopes Nintendo releases more content in the future.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - Cosmic Star Heroine
Jun 13, 2018

Cosmic Star Heroine is an homage to classic 90s sci-fi RPGS, and it works really well to evoke that sense of adventure. It may be a short affair, but its combat mechanics are tight, the drudgery of traditional JRPGs is wiped away by clever design decisions, and at fifteen bucks, it's well worth the price of entry. Recommended.

Read full review

Aug 28, 2017

If you own a Nintendo Switch, you want this game, period. I didn’t know I wanted this mashup, but now that we have it, I can’t wait for the DLC, and I definitely want sequels.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - NBA 2K18
Sep 21, 2017

Now, if you don’t care about playing online, don’t care about optional microtransactions, and can stand the ups and downs of bugs that will be patched, NBA 2K18 is the best basketball game of the year and probably of the past decade. It’s a shame that some polish and poor business choices weigh it down.

Read full review

Jul 17, 2017

There’s no denying that Prideful Sloth has created something special. Labeled an upstart Indie Studio, they’ve gone and created one of my favorite games of 2017 so far. It’s ambitious, breathtakingly beautiful, and a joy to play. There’s something to be said for games that don’t rely on combat of any sort to engage the player.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - Agents of Mayhem
Aug 15, 2017

Agents of Mayhem proudly barrels out into the world as a robust and absolutely fun single player experience. If you want an escape from the grimdark settings of most modern games, but still want to make things go boom, you should stop reading and pick it up now. Above all else, Agents of Mayhem is a master class in fun.

Read full review

Gameplay wise, you’ll be hard-pressed to run out of things to do in RCR. Not only is there a free roam mode right off the bat, but the New Game+ is crazy and off the wall too. We’re talking dozens of hours of gaming here, and if you’ve never played RCR before, probably even more. I don’t hesitate when I say that Retro City Rampage is a must play for any retro-gaming fan, open world fan, or Nintendo gamer. It’s iconic, and worth the investment. And yes, RCR DX on the Switch is probably the best version out there.

Read full review

Jun 13, 2018

If there's anything really "meh" about Ys VIII it's that the story takes a good long while to get going. It crawls along with dream sequences that don't really generate interest, and the first hour or more is just you running around the soon-to-crash ship talking to people. But once you're adventuring on the island, fishing, crafting, learning new skills, finding new secrets, and meeting new survivors, Ys VIII becomes a very memorable experience. It makes me hope we don't wait so long for a Ys IX, and that it's given the care and attention it deserves.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - Golf Story
Oct 5, 2017

Golf Story is like Stardew Valley and Caddyshack had a baby. And that baby is the best baby, you guys. It’s out now on the Switch eshop, and there’s no wonder it’s currently sitting atop the best sellers. One can only hope we get a Badminton Story, a Croquet Story, and perhaps a Water Polo Story next. Let’s keep this thing going.

Read full review

Apr 12, 2018

If you missed out on the Wii U Hyrule Warriors, I'd more than suggest buying the Definitive Edition here on Switch. Not only is it one of the best Warriors spin-offs to date, but chances are you're a Zelda fan if you own the Switch and it's just a great spinoff of Link's adventures altogether. Can it get repetitive? Sure, but that's the nature of Action RPGs like this – Warriors games are essentially 3rd-Person Diablos without the loot hunt. Playing coop is a joy, the Adventure Mode is an awesome addition, and raising your own fairy is surprisingly cute and meaningful. With all the content on display, it's worth the full price of entry.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - Moonlighter
Jun 7, 2018

Overall the two halves of the game fit together very well and combine to make an interesting game. Clearing out the dungeons can occasionally feel a bit grindy because I often had to do part of it over and over before I was able to get all the way through it. There's even a bit of a town management aspect as well. Additionally, there is even a bit of a story about these dungeons which is uncovered as you explore more of them and find various items. The story for the most part is sort of to the side and not the main thing, but it is interesting.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0 - Onrush
Jun 13, 2018

ONRUSH is a nice break from the standard fair of racers. It offers some unique modes and fun visuals as well as a solid arcade gameplay experience. It does suffer from a pretty simple combat system and some odd design choices in regards to the cosmetic shop but honestly despite these shortcomings is still a blast to play. Overall it's a fun romp of a racer that offers some fresh, intense multiplayer gaming for you and your buddies.

Read full review