Jake Su's Reviews
As a spin-off that leaves us wanting more for the next mainline entry, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii definitely checks a few boxes. Character development is once again stellar, with Majima deservedly being spotlighted, and the various nautical elements infused into combat, exploration, and the world help to breathe new life into Hawaii and its surroundings. Yet, there are still rough edges to this adventure, such is the pirate life, but the crests of the waves most certainly outshine the troughs.
Between the much-improved combat, the more in-depth and engaging storytelling, the interesting overworld, and plenty of replayability, Dynasty Warriors: Origins doesn’t feel like just the franchise’s next entry, but a magnificent reboot that breathes new life into the series. And that is before you even dive into the higher difficulties and enjoy the postgame content. While the outsider perspective of the Wanderer and his relative lack of emotions take some getting used to, everyone else is at the peak of their powers, and the result is a fantastic game made for newcomers and a glorious benchmark for veterans to measure upcoming games against.
As an entire package, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has it all. The game looks great and runs superbly save for the random bugs, but more importantly, all of the promise from the first game appears to have been realized with this sequel. It offers varying degrees of nuanced storytelling with levity provided by smart quest design, and an opportunity for players to truly live in another world, enjoying everything there is to offer and ultimately, to lose themselves as Henry, the unlikely hero.
As an experience into the fabled IP’s universe, Alien: Rogue Incursion does a really good job in delivering the atmosphere and visuals. However, the biggest threat to its longevity is the repetitive gameplay that gets in the way of what should be its star attractions. The Xenomorph is to be fear, not overused, but there is still something inherently enjoyable about this ill-fated romp in space. What it needs is more time gestating in its cocoon and not sprouting out like an off-putting hybrid not ready for the limelight.
With so much history and frankly, baggage, Dragon Age: The Veilguard was always going to find it hard to please everyone. But what BioWare has done is put together an RPG that fits in well with the modern audience but still offers up many of the elements that make the studio such a stalwart in the genre. The exciting combat, a great cast of characters, excellent writing, and the visuals and audio combine to make this new entry almost unstoppable, like the Blight. There are no doubt still kinks to work out, but if this is the new Dragon Age, the future definitely looks brighter than ever before.
As awesome as it was back in the early 2000s, the many improvements made in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake breathe new life into the franchise and help to make it a more enticing affair for fans of the genre and beyond. It still remains a deep and comprehensive experience, but the options to learn and tweak stuff boost the accessibility to a new level, making this trip back to ancient China one well worth taking.
With a runtime of 8-12 hours, LEGO Horizon Adventures is an entertaining spinoff that should be seen as an evolution of the beloved LEGO formula but comes short when it comes to populating levels with meaningful things to do and see or alleviating the repetitiveness that becomes more apparent in a shorter adventure. There is value in this more approachable take on PlayStation’s first-party IPs, and is something I hope to see for other games like Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, and more, but only if the right balance can be found with these building blocks.
With each milestone hit in Metaphor: ReFantazio, there is a growing feeling that Atlus has reached the zenith of its craft. Having already delivered excellent RPGs in the past, the systems and coherence of everything else in this latest adventure are just on another level, helped by a much more mature story that touches on relatable themes and beliefs and motivates players with actual purpose and the ability to change things. It is not often that a game can bring enjoyment as you play through it, while triggering questions aplenty about your ideals and how everything fits into the complex worlds both in and outside of it. That is the core of Metaphor: ReFantazio, and it shines brilliantly.
While it is not breaking the mould or bringing groundbreaking innovations to the genre, G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra serves a particular audience and does it admirably. There is always a bunch of Cobra henchmen waiting to be trounced, and the license is put to work in all the best ways. If the developers can find a way to freshen things up in the various stages more and hasten their plans for console ports, then it will certainly help make the game more comparable to contemporaries which are more fleshed out.
Setting out to modernise a true classic, the Silent Hill 2 remake essentially achieves its goals of refining an already great experience into something better. The environments engender that sense of fear and trepidation, and the worldbuilding makes it impossible not to take another step into the nightmare. Combat feels much more fluid and exciting, and having everything look and sound so good only draws you in even more, even down to the campy dialogue that has benefitted from better delivery. Yes, the padding during the puzzle sections is hard to ignore and breaks up the otherwise excellent pacing, but the Silent Hill 2 remake is still an excellent addition to the genre, one that very fan of the genre must try to see what makes it so special.
In what has become an annual exercise, the already enjoyable gameplay of the series continues to be both a pro and a con, but with FC IQ being a feature that actually makes a tangible difference in EA Sports FC 25, it is easier to recommend new entry as something veterans should check out. The increased focus on Career Mode is undoubtedly welcome, as is the expanded use of women’s football, but everything else comes down to how you feel about marginal gains. In high-level sports, that can make all the difference, but in video games, it just might not be significant enough for you to join the team.
Hooking me right from the start and eliciting pure joy all the way to the end, The Plucky Squire has gone the extra mile in rewriting what should be expected out of an action-adventure such as this. By drawing from classic inspirations and adding its own spin on things, this is a game that leverages its creativity in all the good ways, and ultimately writes a happy ending not just for Jot and his friends, but hopefully, also for the future of its creators.
In essence, there is much to like about Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. Capcom has kept to its word in delivering an enhanced adventure for Frank, upping the ante when it comes to graphics, the zombie horde, and the crimson-filled action throughout. Smart tweaks make it easier to hold out over the 72 hours, and the progression system remains a good motivator in pushing players to the end. Unfortunately, there are also some issues that still crop up every once in a while, but they shouldn’t get in the way of enjoying a nostalgic romp through the Willamette Parkview Mall in 2024.
As an entire basketball package, there is no denying that NBA 2K25 is something to be savored by fans of the sport. With its great selection of game modes and the various improvements made in all areas, this makes it more of an obvious choice compared to last year's offering, and when Visual Concepts and 2K Games finally cut the cord with the previous generation, there will surely be even more amazing things to look forward to for a championship-caliber franchise.
From its first reveal to finally putting down the controller and collecting the Platinum trophy for Astro Bot, it has been a delightful experience that infuses lovely nostalgia with a perfect package of gameplay, design, and a true celebration of the genre and the history of PlayStation. Even with our high expectations, Astro Bot has smashed them to pieces en route to becoming a powerhouse that rivals the all-time classics. This is one of the best games of the year, and everyone who can should find a way to play it.
That said, if you are willing to invest the time and effort to follow through on the story of Kay Vess in this particular period of Star Wars, there is much to get out of it. Underworld intrigue, systems that work well with each other to entice players to do more, and the interesting reputation system that figures into most actions you will take all help to create a true sense of progression both in a narrative and gameplay sense. Whether it will hold your attention is one thing, but at the very least, Star Wars Outlaws will have you shouting dank farrik out of astonishment and frustration during your journey to the top.
When it comes to the execution of its vision, Dustborn might not necessarily score high marks, but at the very least, the approach to gameplay is more than laudable, helping to deliver its messages in fresh and more engaging ways than most. Whether you are receptive to that is another matter, but it is always good to see something out of the box, and that is exactly what you’ll be getting when you join Pax and the crew on this road trip to remember.
At its core, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus fulfils every condition a Metroidvania should have but never goes above and beyond to make an impression. There are smart design choices in place, but the game is equally held back in other areas, leading to an experience whose biggest draw would be its breathtaking visuals and pleasant soundtrack. Even if it doesn’t surpass expectations, this is still an excellent adventure for all who love the genre and even for those who are new to it; after all, everybody loves an underdog story, and that’s most certainly the tale of Bō.
There is no denying that Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess offers a niche experience that may not be for everyone, but if it aligns with what you think will be a good time, it more than executes the vision of its creators competently. There is definitely merit in trying out the demo if you are unsure, but for those seeking a great time of both action and strategy, this is one experience that should be high on your list when it launches.
With the breadth of new bells and whistles that enhance existing systems and create new ones, it is almost a disservice to term Shadow of the Erdtree as just a piece of DLC for Elden Ring. Everything that fans loved about the base game is squeezed into a shorter experience of about 30-40 hours, and the content is of the highest calibre, building on what was great and making it better. Just like how FromSoftware has always delivered excellent full-fledged adventures for the masses, this DLC expansion continues the studio’s hot streak, and all the Tarnished are blessed.