Lee Mehr's Reviews
Though several lackluster design and storytelling decisions harm the appeal, swearing fealty to Warhouse Studios' sophomore effort is still ultimately worth it.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector's true success stems from expanding upon its mechanical and narrative foundation without overriding its potent emotional connection.
Yellow Brick Games' first monster-hunting effort doesn't stand as tall as the industry titans it so closely emulates, but still compares to a formidable sub-boss all the same.
It's rather unfortunate that, even after accounting for its most interesting columns, Mácula Interactive's journalist-centered political thriller isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
While relatively cheap, Hyper Games' Snufkin expansion suffers by reducing the already-streamlined foundation of the main game. This low-stakes story has heart, but it doesn't have any bones.
Melody of Moominvalley is a fitting subtitle to highlight Hyper Games' most ironic misstep: forgetting that everyone grows bored of hearing the same song on repeat.
Although Outlaws' post-launch updates and its own design nuances put Wild Card in a more favorable light, you're still being dealt a lousy hand.
By lacking a sense of purpose or direction, it feels like Guerrilla Games & Studio Gobo couldn't be as creative with the license as they ought to have been; and, as a result, neither can you.
Even after accounting for The Veilguard's numerous flaws, perhaps Bioware's greatest offense is also its most ironic: making a Dragon Age game that feels pathetically toothless.
The oddly-named Cozy Game Pals blends unabashed nostalgia, earnest emotion, and a tense atmosphere to make a retro-horror experience that earns its time under the spotlight.
Alan Wake II's final expansion doesn't necessarily end with a whimper, but it was primed to end with an ear-ringing bang we'll never hear.
For all of the ambitious transmedia gimmicks surrounding it, Reflector's first title fails to awaken any sustained interest due to shoddy execution.
Nomada Studios' sophomore effort Neva-r ceases to impress – despite a couple of missteps.
As both a dull walking sim and story, Tonguç Bodur's latest feels like yet another purposeless jaunt.
Strange Scaffold's shooter is like a drunken boxer in a bar brawl: lacking consistency, but the blows that connect are knockouts.
The Plucky Squire's misused potential and diminished challenge keep it from scoring a Newberry Medal, but it still remains a charming children's page-turner that's tough to put down.
Digitales Interactive's sophomore effort explores intriguing topics with solid puzzles, but certain design and writing missteps prevent its interstellar potential from leaving orbit.
Goodwin Games' interactive folktale ironically evokes its dour atmosphere in two ways: impressive presentation and unpolished gameplay.
Slight reservations towards mechanical simplicity aside, Astro Bot's polish and relentless fusillade of charmingly creative concepts places it among the best 3D platformers in recent memory.
Overall, Star Wars Outlaws is an ambitious assemblage of different mechanics and concepts gracelessly pressed into an open world too confused to handle them.