Clayton Cyre
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is the package fans have been waiting years for.
While I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise and Injustice sequel, MK 11 Ultimate Edition is a great void filler to close out this generation of consoles that will be playable whenever I upgrade to the Xbox Series X.
Wumpa Fruit has never looked as delicious as it does in 4K. While the water could stand to look better, everything from the character design to the beautiful attention to detail in the stages and the pop-up book overworld, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time would look like a Pixar movie if not for the button prompts. The storytelling and characters are hilarious, the attention to detail is incredible. PlayStation’s original mascot is no longer a Sony exclusive and now there’s no excuse not to try the renaissance of Crash Bandicoot that is It’s About Time.
When I finish a game feeling like I just want more, I know the journey was worth every moment and RUINER has me counting the days until a potential sequel.
Shantae and the Seven Sirens has evolved the Shantae formula yet again and nothing feels out of place on Paradise Island unless it’s meant to.
Hivebusters has an appropriate level of difficulty for returning Gears 5 fans. The South Islands are so beautiful that although Gears 5 is clearly extremely action-heavy, they’re simply asking for a fleshed-out photo mode. I had a few checkpoint issues, but nothing game-breaking. Scorpio Squad is a big draw of Hivebusters as the trio is composed of relatable and funny characters. Hivebusters feels like a proper expansion pack to Gears 5 rather than a tacked-on DLC that was really just removed from the main game. The Coalition clearly put a lot of work into this add-on. Though it doesn’t feel like that full step forward that a sequel would be, Hivebusters remains a robust experience and an essential one for Gears fans.
Although the Mech Warrior franchise felt more customizable overall, Daemon X Machina brings the optimal customization to what can be swapped in and out, while bringing a lot more to the genre in the visuals, gameplay and story.
Bloodshed has never looked so good top-down.
2K has evolved Firaxis Games and Feral Interactive’s deep strategy title in yet another way and I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here.
New Super Lucky’s Tale is the best Lucky’s Tale title to date.
The gameplay is fluid, the visuals are stunning (other than some motion blur) and the music and ambient noise make this Zen Studios experience quite relaxing outside of combat. It’s not quite an Epic Games Store platform seller but combined with all of the freebies they offer, RTS and tower defense fans should definitely consider jumping on board CastleStorm 2 for an experience that I’d expect from a modernized Warcraft game.
It’s clear that just like the original, Risk of Rain 2 is a labor of love and if you’re a gamer who likes supporting independent titles, this is a great one to pick up.
After many hours with Breakpoint, I can safely say I’m looking forward to what’s coming next.
While aspects of Rocket Arena seem ripped straight out of other games, there’s no game that blends hero shooter and fighting mechanics like Rocket Arena does.
Partisans 1941 takes some getting used to in terms of controlling a squad while moving the camera around. The artistic graphics play off the brilliant lighting of the Unreal Engine and the diverse voice acting is believable for the setting. Daedalic Entertainment and Alter Games have come together to bring a perfect blend of stealth and RTS with a twist on history full of rich lore to discover.
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered is a true recreation of the original game from Criterion Games and EA on last-gen consoles for current-gen hardware. The great visual improvements appropriately age the title, while extremely little is done to change the original gameplay experience. This makes Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered a must-buy not only for fans of the original Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit but also for any Need for Speed fans who are itching for the classic experience.
Any fans of the Doraemon manga and anime should almost certainly purchase this farming simulator for the Nintendo Switch if only for the story.
The epic Caravan campaign is more enjoyable than ever on current-gen consoles, and fans of the original Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles should definitely check out the freshly remastered version.
If you’re a fan of the Sniper Elite franchise, Sniper Elite 4 on Nintendo Switch is definitely worth checking out. It’s a new campaign in the series with necessary improvements from the last installment, while fans from other platforms can enjoy their favorite Sniper Elite Italian campaign from the comfort of their bed or on their commute to work. Sniper Elite 4 brings snipers into new locations featuring ruined castles, bayside watchtowers, vast orchards, underground tunnels, occupied cities, and far more. The scope of the game may seem common on Xbox One and PS4, but these vast sandbox areas are impressive on the Nintendo Switch when it’s undocked. Rebellion Developments have improved upon the game through updates already and it’s likely that they’ll continue to make the experience silkier smooth moving forward. I personally encountered some issues that were solved by the team swiftly and I commend the developers for that.
Golf With Your Friends is easy to pick up but difficult to master, like all the best party games. As someone who struggles to find putters big enough for me at mini-golf courses and who has a nagging injury, Golf With Your Friends is an excellent alternative to the real thing.