Capcom Fighting Collection is an enjoyable batch of 10 classic games, some of which are more well known than others. It’s the more obscure titles that truly make it shine, which is why it’s a slight bummer the game doesn’t present them in a nicer way.
Destroy All Humans: Clone Carnage isn’t a good reason to pre-order Reprobed nor worth the budget asking price as a stand-alone package. It’s a shell of a multiplayer experience that only will appeal to those desperate for a local split-screen game to play and looking to relive the terrible tacked-on multiplayer modes that were more commonplace 15 years ago.
It’s a poor racing game that would’ve been blown away by the likes of Crash Team Racing, Double Dash, and other kart racers of its era, let alone the newer releases that it now competes with.
Given how Digital Eclipse and other studios have been putting out retro collections built with care and reverence to history, it is a dated relic itself rather than a great way to play Pac-Man Battle Royale at home.
Kao the Kangaroo is a polished platformer that, to its credit and detriment, feels like a time capsule. It's so much of a throwback that its simplistic nature is both its greatest attribute while also holding it back from being a great playing game in the year of our Lord 2022.
The Lego Builder’s Journey PS5 port keeps the whimsical charm of the base game, even if it’s not the best-looking or playing version of it.
Whether you just want to suit up and race the iconic MotoGP courses or are looking to relive the 2009 season in one of the finest historic modes ever in a racing game, you can’t go wrong with this year’s offering. No matter if you picked up last year’s game or not, MotoGP 22 is a worthwhile purchase that doesn’t need the typical caveats
It’s still a bit difficult to get into at times due to its limited control scheme, but it more than pulls its weight considering the technical limitations at play.
Back 4 Blood's first expansion gives players a good reason to reinstall the shooter, but with it intending to expand campaign replays rather than offering a wholly new experience, it won't keep the attention of those that already bounced off before.
It seemed inevitable that stagnation would hit a series with yearly releases and MLB The Show 22 shows that Sony San Diego isn't exempt from that. However, stagnation is far from a deal-breaker when a series is already this good and polished, it just makes it harder to justify a nearly $70 purchase on a yearly basis.
Unlike the films that it is based upon, The Skywalker Saga is remarkably steady in quality even if the formulaic approach can start to wear thin after the initial shock of the much-improved core gameplay wears off.
The Kaito Files shows that the lovable brute has plenty to offer and can take the leading role without any fear. Playing more like Kiryu than his partner, he’s also a refreshing throwback to the Yakuza series’ past while also offering his own spin on things.
Dealing with Tiny Tina’s humor for 20 or so hours isn’t always easy to swallow and may not be for everyone, but the gameplay is rewarding enough that even those that wind up moving the dialogue audio slider down to zero will have a good time.
On top of the surprisingly stellar story that takes a bit to move into place, Strangers of Paradise is just entertaining from start to finish. Jack grumbling about memories and wanting to kill Chaos offers plenty of meme potential and the core action is always satisfying. It also delivers on its subtitle as this is a meaningful Final Fantasy origin story that adds a lot of significance to its least plot-heavy game.
Nearly all praise comes with a caveat of some sort and it becomes clear that Omnia can't match up with the genre's best or even its own inspiration.
Monster Energy Supercross 5 does what it’s supposed to as a yearly refinement of an already enjoyable racing franchise.
The new Persona 4 Arena Ultimax port is a resounding success. It allows a fan-favorite fighting game to be easily played on current consoles and PC, while also offering up the definitive package.
Gran Turismo 7 is a refreshingly authored game in a sea of titles that tend to throw a wealth of content at the player. Non-event-related car unlocks take time and players will get familiar with their vehicles before adding to their collection in a meaningful way.
There are still reminders of the series' rough past, as you're bound to run into some errors with this many physics at play, but Visual Concepts has finally delivered the positive shake-up that fans hoped for once the company took over development duties from Yuke's.
This foray into this vein of loot-based, cooperative multiplayer is far from PlatinumGames' best, although those that continue on with the campaign will get to experience some engaging boss encounters and more interesting level design that are kept from those who bail early on. Ultimately, Babylon's Fall is an enjoyable enough diversion if you have a friend willing to go with you on the journey, but that time can clearly be used better in other games that aren't bereft of players.