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.
Grid Legends continues the series streak of failing to fully capitalize on its ideas or finding a unique identity. There are still racing thrills to be had like in almost every Codemasters title, but its underwhelming story mode and grindy career mode really hold it back.
While the package is sadly extremely rough around the edges and isn't the current-gen leap it should be, Omega Force has delivered an enjoyable strategy game with high points that are worth wading through graphical glitches and technical shortcomings for.
Both games deserve a more lovingly crafted package as they can't be called the definitive editions with a variety of new graphical issues and glitches.
SNK isn't reinventing the genre or trying to compete feature-for-feature with a lot of its contemporaries, but the actual action stands up to scrutiny and can deliver quite the impressive knockout blow.
The Nintendo Switch port of SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash is lovingly crafted and the core game holds up surprisingly well. Whether you've got nostalgia for the original title or just the characters on the SNK and Capcom rosters, there is a lot to like here if you're a fan of card collecting games. The battles can be quite thrilling and it's great that this solid NeoGeo Pocket Color game can live on decades after release.
Windjammers 2 feels like a proper sequel to the original. The hand-drawn graphics are gorgeous to see in action, the gameplay is faithful while offering up new mechanics that can either be ignored or embraced by longtime players, and the new levels are filled with novel variants that keep matches fresh. Clearly a passion project, Dotemu has made a great sequel that is geared toward more hardcore players that won’t mind the lack of frills.
Call of Duty: Vanguard‘s campaign isn’t going to redefine how war stories are told, nor does it reach the highest points of the series’ past triumphs. However, it manages to tell a personal story with a cast of likable characters and stays at a steady, even quality throughout. While excellent DualSense support does its job of subtly immersing the player, it serves a grander experience that brings the player into its world with its likable cast and intimate stories.