Overall, however, Startup Panic is a smart, fun game that’s almost dangerously engaging. When business is booming, it’s difficult to pull away, especially as the revenue starts to creep up. When business is bad, there’s that “one more game” mentality as the player endlessly crafts more features, completes contracts and makes marketing decisions to boost revenue and user numbers. It’s not a one-to-one comparison of what it’s like to be the CEO of a new tech company by any means, but it is a glimpse into that lifestyle - just pixelated and much, much less stressful.
While it does have its downsides when playing alone, Thunder Tier One is, overall, a solid wartime strategy game. It encourages its audience to contemplate their actions clearly instead of rushing in headfirst. The combat itself is rather simple - players point and click at enemies to trigger their weapon - but the sense of realism is impressive for the nine-mission campaign, and the ability to play the entire game with friends is a bonus.
Overall, Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a competent and well-done remaster of the first three Monkey Ball console games. There are issues with how engaging those games can be, mostly due to the nature of the franchise's arcade style, so there are caveats about replayability.
King's Bounty 2 had the potential to be something special in the tactical RPG genre but ultimately falls flat. It's especially disappointing because the idea of combining third-person exploration with hex-based strategic combat isn't incredibly common, and it's clear there was an excellent idea buried in the game somewhere for what the world of Nostria could've been. Unfortunately, that vision didn't quite pan out, leaving King's Bounty 2 a bland, dull slog instead of a deep fantasy.
Murder Mystery Machine has its flaws, but it's packed full of content that should please puzzle fans, especially those who have a fascination with crime shows. While the outcome of individual cases may be easy to guess, the player still needs to back up their opinion with proof, adding an extra small challenge as it forces the player to think on a more detailed scale. Additionally, while the smaller cases may be predictable at times, the larger story heads in a direction that is entirely unexpected, tying together Murder Mystery Machine and making it surprisingly engaging as a result.
There's not much to hunt.
Overall, Pathway is a game for fans of the adventure genre and stands out thanks to its archeological spin. The story is a bit cheesy, but not in a way that feels generic and unoriginal, and traveling through the desert fighting Nazis and cultists while rationing gasoline and supplies is a fun challenge that's not too overwhelming. While it's disappointing that the game suffers from technical issues on occasion, in general, it runs well docked, and offers engaging gameplay that doesn't overstay its welcome on Nintendo Switch.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a game that every Switch owner needs to get their hands on, especially if they’ve been a longtime Mario and Nintendo fan. Pairing the base game with the new Bowser’s Fury expansion creates a phenomenal blend of 2D platforming from a 3D perspective. It allows the player to further explore these mechanics in a more open-world environment while portraying Bowser in a new light.
Destruction AllStars is pretty mundane.
Planet Coaster was a pleasant surprise, making the transition from PC to PlayStation 5 seamlessly. The control scheme is, by far, the most efficient and easy to use experience I’ve ever had with a controller in a simulation game. Everything about the game looks sleek and shiny, making your parks pleasant to look at and fun to build. Along with that, the customization options, like build-your-own rollercoasters and scenery or pre-made models, allow players to essentially pick their difficulty level, offering complex and simple solutions depending on the player’s preference. Planet Coaster is my new addiction, joining RollerCoaster Tycoon as one of my favorite simulation games.
Astro’s Playroom took me by surprise. I was expecting a short tech demo that would impress me because of the new controller, but instead, I was greeted with a full-blown, short and fun 3D platformer.
Miles Morales doesn’t reinvent the superhero genre or change any of the core gameplay that Spider-Man fans fell in love with during the original game. Instead, the charm is found with Miles Morales himself and his journey to establish a presence in New York while becoming confident in his abilities without Peter Parker by his side… Miles Morales makes you feel like a fledgling superhero and a teenager, learning the ropes of life, love, and web-slinging.
Bugsnax has me thoroughly impressed. I have truly, madly, and deeply fallen in love with Snaktooth Island and its entertaining cast of characters. Chasing after Strabbys and Buffalocusts, bonding with the Grumpuses, and uncovering the mystery of Elizabert Megafig is an experience like no other. Not only is Bugsnax a brilliant launch title for the PlayStation 5, but a brilliant game in general that I cannot recommend enough. They’re kind of bug and kind of snack. What’s not to love?
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a fun gameplay experience if you’re really into managing statistics and growing from your mistakes. The biggest flaw is that the narrative, which has an interesting premise, is stunted by the shallowness and, at times, obnoxious nature of the characters. Luckily, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is focused more on the gameplay and is an easy recommendation if you’re looking for a rewarding combat experience and farming simulator.
YesterMorrow isn’t a bad game exactly. It’s just mediocre, and in an age of fantastic indie platformers, it doesn’t make the cut. The story and gameplay are generic, and the technical issues are frustrating and feel easily avoidable. YesterMorrow is an average experience, but not one that I would recommend considering the plethora of other options available.
Overall, while I do wish the ending hadn’t disappointed me as much as it did, my time with Vishnu and Durga was full of character and charm, and my issues with the controls were minuscule. I learned about Hinduism and ancient India through a fictionalized, interactive tribute to the country’s culture and history, which was such a unique experience in an industry dominated by the United States, Western Europe, and Japan.
Overall, Amnesia: Rebirth is a fantastic, terrifying experience. The story grapples with not just fear of the supernatural, but fear of failure, survival’s guilt, and a plethora of other challenging emotions… Amnesia: Rebirth delivered on every level, cementing itself as a must-play for horror game fans.
while I had a fun time mowing down the Undead, I wouldn’t really say Onee Chanbara Origin is a great game. The characters are shallow, obviously designed to be something nice to look at, which doesn’t sit well in a modern context. The story doesn’t make much sense and the small bits of lore the writers tried to toss in doesn’t make an impact on the actual gameplay experience. Onee Chanbara Origin remains stuck in the early 2000s, unable to make the transition to modern audiences with higher expectations.
Overall, though, Windbound’s visual and atmospheric aesthetic just can’t save the gameplay. I wanted to love Windbound as a fan of survival games and cel-shaded visuals, but the world was too empty and uninteresting to make the adventure worth it. The survival mechanics were almost unnecessary, making the trek through the world feel even more pointless and empty than it should have. Windbound is an attempt to combine narrative, survival, exploration and aesthetic into one package and fails on every count.
Star Wars: Squadrons is exactly the space combat flying simulator I’ve been looking for from modern Star Wars video games. The flying feels smooth and the environments are absolutely stunning, making you feel like you’re really in your own Star Wars movie, piloting an X-Wing to victory.