Kyle Bell
In summary, Speed 3 controls poorly, the frame rate is awful, the AI is dumb, there are barely any tracks, it’s ugly, and the game crashes. Other than that, it’s great!
Arsonist Heaven has few redeeming qualities. Aside from decent pixel art, you are likely to find the game’s many annoyances an insurmountable hill to climb in terms of having the patience to play past a few levels. That’s a shame since I do think that there is a decent game concept somewhere in here.
Drunken Fist quite obviously does not take itself very seriously, so I am not going to treat it like a regular game. It relies on gimmicks and gags in a similar way as games like Goat Simulator. Once the gimmick wears off – and it will very quickly – there’s not a whole lot here.
Fans are better off playing the original on PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. The remake is barely playable in its current state.
This is a safe pass for most gamers. The charm wears off fast, and the game is over before you know it.
Necromunda: Hired Gun looked promising. It turned out to be a throwback to shooters from the early 2000s with fast-paced gameplay and quick reflexes demanded. I just didn’t find it terribly compelling on virtually any level.
I wanted to give this game a higher score because the concept is genuinely interesting, but it feels like an unfinished project. You only get a chance to scratch the surface before the story is over.
Golf with Your Friends is supposed to be a casual party game. However, glitchy and oftentimes annoying gameplay ruin the experience.
Basically, this is a PS2 game running on the PS4 with a veneer of next-gen graphics. In 2020, that's unacceptable even as a throwback to a different era. To come full circle, the idea for Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story is solid. The execution is not.
Light gun shooters used to be all the rage back in the 1990s. One of the most popular arcade shooters was House of the Dead. Voyage of the Dead desperately tries to mimic Sega’s classic series, but the results are decidedly mixed.
This could have been a good game tie-in for the Netflix show. It has source material to work with, high in-game production value, and a proven XCOM-style strategy concept. If only the game would actually let you execute some tactical strategy.
Overall, I expect more from a tennis game than what’s included in Tennis World Tour 2. It should have tight, smooth controls and an extensive roster of professional tennis players. Most importantly, it should be an enjoyable experience. You should be hooked to your television. This game just makes me want to put down the controller and hit the tennis court instead.
Maid of Sker has some decent enough ideas, but the good parts barely outweigh the disappointing bits. I like the idea of stealth gameplay combined with not having a weapon; it just isn’t used effectively here. Likewise, for a story-heavy game, it fumbles with its storytelling.
NASCAR Heat 5 is a modest improvement over NASCAR Heat 4 in terms of performance. And unlike last year, I did not encounter any bugs. Beyond that, though, I honestly cannot tell the difference between the two games.
It is hard to recommend The Inner Friend even at its steeply discounted price because of its short length and limited gameplay.
This is a good game for curious kids who want to learn about nature. Adults will get bored after a while.
If you are looking for something that mixes multiple genres – namely the Wild West, sci-fi, and horror – into an action game that feels a bit like the God of War reboot if only Kratos had guns, Evil West just might scratch your itch. Just do not expect a AAA game experience.
The Kao the Kangaroo reboot was unexpected. Although it generally follows the formula of early 3D platformers – and thus will satisfy gamers looking for nostalgic gameplay – it’s light on challenge and long on cheesy dialogue. I do appreciate what they are going for here, but the execution could have been better. Plus, the bugs make this feel like a not-quite-finished product.
Evil Dead: The Game is an interesting take on asymmetrical multiplayer where you can either team up as survivors or try to wipe them out as a demon. It has some annoyances like frustrating driving mechanics and fairly repetitive gameplay, but it gives you plenty of freedom to play how you want.
Ayo the Clown is a decent budget platformer with cute graphics and too high of a price tag.