Compounded with its impeccable craftsmanship, The Talos Principle 2 puts AAA games to shame with its value. This is an enormous and long puzzle game that is lengthier than most RPGs and can easily breach the 50-hour range. All of this for a paltry $29.99. Engrossing, epic, and vast intelligently written video games apparently don’t have to cost $69.99.
RoboCop: Rogue City is a methodical FPS with some lite roleplaying and adventure game elements. It’s sardonic with a satirical scenario and has very obscure fan service that only die-hard RoboCop fans would catch. Gamers who can accept this are going to have an enormously fun time.
Detective Pikachu Returns‘ biggest failure isn’t its basic gameplay or sterile presentation; its most heinous blunder is how agonizingly boring it is. Playing this game with children (the target audience) only alienated them. The lack of grit or edge didn’t lure them in and the sorry writing didn’t keep them hooked either.
Night At the Gates of Hell is a mediocre guilty pleasure for desperate horror fans. If you squint your eyes, it kind of resembles something scary, but it’s mostly just absurd and low-effort.
If you are new or curious about the series, this is the best place to start.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is bursting at the seams with personality and details. Small touches like the facial expressions of enemies are gratuitous and don’t enhance the gameplay, but they enhance the experience. It’s because of these details that make Super Mario Bros. Wonder more meaningful and enjoyable than any of the last 2D Super Mario games since Yoshi’s Island on Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Gargoyles Remastered is not recommended for retro enthusiasts or fans of the cartoon show. There is nothing here to appreciate except the original 16-bit pixel art and animation. Go play Demon’s Crest instead.
It doesn’t quite reach the highs of F.E.A.R., but the gunplay and fetishized gore manage to outclass the violence that Alma was capable of. Don’t expect to get emotionally invested or scared much. Trepang2‘s effort at horror feels more obligatory than anything else. At the very least, expect to have a fun time dancing in the blood.
El Paso, Elsewhere is undeniably rough around the edges, but with some additional development time, it has the potential for greatness. In its current state, it feels like a preliminary draft—an approximation of the developer’s vision. Given more time for polish and refinement, El Paso, Elsewhere could indeed evolve into a worthy successor to Max Payne.
Long Gone Days has a lot of heart to it, but it is sorely lacking in its mechanics. This is not much of an RPG but is more akin to a visual novel with some tense sequences that are expressed in the style of retro RPG battles. The simplistic sniping sequences make more sense and are executed much more effectively at conveying the themes of the story and fit the gameplay better.
Players are left to decipher the path to these endings with little to no guidance from the game itself. This lack of direction will lead players to seek guides to uncover these elusive alternate endings. Even when armed with the knowledge of what actions to take, the solutions often lack coherence and may fail to provide players with a satisfying understanding of the game’s narrative twists and turns.
The simplistic JRPG gameplay was charming, even when it was first released, but it’s clear that this was designed for 90s gamers who simply wanted to experience a wholesome anime on their PlayStations. It’s unfortunate that the otherwise solid localization didn’t include English singing because the musical segments are a highlight in both games.
If you are new to Fate and you want to have fun battling armies of monsters or thugs, then Fate/Samurai Remnant is worth a look for the satisfaction of the thrill of the fight. Just be ready for a lot of reading. If you are already a Fate fan, then Fate/Samurai Remnant will be the ultimate Fate experience.
Although the sluggish gameplay and unresponsive action have always been open to question, with the right mindset, it’s possible to adapt to its crap-factor. It’s worth acclimating to them because Red Dead Redemption is more than the sum of its parts.
Separate Ways is a welcomed and excellent addition to one of the best games of 2023. While it is too bad that it couldn’t have been a part of the package back when the core game was released, the wait has been worth it. Separate Ways is easily some of the best material that Capcom has produced since the real Resident Evil 4 and outclasses the original Separate Ways.
Gunbrella represents a commendable initial attempt at the concept. It maintains a tight pace without overstaying its welcome. With some refinement and improved character art, a sequel or successor could truly excel.
The mechanics and visual presentation of Bomb Rush Cyberfunk are unbelievably refined. It truly looks and sounds the part of delivering a spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio Future. However, it is held back by an underwhelming gameplay structure and some of the worst combat implementations in a 3D game.
Unfortunately, Atlas Fallen is entirely forgettable. It lacks polish, featuring sloppy and tedious combat, along with a boilerplate story and characters that won’t resonate with anyone. While riding sand dunes with friends provides amusement and a sense of freedom, gamers are better off with Forspoken, where its annoying characteristics at least leave an impression.
Sea of Stars understands what fans of Chrono Trigger have been longing for. It tastefully incorporates homages and exhibits greater originality than might be initially perceived. Sea of Stars is a masterful artistic achievement in both visuals and audio, featuring utterly engrossing turn-based combat that showcases air-tight design.
Compared to Friday the 13th: The Game, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a dramatic improvement in its polish. Some minor things don’t make sense like Grandpa’s powers, but the core experience is thrilling and distinct from the other asymmetrical multiplayer horror games.