Paul Hunter's Reviews
I haven't had this much fun playing a Mario game since Super Mario World on the SNES. So much creativity went into making Super Mario Bros. Wonder whether that's all the new power-ups, the incredible level designs or the game-changing Wonder Flowers. The game is a blast playing solo but the fun is magnified several times over when you play co-op with family and friends.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the most ambitious game RGG Studio has ever produced both narratively and depth of content-wise. There are easily 100 hours of enjoyment to be had playing this game, and aside from the rather slow intro, it's all blissful fun. When looking back at the last decade of gaming, Like a Dragon may just be the most consistently great franchise over that period.
No matter which way you slice it, Super Mario Maker 2 is a juicy new addition to the Nintendo Switch library. The value here is off the charts: 100+ pre-made levels, a full course editor, thousands of fan-created courses to download and a full multiplayer offering. This is a Super Mario game that will evolve and enlarge over time as more created courses are uploaded by the community.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice cleverly evolves the Souls formula in a compelling and refreshing direction. Feudal Japan is an era ripe with opportunity and the developers made the most of it with beautiful vistas, elaborate castles, and mesmerizing enemies—both era-appropriate and mythical creatures. While the name FromSoftware comes with a lot of expectations, Sekiro stands on its own as one of the team's best efforts yet
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice cleverly evolves the Souls formula in a compelling and refreshing direction. Feudal Japan is an era ripe with opportunity and FromSoftware made the most of it with beautiful vistas, elaborate castles, and mesmerizing enemies—both era-appropriate and mythical creatures. Sekiro is slightly easier than your typical Soulsbourne game, but the challenge is still very stiff and requires careful precision timing. Plus, there's a secret method to increase the difficulty if you're a glutton for punishment. While the name FromSoftware comes with a lot of expectations, Sekiro stands on its own as one of the developer's best efforts yet.
Ori and the Blind Forest is a spectacular Metrovania-style platforming game that pays homage to its genre and elevates it at the same time. Everything about this game is top-notch, from the moving narrative, to the exceptional controls, to the gorgeous graphics. As Moon Studios' debut game, they've knocked it out of the park.
Based on my experiences with the four Halo campaigns, it's clear that Microsoft and 343 Industries have set the new bar for remake collections. They could have easily just packaged Halo 2: Anniversary as a stand-alone title, exactly like they did with Halo: CE Anniversary on Xbox 360, and it would have been justifiable to recommend. Add in three more full Halo games, all with graphical and framerate enhancements, and The Master Chief Collection is very easy to recommend.
Cadence of Hyrule is a fantastic mix of two great series: The Legend Of Zelda and Crypt of The NecroDancer. It takes the best elements of both properties and marries them perfectly into what I’d consider an instant classic.
Sifu is a sheer delight to play with its immaculate gameplay and breathtaking graphics. Be prepared to get your butt kicked though, but if that appeals to you as much as it does for me, then this game should be at the top of your must-play list.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a massive experience that all Star Wars or LEGO fans should check out. It has pick-up-and-play controls easy enough for children to enjoy, plus all the characters, starships and unforgettable film moments that parents will love.
Triangle Strategy is the real deal for tactical RPG fans. A mesmerizing story, strategic combat, wonderful aesthetics, a lengthy campaign and plenty of replayability.
This is the perfect love letter to the '87 cartoon and the subsequent arcade games. Graphically it's supremely impressive but it's the slick controls and intense action that really seal the deal. The six-player local and online co-op, devilishly hard Arcade mode and lasting character upgrade system are like pineapples on an already ooey-gooey delicious pizza.
Stray is simply divine. It's indie games like this that can rival the quality and sheer joy of playing of AAA games ten times the budget. The game is everything I had hoped for and then some. In the future whenever I'm thinking back to my 2022 gaming year, Stray is going to stand out as one of the year's highest quality games.
Once you get into that Rollerdrome zen state it's hard to pull yourself away. Easily one of the best indie games of the year and a must-play for PlayStation and PC fans alike.
Atari has just set a new benchmark for retro game compilations with Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. There's been a lot of talk recently about how bad the gaming industry is at preserving its history, but this robust package should be the ideal that all game companies strive for.
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider kicks off 2023 in the best way possible with an immaculate retro platforming title delivering tight gameplay, gorgeous visuals, great enemy variety and intense boss fights. Anyone who enjoys classics like Contra or Shinobi should have this game on their radar.
Diablo II Resurrected is an impressive remake of the classic game that manages to elevate the beloved experience of the original in virtually every way. The game's improvements in graphics and sound design, combined with its cross-progression feature, make it a must-play title for fans of action RPGs. While it does have its shortcomings, such as its outdated design elements, it still delivers a captivating and satisfying experience that is sure to keep veterans and newcomers coming back for more.
I'm having a blast playing Mr. Run and Jump even though it's totally kicking my butt. The challenge is supremely steep, but players who love hard platformers or speedrunning will surely enjoy this polished gameplay experience.
Following Team Ninja's excellent Nioh games, the studio once again proves its unmatched mastery of the action-RPG genre with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. It offers rock-solid gameplay and excellent accessibility while still providing a good challenge.
Lies of P exceeded all my expectations and has instantly become one of my top games of the year. The story and lore drew me in, but it was the superb combat and eye-popping bosses that really cinched it for me. The lush gothic visuals and wonderful soundtrack merely seal the deal.