Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways does everything a smaller DLC should be doing. It expands the story in an interesting way, whilst delivering the same high-quality cinematics and gameplay. There are some reused assets for sure, but they are used in such a creative and interesting way that it’s not a detriment to the experience.
Lies of P is a very interesting game in the sense that it succeeds at emulating the look, feel and gameplay of From Software’s Souls games, most notably (and obviously) Bloodborne, but a handful of issues hamper it from reaching its full potential. It has some neat combat and RPG elements, as well as a fascinating world to explore, but it is also a bit too formulaic.
Payday 3 is a huge step up from the core mechanics of the Payday franchise. The updated gunplay and casing mechanics all come together for a gameplay experience that, as a whole, just feels better. However, it falters at just about everything else. The game is really light on content, progression has been ruined, and the rampant server issues are unacceptable, with the game refusing to work properly even if you want to play by yourself.
If like me, you have been itching for another Splinter Cell, then No Sun to Worship will scratch that itch. The unforgiving slow-paced stealth gameplay is worth experiencing, however, its short playtime left me wanting so much more. There’s a solid foundation here that could easily be expanded upon. I look forward to seeing more projects from Antonio Freyre in the future!
Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation is a competent horror title that won’t be for everyone. It’s not traditionally scary, but the engaging premise and structure make it worth seeing. There are quite a few rough edges, but the strong central mystery to unravel makes it worthwhile.
Daymare 1994: Sandcastle is a step up from the original game and shows that the franchise does have the potential to grow. However, what we have here is a game that is messy; the story was laughably bad and the gameplay whilst improved, it just still isn’t there yet. Maybe with a third entry, Daymare can find its place, which I am very much hoping for.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is my introduction to the series, and I’m thoroughly impressed. FromSoft has delivered an ultra-fast-paced and challenging mech combat game. The deep customisation, great replay value, and level design will keep me coming back for more. If you love FromSoft games and like action-packed mech gameplay, then Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a must-play.
Vaccine Rebirth offers little more than mimicking old school gameplay.
Remnant II is exactly what I was looking for. A straightforward soulslike shooter, that takes everything that made the predecessor work and fixed the few things that didn’t. The plot may still be a bit thin, but exploring the interesting worlds and fighting the bosses to get some great loot has been one of this year’s best experiences.
Exoprimal is a game that may not immediately hook into you depending on your expectations. I was initially disappointed in the PvPvE focus that is presented at first, but after just a couple of hours, was hooked into it. The game does manage to deliver a very flawed, but still fun shooter experience. This certainly won’t be for everyone, but despite its fair share of issues, it’s one of my favorite go-to multiplayer experiences right now.
My Friendly Neighborhood is a very surprising game, taking elements from the mascot horror genre and actually making use of its potential. Whilst it’s not really a horror game, and you shouldn’t be expecting much in the way of scares, it’s unique atmosphere and homage to the Resident Evil franchise are worth celebrating. The story, setting, gameplay, and level design all work well together to deliver a unique experience.
Aliens: Dark Descent is one of the best Aliens games, period. That said, there are a few caveats. It perfectly recaptures the same action-horror vibes that made the original movies such a treat to watch. It’s a tactical, hardcore, strategy game that doesn’t hold your hand at all. If you are a fan of the franchise, this is an absolute must-play, but be aware that it is far from perfect and there are still some frustrating decisions here.
It takes the ultra fast-paced and epic combat last seen in F.E.A.R., and dials that up even further. The game does features some of the best first-person combat I have seen since the original F.E.A.R. in terms grounded environments and glorious amounts of destruction. Whilst it does have some issues, Trepang2 dedicates itself to just being a huge amount of fun with as little baggage as possible, and I can gladly say it succeeded at that.
Diablo IV has been an incredibly long time coming and it’s been more than worth the wait. It has a massive world that always offers something to do, even if it is slightly repetitive. Whilst it’s not perfect, the amazingly addictive core gameplay and character building will keep me coming back for more months, or hopefully years, down the line.
Layers of Fear’s ambition was to bring the whole series into one cohesive package, with some additional content. In concept, the premise was interesting. Unfortunately, as horror titles, they really don’t stand up at all, being completely devoid of any scare factor. Bloober Team just doesn’t make the most of some of the more unique and interesting concepts that pop up throughout.
Amnesia: The Bunker is a mix of Alien: Isolation‘s singular persistent threat that follows you around, coupled with elements of the immersive simulator genre, resulting in a horror game with a unique flavour. It’s not the most revolutionary or polished experience stemming from the developers themselves, but Frictional have done what they do best. They have delivered, yet again, a true survival horror experience, but this time around, making a few bold changes I was glad with.
For those who are huge fans of the original release, I am sure that this will be highly regarded as a fantastic remake. But this is more than that: for those new to the franchise, this is also a great point to step in at. Nightdive’s System Shock remake is one that will appeal to both audiences. The core gameplay mechanics may not the best or most polished, but it’s the world design, atmosphere and engaging plot that make for an experience that is still very much unique, and well worth the gigantic wait.
Destiny 2 Lightfall was an important expansion for Bungie to get right. Just as faith was being rebuilt with the phenomenal Witch Queen expansion, it’s a shame they couldn’t keep the momentum going. Lightfall feels like a huge step backwards. There is some fun to be had and the changes that have been made to the core formula but it’s not enough and I feel my time with Destiny is about to come to its end unless we see some massive improvements in the coming year.
Propagation: Paradise Hotel creates not only a fantastic VR title, but also a great horror game in its own right. It takes the old-school Resident Evil formula and adds an extra layer of immersion. Propagation: Paradise Hotel is genuinely scary and engaging, but its short runtime, occasional jankiness and incomplete story are holding it back from being a truly great game.
Meet Your Maker‘s well-realised and unique concept combines two distinctive gameplay styles together. Building bases and raiding others’ creations is a lot of fun, but I do question the longevity of the game thanks to its lacklustre story and progression system. What we have available right now is indeed interesting, with an addictive gameplay loop that is off to a promising start, but it’s a bit lacking in variety.