Remothered: Broken Porcelain is one of the most disappointing horror games that I’ve played in a while. Nay, one of the most disappointing games in general. I wanted to like it, I really did, but beyond the unbearably buggy gameplay lies a shallow stealth horror experience that is more of an exercise in frustration than it is in terror.
As a fan of the original Crysis it’s very hard to recommend this remaster. The changes to the art direction on top of the missing content and technical issues make this arguably the worst version of the game to play. Though if you have no other way to experience it, then there is some enjoyment to be had with it.
Thanks to its gorgeous art style and addictive combat system, Star Renegades is a wonderful game to get into. It could have been a must have for any roguelike enthusiast, but sadly, some of its mechanics and completely unfair procedural generation can occasionally result in some annoying runs that can bring the experience down a lot. If you’re still okay with some often frustrating runs every now and then, then go for it.
Pathfinder Kingmaker isn’t for everyone, and that shows. The complex and deep RPG mechanics mimic those of pen and paper RPGs of old, and the lack of meaningful direction the game gives new players can be off-putting. But if you are familiar with the genre or are willing to put in the time to truly learn this game, it can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Just bear in mind that it’s hard to recommend to console players in its current state.
Control’s AWE Expansion doesn’t do much to innovate, but it doesn’t need to. It continues building on the already strong combat encounters of the original game whilst adding a small twist on that. The main draw is with the brilliantly crafted story that brings Alan Wake into the Control universe.
If you didn’t care much for the original Deadly Premonition game, A Blessing in Disguise won’t convince you of the contrary. The dull combat, absymal framerate, and repetitive level design are blatant issues that truly bring the experience down. However, if you are a fan of the original, the same engaging (yet stupid) story and wacky characters might make it a worthwhile endeavour.
Othercide is one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played this year so far. Despite the slightly repetitive map and mission design, the addictive core gameplay loop, harsh but impactful instances of decision making, good soundtrack and strong visual aesthetics featured in here just keep me coming back for more.
Hellpoint is a Souls-like game that is actually really close to being good. The black hole mechanic was a noble attempt at adding something unique to this subgenre of games, but it’s not enough to make up for the uninspired level design, framerate issues, boring story and dull combat.
I have some conflicted feelings about Maid of Sker. The giant Resident Evil-esque hotel setting provides an entertaining and exciting place to explore. But the game ended up being lacklustre in other aspects, namely its predictable story, undercooked stealth mechanics and overabundance of jump scares.
As a whole, Death Stranding is an extremely captivating yet polarising experience. It’s an ambitious title that dares to do something different in a sea of safe bets and genre clones, and for the most part, it actually does succeed. However, those minor annoyances and long stretches where nothing happens can bring the experience down a notch for some players.
Demon’s Tier + at its best is a decent enough twin stick roguelike to play, as it performs well enough, but doesn’t add anything new to the genre. Its overly repetitive gameplay, uninspired level designs, and lack of interesting mechanics makes it one I’m not going to return to.
Two years ago, I fell in love with CrossCode. Playing this brand new port on the Switch just reminded me of why I loved that game so much back in the day, and to be fair, this might even be the superior version of this already pristine game.
Invisible Inc. is one of my favourite stealth games in recent years. Its smart and unique blending of multiple genres provide a fun and challenging gameplay experience I would recommend to anyone. If you’re a fan of stealth, rogue-likes, and tactical turn-based combat, you can’t let Invisible, Inc. pass you by.
Right now, in its current state, Valorant is in a great spot for a free to play game. Sure, the lack of maps and grindy progression system can be off-putting, but the core gameplay here is phenomenal. A great twist on the Counter-Strike formula.
Getting XCOM 2 Collection running on the Switch is a technical achievement, however there were a number of cutbacks that needed to be made to make this happen. If you can live with some downgraded visuals and subpar performance, XCOM 2 Collection on the Switch is a must buy. Just make sure to keep it in handheld mode.
The Switch port of Journey to the Savage Planet might have been a disappointing due to the severe amount of visual setbacks and a somewhat lackluster overall performance, but at the end of the day, it’s still a very playable and hilarious experience. If you can ignore the graphical hindrances in favor of the ability to play this game on-the-go, then this is an easy recommendation.
Ion Fury is a total blast, as it doesn’t try to be anything other than a fun, challenging shooter. Giving a game like this a deep story or any other moment that isn’t comprised of killing enemies or solving puzzles would have been a detriment to its great gameplay loop and overall game design.
The Switch version of The Persistence managed to exceed my expectations in every single way. Not only it’s a good proof that you can also port former VR games to a non-VR environment, but it’s also a fun horror-themed roguelike with great visuals and environmental design running pretty well on such underpowered hardware.
Chimera Squad feels like an experimental game in the XCOM franchise, and that is very welcome. Although not every change and addition worked in here, I still appreciate how bold they have been with this particular smaller title.
The Dyatlov Pass Incident might have been a fascinating story that could have inspired a superb horror game if fallen into the right hands, but Kholat misses the mark. The boring gameplay, graphical downgrades, poor framerate and complete lack of “horror” resulted in an unsatisfying experience.