Paul Semel's Reviews
Alan Wake II is engaging, clever, and truly frightening. In other words, a horror story worthy of being a book.
There's just something satisfying about being the tank-like spawn of Dirty Harry and The Terminator as you methodically plow your way through near-future Detroit's criminal underbelly, splattering anyone and everyone who dares to dent you. Like the movies — well, the first two — this is just big dumb fun.
Forza Motorsport is still an exceptional racing game. The tracks are nicely curved, the controls are smooth and intuitive, and the competition — be it online or against the machine — makes this challenging but not frustrating (or frustratingly easy).
But then, these issues with inventory management and navigation really only annoy me because of how I play games like Starfield: as deep action games with first-person shooting combat. And that's one of the other great things about this game (and, honestly, this genre of game): you have so much choice in what you do and how you do it that you might not be bothered by having overflowing pockets or being unable to find a store. Heck, bring a knife to a gunfight if you want. You do you. Me, I'll be exploring the stars, with a gun in my hand, a song in my heart, and a grin on my face.
South Park: The Fractured but Whole is yet another action-packed, turn-based role-playing game that makes you feel like you're directing a long, albeit rambling episode of the show. While it is very similar to South Park: The Stick of Truth, and just as much fun, the theme change from medieval fantasy to comic book superheroes makes this feel different and new. In the end the game may be funnier than it is fun, but it's still a good time.
Taken as is, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is everything a fan would want in a remake of this game, whether they plan to play it alone, with a friend, or against a bunch of people they meet online.
It's pretty simple: If you enjoyed Wolfenstein: The New Order you'll like Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, too. And the same goes for people who like shooting Nazis in the face from the first-person perspective or just first-person shooters. With the exception of that stealth part that goes on too long, it's an engaging action-packed shooter that not only gives you options when it comes to taking out your enemies but also gives your enemies the same options when it comes to taking you out as well. That it's yet another chance to shoot Nazis, and their stupid dogs, is just the icing on the, well, dog food.