It’s clear, both in Odyssey’s thrilling combat and colorful art direction, that ILCA harbors a lot of love for its source material. But these fleeting moments of joy make their counterparts — hapless storytelling, terrible pacing, and stilted navigation — all the more exhausting by comparison. The kernel of a good RPG exists within Odyssey’s framework, but it’s surrounded by so much muck that it can’t shine through. One Piece has a long, storied history, but I suspect Odyssey will soon be forgotten.
Persona 5 Strikers plays it way too safe on all fronts, sticking with known quantities rather than taking bold leaps. It spends too much time revisiting classic moments from Persona 5, rather than telling its own unique story.
The peerless intertwining of narrative with player experience cements Hades as one of the best games of 2020 and possibly the best roguelike ever made.
Iron Man VR is a mixed bag that lacks confidence in its identity. When it’s able to work up the energy to trust the player enough to take on a challenge, the gameplay becomes ineffably fun. Unfortunately, this is a rare occurrence that’s limited to either late or post-game challenges.