All of the dialog is well written, the story is well thought out, and never takes itself too seriously. The character’s motivations are always clear and you understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. At times the story feels like a satire on The Last of Us, but it is never just a bunch of dumb jokes. In a time when a lot of games have begun to lean toward movies, Dead Island 2 just tries to be a video game. Dead Island 2 is a game that I would recommend to just about anyone. With some bugs aside. It is not a 100-hour RPG that is going to absorb your life but it has solid RPG mechanics. It is, not a “lifestyle” FPS like Destiny but it is a fun time with friends online. Dead Island 2 is not a cinematic masterpiece with a survival horror narrative but, there is a story and setting here that is a great time. While not mastering anything, Dead Island 2 has somehow found a way to be just good enough at everything.
Terra Nil is a relaxing game that will help you wild down. The game’s portability by being available on iOS, Android, and Steam Deck, will make this a great game to bring with you on vacation this summer. Plus its lightweight demand from the hardware will not kill your laptop battery. While the ending may not answer all of your problems, Terra Nill is a fantastic way to wind down. If you have Netflix and have not checked out the games yet, this is a great place to start. Along with a nice way to mix up your game library with something unique.
I would prefer there to be two or three other elements to Horizon Call of the Mountain. It needs combat with the other humans in open areas like Horizon has. The game would also benefit from having more open areas to explore along with deeper story elements. When it comes to the story, there is not a ton here, there are only four or five characters throughout the entire game. Although, if there is ever a third Horizon game, it would be exciting to see these characters show up. Yet Horizon Call of the Mountain is, should be considered one of the top 15 VR games of all time. There are some moments when you use your physical hands during crafting that are special. There are sequences during the climbing parts which are truly engaging. Plus the boss battles are straight out of the mainline Horizon games, played in VR it is remarkable. Overall Horizon Call of the Mountain is a fun little launch title for Sony’s new PS VR2 headset. If you enjoy Horizon and own PS VR2 you must have this game. Although by no means is this a system seller, it is just a nice addition. I would prefer it to be four to five hours long but, what we have here is a ton of unique VR moments combined together.
At every turn Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed heads the wrong way. It has a stylized art direction but lacks ambitious cosmetics. It has a story but it is merely a crumb within the multiplayer-first experience. Then there are the great mechanics paired with a lack of meaningful depth. As a whole, the game is content impoverished. The end result is not a game that feels like it is missing something, it feels like it is missing some of everything. If it were to grow and continue as a live service, the team has a lot to work with. There should be a dozen ghosts to play as, and they all could be from the movies. The cosmetics need to be expanded tenfold. Also, if there is nothing they can do in the way of adding more weapons due to the franchise’s limits, there should be classes like Medic and Engineer. Along with a complete re-balance of how playing as the ghost works. There is something here that is fun to play for a shot bit. However, all we are left with is hope that it can grow as a live service.
In all, Cult of the Lamb is a fantastic game that perfectly blends two genres. While the combat is simple and there is room for improvement when it comes to level variation, this indie game punches way above its weight. The layers upon layers of mechanics make Cult of the Lamb a dense game with tremendous value at its indie price point.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is not just the best TMNT game in the past 30 years, it is one of the 10 best games released in 2022. I would rank it among the best 2D brawlers in recent history. The only things that I could possibly ask for are better matchmaking, a full collectibles library, and a sequel.
The campaign in Moss: Book II will take you somewhere around four to six hours to complete. To achieve the Platinum Trophy, you are going to be on the six-hour side. With that said, the Platinum Trophy is not very hard to obtain and does not require more than one playthrough. For players on other VR platforms, make sure you check out the first Moss game in preparation for a potential Moss: Book II release. Polyarc plans to release Moss II on more VR platforms on an undetermined date. For PSVR players, this may be the only significant title to release in 2022. Moss: Book II is absolutely worth dusting off that old headset for. As it is a technical evolution of classic PS1-era platforming games designed for VR. The level design, combat, and puzzles make Moss II a top-tier VR platforming title in 2022.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the perfect building block to where the series is headed. With Pokémon: Let’s Go and Pokémon Sword and Shield, the three games feel like the first steps towards something bigger. If you can get past its looks, Arceus is the best Pokémon game on the Switch. While it may never be as iconic as some of the previous Pokémon games, it has deep gameplay systems and a map that feels extensive. Arceus is full of small moments where you get to experience Pokémon from a new perspective.
Windjammers 2 has a lack of depth in content, it feels like it is missing something. Something like a character creator, a level builder, a simple story, or more characters to unlock would go a long way into making it feel like a deeper game. I know Windjammers is from a different time but now it is 2022 and fantastic games are coming out every week. While at MSRP Dotemu is not asking for a lot, today the player's time is the most valuable ask. The game needs to be engaging for more than a weekend.
Nobody Saves the World will be a timed Xbox console exclusive although, all platform owners should give it a look. The level design is versatile for different play types. Plus if you pre-ordered a Steam Deck, this could be a fantastic title to play through. The humor, couch co-op, and deep RPG mechanics make Nobody Saves the World engaging for a wide audience of players.
When it comes to the PSVR version of the game, at its present state, more than 20 days post-release, there are still too many problems for this to be a game we can recommend. With that, if you are a PC or Oculus user, After the Fall is a fun time with both friends and strangers. It is a shame there are so many problems because After the Fall could have been one of the best PSVR games to come out in 2021.
Cumulatively, Yuki is fun to play, it sounds great, it has a solid progression system, and there are layers of combat mechanics. Combined with a perfect implementation of difficulty, this makes Yuki one of the best VR games of 2021. I would like for the audio cues to be more relevant, and I would like to see what a Yuki sequel looks like on current-gen hardware with high-end visuals and a more open-level design. Hopefully, the next time around the developers will choose some larger fonts.
If you are as enamored with the visuals in the trailer as I was, Kena was worth the wait. With their first game, Ember Lab has something here, the beginning of something fantastic. At $29.99 there is tremendous value there. Although, during my play-through, I could not help but wonder what it would be like if it were a $70, AAA game that spent five years in development with hundreds of developers. Maybe next time, Ember Labs, maybe next time.
While it has its problems Fracked is a nice addition to the PSVR library. If you only play on PlayStation and yearn for retro shooters, this is going to scratch that itch. A lack of content in what will be the hardware’s final year makes Fracked one of the few must-own PSVR games in 2021. If I were playing Fracked on just my PS4, I would be disappointed. Given the platform, Fracked is one of the top 10 FPS’s on PSVR. Many of the game’s bad moments are balanced out by its better moments.
Overall Death’s Door is a fantastic experience. One that will inevitably be a nice indie console exclusive score for Xbox. If you can get past two or three challenging parts, what’s there is an adorably comical game that will never hold your hand. If Xbox is your only platform of choice, you may not have a Breath of the Wild but, here is your Link's Awakening.
In its final months, great PSVR titles are going to be few and far between. If you are looking for a brand new FPS, your options are extremely limited. What has been provided here is more than enough to satisfy as a VR title. If you have an appreciation for WW2 settings and history, this is the game you are looking for. It is not a tech demo, not an experience, Sniper Elite VR is a fully constructed Sniper Elite game. While visually it cannot stand up against the most recent Sniper Elite title, bringing the franchise to VR platforms is a fun and unique take on the series. Plus you get to kill Nazis, and that is cool too.
The combat is fun but both Switch controllers were problematic. The gameplay isn’t repetitive because there are multiple very small gameplay loops. Olija is infrequently challenging (if at all). Yet it is a nice game to play between major AAA releases or 100 hour RPG’s. Olija is a great game to take out of your pocket and play in small stretches if you are on the road. Especially at the $15 price point. Unfortunately, there is so much coming out and so many games in all of our backlogs that it keeps it from really standing out. Olija will release on January 28th on Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
If you were lucky enough to score a PS5 this holiday, Sackboy is a 3D audio showcase. If you can’t get enough of the PS5’s pack in-game Astro’s Playroom, Sackboy: A Big Adventure fills a platforming void Sony has been missing for years. While it does have some problems, these are issues most people will be able to get past. Even if it is resorting to buying the $90 version of the game to play as Sackboy Porter Bridges. Or never leaving the disc in your PS5 when you turn the console on. If you are looking for a family game to go with that new PS5, or are just wondering what happened to the platformers in Sony’s past, Sackboy is a must buy.
Disc Room has its sharp edges. I find the story to be fun, imaginative, and clever. With that said, how the story is presented over a few short comic strips with no lines of spoken dialog or names is going to be divisive. Also, I think Disc Room’s difficulty is going to turn some people off. You really have to be patient, die a lot, and adapt. Players should not be bothered by giving up and moving to a different room before coming back. This could be a game you might want to stay away from if you smash controllers. However; there are three difficulty sliders that slow down the pace of the game, decrease the complexity of the goals, as well as the hazards.
Overall Star Wars: Squadrons struggles to find its identity. For a console gamer, it is a small spin-off of Battlefront with a great story and fun flight controls. Yet for a VR consumer, this is one of the biggest games of the year. Moreover, if we are talking about PSVR, this could be the most impressive game to come out all year on the platform. If you own VR on PC or console and enjoy Star Wars you have to pick this game up. The same can be said with flight sticks There is a fantastic story with unique game mechanics. Compounded with a high level of detail given to every aspect of the game. It is a fantastic all-around experience for even the most novice Star Wars fan.