I’ll say it again: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the best games of the year. It will absolutely be in Game of the Year conversations. Eidos did fantastic in executing a fun and engaging combat system. The game also encourages multiple playthroughs with different dialogue branches and unlockable costumes and collectibles. Aside from technical setbacks, the game is a thrilling, goofy, and heart-warming space epic. Even if you’re an MCU fan and love James Gunn’s versions of these characters, playing Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy felt like I was meeting them for the first time all over again. I sincerely hope this won’t be the last time we see them.
Resident Evil Village sticks to the series roots and hooks while providing a refined and fun spin to survival horror. It is also an incredibly polished title, visually and gameplay-wise. With that said, I advise turning off camera acceleration and adjusting camera speed to get a more smoother experience. I do wish Capcom would let us adjust the FOV as well for little more spatial awareness. The game’s initial hours took a bit to get settled in. It also did not make me substantially like Ethan any more than I did in RE7. However, my complaints do not outweigh the full, unforgettable experience Village gave me. I am more excited than I have ever been for the story direction. Where characters are left off and how that will carry over into a not yet announced Resident Evil 9 has me invested. Resident Evil Village is sitting pretty as one of the best games in the series and of 2021. It is absolutely a different experience than the intimacy of RE7. But it is all for the better since that DNA is not lost, but added to.
At first, I was worried Cody and May’s journey to reconnect intimately would feel rushed or, at worst, pointless. However, the story’s climax not only had a satisfying end, but one that felt earned by both the characters and the players after all they went through. It Takes Two attains Fares’ focus to have narrative and gameplay in unison rather than separate entities. Full of laughter, surprises, and addicting gameplay, It Takes Two is one of the best games of 2021 so far. Everything about It Takes Two is completely wrapped in creativity and passion that cement it as a timeless masterpiece.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a fantastic weekend game that can be completed in four to five hours. Lost Words provides an emotional experience that not only goes beyond the page, but beyond the game. This one is definitely worth your time, whether solo or playing along with your kid. This rousing coming-of-age adventure is wonderful for any kind of player looking for the next imaginative story to embark on.
It is here where we run into the Destruction AllStars microtransaction problem. With this egregious practice in place, the game sure feels more like a live service free-to-play title than a once-$70 game. However, this may be PlayStation’s intention since Destruction AllStars is free to active PS Plus members until April. As of writing this, there is no way to purchase the game physically or digitally. So while Destruction AllStars has the potential to be greater in its post-launch life, it is going to be a steep hill drive up. The game looks and runs fantastic on Sony’s newest console, but that does not detract from the obvious shortcomings. A poor progression system and microtransactions are just surface-level problems.
After sinking in dozens of hours, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory became one of my favorites in the series. It is a perfect bookend to the Dark Seeker Saga storyline while teasing its next big step forward. While it is not the best stepping on point for newcomers, it makes a solid landing spot for veteran fans.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales as a sequel is a half-step from Marvel’s Spider-Man. The game is not trying to bring a fresh take on superhero open-worlds. Rather, it is refining the mechanics and shaping it around the true star of the game: Miles. Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a completely character-driven game that knocks it out of the park and some. Miles, his family, and friends, his neighborhood – all are standout parts of this personal coming-of-age story that triumphs the original game. Take into account the rich Hispanic and Harlem culture is seen throughout, and you have something truly unique.
At launch, the game delivers on its commitment to provide a modern JRPG experience. Combat, exploration, and its RPG DNA all work together to provide the AAA quality found in full-priced games, but for free. Despite microtransactions and a gacha structure, my core game experience felt rewarding and enjoyable. In fact, the microtransactions were no more than an afterthought for me. Genshin Impact is a standout game you do not want to miss.
Spiritfarer wants to convey that, yes, life is beautiful, but death is not the end. Spiritfarer creatively embodies this message in its fun gameplay and moving story that’s more than worth your time.