Jesse Norris's Reviews
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a brilliant reboot of the long-running franchise, with only a lack of enemy/boss variety holding it back from greatness.
If you haven't played S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, this is the perfect time to jump in. Version 2.0 is a massive upgrade. The expansion is seamlessly blended into the progression of the story, and it is fantastic.
Mortal Shell II is a massive glow-up over the first game. It hits every note that I am looking for in a Soulslike, with enough variety and unique ideas to make it a true stand-out.
If Asobo Studio has more Sophia stories to mine, I am all for it. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy jumped to my favorite in the series. Despite some combat repetition, the story it tells and the manner in which it is delivered are top-notch.
Beast of Reincarnation is a game of incredible highs and frustrating lows. Stilted dialogue mars competent voice acting, with bland city designs matched to incredible music remind me of Nier: Automata. The combat is fast, fluid, and feels fantastic. It is a wildly varying package when it comes to quality, and despite it all, I adored my time playing it. It is an experience few character action fans, with a ton of patience, should miss.
The King is Watching is a solid mix of relaxing tower defense and intense battles. While the runs can last a bit too long at times, the game's excellent music and fun gameplay kept me going for 20+ hours without issue.
Denshattack! combines Tony Hawk with Japanese-inspired stylings in a fun-as-hell romp across a future version of the country. You'll race gangs, corporations, and even fate itself as a little engine that could, thanks to the power of friendship, rainbow tracks, and a (sometimes overwhelming) variety of gameplay mechanics.
A fantastic game gets that much better. A heartfelt, brilliantly written DLC touches on the cost of progress vs. our own sense of humanity.
Ascend to Zero brings some of my favorite elements to the roguelite genre. Its late-game focus on gear sets adds one last unique element to a fun, great-sounding, surprisingly deep Survivors-like.
The future of id Software and DOOM as a franchise is unknown for now. What I can tell you is that DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations is my favorite playing shooter, ever.
Abyssus ticks off every box that I want out of a cooperative FPS roguelite. It excels at none, though; once the aiming is fixed on consoles, it doesn't fail at any either.
House Flipper Remastered Collection is as fun as ever, and an incredible amount of content. From raising puppies to mowing the lawn, cleaning up rusty toilets, to sanding down anchors, there's nothing else quite like it.
Dark Scrolls is a title I should have loved and instead loathed. It is not offensively bad or poorly made, so you may find some fun here that I did not.
Devil May Cry 5 was great back in 2019, and it's just as good now. Getting this quality of an experience on a mobile device would have blown my mind back then. It's becoming the norm for CAPCOM's Switch 2 ports.
Thank You For Your Application is stressful fun. It will demand your attention at all times, despite its seemingly cozy nature. Quest-frustration aside, it is easy to recommend for those who love games that make 'work' fun.
Dave the Diver is a fantastic game, and In the Jungle is every bit as good. The quality and variety on offer are something few games can match.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is an uneven, but ultimately satisfying title. An incredible soundtrack, solid gameplay, and, at least for me, fantastic visuals help carry it — despite the grind needed for its true conclusion.
Mina the Hollower was well worth the wait. It gives you all the vibes of the best old-school games, while bringing its own modern sensibilities with smartly paced exploration and tight gameplay.
Echo Generation 2 is a major improvement over the first game. They’ve sanded away most of its gameplay rough edges, with only a final chapter that requires too much repetition as a standout issue. It is a gorgeous title, with fun combat and great music that is well worth a playthrough, especially if you have Game Pass.
Forza Horizon 6 is the best and most familiar the series has ever been. The festival’s arrival in Japan is a feast for the eyes, running incredibly well on every type of hardware I tried it on. Despite some issues with the ending grind, if you have ever enjoyed the series or thought about trying it, Forza Horizon 6 is an incredibly fun time.