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Jesse Norris


338 games reviewed
74.1 average score
80 median score
63.0% of games recommended

Jesse Norris's Reviews

I am the Reviews Editor and jack-of-all-trades for Xbox Era

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Edition is a solid upgrade for an all-time classic. While I didn’t personally get to test it, the thought of playing the title with friends in co-op sounds amazing, and the full mod support built into the game on PC should lead to some crazy scenarios.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a decent game. The Casey Jones & the Junkyard Jam DLC is worth it if you’re interested in the base title, though I’d only give it a full recommendation if you have a friend or three to play with.

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Jun 18, 2025

Still Wakes the Deep was an incredible game. Siren’s Rest shows the aftermath and how it affected at least one family. For $13, I think it’s well worth checking out for anyone who’s beaten the main game.

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6.5 / 10.0 - FBC: Firebreak
Jun 17, 2025

Control was a 9, and Alan Wake 2 was a 10 for me. I love Remedy’s games, normally, FBC Firebreak seems to have lost their usual magic in a search for a wider audience.  I get it, but I do not like it, and I think it hurts the title in the long run.

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8 / 10.0 - The Alters
Jun 12, 2025

The Alters combines a bunch of genres I hate, and somehow makes a game I loved (when it worked).

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Jun 10, 2025

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a short, fun experience. It takes all the classic elements of the roguelite genre and meshes them into this world seamlessly. It’s well worth checking out whether at full price or via Game Pass.

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May 29, 2025

Spray Paint Simulator is decent fun. I do not know if the devs have any DLC planned post-launch. As is, there is enough here once you’re done, I think most will have enjoyed their time and be ready to move on.

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A short and sweet romp that is an excellent addition to a fantastic game.

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8.6 / 10.0 - Monster Train 2
May 21, 2025

Monster Train 2 is excellent. It takes everything I loved about the first game and makes it just a little better. The looks, music, and strategy will have me playing this one for years to come.

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7 / 10.0 - Blades of Fire
May 20, 2025

Blades of Fire is not going to be a game for everyone. It’s beautiful, runs great, and has some design decisions that made me pull my hair out. It’s incredibly long, and I do not think that it benefits the game in any meaningful way.

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8.3 / 10.0 - RoadCraft
May 19, 2025

RoadCraft is a ton of fun. It smartly evolves the MudRunner series, taking one of my favorite physics-based puzzle games and adding in some deliciously creative chaos.'

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9.5 / 10.0 - DOOM: The Dark Ages
May 9, 2025

DOOM: The Dark Ages takes us back to the Slayer at his most powerful, stylish cape and all. Twenty-two levels of mayhem, excellent pacing, and furious combat make this entry my favorite in the series yet.

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May 5, 2025

Revenge of the Savage Planet should take most 10 to 15 hours to complete, with the achievement hunters getting upwards of 20. It’s a huge step up from the first game, and a delightfully dumb, beautifully good time.

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5 / 10.0 - KIBORG
Apr 29, 2025

KIBORG caught my interest with its good looks, and quickly lost it with its bland and unsatisfying gameplay. Using some of the best rogue-lite tactics can’t help this one in the end, as its hilariously bad voiceover work and boring, repetitive combat make it a slog.

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4 / 10.0 - La Quimera
Apr 25, 2025

La Quimera is a beautifully baffling experience that I cannot recommend to anyone.

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Apr 23, 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a beautifully inventive, heart-breaking experience of love, loss, and the will to survive

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About as good as a graphical remake and gameplay remaster can be, for an all-time classic.

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Apr 21, 2025

Crime Scene Cleaner is an odd duck. It’s mix of Zen-inducing gameplay in some truly horrific crime scenes is delightful, though a lack of things to do post-campaign is a bummer.

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8.5 / 10.0 - South of Midnight
Apr 3, 2025

South of Midnight is a stunningly beautiful and moving experience. While the gameplay doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, it combines excellent writing and music to move your soul in ways only the best games can. This title is an enormous step-up for Compulsion Games, and I hope this isn’t the last we see from Hazel Flood.

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4 / 10.0 - Breakout Beyond
Mar 25, 2025

Breakout Beyond takes a classic and forgets the most important part. You can’t have a brick-breaking game be fun if it doesn’t control well, and this one does not at launch.

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