Jesse Norris's Reviews
Warhammer 40K: Boltgun 2 is a solid sequel to a flawed original. It fixes my main issue, with smartly designed levels that help you feel like a proper badass.
The music, gameplay, levels, bosses, & looks are all incredible. It's classic old-school Castlevania in many ways, for good and bad. A handful of modern conveniences, some devilishly tricky level design, and a decent story combine for something well worth your time.
While a solid bang for your buck, Valor Mortis ends up done in by an overly lengthy campaign in a genre that already isn’t known for respecting your time. It looks great, has a decent story, and some solid acting. It is available Day One in Xbox Game Pass. For fans of From and the Ghostrunner series, it may be worth checking out regardless. For everyone else, at only $40, it will be up to you if this soldier is worth reviving.
Hellraiser: Revival takes an old, cheesy IP and turns it into a solid-assed video game. Seriously, there's a ton of butt cheeks, boobs, and more for the sexiest sickos out there. It isn't wasted, as mostly fun gameplay mechanics back up a decent story. At $40, it's a no-brainer for one looking to delight in the bliss of suffering.
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is an excellent expansion. It adds a massive new landmass packed with fun content that makes an already great game even better.
The Coalition have elevated the franchise to new heights, crafting an engaging, brutal and surprisingly intimate campaign that’s full of smart gameplay mechanics and wonderful surprises. It’s the best Gears has ever felt to play, and the best it’s ever looked and sounded on the big screen. Gears of War: E-Day? It's a fucking masterpiece.
SiN: Reloaded manages to take an old, mediocre title and turn it into something worth your time. This is far and away the best, and in my opinion, only way to play SiN moving forward.
SILENT HILL Townfall tries something new, shifting perspectives and de-emphasizing combat. Despite looking and sounding great, with a story that features multiple satisfying endings, the gameplay lets it down.
CONTROL Resonant had a frustratingly obtuse start and an incredible ending. It is a worthy successor to a similarly flawed but great game.
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.