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Jesse Norris

Doncabesa
Doncabesa
doncabesa1982

Favorite Games:
  • Halo
  • Mass Effect
  • Battlefield

259 games reviewed
73.3 average score
80 median score
62.5% of games recommended

Jesse Norris's Reviews

I am the Reviews Editor and jack-of-all-trades for Xbox Era
9 / 10.0 - Dragon's Dogma 2
Mar 20, 2024

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a fantastic video game.  It improves on every facet of the first title.  An excellent main quest is paired with Capcom’s best English VO and some incredible emergent combat.  It’s fully approachable if you’ve never given the first one a go, and any Action RPG fan owes it to themselves to learn just what the Dragon’s Dogma truly is.

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Mar 19, 2024

Alone in the Dark has come a long way from its initial showings.  Clever writing, great performances by its two leads, and solid gameplay come together to give the franchise a new life.

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Mar 14, 2024

Outcast: A New Beginning does its best to invoke a sense of wonder as you jetpack 4 feet off of the ground in an occasionally beautiful alien world.  Weak writing, terrible performance, and repetitive quest design work together to make it a dour experience in the end.

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8 / 10.0 - Swarm 2
Mar 7, 2024

Swarm 2 is a ton of fun. You’ll swing around shooting robots in decent-sized arenas until you can barely stand because it feels so damned good. A solid progression system and good looks don’t hurt either.

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8.5 / 10.0 - WWE 2K24
Mar 4, 2024

WWE 2K24 is the best wrestling game that Visual Concepts has made by far.  They have a complete package, with a massive roster, and a clear vision.  If you’ve held off on upgrading at launch the last few years I think this is the time to jump in.

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Feb 29, 2024

In Conclusion Expeditions: A Mudrunner game looks great and is a more palatable entry in the series.  It’s still full of that truck-puzzle maddening charm though, so both new entrants and fans of the series alike have a lot to enjoy in this 100+ hour-long title.

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Feb 28, 2024

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remastered is a remaster done right.  Its main issue is the game it is remastering doesn’t hold up to modern titles well enough.  If you have that itch to dive back in and the $30 price isn’t too much then it is well worth the price.  If you don’t have those feelings though, it’s tough to recommend.

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The Warhammer 40,000 Special Pack is another well-done PowerWash Simulator DLC and well worth its $8 price tag.  More reasons to come back to this classic, whose base game is still on Game Pass, are always welcome.

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6.9 / 10.0 - Return To Grace
Feb 20, 2024

Return to Grace is a short but sweet narrative adventure game.  The puzzles are infrequent and never frustrating, while the storytelling and voice acting do an admirable job in telling this futuristic tale about the hopes and dreams of humanity.  I think it’s well worth checking out on Game Pass.

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10 / 10.0 - Balatro
Feb 19, 2024

Balatro is my new gaming obsession, I frigging love it. Deckbuilding roguelikes have had some phenomenal games over the years. Balatro reaches the lofty peak of Slay the Spire and has me hooked even harder than that incredible game ever did.  You should buy it, now. Buylatro!

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7.5 / 10.0 - Resident Evil 3
Feb 13, 2024

Resident Evil 3’s remake is the weakest of the recent trilogy (2, 3, & 4), but it’s still a damned good time.  With it coming to Game Pass I don’t feel bad recommending a download, as its short run time means you can finish it easily enough in a night or two.

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Feb 12, 2024

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a fantastic video game. It is the type that raises the medium and shows how incredible these experiences can be. The combat is good enough to rarely hinder your enjoyment as you help or harm the local populace. In an era where new single-player IPs are hard to find, this one deserves to succeed.

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Feb 6, 2024

As disappointed as I was with the first DLC I think I dislike the second one even more. It’s a mishmash of unenjoyable mini-games, and while the music is great the gameplay is not.

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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has overcome a rough pre-launch time after multiple delays.  While the objectives can feel repetitive the excellent gameplay never does.  This review will be out of date after a month or two because this is a live-service assed live-service game.  For fans of Destiny, The Division, and all the loot-focused games-as-a-service titles, this is a damned good one at launch. We'll see if they can continue to grow and improve it over time.

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8.2 / 10.0 - Lil Guardsman
Jan 23, 2024

Lil Guardsman is funny, occasionally heartwarming, and a ton of fun.  It takes a simple premise and builds it into a unique and excellent video game.

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Jan 18, 2024

Turnip Boy Robs A Bank is a damned good time, that is just as long as it needs to be.  Whether you’ve played the first game or not it is well worth checking out on Game Pass.  Good looks, fun gameplay, and excellent music make it another solid addition to the platform.

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5.5 / 10.0 - Bulletstorm VR
Jan 18, 2024

The translation to VR, while commendable, doesn’t translate into an enjoyable gameplay experience. Combine that with a game that hasn’t aged well, and constant crashing on both PC and Quest 3, especially at $40, is not something I can recommend.

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9 / 10.0 - Resident Evil 2
Jan 16, 2024

Resident Evil 2 is a fantastic get for Game Pass, and the new port on the Microsoft Store is excellent.  It’s Play Anywhere, terrifying, and well worth checking out for anyone looking to clap some zombie cheeks.

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Jan 11, 2024

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown is an instant classic.  Full of reverie for the series it takes it to new heights with a damned near-perfect mix of action-platforming goodness.  It’s the best type of Metroidvania.  One that knows how to pace out the power ups and I hope this is the start of a series of similar titles for the franchise.

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7.2 / 10.0 - Close to the Sun
Jan 3, 2024

Short, sweet, and a solid yarn.  Close to the Sun takes an interesting alt-history setting and is pretty enough to put up with occasionally clunky gameplay.  It’s short at only 3 hours for a full playthrough, so it’s worth giving it a try if you have any interest in the premise.

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