David Burdette


73 games reviewed
81.6 average score
85 median score
73.5% of games recommended
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80 / 100 - Madden NFL 21
Aug 27, 2020

Madden NFL 21 is a solid product. It excels in several areas, like the presentation and Ultimate Team. The core gameplay is as fun and smooth as it's ever been, and I've been playing since Madden NFL 2005. But the new jewels in the crown are flawed and need to be polished a bit more.

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70 / 100 - Control: AWE
Sep 4, 2020

In the end, AWE is another solid but lacking chapter of Control. The gameplay is fun, and a fantastic boss in Hartman is introduced. But there's not much more to it besides that. The new weapon form isn't necessary, and I'm not even sure it fits in the narrative.There aren't new abilities, and you're going to finish AWE pretty quickly. But detractors aside, I got two things I really wanted, more of Alan Wake and more of Control, which is all that really matters. Here's to hoping the Remedyverse has more of both for us out there.

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70 / 100 - The Red Lantern
Oct 22, 2020

The Red Lantern is a great experience. I love my dog sled team and playing the runs again and again only reinforced that. But I'm not sure the roguelite style stays fresh all the way through, and it can get a bit tiring and repetitive. In the end, The Red Lantern is not going to win a lot of awards for what it does and is, but it's a unique take on the walking simulator genre that honestly has gotten stale and oversaturated.

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80 / 100 - Bugsnax
Nov 9, 2020

Bugsnax is an odd combination of Pokémon, a Cabela's hunting game, and Octodad. It's got a lot going for it in the fun gameplay, as well as a wonderful island filled with incredible creatures to discover. I do think the ending doesn't necessarily fit, and the backtracking is annoying, but it doesn't make the game unenjoyable. If you want the weirdest game of 2020 that's unusually entertaining, then pick up Bugsnax. Now if you'll excuse me, the Kero Kero Bonito song is stuck in my head again.

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Nov 12, 2020

Black Ops has absolutely returned with a vengeance. The fast, frantic pace is still there, and the gunplay is still just as great as you remember it. While the campaign may be the weakest part of an overall phenomenal package, it's still very satisfying and the espionage narrative packs a punch. The modes people are going to play the most, multiplayer and Zombies, are the strongest parts of Black Ops Cold War, and offer the best first person shooter gameplay in video games. PS4 and Xbox One players may be missing out on several improvements offered by the next-gen systems and PC, but it's not enough to detract from an amazing experience. My appetite for Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is definitely growing, and like Duran Duran, "I'm hungry like the wolf".

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Nov 26, 2020

Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered is the definitive way to play the game, whether you've played the original or not, and it's so good you should play it again.

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Dec 17, 2020

WRC 9 is a beautiful game that will speak to the enthusiast. There are a plethora of modes, and the career offering is packed with plenty of ways to customize your experience. The only issue I have is I don't see myself returning to it often because of its esoteric nature. I'm not the target audience, and while that's okay, new players may feel a bit excluded.

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75 / 100 - Per Aspera
Dec 30, 2020

Per Aspera has a bunch of good ideas in it. Adding a narrative element is a slam dunk, but the pacing of it hurts it in the long run, even as interesting as it is. Per Aspera also has a lot of solid gameplay elements, and evolves into a pretty complex package in the end. But a lack of explanation as to what you're doing impairs the experience, and may cause newer players to give up before the enjoyable gameplay loop kicks in.

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85 / 100 - Suzerain
Jan 2, 2021

Suzerain is unlike most things you can play that's out right now. The choose your own adventure stylings are fascinating, with rabbit trail upon rabbit trail to investigate. Because of this, you'll be able to play it again and again, and because they do such a great job with the setting and people you're going to want to. While some sections can be long in tooth, they only make me appreciate what Suzerain is doing, creating a riveting narrative of what it's like to be President.

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90 / 100 - Hitman 3
Jan 26, 2021

Hitman 3 is the ultimate Hitman experience, period. The game runs almost improbably crisp, and each location is a ton of fun to explore. Replayability is a must, but not just because of the brevity of the campaign, but because there is so much to do in each one. Adding the missions of yesteryear appends even more to the package, along with the ability to be the assassin in VR or take it on the go with Stadia or Switch. I could try and nitpick it for what it doesn't do or where it comes up short (of which there's almost nothing), but when it comes to being an early contender for Game Of The Year, Hitman 3 hits its target dead center.

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70 / 100 - Mutropolis
Feb 17, 2021

Mutropolis is a fun game held back by unforgiving speed bumps. I am enthralled by the beautiful art style, and the tone the game sets in the narrative leaves you having a good time. But it's hard to enjoy what you're doing if you can't move forward, and I too often found myself at a stop sign.

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Feb 23, 2021

The Blizzard Arcade Collection is a great little compilation of some lesser known Blizzard games. The additional features such as rewind and save states, when available at least, are delightful improvements, and the definitive editions work amazingly well. I'm also impressed with such a great behind the scenes section with a lot of interesting content. But most of this smorgasbord is par for the course, and I expect a little more out of Blizzard. It falls under the competent category, rather than revolutionary.

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85 / 100 - It Takes Two
Apr 2, 2021

It Takes Two is one of the most unique games I've played in a long time. The heartfelt story can be really dark at times, but does it's job to reinforce the narrative. There aren't many co-op games on the market, and none of them do what It Takes Two does, with each bit of the platforming gameplay being tons of fun and adding enjoyable new techniques as you make your way through each level. It may be tough to lock someone down for fifteen hours to play it, and even then I feel like I'm reaching for this as a con, but if you find someone that wants to play It Takes Two with, you probably won't want to put down the controller.

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60 / 100 - What the Dub?!
Apr 8, 2021

In the end, What The Dub?! has only one trick. While that trick can be and is a lot of fun to mess around with, it wears out its welcome a bit too quickly. Although text-to-speech is a great idea and sound effects are a worthy addition, the b-movie clips feel like they're on repeat after a while, and the pacing can leave you in the lurch. I hope that the game can get some additional support, and with some additional footage maybe over time it can improve, but as of now it feels a bit hollow.

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80 / 100 - Outriders
Apr 14, 2021

Despite all of the ways that Outriders is stuck in the past, the moment to moment gameplay is so compelling that it's impossible to say it's not a blast -- especially with friends. It's also remarkably expansive in its crafting and skill trees, with plenty of ways to customize your playstyle. I may not be that invested in the story, and this certainly isn't that different from most first person shooters, but Outriders is well worth the time and effort. Even if there may be extra effort put in because of crappy server connections.

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90 / 100 - Returnal
Apr 29, 2021

Firsts don't come around very often, but this is one of PlayStation's first PS5 exclusives and Housemarque's first triple A releases, and the combination is a triumphant success. I'm not sure how they've managed everything in play, taking the bullet-hell stylings of old and meshing them with the trappings of a third-person roguelike, but it works to a fantastic degree. On top of that, the action-packed gameplay is some of the best around, additionally being one of the most immersive and next-gen experiences available thanks to an incredible understanding of the DualSense controller. Yes, the story may take a backseat, but that's the nature of the roguelike genre, and doesn't hinder Returnal in the slightest. I may not be much for roguelikes, but I can see myself "returning" to play this one again and again.

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90 / 100 - Days Gone
May 17, 2021

Days Gone is the perfect PlayStation game to make its way to PC. It was already a beautiful game, but held back by the PS4 and PS4 Pro. On PC, Days Gone gets it's chance to flourish, running at uncapped frame rates, high resolutions, and touting an FOV slider. While it is missing some cool next-gen upgrades like ray tracing and DLSS, Days Gone runs nearly flawlessly on PC, and serves as a testament to Bend's tradecraft. Even if you've already played the game on PS4 or PS4 Pro, it's worth jumping back into the shoes of Deacon St John on PC to massacre a freaker horde at the highest level of performance possible.

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Jun 8, 2021

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is one of the best games I've played this year. It's fun, it's endearing, and I just want to play it again. The gameplay isn't much different, but it's refined and has aged like a fine wine, with the technical prowess on display we've come to expect from Insomniac Games. If you're looking for a great narrative, the story is arguably the best in the series, with the grandeur of a Marvel movie in tow. One could imply the game isn't long enough, but that's only because they put down the controller, and that's just not what you're going to do if you have a copy of Rift Apart.

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50 / 100 - GreedFall
Jul 2, 2021

The return to Teer Fradee largely disappoints in the De Vespe Conspiracy, although the PlayStation 5 upgrade works well. I wanted so much more in something called an expansion, even if the cost said I should temper my expectations. The De Vespe Conspiracy still tells an enjoyable tale, but the surrounding new enemies, empty location, and anticlimactic ending make for something akin to getting a dinner mint as a dessert rather than the chocolate melting cake.

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90 / 100 - Death's Door
Jul 20, 2021

Buy it. Play it. Enjoy it. It's as simple as the game feels, even if it challenges you more than you'd ever think it would. The more I've played it, the more I see every one of it's accomplishments, with fantastic gameplay and a great choice of art style and soundtrack jewels in its crown. Death's Door does nearly everything right for what it is, and even the shortcomings of the narrative is barely a blemish on a spectacular résumé.

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