All in all, "Metro Awakening" is an outstanding experience, especially for Metro fans, although the game does not live up to the very high expectations in some respects. The gameplay and the story are good on their own, but they get in each other's way a bit. The story dominates entire sections of the game, which then feel more like an interactive movie, while the gameplay misses out on really evolving over the course of the game and offering a truly new experience. But "Metro Awakening" has hit the core perfectly: Implementing the atmosphere and gameplay of "Metro 2033" in a VR environment.
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"Starship Troopers: Extermination" is rather mediocre as an overall package. The reason for this is the bumpy performance, the laughable single-player mode and the general lack of variety at release. Nevertheless, the game is captivating and even surpasses the best games in this genre in one respect: the moments when we have to hold the line against an overwhelming mass of opponents. "Starship Troopers: Extermination" does a lot of things only satisfactorily, but it captures this one aspect so well that we keep coming back to play a game. Maybe the developer Offworld will succeed in building something on this foundation, other games show that this is quite possible. Unfortunately, despite the rather low price, the competition is much further ahead than "Starship Troopers: Extermination" currently is.
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The expansion Void Shadows perfectly highlights the strengths of Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader, the rich and gloriously dark world. Even though this new expansion is entirely set on the player’s ship, it manages to feel varied and rich in lore. Alongside the exciting new archetypes, an intriguing new companion and a heap of themed gear and upgrades, this expansion is a must for fans of the main game and should be installed for all playthroughs.
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Enotria: The Last Song tends to get lost in its own ambitions. While it breathes fresh air into the grim and hopeless apocalypses souls-likes tend to portray, the additions to the combat and character customization tend to weigh it down. Despite a generally more forgiving difficulty than many other titles, the sheer volume of things to keep track of make this a souls-like best suited for fans of the genre.
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"Akimbot" is a love letter to the early platformers of the Playstation 2, you can see that in every minute of play. Even if the game doesn't manage to completely capture the charm of the past, it still offers enough fun moments. "Akimbot" doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't have to, as there is currently little to no modern competition in this genre. In any case, we are looking forward to the developer's next project, because there is a lot of potential for a future hit here.
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Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 sets a new standards not only for games set in the 41st Millennia, but also for horde based shooters. The innovative combat system that cleverly builds upon the foundation of the 13 years old predecessor shows incredible depth when mixing different weapon styles. Together with an entertaining, albeit narratively shallow campaign and a wealth of customization for co-op players, this game is every Warhammer 40k fans dream come true.
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Bleak Faith: Forsaken is a game with a very strong vision. It puts players in a world almost comically oversized with no direction and just the sound of footsteps on metal floors. Later an impressive orchestral soundtrack paints a picture of a past long decayed while players are left alone, disoriented and lost. While combat is mostly mediocre, Bleak Faith: Forsaken has managed to capture the atmosphere of Warhammer 40k and the very first Dark Souls and somehow has woven them together into something new.
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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is the much needed risk so much of the games industry refuses to take. It’s an artistic gem that despite some rough edges bursts with creative ideas and a very strong vision. While it may not appeal to everyone, this has all the ingredients for a cult classic.
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Darkest Dungeon 2 forgoes the traditional route of making a sequel by adding more of the same and instead turns the entire formula on its head. It addresses some criticism of the first title with its changes, while creating frustration in new places with the overhaul. It’s far from a perfect game, but the dripping, gothic atmosphere and presentation still make it more than worth the while to at least try and bring a glimmer of hope into the endless darkness.
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For us, there is no doubt. "Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengence" is the definitive version of the game. The relatively small improvements in usability alone make the game completely different. Not to mention the general overhaul of the story, which means that the game allows two distinctly different playthroughs and thus offers an enormous scope. In the overall package with a very strong visual identity and a legendary soundtrack, "Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengence" is an absolute must-have for all fans of JRPGs, whether they are familiar with the series or not.
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"System Shock" is the gold standard for remakes of old classics. It shows that old and new do not have to stand in each other's way, but also complement each other. Although there are some old burdens, especially in the operation of the inventory and the hand-to-hand combat, these are quickly covered up by the timeless exploration of the beautifully implemented space station. Whether for fans of the original or for those who grew up with the titles that learned from "System Shock", this remake is a worthwhile trip into video game history.
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In conclusion, it can only be said that Creative Assembly has successfully found its way back to its best moments here. For example, "Thrones of Decay" offers a lot of good innovations and adjustments both free and paid, and the three new factions can also be purchased individually if desired. We were particularly impressed by the attention to detail with which the new units, lords and heroes were worked out and how skilfully everything fits seamlessly into the already very, very extensive game. Whether for long-time fans or for newcomers, "Total War: Warhammer 3" is currently doing everything right.
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While it’s still somewhat struggling with the legacy of Bullfrog’s Dungeon Keeper, Dungeons 4 from German developer Realmforge Studios continues to carve out its own identity. A very solid and refined gameplay loop is somewhat held back by quickly dated humor and some visual clutter. If you liked the earlier Dungeons games, expect more of the same with smaller additions and improvements, but those itching to be evil don’t have a better alternative anyway.
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With Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game Saber Interactive takes a new spin on the beloved offroad franchise. With a much lesser focus on transportation over exploration, this time more than ever the journey is the goal. A more guided structure eases new players in, while veterans can discover plenty of challenging side missions off the beaten path. While there are some technical issues at launch and the multiplayer is sorely missed (to be added via free update later), the package as a whole is still a solid game for those who don't mind taking it slower.
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While Skull & Bones is far from the worst game ever made, it completely fails in conveying its vision of becoming a legendary pirate captain. Instead, it chases every conceivable gaming trend from excessive crafting, battle passes and hands-off story telling and leaves next to no impact whatsoever. Even among Ubisoft titles, often mocked for their bland sandbox approach, “Skull & Bones” seemingly perfected the blandness with a sparse few highlights when environment, multiplayer and ship combat all click into place and reveal a wealth of untapped potential.
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On the one hand, the game has a great addictive factor thanks to excellent multiplayer gameplay and short, crisp missions. The outstanding graphics and audio quality perfectly accompany the war on the dark front and make you want to explore every corner. Unfortunately, the business strategies of Sony and Arrowhead Games stand in the way of the good game. With regular crashes and connection problems, as well as a very limited scope and many promises, "Helldivers 2" seems more like a very good Early Access game. In addition, there is a strong focus on microtransactions, which does not allow us to fully enjoy the excellent gameplay.
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Islands of Insight feels like the developers took the Korok challenges from the recent The Legend of Zelda titles and crossed them with The Witness. It’s a wonderful playground full of different kinds of puzzles, some deviously crafted into the environment itself. While there’s little story to latch on to and no real fail-state, the thrill of discovery has definitely kept us going far longer into the night than we thought possible. This review was tested before general multiplayer went live, therefore we can’t speak as to how well the MMO-like aspects blend into general gameplay.
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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is not a complete failure. An excellent presentation and some gripping story moments as well as a very good introduction provide a few hours of successful entertainment. Still, it's hard not to focus on the missed potential, whether that's the overly simplistic combat system, the characters playing very similarly, or the lack of motivation to continue playing after the story. Especially in multiplayer mode, the title can be fun, but the full price for it is not justified.
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"Ginsha" is an absolute must-see for Metroidvania fans. The game cleverly combines elements from video game classics with newer ideas and manages to pack these elements into a very pretty and great sounding package. Only the difficulty level and the lack of almost any navigation aids can deter less experienced players.
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Walkabout Mini Golf VR is the definition of a game for everyone. Whether you chase the perfect game across each hole or you're here to enjoy the detailed and colourful courses, there's something to like for everyone. Paired with excellent controls and a variety of options for movement, Walkabout Mini Golf VR makes for a must-have for VR players old and new alike.
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