Salal Awan
With Elden Ring, From Software has once again demonstrated why they are the masters of creating a brand new world with complex lore, engaging combat, and satisfying progression.
Resident Evil 4 (2023) remake delivers a stellar gaming experience, exceeding expectations with its improved story, mechanics, and graphics. Despite some cut content, the addition of new features like haptic feedback and additional boss fights makes for a satisfying and immersive experience.
The Last of Us Part 2 is a brutal tale that is not easy to digest, but the result is an experience that will stay with us for a long time to come.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is a thrilling adventure with some intense strategic battles. It's an excellent sequel that fixes many of the flaws of its predecessor and provides a spectacular journey with hours of entertainment.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is an impressive sequel to the cult classic game. It features an ambitious open-world and a more engaging storyline that combines nostalgia with innovation. Although the game has a few design quirks and occasional performance issues, especially on PC, it compensates with a rich narrative, an expansive world, and an engaging combat system. Players who are willing to dive deep into its universe will find it a rewarding experience. While it does not redefine the action RPG genre, it successfully captures the essence of adventure and exploration, making it appealing to both veteran and newcomer players.
As a remake of one of the most iconic games, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 offers heaps of fun and it is worth the bang for your bucks.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is a wonderful platformer that offers the same wacky but difficult gameplay of its predecessors, but with a modern twist added to them.
Psychonauts 2 will be remembered as one of the best sequels. It's an amazing adventure game with a great presentation and well-designed levels.
A new benchmark has been set for the franchise with Tales of Arise, demonstrating how refinement and dedication can raise a game to the level of its rivals.
Shin Megami Tensei V is a finely built JRPG with a flawless game design that stumbles in its story execution but makes up for it with its gameplay brilliance.
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker condenses the charm and specialization of the series DNA into a single expansion that will be regarded as one of the finest Final Fantasy storylines.
In the current market, there is nothing quite like Tactics Ogre: Reborn, and this new release appears to check all the right boxes to bring this classic to modern platforms. It is a once-in-a-generation game that should be played even if you are not a fan of the SRPG genre.
As a remaster, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy Reunion is a fan's dream come true. It has highly refined visuals, enhanced gameplay, and some quality-of-life improvements, but it suffers from antiquated gameplay design.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a great addition to the Final Fantasy rhythm game series, featuring enhanced gameplay, a vast song collection, and an immersive experience that pays homage to the franchise's rich history and iconic soundtrack. Despite a few small issues, it's a love letter to fans with limitless replay value.
Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster breathes new life into classic games with meticulous retouches, improved artwork, soundtracks, and quality-of-life changes. The series stands as the definitive way to experience these timeless stories, characters, and gameplay mechanics. A must-buy for Final Fantasy fans and newcomers alike.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor excels as a sequel with refined gameplay, stunning visuals, and an engaging story. With customizable difficulty and appearances, the game appeals to all fans. Despite some pacing issues and initial technical hiccups, this action-adventure is a captivating addition to the Star Wars universe.
Ghost Trick presents a unique and intriguing gameplay experience, successfully combining visual novel elements with environmental puzzle-solving. Despite its linearity, it engrosses the player with clever humor, witty dialogue, and an engaging cast. However, its short length and lack of replayability can be seen as shortcomings. The remaster significantly improves the game's visuals and user interface, enhancing the overall experience and making it feel like a modern title.
Final Fantasy XVI, with its shift towards a more action-oriented approach, offers a mature and dark narrative that is both captivating and contentious. The game's combat system, which echoes elements of Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, is commendable, although its RPG elements appear somewhat diminished in the quest for action. Despite some irregularities in the distribution of experience points and variable quality of cutscenes, the game's epic fantasy action, dramatic set pieces, and well-crafted characters make it a standout installment in the franchise. However, the polarizing ending may leave fans with a range of reactions.
The Apollo Justice Trilogy is an extension of the critically acclaimed Ace Attorney series that brings new life to the courtroom drama genre. It combines humor, nostalgia, and innovative gameplay mechanics to maintain the essence of the series. The engaging storytelling and dynamic courtroom battles remain intact, while new gameplay elements like Apollo's lie detection and Athena's emotion-reading abilities are introduced to enhance both the gameplay and narrative.
Tekken 8 not only meets but exceeds the high expectations set by its predecessor, Tekken 7, by delivering a refined fighting experience with new features like the Heat Gauge. It sets new standards in visual quality, single-player content, and character customization, offering a comprehensive and engaging experience that is both visually stunning and rich in gameplay variety.