EA Sports College Football 25 makes the gridiron feel new again with stellar visuals that heighten the gameday intensity and smooth controls that evoke the high-octane moment-to-moment action that makes college football so beloved. I enjoy the painstaking, time-consuming process of revitalizing weak programs in Dynasty as well as competing against teammates to earn that coveted starting spot in Road to Glory, but some skin-deep progression systems and game modes are concerning; beyond the campaigns, there simply isn’t enough to see or do. Nevertheless, CFB 25 is a confident spiral throw in the right direction, and I’m excited to see how its strong foundation evolves in future releases.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a double-edged sword that needs a bit more sharpening.
Switch Sports’ singleplayer is bafflingly hollow. All six events are available, but the reward system is absent. Gratification might come from defeating the CPU on the inconsistent “Strong” or “Powerhouse” difficulties, but don’t expect to receive anything flashy in exchange. As of right now, there are no incentives in place to keep casual players invested in returning to their favorite sports, which is a disservice to a sizeable percentage of the fanbase.
I’ve never played a game like Norco, which elegantly celebrates and admonishes its cultural roots while simultaneously chronicling a strange doomsday scenario. Kay and Catherine’s shattered America is not so dissimilar from our own – burgeoning industrial complexes threaten to displace low-income families, automated systems supersede human workers, and the filthy rich work around the clock to deter upward mobility. The game isn’t always gloomy. One cool night, I sat atop City Hall and gazed at the constellations with a stranger. Hours earlier, I flipped through treasured memories on a faulty flatscreen TV. Norco is an unforgettable reminder that there’s an inherent beauty behind the madness.
Despite a repetitive loop, GTFO smartly differentiates itself from its cooperative shooter influences while still being an approachable thrill ride.
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story might impress fans with its nuanced combat systems, but beyond that, Riot Games’ latest RPG is a mediocre experience at best.
There aren't many notable changes in FIFA 22. My Career is still the most dynamic mode, and that's not saying much
There's a lot to do in Tales of Arise – set up camp, hook some fish, help townsfolk with missions of varying importance, etc. The main plot is incredible, but the secondary stories you uncover are far more memorable
The bland routine of traversing meandering hallways to arrive at wider combat zones brimming with seemingly unending hordes often leads to fatigue and frustration
Synergizing with Sonon is the icing on the cake and watching the two fighters unleash their fury on unsuspecting foes kept me on the edge of my seat
Most Awakened Abilities are fun to use, but puzzles are boring because they're such a breeze to complete
You'll spend most of your time going from Point A to Point B collecting materials for forgettable NPCs, but the main questline will keep you on the edge of your seat
Fighting different beasts is always a blast. However, the time you spend outside of combat pales in comparison to your epic encounters
Conversing with Night City's ensemble cast is fun, but outdated combat mechanics and faulty enemy AI might convince you to play stealthily more than you'd like
The Volta and Career modes are fun and engrossing for a time, but they don't add much substance for players familiar with last year's installment