Mark Kriska
I enjoyed my time with Akimbot. It is a charming and surprising lengthy game, with tight controls and a well voiced story. As a diehard Ratchet & Clank fan with no new Ratchet game on the horizon, it was nice to just relax and run around a colorful, platform-y world, and just shoot some bots. However from the visual bugs I kept running into, as well as some key quality of life systems I was missing from current Ratchet & Clank games I found myself wanting more, more often than not.
I liked to tell myself that I didn't believe in perfect 10/10 games. To me a perfect game is something everyone, unanimously, can say has no issues. No shortcomings. However, Destiny 2: The Final Shape is perfect. Everything that Bungie has done these past nine years has come together in a video game version of Avengers: Endgame. The stakes, the action, the quality of storytelling, and of course the emotion has all merged into the best expansion, no, game I have ever played. If you have ever in the last decade been interested in or cared about Destiny, The Final Shape is a must play. Period.
MLB The Show 24 is a game that continues to deliver. From emotional history from Story Lines to the new amazing inclusion of Women into The Show. While this may seem like small new additions now, these ripples now have the potential to create large waves into the future. Young girls finding, or strengthening their love of baseball in this game, seeing themselves as MLB stars growing up and forcing baseball to evolve and change for the better. While I may have slight issues with the the visuals not being on the same level as the game play or game modes, it is still one of the best looking sports sims on the market and the best looking baseball game hands down. The Show 24 impresses more than disappoints and is another winning season for PlayStation and San Diego Studios.
Even with it being a game that normally doesn't draw me in Smalland manages to activate something other games like it couldn't, getting me to have fun solo in a survival crafting game. Smalland's sense of detail and scale to the world had me always wanting to see what was around the corner. That being said, if you are looking for something that will test your combat skills or is a game that is deeper than just survive and craft, then Smalland might not be something that holds your attention for long. However, if you're looking for a low intensive game that will allow you to turn off the world and explore, then Smalland is a perfect game to get lost in.
Another Fisherman's Tale may not win any awards for visuals or reinvent the wheel in gameplay. Nevertheless, the love Vertigo Games put in shines through. The story is flawless and the gameplay, while relatively simple, serves its purpose without getting in the way of itself. Another Fisherman's Tale is a beautiful game that deserves your time on PSVR2.
Destiny 2: Lightfall is my favorite entry into Destiny. This is a tall order with how amazing expansions like The Taken King, Forsaken, and The Witch Queen have been. Nevertheless, Lightfall has surpassed my expectations in almost every way. The gameplay is even more fun and fluid, the location is fresh and new, and while the story has holes, I'm excited to learn how Bunge fills them over the following year and on. Lightfall is as fantastic as it is mysterious, and I love every minute.
Zenith: The Last City surprised me. Not because I didn't expect it to be as good as it is, but because it exceeded my expectations in almost every way. The scale of the world, response of controls, and the overall systems put in place for the MMO experience never ceased to amaze me. Zenith may have shortcomings in a smaller player base or empty parts of the map, but most of what you see and do will be a top-tier MMO VR experience.
RUNNER is a fun game that takes effort to get into. While the game's aesthetic is fun and 80's synth-themed, the heavy learning curve can deter a few players. However, with persistence and practice, RUNNER can quickly become a highlight of your PSVR2 library. From the power you feel from a successful mission, to the beauty of the anime world, I grew to truly love RUNNER.
Shatter is one of my most played and favorite PSN games from the PS3 era. While Shatter Remastered Deluxe doesn't quite capture my obsession with the original game, it does improve on every aspect of it. While the game falls short with its controls on specific maps, they are still enhanced from the original version. Nevertheless, the game still excels at fast-paced, chaotic fun. From stunning visuals to amazing music, Shatter Remastered Deluxe is a must-buy for anyone looking for a stellar arcade experience.
Digimon Survive is an emotional, gripping, action-filled adventure that kept me invested from the moment I entered the Digital World. While the gameplay isn't vast, the combat is deep, and both compliment the Visual Novel style of the game. Digimon Survive may not be for everyone looking for a more direct influence on the story outside of dialogue options, but it delivers on what it promised. An amazing Digimon adventure for a whole new generation.
MLB The Show 22 stumbles for the first time in recent memory. This is understandable with San Diego Studios' ambitious goal of releasing the game on five platforms if we count the last generation consoles. Nevertheless, The Show 22 is still the best baseball sim you can buy and one I can't put down. From the attention to detail to the number of different game modes you can play through, The Show 22 continues to improve on last year's game, even though it's not to the degree we are used to. If you're a baseball fan, I cannot recommend MLB The Show 22 more.
Moss: Book II is everything I look for in a game presented in an astounding VR package. While some aspects of the game feel held back by the current hardware of PSVR the journey and world make up for any shortcomings. I truly loved my time with Moss: Book II and cannot wait to see what is next for Quill.
The highest compliment I can give any game is when I have to force myself to put the controller down to put my thoughts in a review. Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is that game. Somehow Bungie took a game that I play daily, for hours a week, and made me want to play it more. It's always good getting new content with seasons and past expansions, and I have loved all Destiny 2 additions. However, The Witch Queen feels like we have entered a new age. The Witch Queen has proven that no one is better than Bungie at what they do. The Witch Queen takes every aspect of Destiny and improves on it, and then some. While Destiny is always getting better, The Witch Queen is the best piece of Destiny content ever created.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is an experience that never overstays its welcome. While the map may be simplistic and outdated, the combat, visuals, voice acting, and story more than make up for anything the game lacks. New and old fans will find something to enjoy here, while the versus mode will keep players engaged long after the credits roll.
Bungie has delivered an amazing experience with its PS5 update. From the silky-smooth frame rates to the field of view sliders, Destiny 2 has never felt this good. All the enhancements the PC community has been able to experience and take advantage of are finally on consoles. Cross-gen support along with the same content drops means that regardless of what console you play on, you're getting the best version of Destiny 2 that your system can run.
Destiny 2 Beyond Light has turned the universe we know and love on its head by removing four major locations, five raids, outdated activities, and the sunsetting of weapons and gear. While the removal of content may seem negative, this is what the game needs to grow. Destiny 2 Beyond Light gives us a great story and an exciting new subclass with Stasis, and a huge new location in Europa. Bungie has made some hard choices to restructure Destiny 2 rather than restart the game completely with Destiny 3. What's on the horizon is something I truly cannot wait for, and I am excited to experience everything the game has to throw at me. While the Darkness is finally here, the future is bright for Destiny 2, and Beyond Light is only the tip of the iceberg.
While it is unclear who Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory is truly made for, the hardcore player or the newcomer, the game is undeniably charming. Playing through some of my favourite songs of any video game franchise won't get old any time soon. Meanwhile trying to three-star each level and collect everything to fill up the museum gives players even more reason to replay each song. While Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory missteps in its delivery, the game's presentation and quality shine enough to overlook some of its shortcomings. I cant wait to see what's next.