Rise of the Tomb Raider isn't the biggest open world game. It doesn't have the most quests or the most collectibles, and heck, you don't even climb tall structures without a darn good reason. What Rise of the Tomb Raider has in spades is balance. Everything about the experience screams quality, and every objective has a good reason for existing.
The force is strong-ish with this one.
Go on; spend an afternoon with Firewatch. It has a few unsightly spots, but it's still a tremendous and thought provoking experience for anyone who loves a good adventure.
If you're looking for a really short review, here it is: Salt & Sanctuary is Dark Souls in 2D.
Final Fantasy IX is the best of PS1 era Squaresoft, with a whimsical and heartwarming story, nuanced battle system, and thought provoking premises.
This is a tense, engaging, and cerebral strategy experience that sets a new bar for the genre.
_____________________________ Exploration and empire expansion are genuinely captivating.
The translation is unbelievably, hilariously bad.
While very much an extension of the previous title, there are several welcome enhancements that should put the game on the radar of any serious turn-based fan.
When punch, punch, launcher kick, jump, insane piledriver is an option, I tend to get creative whenever possible.
It’s hokey and drawn out, but taps into nostalgia for the series admirably
the ability to make the gun point at the right spot is the difference between gaming nirvana and controller chucking rage. Go ahead and ask my controller where this experience leaned.
The fantastic combat and strong story points far outweigh the technical missteps and more cringeworthy moments.
Don't like grey areas? Just become the Borg via the hive mind belief system
________________________ “I didn't feel much motivation to try new things when old solutions were still perfectly serviceable.
The Lion's Song is a game that leans hard on its storytelling and pulls it off in fine fashion.
It misses the thrill of slamming a quarter down on a cabinet in some dimly lit arcade and throttling some jerk who thinks they're a pretty radical Windjammer.
Speaking of annoying, the movement and combat in The Evil Within 2 are largely a source of frustration.
_______________________ “It's breathtaking, it's whimsical, it's monumental.
_____________________________ “The game doesn't manage to create anything resembling tension as you play