Ambitious and engrossing open-world immersive sim.
Unpleasant menus aren't likely to hamper the experience entirely, though, so anyone with a passing appreciation for the series is likely to be content with Black Ops 6. Its protracted development cycle clearly paid off, but it also makes me wonder what kind of ambitious project the talent at Treyarch and Raven Software could concoct if it were unshackled from Call of Duty. Another year brings another iteration of gaming's FPS royalty, and perhaps more so than its relatives, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a rather convincing argument for why the series remains on top.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is enjoyable front to back, and is sure to find a lot of admirers who stick around for the co-op and PvP progression. In particular, fans of the universe and of the first game will likely be pleased that this long-awaited sequel is in no way a misstep, executing its vision soundly without becoming overly ambitious.
That's the most egregious example, but it happens quite often on a smaller scale: NPCs popping in randomly, guards attacking for seemingly no reason (especially frustrating after the last lap on their patrol drew no ire), the aforementioned instances of quests apparently not progressing. At times, Dragon's Dogma 2 feels like it came out shortly after its predecessor, an early- to mid-2010s game with a vibrant coat of paint. Sometimes it's endearing, but it really kills the game's incredible momentum when you're ripped from immersion without a clue as to why. Clunkiness aside, Dragon's Dogma 2 still manages to be a wonderful journey, and a true novelty among fantasy RPGs.
Helldivers 2 is a refreshingly fun power fantasy, where mastery through teamwork breeds satisfaction. Diving out of a charging bug's way and firing into its exposed back or blowing up a machine dropship before it can deploy its forces feels incredible. The game's tone is finely tuned so that getting caught in a friendly airstrike and seeing your own character's limbs go flying isn't frustrating, it's a hilariously minor setback. All told, the modestly priced, always online game takes a measured approach to its monetization while being built entirely to bolster its main gameplay loop, making Helldivers 2 a shining example against $70 live-service titles that nickel-and-dime their players.
Even with consideration for all the fresh content, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's $50 asking price still feels a bit steep for series newcomers who have held off until now. The new additions themselves feel particularly geared toward returning players, however, and No Return alone is likely worth the $10 upgrade fee being offered. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is ultimately still The Last of Us Part 2 – it's one of the greatest narrative achievements in the medium repackaged with more gameplay avenues.
Spider-Man 2 brings Peter Parker and Miles Morales together for what is one of the best PS5 exclusives yet – a triumph of gameplay and storytelling.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage marks a concerted effort for the series to return to its roots, but that doesn’t make it immune to longstanding issues.
Lies of P is an exceptional dissection of the soulslike genre, bolstered by its strong setting and endearing cast, including its puppet protagonist.
Perhaps the one saving grace of In Tanta We Trust is that it's visually impressive. Forspoken runs well and looks incredible; its DLC is no different. For those that did enjoy Forspoken, the US$12.49 price point may be worth it, but they should go in expecting a much smaller experience. Forspoken: In Tanta We Trust is at best a neat aside, and at worst almost confusingly pointless as an expansion.
The most unfortunate aspect of Company of Heroes 3 Console Edition is the text size, an issue with no solution. The settings have an option to increase cutscene subtitle size, but the same is not available for the many, many text boxes in-game. It frequently makes for a frustrating experience when playing from a couch, and is a constant reminder that Company of Heroes 3 is first and foremost a game built for PC; it's perfectly playable and more than enjoyable on console, but is still often cumbersome and awkward.
Jedi: Survivor not only cements itself as a premier Star Wars game, but also establishes Cal as one of the franchise’s most compelling characters.
Burning Shores' price of admission is practically worth it for the culminating boss fight alone. Although the expansion's pace doesn't allow for a steady crescendo to the climactic battle, it is hands down the most impressive and exhilarating set piece Horizon has accomplished thus far. Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores may be unfortunately short, but it's nonetheless sweet, and its technical accomplishments tantalizingly set high expectations for Guerrilla Games' third entry in the series.
After Metroid Prime 4's development was restarted in 2019, Metroid Dread and now Metroid Prime Remastered are reminders that Retro Studios and Nintendo have an iconic, evocative, and gripping sci-fi series that unfortunately now sees only sporadic releases. Luckily, the brilliance of Metroid Prime now has a chance to reach a much larger audience. The original 2002 release impressed with its bold new direction for the series, and now the definitive version of the classic has arrived in Metroid Prime Remastered.
Forspoken is sprawling, awing in its scale, and a treat to look at, and while the gameplay is snappy and engaging, it's not necessarily impressive enough to completely distract from haphazard discussions with NPCs and a narrative that should have been given more space.
If nothing else, Modern Warfare 2 and its return to the revamped gunplay of its predecessor is an assurance that Call of Duty is firmly within a new era. The relaunch of Warzone will undoubtedly only benefit the already solid package, one which deftly navigates the burgeoning crossplay scene with a slew of network features. Alongside such implementations, though, is a platform primed for its inevitable deep dive into live service monetization, which looks to begin in earnest upon the release date of Warzone 2 and the start of Season 1. The game will surely evolve over the next year or more, but at launch, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is a well-made entry in one of gaming's largest franchises, where innovation isn't necessarily expected, but would have certainly been welcome.
Players who fancy the challenge of shooting for the optimal run to attain a personal best may get sucked in, but those hoping for much beyond the eponymous sport won't find a deep narrative or character development to latch onto.
Rainbow Six Extraction boasts satisfying gameplay and some interesting meta-game systems, but is bogged down by its repetitive missions.
New Director's Cut content - including the Maser Gun, Firing Range, Racing Track, Cargo Catapult, and more - offer new experiences and tools for those who have played Death Stranding before, but are spread across the course of the game to accompany the steady inundation of items and activities the game already had. For new players, this means the Director's Cut is the definitive version of Kojima Productions' masterpiece. It delivers an incredibly pertinent story, with more content than ever before, to be experienced through ingenious integration of the PlayStation 5's DualSense.
maller bugs such as textures not loading (or missing entirely, perhaps), with the item glowing a bright, uniform white instead, were obnoxious but not impossible to ignore. They simply pull the player out of a game that is otherwise engaging on multiple fronts. The constant search for food and water, new loot or materials to expand a base amidst the ever-present danger of other players makes Rust Console Edition a compelling title for players interested in the survival genre or unable to play the PC version, but be prepared for some frustrating and immersion-breaking occurrences.