Adrian Morales's Reviews
MLB The Show 22 is one of the best baseball games on the market, if not the only one players should consider. However, as the MLB The Show series has cracked the code for crafting a baseball game that looks authentic and plays fantastically, development studio Sony San Diego may have painted themselves into a corner. Progress made since MLB The Show 21 is minuscule, and this year’s entry is mostly a rehash of the previous game, begging players to ask if this year’s entry is worth full price. That isn’t to say that MLB The Show 22 isn’t worth the time investment from its fans, because it is quite an excellent sports game, but it might be time to start thinking outside of the box about how the franchise can begin to iterate.
Revita is a brilliant roguelite featuring impactful mechanics and a fun gameplay loop.
Overall, Salt and Sacrifice still nails the core elements that make a 2D reimagining of Dark Souls a compelling idea thanks to its fundamental understanding of how character and level progression should flow and its expansive combat system. By adding in an extra layer of Metroidvania-style exploration and a unique approach to boss encounters with its Mage Hunt mechanic, Salt and Sacrifice sees Ska Studios carve out a space for itself as more than the studio that is good at making 2D Dark Souls games.
One recurring thought I had throughout my time with Trek to Yomi was how much a game’s art style truly influences the experience, and that is where Trek to Yomi thrives. When looking at the game as a playable homage to classic samurai films and less of a gameplay experience but more of a visual experience, fans will find that Trek to Yomi is a great time.
Soundfall is a treat for musically inclined gamers, but its weak mechanics hold it back.
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge sticks close to its classic beat 'em up roots but still manages to be a wildly entertaining tribute to the Ninja Turtles.
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course is a short yet sweet send-off for the beloved platformer, featuring plenty of depth and a rigorous challenge.
Loopmancer is an action-packed, atmospheric detective mystery that works best in the heat of combat, but its roguelike elements could use some work.
Hard West 2 takes a fluid and action-focused approach to turn-based strategy that isn't as complex as its inspirations but is still plenty of fun.
Tower of Fantasy does very little to stand out from other gacha games and can't find its footing in either gameplay or story, making it quite a mess.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection on PC is one of the best PlayStation ports so far, optimizing a modern classic for a broad range of hardware.
There is always something cool and worth the effort to see or do in this game, which is why Sonic Frontiers works well despite being very repetitive in nature.
Marvel's Midnight Suns is rough around the edges, but its solid strategy mechanics and addicting team-building elements make it a compelling game.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on next-gen consoles is the best way to discover or re-discover one of the most celebrated RPGs of the last decade.
Wild Hearts refreshes the hunting genre with clever crafting and awesome beasts but is brought down by a poor technical state and weak story.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a fast, focused, and compelling game that is sure to challenge fans of soulslikes, but it does feel uneven at times.
But in spite of its few shortcomings, Minecraft Legends is still a bold and exciting new direction for a franchise that continues to stand the test of time. It's a game that understands why Minecraft is so compelling in the first place and then twists those elements into an action strategy experience that can be hard to put down. Its only missteps come from its limited scope and how it leaves players wanting more because its core gameplay loop is so good. Minecraft Legends is approachable, captivating, and just a really good time.
The best way to describe Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is “safe.” Much like with Jedi: Fallen Order, it is clear that Respawn has a lot of good ideas for this franchise and wants to draw from a variety of influences to make something special, but it ultimately ends up making a pastiche of AAA game mechanics and fixings that are serviceable but not very refined. Jedi: Survivor doesn't have the same novelty and luster that Fallen Order had behind it, so when it rests on its laurels like this, the whole package feels underwhelming. When coupled with a clunky story and a laundry list of technical issues, it's clear that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor still has a long way to go before it reaches its full potential.
Ultimately, Remnant 2 still hits more than it misses. This mish-mashing of two wildly different styles of games still largely succeeds despite not being an entirely clean fusion, and best of all, Gunfire Games has expanded the foundation laid by the first game into something that is truly unique and interesting. Remnant 2 is still rough around the edges, but its interesting worlds, incredible procedural generation system, and variety of playstyles do enough to hold up a game that might not always feel as refined or intuitive as the inspirations it draws from.
Atlas Fallen had promise, but nothing that this game strives to accomplish ever lands very well or feels fully realized. Between a lackluster story filled with generic and soulless voice acting and a combat system that loses its momentum well before the credits roll, there is rarely a moment where this game feels memorable or worth the time to finish. There is some good stuff on the surface of Deck13’s new IP, with its beautiful vistas and interesting world-building and aesthetic, but digging past the surface of Atlas Fallen shows that it is mostly hollow underneath.