Adrian Morales's Reviews
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.
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is the definitive version of Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece technically, mechanically, and artistically.
Elden Ring feels like a culmination of everything that FromSoftware has created in the past 13 years. Refining, reworking, and incorporating the best parts of their whole catalog into one complete package. The Lands Between is one of the most extraordinary open worlds I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. It’s a world that you can’t help but lose yourself in for hours at a time thanks to its classic RPG sense of exploration and curiosity. This is the cherry on top for a team that has been firing on all cylinders for over a decade. Elden Ring is a triumph.
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course is a short yet sweet send-off for the beloved platformer, featuring plenty of depth and a rigorous challenge.
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.
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.
As the capstone project to CD Projekt Red's efforts in fixing Cyberpunk 2077, Phantom Liberty and Update 2.0 see the studio at its best, delivering a story that is emotional, refreshing, and up to the caliber that fans expect from CDPR while also reworking the game into its best and presumably final form. If this is truly the end for Cyberpunk 2077, then we're excited to see where CD Projekt Red goes next with the franchise because it's clear there are more stories to tell in this world, either in Night City or outside of it.
After a whirlwind 40 hours with Dragon's Dogma 2, it is clear that Capcom has created a flawed masterpiece that might not be for everyone. However, for those that this game speaks to, they will love it to pieces. So, in a way, it is the perfect sequel to Dragon's Dogma. From its unique twist on the RPG party system to its laissez-faire gameplay mechanics that reward players who are willing to think outside the box and dig into every corner of the game, there is nothing quite like Dragon's Dogma 2, and there probably won't be for a long time.
I can see now why fans clamored for a proper English localization since its original 2015 release and I can safely say that I am fully joining the ranks of Ace Attorney fans. Ace Attorney’s logic-based puzzle solving, while simple, is satisfying and the game bursts at the seams with strong writing and great characters, all of which has been masterfully preserved thanks to a great localization. If you’re looking for a simple game to play that will suck you in for hours with its intrigue, look no further than The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles.
Virtua Fighter 5 is still a great fighting game in 2021 and this remaster, almost remake, makes that profoundly obvious. The switch to the Dragon Engine has given VF5 a wonderful visual update and great care has been taken to preserve everything that is great about the original version’s stellar animations and tight balance. The biggest drawbacks here are the lack of rollback net code, which is a must-have for any fighting game with online functionality in this era, and stripped-back character customization which has already been surpassed by VF5’s contemporaries. Overall, veteran Virtua Fighter fans should be pleased and find themselves at home with this rerelease while new fans will find a very mechanically challenging but expansive fighting game to sink their teeth into.
Overall Guilty Gear Strive is a great game. Arc System Works really took the time to create a tight and refined fighter that is only complemented by a rock-solid online component. For a game series over twenty years old, Strive is the most accessible in the series for newcomers by far, and if you never have played a fighter but think this one looks neat then by all means jump in. There is a lack of single-player options and the lobbies can feel clunky and tedious but, once you’re in the heat of a match, these issues simply melt away.
What Guardians of the Galaxy brings to the table is an entertaining combat system centered around combining team elements for optimal results, coupled with an excellent and meaningful upgrade system that all creates a fun gameplay loop. Throw in a remarkably clever and well-written story, and Guardians of the Galaxy becomes what I consider to be an exceedingly enjoyable and palatable game.
When everything falls into place, and you hit that flow-state mastery of Sifu’s combat, it becomes one of the most unique and refreshing action games that we have seen in a while. Add in some beautiful artwork and great homages to kung fu classics, and this game is a winner. Its challenging and repetitious nature won't be for everybody; however, If you’re in the market for a game with mechanics that you can really sink your teeth into, Sifu is your best bet.
Weird West is a brilliant execution of immersive sim principles in an isometric environment.
Revita is a brilliant roguelite featuring impactful mechanics and a fun gameplay loop.
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.
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.
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.