Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl is an unforgiving and uncompromising affair that's not for everybody. For its target audience, it could quite possibly be the game they've been waiting for the past decade and a half, heralding the return of this beloved cult classic. The game is tough and will beat you down if you're not attentive enough, requiring a commitment to immersion. The key to the game is to simply keep at it. The journey to get there may be painful and frustrating, and many players will certainly tune out in the process. Players who persevere will find a rewarding title and a living world filled with possibilities as time goes by, despite a number of bugs and rough patches.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn't quite a full return to form, but it is definitely a step in the right direction for BioWare, and is a win that the studio definitely needed after a series of demoralizing releases over the years. The game, with all its positive points, always seems to trip over its own feet - fantastic environments but divisive character design, engaging story but overly cheesy dialog at times, and more. There's always a give-and-take that holds it back from being a great game.
Overall, the Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred expansion is a worthwhile trek that provides players with more Diablo IV but wrapped in a package of highs and lows, with its biggest miss being the unexpectedly short story that leaves players wondering how it’s already done when the good parts were just getting started. This is quite unfortunate because the rest of the expansion hits the right notes with its additions and new features, chief of which is the new Spiritborn class that excels in providing players unparalleled versatility. With a new endgame cooperative activity, a level cap reduction, and much more, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is an exciting expansion that offers players more reason to grind for more loot, which, in the end, is what Diablo IV is really all about.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a dream come true for fans of the series, bringing back the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi series in all its glory to modern platforms. Fights are flashy and fun, while its immense roster of characters is enough to satisfy players looking for a fighting game fix. It's not without its faults, and the game's story mode could have used a bit more love. While the story arcs of Dragon Ball have been replayed and retold to death, the rushed retelling of important events misses an opportunity to onboard newcomers. That said, this is the best Dragon Ball title we've had in a long time and is a definite pickup for those looking for an arena fighter that's not your typical anime offering. Akira Toriyama would have been proud.
It wasn't easy, and after facing a lot of uncertainty and criticism months before its release, Bloober Team has delivered a fantastic remake of a definite horror classic in Silent Hill 2 Remake. The pressure to overcome the odds must have been crippling, but the team has successfully captured the soul of the original and has modernized it with care, resulting in a must-play entry for the series that has been long dormant. From the stunning visuals to the haunting atmosphere and even the immersive audio design, the Silent Hill 2 Remake is a definite addition to gaming libraries everywhere, as its psychological spin on the genre is a testament to the legacy it left behind.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a fine example of Capcom's understanding as to which aspects of a game to improve without tampering with what made it good in the first place. There are substantial improvements here, almost blurring the line of being marketed as just a remaster.
NBA 2K25 is still the premiere basketball game, which is an undeniable fact. With best-in-class gameplay and stellar visuals rooted in extremely strong foundations, basketball fans and aspiring rookies need not look elsewhere for their hoop fix. Sadly, the game’s reliance on VC is more noticeable this time around, and with MyCareer still a middling mode, players are offered a package that’s less enticing than before, despite fantastic additions like ProPlay and Signature Shots.
The Plucky Squire is a creative triumph and certainly lives up to the hype ever since it was first announced. The full experience is wonderful, often employing a change of mechanics from one level to the next, keeping players on their toes with fresh gameplay. The Plucky Squire deserves a spot on anyone's list of titles to look forward to this year. It is a refreshing game amidst the barrage of AAA titles, and certainly a reminder that falling back to depend on a creatively fun and polished experience can do no wrong.
PlayStation has once again worked its magic, delivering a confident GOTY contender and one of the best experiences this year. Despite its simplicity, the game is supremely fun, and perhaps the highest compliment I can give is that you’ll play through the entire game with a smile on your face. Astro Bot proves that games do not need extremely bloated budgets and development times to succeed when you are laser-focused on fun and quality.
Overall, the Castlevania Dominus Collection is an easy recommendation as it compiles three fine entries in this legendary series. While they aren’t exactly new entries, experiencing Order of Ecclesia, Portrait of Ruin, and Dawn of Sorrow in modern consoles with fantastic upgrades is an offer we would never refuse.
Black Myth: Wukong is an amazing and impressive debut effort from Game Science, and while it has a few missteps, it lives up to the hype. From the gorgeous visuals to the dynamic and intense combat system, few games can replicate the satisfying feeling of conquering a challenging boss, only to face another one a few moments later. Interestingly, the game can be played on the Steam Deck, but there are concessions you'll have to make, especially in the visual department. You're losing out on a huge chunk of the experience because the game is gorgeous, but it's better than not getting to play it on the go, which in itself is a remarkable feat.
Star Wars Outlaws is a surprisingly good time, and I have to say that I enjoyed the game more than I thought I would after playing it early in previews. The scoundrel's life is well realized, and playing Kay Vess through her escapades was a pleasure because of her charm and character. Massive Entertainment has delivered the goods, making Star Wars Outlaws the open-world Star Wars game you are looking for.
Cygni: All Guns Blazing is an awesome shmup that goes a bit light on the innovation but goes hard on visual quality. That’s not to say that the game isn’t good, but it doesn’t introduce mechanics or systems that revolutionize the genre. For some, switching resources between shields and weapons while in the middle of everything may be a bit too much, but when you add the weapon direction presets on top of that, you’ve got another thing going. Despite its layers of systems, the game is mostly fair and manageable, and Cygni impresses with fantastic visuals and a responsive shooter that is a good and reasonable recommendation for fans of the genre. While gaming on a portable device works, Cygni is best played on current-gen consoles and a capable PC that can show off its stunning visual flair.
Anger Foot is exactly what you'd expect from a Devolver Digital game. It's fun, quirky, hilarious, unapologetic, and simply a damn good time. With a straightforward premise and easy-to-learn mechanics, the game is given depth with its inventive use of sneakers and replayability to give it a much-needed kick.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is quite reminiscent of other similar From Software DLCs like Bloodborne’s The Old Hunters, which adds meaty content and elevates the overall experience even further. Shadow of the Erdtree is a triumph for From Software, and if you thought that the Elden Ring experience could not be elevated, you are deathly wrong. Between all of the additional content here that the DLC provides, there’s so much to see and do that can easily run you tens of hours, even hundreds, simply because of the difficulty level alone. That said, the content does not feel tacked on at all, and, true to From Software tradition, is weaved into the basic fabric of the game, consequently enriching the experience.
Hellblade 2 is a triumph in masterful storytelling and impeccable audio design for Ninja Theory. It is an emotionally powerful experience that depicts a sensitive subject that is hardly talked about in the medium. To achieve this, the game stripped out several features and systems like combat and exploration in favor of a deeper narrative affair. This is not for everyone, but it is something I would encourage everyone to try at least try out.
It’s been a while since we’ve had a taste of a competent and worthwhile tennis game, and TopSpin 2K25 is a decent offering that will please fans and enthusiasts of the sport. The action is fantastic and suitably technical, and it’s a decent example of how VC can be implemented to not fully ruin the experience as compared to more blatant examples in other sports titles, despite the slow drip. Sadly, the way MyCareer and its progression are structured is not exactly smooth and enjoyable in the long run. While it can be overlooked, being the main mode to play the game on might leave a slightly bad taste.
Children of the Sun is an interesting game that places its puzzle aspect at the forefront, delivering a satisfying loop of killing and moving on with simple and easy-to-pick-up gameplay. Understanding the concept is one thing, but finding the correct execution that leads to success is where the satisfaction lies. Some parts of Children of the Sun will require an insane amount of trial and error, and with the game offering virtually countless ways of approaching a level, creativity will be your only limit and a possible point of frustration.
Stellar Blade is an extremely impressive debut from Shift Up, serving up a combination of dynamic combat with visuals and animations that pay extreme attention to detail. Eve's adventure is dressed up with the wrappings of a masterful soundtrack that resonates long after the game is finished, and there's enough content to warrant a more thorough playthrough the second time around. Stellar Blade's story is sadly predictable, and characters like Eve prove hard to form an emotional connection with due to their relatively flat personalities, but the world and lore are intriguing enough to create more properties should the developers choose to do so. It doesn't offer much in terms of groundbreaking innovation, but Stellar Blade is a competent and confident effort that will offer a good time worthy of your attention.
Overall, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a superb entry from Capcom that players have to contend with on two fronts. On one hand, the combat and gameplay experience is top-notch. Exploration is encouraged, the world is intriguing, and the sense of discovery is just phenomenal. There aren’t a lot of games that can successfully do this, and Dragon’s Dogma 2 does it effortlessly, and in spades. On the other hand, and equally as important, is if you, as a player, can contend and deal with its frustrating and unapologetically “old-school” mechanics. With games in this day and age focusing more and more on hand-holding and with some respecting your time more, there are some features in Capcom’s latest that will really grind your gears. How much are you willing to sacrifice to deal with them?