Timothy Nunes's Reviews
A good sequel makes sure to keep all of its main components the same while enhancing what makes those components enjoyable. PowerWash Simulator 2 manages that in spades. Providing new equipment, changing how you use soap, and adding meaningful elements to the gameplay loop keep the formula fresh without dirtying up what makes the game a fan favorite. At $25, PowerWash Simulator 2 is a steal.
The Outer Worlds 2 excels on almost all fronts, presenting you with an open RPG that lets you choose how you progress while still keeping you on a clear path. The in-game systems allow you to customize how you play and give you versatility in the choices you make along the way. Combine that with great writing, and you have a recipe for success. Equipment menus are a bit clunky, enemy encounters can be manipulated, and the act of looting takes some getting used to. Still, none of these issues will keep you from enjoying the game. The Outers Worlds 2 is worth every penny of the $70 it asks for.
Maybe Ninja Gaiden 4 could be the weird transition game that helps the franchise find a new path in future entries. Like I said before, there is a good combat loop here. It just lacks the refinement and potency that fans have come to expect from this franchise. The Ninja Gaiden stories have never been complicated or over-the-top, but this one offers very little substantive content or drama to get its hooks in you. It's not perfect by any stretch of the word, but the right person can find a good time here.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist and The White Guardian leans into the old staples that the franchise sustained itself on, focusing on turn-based combat and crafting to win the day. Several elements take a step back from what recent titles in the franchise have done, instead focusing more on farming instead of exploring. It's still about alchemy, but getting to the alchemy is more repetition and less discovery. For longtime fans of the series, the Atelier formula is still there for a good time. With that said, newer fans may recoil a bit if they first jumped into the franchise alongside Ryza, Sophie, and Yumia.
Hotel Barcelona adds in just enough quirky things to stay on brand with the reputation that its legendary creators have forged for themselves. Just like most of their other works, Hotel Barcelona is far from perfect, showcasing its own intentional nuances that can either make or break a game for some people.
I feel confident that the new gameplay mechanics, quality-of-life improvements, and immense visual overhaul in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater far outweigh the issues that come along with the changes. This gives more players a new way to experience the beloved classic, complete with more modern controls and mechanics without taking away from the original feel of the game.
For what it is, Tales of The Shire puts together a cozy game that almost requires you to play a certain way to enjoy it. At the same time, the game makes it known what it wants from you from the very beginning. There's charm here to be had with the right mindset. However, putting all of this together makes for a rather fixed and repetitive experience. For what it's worth, Tales of The Shire stands as a solid formula for people who don't often play these types of games. It replaces coordination and planning with hard work. By the time you're done with this game, you'll be ready to try some of the more renowned titles the genre has to offer.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers isn't perfect, but it doesn't need to be to stand among the best in the Soulsborne genre. It doesn't just mimic what makes these games fun but expands on the formula that few others could. Challenging gameplay, riveting exploration, and unique control mechanics help to elevate Wuchang well above the run-of-the-mill Soulsborne clone. Wuchang more than deserves its own franchise.
System Shock 2 25th Anniversary Remaster contains a complete package of the source material, lovingly maintained in its original form, alongside tons of assets and history that most preservation efforts can't compare to.
The Alters is a unique narrative experience all its own, asking you to survive by manipulating your own history to create clones and escape from a fiery fate. As far as the genre goes, The Alters makes for a very accessible survival experience. With that said, hardcore fans of the genre may see gameplay in The Alters as far too simplistic. The other potential issue is that the Sun's looming danger isn't quite as looming as it initially feels, with most of the game progressing naturally without much actual danger. Either way, the combination of strong narrative and accessible gameplay makes this the perfect game for anyone who even remotely interested in trying survival-builder games. The Alters is a definite recommend title, even at its $40 launch price.
Overall, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered brings plenty of welcome changes to the original formula while still maintaining the quirkiness of the original game. This is a prime example of a loving remaster: improve the original concept without veering away from it completely. It's not completely perfect, since it still features some of the glitchy nature of the original game, like asset pop-in. Nonetheless, "perfect" isn't what fans want out of Elder Scrolls. They want exploration and fun, and that's exactly what you get from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
I do not say this spontaneously or hyperbolically: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a generational RPG. The quality of writing is pitch-perfect at every step, vividly depicting the somber world and its tragic circumstances with glorious technique. Combat always feels rewarding when successful, but it can feel like a slog if you don't get the hang of the parry and trait systems. The linear nature of the game helps to balance out the lack of mini-map, so try and not let those factors keep you away from at least trying this brilliant game.
After years of small-time games, the franchise finally reached more people than its dedicated niche following. Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land capitalizes on successes from the Ryza trilogy and blazes its own trail with changes of its own.
Split Fiction is a damn good time. It has problems inherent to the gameplay, like checkpoint issues and overly taxing boss fights that don't visually work well in split screen. There are ways around it if you have the hardware, and the game does help keep things moving forward.
For many like me, seeing Ninja Gaiden emboss a game basically guarantees a purchase. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is no exception. On top of its stapled blisteringly challenging combat, the entire game receives a visual level of polish that makes it feel new again. That said, the problems still exist, like enemy projectiles flying through objects and still hitting you. Above all else, though, the camera issues remain the most frustrating element of the game. Still, there's enough fun, gore, and challenge that will outweigh the outdated traits, even for newcomers.
Not much of the original game changed in the Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered. Instead, this re-release opted to sharpen existing graphics, add motion controller support to aiming, and include a New Game+. Either way, Shadows of the Damned has aged surprisingly well, all things considered. This makes for a great deal at $25, no matter how you slice it.
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead throws several unique variables at you, making you balance progression through built-in limitations and staying alive. The gameplay loop can get repetitive, and enemy routes prove quite predictable. At the same time, the concept of staying alive resonates through both gameplay and narrative, making this very human story a worthwhile purchase through and through.
Some decent changes help elevate NBA 2K25 from last year's release, such as a more consolidated experience in The City as well as even more gameplay animations to enhance the gameplay experience. Learn 2K even helps you get back into the swing of things. However, menu input lag, incessant microtransactions, and clunky standard movement show how much room this franchise has to grow, even after all this time.
The Mortuary Assistant finally reaches home consoles, offering up a unique and tense work-horror scenario. Unfortunately, the controls implemented in this port hold back the console version a great deal. Inputs don't respond the way they should, and navigating menus proves cumbersome on practically all fronts. It's a game horror fans should check out, but maybe not on console.
Ease of access is the focal point of Frontier Hunter: Ezra's Wheel of Fortune, making the experience as easy as possible to consume at the start. Once the game starts asking more of you, the issues with hit boxes and juggle damage blindside you after hours of not influencing the experience too much. That on top of a bland narrative and character design that looks like unedited AI-generated content makes the overall product easily avoidable.