Some areas of the game do need some improvement, with certain Hunters being a little too strong at launch and button inputs not completely registering in combat engagements, leading to moments of confusion when a Hunter doesn't do what they should. However, Mantisco has already released a patch within the first week to improve the game at time of writing, which indicates the potential for swift improvements to any shortcomings at release. All things considered, Hunter's Arena: Legends is definitely a battle royale game that fans should check out, with enough of its own identity to seriously contend for people's time in an increasingly crowded genre of quality options.
After spending time playing Aliens: Fireteam Elite with human squads, it remains clear that the game is at its best when played as a co-op experience. Fights become more frantic as players constantly communicate to address the incoming Xenomorphs, and having extra players on the team allows for more Challenge Cards to be activated to add some variety into each mission. It also makes the game a better experience on the higher difficulties, as the game warns players that the AI teammates won't be very helpful above the Standard difficulty. While players can still have a great time playing solo, Aliens: Fireteam Elite truly shines with other players along for the ride.
Outside of these small grievances, Splitgate is a masterclass in how to evoke new thrills from the arena shooter genre. Making portals a key component of gameplay evolves the way multiplayer shooters typically play out, and the classic gunplay and expertly crafted maps add together to create an incredible experience. Splitgate is a winner for 1047 Games, and should be at the top of the must-play list for FPS fans who've yet to try it out.
Bloober Team meshes all of these elements together to draw players further into The Medium's world than the Xbox/PC versions were capable of, elevating an already enjoyable experience to new heights. It stands to reason that the PS5 version of The Medium is the ideal way to experience Marianne's dual-reality adventures, and PlayStation 5 owners that enjoy horror games should definitely check the game out.
Tails of Iron is an expertly crafted effort from Odd Bug Studio. The visual style alone is worth the price of admission, but the additional tough-but-fair combat, RPG-lite components and engaging exploration makes for a worthy entry into the Souls-like subgenre.
Aragami 2 ends up being a bit of a mixed bag as a gaming experience. On one hand, the stealth mechanics, outstanding skill tree and playground-esque level designs means that the core gameplay is a blast. On the other hand, the new combat system isn't great, repetitive mission objectives and map reuse is maddening, and the bugs certainly don't help matters. The new addition of co-op has potential to make missions more fun by working with a friend, but this is purely speculation as Screen Rant was not able to test the feature as of writing this review. Stealth fans should find enough to enjoy about Aragami 2, but be prepared for a few stumbles along the way.
Aside from some performance issues and a rushed ending, JETT: The Far Shore provides a solid experience with fantastic flying mechanics, interesting world lore and a keen grasp of the spectacle of space exploration. While it's not the best among the many titles eager to tell their particular tale of the exploration of the stars, JETT: The Far Shore succeeds more often than it fails, and it's worth a look for those looking to scratch an interstellar itch.
Outside of these technical issues, Crysis Remastered Trilogy does an excellent job of porting a classic video game series to modern day consoles. It maintains the core gameplay centered around making players an actual super soldier while upgrading visuals and performance for a satisfying experience. Those looking to try Crytek's magnum opus series for the first time or experience the adventures once again should find a lot to enjoy about Crysis Remastered Trilogy.
It's hard to recommend NASCAR 21: Ignition in its current state, and it will probably play best a little bit down the road after Motorsports Games gets all of the technical issues worked out. There definitely are some good elements to make for a fun experience, and when the game cooperates enough to allow players to experience them, the driving and overall presentation of a NASCAR race are enjoyable. While there's potential to be a good game, the frustrating amount of bugs combined with a scaled-back amount of content makes NASCAR 21: Ignition a disappointing racing simulator in its current state, with a caveat that future patches may help improve its standing somewhat.