Samiee Tee
One of the worst kart racers to be released in recent times, lacking decent track design, tight controls, visual flair, fair A.I, and is far from an optimised experience. Hideously broken on almost every level, this is something a "simple patch" cannot remedy.
A incredibly insipid journey of bad design, put through the minds of youth that fails to answer any of the questions asked, instead being the kind of point-n-click title that saw the genre die in the minds of the majority.
A game seemingly fighting its own presentation and message, The Knight Witch instead alienates the player with smug self-awareness, milquetoast cynicism, and some truly awful genre meshing.
Needlessly complex controls dragging down a robust system, a storyline uninterested in upping the ante to wacky hijinks or otherwise, and a world that fails to acknowledge your existence, Shredders performs self-sabotage by seemingly not performing at all.
After great first impressions showcasing fun gameplay and interesting characters, it quickly becomes a fascinatingly bad example of mech combat, lacking feedback, foresight, and fair play. Unbelievably boring offensive capabilities, a nonsensical story, and hilarious voice acting which tries its best to stand out. Unfortunately, it isn't enough to stand out.
Behind the times and lacking in its reason, to imply that Collapsed is an exercise in any of its design would also imply it exerted in the first place. Boring gameplay with no feedback, a story simply uninterested in being told, and a visual design too zoomed out to appreciate, it struggles to find reason in a genre that allows you to exist by default.
While Astria Ascending's gorgeous world has a basic gameplay loop that can satisfy for a while, it lacks the knowledge to challenge minds or the spirit further. With no strategy in the later battles, a story moving too quickly to be poignant, and severely unlikeable stereotypes as characters, the lessons are forced and the result is grating.
While starting strong, The Tale of Bistun loses interest over time, leaving the story, gameplay, and characters to try and make something out of stretched-thin mechanics.
Serial Cleaners' chance to grow brighter and bolder with neo-noir narratives, instead sees itself bogged down in run-of-the-mill nihilism that even affects the gameplay.
With a storyline that is clearly angry at western values, Mr. Prepper can do nothing but try and stand out with a story that comes at the sacrifice of compelling gameplay. The attempts to challenge with a forced playstyle may turn off potential window shoppers.
After a promising start, PowerWash Simulator begins to expand in a way you cannot tackle feasibly, but only in scale. It's one mechanic polished well enough to get by for a short while.
An open-world experience that loses interest in its own promising setup over time, before finding renewed interest in the idea of "AFK gameplay" instead. An experiment that just barely succeeds in its endeavour, despite uninteresting characters and lacking visual design attempting to drag it down.
In an ironic twist, what was once a shining jewel in Xbox’s catalog, and the apex of simulation, has now become a timid companion piece to the infinitely more fulfilling Forza Horizon.
Another installment of a satisfying yearly franchise fails to be beset by fatigue, but instead, the greed that tries to make everything else suffer alongside it.
A beautiful world of exhilarating gameplay that wants no more than to burst out with originality and excitement, which is marred by a want to rush to empty platitudes without thinking of the ripple effect it has on everything else.
Beginning as a visual spectacle, Lunistice can frequently fall into 3D platforming tedium as it fails to recognize its own potential or characters.
What could've been a bridge between the veterans and the newcomers to Gundam instead becomes a product that will cast aside anyone looking for a crash course. The veterans should find more than their money's worth, though.
The hit drumming series' arrival on Xbox and PC is with several caveats, as without the famous Taiko drum controller, it's thoroughly restricted. Thanks to a fantastic tracklist, however, the numbed sensation manages to provide infectious gameplay.
A speedy roguelite with confusing narrative content that bogs down an otherwise fulfilling blueprint of satisfying moment-to-moment gameplay and positively off-putting visual design. A case of carte blanche backfiring in the face of a finale that fails to uphold a promise on one end, betraying that quick-thinking nature.
A quick burst of platforming goodness, unafraid to be set back by its lack of variety in challenges, and instead focusing on consistently uplifting level design, with a fantastic soundtrack to boot. (Review Policy)