One of the struggles with Control is how to rate it. As amazing that so much of the experience is, more intense fights result in performance issues. And I had more issues figuring out where to go than people did with The Surge, yet I still walked away amazed. Having done hundreds of these reviews for Just Push Start, this is easily one of my favorite experiences and one I still strongly suggest to anyone looking for a unique experience or seeing just how interesting a shooter can be. Sure, it’s not perfect and it absolutely won’t appeal to everyone, but I wouldn’t let these things stop you if you’re remotely interested in what you saw going into Control.
Given Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has tons of characters, too many options and an unrealistic amount of things to discover, it's hard to touch on everything. What truly matters isn't what is possible, as much as, Super Smash Bros. Ultimateis basically what you make of it. Characters can be given a positive or negative handicap, items can be enabled or disabled, various modes and conditions can be set and it can be made so pretty much anyone can have fun. And, in the end, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate isn't about balance, modes or honestly even the complex meta game, it's being a game that pretty much anyone can win and have fun with and is more than certainly achieves that and so much more.
Marvel’s Spider-Man isn’t perfect, but that doesn’t stop it from being a fantastic experience. The story takes a while to get going but the end is more than worth the wait. Add in a fun, fluid and flashy combat system and it makes for a delightful journey. Sure, at times it drags, like during the forced stealth sections, but these are not enough to ruin the experience. Between all these things, fantastic graphics, a good selection of costumes and more, I can not suggest Marvel’s Spider-Man enough. Even if you’re like me and not the biggest Spider-Man fan, it’s a good enough experience to make it worth your time.
Dead or Alive 6 manages to deliver in almost every category you could want. Even if the story isn't that exciting, it's fantastic to look at and some of the characters are a lot of fun to see interact with the world around them. Single players have plenty to see, with online being a little lackluster. Combine this with a fair amount of costumes, thrilling visuals and fantastic mechanics and it makes for an experience worth trying.
There is a reason Disgaea 4 is widely considered the second-best game in the series. The story is endearing, this cast of characters is lovable, the gameplay is extremely refined and the sardine jokes are amusing.
Despite the shortcomings, DJMax Respect is a fantastic game at an amazing price. With over a hundred songs for $50~ and more coming in the future, it's an absolute must for anyone interested in the genre and/or games of the like. Sure, the difficulty can be overwhelming at times and it sucks certain things might take a long time to unlock but there is enough content elsewhere to keep you busy, with the additional stuff giving players something to work towards.
Frantics might not be perfect but it captures what makes games like Mario Party great. Anyone can win, provided they have the right tactic or are just lucky and it's never too late to come back. It's a shame the motion controls aren't the best, with it making some games far more difficult than they really should've been but the ability for four people to play without having to buy multiple controllers more than makes up for it. So, if you want a party game anyone can play or just something that supports four players locally on the PlayStation 4, Frantics is a solid choice. However, if controls are an issue or your phone doesn't support it, you might want to sit it out.
Despite being challenging, especially if you want the optional true end, Guacamelee! 2 retains everything that made the original great.
Overall, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe doesn't change what we expect from a Mario game and that is fine. Players are given both higher and lower difficulties, with neither making the game so easy it's no longer fun. Even skilled players can have fun with Toadette or Nabbit under the right conditions, just like Luigi U offers plenty of opportunities to learn. So, if you missed out on the original or never finished it, it's hard to say no to New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.
Overall, there is little wrong with Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Some of the sections have a trial and error feel, meaning you might lose and that will cost you progress, though the overall game achieves what it wants. As a fan of those games, I got a similar impression of this as I did with Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. If you're up for looking around every corner, work on your moves and invest in the story, it's hard not to see the value of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
In the end, I stand by it being one of the best titles last generation and strongly suggest it to anyone, especially those troubled by the looming threat of adulthood. For what it is, there are few games like that and this more than makes up for a bad choice here and there.
Despite lacking online multiplayer and giving players a lot of different ways to do the same thing, it's impossible to not find value in Fight'N Rage. There is enough diversity between paths to warrant at least a couple cycles and gameplay is complicated to the point of giving you something to work towards. It is the fight beat'em up in a while that I felt like I could play for 10+ hours and not get bored and that is an impressive feat at an extremely fair price.
The more you play Nioh 2, the more you understand its charms. Often times the problem isn't the game, as much as you're playing the wrong way. Even if I just want to chop up every enemy with my sword, there will come a point where you need to use bows, guns, items and everything else to come out alive. Sometimes it will be hard, a few stages rely heavily on specific tactics but it's fun, rewarding and fascinating if you're willing to give it a chance.
One thing that makes Monster Hunter: World so hard to review is there is simply so much here to see and explore. With a variety of different weapons, plenty of monsters, some free upcoming content and countless secrets, there is little to dislike. Sure, the online system could be a bit better and the story sucks, but it is easily forgotten once you get a team together to hunt. So, if you're looking for a deep, thoughtful and beautiful game, you can't go wrong with Monster Hunter: World. However, if you're not interested in learning the mechanics or get frustrated very easily, this one isn't for you.
Guilty Gear Strive brings out some of the best elements of Guilty Gear Xrd and combines them with what Arc System Works learned from Dragon Ball FighterZ.
Super Mario 3D World is the Mario experience we've always treasured, but with some fantastic changes to the formula. Between the hidden levels, new powers, each character having strength and uniquely designed stages, this is easily one of the more memorable Mario titles.
A Link Between Worlds is a delightful return to the classic game we loved. There aren’t a lot of improvements, but the additional world and new power are more than enough. While the story might not have a great premise, the ending is satisfying and something fans will really enjoy. Needless to say, this is a Zelda game that fans and newcomers alike can enjoy and makes the perfect title to pick up and play or conquer while on vacation.
Capcom did a fantastic job with Street Fighter 6. It retains the fighting mechanics players love, and its approach to newcomers is commendable. Even if you don’t want to play online, getting your money’s worth is easy, which is great to know going into it. Some of the other changes, like modern controls, further help make things accessible to a more significant number of people. Street Fighter 6 is a slam dunk worth considering for all these reasons and more.
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless doesn't stray far from the familiar formula, but it stands out as one of the finest entries in the Disgaea series. For fans of its humor, storytelling, and core gameplay, the game rectifies some past missteps. While it's not without flaws – notably, the post-game content falls short of previous entries – it's still a must-play for those seeking a challenging RPG with extensive grinding opportunities.
I genuinely enjoyed Have a Nice Death on Nintendo Switch. It was a fun game with humor that really elevated the final product. Now that modern consoles, such as PlayStation 5, don't have the performance issues it's an easy choice looking for a rougelike to explore. It has so much going for it, with an accessible learning curve. So if you are on the fence, but love the genre, you'll almost certainly enjoy this experience.