Travis Bruno
Jagged Alliance: Rage! delivers a fairly middling strategy experience where many of its better ideas and gameplay mechanics are hampered by poor AI and numerous design decisions that bring the game’s pace to a crawl.
Road Redemption may offer a fun combat system that fits decently with its racing mechanics but this enjoyment is marred with bugs and an anemic number of modes to actually enjoy it in.
Fallout 76 can be a great time thanks to its satisfying combat, gameplay loop, and handling of perks but the removal of NPCs and therefore any real impact the player can have on the story, systems that are currently glitched or in need of rebalancing, and way too many bugs to count make your time in Appalachia one where the fun times can truly shine only to quickly fade the next time a glitch or annoying system rears its head.
Home Sweet Home delivers a solid atmospheric horror that loses its luster a bit too quick but explores themes that are likely very unfamiliar to many Western gamers.
Warriors Orochi 4’s offering of a massive roster and the ability to use magic in combat makes for a fresher experience that fans of the series will enjoy though it's repetitive nature still lingers for those who aren’t fans of the series’ signature element of taking down entire armies on your own.
Heavy Fire: Red Shadow may offer players plenty of power to mow through the wave based combat but between a lack of variety and a multitude of glitches this is one that is only for those looking for a simplistic shooter that might be fun in short bursts but little more than that.
Disgaea 1 Complete may now be the best way to play the game that kicked off the popular franchise but a lack of recent features or any real touched up gameplay elements leave it as a great game that is likely only for hardcore fans of the series.
My Hero One's Justice combines great visuals and attention to each characters’ Quirks and fighting style with a slapdash story mode and English presentation that will leave this one only for fans to really enjoy.
SoulCalibur VI may have a couple of rough spots but shines as an example of a great fighting game with plenty of love given to nearly every detail.