Azfar Rayan's Reviews
ONE PIECE ODYSSEY does an excellent job of transporting players back in time for epic fights, while beginners may struggle to keep up with the story's rapid pace from the very start. Although it shows promise, the game falls short as a quality role-playing game.
Need for Speed Unbound isn't flawless, but it's close to the standard set by the best games in the series. Criterion Games has differentiated itself from other studios by providing a unique creative approach. Regrettably, Heat's irritating framework, rigorous day-night changes, and the presence of too violent cops make it a bit less fun. Modifying the game's difficulty might just make things better for the newcomers.
Overall, it is a genuine sci-fi survival horror adventure that doesn't offer anything groundbreaking but does know how to please lovers of the genre. Despite its brief length, the game provides a satisfying survival horror experience in a range of settings, carried out by a superb cast. The Callisto Protocol may have been the finest horror game of the year if more effort had been spent fixing some of its issues.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is unquestionably improved by the aforementioned free update. It's prettier, easier to play, and more enjoyable overall thanks to a wealth of tweaks big and little, and no RPG fan should miss playing it.
Somerville has great potential, as not many games leave us wishing for more. It's an innovative puzzle game that falls a little short of its goal of providing a substantial and in-depth experience. But in no way can Somerville be called an imperfect game. It still manages to tug at the emotions and deliver its central themes brilliantly, and the genre will like many aspects of the game. It's an ambitious project, and I would love to see more from such a unique initiative.
Anticipations were a bit too high for an indie game of this level, and yet it didn't fail. Even though most gamers would hate Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch because of its current state and the complex mechanism, a horse lover would love it. This game is purely made with the intention of pleasing this particular segment of gamers. Simply said, if you enjoy riding horses and enjoy spending time with them, then there is no better game than Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch.
While there are certainly issues to be concerned about, the mix of the iconic high-speed platformer with the open world is innovative. It might be an excellent foundation to construct the franchise's future. If you can get beyond the technical issues, Sonic Frontiers plays quite well and will please longtime fans and those discovering the series for the first time.
Resident Evil Village: Winters' Expansion is an entertaining plot extension lasting about three hours and has some excellent scares in the middle while it fizzles out a bit in the climax. Despite not being pushed to its maximum potential, The Winters' Expansion is for those who want their teeth into more of Capcom's newest horror thriller.
There are a lot of new features and improvements in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, but the gameplay is mostly unchanged from the first Modern Warfare game. Its campaign mode will draw much criticism, while it's obvious that the single-player mode hasn't been a top focus. Overall, it's not too dissimilar from its 2019 remade predecessor, but this time around, expectations meant that there wasn't much room for innovation or surprise.
Those who prefer strategic role-playing games will find a lot to like in Lost Eidolons. The game's static speech background could use some improvements, but for those who can see beyond these little annoyances, Lost Eidolons really offers something unique. There is certainly space for growth and a few bugs that need ironing out, while its many existing strengths make it one of the finest SRPGs of 2022.
A Plague Tale: Requiem, simply said, a well-crafted masterpiece. It improves upon the original in every way and contains all the features one would expect from a sequel. The game's varied mechanisms keep things interesting, and the excellent pace makes you feel like you got the right amount of each element at the right moments. The plot itself is engaging enough to overcome a few gameplay issues, providing a compelling sequel even though it may seem like a rehash of the original in many aspects.
Despite being quite challenging, however, there’s still a lot of fun to be had in LEGO Bricktales. The game’s sandbox mode is designed to foster players’ imaginations. Although it has a lot of promise, the game is held back by some issues with the gameplay, most notably the building mechanism. However, the thrill of attempting to construct a wide variety of things will surely be a delightful treat for LEGO enthusiasts.
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars should've been one of the most thrilling action role-playing games in the vein of the Souls series, but the level design lets the game down. However, with over 22 bosses with a wide range of attacks and numerous mythology-based settings, it’s undeniable that the game delivers a satisfying and comprehensive experience. Acme Gamestudio did a decent job uniquely delivering their first game and if they can adjust the balancing of the two genres, a sequel to Asterigos can set a new benchmark.
Despite being 100% linear, the hack-and-slash features in Valkyrie Elysium make it seem like it belongs in the souls genre, regardless of the game's action RPG label. The game suffers clear production restrictions even though there is nothing fundamentally wrong or terrible with to describe it. The problem is that the entire experience is just tiresome. Valkyrie Elysium delivers an inconsistent experience with its mix of good gameplay, uninspiring plot, and level design. This remake is an admirable effort at a fresh start, but it won't go down in history as a classic.
The sequel to 2016's Overwatch, titled simply Overwatch 2, is entertaining to play through but does not provide any game-changing mechanics. The foundation that made Overwatch so unique is in Overwatch 2, a game so full of character, variety, and charm that its rivals can't hold a candle to it. Overwatch 2 is a game that, with some careful tweaks from Blizzard, has the potential to carry on its epic legacy for generations to follow.
FIFA 23 is a fantastic soccer simulation. A presentation deserved by the next-gen consoles and is close to being groundbreaking. The available game modes are engaging, appealing, and mostly fun. For the last installment in the EA Sports-led FIFA series, it seems appropriate that FIFA 23 goes above and beyond to build upon its already strong fundamentals. There's hope for the future of EA SPORTS FC thanks to the company's Hypermotion technology and other enhancements, which have helped them score big on the field. This last chapter takes a little leap from its predecessors and serves as a fitting send-off to football's most prolific IP. If you're a football/soccer fan, you can't miss playing FIFA 23.
Soulstice, developed by Reply Game Studios, is perhaps the studio’s most audacious project to date. A well-made game that does its best is nonetheless far below the genre’s best. Despite its fresh take on fighting and the dual blue and red field mechanism introduced in the game’s sister pair, Soulstice still seems like a carbon copy of other superior hack-and-slash titles. If these issues are addressed, Soulstice might stand out as a pleasant surprise and become an enjoyable game.
Dorfromantik is a brilliant idea that adapts the genre of city builders to the puzzle genre without sacrificing the strategy elements that make for compelling gameplay, providing a soothing environment in which to construct picturesque villages that exist in harmony with their natural surroundings. The calming reputation of Dorfromantik is well-deserved. It's the ideal pastime for those long train rides or lazy afternoons at home.
Steelrising's atmosphere and plot may have made it the Bloodborne-inspired Soulslike that fans of From Software's masterwork have been hoping for. Unfortunately, Spiders only managed to deliver an average game, and its problematic gameplay makes it hard to recommend even to enthusiasts of the genre. There are elements that may have made it a great RPG in the vein of Souls, but the game's mechanics and presentation aren't polished enough to keep players engaged.
For those who have been clamoring for improved single-player experiences, NBA 2K23 delivers. This edition improves on last year's strong entry with on-court upgrades, a richer career mode, and nostalgic content. Eras becomes a must in subsequent editions, but Jordan Challenges remains an optional extra. Whereas MyTeam has a long and consistent history, MyPlayer has a short, sometimes irritating, one. The NBA 2K series has been popular for many years, but this year may be the one you decide to get back into it.