Unless you're a parent looking to keep your kid occupied for the evening, Lego Horizon Adventures is a hard pass.
Slitterhead is a unique game with interesting ideas, but it doesn't completely stick the landing. The story of an evil entity infesting the minds of innocent civilians in a city is frightening and could have been great if the game had gone in a different direction.
Guilty Gear Strive is a great fighting game that fits right at home in the genre, and that doesn't change with the Blazing Edition. However, this "definitive" version seems rather pointless for most players, both old and new.
Despite all the positives and added-on fancy features, I can't recommend paying full price for Madden 24, as it feels like a slightly better version of last year's edition. But if you're a series veteran craving a Madden that promotes more player agency, EA has fine-tuned the football emulation to make it a better experience.
Spirit of the North 2 isn't a bad game, and some dungeons are a ton of fun, but it's clear the game needed more time in the oven and would have benefited in a linear format.
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a decent 2.5D action RPG with a beautiful world. However, the game has some serious design and balance issues that prevent the experience from reaching its full potential.
Be prepared to laugh, die a ton, and spend a couple of minutes here and there petting the good dog that stays by your side throughout its 20-hour story. Just remember, though: this game is not meant for kids.
The overhaul of graphics, the addition of a map and photo mode, and a plethora of bonus content make this remaster the definitive way to play the original and its sequel.
But in general, Alien: Rogue Incursion is a great addition to the VR library and Alien franchise. The amount of interactivity with the game's environments is superb, keeping the player engaged and giving a great sense of actually being in the Xenomorph-infested facility. On top of that, the gunplay is some of the best the VR market has seen in years (when it's working properly). Alien: Rogue Incursion is definitely worth being experienced by VR enthusiasts and Alien fans, even if it's a bumpy experience.
The best additions are the new forms of traversal, creating the most exciting missions of both the original and sequel combined. However, the time you spend with these is short-lived. Also, I can't help but feel the bosses were a missed opportunity, where only one stands out and makes a name for itself. Nevertheless, more of a good thing is always nice, and if you found yourself a fan of the first, you'll enjoy Ghostrunner 2, especially for the low 40-dollar price tag.
In no way is Redfall groundbreaking - but sometimes all a game needs to be is fun to play, and Arkane has created an experience that offers a good time.
The weapon-forging minigame is a slog, NPCs are overly annoying, and losing weapons upon death isn't nearly as impactful as I had hoped. It's clear that MercurySteam has a good concept on its hands, but the execution could have been better in some parts. Perhaps these ideas will be better executed in a sequel.
Madden NFL 25 is a step in the right direction for the franchise and we hope EA keeps this momentum going to make the next entry even better.
It's a masterpiece that has some questionable design choices and glaring issues but still remains worthy of anyone's time who's a fan of the genre.
Despite any downfalls that Turok 2 may have, it's still the best entry in the series. The addictive and fast-paced combat mixed with an impressive armory makes each level feel exciting to take on and the different environments keep it from ever becoming repetitive. While the original Turok created the foundation of what the series represents, the sequel fully realized this vision and turned it into one of the best first-person shooters of the Nintendo 64 era. Anyone looking for a retro game that'll keep them hooked from beginning to end, and doesn't take too long to finish, should look no further than Turok 2: Seeds of Evil. Just remember that there's a good chance that the lack of direction on where to go could make the experience less enjoyable, depending on the player's skill level.
There's something to love here for almost any type of gamer, including horror fans, Metroidvania enthusiasts, and even platformer lovers. While the combat can grow stale and tedious due to its lack of innovation, it's still good enough to keep the player engaged for hours on end as they traverse Deadside on their journey to save the world. The story of Shadow Man is really where it shines, though, with excellent voice acting and a dark tone that was arguably ahead of its time at its initial release. The lack of a traditional map may be offputting for modern players, but the removal of easy solutions does the game favors, as there's an incredible sense of accomplishment figuring it out on your own. Shadow Man was a fantastic game in the 90s, and now it's even more so with the remastered version.
River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next is both a solid role-playing game and a great beat-em-up brawler that is not afraid to challenge the player's fighting skill.
Persona 5 Tactica is an excellent addition to the popular franchise, bringing a heartfelt story and an addicting tactical-based combat loop. The ending part overstays it's welcome and becomes fairly repetitive, but that can be overlooked for all the positives the game brings to the table.
Remnant 2 feels like a love letter to the fans of the first, with an emphasis on replayability and brilliant new features. The different experiences that the game can generate from one person to the next are impressive, as each run feels unique. Combat feels great, and the freedom in build creation is a huge improvement over its predecessor. Still, a few issues with the game's core may leave some disappointed.
While the game stumbles here and there regarding camera issues, story, and a lack of enemy variety at launch, Koei Tecmo's Omega Force and EA's latest game still manages to land on its own two feet. A brilliant crafting system makes Wild Hearts unique and a lovely addition to the hunting subgenre.