Just like the Frozen Wilds DLC for Horizon Zero Dawn explored new avenues and pushed the story forward with possible cliffhangers and ideas, Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores up the ante with its characters, boss fights, and exploration. To finally see Aloy so sure of herself and commanding one last time before the eventual third act is inspiring to see.
What starts as an exciting adventure of a young savior traveling through different planets loses steam and becomes a tedious enterprise midway. In the end, Batora: Lost Haven aims for a contained narrative that ironically struggles to find balance in a simplistic combat that is marred by difficulty spikes. Alas, fans of isometric action RPG games will find something to love if they are willing to look past its flaws.
Considering the background of Marfusha, such as the one developer porting this PC game to several different consoles and its length and price, it is easy to give it a pass for what it’s going for. With a decidedly pick-up and play design behind it, Marfusha is a great choice for gamers who just want to kill time and enjoy a simple shooter.
Sherlock Holmes The Awakened explores a haunting adventure that is unsettling to live through and succeeds as a creative take. Marketed as a Lovecraft meets Sherlock Holmes original story, there are tinges of both mythologies that will satisfy any eager fan of either world.
Tchia shines at its best when you are immersed in its laidback, breezy islands with the peaceful music taking over, unwinding and relaxing while exploring the many secrets of the archipelago. All in all a solid indie adventure that gives homage to a beautiful culture, enriching and teaching you about them in the process.
Season: A letter to the future is an incredible achievement as it is a risky endeavor to ask a gamer to slow down and breathe in the world they have painstakingly created, but once you let go of your preconceived notions, it will uplift you with its profound narrative.
To have this fun and absurd outer space adventure make a comeback in 2023 in a shiny new package is much appreciated, as its medium scope and many varied ways to approach any situation in The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition make it an unforgettable experience. While it is not as sprawling as other sandboxes in the genre, its dense and rich linear narrative with its meaningful sidequests and worthwhile storylines warrant a playthrough.
Mato Anomalies is not an inherently bad game, it just feels like the repetition of menial tasks slows any momentum the ambitious RPG has going for itself. As it wraps up its 30 hour runtime with a strong twist & solid epilogue boss fight, Mato Anomalies benefits from its smaller scope as it doesn’t overstay its welcome in its eight chapters.
Metroid Prime Remastered shadow dropped out of nowhere and reminded the world why the first 3D adventure of Samus is a timeless achievement. Retro Studios showed that with a few tweaks and a visual overhaul a masterpiece will always remain so.