Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is by no means a bad game, but in a sea of other Souls copycats, this one does very little to stand out. Put into the perspective of its multiple delays and overall unpolish, it's clear that this is an easy skip to play better options out there. Or at least wait until it's heavily discounted…
I'm both happy and sad that Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and last expansion for Elden Ring. On one hand, it's a masterfully woven experience that expands on the contents of the base game, whereas on the other it leaves much more to be desired with its disappointing final boss. That being said, it's still very much worth your time if you're craving some more Elden Ring.
It's about time Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin made its way onto PlayStation. I'm a bit sad that there isn't a native PlayStation 5 port, but the current PS4 one is solid through and through. The smooth and high frame rates are a treat but the long load times leave more to be desired. If you're looking for a party turn-based JRPG as your next game on your PlayStation, then Wings of Ruin is definitely worth checking out.
Even though Another Crab's Treasure doesn't break the mold of your typical Souls-like game, it's a charming one thanks to its funny and not-so-serious mood. The hilarious yet practical accessibility features along with a colorful cast of characters make this one of the best indie Souls-likes to date. Who knew that one of my favorite indie games of this year would involve a hermit crab setting off on a deep sea adventure to take back his shell?
Despite not vibing too well with the demo, we were utterly in love with Stellar Blade by the time the credits rolled. Shift Up has done a tremendous job with their first triple A project and sets a high bar for modern action role playing games. There are some pacing issues, and the narrative's delivery stumbles, but the game as a whole is near perfect: the themes, the visuals, the music, the combat, the exploration, the world, and the technical performance. A modern masterpiece.
Alone in the Dark plays more of a moody psychological thriller with a heavy emphasis on puzzles rather than a traditional survival horror experience. That combined with the plethora of technical issues hold another remake of an original masterpiece back from reaching its true heights.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a triumph, and a worthy continuation of the Like a Dragon franchise. RGG Studio has managed to improve on the gameplay mechanics and features of the previous title in virtually every way whilst upholding the narrative quality and goofy nature of the series. The game is not without its flaws, but they are overshadowed by its strengths, and the game deserves praise for its ambition and innovation. Infinite Wealth is undoubtedly an early game of the year contender, and a must play for RPG lovers and Yakuza enthusiasts alike.
Despite its incredible art direction and pixelated visuals, The Last Faith fails to encapsulate what makes its inspirations so brilliant. The plethora of poor and frustrating game mechanics and design choices, combined with technical performance issues and lack of accessibility options, makes this one of my biggest gaming disappointments of the year.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a great interlude before Infinite Wealth comes out next year, with its throwback to the franchise's classic real time beat 'em up combat in the shoes of Kiryu. The narrative does take a step back, and the new characters aren't as memorable, but there's plenty of bizarre and addicting side activities to partake in on the streets of Sotonbori or at the Castle.
Achilles: Legends Untold is a serviceable indie Soulslike experience with an isometric camera angle that doesn't introduce anything revolutionary. Don't be fooled by the Diablo-esque visual style either, because this is not a dungeon crawling looter. There's no doubt that the game is in a much better state than it was in Early Access, but it still suffers from some core issues with its gameplay mechanics.
At the end of the day, I ask myself these questions about Quantum Error given the many genres it is trying to tackle. As a shooter game, is it fun? No. As a horror game, is it scary? Nope. As a firefighter simulator, is it cool? Sometimes I guess. Would I recommend this title as a full priced 60 dollar game? Never. TeamKill Media has done a commendable job being only a team of 4 to come up with something this massive and ambitious. However, this is another sad case of biting off more than you could chew. This might be up your alley if you're into janky, B-movie messes.
I believe that FuRyu laid down a solid foundation here with Crymachina. The narrative is there, the characters are there, the gameplay is there, but the nuts and bolts that glue all of them together aren't. This isn't to say the overall game isn't fun, but it could have been so much better. The game's overall gameplay loop is simply monotonous and dull. It boils down to sitting through mandatory dialogue sections and then running through a dungeon with one to two mandatory battles, and then fighting the boss. The concept of gaining humanity and questioning the whole concept of what it means to be human is a heavy and melancholic theme. I just wish it was delivered in a smoother manner. Even the naming of the game makes sense. Can machines even cry? If you're into the whole mechanical girls fighting robots and trying to save humanity thing, then there might be something here for you.
Assassin's Creed Mirage underscores Ubisoft's commitment to bring the series back to its roots, making it a compelling choice for those who are long time fans. Despite not revolutionizing the franchise, it still expertly transports players to an intricately designed Baghdad, and presents a captivating narrative through the lens of one of the most beloved assassins in the series.
Fate/Samurai Remnant makes a worthwhile addition to the Fate series, as it expertly intertwines Musou-style combat with a unique historical backdrop all to tell a twisted take on the Holy Grail War. Those who are fans of the franchise are sure to enjoy its narrative rich dialogue and colorful cast of characters, but those just looking to jump into the action might find this experience a bit of a slow-burn.
The Resident Evil 4 remake Separate Ways expansion is a flawless DLC, and serves as a valuable and engaging conclusion to the Las Plagas saga. Capcom has done the entire remake of Resident Evil 4 right from top to bottom. Stepping into Ada's high heels and grappling from rooftop to rooftop feels exhilarating and refreshing as we get to peek into her side of the story. Now I want a full game with just Ada alone! After all, who doesn't love her?
The Crew Motorfest continues the franchise's legacy of delivering a fun and exhilarating racing experience set in a visually stunning open world. It's packed full of cars, customization, and content, which is sure to cater to both casual gamers and harcore racing enthusiasts alike. However, it does suffer from some poor design choices and repetitive grindy gameplay that keeps it from achieving the heights of its inspirations.
Green Hell VR on the PlayStation VR2 is a competent and immersive survival simulator set in the gorgeous but deadly Amazon forest. It's a downright shame that this version is just a copy-pasted port of the Meta Quest version, and doesn't include many of the complex features that the PC VR version contains. Nonetheless, the game is a worthwhile hardcore experience for those who have never played any version of Green Hell before. For anyone who has, it's a tough sell. All I can say is, what a missed opportunity to take this game to new heights.
It's amazing to see such a passionate debut title from Studio Sai. Eternights elegantly blends in addicting and engaging action combat with dating mechanics while providing beautiful visuals and excellent voice acting. I can't wait to see what's next from this small team of developers.
Rockstar's port of Red Dead Redemption on the Playstation 4 and Nintendo Switch provides an opportunity for both newcomers and fans alike to experience one of gaming's most memorable adventures once again. While there are some improvements to the visuals and performance, remnants of the game's age still bleed through. If you can look past the outrageous price tag and some cut content, then your journey back to the Wild West is definitely one worth taking.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie serves as the grand conclusion to the Crossbell and Cold Steel story arcs, tying up loose ends with an all-star crossover cast of characters. It does very little to catch new players up to speed with the narrative and context, and ultimately is not a good place to start for newcomers. However, Reverie features an incredibly in-depth gameplay experience to keep even the most hardcore of fans engaged for hours on end.